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5 Tips for Writing the Michigan State Admissions Essay

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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.

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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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How to Write the Michigan State University Essays 2018-2019

Located in East Lansing, Michigan State University is a large public institution with over 50,000 enrolled students. Michigan State offers an education focused on bettering the common good and everyday life, while also providing research and study-abroad programs in popular fields such as business, agriculture, and engineering.

Outside the classroom, Michigan State boasts of numerous student clubs and organizations, including Greek life. The university’s strong performance in NCAA Division I athletics — especially in football and basketball — makes the high-spirited green-and-white Spartans nationally well-known.

Michigan State accepted around 66% from the applicant pool this past year. For applicants, MSU requires two personal statements, a task that may initially seem challenging. CollegeVine has prepared this guide to help you tackle these prompts with success!

Looking for another essay guide? Search our College Essay Guide Database to find additional essay prompts.

MSU Application Essay Prompts

Prompt #1: difficult situation, describe a difficult or challenging situation you have faced. briefly state the situation, how you responded and why, would you have done anything differently, did you turn to anyone for help, and if so, for advice, consultation, assistance, and/or encouragement (200 words or less).

For those of you also applying to other schools, this question may seem very similar to the second Common Application prompt about overcoming a challenging experience. Essentially, the admissions officer reading your application wants to know how you deal with and grow from difficulty .

To write this essay, first brainstorm moments in your life, specifically challenging ones. Try to aim for experiences that troubled you at first, but you were able to overcome through your own efforts or with the help of others. This will display your capacity to face challenges, no matter how big or small, at Michigan State.

Some examples :

• At the state championship meet, you lost your team’s relay; however, through perseverance, you trained with focus and determination, resulting in a comeback win the following year. This example shows that you are able to redirect a significant failure into a success with a growth mindset, revealing that you are capable of dealing with challenges in the future.
• In your junior year, you failed the first biology test of the year. You feel as if your dreams of becoming a physician are crushed, so you give up. However, you ultimately seek extra help from your teacher in hopes of getting back on the right track. In doing so, not only do your grades slowly rise, but you also gain a newfound friendship. Although academics is a common topic to discuss, this example adds another element of depth by discussing friendships with teachers. This example shows that you use your resources to formulate genuine connections.

While the prompt asks for a statement that could potentially be large, the 200-word limit forces you to be concise and straightforward . Focus on three aspects in the essay: the challenge, the steps you took, and your reflection. Avoid including extra, unnecessary details. Overall, aim to write about a challenge that was significant to you and served as a defining moment for your personal growth.

Prompt #2: Unfair Treatment

Briefly describe a situation where you or someone close to you was not treated fairly. what did you do at the time and why; would you do anything differently; has it impacted or changed who you are today (200 words or less).

Like the first prompt, this question helps to unearth more of your personality; this time, however, the idea is centered around the concept of justice. What do you believe is fair? How do you proceed to maintain it? If something unjust occurs, how significantly does it affect you? These are the questions you should consider when approaching this essay.

Similar to the previous prompt, this moment should have a heavy weight on your defining identity, regardless of how big or small the actual experience was. Essentially, this moment shaped the way you perceive, process, and deal with injustice .

Sample ideas :

• One of your best friends comes out as gay in high school. For the most part, everyone accepts him for who he is; however, a handful of peers harass and bully him. Because it hurts you to see him treated so negatively, you decide to start an LGBTQ+ club, which allows members and allies to meet in a safe and welcoming space. Any experience you have with social-rights inequality work great here. In this specific idea, you are the one witnessing the injustice, and because you feel so moved, you actively decide to make a grand gesture at school.
• At a debate competition, the judge allows the host’s team to unfairly enter the final round, automatically blocking your chances of winning. You know you deserved impartial evaluation, but are infuriated that this opportunity was taken away from you. Instead of letting your emotions commandeer, however, you respect that decision and exemplify good sportsmanship for the duration of the competition. This example works because your frustration towards the situation is evident. Additionally, your response — displaying sportsmanship and respect — shows that you are, first and foremost, a mature person.
• You want to join in on some friendly football with your male friends, but they laugh and say, “But you’re a girl!” It is difficult to receive sexist remarks, especially from friends, but you do not just walk away. Instead, you join in and win with class, educating them that you can play just as well, if not better, as a woman. This example deals with the clash of gender roles, and it succeeds at displaying injustice. Your response illustrates that you do not give in easily to harsh words and that you successfully prove yourself to be a force to reckon with.

The 200-word limit can be difficult to follow, since this prompt is also a hefty topic. As such, be concise and follow this structural format: the unfair treatment, the response, and your reflection. Be critical of the unfairness, but also express a sense of appreciation for the experience, especially if it significantly impacted your identity. Show readers that you have had encounters with injustice and are ready to tackle them at your time at Michigan State University.

In these personal statements, if you’re honest and reflective, then your personality will shine brightest. We wish you good luck on these essays and a successful application process!

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Writing a personal statement is a necessity when applying to graduate or professional school. The format, length, and topic will vary according to academic discipline and program type, but there are some general guidelines you can follow.

Identify Resources:  Find useful online resources such as those available on the Purdue OWL website to help you draft your essay(s) and review samples. Seek additional program-specific guidelines when available, like the ones offered through the MSU Pre-Health Advising office and information on writing personal statements for medical school  for those applying to health professional programs.

Determine Your Message:  Avoid writing a generic statement. Develop a well written essay that conveys your knowledge and maturity, shows your sincere interest in the academic discipline, and draws a connection between what they are looking for and what you have to offer. Make sure your message clearly states why that particular program is right for you.

Review Before Submitting: Follow up with your career advisor, academic advisor, professional mentor, and/or a representative from the MSU Writing Center to help you refine your essay(s) before submitting. Constructing a personal statement takes time; plan to write, edit, and rewrite several times before landing on the final product.

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Michigan State University Undergraduate College Application Essays

These Michigan State University college application essays were written by students accepted at Michigan State University. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

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College Application Essays accepted by Michigan State University

Friendship.com anonymous, michigan state university.

The "dot-com revolution" of the mid-to-late 1990s began to take hold just as I was entering my middle school years. I was eager to try new things, including this new Internet technology, because my inner self was also changing and becoming...

Looking to the Future Anonymous

It seems as though every day since elementary school people have been asking me the same daunting question: "So, what do you want to do when you grow up?" While my creative mind continues to come up with a different idea for each day of the week,...

Imported Culture Michelle Salman

“Lower your lids!”

Gilad, my drama instructor, paced back and forth on the stage, arms folded over his belly, Israeli impatience rising in his voice. His eyes narrowed, scanned me through bushy slits, and he barked new commands.

“Let your smile...

“Buenos días, ¿cómo estás?” Anonymous

When my dad first began working in Mexico, I nonchalantly changed my schedule to include seventh grade “Intro to Spanish.” Naturally, I didn’t think twice about what would later prove a crucial decision—few seventh graders realize how such simple...

Two Worlds as One Anonymous

“Τι κάνεις? Στην υγειά μας! Opa!”

“Howdy, partner. What’s in that iron skillet, ma’?”

Those phrases from opposite worlds represent my diverse cultural life growing up with a Greek mother and a father from North Dakota. From my mother I learned to...

New Experiences Samantha Jackson

One of the most significant reasons I want to attend Michigan State University is for the beloved “college experience.” To me, the best part of this experience is meeting people that I would have never met in my small hometown of Memphis,...

Notes From a Nomad Andrew Ronald Voigt

As I sit typing my final paper for eighth grade on a rainy Portland night in May, I hear my mother suddenly call, “Andrew, your father and I need to talk to you”. From her tone I know the subject of the conversation. She used that tone at the end...

The Learning Curve Anonymous

I carefully stepped down the steep gravel hill, making my way to the riverbank for my very first crew practice. The early March air chilled my skin and whipped my hair. I was nervous: each rocky step took me closer to a mass of athletic limbs, all...

Common App Short answer Anonymous

When I first heard the lyrics of the Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black,” it was from this little red contraption that I bought from a garage sale for ten dollars. I was hooked. That small record player eventually became the two Numark turntables and...

When World Collide Anonymous

2007: “Are y’all comin’?” I yell to the kids on the playground as I run over to the swings. They look at each other and laugh, clearly making fun of the way I speak. I put my head down, embarrassed, and walk to the swings alone. I wish I hadn’t...

Only Time Will Tell Anonymous

I’ll always remember that drive; there was a crisp summer breeze sailing in through my window and the taste of early-morning dew still hung in the air. My heart was beating so fast, I could hardly hear my favorite song, “Sweet Caroline”, blasting...

Devotion Anonymous

My mother’s hands tell the entire world of my life. They were the first to hold me when I was first born and feed me when I cried. It was her hands that have raised me on behalf of my busy dad, patting me when I behaved well and spanking me when I...

Chemistry, Conflict, and the Red Bean Bun Anonymous

So ubiquitously sold in the streets of cold breezes of winter in South Korea, a red bean bun brings deliberate warmth and joy to many people. Sold at a price of only forty cents back in the 90s, the red bean bun was more than just a snack; it was...

Shanghai for a Year Anonymous

The vibrant skyline stood dead. It was 4:30 A.M. and life ceased to exist on the streets of Shanghai. The sunrise peaked through the jungle of buildings across the river and shined onto our faces. I stared at the skyline, thinking how much the...

Acceptance Anonymous

“Sit still!” my mom shouted at me in Igbo, as she continued to press the scalding flat iron to my scalp. I hung my head, watching as the puddle of tears in my lap grew larger, each additional tear rolling off my chubby ten-year-old cheek,...

Heritage Living Victoria Katashev

Live musicians yell into their mics while the crowd jumps and sings along to their music. I’m out of breath, my chest hurts, and I know my voice will be gone, but I’ve accepted it. An older man stands up on one of the picnic tables, dancing and...

Change Michelle Ong

In middle school, my favorite song wasn’t Imagine Dragon’s Radioactive, but Matthew West’s 10,000 Reasons. I didn’t know who celebrities like Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie were, but I knew who Jeroboam and Rahab were. I didn’t have a phone or iPod,...

Finding Veterinary Medicine through Research Animals Xiang Ji

I initially saw obtaining hearing aids as admitting defeat to a disability. Being Hard of Hearing, I struggled with following conversations for years. Even after learning three foreign languages to communicate better, I realized in college that I...

Building a Considerate City: Advocating for Mental Health and Homeless Solutions in Los Angeles nevaeh gutierrez

The notion of family in my Latino community is one that is extremely fluid, with the expectation that we treat others with respect. Albert, my “neighbor,” has occupied the bush in front of my house for over two years and has become a part of my...

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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. 

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• 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.

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August 3, 2022

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine “educates exemplary physicians and seeks to improve health through discovery and responding to the needs of the medically underserved in our communities.” Their research focus is in “groundbreaking” biomedical research about the prevention, control and treatment of disease – and mechanisms underlying human disease. (source: MSU website )

Median MCAT/GPA is 510/3.77. They expect applicants to have long term, in-depth clinical work, paid or volunteer.

MSU CHM’s dean, Aron Sousa, MD, characterizes the curriculum as having robust clinical experience in each year of medical school, and academic content organized by chief complaint rather than organ system or discipline.

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine 2022-2023 application essays

Michigan state university college of human medicine secondary essay #1.

Imagine and reflect upon your life and medical career at the time of retirement. What do you envision being your proudest/most significant accomplishment? ( 500 words )

Your proudest / most significant career accomplishment might relate to MSU CHM’s mission or focus , namely serving the underserved, making an impact in medically underserved communities at home or abroad, or having performed and discovered groundbreaking research that sheds insight into the prevention, control or treatment of disease.

Another approach might be to describe what you would consider to have been a physician’s life well-lived in service to others. What would that service have looked like? Stay humble. Do you define this life of service by its corresponding humanitarianism rather than conceit, clichés or dogma?

Perhaps you think of retirement not as an end but as a transition, like book chapters? How did your career in medicine bring you to this next life adventure? Perhaps you have no intention of retiring? How does your life as a physician change once past your prime or after a significant accomplishment? 

In real life, there is no such thing as a crystal ball. Life will be full of surprises, achievements, disappointments, joy and pain much of which you cannot predict today. So this prompt isn’t really about life plans and details. It’s a narrative about hopes and aspirations – and your imagination.

MSU CHM secondary essay #2

American society may be experiencing a watershed moment as it reckons with various systemic injustices. Use the space below to share your thoughts about this statement. ( 500 words )

A watershed moment is a moment that changes the direction of belief. A watershed moment is a historic epiphany, a moment when looking back one can see the moment when a standing belief changed direction. It is an event or an action that changes the course of normalcy. 9/11 is a watershed moment in US culture. The reversal of Roe vs Wade is a watershed moment in US culture. The electric car is a watershed moment in sustainability and climate change.

“Reckons with” is a pivotal verb phrase suggesting systemic injustice is a force to be reckoned with. Yet, reckon also means to settle, as in reconciling or settling a bank account. How is American Society settling discrimination in its institutions and systems once and for all? 

The American Medical Association has adopted bold guidelines to confront systemic racism with the aim of dismantling racist policies and practices in health care. This prompt infers that right now we are changing the infrastructure and methods of institutions to eliminate inherent bias, inequality, inequity and prejudice. Most medical schools have adopted similar positions in their mission statements. However, this prompt does not limit your answer to addressing systemic injustice solely in healthcare. You may talk about healthcare, but you do not have to.

Where do you see the dismantling of injustice? What does that look like? How is it done? How effective is it? Is there backlash or turmoil? Where have you seen justice in action? How are we never turning back in time regarding injustice?

MSU CHM secondary essay #3

Use the space below to reflect upon your COVID-19 public health crisis experiences, challenges, and/or insights. ( 500 words )

All medical school applicants have had a disruption to their medical school activities, from classes to shadowing to taking the MCAT. Feel free to mention your readjustment to your medical school path briefly. Then, how did you get involved in the pandemic? What did you do to help people through this crisis? How does COVID-19 change healthcare for physicians? For hospitals? For communities? For patients?

MSU CHM secondary essay #4

In the most general sense, create a list of ten (or more) words or phrases you might use to describe or characterize yourself to someone you just met. From this list of words or phrases, are any associated with your decision to pursue medicine as a career? If yes, select up to 3 and explain. If no, explain. ( 500 words )

This prompt is the most “outside the box” prompt yet. Obviously, whatever words or phrases you choose to describe your character paint a self-portrait with words. So, it stands to reason that several entries would correspond with being a physician, whether in your humanitarian values, beliefs, spirituality, love of science, guiding principles (like altruism), or intersectionality (the Venn Diagram of who we are, the circles of our beliefs or the roles we play and their overlap). Just as your activities on the AMCAS application fit a variety of categories, so should your list of characteristics. Be honest, and be yourself. 

Most applicants will likely explain a few characteristics that fit with pursuing medicine. This is a reasonable approach. However, it is possible that an outside the box thinker could be so original in how they explain a “no” that their answer is original and fascinating. For instance, an applicant with a philosophy background might have a wonderful time with this prompt. However, chances are, answering “no” will pose an unnecessary risk. 

MSU CHM secondary essay #5

If you could present yourself to the Admissions Committee, what would you want to make sure they knew about you? ( 500 words )

Some applicants explain a life circumstance, a story, a situation, a challenge they’ve overcome , or a nontraditional path to medicine that sets them apart from the pack or deepens their portrait in the big picture of the application.

Do not answer this question with filler. However, do not overlook an opportunity to enhance the school’s sense of who you are, especially if the secondaries they provide exclude the opportunity to share an important story . Be sure the story ends well and demonstrates what you learned or how you changed for the better with insight and humility.

Do not repeat stories told in other parts of this secondary or in your primary. This essay, like all essays, should add to the reader’s understanding of you.

You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are. Now that you’re ready for your next achievement, make sure you know how to present yourself to maximum advantage in your MSU applications. In a hotly competitive season, you’ll want a member of Team Accepted in your corner, guiding you with expertise tailored specifically for you.  Check out our flexible consulting packages today!

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine 2022-23 application timeline

Source:  MSU website

Related resources:

• The Ultimate Guide to Secondary Essay Questions from Top Med Schools
• Here’s How to Match Your Values to the Medical School Mission Statement
• 5 Dont’s for Your Medical School Personal Statement

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University of Michigan 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Feb 1

University of Michigan 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: One essay of 300 words, one essay of 550 words

Supplemental Essay Types:   Community , Why

1 . 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. 300 words maximum..

This is a pretty standard Community Essay and admissions is giving you very specific instructions and launch points, both expected and unexpected, to draw from. You could be a part of an Italian Culture Club or a schnitzel appreciation association, either way, University of Michigan wants to hear about it. So try your best, despite the small space you are given, to answer all parts of this question. Describe the community and then detail how you contribute to that community. The point of this question is to show admissions you will add value and diversity to campus, and that you are a proactive and involved student who will help to build their community.

2.  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 freshman applicants. 550 words maximum..

Here is your Why Essay, and it’s a nice, hefty one at 550 words.  Your answer should be mostly focused on the academic offerings: what you want to study, what subjects interest you, and how you will use the resources at your disposal to pursue your professional goals. This is where you prove to University of Michigan that they are a good fit for you and vice versa, and getting this essay right requires a lot of research. You’re going to want to dig deep into the programs that you’re interested in: find classes, professors, even extracurricular activities related to your desired major that interest you. The more specific you can get, the better. Show admissions that you know what differentiates U-M from other colleges and, in turn, you’ll distinguish yourself from other applicants. Finally, don’t forget to connect your own past experiences and accomplishments to the resources you choose to highlight. Paint the picture of where you’ll be found on campus (whether that be the bio lab, math building, or theatre) and what you hope to accomplish.

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The Honors College is home to a culturally diverse group of high achieving students including but not limited to students from low income backgrounds, students who are the first in their family to attend college, and students with varied and multiple academic interests hailing from around the country and world.

Students interested in becoming members of the Honors College should first apply for admission to Michigan State University. A completed first-year application to Michigan State University is all that is required for Honors College consideration; students are automatically reviewed for an invitation after receiving admission to the university and there is no separate application process .

Invitation to the Honors College is carefully considered and competitive. Invitations are extended within approximately six to eight weeks following MSU admission. For best Honors College and scholarship consideration, we recommend that interested students apply early action to Michigan State University no later than November 1 of their senior year.

Invited Student Profile

• GPA or class rank that places students within the top 5% in their class
• A high number of rigorous AP, IB, or dual enrollment courses within the context of what a student’s school provides
• Community service involvement, research interests, and leadership activities also may be considered as a part of our holistic review

Standardized test scores are not required to be considered for an Honors College invitation. Students invited to the Honors College who chose to submit test scores as part of their MSU application have average scores of 1450 SAT or 32 ACT. Students may decide when applying to the university whether or not to have their standardized test scores considered.

The Honors College may also request additional information, such as 7th semester grades, before extending an invitation to membership.

We encourage students who do not hear from the Honors College to follow up regarding their interest using the instructions detailed below.

How to Send Additional Information for Consideration

If you have not heard from the Honors College and you have exhibited a commitment to intellectual curiosity and academic rigor, you may submit an additional essay based on the prompt below and arrange to send your most current grades in order to receive further consideration.  Please do not send any additional materials until at least eight weeks have passed since notification of your admission to MSU.

Note: We typically begin reviews of International students who attend school outside of the United States starting in the month of January. If you meet this criteria and have not heard from us by the end of February, you can submit additional materials in March no later than our March 16th deadline.

Prompt:  For over 60 years, the Honors College has valued academic flexibility and innovative approaches to learning. Please tell us about an experience that shows how you have approached your high school career in a unique way.

Essays should be submitted via our online form and include your name and MSU Applicant Number. Please submit your essays in either .pdf or .doc/docx formats and attach them directly to the e-mail message. There is no length requirement.

Please also arrange for your high school counselor to send us a copy of your most recent senior year high school transcript (7th semester/1st semester/1st trimester) to the university directly or through Parchment or via e-mail to  [email protected] .

All materials must be submitted no later than Monday, February 16th, 2025 for domestic students and Sunday, March 16th, 2025 for international students.

Students who have sent their additional essay and have an updated transcript on file by their appropriate deadline will be reviewed within approximately four to six weeks afterward. Admissions staff may also be in touch for a short conversation as part of our process. The Honors College reserves the right to close admissions at any time.

Contact the HC Admissions Staff

We encourage you to learn more about our program through individualized visit options and our recruitment programs. If you have any questions, please contact:

Bess German, Ph.D. Assistant Dean [email protected]

Michigan State University Secondary Application Essays Prompts (MSU)

• Cracking Med School Admissions Team

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSU CHM) is a great school with strong clinical training. Many students who attend medical school there learn how to treat patients who live in suburban and rural areas. In order to receive an interview invite,  you need to have a strong Michigan State secondary application that shows an abundance of clinical experiences and your personal traits. Read our other Michigan State secondary application tips below .

Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to MSU year after year! We suggest you pre-write this soon after you submit your AMCAS. We can help you edit your Michigan secondary application essays with our secondary editing packages . 

Pre-writing Tip:  The MSU secondary has gotten longer and longer throughout the years. There is too much variation year after year, so we DO NOT RECOMMEND medical school applicants to pre-write this secondary.

Other than submitting a strong Michigan secondary, it is also important to ace the Michigan State Multiple Mini Interview .

• Personally Tailored Essays
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Michigan State Medical School Medical School Secondary Application Essays: 2023-2024

Michigan state secondary application essay prompts:.

• Imagine and reflect upon your life and medical career at the time of retirement. What do you envision being your proudest/most significant accomplishment? (500 words)
• American society may be experiencing a watershed moment as it reckons with various systemic injustices. Use the space below to share your thoughts about this statement. (500 words)
• Use the space below to reflect upon your COVID-19 public health crisis experiences, challenges, and insights. (500 words)
• Modified from Last Cycle – Consider three or four words and/or phrases from your medical school application that you use to describe or characterize yourself. Pick one (or a completely different one) that is underdeveloped to provide additional written narrative to the committee as to why you’ve decided to pursue a career in medicine  (500 words)
• New Essay – Use the space below to reflect upon your COVID-19 public health crisis experiences, challenges, and/or insights.  (500 words)
• If you could present yourself to the Admissions Committee, what would you want to make sure they knew about you? (500 words)

Tips to Answer Michigan State Medical School Secondary Application Essays

Michigan State Pre-writing Tip: The MSU secondary has gotten longer and longer throughout the years. And, this is a state school that sends interview invites earlier. So ideally, you should work on this earlier. However, there is much variation year after year in the essay prompts. Dr. Rizal and Dr. Mediratta only recommend answering the questions that have not changed for the past 2 application cycles.

• Read all our secondary essay tips:  Secondary Essay Guide – Cracking Med School Admissions

Michigan State Medical School Secondaries Tip #1: Be familiar with and discuss how MSU’s Shared Discovery Curriculum will help you become the physician you want to be. Pick specific aspects of the curriculum that relate to your interests and activities. We STRONGLY advise students to not write statements like “I like the early clinical exposure” because almost every medical school has incorporated that into its curriculum – this is no long unique! Instead, discuss specific rotations and classes that appeal to you. Make sure you discuss why that curriculum aspect is important to you. 

Michigan State Medical School Secondaries Tip #2:  For the COVID-19 question, incorporate your personal experiences as well as healthcare current issues you noticed throughout the COVID pandemic. We have an entire healthcare current events blog post here, where you can read more about healthcare disparities and COVID-19. 

Important resources to help you answer the Michigan State secondary application questions:

• Read about COVID-19 and other healthcare current events like healthcare disparities:  Top 10 Healthcare Current Events You Need to Know
• Read all our tips on how to write COVID-19 essays + examples:  COVID Essay Medical School Example & Tips To Stand Out

Michigan State Medical School Secondaries Tip #3: When you list 3 words or phrases to describe yourself, make sure the words discuss different aspects about you. For example, you should probably not write hard-working, studious, AND driven, since there is a lot of overlap among those words. If Dr. Rizal had to answer this question, she might use phrases like “Excellent Connector” and “Community Builder” and “Creative” – note that she could discuss anecdotes from her personal experiences.  

Michigan State Medical School Secondaries Tip #4: The last question on the MSU secondary application is open-ended. ( If you could present yourself to the Admissions Committee, what would you want to make sure they knew about you? ) Treat that like a diversity secondary essay. You can talk about anything, from a challenging family background and how it shaped you to your leadership experiences. Contact us if want to brainstorm your topic for this prompt!

Michigan State Medical School Secondaries Tip #5:   Michigan State University College of Human Medicine has historically given preference to in-staten applicants. Whether you are in-state or out-of-state, make it a priority to discuss your clinical experiences and community service work in Michigan as well as your desire to treat Michigan patients as a medical student. 

Michigan State Medical School Secondaries Tip #6: Get our help with editing your Michigan State secondary essays! Our Cracking Med School Admissions team will make sure your essay is personalized towards your passions and MSU CHM’s values. We’re here to help you stand out! If you have additional questions about how you can stand out, contact us below. 

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

Michigan state medical school medical school secondary application essays: 2022-2023.

• Slightly reworded from last year: Imagine and reflect upon your life and medical career at the time of retirement. What do you envision being your proudest/most significant accomplishment? (500 words)
• New Essay: In the most general sense, create a list of ten (or more) words or phrases you might use to describe or characterize yourself to someone you just met. From this list of words or phrases, are any associated with your decision to pursue medicine as a career? If yes, select up to 3 and explain. (500 words)

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Michigan State Medical School Medical School Secondary Application Essays: 2021-2022

Michigan state university college of human medicine secondary application essay prompts.

• Describe where you envision yourself and what you’ll be doing in 10 years. What do you realistically hope will be your most significant accomplishment by that time? (500 words)

Michigan State Medical School Medical School Secondary Application Essays: 2020-2021

• The College of Human Medicine offers students an innovative learning environment. What experiences have you had that have prepared you to succeed in our curriculum? How will you approach any challenges you may face?  (500 words)
• Discuss a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone. What were the challenges? What did you learn? (500 words)

Michigan State Secondary Application Essays: 2018 - 2019

• The College of Human Medicine implemented a new curriculum in the fall of 2016. Describe your understanding of this curriculum. Explain which of your attributes/strengths will assist in being successful in this curriculum. Explain how you will address any challenges it might pose. Please limit your response to 250 words or less.
• Discuss a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone. What were the challenges? What did you learn? Please limit your response to 250 words or less.
• If you could present yourself to the Committee on Admissions, what would you want to make sure they knew about you? Please limit your response to 250 words or less.
• Thoroughly review the CHM course  Prerequisite Model Options  as outlined on our website. Which course prerequisite model are you applying to CHM with? (choose between options)

Michigan State Secondary Application Essays: 2017 - 2018

• The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine strives to ensure that its students become respectful physicians who embrace all dimensions of caring for the whole person. Please describe how your personal characteristics or life experiences will contribute to the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine community and bring educational benefits to our student body. (1000 characters)
• Is there any further information that you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your file that you were not able to notate in another section of this or the AMCAS Application? (1000 characters)
• Why have you chosen to apply to the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and how do you think your education at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine will prepare you to become a physician for the future?  (1 page, formatted at your discretion, upload as PDF)

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College essays matter. Here's how to write one that stands out | College Connection

Students facing the college application process typically dread one component: the Common App essay. 

Students are presented with six essay prompts, as well as a seventh option, which is “topic of your choice.” Students therefore have limitless possibilities for this essay which will be carefully reviewed by each college to which the student applies.

The goal of college admissions officers is to learn about the student who is applying: personal qualities, struggles, ambitions, priorities. On other parts of the application a student’s “data” is detailed. So, this is not the place to write about one’s SAT scores, GPA, or intended major, or to enumerate one’s activities. It is the place to write about an event, situation, or life circumstance that has influenced the student’s attitudes, goals, and perceptions of life.

The options are limitless. Students can write about life occurrences that impacted them: an illness, a learning disability, a relocation. They can use a sport, club, organization, or volunteer group as the overarching framework within which they learned important life lessons. 

More: The biggest key to college acceptance | College Connection

One student’s essay, which went viral after its author was accepted to a multitude of Ivy League schools, focused on lessons she learned from visits to Costco over the years. In short, students can write about anything that has impacted them – hopefully in a positive way.

Then, students face supplemental essays. Many colleges, including almost all the most competitive ones, require an essay that is specific to the school. Typically, the question is along the lines of, “Why do you want to attend this institution?” or “Why did you choose your particular major and how will our school prepare you to meet your future goals?”

More: These are the latest trends in college admissions | College Connection

Colleges are aware that students typically apply to 8 to 12 different schools, and they are trying to discern “demonstrated interest,” or, in other words, the likelihood of a student enrolling if accepted. So, students should utilize each supplemental essay as an opportunity to demonstrate their interest in the particular college, and should specifically state the courses, programs, study abroad options, internships, and any other characteristics that make the institution a perfect match for their college ambitions.

By showing enthusiasm for each school and sharing their attributes through the Common App and supplemental essays, students will greatly enhance their prospects of experiencing a successful college application process.   

Susan Alaimo is the founder & director of Collegebound Review, offering PSAT/SAT ® preparation & private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362 .

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Excitement and tearful goodbyes: Thousands of MSU students arrive on campus for fall semester

EAST LANSING — There were mixed emotions on Michigan State University's campus Tuesday as families dropped off students - many of them freshmen - to dormitories across campus.

Sadness. Trepidation. Excitement.

The fall semester begins Monday, but for many of the more than 16,000 students who will live on campus, the college experience started Tuesday as they moved into their dorms and said farewell to parents and siblings.

"I'm gonna obviously miss my parents, but I think they prepared me pretty well for college and everything," Elijah Simeon of Virginia said as his younger sister clung to his waist – not quite as ready for the separation.

Simeon and his family were parked outside East Hubbard with the trunk open, filling up the iconic green bins used to move belongings inside. Simeon was calm during the process, and said he felt well-acquainted with his roommate. The business major seemed excited to begin exploring campus.

"I'll probably call them for the little things like laundry," Simeon added about his family, as he smirked at his mom.

For the Coronado family, the move went smoothly – except the bed lofting mayhem and an unexpected additional roommate. It appeared they already exchanged goodbyes and were wrapped up ready to leave well before noon.

"Right now I think I'm fine, but when they leave I'll probably feel a little sad," Isela Coronado of Grand Rapids said, laughing nervously.

With Coronado's family only being an hour away, she has been preparing for the move all summer by getting to know her new roommate and, of course, choosing the proper dorm decoration.

Some students got a jump on the move-in and started exploring campus Tuesday.

Near McDonel Hall, Ava Perry and her three best friends, all from White Lake, were on a stroll to grab food at The Vista at Shaw. They have been friends since elementary school and now share a quad dorm room in East Akers. Once their families left yesterday, they all experienced a "what now?" feeling.

The four have been getting to know their neighbors – still surprised that they are boys – and intend on being active on campus to meet more people before classes begin.

"Lot's of phone calls," Perry said describing how her parents have been coping with the distance.

Contact Sarah Moore at [email protected] .

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August 16, 2024 - Aron Sousa, MD

We are more than six months into the full implementation of the  Rx Kids  program, supporting all Flint babies with a prenatal cash prescription to the mother and $500 per month in the first year of life of the baby. So far, the program has been, in the words of its founder, Mona Hanna, MD, MPH, “AMAZING!” You can find a wealth of data at the  Rx Kids website , but here are some highlights:

• Nearly 100% of 2024  City of Flint families (>900) have been prescribed nearly $2.5M   
• 70% of survey respondents have an annual income under $10,000.
• The top five spending categories are baby supplies, food, rent, utility bills, and transportation.
• 72% of respondents feel that Rx Kids has improved their own health as well as that of their child.

First and foremost, Rx Kids aims to improve health equity and the future health of children and families by reducing child poverty. We will know more about many of these outcomes over the course of the program, and enthusiasm for Rx Kids is high.  With $20M in the state budget supporting  the public private partnership, Rx Kids will be expanding into other high need communities. Based on the tremendous success of Rx Kids and the advocacy of its leaders, national momentum is building.   Both parties are proposing an expansion of the child tax credit .  Inspired by the success of Rx Kids and reflecting some of its structure, the Harris economic plan includes a $500 per month tax relief for middle- and low-income parents in the first year of their child’s life.

The College of Human Medicine White Coat Ceremony is tomorrow, Saturday, August 17, in Grand Rapids. Our matriculating students gather to be coated by members of the profession, usually faculty and sometimes family members from medicine, sometimes the coating family members are also faculty! There will be more than 60 guest coaters, and the stage at DeVos Place will be full. It is a special day and family members will travel from far away for the event. It was not always this way.

The first White Coat Ceremony I attended was in one of the Big Ten rooms in the Michigan State University Kellogg Center in 2005. I was chair of the curriculum committee, and the room had 106 students, about a half a dozen faculty, a few education administrators, and group of relatively local family members in the back of the room. Each of the faculty coated about 20 students, and I do not think there were any guest coaters. After the ceremony we had punch and sheet cake. It was small and sweet. The event, I mean. The  sheet cake  was also very sweet, but it was quite large.

There was no white coat ceremony when I started medical school elsewhere. We witnessed an odd “welcome to medicine” lecture by a seriously primeval physician who referred to all doctors as “he” and counseled us to drive something like a Buick. He specified doctors should have a car that signaled more success than a Chevy and less opulence than a Cadillac. For those of you keeping score at home, I’m just about to mourn my 2012 Chevy Volt, which suffers from a frumious transmission. While there was no white coat ceremony, we did get our picture taken in our white coats, and I remember the conversation in my little community group about whether we were going to button our coats or leave the coats unbuttoned. We decided it looked more friendly to have our coats unbuttoned.

White Coat ceremonies are pretty recent  and are designed to be a rite of passage, including an oath and donning the short white coat of a medical student. They are suiting up to be a medical student. Or, perhaps we are coating over their previous persona? It is supposed to engender professionalism with a focus on caring for patients, and that would be an interesting dose-response curve if there was one. More realistically, the ceremony provides a welcome and time for everyone to reflect on what we want to see in our profession. At the least, the short white coat helps identify students as a medical student. For patients and care teams, it is probably a help that you can tell the difference between residents and students by the length of their coat (students have short coats and residents and attendings have long coats).

Except that in my neck of the woods, residents don’t wear white coats anymore – they wear a black fleece jacket with some kind of program branding on it. When I go on rounds, I am often the only one in a white coat. It’s been a minute, but it used to be that we all carried multiple books, papers, job aids, wound dressing supplies, and hemoccult testing cards and fluid in our pockets. A resident’s white coat was a medical convenience store and often quite heavy. You might have liked the look of an unbuttoned coat, but when it weighed in at a few pounds it was more comfortable to button it and spread the weight from just your neck to across your back, chest, and shoulders.

Now medical residents carry a paper census with their to do lists, a stethoscope, and a laptop. Most of the stuff in my pockets is in the computer. Surgical residents still stash dressing supplies in their coats, but even the ubiquitous pen light was replaced with the phone flashlight. Somewhere in all of that there is still a cup of coffee – some things never change. 

A core life skill for a resident of my generation was your clock speed with a  pharmacopoeia  or  Sanford  or the  Washington Manual . Now the core skill is one handed typing – hold the laptop in one hand while you access data, find images, and write orders with the other while walking down the hall or up the stairs without spilling your coffee. I get the sense my white coat is no longer a practical necessity, and it is clearly out of fashion.

That’s probably just fine. White coats scare kids and some adults. They are laboratory coats and are meant to be a barrier to protect us from fluids and mess – they are also a barrier to patients. They are probably germ-ridden, but so are the black fleeces and computers that are ubiquitous in clinical care. Of course, white coats do helpfully identify your role, and they look professional, which patients want. Most people prefer their airplane pilot to look professional, and the same is the case with their doctor,  barely .

It seems unlikely to me that white coat ceremonies have made the profession of medicine more professional. But, at the end of the day, or by midday tomorrow, our newest medical students and their families will meet more of their fellow students, hear from faculty, and learn a little about how the College of Human Medicine approaches medicine and medical educations. About fifteen hundred people will attend the ceremony, and that is too many people for a sheet cake. That said, if the assembled feel a bit more of our history and mission, and if our newest medical students see themselves continuing our collective work to make the world a better, more sanative home for all, then it will be a fine day. So be it.

Serving the people with you,

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At M.I.T., Black and Latino Enrollment Drops Sharply After Affirmative Action Ban

Asian American students made up almost half of the 2028 class — the first admitted since the end of affirmative action.

By Anemona Hartocollis and Stephanie Saul

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s incoming class of 2028 saw a precipitous drop-off in the percentage of Black, Hispanic, Native American and Pacific Islander students, the university announced on Wednesday. It is M.I.T.’s first undergraduate class to be admitted since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year banning affirmative action, and M.I.T. is the first major university to release statistics on the composition of its freshman class since the high court’s ruling.

For the incoming class of 2028, about 16 percent of students are Black, Hispanic, Native American and Pacific Islander, compared with a baseline of about 25 percent of undergraduate students in recent years, the announcement said.

The comparison to the class of 2027 was also dramatic. The percentage of Black students enrolled dropped to 5 percent from 15 percent, and the percentage of Hispanic and Latino students dropped to 11 percent from 16 percent. White students made up 37 percent of the new class, compared with 38 percent last year.

On the other hand, the percentage of Asian American students in the class jumped to 47 percent from 40 percent. (The percentages do not add up to 100, according to M.I.T., because students could declare more than one race.)

“The class is, as always, outstanding across multiple dimensions,” Sally Kornbluth, president of M.I.T., said in the announcement, adding, “What it does not bring, as a consequence of last year’s Supreme Court decision, is the same degree of broad racial and ethnic diversity that the M.I.T. community has worked together to achieve over the past several decades.”

Edward Blum, the founder of Students for Fair Admissions, the organization that successfully sued to end race-conscious admissions, welcomed the decision as proof that the Supreme Court ruling was having a positive effect.

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Have you reviewed restricted majors?

Many majors at MSU have additional admission requirements. Make sure to check if your major is on the list of restricted majors  so you can review the additional requirements carefully before applying.

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All transfer applicants must apply through the MSU application. The MSU application will assign you an applicant ID which will allow you save your progress and submit when you are ready.

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Here are the main things you need to have prepared to complete your application:

Have your official college-level transcript(s) sent directly from each school or institution attended to MSU. This includes transcripts from any dual enrollment or early/middle college programs. These can be sent through online services or by U.S. mail.

On the application you will be asked to select a major. Make sure you have reviewed the restricted major criteria in the previous step, before selecting a major.

Changing your major

As part of the undergraduate application for admission, each applicant is required to submit one essay (minimum 250 words, maximum 650 words) from the list of prompts. The essay may be considered as a positive factor to enhance admissibility, as well as for scholarship consideration. Here are the essay prompts for the 2025 application for admission:

• 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.

If you have completed less than 24 semester credits, you must also:

Transfer applicants with less than 24 semester credits must also have their official high school transcript(s) sent directly to from any high schools they attended to MSU. These can be sent through online services or by U.S. mail.

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THE GOETHEANUM

Published in Issue 63.1: Winter 2024

“THE GOETHEANUM” begins innocently enough. Our speaker sits on the toilet, scrolling through their phone. And yet, the portals made and unmade in Cheney’s work shift this poem from its quotidian morning stance to something shimmery, extraordinary. This is a poem that thrums with life forms, with the spatial, with a stunning poetics of attention. When I read this poem, its suite of images writhes, alive: cicadas “wet-birthing themselves from their exoskeletons,” like “little white vampires / sitting up from their coffins,” a “wrong turn” leads to “library dedicated to anthroposophy. The science / of spiritual things.” Us readers are brought into a magazine inside of a bag; we catch a scrap of dialogue (“a little wizardy”); and later, we lay with the speaker “in a field / of still-damp cut grass,” reading a James Salter short story. The speaker’s awareness of what it is to read and receive the world in mediated forms is uncannily sharp. Cheney’s poem opens all the windows, lets all flavors of sound and air in. The speaker admits, halfway through the poem (while reading), “I didn’t know / what the story would be about.” And I love this admission: the ways it siphons through the entirety of this poem. I, too, reading Cheney’s “THE GOETHEANUM,” find myself weaving through a sequence of surprises, uncertain yet delighted by what I find. The closing couplet, “Some days I wake up and feel / like a monarch has landed on my nose,” is a delicious moment. Reading these lines, I feel the touch of something luminous and small, sacred and winged. There is an openness here that I want to live and dwell in. -Carlina Duan (Poetry Editor, Michigan Quarterly Review)

Sitting on the toilet this morning I clicked on a photo of a vast, brooding structure, which opened up an article on Dornach, a small commune on the Rhine near Basel built in a megalomaniacal, organic style by a man named Rudolf Steiner in the 1910s.

I recognized his name from articles about natural wine. Last summer on our fake honeymoon in rural New York state, Ari went out for groceries, made a wrong turn, and ended up parked in front of a library dedicated to anthroposophy. The science of spiritual things—

the teachings of Steiner. In her bag she still had the magazine in which she had read the way the horn from a slaughtered cow should be packed with the fresh manure of a lactating first-calf heifer and buried in the earth of a vineyard on the sixteenth night of the Hunter’s moon. She said ending up there felt “a little wizardy.”

I packed my bag for the day. School was out. It was May. The most concentrated brood of cicadas in a North American century had spent the night wet-birthing themselves from their exoskeletons. They looked like little white vampires sitting up from their coffins.

I was excited to read a new story by James Salter, was taking my notebook and Dusk to the park. I didn’t know what the story would be about. I stopped at McDonald’s on my way, got large fries for free, it was the Daily Deal. Lying on my back in a field of still-damp cut grass,

about halfway into the story, there is a moment when the narrator suddenly feels as if he has become hypnotized. In a café in Basel in evening, over asparagus and goulash, the woman with whom he has become obsessed is showing him a postcard photograph of a vast, brooding structure.

He suddenly feels as if he has become unable to speak. The structure is called the Goetheanum.

Some days I wake up and feel like a monarch has landed on my nose.

Samuel Cheney is from Centerville, Utah. He is the winner of a 2021 Pushcart Prize and lives in Baltimore, where he is at work on his debut poetry collection.

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