Michigan State University - East Lansing, Michigan

With over 200 different academic programs and a list of national and international rankings, Michigan State University has a pretty well known academic reputation. The university is especially known for its programs in physics. While the nuclear physics program is consistently ranked highly, the university received even more attention in 2007 when an MSU professor (and one of his colleagues) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
The university is much more than just physics though! With programs in such varied fields as criminal justice and elementary education, there is sure to be a program (or selection of programs) for everyone to pursue. There is also a very well-developed university Honors program that allows students to go beyond the regular curriculum in areas of special interest.
As a cutting-edge research university with high research output, there is always new scholarship and advancement coming out of MSU. For any student wanting to be a part of that knowledge production, then MSU may be just the place.

One of the things that Michigan State University is best known for is its international exchange program. MSU’s study abroad program ranks first in the United States for sending students abroad. They offer over sixty different country options on all seven continents (yes, including Antarctica), which is great for students looking to really make the most of their college years, learning and broadening their horizons.
But, for students looking to have fun a little closer to campus, there are lots of choices there, too. There are things like student government and student-run media options on campus, but there are also a huge number of smaller student organizations that draw students of all varieties. From the Young Communist League to the Accounting Student Association, there really is quite a variety.
More than 3,000 students are also a part of the university’s Greek system, making it one of the largest in the country.

Michigan State University (MSU) was the first of all of the land-grant universities established in the mid-nineteenth century. Since its establishment in 1855 it has grown to be one of the largest universities in America—there are almost 50,000 students and 11,000 faculty and staff. The campus, located in East Lansing, is spread over about 2,000 acres.
MSU’s sports teams, the Spartans, are Division I teams (with the exception of men’s hockey), and different teams are known for various titles accrued over the years. For example, the football team has taken home numerous national championships, and the men’s basketball team has appeared in the Final Four ten times, which, as most college sports fans know, is substantially more frequently than most! Although the school really is big, the whole university comes together to rally for the sports teams, which is just one of many ways that this big university maintains a small college feel for many of the students.

Sports are a big deal at MSU, and many students attend the school because they are eager to become Spartans. While football is the biggest draw – MSU is a big 10 school, after all – the university also offers a total of 20 varsity sports. In addition, there are numbers of sports-related majors that serious athletes can take advantage of: there are programs in Kinesiology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sports and Commercial Turf Management, and Park, Recreation and Tourism. The university also offer myriad opportunities to student athletes. There are numerous post-graduate scholarships available, as well as an internship program sponsored by the NCAA that is geared toward athletes’ interests. There is also a job database specifically for athletes. Student-Athlete Support services provides athletes with support for their classes. Tutors meet with students one-on-one, run review sessions, and offer general academic guidance. There is also a mentoring program, which helps student athletes learn to better manage their time and coursework.

Despite Michigan’s State’s enormous size, the university makes an effort to make it feel less overwhelming. Consequently, MSU offers a number of residential programs that attempt to break down traditional barriers between students’ lives inside and outside of the classroom. There are four individual degree-granting “Academic Living-Learning Communities” divided by area of academic interest: admission to The Honors College is based on GPA and tests scores, and students may join by invitation only. Lyman Briggs focuses on the natural sciences, James Madison on the social sciences, and the Residential College for Arts and Humanities on, unsurprisingly, the arts and humanities. In addition, MSU offers a number of theme-based housing options that do not grant degrees: these options include language housing (including ASL and Arabic), housing for engineering students, and housing for students interested in environmental issues. The Academic Scholars program is open to freshman and sophomores not originally invited to join the Honors College, but who intend to do so after their first year.

Michigan State is Michigan’s other university, and with 45,000 students, it is even larger more famous cousin in Ann Arbor. There are a number of significant differences between the two schools: whereas the University of Michigan is known for its strong programs in both the liberal arts and sciences, Michigan State was founded as a land-grand institution and still holds on to its agricultural and technical roots. The strongest programs are in Engineering, Business, and the Natural Sciences, and students tend to seek majors with strong practical and professional applications rather than focusing on the experience of learning for its own sake. Michigan State is also a good deal less selective, with over seventy-five percent of applicants being admitted. Large classes are an issue, with some classes being taught by videoconference because of overcrowded classrooms – that said, Michigan students also find their professors accessible and willing to help, and an honors program is available for top applicants. A high percentage of Michigan students also choose to study abroad.

Michigan State is huge. It is whatever you make it. Take the right classes and do well, and you can get a super education.