Michigan State University

1st Year Female -- Class 2007

Useful Schoolwork: A+, Individual Value: C

Do NOT pick a school based on the popularity or national ranking of their sports teams! A good football/basketball/hockey team can add excitement, but won't help you later in life when you are in the real world. I see this happen way too often. I coach high school athletics and I watch the Juniors and Seniors start talking about where they are going to apply. Many times I hear them "rank" one school higher than another with no statistical evidence based on the education they would receive. "ABC kicked XYZ's butt in football" tends to be the best arguement.

Also, visit the campus. In Michigan, the two most popular choices for large universities is Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. VISIT THE CAMPUS! I can't stress that enough. These two schools have DRASTICALLY different atmospheres. Depending on what you are looking for, this could make or break your college experience.In the end, as long as your go to a reputable school, it isn't as important WHERE you went, it is WHAT you did while you were there. I would suggest that you go to a school, if you can, that people have heard of nation wide. But they don't necessarily have to win the popularity contest. You wouldn't want to be in an interview 5 years from now, on the other side of the country and have the company ask you "Where did you go to school?" "Where is that?" "Hmm, never heard of it".

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

My experience at MSU has been good, I am glad I went here, its good for the price, and I absolutely love my major (biosystems engineering). As far as socially, like any big university, there is a lot of drinking/partying, but I found plenty of other things to do. There are a ton of clubs, and a ton of people. The only thing I really don't like about MSU is that the students are very closeminded, not very active. there are some activist groups (womyn's council, LBGT, etc), but they are hard core, hate anyone that disagrees (closeminded). The students who do nothing but party are really annoying, especially when they complain about having to get up before noon or that they have classes on friday (if you are a science or engineering student, you will most likely not be able to do either, unless you skip class) . But like I said it is a big university, so you can find other people who you will get along with. The best thing about MSU is that there is really no competition, it is all up to you to do as well as you want to or need to without elitist idiots who try to sabotage you. I highly recommend going to a university this big, because you can always carve your own niche. Even though the university treats me like a number, my department knows me by name, and I am on a first name basis with some professors in one of the programs I am involved in.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2007

Education Quality: A+, Individual Value: F