Leaving home can be intimidating for students when adjusting to college life, but when coming from out of state, the transition can be even more difficult.
Once it begins to sink in that you'll be living on your own, free from curfew, siblings and chores, you might realize how satisfying college life - away from home - can be.
"My favorite thing about MSU is the campus," said Kristy Bousquet, a zoology junior from Massachusetts. "There're so many people, and it's completely agricultural, which is really neat."
Bousquet said the Academic Orientation Program and Welcome Week are key times to meet people.
"As long as you put yourself out there, you'll make lots of friends," she said.
Out-of-state students get the chance to live the typical college life, but also the opportunity to experience a new atmosphere, environment and - possibly - culture.
Pam Horne, MSU director of admissions, said it's always interesting to meet students attracted to MSU from farther away.
"These are students that have made a big choice to come here, they're obviously on the adventuresome side and they are go-getters," she said.
In fall 2002, 3,884 of MSU's 44,937 students were from a state other than Michigan - 771 of which were freshmen.
Jackie Ormiston, a Lyman Briggs mathematics senior from Arizona, was surprised by the cold weather.
"Winter was a shock to me," she said. "I'd been in snow, but never this kind - where it never ends and you can't seem to get away from the cold.
"But overall, it's pretty cool. All the seasons have advantages."
The ever-changing weather in Michigan provides opportunities for various modes of transportation.
During the winter months, Capital Area Transportation Authority, Greater Lansing's bus service, is a common preference for students, and spring and fall seasons are nice for bike riding or inline-skating.
But Ormiston added a big asset for students from out of state is meeting people in the dorms. She said it's easy to meet other students in classes and in university-sponsored activities.
"It helps out that there's people right there that can be instant friends," she said.
"Get involved and meet people because there is a niche for everyone and the opportunity is there. You just have to go out and find it."
