I was inspired to do a post on this after reading this State News article about the expense of digital learning portals on students budgets.

https://statenews.com/article/2026/10/homework-platforms-add-unexpected-costs-for-msu-students?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest

I want to broaden this conversation to digital infrastructure and platforms used at MSU, which can be broad as D2L or minuscule as iClicker. Which platforms do you dislike the most?

For starters, I would have to say I strongly dislike Breakout Learning. It just sucks🤷‍♂️ D2L is a close second though; it’s so clunky and ancient.

How hard is it to get a studio at 1855 place?

I’ll be a first year freshman (current hs senior) when I start. I don’t think it’s logical at all for me to pay $4,000 per 4 months for trashy lifeless food.

I’m looking for ways to get a housing exception to still live on campus (for the experience), but in a hall unit that includes a kitchen and in-unit bathroom.

I’ll have to make many ends meet to be able to afford that ridiculous meal plan price, already it’s very tough to afford the tuition. And I don’t think it’s practical to borrow money or take loans to pay for fake food prices and to just profit the university.

I’m a very health conscious person in life, I have strict boundaries for things I don’t consume, and also for where my food is sourced from, how it’s served, etc etc.

I looked up all the accommodations MSU provides like the ‘Order It’ app, but none of their solutions match my standards. That’s why I’d feel much safer and comfortable preparing my own food.

Has anyone been able to get an exception similar to this?

I don’t want to live off campus at all, especially when I’m so young, because I’m genuinely scared that I’ll have to be responsible for my own safety, commute longer distances, and like… be completely independent.

And please don’t suggest options like getting medical evaluation, therapist… to get this documented. No issues I have are medical, it’s just simply choice of living that they can’t accommodate, and I cannot afford to spend money on some medical evaluations.

I have read comments about this falling under the religious exception umbrella (strict meal boundaries and no practical accommodation available), but I go by atheist values. So, if religious exception is your solution for me, I’d love to know how exactly you got it and all the details.

And for the people who are about to comment, this is wrong, you’re committing a fraud and all that. Please also include your logical explanation for why I should go in debt and mental stress to pay a meal plan price which could be free if I get meal preps sent from my home/cook myself. And I know that all the money I’m paying doesn’t make the university ‘profit’ and gets reinvested, but there’s a harsh truth behind it, that many universities employees get ridiculously highly paid which’s what is driving up the tuition/food costs.

I agreed to pay to get an education, not to get scammed of my money.

Relevant advice only please: I believe I’ve provided enough justification in the comments below as to why I require such an exception.

I’m a transfer student from Macomb who applied for spring semester (January start). I have completed every NSO piece available at this moment such as math placement test and uploading student ID I’ve been trying to get ahead of everything but the thing is stuff keeps getting delayed, the NSO phone line said that the D2L NSO experience would open first Monday on October but now it says November.

I’m just a little worried because I know housing is limited and it’s hard to do anything because I can’t even speak to an advisor because I only see 3 things in my SIS account because I’m not oriented I assume also given that next semester courses are gonna be available to choose from soon I’ll be already behind. Is there anything I can do or am I supposed to just wait and how limited will housing be I signed up pretty early once it opened.

Me and my roommate were thinking about getting an apartment for 27-28 academic year. Our budgets are tight, so preferably $500-$600 max if that’s possible.

1855 also isn’t an option for us considering we’re trying to be more independent and not have to worry about going home for breaks so having somewhere to stay for the summer would be nice.

If it could be close to a bus route to get to campus would also be very nice.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I’ve heard some things about chandler crossings being a shady cheap option but I was wondering if there’s any decent ones?

Yall are goated

When applying to the nursing program, if your only class that you are taking at msu that counts for your GPA for the nursing application won’t be completed until this semester is over. What do you put for your gpa? Advisors have been called and said they didn’t know what to put. Nursing was called and a message left with no call back.

I'm currently a freshman at MSU (exploratory preference) and considering majoring in accounting. My advisor recommended taking ECON 202 in Spring 2027, then ECON 201 and STT 200 in Fall 2027, meaning I wouldn't enter Broad until Spring 2028.

My concern is that I came in with around 20 AP/dual enrollment credits and was originally hoping to graduate a semester early. My advisor mentioned that Broad takes about 2.5 years to complete after admission, so entering in Spring 2028 could potentially delay my graduation.

I could take all three prerequisites next semester and apply for Fall 2027 instead, but my advisor discouraged taking both ECON classes together because of the workload and potential impact on my GPA. I feel like I could handle it, but I also don't want to jeopardize my chances of getting into Broad.

Has anyone taken both ECON classes and STT 200 together? Is it manageable? Also, has anyone entered Broad later and still graduated on time or early?
I'd really appreciate any advice!

Early voting has begun and will continue through this week and weekend. Here are the early voting locations for Lansing and East Lansing:

Lansing

Lansing Elections Office 701 W. Jolly Rd. Lansing MI, 48910

Tuesday, October 27 from 9am – 5pm

Wednesday, October 28 from 11am – 7pm

Thursday, October 29 – Sunday, November 1 from 9am – 5pm

Monday, November 2 from 9am – 4pm

Foster Community Center 200 N. Foster Ave. Lansing MI, 48912

Monday, October 26 – Sunday, November 1 from 10am – 6pm

Monday, November 2 from 10am – 4pm

East Lansing

Hannah Community Center

819 Abbot Rd. East Lansing, Michigan 48823

Monday 10/26-Sunday Nov 1/26: 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Monday 11/1: 9:00AM to 4:00PM

WKAR studio A

404 Wilson Rd. East Lansing, Michigan 48824

Monday 10/26-Sunday Nov 1/26: 9:00AM to 6:00PM

Monday 11/1: 9:00AM to 4:00PM

You can find additional locations in Michigan, as well as the hours each polling place is open for, at this link:

https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index#early-voting-search-section

Early voting is way more convenient for most people. Make a plan, pick a date and time, set an alarm. Get our and vote.

Hello! I am a senior in high school who is currently applying to msu. I want to go to college for film, but msu’s way of doing it confuses me. Most colleges have one film program that encompasses theory as well as production, but msu seems to have two majors where one focuses on theory (film studies) and one focuses on production (digital storytelling). I was wondering if anyone in either of them could explain, do you get a mix of both? Would film studies be better for a person who wants to work in the industry? I am somewhat clueless when it comes to college stuff so sorry if this is a dumb question.

I’m currently a sophomore and have someone in my roommate group, and we’re hoping to get a 2 bed/1 bath at 1855 for next year. I submitted my housing application before the October 21 deadline, but I keep hearing how hard it is to get into 1855 if you’re not an upperclassman.

From what I’ve seen, housing selection is based on class standing and you get a 24-hour window to pick your room, but that doesn’t mean what you want will still be available.

By next semester I’ll have 60+ credits, so technically junior standing, but idk if that’s actually going to help us. We don’t have a group for a 4 bed, and honestly I’d rather not have to join a group of people who already know each other.

Has anyone gotten a 2 bed as a sophomore or junior? Are we cooked or do we actually have a chance? 😭

Hiiiiii Spartans!

We are looking for just a few more participants for our research expierence course.
If you have 5 minutes to spare can you PLEASE complete our survey?

https://umich.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_efx2l2aVsl39mzc?fbclid=IwdGRjcAVMN_NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAWZkaWQWURA6GDXoQi474Ds22Vmkg-NcI_mXIXNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4cdInaWvqbTZDOJ5YfifwKXi9Lg7HchXxfiVJpVIa_zkHmiEKRGHnaNhOfFw_aem_uP0FpdchIQMb8BlRjeOD5Q

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions 🙂 TYSM in advance!

My HS senior (out of state) was recently admitted to the Honors College with some significant scholarships. However, the scholarship money is currently not enough to overcome the price delta relative to in-state schools (or privates with particular tuition guarantees). It is also very early in the search process and they have only applied to a few schools so far. The offer states that they can accept the offer but that it is non-binding if they decide to go elsewhere.

Is there any advantage/disadvantage to conditionally accepting this offer? It seems to me that accepting would dis-incentivize MSU from potentially offering more aid? Am I wrong about that?

Thanks

Proud but confused Spartan dad

Hi, I met you at the Blade Rave at Diamondback Music Hall around 12:30am-1:15am. Your name started with an N, you had on a Nine Inch Nails shirt and You introduced me to your friends. You told me you were a senior at MSU and that you’d just turned 22 a few days ago. I was pretty lit and I wanted to make sure I gave you the right number! I hope I can find you! You were really fun to talk to 😁

My name is Gina from Garden City & I had a black velvet dress on!!

Hi everyone,

I recently started riding my ebike to campus and was wondering if anyone knows where I can safely charge it during the day? Are there any specific bike racks with outlets, or certain buildings where bringing the battery inside is allowed?

I’m applying for the undergraduate composition program. In highschool I was always 1-3 chair so I don’t think I’m a bad player, but I have no solo performance experience. I know that auditions take both your performance and your interview into account, but I have no idea what level of skill they will be expecting. I assume that the pre screening recording is just so they can confirm that you can actually play your instrument to a reasonable degree so they don’t have to waste in person auditions with people who don’t know what they’re doing, but I’m so scared that I won’t even get past pre screening

Are there any other practice tests that I can use to practice other than the 10 they give us🫩🫩 im struggling in the class and need extra help/practice!

Im open to any advice!

JUST HEARD ABOUT THE ESPORTS LOUNGE. Oh my. Let's be buddies and play if this is true

Does anyone know any peaceful, not too crowded spots around campus where I can sit and read while enjoying the fall trees? I’m looking for somewhere with beautiful trees, benches, and a cozy, almost Parisian park kind of atmosphere. Preferably somewhere quiet where I can just enjoy my book without too many people around.

I’d love some niche recommendations

I’m trying to decide whether to transfer to msu or u of m from another in-state four-year university for the winter/spring semester. I would be going to msu for integrative biology because they don’t accept students into the Lyman Briggs biology program (which was my first choice when applying) for the spring semester. At u of m, I would be starting undeclared at LSA but I am looking to study biology. If anyone has any experiences that they would be willing to share with either of those programs or just experiences with either of the campuses in general, it would be greatly appreciated!

Current freshman here, wondering my odds of getting an apartment next year are. Me and my roommate both qualify for housing exceptions and we are weighing doing that or trying to get an on-campus apartment. Should I just apply for off-campus now or wait and see if I get like university village or something?