Michigan State University (MSU)

You can get cheap and nice things for your room (blankets, lamps, posters, carpets,...) at Meijer's - about 10 minutes away from campus by bus (from Grand River Avenue). Discover the campus, it is huge (like a village) and it has a lot of nice things to visit. Go to at least one Football game - it's a special experience. There are also interesting Basketball or Hockey games. You can find a lot of sports facilities - if you plan to go to the gym regularly buy a gym pass for $ 60,-- and you can go there whenever you want. Visit Chicago (about 6 hours away by bus - you can also go there by train), it's a very beautiful city, Detroit is also near by. Toronto is a very nice city (you need a signature from OISS to be able to go there - kind of visa). If you want to visit New York you should go by plane. There are always special offers for students (STATRAVEL agency on Grand River - close to the Union). Discover Michigan: Upper Peninsula, Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City,... IT IS GREAT!!!

Visit sites in Michigan like the upper peninsula (!), lake Michigan itsself Mackiow Island-there is so much to see in the state itsself (Pictured Rocks State Parke in the northern part of the upper peninsula!!!)

The first week was a really hard one, I had to fill out a lot of administrative documents, buy books, pay a lot for housing and meal plans and so on. I was really stressed and I missed my family and my friends. Neverthess, I made a lot of new friends from around the world, I quickly got used to the systems and to the environment. I spent 1 week in Miami for Springbreak and would recommend everyone to travel there.(remember to book it early and through a travel agency - like Statravel as most online-booking services to not accept foreign issued credit cards).University is hard but it is a really good education. Don´t take it too easy as you must represent your university appropriately - which includes academic and social life. Don´t forget that this is an unique opportunity so enjoy it and have a lot of fun. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Make some money to travel as much as you can. The campus in itself is full of opportunities. I personnally had found a job before landing to the US, via internet, so I knew I would get the chance to visit a bit of the East Cost, of Canada and of Mexico (which I did). Open-Up and Enjoy Everthing...

Travel a lot at the beginning of the semester as you have more time, only go in groups to big cities like Chicago, book your train/plane ticket as much in advance as possible as it is cheaper