My MSU Admission Experience

Hey! I'm back (and it didn't take me two months). I have lots to tell you guys, but first I wanted to write about my admission experience.

I should mention that I had applied to 7 or 8 colleges: University of Michigan, Spring Arbor University, Ferris State University, University of Detroit-Mercy, Alma College, Hillsdale College, University of Washington and Eastern Michigan University, and so I wanted to apply early to make sure that I could get into at least one.

It took me almost the entire school year to hear back from the school. I submitted my application as soon as I could, for early decision, which ended up being at the beginning of October. (The MSU admissions website recommends applying by November 1 for maximum scholarship consideration).

On December 8th (two months later), I got an e-mail saying that my "portal" (which is something MSU uses to keep in touch with you about your application) had been updated. I'd been deferred for the first time. Not a big deal, lots of colleges were making their decisions and I had already been accepted by Alma, University of Detroit-Mercy, Ferris, and Spring Arbor (yeah... I applied as soon as I could).

But as it got closer to May 1 and I had to make my decision, I got a decent scholarship package from UDMercy, and so I sent them a deposit and planned on going there if I didn't get accepted to MSU. So, I had my backup in place and didn't really expect to get in. I mean, I'd already been deferred, and I'd been rejected from the other colleges that had deferred me.

But on March 30th, I got another e-mail saying that my portal had been updated. I was for sure I had been rejected. I was accepted.

It was fantastic and exciting. I was really geeked out. And so, I asked my friend who had gone through the same process as me, with the defer and all, if she'd been accepted or heard anything yet. No, she hadn't. She called the admissions office everyday for the next two weeks and they were apparently telling her that they weren't making decisions yet, before telling her that her application had been in a different pile and she would be accepted for the spring semester but not the fall.

It was weird and unexpected. We'd had basically the same grades (not very good) through high school, same activities and all. So yes, it could have been luck that put me first. But also, my first trimester of senior year hadn't gone very well. Senioritis had struck. But a teacher at the school, the athletic director/"vice principal" had stepped in and made me do a weekly progress sheet to make sure that I studied and did well. He could have saved me. My second trimester grades were fairly high, the ones that were sent to MSU, and I think that made the difference.

STUDY HARD, KIDDOS! AND DON'T GET SENIORITIS. Yes, I got accepted. But, I didn't have a very good financial aid package and have to work hard in college to make up for it. 

Time is flying by.

That's all I can say. Maybe later on I'll do more posts about the beginning of my college life, like move-in and  Sparticipation and U-Fest and all sorts of lovely details like that, but for now I'll just give you guys a quick update about Michigan State, a quick rundown of things I've done, things I wish I did, and things I plan to do.

Things I've done:

• Joined a few on-campus groups. I'm a dork and, when I get excited for things, research them completely. Before I came to campus, I looked through all the student groups and picked some that I thought would be interesting. Among them, CSC (Chinese Student Coalition), KSA (Korean Student Association), Taekwondo, Mixed Martial Arts, Aikido, Pokemon Club. In actuality, I ended up joining only one group from that list: Chinese Student Coalition. I also have found myself a member of PASS, Pilipino American Student Society, and ACIV (Asian Christian InterVarsity) It's a lot of fun and I'm glad that I started out simple, my schedule's already busy with just those three (as you can tell from how long it's taken me). Anyways! Join groups. There are so many groups on campus that there really isn't an excuse NOT to. I've made tons of fabulous friends at PASS and ACIV and I don't regret joining either.
• Switched roommates, since the first time that I mentioned where I would be living. I'm now in Hubbard Hall with a new roommate (just one!) and it is fabulous. I got super lucky. I wanted out of Akers because of its crampedness, I wanted an international roommate, and I don't do well with a lot of people and three others would just be too much. I got so lucky and a girl wanted to switch into Akers, so we worked that out (took forever...) and now I am living with a Chinese international student who is wonderful. 
• Eaten off campus. I'd do posts about it but... I always forget to take pictures. So far, I've eaten at Sushiya, Chapelure Bakery, Charlie Kang's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Pita Pit, Everyday Chinese Restaurant and Bagger Dave's. I'll probably do a review soon but, bear with me because I never remember to take pictures. On-campus, I've eaten at Akers, Hubbard, Holmes, SnyPhi, and Case. 
• Dropped a class. I went in over my head and took a 400-level class and couldn't keep up with it and my other classes, so I dropped it. I feel sad about it, as it was a class that I really liked, but there was no other way. 
• Made a fabulous schedule. Before I took the 400-level class, and after I dropped it, my schedule was great. I've got all of my classes over by, Tuesday & Thursday: 1PM. I start at 9AM. Maybe a little bit early but whatever. I have the whole day to sleep or study or whatever.

Things I wish I'd done: 

• Brought more credits with me. My high school didn't have any AP classes (although they were all supposedly AP-equivalent). I didn't take any AP exams my senior year. I do and don't regret that. For one, if I had taken some then I would have brought more credits with me. But also, I considered it and thought about my strengths: English (reading and writing)... And that's all. But since I couldn't guarantee to myself that I'd get a 4 or above, to make taking the test and paying the fee worth it, I didn't take any. But one of my friends is graduating after 7 semesters, without taking any summer classes, just because of all the credits he'd brought with him. 

Oh, wow... I thought I'd have more regrets than that. 

Things I plan to do: 

• Meet with an adviser. I haven't seen my adviser since AOP, and I need some help. I'm probably going to rearrange my schedule for the spring, which currently has Math 124 (Calculus), Chemistry 142, Chinese 102, and a writing class. Wellll, I'm doing poorly in Math 116 (College Algebra & Trig), so I'm going to try and take the Calculus course at a community college over the summer to save money, time, and anguish. I might also try to fit in another class in that case, something more medical-y (my major is Pre-Physician Assistant and Chinese), but we'll see. 
• Eat at Brody. How pathetic. But I haven't eaten there yet and it's supposedly really good, so we'll see. 
• Sign up for housing. It's decision time, but I haven't decided if on-campus or off-campus is the way to go. I love the convenience of on-campus, but I wouldn't have a roommate (my fabulous roomie from this year is living off-campus). Off-campus provides more freedom but, maybe not as much time to hang out and just be. 
• Make more friends. Obviously. To be honest, my friends are in a very carefully selected group made up of people from ACIV and PASS. I want to find a way to make more international friends and possibly talk to the cute guy I see everywhere. 
• Raise my grades. Sad, but I'm not doing so hot in CEM 141 and MTH 116, so I really need to amp up my performance. We'll see how that goes. 

So... that's that in a nutshell. Life here is fabulous but classes are a drag. I am missing all of my friends from back home, but it's okay because they miss me too. I miss real Chinese food, but I go home on the weekends (work commitment) so I don't have to go without it for too long. 

I'll update soon! Food reviews, Hubbard review, caf review, bus review. So much to do! Also my story of admissions. I know that it's the time where high school seniors are turning in college applications (well... I think it is. I turned all of mine in pretty much as soon as the application opened) and I hope they get led to this blog and that it will be a good resource for them. 

-Rakuzen