9. Talk to your professors and get to know them; they'll write you a killer reference letter when you need it | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

44 Things I've Learned Since Starting College At Michigan State University

Every MSU student has a different college experience and perception of Spartan nation; this is mine.

876
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MSU_Beaumont_Tower_1.jpg
Wikimedia Commons

College has been one of the most life-changing and craziest experiences of my life. I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I started college at Michigan State University. I went from a bright-eyed eager freshman who knew nothing about Spartan nation or its sports teams and thought she knew what she wanted in life to a girl who changed her major six times sophomore year and wouldn't miss an MSU baseball game for the world.

There are so many things I wish I knew before starting college at MSU and so many things I wish I would have done differently, but everything happens for a reason I guess and I'm happy I got a chance to figure everything out as I worked my way up the grade scale, even if it was difficult and confusing at times.

Every MSU student has a different college experience and perception of Spartan nation; this is mine.

1. Graduating college on time is overrated, do it on your own time

2. The MSU Dairy Store has THE BEST ice cream around

3. Even when they have a losing season, you'll always cheer for the football team

4. It's okay if you don't meet your lifelong friends

5. You don't have to join Greek life to have an amazing college experience; there are plenty of clubs you can join where you'll meet people with similar interests

6. It's going to be the best and worst experience of your life

7. It's okay if you don't have everything figured out

8. Enjoy college because once it's over, adulthood sets in and there's no going back

9. Talk to your professors and get to know them; they'll write you a killer reference letter when you need it

10. Make friends in your classes; they'll come in handy when you can't make it to class

11. The dining halls rarely change their menus; the food is delicious but it gets old very quickly

12. Taking a picture with Sparty never gets old

13. Living off-campus isn't as cool as you think—cooking your own food SUCKS

14. Make an effort to keep in touch with people; campus is huge and if you don't make an effort, you may never see that person again (literally)

15. If you're looking for something to do, go to a sporting event; aside from football, basketball and hockey, they're all free!

16. You'll get so many free t-shirts you won't know where to store them

17. Say goodbye to the toxic people in your life and surround yourself with people who love you and make you happy

18. The Douglas J Aveda Institute on Grand River Ave. gives free blowouts; TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS

19. Frat parties get old, fast

20. Meeting your future husband is unlikely

21. You will lose contact with a majority of your high school best friends and that's okay; it means you're all growing up and figuring out who you want to be

22. You will change your mind, A LOT

23. Utilize the MSU Career Center in the Student Services building; from tips to writing a killer resume to internships you can apply for, they're there to help you

24. Utilize your advisor; they'll help you set up your schedule, keep you out of pointless classes and help you figure out your next move

25. No one cares what you wear to class; honestly, they don't even care if you show up

26. You're on your own now which means only you can hold yourself accountable

27. These next four (or five in my case) years may define your college years, but they won't define the rest of your life

28. Don't compare yourself to anyone else; doing this will destroy your confidence

29. Take time to relax and do something you enjoy; you'll have a mental breakdown if you don't

30. Guys are as immature as they were in high school

31. Rent your textbooks, never buy them

32. Don't get your textbooks until after the first day of class; you may not even need them

33. Skipping class seems like no big deal but it will only hurt your grade in the end; you're paying for it anyway so you might as well go

34. That being said, sometimes you need a "me" day so skipping class is appropriate, as long as it doesn't become a regular thing

35. Student discounts are EVERYWHERE; use them every chance you get

36. Laptop stickers and backpack pins are cool

37. Failing a test or a class isn't the end of the world, as long as it doesn't become a regular thing

38. For the last 18 years of your life, you haven't made a lot of decisions on your own; now that you're in college, your decisions are yours and your life is yours; live a life that makes you happy

39. Only you can make you happy; it's up to you to live a life you've always dreamed of

40. If you can afford it, study abroad, even if only for a week; the world is huge and it's waiting to be explored

41. Take care of yourself; limit the all-nighters, get enough sleep, eat healthy when you can, exercise even if it means just walking to class, take a "me day when you need it and don't be too harsh on yourself; you're doing the best you can

42. Buy a good pair of snow boots, an umbrella and a rain coat; Michigan weather is unpredictable

43. You'll bleed green and white for the rest of your life

44. Write it all down. I've never been a journal person myself, but I wish I had written about all of the crazy memories from freshmen year and everything I've learned since starting college, but maybe it's not too late and this is a good place to start?

These next four (or five in my case) years may be the best years of your life or they may totally suck, but they'll help you become the person you were always destined to be and hopefully help you figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life. These years are yours. Your life is yours. Do what makes you happy.

Good luck future and current Spartans!

From Your Site Articles
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

5552
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

40 Gift Ideas for the Indecisive

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

119730
Christmas gifts around a tree
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2024, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Bucket List To Live In The Now

Find excitement in your life and start exploring wherever you are right here, right now.

1457
mu bucket list

I was sitting at my cubicle, now that I am an adult, looking at the rain pouring down on the windowsill, bumming on life, wishing for the rain to just stop for a full day.

There are moments where we count down the hours until work is over and how many more days till the weekend, and this many weeks until something exciting. Or something like that? Well, I was bumming because my next day off from work is not until Memorial Day weekend, which is not until the end of May. And since this is my first year out of college being a “real person,” I am totally missing the winter, spring and summer breaks. I am sure all of us have felt this way even if just for a hot minute…

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Ways To Survive Finals As Told By Leslie Knope

Because you know you're going to be stressed out, and Leslie knows exactly how to survive.

1051
Everything hurts and I'm dying

So finals are on their way. That's right everybody, finals are about to start.

But hey, don't panic. Start getting your affairs in order and prepare for a week of hell. Here's a few things Leslie Knope wants you to do to make your finals week just a little bit less stressful:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments