Michigan State University Top Questions

The friends I met my first year at State were all from my floor in the dorm. We were all very social and left our doors open from the beginning of the year, and everyone became very close. We all ate together at dinner and did various activities around campus together, like the free movies at the lecture halls on the weekends. None of us joined fraternities or sororities, but they are an important part of the student body. Many of the parties around here are at the frat houses.

I love the atmosphere in East Lansing and there is so much to offer through the university that there is never a dull moment.

Join a sorority or Frat if you are into it. If you aren't into join a club that fits your major or that you are interested in. Get a job and network with locals. You will have a lot of free time and its a great way to meet people in the area who have know of fun things to do. Join an Im sport!! You don't have to be good at it! Its really competitive once you get to the finals, but you are just playing for fun you probably won't get that far anyway. Its so much fun do it! Go to the MSU website and type in events in the search engine. You can find open skate times, theater performances, planetarium times, art museums, rodeos, monster truck rallies...

There are countless numbers of student groups and organizations on campus. I participated in Alternative Spring Break through the university and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. There is so much to do on campus from theatrical productions at the Wharton Center to concerts and sports at the Breslin Center. There are cultural activities and artistic activities. People are very social. There is an active night life and alway something to do. We have shopping on Grand River and the zoo in Lansing. The University Activities Board plans really fun events that receive great turn out that are an excellent way for students to get involved and meet people. They plan events every day of the week that are very entertaining.

I was a member of the Spartan Marching Band for four years and created some of my best friendships and memories through my experiences in the band.

Since it is such a HUGE campus, there is always things happened. The library actually is kind of a hang out at 2 in the morning most nights. You run into so many people you know! on the weekends i generally go out with my friends and just kind of roam the city of east lansing from house to house in good spirits usually followed by a trip to taco bell. I met my closest friends on the Skating Team and on my floor last year in the dorms.

East Lansing is a city that never sleeps. It you're up studying at 2am and your stomach starts grumbling, you can guarantee that any one of the many restaurants along Grand River Ave. will be open and crawling with college students. Don't feel like going out? Most places deliver late into the night. On other nice thing about MSU is that on-campus dining options are broad and their hours of operation are long. MSU's libraries stay open 24 most days of the week, with is actually a rarity at most universities.

Althetic Events and the events(like tailgating) that go along with them seem to be the most popular group activities on campus. Football, basketball, and hockey seem to gather the largest crowds. I met most of my closest friends in the dorms and in classes, as well as meeting people through other people. If I were awake at 2am on a Tuesday, I am probably hanging out with my roommate or my boyfriend watching tv reruns or having a dance party! Fraternities and sororities are pretty dominant on campus, but there is definitely a significant amount of people who are not involved in the greek system at all. Frats are popular party spots- we go to Theta Chi a lot. I would say that there are people partying on most thursday, friday, and saturday nights. There are way more people out when the weather is warm!! If you don't want to drink on a saturday, there are always movies playing at Wells Hall, there are events and bowling at the union, there are dozens of restaurants, and there is always just hanging out and watching a movie as an option!

There are tons of organizations on campus... so it's hard to tell which ones are the most popular or active. I am involved in Women's Council - a feminist student organization. Most of the meetings are discussion based, but we do activism as well. We host events and workshops and do general education on a regular basis. Through this group, I met my closest friends as well. If I am up really late, I am generally doing homework... but on the weekends, I am probably out at the club or hanging out with friends. Weekends are definitely my time to catch up on my social life. During the week I try to concentrate on getting all my course work done. Saturday nights can also include poetry slams, or other activities hosted in Lansing... or just hanging out with good friends.

University organizations try to provide ample opportunities to have fun on the weekend without drinking. Every week there are free movies that were recently at the theaters to on-campus students ($2 for off-campus students), there are also typically comedians, concerts, etc. Special events are also hosted throughout the year, including Casino Night, Open (Ice) Skating, etc.

MSU has a great student activities board and there are a wealth of things that students can get involved in. I am a senior and I do not know even a quarter of the things that are available on this campus. With this large amount of opportunities you do have to take the initiative to find and search out your interests on your own. Many people do not realize what is out there for them and do not get involved until sophomore or junior year because they did not look for the opportunities and waited for them to come to them. There are enough organizations to satisfy any student though. Frats and sororities are popular and many students are involved in them, but just as many, me included are not involved in the Greek community at all. It all depends on your interest and personality type. MSU is known for partying, but anyone who comes here for that will be very let down. We are no different from any other schools social life and have many other activities that people take advantage of on the weekends such as Residence life cinemas, crafts, sporting events, the annual Lansing Holiday celebration (Silver Bells in the City) and other various things. Football games are a must on Saturdays in the fall with Homecoming every year, and basketball games are huge in the winter. Hockey is also a growing interest. Many activities are also centered around the organizations that you are in so I highly recommend that you get involved in the university in the way that interests you.