Skip to main content

Fourth Year/New Students and Family

AUGUST 2022

GRADUATION IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK: PREPARE NOW FOR WHAT COMES NEXTSpartan graduation

Whether your destination after State is employment or graduate school, your entire college experience is a critical time for developing and executing a strategy to get you there. The good news is we have a great network of Career Services professionals to help you identify and develop toward your purpose – “what you’re trying to do or become.” 

An effective career strategy is built upon three key parts:

• SELF ASSESSMENT & PRIORITY IDENTIFICATION. Your interests, values, and skills form the core of your purpose and what you offer. These remain stable even when you switch jobs, but they get refined as you gain experience. Career Assessment tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are a great starting point to help you articulate what you want and where there’s a likely fit. You also need to think about your priority for the next 2-3 years. It may be finding a dream job, experimenting with a different career, or just earning money for graduate school. If priorities change, so should your career strategy. 

• KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD OF WORK. There are many more jobs out there than the small percentage that get advertised. Uncovering those that match your aspirations requires some digging. It starts with basic research, using resources which describe the tasks, work environments, and skills used in a given job. Advanced resources such as field-specific journals and websites (e.g., The Wall Street Journal if you’re interested in investment banking; https://chemistry.org if you’re interested in scientific research) help you discover the major employers offering the type of work you want. To know if you’re on the right track, you eventually will need to talk with people who work in the field. This is called informational interviewing, and it’s the best way to get the insights you’ll need to become a strong candidate.

• UNDERSTANDING SEARCH PROCESSES. Searching for a job isn’t like taking a class. For starters, there’s no syllabus…unless you create it yourself. Although the resume seems like a writing assignment, it’s really a personal ad. The interview, which looks like an exam, determines whether there are enough interests in common to take the relationship a step further. The process works only if you take charge, which may force you to adopt new ways of thinking. In addition, your internal processes — how you make decisions (methodically or spontaneously), how you learn (by studying, observing, or experiencing) — affect the execution of your search strategy.

Your search strategy, whether for a part time job, summer internship or full time job, starts when you know what you want to do (your purpose!) and who may hire you to do it. It’s a game plan for writing a targeted resume, going through the application process, interviewing, and negotiating an offer. Career Services offers a variety of workshops, individual advising, career fairs, on-campus interviewing, and networking opportunities that can play a vital part in developing and executing your strategy. Learn more at https://careernetwork.msu.edu.

What is Handshake? It’s your resource for part time jobs, internships, career events, full time jobs and much more. Only for MSU students and recent alumni, this website allows you to access job and internship postings, career fair information and career-related workshops. Log in to your Handshake account at https://careernetwork.msu.edu to create your profile, post your resume, apply for full time jobs and internships, research employers, manage your on-campus interviews, and access other career-related announcements and resources.

For more information about careers, internships and links to the latest career resources, visit the MSU Career Services Network online at https://careernetwork.msu.edu.

This website is a resource for Fourth Year/New Students. Check out all the information below! Click on each tile.
  • Planning To Graduate? Remember To...
    Submit your application for graduation. You must submit this form by the first week of the semester that you plan to complete your degree requirements. Information about the application for graduation is available on the Commencement website https://commencement.msu.edu or by contacting the Registrar’s Office.

    If you plan to participate in commencement, it is also a good idea to make dinner and hotel reservations well in advance. The commencement website is a good resource for information about dates, times, locations of ceremonies and also provides a link for visitor and travel information. Earning a degree from MSU is a special honor — we hope that you will join us at commencement so that we may celebrate your accomplishment.
  • Community Liaison Connects Students to East Lansing!

    Welcome back to East Lansing! Please take note of the following resources available to help you become more involved in your community:

    • The City of East Lansing’s website is a great resource to bookmark! It features a section specifically for Student-Residents and another about Student Life in East Lansing. This site offers helpful information regarding trash pick-up days, downtown shopping and dining, important ordinances and more. Visit us at https://cityofeastlansing.com/studentresidents to check it out.
    • When deciding where to live, MSU’s Housing Listing Service can help students explore their options. This free service features multiple property listings and includes advanced search filters, a roommate finder, message boards, and educational resources. Visit https://offcampushousing.msu.edu to start your search.
    • MSU’s Community Liaison Serves as a bridge between MSU and the surrounding community. The Community Liaison works with Spartans, municipal leadership, landlords and residents to ensure positive and productive relationships. To connect with the Community Liaison, call (517) 432-7527 or email hingwesu@msu.edu.
    • MSU’s Center for Community Engaged Learning offers students with a wonderful connection to many opportunities for contribution to the greater Lansing community. Last year, approximately 700 students served in East Lansing. The University is extremely proud of their contributions to the community they live in. Visit https://communityengagedlearning.msu.edu to learn more.

    We wish you the best over your coming year at State. Welcome Home!
  • Support Our Spartans
    Each year, graduating seniors have the opportunity to leave behind a lasting legacy of their time spent at Michigan State University. Since 1873, MSU’s graduating senior class has raised money through the University’s Annual Giving Fund in support of special campus projects or a designated area of need. This longstanding tradition unites seniors to give back in support of MSU’s mission: Advancing Knowledge and Transforming Lives.

    It is now easier than ever to give back by making a gift in support of your specific college or any program of your choice. Your gift will help provide aid to current and future students, beautify the campus and ensure that your class is forever recognized. Visit the University Development website at https://givingto.msu.edu/gift/.
  • Once a Spartan…Always a Spartan
    Regardless of your plans after graduation, whether you go to Zimbabwe or New Zealand, East Lansing or Chicago, you wil always be a Spartan. A great way to stay connected to Michigan State University is through the MSU Alumni Office and MSU alumni clubs throughout Michigan, the United States, and worldwide. Membership in the Alumni Association helps you network worldwide with MSU alumni and entitles you to discounts at hotels, dining facilities, car rental companies, moving services and others. Alumni Career Services are offered too. More information about benefits of memberships online at https://alumni.msu.edu.
  • How To…Get Involved!
    Congratulations, you have successfully made it to your senior year of college. Have you joined a Registered Student Organization yet? Have you become a part of ASMSU (your undergraduate student government)? Have you joined a chapter in MSU’s Greek community? If you have answered “no” to these questions, the only remaining question is WHY NOT? Involvement in student groups can provide you with great opportunities to meet new friends, assume leadership positions, and apply what you are learning in classes to reallife issues.

    If you are interested in getting involved, but not sure how to go about it, check out the list of Registered Student Organizations that is available on the Involve@State website at https://msu.campuslabs.com/engage. The list has contact information for most of the over 900 organizations. Would you rather meet with some of the organizations’ membership? Join us for Spartan Spectacular, an event hosted over five days from Monday, August 29 to Friday, September 2, starting with our Fall Welcome Spartan Spectacular Kick-Off event followed by an innovative and virtual edition of SPARTICIPATION highlighting hundreds of student organizations, departments, programs, and sponsors. The event will also feature Spartan Showcase, a talent showcase event. We will also host Spartan Spirit, our pep rally event kicking off our athletic season highlighting our athletic teams, MSU marching band, and Sparty. The event will feature some new and spectacular components in addition to our traditional Spartan Spectacular events. A platform engagement tutorial demonstration will be hosted at the start of the event each day to provide strategies on navigating the virtual event platform. For Spartan Spectacular event updates please check the fallwelcome.msu.edu website.
  • Campus Bus Service
    The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides bus service to all of the greater Lansing area and to MSU. Campus service operates 24/7 during fall and spring semesters with service beginning Monday, August 31, 2020. Free on-campus bus service will be provided to all MSU students, faculty and staff. The fare-free rides apply to Routes 30-39 only. A cash fare or bus pass will be required to ride Lot Link, Night Owl or any off-campus route. Lot Link and Night Owl are on-demand services that operate on campus in the evening and early morning. Rides are requested by calling (517) 432-8888. Students pay $.60 a ride when they show their valid MSU ID on these services. Students wanting to purchase a bus pass instead of paying for each ride not included in the free-fare campus service have several bus pass options. Passes may be purchased online at http://cata.org/ or at the MSU ID Office located in the International Center. For specific information regarding CATA’s routes and bus pass information, please call (517) 432-2282, visit CATA’s website at cata.org or email us at info@cata.org.
  • Learning Outside The Classroom

    Being a student is not just about taking classes and fulfilling degree requirements. It’s about becoming involved in your whole undergraduate experience. There are many ways for you to enhance your employability, develop marketable skills, and prepare for a career by learning outside of the classroom. Be sure to take advantage of these opportunities!

    STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS: Try joining one of the hundreds of student organizations on campus. It’s a great way to meet people, develop special interests and gain leadership skills. A complete list of student organizations on campus is available from the Office of Spartan Experiences
    at studentlife.msu.edu.

  • Contact MSU
    University directory and information services (ContactMSU) staff are available to help you navigate campus, find the information you need, learn about events, or connect you with departments, individual staff or students with published numbers. Their service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You may reach them at contactmsu@msu.edu, (517) 355-1855 or by dialing 0 from campus phones. The directory that the ContactMSU staff utilize is also populated by the contact information stored within the University’s staff and student databases.
  • Don’t Miss This Opportunity to Showcase Your Talents
    The annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) provides Michigan State undergraduate students with an opportunity to showcase their scholarship and creative activity. Held each spring in the historic MSU Union, UURAF brings together an intellectual community of highly motivated students to share their work with faculty, peers, and external audiences. UURAF provides a unique educational opportunity for aspiring researchers. MSU undergraduates gain experience in presenting their research, answer questions about their work from audience members and guests, and receive constructive feedback from judges.

    For more information, go to https://urca.msu.edu/uuraf or email ugrsrch@msu.edu.
  • Wellness Matters for Personal & Academic Success
    To all our returning MSU students, we want to say “welcome back to another exciting year”! By now you are probably aware that successful transition to college isn’t just about academics. And as a returning student, you may have experienced firsthand or know of classmates who had health problems or challenges that made it difficult for them to attend class, concentrate or complete assignments on time and whose grades suffered as a result. Indeed, it is the loss of a student’s health (physical or emotional) or sense of safety (physical or emotional) that can most significantly impact a student’s ability to be truly successful academically.

    Every 2 years we conduct a campus wide survey called the National Collegiate Health Assessment (NCHA) survey. This survey asks questions about the health and wellness behaviors, perceptions and concerns of MSU students that have impacted their health and/or academics. Through this information gathering we are able to provide you information, resources and tools to ensure your personal and academic success while at MSU.

    For example, something as simple as a cold or flu can cause one to miss class or not complete homework. Indeed, NCHA results show: 44% of MSU students reported having had a cold or flu in the last academic year; and, several stated that had a negative impact on their academics. A simple preventative measure for you in the upcoming year? Wash your hands, and cover your mouth when you cough. Other health concerns are more complicated, and their impact even stronger: 70% of MSU students stated they were affected by stress (to the point of feeling overwhelmed at least once during the year); 27% reported that their academic performance was negatively impacted by stress. Did you know that you can help yourself decrease stress and help manage it better through simple strategies such as using a planner, not falling behind on assignments and scheduling regular activities such as exercise, talking issues over with family and friends, getting enough sleep, etc.

    The results from NCHA 2016 are highlighted in a brochure; I’m a Spartan-True Life: Wellness Matters for Personal and Academic Success. It is available online at https://olin.msu.edu/truelife/. Other topics covered include: Tobacco use, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Injury Prevention, Pregnancy Prevention, Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention, Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Prevention, Depression & Anxiety, Suicide Prevention, Alcohol & Drugs. Each topic has what MSU students say and do (perception vs. reality), why it matters and what you can do to help yourself or others. Be sure to check it out!

    Our primary job and that of our colleagues here at MSU, is to help you, the student, to be academically and personally successful at MSU. We believe we can help you maximize your ability to do your academic best by providing the information and resources you need to help avoid and/or minimize the impact of health problems or poor lifestyle choices. We wish you a safe and healthy journey through your years at Michigan State University. Indeed, with this information, you can look forward to a successful, challenging, and exciting year ahead.
  • MSU Sustainability Be Spartan Green
    At Michigan State University, green is more than a color. It’s an attitude of personal responsibility and hard work that is shared by students, faculty, and staff who, through both small steps and big collective actions, show how daily intentional actions can make a big impact – and a better world.

    Today, MSU is one of the world’s top research universities and one of the nation’s top sustainable campuses. And every day—through teaching, research, outreach, and campus innovation—Spartans are working to improve the quality of life at MSU and
    in communities around the globe.

    Our actions are powered by more than a century-and-a-half commitment to empowering ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Working together we can move mountains—or preserve them for future generations.

    There are plenty of opportunities for students to get involved in sustainability at MSU; visit https://bespartangreen.msu.edu/ to see how you can Be Spartan Green!
  • Report Your Immunization History
    The University requires all new undergraduate students to complete the Immunization Self-Report form at https://immunize.msu.edu/. Failure to complete this requirement will affect your ability to register and enroll. This information is helpful to the University in the delivery of routine healthcare and in the unlikely event of a disease outbreak.

Success@State Newsletters