Planning to make the most of JMC

            Upon coming to Michigan State, I had no idea what time my here would be like in terms of my college. I came in with many interests, and I wanted to find a way to fit all of them in my academic program. For how many interests I had, it was definitely a daunting task. Fortunately, Michigan State and James Madison have a great advising system in place. More specifically, James Madison has a great first-year advisors. I am sure the first time I met with my advisor she thought I was crazy, but she was really helpful in mapping out what my future at MSU could like. One of the most helpful things I did was to make a four year plan. At the time we made it, my advisor told me that it was going to change. I didn’t believe her. Looking back, I can’t help but laugh because I don’t know why I thought I had it all figured out.

            The four year plan really helped me get an idea of everything that I could do while at MSU and served as a helpful guide when it came to planning courses each semester. After my freshman year, I ended up with an African studies and an International Development specialization added to my program. Adding on these specializations really helped me narrow down which classes in Madison would be the best for me. Now, everyone doesn’t have to do a specialization or even minors (I’m minoring in French), but they are really helpful for getting creative with your academic program.

            Now, I must mention that at MSU, depending on what you choose to do, it’s not likely that you’ll have just one advisor. I meet with advisors for French, African studies, International Development, and the Honors College. It sounds like that might add a lot to my schedule but there are no requirements with meeting with them. It’s all on an as needed basis, and let me tell you, they are extremely helpful when you need them! They are honestly there to help every step of the way- especially through any changes that come through your academic program (i.e. picking up or dropping a major). Also, if you’re lucky to get close enough to your advisor, they’ll help keep you on track and be a listening ear. They just want to see you succeed!

            Of course, it is always a great feeling when you go to your advisor and get good news. I remember when I was meeting with one of my advisors at the beginning of this school year, and she asked me if I would be graduating soon. I was 100% shocked, but it turns out that somehow my four year plan had change to a three and half year plan. I definitely didn’t see this coming as a freshman, but I am truly grateful for all the support my advisors have given me over the years. With their help, I have been able to get the most that I can out of my time hear at Michigan State. 

Florence

Junior

IR 

Career Exposure Trips

The Career Services office at James Madison College has copious amount of opportunities for professional development within the college. One opportunity I have been dreaming of since freshman year was to attend the Career Exposure Trip to Washington, D.C. and I had the amazing chance to attend it this past spring break! It also meant a lot to me that my freshman year I attended the trip to Chicago put on by James Madison College with my best friend and my friend and I were also chosen to attend this trip together.

I can say with complete confidence that by going on this trip I strengthened friendships, set goals for myself, and was inspired and motivated. Sure, I went to D.C. in middle school and on a family trip, but this time around I saw the city in a whole new light with potential careers. I also met people with incredible accomplishments who are also James Madison alums. Hearing about the variety of careers in D.C. from JMC alums and being a 3^rd year in college, the reality of me ending up in this city really changed my view of the place. One of the greatest things about this trip was being able to talk to JMC alums in casual and formal settings and listen to their advice and experiences on getting to D.C. Listening to the advice also made the goal of working in D.C. more attainable and realistic regardless of how I would get there. I also enjoyed experiencing an environment of scholarly people who want to impact the world and listening to alums who genuinely want to help us succeed in the future if we end up in D.C.

I also knew quite a few people going on the trip, but I did not expect to bond so well with them throughout the week. We had deep talks about our dreams, interests, and it became a morale-boosting support group, which is what I called them during the last few days. When I would learn something from an alum that affected my decisions, I would talk to one of my friends and then a few others would join the conversation and it became a group of us encouraging each other to aim high and make the best decisions. I have been telling people if you can think of a city that you have visited and you feel like you belong that this is how I felt. I cannot wait to return and take advantage of any opportunity to get back there some day.

Monica

Junior

IR and Media & Information Technology

Working on Campus

College is expensive. Fortunately, Michigan State is a great place to find a job while you’re taking classes! Working on campus has a lot of benefits- no commute, flexible scheduling to work around your class schedule, and being surrounded by other Spartans! I also think having a job helps me with time management, which is a really important skill to have in college. I currently work in the Office of Admissions and I LOVE my job as a campus tour guide! I’ve gotten to meet and work with really cool people and nothing makes me happier than getting to show visitors our beautiful campus. Did you know Michigan State has 98 miles of sidewalk?!  What’s great about working on campus is that there is a perfect job for everyone here. I have friends who work in research labs, coffee shops, bookstores, dining halls, tutoring centers, and numerous other places. So if you’re looking for a way to help pay for college, gain work experience, or meet new people, consider getting a job on campus! Check out www.myspartancareer.com and follow @internatstate on twitter, too!

Come visit campus for a tour!

Alexa

Sophomore

SRP 

Where do we go from here?

Following up on my last post about graduation, I thought I would write really quickly about what types of careers my friends have gone on to in their first year out of JMC. I feel like I have a unique perspective as a fifth year senior in Madison. A large majority of students graduate from the college in four years, which means this year I've been able to see how many of my friends have launched their career paths right from my facebook newsfeed. Here's a little sample of what some of my friends have gone on to do in their first year after graduation (I included the person's major at the end of the line):

• Pilot in the US Air Force (IR)
• Staffer for MI Governor Rick Snyder (PTCD)
• Elementary School Teacher with Teach for America in Detroit and Houston (SRP)
• Staff Member at a non-profit in northern Michigan (SRP)
• Campus Coordinator for a Boston non-profit (CCP, IR)
• Student teacher at a mid-Michigan high school (PTCD, Secondary Education)*
• Accounting staff member at Goodyear Tires (SRP, Accounting)
• Community & Volunteer Organizer at a non-profit in Detroit (SRP)
• Economic Analyst for the State of Michigan (IR, Economics)
• Project Manager at a political consulting firm in Washington, D.C. (SRP)
• Graduate School at University of Miami, Ohio (PTCD)
• Cast Member at Walt Disney World (IR)
• Corps Member with City Year Detroit (SRP)
• Tax Associate at a national accounting firm (IR, Finance)
• Staff member at Georgia-Pacific (IR)
• Staffer at the MI Department of Community Health (SRP)

*My friend who is student teaching is fulfilling this requirement for the MSU College of Education

This is just a sample of my friend network (this list is slightly SRP-heavy because I'm friends with many more SRP majors - that's my major as well). As you can see, there's no cookie cutter career path for Madison grads. My friends have gone on to work for campaigns, political offices, lobbying firms, giant corporations, small non-profits, public school, and everything in between. As for myself, I am going to work for a public accounting firm in Detroit. 

In my opinion, the most important part of a Madison education are the critical thinking, reading, and writing skills students gain throughout their time here. Those are skills that are transferrable to any job in any industry. My critical thinking and communication skills helped me the most in my two accounting internships. If you're able to sell yourself and those critical skills in a job interview, you could literally go anywhere in the world! 

For more examples of careers chosen by JMC grads, feel free to check out the Careers section of the JMC Website! This page has awesome graduate reports, collected by our dedicated career consultant, which break down the students who go to on to graduate school, law school, and the work force. It includes many examples of positions held by recent JMC grads as well as salary and geographic information. 

Becky 

Senior

SRP & Accounting

A Challenge of Dexterity

      I love to be challenged in everything I do. For me, I have always felt that it is good to keep a balance between the mind and the body. One of the ways I do this is through Parkour. Before I arrived at Michigan State, if anyone would have asked me if I could imagine myself doing Parkour, my exact words would have been “you're nuts.” Just thinking about doing most of it would make me cringe. I like both living and staying in good health, so Parkour was not on the top of my agenda.

               

      The crazy thing is, when I arrived at Michigan State University my entire mindset changed. All I saw in front of me was this new world. I wanted to try everything and find out what exactly I like to do.

              

       After Sparticipation, an event where all of the student clubs at MSU have tables and host info sessions, my head began to spin. There were so many different things that I found so interesting: what would I try. But then on my way out, I spotted the Parkour club. I signed up thinking “why not?”

       Then one Friday I woke up and checked my email, and they sent me a practice time. I went thinking that it would be a one-time thing; but in no time I was hooked. Before I knew it I was jumping on and off of ledges and doing things that most kids would need a parental advisory for. “Don’t try this at home kids.” I loved the way I felt after and I began to do things that most people dream of doing. The interesting thing is that it was nowhere near as dangerous or impossible as it may look. There are coaches and trainers that have been doing it for years and helped me step by step, and still are. It is so much fun, and I recommend that anyone in college take full advantage of everything at their disposal; you might just find something you love. I know I did.  

David

Freshman

Quidditch at MSU!

     One of my favorite organizations that I am in is the Michigan State University Spartan Quidditch club. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “From Harry Potter?” “Do you use brooms?” “Do you really fly?” and “That’s for nerds.” To answer your questions and to agree with your statement: Yes. Yes. Have you heard of brooms that can actually fly? I think not. And yes I am somewhat of a nerd, but don’t we all have a little bit of nerdiness within ourselves? Let me tell you a little bit more about the club. It is a full contact co-ed sport, with three different types of balls, a quaffle, three bludgers, and a snitch. The club itself has two entities; the first one is the club itself, where people get together, hangout and bond. The second part is the travel team. The travel team goes to tournaments all across the Midwest and the nation. By doing this I have gotten the opportunity to have great bonding experiences with my teammates and meet great people that attend other universities across the nation.

      

MSU Quidditch Team

      This club takes up a good amount of my free time, but that is only because I love it so much, and I allow it to. This club has helped me establish a lot of close friends; I never knew I was capable of having. Since I am from Memphis, Tennessee I did not know a single person at Michigan State, let alone, in the state of Michigan, aside from some friend’s grandmas that I had never met. Because of this, my first week of school was a little rough. But luckily I got involved with this club. The members of this club have become what I call my, “Michigan State Family.” I call them that because we have been through thick and thin, and I know they will always be there for me when I need them. So, if you’re an out of state student, or even in state, worried about making friends when you get here, my advice to you is to be active and get involved, because it is really easy to a Michigan State Family of your own.

Brandon

Sophomore

CCP & Film Studies

Too many extracurriculars to choose!

       Since starting my Spartan journey I have been involved with many things including MSU Model United Nations, MSU Association of Future Alumni, and Associated Students of MSU which is our campus-wide student government organization. The extracurricular activities I’ve been consistently involved with this year are MSU Cru, JMC Ambassadors, and more recently my sorority Pi Beta Phi. 

      MSU Cru is a student-led Christian organization on campus that can also be found at universities across the nation. I attend one of their events at least once a week and I am able to meet a variety of people who have similar values and beliefs so it is enjoyable.

        I would also call James Madison College Ambassadors an extracurricular activity. Being a JMC ambassador is a reminder where I came from and how admirable the JMC program is. Being able to share my enthusiasm for JMC is an honor of mine. I think being an ambassador will be one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences I will have while being at MSU because of the friendships I made and the things I learned from the faculty and peers. 

        

         Last year, I wasn’t as involved with my sorority because of school work and then studying abroad, but the second I stepped foot into my sorority house this year I have been challenged, supported, and loved in ways I did not expect. It has been evident to myself that I am developing as a person while living in the house with such a variety of colleagues, or as we call them ‘sisters’.  What attracted me the most about Greek life is the philanthropy and the professional/personal development aspect. Something my sorority does annually that you and your friends can look out for is the spaghetti dinner which is a charity event where people can buy a meal and the proceeds go to our philanthropy, which is focused on literacy in children and there is an organization called Read>Lead> Achieve that is partnered with our sorority to promoting literacy and helping people realize illiteracy is problem.

       I've been involved with a lot of extracurricular activities here at MSU.  If you have any questions, feel free to comment below! 

Monica

Junior

IR & Media Information Technology

Finding a home away from home

       Coming to college, I knew I wanted to be involved in extracurricular activities. In high school I was involved in everything- sports, band, theatre, church, service clubs- you name it. In college, I really wanted to find organizations that were meaningful and would help me grow as a student, a leader, and as a person in general. Freshman year, I made two of the best decisions of my life: going Greek and applying to be a Resident Assistant.

       Both of these roles are a big commitment, and I am so happy to be able to pour so much of myself into them. Greek life at Michigan State is such a great community of dedicated, fun, and service-oriented students. I am proud to call myself a Delta Gamma, and in my sorority I have truly found my home away from home. Our philanthropy is Service for Sight, and through Delta Gamma I have been able to volunteer at the Penrickton Center for Blind Children, raise money to produce braille materials, and provide support for members of our armed forces returning with visual impairments. Here on campus, we cheer on teams at our annual Anchor Splash and Anchor Slam tournaments, participate in East Lansing’s Safe Halloween event, and walk all night at MSU’s Relay for Life. Whether it is at a philanthropy event, a chapter meeting or just a movie night at the house, I love spending time with my sisters and I know they are always there for me. I am so glad I found such a great way to get involved in the community and find my best friends!

       

My Delta Gamma sisters in front of our house

       When deciding to be a Resident Assistant, I knew that it would be a huge responsibility. Just going through the interview process was intimidating, let alone the prospect of having fifty residents and being their mentor and go-to resource. Now that we are part way into the school year, I can honestly say that I have the best job. The interpersonal and leadership skills, time management, and responsibility I have gained from this position amazes me. It has been the most rewarding experience to help new Spartans adjust to living at MSU and work through all of the ups and downs of college life. Getting involved was one of the best ways I was able to make MSU my home, so I make it my goal as an RA to encourage my residents to find the extracurriculars that will help them grow during their time here, just as I have.

The 2014 Akers RA staff

        While academics are the main purpose of coming to college, I believe extracurricular involvement is what makes these years so meaningful. Whether it’s a sports team, cultural group, or any organization you choose to be a part of, I hope everyone finds what makes them happy and helps them become the best version of themselves.

Alexa

Sophomore

SRP

Getting Involved in the Honors College

          Since I have been at Michigan State, I have had the opportunity to be a part of several great student organizations. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Honors College Dean’s Advisory Council. I have been an active member since the beginning of my freshman year. During the second semester, I was appointed to be the Public Relations officer. Now, I am going on my second year as the President. You might be wondering what it is about such an organization that has kept me involved. Well, I have to say that as an Honors College member an organization like this is quite important because the whole honors college student body needs representatives. At the same time, the Dean and the rest of the staff need to know what the students think. Ultimately, what we do as a council is what makes this organization great. In addition to basically being the “changemakers” within the honors college, we have grown close as a membership, and I have several good friends that I probably would not have otherwise.

            As I am writing this post, I feel weird just naming one organization that has be an amazing part of my MSU experience. I have not necessarily been the best at narrowing things down. When I first came to MSU, I was overwhelmed with knowing that there were over 600 student organizations here. I was sure that there was an organization for almost every interest that I had. As a result, I kind of went crazy at Sparticipation (an annual event where all the student organizations have tables set up for new and returning students to see what they do). I was involved in way more organizations that I can handle! In retrospect, joining all those groups helped me figure out what I was truly passionate about. I will say that you shouldn’t even worry about finding extracurriculars or clubs to get involved with! There are more than you know here, but I will say don’t be too eager because you might end up in over your head (like me!) freshman year!! At the end of the day, extracurriculars and clubs are definitely some of the best parts of your MSU experience (especially if you are an international or out-of state student- you get to me lots and I mean lots of people!). I hope that if you any of you decide to attend MSU, you find yourself involved in some pretty great organizations.

Florence

Junior

IR & PTCD 

Living and Learning in Case Hall

My favorite part of my freshmen year were my midterms. To most students, this sounds crazy. Who actually enjoys taking exams?

But the reason I liked midterm season so much was because I loved working with my friends around me. Many of the other students on my floor were in James Madison, and all Madison freshmen took MC 201, Intro to the Study of Public Affairs, together. Therefore, we were all reading the same books, listening to the same professors, and discussing the same concepts in section. We bonded over this class, and we used each other as resources.

I visited office hours for my professors and read the material closely, but what helped me the most was discussing the lectures and readings with my classmates. We bounced ideas off of each other and edited each other’s essays. We speculated about what the paper prompts might be and shared our opinions about the material. Studying and working together built a sense of camaraderie and boosted our GPAs at the same time.

There are many wonderful parts of Case Hall--the lovely dining hall, the convenient classrooms, the location. But the best part is that there are friends, peers, and resources everywhere you look.

Claire
Sophomore

South Pointe Dining Hall at Case

 Photo Courtesy of MSU Communication and Branding Strategy

My Favorite Class: Biodiversity Conservation Policy and Practice

When I get asked what my favorite course has been while I have been at James Madison College and Michigan State University, I have instant anxiety. Many of the courses I have taken have changed my life and have made me love attending class, including MC 395, Performing the Nation, as well as MC 482, Gender and Violent Conflict. However, after much thought I have concluded that my favorite class is MC/FW 445, Biodiversity Conservation Policy and Practice

           

Before I can explain why I loved this course, I must explain the events that brought my to take the course in the first place. Interestingly, I actively tried to avoid taking this course. With no background with endangered species protection and policy, I felt as though this course would only stress me out and leave me steps behind my classmates, as many of them were obtaining the Science, Technology, Environment and Public Policy Minor (STEPPM). However, there were few courses offered and I knew that I needed a course that fulfilled my global governance requirement for International Relatiions. Ultimately, after speaking with other professors in attempts to create an independent study, I came to the conclusion that I had no option but to take MC/FW 445.

           

I was surprised in so many ways. As my first experience with topics like endangered species protection, the creation of protected areas, biodiversity, international environmental agreements and much more, I was not only interested in the course but became excited to attend class. I had always been interested in exotic animals, and the ability to speak thoughtfully of the plight of the rhinoceros or elephant is an amazing opportunity and was so different than so many of my other courses. In addition, this course succeeded in doing something that I believe higher education should aim to: Diversify students’ knowledge bases while providing real world practice in the topics at hand. Not only have I learned about a topic I had never expected to, but I can speak about this topic comfortably and confidently. Because the course is technically a course in James Madison (MC) and Fisheries and Wildlife (FW), there are so many perspectives from students in majors from Agribusiness to International Relations to Fisheries and Wildlife. With these diverse perspectives, including my own from CCP as the one of my major in this course, our class discussions are routinely fascinating but informed from multiple perspectives of the issues at hand. Finally, Professor Kramer has been one of the most supportive, understanding and organized professors I have ever had, and I appreciate his feedback and welcoming demeanor every morning at 8:30AM.

           

As the time for scheduling has arrived, I actively tell any International Relations student that this is a course that they should consider for their global governance requirement. The course has changed the number of possibilities that I can see myself reaching for in my future, and I will forever be thankful for the risk that I took when I enrolled for the course.

Danny
Junior

International Relations

Comparative Cultures and Politics