Academics
Michigan State University reverberates with Spartan pride, and it’s easy to understand why. The school maintains “a beautiful campus,” has “an insane amount of resources,” and provides exciting research opportunities for students. It also offers a “fantastic honors college” along with very strong “agricultural…[and] STEM programs (especially [in] astronomy, animal science, and chemistry).” Labs, hands-on learning, and nontraditional classrooms are very popular with students, and a great example of this is the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which encourages students to solve real-world problems through action and innovation.
Though courses are described as demanding, undergrads assure us that help and support are readily available and the school is invested in student success. Many also stress that it’s quite easy to “get help from peers and tutors.” Inside the classroom, students find engaged professors who are “very passionate about their subjects” and truly endeavor to make their courses relevant and interesting. Nevertheless, students do speak highly of MSU’s faculty. As one student enthuses, “I have not encountered a single individual in a teaching role at this university that has not blown me away with their respect and care for the students, their ability to teach, and their passion in their subjects.” Another classmate concurs, adding that professors “are always willing to go the extra mile and make sure you understand the material to its full extent.”
Student Body
Given the size of Michigan State University, students shouldn’t be too surprised to learn that the school has a very diverse community. As one undergrad notes, “I would say that the student body is like the ocean; there are all types of unique people with many interests.” Undergrads appreciate the fact that the university manages to attract people from across the globe: it’s common here “to have a conversation with someone from Nigeria one day and the next have a conversation with someone from Finland.” Just like at any large university, there are “highly motivated individuals who are here to [further] their education and another set who are here to party.” But in general, students say that their peers are hard-working and “extremely eager to ask questions and engage” while still managing to be “laid-back…and fun.” But perhaps what undergrads here cherish most of all is that their colleagues are friendly and supportive—“always willing to help out a fellow Spartan.” As one student says, “It is a very welcoming school, with so many people that you are sure to find your group.”
Campus Life
Camaraderie is key at MSU. As one student puts it, “Our school has a lot of passion for its school spirit and sports; it’s something everyone here bonds over incredibly well.” The school’s stature in the Big Ten is especially celebrated—“the entire campus gets excited”— come football season, whether that’s in the stadium or at a tailgate party—but there are plenty of ways for those not interested in Division I sports to experience the thrill of the game. There are intramural sports, like the popular volleyball league, and recreational facilities, and the university hosts plenty of non-sporting events from trivia nights and karaoke to craft nights and open-mic nights. There are also many clubs to join, from the professional—like MSU Management Consulting Academy, the pre-med club, and the Women in Business Students’ Association (WBSA)—to the recreational (anime club; sailing club, Model UN; VIM, a student-led fashion magazine; and more). A good number of people participate in Greek life as well and students can generally find fraternity or sorority parties to attend on the weekends.
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