Monday, December 21, 2009

Come see us on MSU Friday!

So, you're intrigued by our wide variety of academic programs, excited about how much fun living on the MSU campus would be or perhaps your pulse quickens at the thought of experiencing the outdoor adventure in Montana. Whatever it is that makes you pumped about MSU, I encourage you to come and get a taste by visiting us! MSU Friday is coming up on January 29th and I can promise you it will be a good time. This giant preview day gives students a chance to get a campus tour, check out the residence halls, chat with students and faculty, sit-in on sample classes, explore our research facilities including our Subzero Lab and much more. It is also a great time of year to come discover the glory of Bozeman. See for yourself how wonderful our local ski resort really is, dine at our locally owned restaurants, unwind in one of three near by hot spring resorts or simply shop to your hearts content at our downtown clothing & jewelry boutiques. The best way to find the right college for you is to get a feel for yourself. So, treat yourself to a mid-winter vacation and explore the academic opportunities Bozeman has for you. If January 29th won't fit into your schedule, we have another MSU Friday planned for March 12th. We also offer visits everyday, Monday through Friday (except on holidays) so come when you can and we will do what we can to accommodate you. Simply email us at admissions@montana.edu to make arrangements. We love visitors!


Thursday, December 17, 2009

Scholarships!

MSU offers students millions of dollars in scholarships each year! Make sure you take the proper steps to be considered for some of this money!



The first step is applying for admission and sending your ACT and/or SAT scores directly from the testing company (ACT or College Board). Then go to MSU's scholarship web site. This page provides links and details about Montana resident scholarships and non-resident scholarships (out-of-state students), group affiliated scholarships and links to departments that offer scholarships. Deadlines for some of these scholarships are coming up fast so send in the required materials as soon as possible!

Besides scholarships be sure to send in your FAFSA by March 1st to be considered for financial aid! Many of our students receive some form of financial aid to help out with costs each year. A great place to learn more about financial aid is our Office of Financial Aid web site. It provides information on grants, work study and loans available as well as information on filling out the FAFSA.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Intramurals and the PE Complex

Winter is starting to set in here in Montana and what better way to keep warm than to take advantage of the newly renovated Hosaeus Fitness Center on campus. There are opportunities for students to take advantage of the cardio and weight rooms, a climbing wall, fitness classes like yoga, spinning and zumba, the swimming pool, indoor running track, racquetball and squash courts, basketball and volleyball courts and for those into the martial arts: a combative room. The best part about all of these amazing facilities right on campus is that they are free for students to take advantage of, so whether you wanted to swim some laps, have a quick jog or lift some weights, there is something for you and it's free!















For those that want to still be involved with sports but do not want to participate in NCAA Athletics, there are tons of intramurals available for you in both team sports or individual sports. You can get a team together for football, basketball, soccer, softball or you can individual compete against others in sports like tennis, cross country, badminton, or folf (Frisbee golf). Not only do you get to go out and meet new people, but you can get some exercise and a quick break from studying!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

MSU's Greek System

MSU offers many ways for students to get involved and meet fellow students with similar interests. Actually, there are more than 160 student organizations on campus - so there is something for everyone.



Some of the most active club members are students in the MSU Greek System. There are 4 sororities and 6 fraternities on campus with approximately 7% of MSU students involved. Fraternity and Sorority chapters have been a part of the campus since 1917 and as a whole, have become the largest student organization at MSU.

Joining a greek organization is a great way to have a strong connection to a group of students sharing a a common bond. It is almost like a home away from home! I was a member of a sorority while I student at MSU, and it is something that I continue with as an active alum member too.

Whether you are looking for a way to increase your leadership skills, for a group of friends that will encourage your scholarly goals, or simply for a fantastic circle of friends that will last a lifetime, MSU has a chapter for you!

Are you thinking about joining the greek system or any other clubs at Montana State University? What clubs seem most interesting to you?

Friday, December 4, 2009

Christmas Stroll


I have just returned from a trip to eastern Montana. This was a great trip and I enjoyed meeting with many great students. This was my last trip for the fall and I am looking forward to a couple of weeks in Bozeman.
This weekend Bozeman is kicking off the holiday season with the annual Christmas Stroll. This is a popular event each year during which main street is closed to cars from 5:00pm-7:30pm Saturday night. Local community organizations set up stands to sell all sorts of food and goodies, the stores are open, there are sleigh rides, a visit from Santa and lots of holiday cheer. There are also many other activities going on this weekend including several home basketball games. Cheering on the Bobcats is a lot fun and the games are free for students to attend. Since, we have already recieved some snow there are also many outdoor activites to participate in this weekend including a cross-country ski tour in Yellowstone with the MSU's Outdoor Recreation Program.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Skiing...it's on.


Powder hounds rejoice!

Opening day for the 2009-2010 ski season is this Thursday up at Big Sky Resort. I have a date with a turkey on Thursday so I'll have to wait until Friday to head up there but I know that Lone Peak will have its fair share of visitors regardless of the Thanksgiving holiday. Bridger Bowl (the local ski resort in Bozeman) is opening its chairs on December 11th. Like many local students and residents, I am full of excitement for the season that lies ahead of us. With a dump of 27 inches just a couple weeks ago and more snow on the way, this year may just be deepest, fastest and most glorious season we've had in awhile!

Big Sky Resort is located a mere 45 miles from Bozeman and offers skiers and boarders 3,800 acres of terrain with runs totaling over 85 miles! I have a hard time conceptualizing it myself even after skiing there many times. Bridger Bowl is only 16 miles away from campus making it a student favorite...but not just because of location. This ski area has 8 lifts and ENDLESS backcountry terrain. The top elevation reaches up to 8,700 feet and gets about 400 inches of fresh snow per year. Getting to these magical places is easy with our free bus systems. Buses head up to Big Sky Resort on a daily basis right from campus. Buses also run several times per day on the weekends to Bridger Bowl. So, the time has come to dig deep in those closets, pull out your gear and get your game face on because it's ski season! It's on.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

My trip to Minnesota


The last two weeks has been my first trip to the twin cities and surrounding area. Of course, I have been to the MSP airport before, but never much further than that. I was pleasantly surprised that the weather was phenomenal while I have been here. Most days it has been 60 degrees! This trip was quite busy, I visited mostly in the twin cities area and suburbs. However, I did venture out of the cities and up north to Duluth. I was amazed by the size of Lake Superior.

I hosted a pizza party in Duluth and it was one of the best ones this year! The parents and students who attended stayed for almost 2 hours asking great questions and really wanted to know more about Montana State! The next day I visited all four high schools in Duluth and met even more students and also saw some familiar faces from the night before.

Minnesota is one of the top 5 states that students come from to attend MSU! Each year there are somewhere between 60-80 students attending from MSU. It makes it really easy to find a ride with someone or at least share the cost of gas for the trip. There were several other pizza parties in Arden Hills, Eden Prairie and Rochester, MN and many of those students had already applied for admission! I am wrapping up my visits tomorrow and headed back home.


I have heard that Bozeman is getting tons of snow right now!!! Ski season is right around the corner. Check out how much snow is at Bridger Bowl right now at www.bridgerbowl.com.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Application Time!


For the past two weeks, I have been driving all over Montana visiting our possible future Bobcats. Some seniors are really excited, some are nervous, some have turned in applications already and some are unsure of where to even start. I remember feeling overwhelmed and torn on where to go! But the time is coming my high school senior friends!

Even though we are always processing applications, now is the ideal time to apply for next fall. Our application requires no letters of recommendation or essays which makes it an easy going process. You can find our application online or request that we send you one by emailing us at admissions@montana.edu. The most important reason to get your application in soon is for scholarship consideration. Our Montana Premier Scholarship is limited as well as the Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship.

It is an exciting time for you seniors! Get the process going and if you are still unsure of where you want to go, keep your options open by applying anyway!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Broadway in Bozeman


It is another beautiful day in Bozeman! Which is great since there is a lot going on around town and on campus this weekend. Tonight the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on campus will be hosting the first show in their Broadway in Bozeman series. This year the series will include Cirque Dreams which is the performance tonight, Avenue Q, Cabaret, Bill Cosby and several other shows. There will also be a perfromance of Romeo and Juliet going on at MSU's Black Box theatre tonight. Off campus there is plenty going on as well, a great resource to find events in Bozeman is the weekly entertainment newpaper The Bozone. One popular spot to hang out on the weekends are the local hot springs. There are several hot springs around Bozeman and each has a different feel. My personal favorite is Norris Hot Springs which features bands on the weekends so while your soaking in the outdoor hot spring pool you can listen to some great music.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

10,000 Hours Show: You Volunteer, You Rock!



MSU started a new program this year for our students to encourage more of them to volunteer within our community. It is called the 10,000 Hours Project. Each student is encouraged to volunteer 10 hours and if they complete 10 hours by April, they have free admission to a concert held on campus in the Student Union Building.

There are several options for MSU students looking to volunteer in the Bozeman area. The Office of Community Involvement actually helps students find out about local volunteer opportunities and they are one of the sponsors for this project.


Recently, a group of 25 students helped the Gallatin Valley Land Trust to clear noxious weeds from the Main Street to the Mountains trail system. Many of our students currently volunteer either individually or through involvement with campus clubs and organizations. The concert will be a great way for students to be recognized for their efforts.

Check out their facebook page for the most current information!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Western Washington

After a quick stop in Salt Lake City, my latest trip took me to Western Washington. I am originally from Tacoma, WA so it was great for me to spend some of my down time with family and friends. It was a busy trip and rainy too, but what else would you expect in Seattle?

Washington is actually the #1 state that non-resident students at MSU come from! In fact, from the class of 2009 more than 160 entering freshman were from Washington State. The college fairs in this area were really busy and I met tons of excellent potential students for MSU. It was quite an ambitious schedule, and I traveled from Bellingham, WA all the way to Olympia, WA. Since there is so much interest in this area, I tried to host as many pizza parties as possible to accommodate all the students at high schools I couldn't fit into my busy schedule. I hosted pizza parties in Bellingham, Burien, Bellevue, Tacoma, Silverdale and Olympia. The largest pizza party was a toss up between Silverdale and Bellevue. Overall, this was an excellent trip. Many of the seniors had already applied for admission, and had great questions to ask!


One of my favorite parts of this trip is getting to ride on the Seattle ferry. I was fortunate enough to ride from Bainbridge Island to Seattle at night. The view of the city is amazing and I should have taken some photos, but I did not :( Oh well, there is always next year!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

GO CATS!


It has been an exciting week at MSU! The Admissions Office has been busy welcoming visitors from New Hampshire to Alaska. This weekend is parents weekend along with a home football game, volleyball game and Halloween! It is gearing up to be an eventful weekend in Bozeman!


The Bobcat Football team will host Idaho State University! The snow is starting to fly, but the weather should hold out for the game. I know I am planning to have a hot chocolate to keep warm. I am very excited to cheer on the CATS to another victory! The Volleyball team will host Portland State following shortly after the football game!





Sunday, October 25, 2009

Life in the Pacific Northwest



In the last week, I have been in two of my favorite cities ever: Seattle and Portland. Ren Stoltz and I were in Seattle last weekend speaking with families at the Seattle NACAC National College Fair. It was an amazing turnout with both of us going through almost ALL of our materials in one day! Then it was off to Portland where I have seen a ton of students and the interest in Montana State University seems to be at an all time high! Today was the first day of the Portland NACAC National College Fair at the Oregon Convention Center. College fairs like the NACAC Fairs or local fairs are a great opportunity for students to get exposure to hundreds of colleges from across the United States. Students and families have a chance to ask questions, pick up information about the colleges and interact with representatives and other students. I strongly encourage high school students of all ages to try and attend a college fair, even before your senior year. It can take a lot of stress off your senior year as you can start to get an idea of the type of school or program you are looking for. Make sure to keep track of all the Admissions Representatives Travel Schedules throughout this year and see when we'll be at a college fair near you!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Autumn in New England






I had a great couple of weeks in Alaska and now I am looking forward to the next two weeks in New England. I grew up in New Hampshire so it always fun to come back and visit. Fall in New England is beautiful and I am looking forward to pumpkin carving and apple cider. However, the morning's are beginning to get a little chilly and winter is just around the corner. This also means the first powder days at Bridger Bowl are getting closer! Before they get here though there are lot's of ways to stay active on campus and around Bozeman. The fitness center is even offering a special ski and snowboard conditioning course so you can be sure your ready for the upcoming season.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Tomorrow is MSU Friday

Tomorrow is our first MSU Friday! We have over 800 students registered for this free preview day and a group of great students (the MSU AdvoCats) to show them around campus. It is a day filled with great information sessions about everything at MSU. You can attend sample classes, go on campus tours, tour individual residence halls, sit in on student panels, greek panels and find out about study abroad options. It is a very full day! Students can sign up in advance for this program, or just show up and get a schedule on Friday morning.

If you are not able to join us for our first MSU Friday, we have MSU Fridays in January and in March. Visit our MSU Friday website for more information and to sign up. Bonus - if you visit campus and want to check out the slopes while you are here, visitors can get reduced price ski passes at one of the three ski resorts under an hour from our campus. It is part of the visit experience too! If skiing is not your thing, downtown Bozeman has tons of cool restaurants and coffee shops to check out while you are in town too. We even provide visitors with a list of our favorite local spots!



October is a great month to visit schools you are thinking about attending. The school year is in full swing and you get to see what it would be like to be a student at that campus. We have had tons of visitor lately at MSU! Check out our visit opportunities website to find out how to schedule your own campus visit. We hope to see you soon!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Living on Campus

I have been traveling coast to coast. I spent three weeks in California and I am now traveling in Virginia and Maryland (DC area). There has been great interest in Montana State and I have talked to many fantastic prospective students, who would fit well at MSU! This is the time when students are filling out admission and scholarship applications, but do not forget about housing applications!



Living on campus is one of the best parts of freshman year! Montana State University has a wide variety of housing options. There is definitely something for everyone! MSU Residence Life offers 3 high rise co-ed options, 2 all female halls, 1 all male hall, honors housing and a wellness hall. There are some suite options available to upper class men. There are convenience stores, ski wax rooms, gaming areas and unlimited access to any of 3 dining halls all available to students! Living on campus is a great way to meet a ton of new friends and make a connection to the university! Check it out!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Alaska




I am currently visiting the beautiful state of Alaska for a couple of weeks. I have already visited Juneau and spent a couple days in Anchorage and now I am off to Fairbanks where I will spend a couple days for high school visits, a college fair and a pizza party. After that I will be back in Anchorage for the next week. All of the MSU Admissions Reps are currently on the road so be sure to check out our travel schedules to see if we are visiting an area near you!






I have really enjoyed my trip to Alaska so far, at the moment I am sitting in the Anchorage airport looking out at the beautiful mountains surrounding the city. This trip involves lots of flying since Alaska is such a big state and some towns can only be reached by plane or boat. I am often asked questions about the flights in and out of Bozeman and transportation options within the city. Bozeman's airport actually has quite a few flights and it is currently expanding. Just a couple of weeks ago it was announced a direct flight is going to be added from Bozeman to San Francisco from December to March. There are also direct flights to Salt Lake City, Seattle, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, LA, Chicago and Atlanta. Currently Delta, Northwest, Horizon, United, Allegiance and Frontier offer flights to and from Bozeman. Once your in Bozeman there are lots of ways to get around as well. One option is the Streamline Bus system which is free and has hourly stops around Bozeman and the Skyline Bus that offers daily rides to Big Sky and Moonlight Basin. These buses are easy to spot as they are bright yellow and are modeled after the Yellowstone tour buses of the 1930's. Another popular option is biking, Bozeman has been putting in some new bike lanes and there are lots of great trails that you can take around town as well and with downtown only a mile from campus biking can be a quick way to get around town. Any student is also welcome to bring their car to campus as well.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009


Tomorrow is the 22nd MSU Fall Career Fair. Many businesses will be at the fair speaking with MSU students about career possibilities or internships. The Career, Internship, and Student Employment Services office hosts several career fairs each year including a "Almost Spring" fair, a Montana Educators Fair, and an Agricultural Industries Fair. Leading up to the fall career fair this year they also hosted many workshops for students to prepare them to enter the workforce including workshops on writing a resume, how to search for a job or internship, mock interviews and workplace etiquette among other special programs. After the fair students will have the opportunity to interview with some of the companies at the career fair right on campus.


Career, Internship and Student Employment Services offers many great resources for students throughout the year that will help them find great careers after graduation. Besides the career fairs and workshops they also offer career counseling and information about jobs on campus or internship opportunities.



Wednesday, September 23, 2009

MSU's Admission Requirements


Many of the students that I am meeting with in New England are surprised and relieved to find out about MSU's admission requirements. Students considering Montana State University should know about our unique and student friendly application process. One of my favorite things to tell prospective students is that they don't have to write an essay or ask teachers for letters of recommendation. MSU's application is actually very straight forward and students probably complete the application in less than an hour. Different from any other colleges you are looking at? I thought so!


Now, you are probably wondering if there is no essay or letters of recommendation needed, how are we deciding who to admit? Well, if a student meets ONE of our four admission requirements, they will be admitted.

Score of 22 or higher on the ACT OR
Score of 1540 (M, CR, W) or higher on the SAT OR
2.5 cumulative high school GPA OR
Rank in the top half of your graduating class


Considering all of the news lately about colleges and universities tightening admission criteria and making it harder for qualified students to get into schools, it is no wonder why students feel relieved to hear how transparent MSU's admission process is. No surprises!

We are on rolling admissions, which means that students can apply year around and our technical deadline is July 1 (after your senior year is completed). When students apply, they also receive an admissions decision very quickly, usually within two weeks.

Students can apply online and each year about 75% of students use our online application. So, what are you waiting for? Apply soon and get the ball rolling!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Think Montana State University!


I have been keeping busy this week on the Central Montana Fair Tour. This is my first time working Montana Fairs and it is fantastic! There has been a ton of interest in Montana State and still many more fairs to come. Check out the Montana Fair schedule to see when the fair will be in your area!

MSU offers fantastic scholarship opportunities to Montana students. The Montana Freshman Premier Scholarship, the Presidential Scholarship and various departmental awards. This is the time to start looking into various scholarships to be sure deadlines are met and funds are still available. I have been encouraging students to apply for admission and submit scholarship applications by Thanksgiving, if not earlier. The deadline for the Presidential Scholarship is January 5, 2010.
MSU Fridays are another great way to explore all MSU has to offer! There are three MSU Fridays offered each academic year. The dates for this academic year are October 16, 2009, January 29, 2010 and March 12, 2010. Basically, prospective students take a Friday off of school and spend the entire day in Bozeman on the MSU campus. Prospective students, family members and friends will have the opportunity to take campus tours, residence hall tours, sit in on sample classes, meet with various academic departments and much more. The program is totally free! Do not hesitate register today!

Study Abroad!










Interested in studying in another country for a semester, year or summer? MSU offers tons of study abroad options. There are over 250 locations to choose from in over 50 different countries! You can choose from countries like South Africa, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Morroco and many more. Our Office of International Programs can help you find the program that fits you.



Studying abroad is great way to experience another culture and see the world from another perspective. When I was a student I went on a study abroad program in Bergen, Norway. I spent a semester there taking classes at the University of Bergen and living in a residence hall with Norwegian students as well as other exchange students from all over the world. I had a great time, I now have friends from all over the world and got the chance to do lots of traveling around Europe while I was there.




There are many ways to fit studying abroad in to your studies. MSU offers semester, year long or summer programs. Some departments build study abroad programs right into their curriculum such as the School of Art which has a program for students to go to Italy for a semester. The Office of International Programs offers information sessions and a study abroad fair each semester for students to learn all about the many study abroad options opportunities available to MSU students. If you are interested in studying abroad be sure to check out all of your options!







Friday, September 18, 2009

Testing, Testing, Testing!

After having just wrapped up a week in Eastern Montana meeting with students at college fairs, I was impressed with the number of students who have already taken an ACT or an SAT test. Every year, colleges and universities across the United States base many of their admissions requirements and scholarships off an ACT or SAT score. Students who take their test early can apply earlier to schools, but also have the opportunity to retake the test if they want to improve their score! At MSU, we base many of our admissions requirements as well as many of our scholarships off the ACT or SAT. MSU will always take a student's highest test score no matter when the test was taken, or how many times it was taken. By having several opportunities to retake an ACT or SAT, students are enhancing the chances to be admitted and to be potentially receive a scholarship! There are test dates for ACT and SAT listed on their sites so make sure to check them out online or talk with your counseling office to find out about future testing dates!




Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Colorado


I am currently in Colorado visiting high schools, attending college fairs and hosting pizza parties. I am driving all over the state on this trip from Steamboat to Durango to Crested Butte and everywhere in between visiting students. It has been a great trip so far with some great college fairs, visits and two fun pizza parties in Lakewood and Avon.
I am often asked while on the road about the scholarship opportunities available to students at MSU. This a great question! MSU offers students millions of dollars in scholarships each year! We have posted details on the scholarships and information on how to apply or qualify on our scholarship website. Be sure to check them out!

Vermont


Greetings from Vermont! What a great trip to have in the fall, just at the beginning of foliage season. I have been in Vermont this week and I have already met several students who are strongly considering attending MSU this fall. Each year around 20 - 30 students enroll from Vermont, and it is probably because Montana and Vermont really have a lot in common. Both have tons of outdoor opportunities and abundant ski areas, and similar weather (these students aren't afraid of a little snow). It is exciting to see so much interest from students in an area that is so far away.
I started in southern Vermont and worked my way north to Burlington, the largest city in VT. There is a college fair here on Thursday and Friday and it is usually one of the best fairs in New England!


One of my favorite events to host while on the road is pizza parties, an informal gathering that students can attend attend at night to find out more about MSU. I have already had two pizza parties in Vermont (Bennington and Burlington) and both have been a great success. The first one was at Bennington Pizza House (on the left) and three students attended all from different high schools, one was actually from NY. Pizza parties are so much fun and if you have a chance to attend a pizza party near your hometown, I would really encourage you to go! You can have any of your questions answered and bring your friends and family for free pizza! YUM. You can also meet other students from your area who are interested in Montana State. I will have a total of 5 pizza parties in New England and Kelsy will be out here in October hosting a few more. Make sure to check the Admissions Travel Schedule to see what pizza parties are in your area. If you are in New England, I hope to see you while I'm out here!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Meg is on the road!






It was a beautiful weekend in Bozeman, MT with perfect fall weather. I had a great time trail running in Hylite Canyon and biking around downtown but I couldn’t help but be a little nervous...my first travel season kicked off yesterday! Of the five traveling Admissions Representatives, all five of us are on the road. Currently in Glasgow, I am on an Eastern Montana College Fair tour.
Talking to high school seniors today brought me back to my senior year in high school. I could not decide on a school! I even had campus housing deposits at two of them. Choosing Montana State University was something I thought long and hard about. But I could not resist the wide variety of academic programs, amazing faculty, tight knit community, active student body and endless outdoor opportunities. A place where I could choose from tons of majors, get personal attention from my professors and be a 25 minute ordeal away from Bridger Bowl (our local ski resort) was worth a shot. Who would have thought it would have been one of the best decisions of my life?!?
Making a college choice is extremely difficult and my best advice is to visit the schools you are interested in. We have our first MSU Friday event coming up on October 16th which is a huge event with over 500 prospective students from around the country participating! There are sample classes, tours and information sessions all day long. And if you can’t make an MSU Friday event, we welcome visitors every Monday-Friday (except on holidays). I recommend you check us out if you are thinking MSU!