Michigan State University Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

Jesse

There is so much to do at MSU that the options are endless. I have spent weekend nights watching a movie with friends, going to parties, and studying. It all depends on what you like to do because there are facilities for everything. It's a great campus for running or biking, any excercise you can think of you can do here.

Courtney

I was born with "green blood" my parents say. It's just that kind of school. Once you become a Spartan, you are a Spartan for life. There's just something about Michigan State that stays with you forever. I've had people I barely know say, "You must be a Spartan...I can tell." MSU has such a comraderie and spirit that cannot be rivaled. The campus is absolutely picturesque and the history just adds to its splendor. My favorite thing about Michigan State, though, is the fact that it is a college campus surrounded by a town. The sprawling campus is just that...a campus. No businesses or other buildings that are not part of the college are on campus.

Scott

I'm going to go ahead and just address the questions here one at a time: The best thing about MSU is that it offers degree programs in every subject you can think of. I came to school without any idea of what I wanted to do, and at Michigan State you dont have to be afraid of them not having a program for a subject that you think might be interested in. If I could change one thing about MSU I would change its reputation (I am trying, and not just through this forum) because the experience I have at MSU has helped land me in presitgious internships around the country and given me every opportunity to succeed. Just because MSU accepts students with sub par test scores and GPAs does not mean that there are not incredibly smart people there, along with world class faculty. MSU is a huge school, and it seems like you never see the same person twice at first except in the residence halls. However, as you get more advanced in your major, you begin to make connections with people who are always in the same group of classes as you. Personally, I hate crowded places, like big cities, but MSU has a sort of sprawling beautiful landscape that makes it feel almost rural and less like you are surrounded by 45000 students. East Lansing is a college town. The population approximately doubles when school is in session (with a permanant population around 40,000, which is close to the enrollment at MSU). There is a lot of stuff to do around there because the town is built around the institution. Sometimes you have to look for stuff to do, but usually you will find people playing every sport around campus, and fliers for most any activity you can imagine as long as you are willing to get out of your room and participate! I don't have any close ties to MSU's administration, but in my case I have never had anything to complain about. The most recent controversy at MSU was Cedarfest. Apperently Cedarfest used to be an annual event where people got excessively loud, drunk, and obnoxious. Last year there was a reincarnation of Cedarfest which got national media attention because of students getting tear gassed and tearing down street signs. I wasn't there, but I know a lot of people who were. There were sufficient warnings tat it was going on, and the police handled it well from what I hear, but I found it insulting that our school was being stereotyped because of this "riot", but a lot of people who I talked to thought it was really cool. I guess it is just a matter of perspective. Personally, I wish it hadn't taken place. People wear green and white every day. The student sections at sporting events is loud and faithful. As with anything, there are people who like to be on the other side have little pride or spirit. That being said, the vast majority of spartans are proud to go to MSU and wear their colors. Go Green! Go White! I have attended two other institutions on my way to MSU, and none have been the same. In that respect, I think all schools are unique because they all feel just a little different. As a physics major, the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) makes MSU stand out above most other universities. I think that most students discover what sort of things are unusual and important on their own personal level. One experience I will always remember is a football game. Near the end of last season, we beat Penn State in the waning minutes at Spartan Stadium to give ourselves a chance at a bowl bid last year. It was the first year that I had been attending Spartan football games, and it was a blast. The whole student section was cheering, and it didn't matter if you were a senior or a freshman, a math or communications major, or anything. Everyone was just a Spartan. People like to complain about all kinds of things. It seems like the most common complaint is about having to go to class or do homework, but I don't really know what can be done about that.

Elizabeth

MSU is huge! There is no denying that. It is not right for a person who needs a lot of support and a close-knit feel. If you are an independent person who likes to meet new people and is okay with being part of a much larger crowd, then MSU is perfect for you. It's fun and exciting and I love that everyday I have the chance to interact wit hundreds of people I've never met before and may never see again.

Laura

MSU is a huge campus and a little overwhelming at first. I don't think its for everyone but if you enjoy being around lots of people all the time then it could be for you. There are amazing facilities for athletes and lots of support. There is a lot of school spirit. The campus looks beautiful in the spring, and there are some really cool places to eat on grand river.

Stephanie

MSU has a huge campus and there are a lot of people there, but it really doesn't feel that big because you really only to the buildings where you have classes. It is a long walk to class though, but there is a busing system. Telling people that you go to MSU is a prestigious honor. It is a good school and places will hire you based on the fact that you go to MSU. East Lansing is a great college town. There are tons of shops and food places that will deliver into the wee hours of the night. There are many restaurants and a mall close-by in Okemos. There's always something to do. There is a ton of school pride: "Go green, go white!" Football games are a definitely an example of that. I love MSU. The campus is beautiful, especially in the fall. Everyone is so friendly and open to meeting new people.

Megan

MSU has a beautiful campus, which makes you want to walk everywhere. When I tell people I attend MSU, they always make a comment about how large it is. Although it is a rather large campus, you get used to it and the more you learn and experience it, the smaller it becomes. Becoming involved in extracurricular activities also helps make the school smaller and allows you to become apart of something within MSU.

Kelsey

When you first come to MSU it is overwhelming because of the size. The longer you are here, class sizes get smaller... you become friends with professors and make awesome connections with them. Michigan State is the second biggest research university in Michigan.. just a tad behind U of M and we pride ourselves on academics. The college town is awesome, has a home town feel with TONS of great restaurants and bars. And private coffee shops and book stores. No matter where you come from, you will find some part of your hometown here.

Matt

MSU is a very large university with a big campus, but it is easy to feel like you fit in

michelle

MSU is a big school.....over 45,000 students...but i like it that way. There are lots of oppurtunities to meet people and join clubs. Or if you're shy, like me...to just sit back and enjoy everything around you that's going on.

Lindsay

It is a really big campus. It's beautiful but really annoying in the winter. I usually have a 30 minutes walk just one way to class and in the winter it is almost unbearable. Most people kind of associate MSU with wealthy, smart, or party people. There is a lot of school pride, football games are really fun. Campus is crawling with cops almost all of the time, especially during football games and welcome week.

Ashley

MSU is just right in terms of the population. While it is definitely a big school, there are several opportunities to have large, medium, and small classes. The advising to excellent within each degree, and there are plenty of resources and people who are willing to help.

Casey

MSU is a wonderful place to network and meet a lot of people. It is a large campus, and you will definitely want to get a bus pass. Walking from Brody to Shaw hall is actually impossible- short of being a cross country athlete. The winters are terrible, and walking through the snow to get to class was an adjustment. The people are absolutely amazing. Keep your door open all the time your first year, thats how I met everyone on my floor. MSU is widely known as a really good school, and the people there are very laid pack. Wherever you go, someone will either have gone to MSU, have a brother that went to MSU, or works for someone that went to MSU. The alumni network is just so expansive, you are always running into people that graduated from there, even outside of Michigan. Football and basketball games are very fun. Although the basketball team usually is better, the football games are fun to watch. We cheer for all of our teams, no matter the score, and thats what makes us different. School pride is everywhere, just shout "Go Green" anywhere around campus, and you will get 50 people shouting back "Go White!"

Jessica

I like the large school, it offers a lot of nice amenities. There is a very nice library, a good amount of visiting artists and other speakers on varieties of topics and cheap movies. My program caused me to spend time in the school of art and the college of education. The education administrators can be tricky to deal with. The people in the art school are great. The school in general does have a lot of pride. I have never seen more school tshirts on any other campus. Things I didnt like is that the gym costs money, the actual downtown area of East Lansing is small. It has nice stores and restuarants and bars and such but its just a bit more limited that some other areas.

Andy

East Lansing/MSU is the best place to spend your college years! Whether you are on or off campus, you will always feel a strong sence of Spartan pride and belonging. The size of MSU is also amazing. To some this may seem overwhelming, however you'd be surprised how quickly you get aquainted with the area. MSU also offers so many clubs, groups, and social opportunities that shrink the feel of the campus.

Erin

The family you acquire while attending State is unparalleled. No other school gives you such a strong sense of comradery; you can find a fellow Spartan anywhere with a quick "Go Green!" Although MSU is a large campus, it becomes your home; after your first semester, you lose the feeling of being lost and gain a strong sense of familiarity as you do when returning home. One thing I love about our Spartans (current and alum), is that we are good sports. Even when we lose, we show up to the next even ready to win. No matter what the outcome, we all remember having a good time.

chelsea

MSU is a pretty big campus and unless you've been before, you will be lost for the first week, but it becomes really easy after awhile. The bus schedules were kinda hard too, but also something you get use to. I spent most of my time in my dorm room(AHH hate it) and out at grand river. Uh, there is a LOT of school pride here. I grew up a Michigan fan, but now that I go here I have loyalty to my school, as does everyone else. I would def say this is a college town. Some older folks actually moved to East Lansing because they liked the college atmosphere. I would say def go to your counselor and make sure your schedule is good and you get some gen ed stuff out of the way first. Alsom try and get as much info as possible on the classes and the professors. Don't worry if you don;t know anyone in clas, chances are you'll meet people. Besides, it is very high school to try and make your schedule like your friends. Everyone has different priorities and goals now that they are in college, so don't make it your goal to always be around the same people. I really didn't like the actual dorm room, because I hated living in a box, but you have to and it's a good experience (relating to meeting new people and stuff) to have and plus you have to live in the dorms first year. One more thing...Halloween is HUUGGEEEEE at state. So start thinking now of about 3 costumes you want to wear for the festive weekend.

Michael

I do not go there to MSU. It is only a summer class in my hometown of Troy, MI.

Alex

While the town of East Lansing itself isn't the most exciting, the campus of MSU is large enough and eventful enough to keep students entertained. There are plenty of clubs available to all people, which I highly reccomend looking into. The spirit of the campus is also very much alive and highly contageous. If you're looking for a school that you really would like to "be a part of", MSU is the place to be.

Emily

It's a huge campus! I like a huge campus because I can meet new people all the time. Parking is bad on campus, but there is a nice bus system that services all of campus. There is lots to do on Grand River. The campus is gorgeous and I love walking through the gardens during the spring and the fall. Football and basketball games are an absolute blast! I'd recommend getting season tickets to both. And then to comment on Cedar Fest: Cedar Fest was caused by people who don't go to MSU. The small faction of the MSU students at Cedar Fest do not represent the entire university. Many of the students that weren't at Cedar Fest were embarrassed and/or outraged that Cedar Fest even happened because it cast a bad light on our university. That's not what MSU is all about.

Allison

East Lansing is a college town, but it has a wide variety of activities and people- so it doesn't seem limited by a typical "college only" crowd. We have a great pride for our university in academia, sports and groups that unites us all. I would say that for most highschool students, if you have a general idea of what you want to do with your life, or even if you have no idea, MSU is a great university to attend. You can have a small, concentrated experience within your college, and in a small community of a dorm or sorrority/fraternity. In addition, the opposite can be offered to you if you want the large, open experience of a large university and campus with a mulititude of career pathways. Ultimately, it is up to you to make your future, and MSU has all the tools to guide and help you.

Brittany

You can make MSU as big or small as you want. Getting to know your professors, councilors, and classmates can help you create your own niche. East Lansing is an AWESOME place to live. It's one of the most beautiful campuses in North America and I don't mind walking to class even for 8:00s! Great diversity of students and faculty and as always, awesome school spirit!!

Lauren

The best thing about MSU is the beauty of the campus. I love how large it is, the ivy covered buildings, and the Red Cedar River winding through it. There's so much to see and do that there is NO way you could get bored. Michigan State University is the definition of school pride. You can go anywhere on campus and scream "GO GREEN!" and I promise you you will hear a "GO WHITE!" calling back from somewhere. One experience I'll always remember was when my friend and I were walking back to our dorms from the library. No one was around but all of a sudden we see Sparty skipping down the sidewalk with someone dressed as a wolverine. They ran all the way to the library and started dancing in front of the windows until Sparty fake beat up the wolverine, which was of course met by the cheers of everyone. I love the food at MSU. With any meal plan you have access to all cafeterias on campus, which offers major food diversity. And if you aren't in the mood for cafeteria food, go to Grand River...that street is filled with restaurants of every kind and awesome shopping too (like Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, the Poster Store, etc).

Andy

The best thing about Michigan State is that the people are always so unified. When you are a Spartan, it is really true that you do "bleed green". I've graduated and still feel so connected to that campus. That may happen at alot of universities but if someone randomly shouted "go green!" I know that if there was even one Spartan on that same street, they'd yell "Go White!" It's a school that changes lives, brings about new friendships, prepares it's students for the "real world" and allows them to have a great time all the while.

Jordan

I think it's a great school and I've met some of the most genuine coolest people and best friends that I could have ever met here. It's an awesome school for study abroad which is something everyone should do. It changed my life. Try and get a diverse group of friends. There are some amazing people in all walks. I've been lucky to be able to transiton from any bar and always know someone. I can party just as easily with the sorority girls at frat houses as I can with the hippies hipsters and kick ass co-op people. It's definitely a good school for partying, that being said. And a pretty safe school for LBGT people. The people here are generally better looking than most schools too. I don't know what it is. My sister (not an MSU grad) also told me she read that we end up making more money and getting jobs faster after graduation than U of M. I think we also go to grad school less though.

Andy

MSU is a beautiful campus and is large. There is alot to do strictly on campus. I think those who say you walk 45 min to walk everywhere, don't go to school there except to take advantage of the great party scene. It is a big, friendly, open campus with many walks of life cruising in between classes. East Lansing - is what you make it. Many complain but I love it. There are restaurants and bars (which get old after a while and expensive) but there is an arcade, hookah bar, coffeeshops all accessible between classes.

Tom

Decent academics, heavy party atmosphere, and everyone seems to get along pretty well. The East Lansing/MSU split needs some work between residents and cops, and your food options are either Chinese, burritos or pizza.

Devin

Large, land-grant university. Therefore full of middle-class folks in good programs for agriculture, business, and engineering.

Jesse

I went into MSU assuming the "party school" atmosphere would be like any other school and it wouldn't really matter. The problem is that this reputation as a party school did affect my experience. It was difficult to find people who were "critical thinkers" with so many students attracted to the school for its social scene. I found friends but none that I would want to do much more than drink a beer with. But then again I went into college with a lot of horrible expectations/advice. "You'll figure out what you want to do along the way" is probably the worst peace of advice I received over and over again.

Lane

I bought MSU football season tickets for my husband & myself; we certainly are not prudes, but there's drinking everywhere at games. You can't get away from loud drinkers. There are empty beer cans tossed all over the grounds and creepy local men with shopping carts gather the cans to return for cash. These are clearly not nice men and it made us feel unsafe. Our season passes sat us next to a loud drunk. I did not renew the tickets for 2009.

Nicholas

The best thing about MSU is the diversity in everything you want to even consider trying. There is always an opportunity for a student to try any sport, take any class, go to sporting events, meet amazing people, and truly enjoy your college experience while figuring out who you are and what you want to become.

Steve

I am in the College of Education and I hate it. It is the worst college in the history of education. The staff is horse shit and the people who work there are only good for nothing.

Michelle

MSU is my favorite place to be. I will obviously say it is the best place, because I go there. I absolutely love that even though it is a huge campus, one can find their niche and find people to hang out with. It is a huge diverse place and you come across many different people. Even though East Lansing is your typical college town, East Lansing is basically state, it still has a nice community of adults who raise their children in this town.

Briggsie

Many people complain that MSU is too big but that is because they haven't tried to make it smaller. As soon as you pick a major or join some student organizations or participate in some activities, the campus gets smaller. After two years of getting involved, I can't walk down the street without seeing someone I know, which makes MSU feel like home.

Jamie

A lot of the students are the same... If your into the Greek system MSU is great. Expect to see a billion Ugz boots. All girls wear them even though they make them ugly and silly. I dont talk to any of them because i feel like ive already heard what they have to say. Boulder, CO was way sweeter.

Ryan

My favorite thing about MSU would have to be the atmosphere. Almost everyone is friendly and you can make so many friends easily. MSU is a huge campus but, it is easy to find your place and it becomes much smaller even after one year. You'll never know everyone, but, you'll be suprised how often you'll run into people that you know around campus. People always have a good reaction when I tell them that I go to MSU. Unless they're U of M fans... MSU is a great school and it has a good reputation for sports and academics. Recently, there was Cedarfest, which was kind of a big deal on campus. A few thousand students got together and had a huge party which turned into some kind of minor riot. It was a pretty big deal on campus this past year. MSU is a HUGE college town. Without the school, East Lansing wouldn't really be much of anything. Everything is catered to students which is nice when you want to order take out at 4 am and there's 20 places open. I think that i'll always remember the people I met at MSU. The professors and TA's always seem interested in the students and they always try to make the classes personal. The biggest complaints on campus is definatly that things are soo far. MSU's campus is huge and the freshmen dorms are on the edges of campus, pretty far from a lot of the places where you'll have classes. During the winter, its a pain to walk to class in the cold. MSU has a bus system, CATA, but it gets full fast and its not always dependable or on time. In the spring and fall, riding a bike is the fastest way to get to class.

Harper

huge school, great school pride, well respected, great campus

Robin

The best thing about MSU is the diversity. I decided on this school because of the many diverse backgrounds. I would change the discrimination of the area. The school is not too large or too small. It may seem large once you get there, but after a few weeks you'll know the campus like the back of your hand. People are usually impresses when I tell them I graduated from MSU, unless they're from UofM. On campus, I spent most of my time in IM Circle in the dance studio. Very big college town, MSU is like all of East Lansing. The administration is average, a few bad apples, a few good ones. I will always remember my dance instructor Dr, Dixie Durr, R.I.P. Most complaints would have to be parking tickets!

Ryan

the best thing about MSU is the people and the environment!! everyone is so diverse and willing to be open to experience new things. when i tell people i go to MSU many of them are very proud and i am too!!

Tina

--MSU is large and i really like that because it feels like an entirely different experience than highschool or any other schooling before college. --It is not as difficult as most people make it seem...if you put toward alot of effort, which should be assumed with school, you will have no problem and the teachers are alot more understanding and caring than they make it seem. --You should take advantage of the people who will help you like the conselors. They have great advice and will give good guidance. --Dorm life was really fun.

Sean

The best thing about MSU are the people that go here and work here. It is big enough to be a big school with all the opportunity in the world but the teachers are still completely available when you need them. If you fail a class it is because you didnt attend or didnt try. People are usually impressed when I say that i go to MSU or they are U of M fans and have a smart remark. We have somewhat of a college town but mostly its just campus and then Lansing. The biggest controversy is the riots. There is tons of school pride. Especially during basketball season.

beth

I don't think MSU is too large, but I wanted a big school. I haven't had too many classes on the other side of campus yet, only one, but I'm sure once I start getting all my classes on the other side of campus I'm not going to like the big campus so much. I really loved the campus though. I lived in Mason and it's so close to Grand River, the long street full of shops and my friends and I'd go take walks down there. It's also a decent distance from the building showing free weekend movies, Wells Hall. I'm a UofM fan, but I love it at MSU and I'm glad I went there.

KC

I commute in from Flint so there is a lot of things that I am unaware of. I believe that there is a lot of school pride at the undergraduate level. However at the graduate level it varies.

justine

It is a school located on campus and can be walked from one side to other in 30 minutes. The city of East Lansing has a lot to offer students: shopping, bars/food, entertainments, banking, etc. Michigan State University is a great school and campus because one can live on campus/near campus and never require a car.

TJ

MSU is a great school and I will love it forever. What makes it so great are the students, the sports, and the campus. The campus is one of the best I've visited. Filled with historical ivy covered buildings, trees and fields of open spaces, and the Red Cedar River you feel like you're walking through a park when you walk to class each day. The sports teams are stellar with top basketball and hockey programs that bring out a ton of school pride. The football program is on the rise and has always had great support from fans and alumni. Of course the education is great as well with some of the top programs in any field you choose. My greatest memory there was my ability to spend a semester abroad in Rome. Michigan State has the #1 study abroad program in the nation and makes spending time abroad extremely accessible for any student who chooses to do so. The school has a great global presence and has students studying in every reach of the world. My only negative memory of Michigan State is the clashing of the City of East Lansing and the students. The city seemed to not want the students there and did a lot to prevent the city from being a "college town". Don't get me wrong, living in East Lansing was a lot of fun and a great place to go to school but it just seemed odd to me the way that the city conflicted with students.

Megan

The best thing is there is always something happeing at MSU, whether it be games of some sort, movies at Wells Hall, sports through the dorms, concerts, etc. There is usually a lot to choose from so find something you like and see who else wants to join. One thing I would change is the fees for using one of the IM facilities (the on campus 'gyms')...come on $75 a semester on top of all the other fees?! Thats stupid..gr. lol Its a big school but once you get your baring you will be just peachy. It takes some getting used to but it will always have its good and bad. When I tell people I attend MSU, they ususally ask me about Basketball or Football, the academics (how big are my classes, are the profs good, things like that), mostly they say somewhere in the conversation that its great school and that I'm lucky to be attending. I spend most of my time in my room/study area, well, studying obviously. More like a "what college town" atmosphere, it doesnt feel like a college town since it is its own town, more or less. The MSU administration...unless you are there making your point and badgering them constantly dont even try. They take your case/complaint but unless you follow through with it and keep after them, the second you quit and think that they are going to take care of it is the second they stop trying. Its very frustrating actually. The recent biggest controversy was CedarFest 2008! Check out youtube for some clips from it....There is a lot of school pride, especially on the MSU vs. U of M football Saturday! GO GREEN!!!!! lol There isnt a whole lot unsusal about MSU...sadly enough. The one thing I will always remember is the Anberlin, Skillet, and Hellogoodbye concerts. One thing about MSU is they have some GREAT! concerts. :D lol

Ashley

I wish I could change others opinion of Michigan State in comparison to U of M. When we are constantly compared to Michigan we tend to get looked down upon although it is still a good school just not in comparison.

David

People have no unusual reaction when i tell them i go to MSU. I spent most of my time either working or in my room doing homework. East Lansing is a great town to meet people your age and to have fun in. MSU's administration doesnt have any negative points. There is a ton of school pride. The biggest controversy on campus was Cedarfest, a.k.a. the riots.

Kelly

MSU has a beautiful campus. It's very centralized, meaning all the buildings are basically in one large area rather than spread out across a city like U of M. When my parents visit, they are impressed by the Red Cedar River and the very nice walking paths dispersed along the campus. However, the night life is a bit lacking. There's always some kinda big party happening, but if you're not up for that kind of thing, then there's Pinball Pete's and... well, crappy night clubs in Lansing? Don't get trapped by the party atmosphere, it's fun and all, but can become kind of hollow and meaningless once you realize this is the same party you went to last night with worse beer.

aleta

MSU is a very large campus. It probably takes 45 minutes or so to walk from one end to the other. It's baroque buildings are beautiful and have history behind them, with much landscaping done to increase their beauty. The biggest problem I have is with the parking. It is almost impossible to park anywhere on campus, with the library being the largest parking complaint I have. There needs to be change. But overall, I looooovvvveee going to MSU, it has been such a great experience. And yes, there are tons of parties. Oh, and there's also a lot of construction that goes on, mostly in the summertime though. It's still a pain.