michigan state university essay requirements

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 5 tips for writing the michigan state admissions essay.

College Essays

So you've decided to apply to Michigan State University. You've made a great choice—not only is it one of the top public universities in the nation, 94% of undergraduates land jobs or go onto graduate school after graduation ! Additionally, more than 25 of its undergraduate programs are ranked in the top 20 nationally , including the best supply chain management and logistics program in the country. And like most top schools, the MSU application requires you to submit an application essay.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about writing and submitting the Michigan State admissions essay, including:

• A discussion of the Michigan State admissions standards,
• Where to find the Michigan State application, and
• Five tips to write a Michigan State admissions essay that will get you in.

So let's get started!

What Is the Michigan State Admissions Essay?

The Michigan State essay is a required (and important!) element of your Michigan State application. The essay is basically a personal statement designed to help admissions counselors get to know you better. Sure, they'll see your transcript and test scores, but Michigan State also wants to know who you are beyond the data, too.

The essay is also important because Michigan State has an acceptance rate of 83% , which means that 83 out of 100 students who apply to MSU are admitted each year. T hat means your essay can make a difference in an admissions counselor's decision-making process. (If you're not familiar with the school's admissions requirements, be sure to check out this comprehensive guide on Michigan State's admittance policies. )

As we mentioned earlier, you'll submit one finished essay as part of your complete Michigan State application packet. As of 2021, Michigan State allows prospective students to submit all their application materials—including the MSU essay—either via their own online application system or via the Common App , which are online platforms that let you fill out one application and submit it to multiple universities.

Luckily for you, Michigan State doesn't require you to fill out an additional application supplement. In other words, the Michigan State admissions essay is the same essay you'll fill out for either the Common App or the Coalition App! But that also means that you only have one chance to help MSU's admissions counselors determine whether you're a good fit for the university.

Now that you have a general idea about what the Michigan State admissions essay is and how to submit it, here are three final, important things to keep in mind:

#1: MSU doesn't favor one application over the other. They treat their application system and the Common App equally in their decision-making process. 

#2: You can only submit one application per academic year. So if you have both applications filled out, send one or the other—not both. Sending two applications can cause errors in the admissions system and lead to your application getting rejected.

#3: The Common App and the Coalition App have different prompts. Each application asks slightly different questions, so it's important to pick the application that allows you to write the strongest essay.

Now it's time to take a closer look at the different Common App and Coalition App prompts and give you some general tips for picking the best MSU essay prompt for you.

The Common App Essay Prompts

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4.Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

For the Common App, you're given seven essay prompts and asked to answer one. The prompts themselves fall into a few general categories:

• Overcoming a challenge
• Solving a problem
• Showing personal growth
• Sharing your interests and personality

This list gives you a general sense for what admissions counselors expect to see in your essay. You will likely only discuss one or two of these in a prompt, so don't worry about having to address every single category in your response.

Having to choose just one prompt can be pretty overwhelming—it's hard to know where to start! Here are some things you can do to make picking a topic easier.

• Read through this guide that explains each prompt . Getting an expert explanation on each prompt can help you pick one that works for you.
• Eliminate the prompts you don't like—or don't understand. Go with your gut...as long as your gut doesn't make you cross every option off your list.
• Consider the categories. Take a look at the general categories we have listed above, and think back to the essays you did well on in school. Is there a category you feel most comfortable writing about? If so, pick a prompt that aligns with that topic.

Keep in mind that no matter the topic you choose, the Common App limits your response to 250 to 650 words. It's harder to write shorter responses, so make sure you plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to write a great essay.

Image courtesy of Joel Dinda

5 Tips for Writing a Killer Michigan State Admissions Essay

By now you've had a chance to consider—and hopefully choose!—the perfect MSU essay prompt. Here are our top five tips for writing a Michigan State University essay that makes you stand out from the crowd!

• Be authentic. Jim Cotter, the Director of Undergraduate Admissions for Michigan State University, says being authentic is the most important element of a strong Michigan State essay. He explains, "We don't want a student to create something that they're not. We want them to tell us who they are, what their real experiences are, and how they've developed as an individual because of those experiences." In other words, tell the truth...and be yourself!
• Tell a story. To write a stand-out MSU essay examples are key. That's why it's important to use storytelling to help answer the prompt! For example, if you want to talk about a time you gave back to the community, tell a story about a specific event (like shaving your head for charity)!
• Be descriptive. This ties into our "tell a story" tip above. Details are what make a story come alive! If you're writing about a challenging time in your life, do more than just tell the reader what happened. Show them where you were, what you saw, and how you felt by using descriptive language.
• Write long, edit short. Staying within word limits can be hard. That's why we recommend you don't worry about essay length when you write your first draft. Just focus on getting your answer down on paper even if you go hundreds of words over the maximum length. Then you can focus on whittling your essay down until you land in the word count sweet spot.
• Embrace the 3 Rs: re-read, revise, and review. Never, ever submit the first draft of your essay! Even the best writers in the world revise their work multiple times. Also, don't be afraid to ask your parents and teachers to give you feedback on your work. They'll be able to give you a new, fresh perspective on your work!

Your Next Steps

If you're looking to beef up your résumé to make sure you're one of MSU's ideal candidates, try fitting some community service into your schedule. Here's a list of the nine best places to do community service , and here's a discussion of how volunteering benefits both your college application and your life!

One key piece of your application are letters of recommendation, so you need to ask for those as soon as possible. Check out this guide that goes over how—and when!—to ask for letters of recommendation.

Now that you're ready to write your essays, get the skinny on how to write the perfect application essay introduction.

Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar.

Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges.

Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now :

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Michigan State Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are Michigan State's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Michigan State and build a strong application.

School location: East Lansing, MI

This school is also known as: Michigan State University, MSU

Admissions Rate: 88%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Michigan State is 88% . For every 100 applicants, 88 are admitted.

This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet Michigan State's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Michigan State GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.8

The average GPA at Michigan State is 3.8 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.8, Michigan State requires you to be near the top of your class , and well above average. Your transcript should show mostly A's. Ideally, you will also have taken several AP or IB classes to show that you can handle academics at a college level.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Michigan State hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Michigan State will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Michigan State SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1215

The average SAT score composite at Michigan State is a 1215 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Michigan State Competitive for SAT test scores.

Michigan State SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1110, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1320. In other words, a 1110 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1320 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Michigan State ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Michigan State likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 27

The average ACT score at Michigan State is 27. This score makes Michigan State Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 30.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 24 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Michigan State, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 24.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Michigan State considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 1110 SAT or a 24 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

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• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
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• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Michigan State here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $65
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office June 30

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 3

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes April 1 October 1
• Yes November 1 January 15

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 426 East Lansing, MI 48824
• Phone: (517) 355-1855 x1855
• Fax: (517) 353-1647
• Email: [email protected]

Our Expert's Notes

We did more detailed research into this school's admissions process and found the following information:

Apply by November 1 to maximize your scholarship chances. Also, in addition to general university admission, MSU has smaller residential colleges that focus in particular areas -- like the James Madison College for political and law, and Lyman Briggs for natural sciences. To apply to these, select them as a major preference on your regular MSU app. To maximize your chances, apply early since the residential colleges fill on a first-come, first-served basis. The Honors College is by invitation only and requires no additional application. Learn more here.

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Michigan State, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Michigan State.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Michigan State. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Michigan State, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Michigan State, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Michigan State is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Lyman Briggs College

Ready to apply.

Lyman Briggs College admits about 600   incoming first-year students each fall.  Students are first accepted into MSU, then admitted to Lyman Briggs on a first come, first served basis.

To apply, select  Lyman Briggs  as your major on your Michigan State University application .  Your application will be reviewed and processed by the MSU Office of Admissions.

If you've already applied to MSU and are interested in Lyman Briggs, log into your  Student Account  and change your intended major to  Lyman Briggs .

Future Students

College of Law

Creating your best personal statement.

• Treat your statement like it matters. The personal statement is the one piece of your application that you have complete control over. You’re making all the decisions, from topic to formatting to tone, so take your time. Do your best work. Lots of applicants have similar (and even identical) credentials, and this is the chance to make yourself stand out. And this might sound obvious, but if there are guidelines/rules, follow them! Most schools don’t have specific requirements, but start by checking  their websites or contacting the school directly .
• Make it an interview. You have the opportunity to share information about yourself with the admissions committee that they otherwise wouldn’t know, so go beyond your credentials and your resume. Use the statement to communicate something about who you are (your values, goals, personality, or background) in a well-crafted essay.
• Stay on message.   Great statements center tightly around a single theme. You should consider everything that doesn’t relate to that theme a digression, and consider cutting it. It’s better to cover one subject in depth than to give a cursory treatment to a whole range of topics. Keep your statement short (around two to three double-spaced pages, "12 point font"). If you’re tempted to go longer, remember that legal educators value clarity and concision in writing. The strongest personal statements aren’t usually the longest ones!
• Customize your statement. We get it, you’ll probably apply to multiple schools and you want to recycle your personal statement. But if you want your personal statement to communicate passion for a particular school, make it clear that you’ve done your homework. What makes this school stand out to you? What programs and opportunities does it offer? Does attending the school represent a long-term personal goal? Most students won’t take this extra step, so you’ll automatically stand out if you create a meaningful connection to the school. However, if you go this route, make sure to submit the correct personal statement to the right school!
•  Proofread, proofread, proofread. Your statement should demonstrate to admissions committees that you’re a strong writer, so your statement needs to be free of errors. Work with a trusted reviewer, if not two, and plan ahead so that you can revise, rethink, and rewrite. Proofread that statement over and over and over. Then one more time.
• Don’t lean on quotes. We’re here to learn about you, not the founding fathers or Plato.
• Humor is tricky. It’s hard to be appropriately funny for people you’ve never met, so be very careful.
• Don’t get tricky with fonts, margins, etc. Simple and clean are best.
• You’re not currently an expert on the law, so don’t dwell on legal philosophy or practice.

TOPIC IDEAS FOR PERSONAL STATEMENTS

• Why does this specific law school interest you?
• Why do you wish to earn a law degree?
• What personal qualities do you possess that will allow you to become an outstanding law student (or attorney)?
• What are your professional goals and how will a law degree help you achieve those goals?
• Describe a personal experience that represents your best qualities and how that will help you in law school and in your future goals.
• Describe a hardship that you overcame and how that will help you in law school and in your future goals.
• Describe an experience that taught you something about yourself and how that will help you in law school and in your future goals.

JD Admissions

Michigan State University

College of Nursing

Get Connected:

Faculty/Staff Login:

Get ready to become a nurse

Application open.

Students apply for admission to the Bachelor of Nursing program after or while in progress of completing a minimum of 28 credits and prerequisite coursework.

BSN Admission Criteria:

• MSU application: Submission of a university application (NOTE: does not apply to students currently enrolled at MSU)
• Prerequisites: Completion of pre-nursing courses outlined below and progress toward completing university required coursework
• GPA, part one: Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• GPA, part two: A grade of 2.0 or higher in each admission prerequisite
• College application: Submission of a College application, two completed reference forms, personal narrative, curriculum vitae or resume and evidence of relevant community service and/or work experience.

Students will complete their personal narrative essays using Respondus proctoring software in D2L. You will self-register for the " College of Nursing: Traditional BSN Application. " Detailed instructions for the essay are outlined in D2L. Please be aware you have one attempt to complete the personal narrative and will have two hours once you begin. 

Admission to the program is highly competitive, with most candidates exceeding the minimum BSN admission requirements; therefore, roughly only 120 of the most qualified candidates are selected from the pool of candidates meeting the minimum criteria.

The average GPAs for three recently admitted cohorts were:

• Spring 2023:  3.88
• Fall 2022: 3.94
• Spring 2022: 3.89

Prerequisite courses:

Science courses CEM 141: General Chemistry BS 161: Cells and Molecules ANTR 350: Anatomy Non-science courses WRA 101: Writing as Inquiry MTH103: College Algebra 

Support the College of Veterinary Medicine

College of Veterinary Medicine

• Future Students

DVM Program

Application Process and Applicant Selection

• DVM/PhD Dual-degree Program
• Veterinary Scholars Admissions Pathway
• First-Year Class Profile
• Contact Information
• About the College
• International Students
• Science Prerequisite Course Guides

Application Process

Complete the vmcas application.

All prospective MSU DVM students must apply though the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) by the deadline listed on their website. This is where applicants will upload their transcripts, request letters of recommendation, complete their personal statement, indicate their interest in our DVM/PhD Dual-Degree Program , etc.

There are many parts to the application. A few sections and MSU-specific requirements are highlighted below. International students may have additional requirements. Please reference the International Students page for more information.

A. Program Selection Applicants must add the veterinary schools/programs they want to apply to, to their general VMCAS application. You should be able to add programs to your VMCAS application in around May of your application year. There is also no additional fee to add MSU’s DVM program to your application.

Once you add MSU's program to you application, you will be able to: apply to MSU's program, complete MSU’s additional questions/essay(s), and match your coursework to MSU’s required courses. There will be two additional essays. One essay is required, and the other is optional. Each of these essays will tell the Admissions team more about your personal experiences or hardships, what you have learned from your experiences, how those experiences align with The College's values , and what attributes you have that will make you a successful veterinary student and professional. Also know the courses you match to MSU's prerequisite courses may not be what is used in the Science Prerequisite GPA calculation.

B. VMCAS Personal Statement The essay section of the VMCAS Application consists of one personal statement and it is required.

Your personal statement is a one-page essay (not to exceed 3,000 characters) that gives veterinary admissions committees a clear picture of who you are and, most importantly, why you want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine . Although there is no set of rules mandating what a strong personal statement should include, there are usually tips provided in the VMCAS application to help you successfully craft an effective personal statement.

C. Letters of Recommendation To apply to MSU’s DVM program, you must have three letters of recommendation submitted through your VMCAS application . Your recommenders will actually submit their letters directly to VMCAS and you will send recommendation requests to your recommenders through VMCAS. Recommendations cannot be completed by a family member and one letter must be from a veterinarian with whom you have shadowed, assisted, or worked. Our faculty recommends a minimum of 150 hours of experience with a veterinarian; however, this is not a requirement.

D. Experiences There will also be a section where you can enter experiences by category. The categories have included things like animal experience, veterinary experience, non-animal-related employment experience, research experience, extracurricular activities, and non-animal-related volunteering. Include as many of your experiences as you would like. They can only benefit your application (i.e. non-animal related employment may still be customer service experience).

It is recommended that applicants seek 150 hours of experience with a veterinarian. However, this is not a requirement. Veterinary experience includes any hours spent volunteering, observing, or working under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Animal experience includes any activity where you gain hands-on experience in working with animals. This includes hours spent volunteering, observing, or working with animals in a professional setting such as animal shelters, farms, kennels, zoos, pet shops, pet grooming salons, etc. The MSU College of Veterinary Medicine also does not require applicants to have a certain number of animal experience hours.

E. Standardized Tests The GRE and MCAT are not required , nor will they be considered.

F. Transcripts

You will be asked to enter transcript information into VMCAS. All official transcripts will also need to be sent to VMCAS . Please reference the instructions VMCAS has provided for submission of United States/English-Canadian Transcripts and Foreign and French-Canadian Transcripts . If you have issues with VMCAS transcript requests, please contact VMCAS Help here or via phone: 617-612-2884.

MSU Students: You will need to request that MSU mail official paper transcripts to VMCAS, please follow the steps linked here.

If you have taken courses at multiple schools, please be sure to submit all of your transcripts at the time you apply. Your application will not be influenced by the number of schools you have attended. Additionally, applicants who have attended an institution that uses narratives to evaluate students and does not issue numerical or letter grades should send an email to [email protected] once their application had been submitted.

APPLYING TO THE DVM and PhD DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM

Applicants who wish to pursue a dual-degree must apply to the CMIB Graduate Program in addition to the DVM program. Application to the Dual-Degree Program occurs after the DVM application process has begun. There is a question on the VMCAS application where applicants indicate their interest in MSU’s DVM/PhD Dual-Degree program. Make sure you answer this question accordingly if you are interested in the DVM/PhD program. Once applicants have been invited for an interview, they will be eligible to apply for the CMIB Graduate Program. The application deadline for the CMIB Graduate Program is usually in January. For more information about the Dual-Degree Program, click here . Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] with any questions regarding the DVM/PhD program.

Applicant Selection Process

January: VMCAS application opens at aavmc.org

May: Programs will become available for selection in VMCAS.

September: VMCAS application deadline.

December-February: Interviews take place by invitation only.

March: Offers are sent to selected applicants. April 15: Deadline for applicants to accept offer, pay the seat deposit, and pay the administrative fee.

Academic Review

In this stage, an applicant’s academic performance is reviewed. Applicants must meet all academic requirements set by the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine. These academic requirements include completion of all science prerequisite courses (with grade reported on the transcripts submitted to VMCAS) by the application deadline, a minimum Last Three Semester GPA of 3.0 and a minimum Science Prerequisite GPA of 3.0. Additionally, the applicant must have submitted three letters of recommendation through their VMCAS application (and one must be from a veterinarian).

All of the above is required for your application to receive a file review. More information about the GPA and prerequisite requirements can be found on the Academic Requirements page.

Note: Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine does not require and will not consider GRE or MCAT test results for admission to the program. Additionally, applications that are not verified by VMCAS will not be reviewed by MSU.

File Review

We will review the applicant’s experiences, letters of recommendation, achievements, essay responses and their alignment with the values of the College .

Multiple Mini Interviews

Interviews are by invitation only and will be held virtually. Applicants will be notified by email starting in November and through January if they have been invited to interview. Applicants will be invited for the interview based on the File Review Assessment and their performance in Academic Review. Applicants will also need to have all required letters of recommendation submitted at the time of application.

Offer and Criminal Background Check

If you are offered a spot in MSU’s DVM program, you will be required to pay an administrative fee and a seat deposit to secure your spot in the class. The administrative fee is $65. The seat deposit is $500 for in-state students and $1000 for out-of-state students. A criminal background check will also be required for any applicant that accepts an offer of admission. The background check will not be used in the selection process and will not be started before the applicant accepts the offer.

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Common questions, essay questions.

As students consider how they will contribute to the University of Michigan campus community and respond to question and essay prompts, they may wish to highlight things that had an impact on them such as: their involvement in clubs, competing as a student-athlete, studying abroad, going on a mission trip, being engaged in debate, participating in the performing or visual arts, having alumni ties to the institution, making a difference in their community, serving in a leadership capacity, being an entrepreneur, and many others. 

University of Michigan Questions

• Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.  (Required for all applicants; minimum 100 words/maximum 300 words)
• Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? (Required for all applicants; minimum 100 words /maximum 550 words)

The Common Application Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Transfer Applicants:   If you are a transfer student, please view the Transfer Essay Questions webpage  for additional required essays.

Michigan State University

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Michigan's child car seat law updated for first time since 2008

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a bill that updates the state's child car seat law.

State Rep. Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor) is the sponsor. She said Michigan's child seat law was last changed in 2008.

"So this has been a while since we've updated them and there's been a lot more advances in restraint safety, child seat safety, and so it's really important for us as a state to keep up with the best federal and industry standards."

One big change is the new law takes age, height, and weight into account before switching a child among a rear-facing seat, a front-facing seat, and a booster seat.

"Because previously we just listed ages, and you know my child is 7, but is a pretty tall 7 year old, and maybe she'll be able to max out in her seat earlier than other kids would," Rheingans said.

The law also requires child car seats to meet the technical requirements from the manufacturer and federal government.

Copyright 2024 Michigan Public. To see more, visit Michigan Public .

Undergraduate Education

March 27, 2024

University Advising update: March

By ebony green, assistant dean for university advising.

$2,000 No Essay Scholarship

Help cover the cost of college without writing a single essay!

Niche is giving one student $2,000 to put toward tuition, housing, books or other college expenses — no essay required.

Apply below for your chance to win so you can focus on your education, not your finances. Good luck!

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Who Can Apply

All high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year. Please note: Not everyone is eligible for this scholarship. Niche sponsored scholarships and sweepstakes are for people with US citizenship or a valid Visa/US passport only. Read the scholarship rules for full eligibility requirements.

How It Works

The $2,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is an easy scholarship with no essay required! Only one entry allowed per person. The winner will be determined by random drawing and then contacted directly and announced in Niche's email newsletter and on the Scholarship Winners page.

About Niche scholarships

We believe cost shouldn’t keep anyone from pursuing a higher education, so we connect students with thousands of scholarships — many of which don’t require an essay — to help them afford college. In 2023 alone, we offered over $285,000 in Niche scholarships. Read more about Niche scholarships here or visit our FAQs .

Office of Admissions

Transfer applicants

Apply as a transfer student if you have attended a postsecondary institution after graduating from high school (with the exception of attendance during the summer term immediately following graduation) OR if you have earned a bachelor’s degree at another college or university and are seeking to earn another bachelor’s degree or teaching certificate. Early/middle college or dual-enrolled students are considered first-year students.

Before you apply

Learn about our transfer admission criteria, dates and deadlines, application checklist and how to transfer your credits.

Start your application and send your transcripts.

After you apply

Check your application status and update your application information.

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