Going to a college out of state can be daunting, as the unfamiliar environment and abundance of new faces can often lead to some anxiety. To ease minds and lessen culture shock, here is a list of everything out-of-state students should know before coming to Michigan State University.

More students are from Michigan than you think

Although it may seem like common sense that MSU houses many Michiganders, it is often surprising to out-of-state students just how many students are from Michigan. According to MSU’s enrollment report last fall, out-of-state students made up 22.7 percent of the 2022 incoming class.

MSU alumnus Jayna Bardahl, who is originally from Illinois, experienced this realization when she first came to campus.

“When I first moved in, it was a little bit surprising to me how many people were from not too far away," Bardahl said. "And not only just from in state, but how Michigan State is so central, and almost everybody I met lived almost an hour or two hours away."

Journalism sophomore Bella Short, also from Illinois, noticed the same thing. She said she didn’t know how common it was for students to go to college in-state in Michigan until she came to MSU.

“The majority of people who live in Illinois are not like, ‘let's all go to U of I,'" Short said. "It’s not the same. I feel like if you live in Michigan, everyone either goes to like University of Michigan or Michigan State. That was a big shock for me."

The most useful map may be your hand

Because Michigan is shaped like a mitten, if you ask an in-state student where they are from, chances are they will pull out their hand and show you. "Hand maps" are a helpful way for people to show what region of Michigan they are from and are a good reference for out-of-state students who aren’t familiar with certain cities in Michigan.  

Don't miss going "up north"

Although a commonly used term in other states, when people in Michigan say they are "going up north," they either mean the Upper Peninsula or the tip of the mitten. 

Bardahl said that this was confusing for her at first because to her, "going up north" used to mean heading beyond borders to states like Minnesota, but she was able to quickly pick up where exactly that meant for her Michigan friends. 

Going up north can be a frequent excursion for Michiganders and you can expect them to go boating, hunting, hiking or indulging in fudge while they relax. If you ever find yourself going up north, be wary of driving at night, as many non-Michiganders find themselves surprised by the amount of deer that tend to run across the road. 

“Ope” is an exclamation of surprise

If you accidentally bump into someone on your way to class or the dining hall, you might hear them say “ope.” Do not be alarmed; "ope" is a Michigander's way of acknowledging they may have made a mistake and is not an exclamation of anger or distress. 

Start training yourself to respond to “go green” with "go white"

It is an MSU tradition to shout out “go green” every time you see another Spartan in a public setting, so be prepared to call back, “go white.” Although a common occurrence in Michigan, MSU students have reported having these school spirit interactions across the country, and sometimes even internationally.

Short said upon returning home to Illinois during the summer, she still finds herself following the popular ritual. 

“I would see people wearing Spartan gear in public and be like ‘go green’ and every time they were like ‘oh, go white’ ... they were so excited that a fellow person is a Spartan,” Short said.

Marijuana is legal in Michigan, but not on MSU campus

While the state of Michigan legalized marijuana use in 2018, it is still prohibited on MSU’s campus per the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, which requires institutions that receive federal funding to establish policies for a drug-free workplace.

Violating this rule could lead students to potentially face disciplinary probation or even suspension from MSU. Also remember that marijuana is only legal for those 21 years or older, so even if you are off-campus, you could still face legal discipline if you are underage.

Brace yourself for all kinds of weather

Michigan weather is famous for being unpredictable, especially during the transition from winter to spring.

Don’t put away your winter clothing until late April — one week it could be 70 degrees, but class could be canceled the next because of a rogue snow storm. Always be ready for inclement weather and learn how to put your car into four wheel drive. 

Vernors is considered a home remedy 

Many Michigan kids grew up drinking the Michigan-made ginger ale, Vernors, every time they were faced with a stomach bug.

Although proven to be a placebo effect and not hold any medicinal value, you can still expect to be offered the soda whenever you feel under the weather. 

A Michigan left is not as scary as it sounds

Developed to avoid the interlocking left-turn movements along divided highways, the Michigan left involves going to a median crossover on the road to complete a U-turn to make the left rather than turning left at an intersection with cross traffic.

Though commonly criticized, Michigan lefts allow for shorter wait times than four-phase traffic signals with protected left turns.

Don’t be afraid to explore new opportunities 

Going to an out-of-state school is a great time to grow and explore new interests. MSU’s large size may intimidate students at first, but clubs and activities can help to make the sprawling campus feel smaller and students less isolated. 

For Bardahl, joining clubs was essential for pushing herself out of her comfort zone. 

“Put yourself out there and join clubs or groups, whatever you can find,” she said. “It can be kind of overwhelming the first few weeks of freshman year. There’s so many things to join and you feel like you signed up for 30 different things, but expanding your circle as much as you can is really helpful at a school like Michigan State.” 

Short said although a big campus allows you to meet a variety of people, it also makes it easier to lose yourself in the crowd. 

“I think it’s really easy to isolate yourself and stay in your dorm if you want,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and also say hi to people you don’t know.”