MSU must-dos

At Michigan State University, time-honored traditions combined with brand-new experiences shape the Spartan journey. From singing the fight song in a sea of green and white to exploring the natural beauty of campus, these must-do experiences are worth checking off your list.

#1

Climb to the top of Beaumont Tower every first Wednesday of the month — and at graduation (join President Guskiewicz!)

#2

Grab a blanket (and some friends) for a picnic on Adams Field

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Pause and recharge in the Multicultural Center’s reflection room

#4 

Learn the fight song (and make it your own)

Before heading to a game, show your support for Spartan teams by learning the lyrics to “Victory for MSU.” Get inspired by the College of Music’s creative classroom instruments version.

#5 

Make Munnster memories at a hockey game

#6 

Make it into the Izzone

Students in the Izzone section at an MSU men's basketball game, vs. University of Oregon at the Breslin Center. Photo by Derrick L. Turner

#7 

Bike the River Trail 

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Save your wristbands from every football game

20250829.NSCH-01773.jpg — Spartan fans on their way to the first game of the 2025 football season stop for a picture with Sparty. Photo by Nick Schrader

#9 

Kayak down the Red Cedar River

#10 

Take a selfie with both Spartys

During graduation season, the nearly 10-foot-tall bronze statue of The Spartan is the perfect backdrop for graduation photos. Or, grab a picture with Sparty, MSU's mascot.

20250915.DLT_4691.jpg — A student takes a selfie with The Spartan statue, which turned 80 this June. Photo by Derrick L. Turner

#11

See a show at Wharton Center

#12

Blow off steam during the Midnight Scream

#13

Get hands-on with research

MSU is a leader in undergraduate research and one of the top 100 most innovative universities in the country.

#14

Join a student group

MSU offers more than 1,000 student organizations, from Bug Club to MSU Women's Water Polo Club and MSU Swift Squad.

Members of MSU Women’s Water Polo Club compete in a tournament at IM West Pool. Photo by Derrick L. Turner

#15

Get featured on the main

And impress MSU’s more than 276K followers on Instagram and 36K on TikTok.

#16

Take a class for fun

With more than 400 programs of academic study, MSU is the place to explore and experiment.

#17

Try every flavor at the MSU Dairy Store, voted Grand Champion in the American Dairy Science Association’s 2025 Ice Cream Competition.

A handheld ice cream cone against the backdrop of the MSU Dairy Store counter. — A refreshing scoop of homemade ice cream at the MSU Dairy Store. Photo by Derrick L. Turner

#18

Sing “MSU Shadows”

#19

Stargaze at the Abrams Planetarium

#20

Take a tour of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams and learn about the most powerful rare-isotope accelerator

Visitors take a tour of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. — Tours include demonstrations, a walkthrough of vaults where nuclei are studied and more. Photo by Michigan State University

#21

Study abroad

Engage in student experiences that expand your understanding of the world by taking part in one of more than 300 education abroad programs in more than 60 countries on all continents.

#22

Stroll through the Beal Botanical Gardens

20230612.DLT_9135.jpg — Hues of green abound in the pond inside the William J. Beal Botanical Garden. Photo by Derrick L. Turner

#23

Visit the Broad Art Museum

#24

Take a selfie with President Guskiewicz

20250825.DLT_8279.jpg — MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz greets students on the first day of class, fall 2025 semester. Photo by Derrick. L. Turner

#25

Play a team sport at the Spartan Greens Turf Complex

#26

Wear your Spartan green everywhere

#27

Shop Spartan-created goods at Student Made and at these businesses

#28

Go birdwatching at the W.K Kellogg Bird Sanctuary

20250724.DLT_4140.jpg — Trumpeter swans at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station. Photo by Derrick L. Turner

#29

Check out the renovated MSU Museum when it re-opens in January 2026

#30

Watch a movie at Wells Hall

#31

Make friends with the squirrels

#32

Game on in one of campus' two esports lounges — one in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences Building and one in Hubbard Hall

Students playing videogames at Hubbard Esports Gaming Hub. — Spartans game at the Hubbard Esports Gaming Hub. Photo by Matthew Ortlieb

#33

Explore haunted spots on MSU’s campus

#34

Order cookies from MSU Bakers

#35

Taste produce from the Student Organic Farm

#36

Paint the Rock

Donated to the university by the class of 1873, the Rock is famous for its ever-changing tableau of messages and commemorations.

MSU Rock painted in green and white with Spartan helmet and slogan Spartans Will. — MSU Rock being painted on a summer day. Photo by Michigan State University

#37

Find your favorite study spot

#38

Volunteer with the MSU Student Food Bank

#39

Learn beyond the classroom

Add your contribution to the thousands of hours of community engagement that Spartans participate in each year through service learning.

#40

Explore the remarkable items in MSU Libraries’ Special Collections

MSU Libraries' Special Collections fully transitioned to the newly renovated Main Library’s East Wing, where you can discover a book made of 20 American cheese slices, a first edition of Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield” and much more.

A hard-cover bound book made of 20 American Cheese slices. — Ben Denzer’s hard-cover bound book made of 20 American Cheese slices. Photo by Derrick L. Turner

#41

Follow the Spartan Marching Band to the stadium

#42

Attend Midnight Madness

#43

Request a song on Impact 89 FM

#44

Pet Zeke the Wonderdog

Zeke - Gameday - Students - 2023.png — Students posing with Zeke the Wonderdog on campus. Photo by Michigan State University

#45

Attend one of the nation’s largest career fairs

#46

Hold exotic insects at the Bug House

#47

Walk among the 22,000 trees on campus

Person walking on a bridge over a small river waterfall surrounded by trees with yellow leaves. — A canopy of trees surrounds a campus goer on a fall day. Photo by Nick Schrader

#48

Feed the ducks

#49

Yell “Go Green!”

#50

Make lifelong friends

MSU is home to approximately 52,000 students from all 50 states and more than 130 countries. On a campus with so much to see, do and explore, making friends for life is one of the best parts of being a Spartan.

The Michigan State must-dos

The experiences that define being a Spartan

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