Michigan State University Top Questions

This reputation about MSU can be true and one of the best things about the school. The students at MSU are very social and outgoing, and not only in drinking environments. Freshman year I almost always had my dorm room open, and this is how I met some of my closest friends from college (the rest came fromt the sorority). The amount of partying is completely up to the person, but there is almost always something to do.

Athletic events here are very popular. Football games are all day events, the tailgating starts at 7:00am everywhere on campus. There area always tons of parties on the weekends, but there's definitely lots of things to do if you don't drink. The University Activities Board puts on a bunch of programs on weekends that don't involve drinking. Now, usually university sponsored programs are super dumb but these are seriously fun. Ex. last semester I went to Casino Night at the Munn Ice Arena. There was poker, black jack, slots, a bunch of other casino games and ice skating. We played for chips then you could turn your chips in for raffle tickets to win a bunch of different prizes. There's also free movies on the weekends. The movies aren't in the theater anymore but usually haven't come out on DVD so they're relatively new. I haven't paid to see a movie all year.

There is always something at MSU to do every night of the week. It is nice to be able to order food up to 4am in the morning. For non-partiers, MSU sponsors all kinds of events from battle of the bands, concerts, poker nites, anything imagionable. The intramural sports department is great, you can join or make a team in any of your favorite sports and compete against other MSU students. And the Atheltic events (mainly football, baskeball and hockey) are experiences that cannot be missed.

I think there is a student group on campus for everyone. We do have a somewhat small greek community, but I am proud to be in it, and it really hurts me when people stereotype sororities because that is not what I am about. I work in the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, and I know that there are TONS of events going on all the time that would interest everyone. The bar scene is pretty big, and there are house parties if you are underage... drinking is pretty big on campus. We also have the stereotype of haivng 'riots' like cedarfest and during sports events, but mostly it is from the poor relationship between the students and the ELPD and exaggerated media coverage. There is plenty to do on weekends that doesnt involve drinking though... movies, music scene, hookah bars, etc.

There are tons of things to do. Some dorms have open doors, while others have closed. Each has a different atmosphere.

If you want to do it, you can find it at MSU. It really has something for eveyone.

Typically if you pick a good dorm for what year you are then yes the people are incredibly cool and nice. But you would have to pick a good dorm, such as freshman should live in upperclassman dorms because the upperclassman typically have their friends already and aren't as outgoing and friendly as if you moved into Brody where EVERYONE there is new and wanting to meet people!

I am not involved in those activities.

As previously stated, lots of people are party animals on campus. The lines to get into the bars often wrap around the corners on weekends, and girls out in the winter barely dressed and shivering are not an uncommon sight. Finals weeks are pretty crazy with everyone studying their brains out all day. The midnight scream occurs each night during finals to help people vent their stress. There are always campus activities going on and there are pamphlets in all the dining halls telling about this week's activities. Every weekend there are free movie screenings (usually movies which are about to come out on DVD) and sometimes they have "sneak previews" of movies which aren't in theatres yet, which is always cool.

Greek life is not that huge at State, probably less than 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the student body, but still fun none the less. Spartans are active in all sorts of different activities. There are Intermural sports, student athletes, theatre, Greek life, political groups, charity groups. I'm involved in the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. We've done many charitable philanthropy events and we're in close relation with the Hillel house on campus. As a freshman this past year, I would say that people frequently leave their doors open welcoming in new people to talk to. The athletic events are VERY popular; the Izzone is the biggest student section in all of college basketball, I believe. And the student section at the football games is huge as well...AND loud. Other events are not AS popular, but like I said, there are SO many different kinds of people at MSU, that there is ALWAYS something for everyone to do. The dating scene is pretty funny actually because if you live in the dorms, then most likely you met in the dorms or at some party or something. A lot of people I know said they met their boyfriend or girlfriend at a party. Some were Greek Week partners. I met my closest friends through the fraternity. If you're awake at 2AM during the week, you're probably playing video games, watching TV, doing homework, hanging out, studying, or STILL PARTYING; I tended to go with the last one. Some of the traditions at State include: Cedar Fest, Welcome Week, Homecoming football game, Greek Week, guarding Sparty, Safe Halloween. Performers come to the Breslin Center and Wharton Center every few weeks as well. People tend to party a LOT. Thursday through Saturday is really when the weekend is for most students because a lot of the older students don't have Friday classes. Greek life is only important to those who are interested in it. If you're not it, your life won't be "incomplete," you'll just be into something else. Like I've said, there's ALWAYS something to do for everyone. Off campus there really is that much to do, unless you count the bars as being "off campus," i mean, there RIGHT there on Grand River. If you're counting everything from Grand River and North of there as "off campus," then you can go to the bar, go to restaurants, a couple clubs (Deja Vu, ha ha), fast food, the Meridian Mall, etc.

Drinking alcohol is a very popular extra cirricular activity. Every night of the week, someone is having a house party and the bars are open. Halloween and St. Pattys day are very big drinking events but the two that top that are Tailgating of Football Saturdays and Welcome week. During welcome week, its such a good time that people who do go to MSU want to come and party, thats the same with all the events I listed. MSU does a nice job of offering alternatives though, we have the UAB, University Activities Board, they hold events every weekend that don't involve drinking and during the week there are free movies on campus.

I met most of my closest friends and lasting friendships either in the dorms or in advanced classes in my major (after I'd seen the same group of kids for four years). Being involved in clubs and organizations offers even more opportunities to meet new people.

There are a ton of IM teams a student can join year round. There is always something going on on campus, like movies at Wells and fun activities at the Union. MSU offers numerous things to keep students busy and gives them the opportunity to meet new people. The dorms are a ton of fun and a great time to meet others as well as get to know yourself. In most cases its the first time a college freshman is away from their parents and has limited supervision. But students soon realize that at MSU you do not have to go get drunk everynight to have a good time, many times you just stay in your dorm and hang out with your floor

There is always stuff going on. In the dorms most often it is very social. In my hall we left our door open whenever we were ther, people stop in to chat or get help when studying. Lots of parties around campus.

Already discussed above.

UAB is definitely a popular organization on campus when you dont feel like partying. There are tons of things to do besides party on a weekend. They put on lots of activities for people to enjoy, and most of them are free. Football and Basketball games are definitely a must for the sports enthusiast. They are full of energy and spartan pride and cheering, you'll wish everyday was game day. Students in the dorms are encouraged to leave their doors open, thats how you meet people. People will wander around into dorm rooms and chat it up with the person living there, hoping to become friends during the first week there. That is really how I met all of my friends, they lived in my hall freshman year. People could party every night of the week if they wanted to. A small amount do, but most people wait until the weekends to let go of stress and relax. It's really not as big of a party school as people make it out to be.

MSU activites and social life are great! There are endless clubs or groups you can join, for literally any interest. Athletics are extremely popular. Football games are soo much fun, and thousands of students have season tickets and faithfully attend, including myself. Basketball is, of course, very popular at MSU as well. I met my closest friend on the bus! We ended up being roommates second semester and her and her friends from high school are my best friends now. We just signed a lease for an apartment next year, and we're ready for another year of good times being roommates! On a typical weekend, I'll probably go out two nights. Another night might be spent watching movies with friends or just hanging out. There's no pressure to party but there are definitely opportunities to party if that's what you want to do!

Use the dorms as your prime meeting place when you first get here - you may still be friends with the people you meet there when you graduate. I'm always awake at 2 am on a Tuesday. Usually dicking around on the internet and talking to people. People party every day. If you want to go out, you always have that option. But it is what you make of it. Some people never party and some always do. Weekends start on Thursday. St. Patty's Day is huge for MSU. GREEN and BEER...2 things we love. Halloween is also a big deal. Dress up just like you did 8 years ago. I'm more festive for holidays now than I was since I was 10 years old. We always find a reason to celebrate, and we do it big. Go to at least one football game. Everyone here has Spartan Spirit and it's fun even if we lose. Get Izzone tickets if you can...basketball games are the absolute BEST.

I really don't know to much about the social life beyond campus, because I never had enough time to party to that magnitude. However, MSU's UAB sponsors many events and activities for students, from free bowling, the free viewing of recent theatre movies, concerts, open mic nights, craft nights, carnivals, and sometimes free food. On finals you can get a free massage or spa day at the union for a study break. Plus, there's also the midnight scream during finals week when at 12am you can scream out of your window to release some stress.

Social Life is booming. There is always something to do. Attend local activites put on my the University Activities Board, attend Greek activities, hall and floor socials, hang out on Grand River, or chilling in a dorm room. Many people do party and drink, but there are many other better and wiser activities to do around campus.

The friends I met my first year at State were all from my floor in the dorm. We were all very social and left our doors open from the beginning of the year, and everyone became very close. We all ate together at dinner and did various activities around campus together, like the free movies at the lecture halls on the weekends. None of us joined fraternities or sororities, but they are an important part of the student body. Many of the parties around here are at the frat houses.

I love the atmosphere in East Lansing and there is so much to offer through the university that there is never a dull moment.

Join a sorority or Frat if you are into it. If you aren't into join a club that fits your major or that you are interested in. Get a job and network with locals. You will have a lot of free time and its a great way to meet people in the area who have know of fun things to do. Join an Im sport!! You don't have to be good at it! Its really competitive once you get to the finals, but you are just playing for fun you probably won't get that far anyway. Its so much fun do it! Go to the MSU website and type in events in the search engine. You can find open skate times, theater performances, planetarium times, art museums, rodeos, monster truck rallies...

There are countless numbers of student groups and organizations on campus. I participated in Alternative Spring Break through the university and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. There is so much to do on campus from theatrical productions at the Wharton Center to concerts and sports at the Breslin Center. There are cultural activities and artistic activities. People are very social. There is an active night life and alway something to do. We have shopping on Grand River and the zoo in Lansing. The University Activities Board plans really fun events that receive great turn out that are an excellent way for students to get involved and meet people. They plan events every day of the week that are very entertaining.

I was a member of the Spartan Marching Band for four years and created some of my best friendships and memories through my experiences in the band.

Since it is such a HUGE campus, there is always things happened. The library actually is kind of a hang out at 2 in the morning most nights. You run into so many people you know! on the weekends i generally go out with my friends and just kind of roam the city of east lansing from house to house in good spirits usually followed by a trip to taco bell. I met my closest friends on the Skating Team and on my floor last year in the dorms.

East Lansing is a city that never sleeps. It you're up studying at 2am and your stomach starts grumbling, you can guarantee that any one of the many restaurants along Grand River Ave. will be open and crawling with college students. Don't feel like going out? Most places deliver late into the night. On other nice thing about MSU is that on-campus dining options are broad and their hours of operation are long. MSU's libraries stay open 24 most days of the week, with is actually a rarity at most universities.

Althetic Events and the events(like tailgating) that go along with them seem to be the most popular group activities on campus. Football, basketball, and hockey seem to gather the largest crowds. I met most of my closest friends in the dorms and in classes, as well as meeting people through other people. If I were awake at 2am on a Tuesday, I am probably hanging out with my roommate or my boyfriend watching tv reruns or having a dance party! Fraternities and sororities are pretty dominant on campus, but there is definitely a significant amount of people who are not involved in the greek system at all. Frats are popular party spots- we go to Theta Chi a lot. I would say that there are people partying on most thursday, friday, and saturday nights. There are way more people out when the weather is warm!! If you don't want to drink on a saturday, there are always movies playing at Wells Hall, there are events and bowling at the union, there are dozens of restaurants, and there is always just hanging out and watching a movie as an option!

There are tons of organizations on campus... so it's hard to tell which ones are the most popular or active. I am involved in Women's Council - a feminist student organization. Most of the meetings are discussion based, but we do activism as well. We host events and workshops and do general education on a regular basis. Through this group, I met my closest friends as well. If I am up really late, I am generally doing homework... but on the weekends, I am probably out at the club or hanging out with friends. Weekends are definitely my time to catch up on my social life. During the week I try to concentrate on getting all my course work done. Saturday nights can also include poetry slams, or other activities hosted in Lansing... or just hanging out with good friends.

University organizations try to provide ample opportunities to have fun on the weekend without drinking. Every week there are free movies that were recently at the theaters to on-campus students ($2 for off-campus students), there are also typically comedians, concerts, etc. Special events are also hosted throughout the year, including Casino Night, Open (Ice) Skating, etc.

MSU has a great student activities board and there are a wealth of things that students can get involved in. I am a senior and I do not know even a quarter of the things that are available on this campus. With this large amount of opportunities you do have to take the initiative to find and search out your interests on your own. Many people do not realize what is out there for them and do not get involved until sophomore or junior year because they did not look for the opportunities and waited for them to come to them. There are enough organizations to satisfy any student though. Frats and sororities are popular and many students are involved in them, but just as many, me included are not involved in the Greek community at all. It all depends on your interest and personality type. MSU is known for partying, but anyone who comes here for that will be very let down. We are no different from any other schools social life and have many other activities that people take advantage of on the weekends such as Residence life cinemas, crafts, sporting events, the annual Lansing Holiday celebration (Silver Bells in the City) and other various things. Football games are a must on Saturdays in the fall with Homecoming every year, and basketball games are huge in the winter. Hockey is also a growing interest. Many activities are also centered around the organizations that you are in so I highly recommend that you get involved in the university in the way that interests you.