The Michigan State Spartans are prided right up there with other leading colleges in the nation for their cultural diversity and historical social progress. Their website boasts a $16 billion fiscal impact on the state of Michigan. The arts and culture of MSU are remarkably diverse in modality and origin. Obama endorsed a consortium on a leading composite material recently developed at Michigan State. It is clear that their commitment to academic excellence and cultural inclusivity is a great pride for the MSU community. And the variety of departments and programs available, and opportunity for under-represented groups to attend makes the campus welcoming for all.
One of the best ways to get the real scoop on culture and life on campus however, is to go to the source. A campus visit is “key” to choosing a college. When there, avoid questions you can easily find on the website or in a brochure. Instead, take your time exploring, observing and asking questions of your guide, (or perhaps other students and a professor or two from the department you are interested in). It will most likely help to make an appointment in advance to see a professor.
- Eat lunch at one of the campus hot spots so that you can observe and ask questions of current students and college community. Ask what kinds of activities help with the transition into college life at MSU. Ask where the best campus eateries and social hangouts are. Ask what kinds of organizations, clubs or sorority/fraternities are on campus.
- Ask your tour guide about both the nitty-gritty like campus safety, student health center, campus Wi-Fi, night security as well as a personal experience such as, “Why did you choose MSU?” Even ask what the reputation of the department you are interested in has. Avoid getting too personal.
- Don’t be shy. When you see someone who isn’t hurrying to class or deep in conversation, ask questions. Ask the student sitting in the lawn outside of your department what year they are. Sit down and have a conversation about the department, intern opportunities, study abroad opportunities, undergraduate research opportunities, career services, and who might be the helpful advisors to trust. You can ask about what freshman experiences are a “must do,” and if there is a culminating senior experience to look forward to. Ask what the average class size is for an introductory course as well as upper division courses. How much reading and writing can be expected. How much time, on average, will be spent on homework? Are teaching assistants common?
- Make sure you SLOW DOWN and really savor the EXPERIENCE of the tour. Save questions about particular financial aid packages or graduation rates and statistics for further research on the web, in the brochures, and in phone calls or emails.
Before you leave, sit quietly somewhere centrally located on campus and imagine yourself doing some of the things you had heard about on your tour. Note how you feel about the campus design, natural landscapes, social settings, and other possibilities that stuck with you. When you get home write notes or in a journal. The process of choosing a school should be as personal as it is professionally-minded. If you find yourself unclear, listen to your heart and your gut; the body has instincts that the mind cannot know.
Holly Sisson holds an MA in East-West Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, California and a dual BA from SFSU in Psychology and Spanish. She spent two years studying abroad on three campuses across Spain and Chile. Currently, Holly resides in San Diego, California where she is taking a sabbatical to focus on writing her first book and continue developing her personal body-mind connection with yoga and nature.