Do you wish to become a student at Michigan University? If yes, then you should consider reading this article. This article has relevant tips which will guide you in your admission process. In that case, you should read with keen interest for you to get all the info.
As the best land-grant college in the state, Michigan State University was founded in 1855. Seven years later, the university added non-agricultural majors. With this action, the university has eventually grown into one of the largest universities in the United States.
Public domain photo by Michigan State University via Wikimedia CommonsSo, among its numerous achievements, Michigan State University is now famous for having first-rate education, nuclear physics, and African history programs. The school’s resources include things from the Beal Botanical Garden and the Abrams Planetarium to the National Superconducting Cyclotron Lab and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.
Thanks to the school for these wonderful achievements. Hence, Michigan State University has been praised by the most important observing outlets. According to Washington Monthly, the social mobility enjoyed by MSU grads makes the school the 45th best in the nation.
In the same, Niche.com gives MSU an A grade for its excellent academics, athletics, and monetary value.
Meanwhile, the top-ranking outlet U.S. News & World Report puts MSU in the 80 positions on its list of National Universities. The University also ranks within the top 50 on U.S. News‘s lists for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs, Learning Communities, and Top Public Schools.
As all of these high rankings have shown, Michigan State University is an excellent public institution, with a proud history of achievement. Just like all other schools of its caliber, Michigan State University has high standards for applying.
Fortunately enough, this guide can walk you through all of the steps.
Michigan State Acceptance Rate
With respect to this, in 2020 alone, 44,322 students applied to study at the school. Out of that number, 31,522 were given offers of admission. This gave MSU a 71% acceptance rate.
As a matter of fact, those are outstanding odds. According to that percentage, only three out of every ten students who applied will be rejected.
That is a much more open number than the one offered by MSU’s greatest rival, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Though the school received far more applications, with 64,972 applicants contacting the school in 2019, only 14,883 were admitted. That gives the University of Michigan an acceptance rate of just 23%.
As it stands, some people like the idea of going to an elite college that accepts only a small number of applicants. On the other hand, there are real advantages to going to a school with a higher acceptance rate.
So, not only does MSU bring in most of the people who want to study at the institution, but it also builds a diverse student body. In that case, a higher acceptance rate means that different kinds of people make it to the university. This as a result gives the students a richer and more complex learning experience.
Michigan State’s Out-of-State Acceptance Rate
Just like some other schools, Michigan State University does not publish its acceptance rates for out-of-state students. On the other hand, looking at the services and support it offers to students coming from outside of Michigan, it is clear that MSU values these additions to its student’s body.
In 2021, 1,689 American students outside of Michigan enrolled in the school. This was a total of 18.6 students entering the class of year one. That same year, 424 new students came from outside of the United States.
These numbers speak of the rich learning opportunities offered by MSU. In fact, by welcoming students from around the world, the school brings the world to its campus. In this case, MSU students get a cosmopolitan experience just by going to class and interacting with one another.
Better still is the fact that MSU makes life in the university highly affordable to these students. On the other hand, it charges nearly twice as much for tuition from non-Michigan residents. This is estimated to be around $51,402 every year. This fee includes accommodation and boarding fees.
However, to help the students, MSU includes First-Year Experience programs and counselors to assist new arrivals as they become acclimated to their new school.
As these facts help to justify the fact that MSU values out-of-state students, even if we don’t know their specific acceptance rate.
Michigan State GPA
In keeping with its high acceptance rate and desire to build a diverse student body, MSU has no minimum requirements regarding GPA. On the other hand, MSU has high standards for its applicants.
On average, the MSU incoming first-year class enters the University with a GPA ranging between 3.5 and 4.0.
Such high grades don’t come easily. In fact, a GPA of that level can only be earned by pulling A’s and maybe a couple of B’s in your high school classes.
Furthermore, these grades should be earned in higher-level courses, including AP and IB classes.
Even though the occasional B won’t badly harm your overall GPA, however, Bs should only be earned in classes outside of your major. English majors should get A’s in literature and writing courses, as should chemistry majors in their science and statistics classes.
Michigan State University WikipediaAs a matter of fact, MSU has reasonably high standards for its incoming freshmen. But these high grades shouldn’t be construed as just indicators of intelligence. Rather, strong grades show that students take their commitments seriously and can handle the expectations held by MSU.
For that reason, grades alone are not the most essential part of an application. Instead, MSU looks at a range of other things. This includes the quality of the curriculum and an applicant’s personal experience.
Michigan State SAT & ACT Requirements
As it has always been, MSU takes a test-optional approach to the SAT and the ACT. On this note, incoming freshmen are not required to take the ACT or the SAT. on the other hand, if they do decide to take the tests, they need not submit their scores.
Meanwhile, there may be valid reasons for submitting standardized test scores, even if they aren’t required.
So, even though it seems like tests such as the ACT or the SAT are just bureaucratic distractions that high school students need to go through in their junior or senior years, they actually serve a very useful purpose.
Hence, standardized tests show admissions counselors a student’s ability to think critically and analytically, skills they’ll need in college.
As a result of that, many students usually submit their scores, even though MSU doesn’t require it. In 2020, the incoming class at MSU scored between 23 and 29 on the ACT and between 1110 and 1280 on the SAT.
So, if your scores are comparable to or better than these averages, then you should definitely submit them in your application. If your grades are lower, you should probably take advantage of the school’s test-optional policy and focus on your other materials.
Other Requirements and Admission Tips for MSU
Since the school wants to develop a diverse student body, it, therefore, has a clear and easy-to-follow application process.
In that case, all you need to do is fill out the application, send high school transcripts to the school, and write the application essay. In conjunction with a $65 application fee, those steps will earn you consideration from the admissions committee.
On the other hand, following the bare minimum of an application will hardly let you stand out. In that case, all the over 40,000 students who want to get into MSU will be doing the same thing. So, in order to stand out, you need to do some additional work.
Hence, the only way to stand out is simply to take the ACT or the SAT and submit your scores.
In the same vein, another way to stand out is to get letters of recommendation.
What then is a letter of recommendation? Letters of recommendation are documents used to suggest a student for admission into a college.
In this regard, prospective undergraduates usually get letters of recommendation from teachers in high school. However, they can also come from a respected community leader, such as a religious figure or a businessperson.
The ideal recommender is someone who can speak of your abilities as a student. They need to credibly put you in the best light, with as many details as possible.
In the same way, early action applications should be submitted by November 1st. on the other hand, the regular application deadline is February 1st, of every year.
Essays
Though letters of recommendation and standardized test scores are optional at MCU, an application essay is not.
In fact, an application essay gives admission counselors a chance to know better the people who want to study at their school. Through the essay, potential Spartans show off their personality and value. Not just that, it helps counselors to see what applicants can bring to the student body.
At MSU, students are expected to write a 650-word essay. The school provides applicants with seven essay prompts to choose from. These prompts cover everything from personal identity, challenges that one has overcome, personal growth, and a topic of interest.
As this short summary indicates, the application essay is inherently personal. Since it’s about you, there is no one right or wrong answer you can give.
However, you should be aware of the techniques a student can use to improve their chances.
So, to catch the reader’s attention, your essay should have strong examples and concrete details. Phrases such as “In today’s society” don’t paint a word picture, but a statement like “When I entered high school 2019” is precise and easy to understand.
Likewise, it’s also important to make strong word choices. MSU wants essays of no more than 650 words, which means that every word has to count. If you can say something with one word instead of two, always choose the former.
By following these steps, you’re sure to have a compelling application essay.
Is Michigan State University Right for You?
There are so many reasons why a student should choose to attend Michigan State University.
One of the best reasons is its esteemed athletic program, the Michigan State University Spartans Field 25 varsity sports team. This ranges from wrestling, volleyball, football, and gymnastics.
The school’s football team has won the Rose Bowl four times and the men’s basketball team has won the national championship twice.
Another reason for attending Michigan State University is because of its amazing programs. Hence, the school focuses on agriculture, industrial supply chains, and education with top-rated programs in all of these fields.
So, if these qualities appeal to you, then MSU is an excellent choice. Studying at the school puts you in the footsteps of great people such as NBA legend Magic Johnson, film director Sam Raimi, and billionaire Eli Broad.
With a degree from Michigan State University, you can easily blaze your own impressive trail.