Montana State University Admissions

MSU Friday

2010-09-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

The first MSU Friday is coming up on October 22nd. This is a great opportunity to visit campus and learn more about MSU. The day includes campus tours, sample classes, information about academic programs, facility and residence hall tours and more. There will be two more MSU Friday's offered in February 4th and March 4th. If you cannot make it to an MSU Friday you can always schedule a campus visit Monday -Friday throughout the year.

Jeff Adams an MSU physics professor leads a sample physics class.

MSU Representatives Hit the Road

2010-09-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

Now that school is in full swing, 5 MSU Representatives are hitting the road to meet potential MSU students. We will be visiting high schools, attending college fairs and hosting pizza parties while we travel to more than 20 states this fall.

Meeting with a college representative is a great way to find out more about schools you are interested in! We have information about MSU 120 degree options, how to apply for admission, scholarship opportunities, and student life at MSU.

You can visit the MSU website to see if a representative will be in your area at, http://www.montana.edu/admissions/schedules/.

We look forward to meeting you this fall!

2010-09-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome back Bobcats! This fall has been quite exciting especially with Bobcat Athletics! The home opener was the "Gold Rush" game, where you will find nothing but prideful fans filling the stadium! The entire crowd is dress in their "Gold Rush" t-shirts creating an endless sea of blue and gold! The MSU football team is 2-1 and has their 3rd home game this Saturday against Eastern Washington. The Lady Cats are also off to an exciting start of the volleyball season. It is a weekend full of Bobcat "awesomeness"!

An Awesome Summer Read

2010-05-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Laying outside and reading a great book is one of the best things about summertime. And if you’re like me and have already finished the Twilight series, you are looking for the next great read. Well, your search ends here! “Double Take”, written by MSU graduate Kevin Connolly, is a memoir telling of his life and travels around the world. Kevin offers a one of a kind prospective as he was born without legs and has always been “an object of curiosity”. His story is not only inspiring but astonishing in how it will make you take a look at how you view yourself and others.
“Double Take” will be the point of discussion at the 2010 Freshman Convocation on September 8th. All first year students are highly encouraged to attend Freshman Convocation as it is the perfect welcome to our new students. Kevin Connolly and President Cruzado will be there to greet our new Bobcats. So, start your next great read! And if you just so happen to be a part of MSU’s class of 2014, get ready for an intriguing presentation by Kevin on September 8th!

Congratulations MSU Class of 2010!!

2010-05-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

Imagine how shocked I was today to see a packed Student Union Building on the last day of finals week! Students are busy packing all of their things out of the residence halls and loading up their cars to head home for the summer, or move into their summer appartment. On a trip to North Hedges yesterday, I also noticed that the Residence Halls were being "green" and having students donate items they didn't want to take home with them instead of throwing them in the trash. Students and community members can take any of these items for FREE. Now that is within the college student budget!

It has been a busy year, and this weekend will be no exception! Students are showing their families around the campus on this sunny Bozeman day. Of course, they are making the obligatory stop to the MSU Bookstore to load up on MSU gear before they head home! MSU will graduate nearly 2,600 students on Saturday, May 8 at 10am and this will be our 114th Commemcement.

Spring Travel

2010-04-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

April is a busy month in the Admissions Office with most of our spring travel occurring at this time. Currently Ren is in New England and Meg is in the Chicago area visiting high schools, college fairs and hosting pizza parties. I will be heading to Texas next week and visiting the Houston, Austin and San Antonio areas. Admissions Reps will be visiting several other states this month as well including Colorado, Minnesota, California, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Be sure to check out our schedules to see if we will be in your area!

Spring Campus Visits

2010-03-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

While you are on spring break, consider making a trip to Bozeman and visiting campus! MSU has been seeing many visitors over the last few weeks, and you can arrange your visit by calling 888-MSU-CATS.

There are many things to do when visiting MSU's campus. Check out our visit website for full details.

MSU offers two campus tours Monday - Friday at 9am and 2pm. We also offer a tour of the residence halls at 11am, which will take you into 3-4 residence halls rooms across campus. Other optional tours include our newly rennovated fitness center at noon and a 12:30pm Outdoor Recreation Center tour. The ORC rents outdoor equipment to students for a very low cost!

Along with all of these daily tours, we can also arrange meetings for you with academic departments, financial aid, the University Honors Program and many more. Just call 888-MSU-CATS and we will arrange your day!

Class of 2014 Facebook Group!

2010-03-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

Are you curious what other students coming to Montana State University this fall are saying? Well join the Montana State Class of 2014 Facebook Group now and find out where everyone is living, what activities people are excited about, where students are coming from and much, much more!

A reminder to also get your housing application in as housing is done on a first come, first serve basis. Also make sure to get signed up for one of our Orientation Programs this summer as well! Good luck to everyone in the last couple of months this semester!

Big couple of weekends in Bobcat Athletics

2010-03-05T07:50:00.000-08:00

The last couple of weekends have provided Bobcat fans plenty to cheer about with Bobcat Athletics and there is still plenty more to come with big basketball games this weekend.

Tomorrow night at our own Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, the Bobcat Men will host Portland State in the quarterfinal playoff matchup. The Cats locked up the three seed after traveling to Missoula and defeating UM in the final regular season Cat/Griz matchup. Because the game tomorrow is a playoff game, no tickets are given away to students, however, thanks to huge support from local company Harrington's Pepsi, 200 tickets were purchased to give away to our student body. Tickets are going fast and hopefully it will be another great weekend to be a Bobcat...actually every day is a great day to be a Bobcat!

Our Bobcat Women have also locked up a post season birth as well and finish up the regular season tomorrow night against Northern Arizona on the road. Last weekend, they started the sweep over our rival UM with a great road victory! They dropped a heartbreaker last night to Northern Colorado by 2, but I have confidence they'll rebound tomorrow...pun intended!

Last weekend also saw the 2010 Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship hosted by Montana State University at the Brick. The MSU Men took second and the Women took fifth with 20 student-athletes earning medals! Junior Asa Staven earned the honor of being Field Athlete of the Meet which is voted on by the coaches from around the conference.

Congrats to all of our student-athletes for making MSU proud with their performances in and out of the classroom! Go Cats!

Heading to Seattle & Portland!

2010-03-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

I will be leaving for Seattle/Portland tomorrow and will be busy at college fairs and visiting high schools. If you live in the Seattle/Portland area and I am not visiting your high school, I will also be hosting a few pizza parties in Bellevue, Tacoma and Portland.

Pizza parties are a fun way to learn a lot more about MSU! Usually 20 - 40 students and families attend pizza parties and there is a presentation about academics, campus life, admission requirements and of course scholarship opportunities. Check out my complete schedule to see if I will be in your area! I would enjoy the opportunity to talk to you about MSU!

Career Fair

2010-02-25T07:58:00.001-08:00

Today is the "Almost" Spring Job and Internship Fair at MSU. There are over 100 employers at MSU today to talk with our students about job and internship possibilities. This event is run by our Career Services office, a great resource on campus. They host several career fairs throughout the year including general and specialized career fairs. They also help current students find jobs on campus and in Bozeman and internships for the summers. Another great service they offer are workshops and career counseling to help students get ready for their future careers. The workshops include topics such as writing resumes, interviewing and how to search for a job. Check out a video for the career fair on our YouTube channel.

Study Abroad Fair 2010

2010-02-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

The Office of International Programs had their spring study abroad fair yesterday in the Strand Union Building. MSU offers over 250 study abroad programs to over 50 countries. The Office of International Programs works with international students studying at MSU as well as MSU students interested in studying abroad. Below are a couple of videos we shot at the fair so you can get an idea of the options available.

MSU's Aviation Program

2010-01-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

Did you know that MSU offers an Aviation program? That's right! MSU offers an associate degree through our College of Technology for Aviation which started in 2006. Hilja, Kelsy and I were luck enough to be shown around Gallatin Field (Bozeman's airport) and even go on a quick flight around the city!

Superb flight characteristics, speed and an incredible safety record make the Diamond planes a perfect choice for flight training. MSU's planes are all less than three years old and have state of the art equipment like a Garmin GPS navigation system and even XM Radio!

Through MSU's program students earn 4 certifications; private pilot's licence, instrumentation licence, commercial licence and we are one of the only programs in the country to offer a twin-jet engine certification!MSU Students can pair the aviation program with any of our 120 degree options! What are you thinking about studying at MSU?

Spring Semester

2010-01-11T12:15:00.000-08:00

Spring semester has started! The steam whistle on the campus heating plant signaled the start of classes at 8:00am on Wednesday. This is a campus tradition marking the beginning of the semester and commencement. With the start of the spring semester campus is again bustling with students.

There are many events coming up on campus and in Bozeman. President Waded Cruzado will be making her first campus address on Friday. There will also be events next week to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, starting with a community celebration on Monday and then on January 20th Kevin Powell a poet, journalist and hip-hop historian, and cast member of the first season of The Real World will be speaking on campus about race and ethnicity issues in America. The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour will also be stopping in Bozeman January 22nd and 23rd. Of course many students are also taking advantage of the outdoor opportunities around Bozeman as well. The MSU Outdoor Recreation Center recently moved in to a great new facility and will be offering various outdoor related classes, outings and rental equipment. Also don't forget the next MSU Friday is on January 29th!

Residence Life @ MSU is the Good Life!

2010-01-11T10:27:00.001-08:00

Living on campus is such a great experience! You will probably never live with as many people your same age in your lifetime. It is a great opportunity to meet tons of new friends and get familiar with MSU's campus and the Bozeman area. If you are a high school senior who has already applied to MSU, now is a great time to submit your MSU housing application!

Residence Life at MSU is the Good Life:

Free Cable Television
Including but not limited to MTV, TNT, ESPN, ESPN 2, FX, A&E, DISCOVERY, LIFETIME, and DISNEY
High Speed Internet Connection
Up to 300 times faster than a conventional modem
24 hour Computer Labs-Fitness Facilities in Residence Halls
Convenience Stores
Located in the basement of North Hedges, the "Hedge Hog"offers a variety of snack, grocery, drink, and deli items including sandwiches, soup, pretzels, pizza, frozen yogurt, hotdogs, donuts, fountain drinks, and much more! There is also a mini store in South Hedges
Academic Tutorial Centers
Storage
A great way to store your suitcase outside of your room
Kitchens
Most halls have kitchen facilities, which are available for recreational cooking. In fact, when I lived in the halls, our floor started a tradition of cooking "Sunday night dinners" and the task of cooking dinner rotated through each room. It was a fun bonding experience with everyone on my floor!
Laundry Facilities
Washers and dryers are located in laundry rooms found either in the basement or on individual floors of the hall, depending on the building. The machines are easily accessed by using your student Cat Card.

For more information about MSU's Housing, check out www.montana.edu/reslife. Which hall is your #1 pick for next fall?

Happy New Year!

2010-01-06T07:47:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe how quickly winter break went by! School starts in exactly one week! Students are already starting to make their way back to campus and Bozeman. The residence halls open on Sunday, January 10th and classes start on Wednesday, January 13th. I am really excited to have everyone back on campus, but am not so excited to give up my front row parking spot!

New year, new semester, new president! MSU says goodbye to outgoing President Geoffrey Gamble after he served nine years in the position. Luckily, Dr. Gamble will not be going far. He has joined the faculty and will be teaching courses in the Anthropology Department. We are excited to welcome MSU's 12th President, Dr. Waded Cruzado. President Cruzado comes to Montana from New Mexico and is MSU's first female president. She will be a great addition to the MSU community!

Come see us on MSU Friday!

2009-12-21T15:02:00.001-08:00

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!

Scholarships!

2009-12-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

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.

Intramurals and the PE Complex

2009-12-11T08:20:00.001-08:00

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!

MSU's Greek System

2009-12-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

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?

Christmas Stroll

2009-12-04T10:05:00.000-08:00

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.

Skiing...it's on.

2009-11-24T15:04:00.000-08:00

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.

My trip to Minnesota

2009-11-12T15:29:00.000-08:00

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.

Application Time!

2009-11-11T17:18:00.001-08:00

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!

Broadway in Bozeman

2009-11-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2009-11-04T19:06:00.000-08:00

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!

Western Washington

2009-11-03T14:51:00.001-08:00

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!

GO CATS!

2009-10-29T14:13:00.001-07:00

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!

Life in the Pacific Northwest

2009-10-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

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!

Autumn in New England

2009-10-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

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.

Tomorrow is MSU Friday

2009-10-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

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!

Living on Campus

2009-10-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

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!

Alaska

2009-10-07T19:10:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-09-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

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.

MSU's Admission Requirements

2009-09-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

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!

Think Montana State University!

2009-09-22T20:31:00.001-07:00

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!

2009-09-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

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!

Testing, Testing, Testing!

2009-09-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

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!

Colorado

2009-09-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

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!

Meg is on the road!

2009-09-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

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!

Gold Rush!

2009-09-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow marks the day for the first home football game of the year and campus is buzzing with the excitement of the game! A tradition at Montana State University and the first home football game is to deem this our "Gold Rush" game where fans are asked to wear gold and make the stadium seem like a gold sea of fans! Students, alumni and MSU fans have been snatching up their official MSU Gold Rush shirts from the MSU Book Store or Universal Athletics (for those not in Bozeman) for only $10 (which is a great price) and it seems as though it will be another successful Gold Rush this year with a sold out stadium expected as usual! I can't wait to get to the stadium to have a burger at the tailgates, watch the team enter the stadium during the "Bobcat Prowl" and hear the cannon signaling the kickoff! As usual, it should be another great day to be a Bobcat!

One of the perks of being a student is that all home games are free for students to attend. Whether it is a home football game or going to the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse to support our men's and women's Bobcat Basketball teams or volleyball, track and field and all the other NCAA athletics teams MSU has to offer. There is great support for our student-athletes from students, staff and faculty, the Bozeman area and fans around Montana and the U.S! Make sure to keep up with everything going on with Bobcat Athletics throughout the year! GO CATS!

The Soloist: 2009 Freshman Convocation

2009-09-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended freshman convocation - a welcome event for MSU's new freshman students. The book selected for the summer reading this year was "The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship and the Redemptive Power of Music" by LA Times columnist Steve Lopez. It was required summer reading for all 2,400 incoming freshman and this novel will be discussed in classes and several venues this fall. Check out Steven Lopez's message to the MSU Class of 2013.

"The Soloist" is a factual account that traces the development of a four-year friendship between Lopez and homeless musician Nathaniel Ayers, a former Julliard prodigy living on the streets of Los Angeles. Lopez was a great speaker and delivered an important message to the MSU Class of 2013. MSU is fortunate to bring wonderful speakers throughout the year with programs on campus like the MSU Leadership Institute.

To end the night, Champ the bobcat mascot and President Gamble came to the stage and sang the MSU Fight song. The Fieldhouse was packed with students proudly singing their fight song and a energetic end to the evening and a fun kick off to the school year!

New Flip Cam!

2009-09-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

The Admissions Office made an exciting purchase today, we now have a Flip cam! The Flip cam is smaller than my cell phone so it will be super easy to bring all over campus and Bozeman to film some fun movies showing what it's like to be a student at MSU.

We will be trying the camera out tonight at freshman convocation where Steve Lopez author of The Soloist will be speaking. So be on the look out for some fun new videos on the blog and our Facebook page soon!

Seniors Take Action!

2009-09-09T12:59:00.000-07:00

Travel has officially begun! I have the privilege of kicking off the fall 2009 travel season. So far my travels are going well. I arrived in Fresno, CA yesterday and have already met with many interested students. I hosted a pizza party last night, visited high schools this afternoon and will attend a large area college fair tonight. This is the time when you high school seniors should begin filling out applications and taking the ACT and/or SAT if you have not already. Do not forget to check out our fantastic scholarships!

MSU AdvoCats

2009-09-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

One of my responsibilities as an Admissions Representative is coordinating the student campus tour guides. At MSU we call our tour guides AdvoCats since we are bobcats...aren't we clever! This year we have more than 50 student volunteers who will be giving tours to over 4,000 students and family members who visit campus. Above is a photo from our ice cream social last spring.

We had our first class yesterday and they are such a great group of students! Yesterday's class was full of information and we finalized the campus tour schedule. Soon the 2009 AdvoCats will be featured on our Meet our Students webpage, and you can get to know more about them!

The AdvoCats also have a blog, so you can keep up to date with this student group if you would like. AdvoCats are volunteers, but they have some pretty amazing opportunities throughout their year of service. Last year, we were able to have dinner at the President Gamble's house, tour the underground steam tunnels that run through campus and go on a behind the scenes tour of the Museum of the Rockies. That's us to the left with Big Mike (the full size bronze sculpture based on a T-Rex found in Eastern Montana in 1988).

Hopefully you will have a chance to go on a tour led by and MSU AdvoCat this year. You can find out about our visit opportunities and contact the MSU Office of Admissions at 1-888-MSU-CATS to arrange your visit to campus.

Concerts in Bozeman

2009-09-02T10:27:00.000-07:00

We have been having great weather in Bozeman this week which is great for attending outdoor concerts. This friday I will driving to Red Lodge, MT and attending a Montgomery Gentry concert. This concert is a little bit of a drive but I have been able to see quite a few bands right in Bozeman in the last few years including Carry Underwood, John Mayer, Maroon 5, Flogging Molly and lots of other groups. Big concerts are usually held in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse which is right on campus and will be hosting Jason Mraz in a couple weeks.

Many bands play at various locations around town such as the Emerson Cultural Center where I saw Josh Ritter this summer. In the Strand Union Building many Friday nights each semester the student government, ASMSU, sponsors free concerts. They bring in local and regional bands that have a variety of music styles. Another one of my favorite events is Music On Main which happens every Thursday night in July and August. Above is a picture of the crowd at one Music On Main this summer. It's a free event and two blocks of main street are shut down for bands to play during the event. Although Music On Main is done for the year there is going to another fun concert this weekend featuring a Bozeman band The Clintons. The concert is called Clinton Fest will be held this Saturday at the fairgrounds. They are one of my favorite local bands and put on lots of great shows around Bozeman throughout the year.

Travel, Travel, Travel...

2009-09-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

As things are coming to life around campus, we admissions representatives are getting ready to hit the road! We will be traveling across Montana and the country visiting high schools, attending college fairs and hosting pizza parties. Keep up with us by checking out our travel schedules and continuing to follow our blog. Also, do not forget to check out the Cateye webcam to see what is happening on campus!

First Day of Class

2009-08-31T11:31:00.000-07:00

The students are back at MSU and Bozeman is all a bustle! Hundreds of students moved back to town this weekend bringing the fun student energy that tends to simmer down during the summer break. Sidewalks are covered with bikers, parks are full of Frisbee players and the porch of the Pickle Barrel seems to always have people eating ice cream on it.
Campus is super busy today with students buying books at the MSU Bookstore, registering last minute for classes and finding where their classes are. I love when school starts up again. I’ve already bumped into three friendly faces this morning in the Student Union and enjoyed swapping summertime stories with them. I miss the summer already but am happy to have our students back!

Freshman Registration...

2009-08-29T16:51:00.001-07:00

After seven hours and 900 new students, the final class registration for new freshmen at MSU was over. While everyone was exhausted, you could still feel the excitement in the air. Students were beginning a new chapter as college students, and seeing they joy they had heading off to buy books and enjoy their first weekend on campus, it rubbed off on all of our staff. It was a great way to end the week and an even better way to lead into the first week of classes next week! Welcome to Montana State University to all the new Bobcats!

Freshman Orientation

2009-08-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

Today is the second day of MSU's fall Orientation program. We had over 900 students register for this session - and there were also three full summer sessions! MSU's Orientation program is a great way to get familiar with the campus and meet other students in your major.

Orientation Leaders are current students who take a semester long training class to learn about course registration. They help students with figuring out what classes they need to take for their degree program and teach them how to use MSU's online course registration website. Becoming an Orientation Leader is a great way to get connected to the campus.

Move-In Day

2009-08-26T09:18:00.001-07:00

Today is Move-In Day on campus. New and returning students are moving into the residence halls. Volunteers from the university and community are helping the students move their things in to their new home for the year. There is a lot of energy as over 2,000 students arrive to campus.

I remember being very excited and nervous when I moved into North Hedges my first year but I soon met lots of new friends and had a great time living in there. To the right is a picture of me moving into North Hedges my freshman year. Living in the residence halls is a great way to get connected to other students and the campus. There are a variety of housing options from Co-ed halls that have co-ed, all male, or all female floors, all female halls and an all male residence hall. Some of the floors have themes such as outdoor pursuits where students put together weekend trips doing things like hiking, snowshoeing, biking and a variety of other activities. Other themes include academic themes like nursing, business, arts and architecture and engineering where students living on the floor take a couple classes together their first semester.

Welcome back!

2009-08-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

It is shaping up to be a pretty busy week here on campus! Tomorrow is the final orientation and move in day! Students will be packing up all of their belongings, making the trek to Bozeman and moving into their new homes for the academic year! It is fantastic to see old friends reconnecting and welcoming new students to campus.

Catapalooza also starts tomorrow and marks the official beginning of the school year! It takes place on the center of campus and is going to be a great three day event! There are various student clubs and organizations, community groups and the ski mountains represented to show off all MSU and Bozeman have to offer...there is free pizza, too!

Another weekend get away...

2009-08-24T13:54:00.001-07:00

Despite a little rain in the forecast, I had myself a little adventure this weekend! Two of my friends and I decided that backpacking up to Hylite Lake followed by a short scurry up Hylite Peak would make a great Saturday night. So, we strapped on our packs, grabbed our dogs and hit the trail for a gorgeous 5.6 mile hike to Hylite Lake. On the way, we passed 11 waterfalls and saw splendid views of a glacially carved valley.
After we set up camp and rehydrated, we continued on another 2 miles through some snow and shale up to the highest peak in Hylite Valley. I did a little victory dance at the summit, sat on top of what felt like the world and thanked my lucky stars for Montana’s crazy mountain ranges. We woke up on Sunday to some rain so we headed out early. It rained the whole way out but we had fun getting muddy and hustling out to the trail head. My bathroom is currently covered in my still damp gear and cloths. What a blast!

Meet Mike Ouert - MSU Admissions Representative

2009-08-20T07:17:00.000-07:00

Name: Mike Ouert

Hometown: Great Falls, MT

Major, Minor and graduation year: Graduated with a History Teaching Degree in 2005

Favorite class at MSU: EDSD 458: Methods of Teaching Social Studies with Dr. Bryce Carpenter and History 412: History of Race and Class in America with Dr. Billy Smith

Where are you traveling: Colorado, Oregon, Maryland and Montana

What is your favorite restaurant/ coffee shop/ local store in Bozeman? I love MacKenzie River Pizza Company on Main Street in downtown Bozeman. They have a great selection of pizzas, pastas and sandwiches and is an original Bozeman based restaurant. It’s a laid back atmosphere that is very family friendly, but also very student friendly at the same time.

What advice would you give to an incoming student? Go visit the campuses you are interested in possibly attending. Actually being able to walk on a college campus and get the feeling of whether that would be a good school for you is one of the most important aspects of the college search.

What is your best/ favorite MSU memory? My favorite memory at MSU was my last semester student teaching. I actually had the opportunity to spend my last semester studying abroad in Australia for four months and had a blast. I was even able to make it back in time to walk at graduation which was an amazing experience to be done.

Describe yourself in one word. Electric

What is your favorite campus event? Any of the athletic events are great, especially football games. Seeing everyone decked out in their blue and gold on game day is one of the best things ever. GO CATS!

Meet Hilja Mueller- MSU Admissions Representative

2009-08-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

Name: Hilja Mueller
Hometown: Butte, MT
Major, minor and graduation year: I graduated from MSU with a major in Sociology and a minor in Psychology in May 2006.
Favorite classes at MSU: HDFN 221: Human Nutrition and SOC 304: Social Stratification
Where are you traveling? Central and Northern California, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.

As a student, where did you live?
My first year, I lived on campus in North Hedges on an all female floor. I really enjoyed living in the residence halls and met a ton of new friends! The next year, I moved into a condo near campus and then moved into a sorority for my last two years. I had a good variety of living situations and feel that living near or on campus helped me to stay connected.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?
I enjoy floating the Madison and Jefferson rivers. It is a great way to take in the beautiful Montana scenery and get a tan!

What is your favorite band/singer?
I am a huge country music fan! Some of my favorite artists are Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. I saw them both perform at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the MSU campus.

What was your favorite freebee/discount as a student?
The Procrastinator Theater on campus is one ot the best deals around. The movies shown have already hit the regular movie theaters, but are not yet available to rent. Admission is $2 and at that price you can surely afford to procrastinate!

When you come to Bozeman be sure to...check out Main St. You will find many fantastic restaurants, shops and entertainment opportunities! My favorite eateries downtown are MacKenzie River Pizza and Aleworks. Both offer a good variety of menu options in a laid back, classy, "Bozeman-like" atmosphere. The Root and Hey Day are a couple places to check out for unique shopping experiences. The Emerson Cultural Center and Ellen Theater have various art, film and music events!

Meet Meg Somers - Admissions Representative

2009-08-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

Name: Meg Somers

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Major, Minor, Graduation Year: I graduated in 2006 with a German major and a Music minor.

Favorite Class at MSU: BIOL 103- Environmental Science & Society

What areas are you visiting in 2009? North Dakota, Minnesota, Oregon, Wisconsin, Illinois, Idaho, South Dakota and Montana

What is your favorite restaurant in Bozeman? With their addictive sugar cookies, organic coffee and energizing smoothies, the Bozeman Community Food Co-Op has completely won me over. And did I mention they have live music?!? It is the perfect place to swing in to get a healthy, tasty snack or last minute meal while checking out some local musicians.

What is the one thing you would recommend to incoming students? It may sound crazy to some, but enjoy living in the Residence Halls. You will never again have so many fabulous roommates!

When you come to Bozeman be sure to…spin around and take in the 360 degrees of mountains surrounding you. The beauty of the mountains still shocks me and catches my eye even after seven years of living here.

What is your favorite outdoor activity? I love trail running in the sun, skiing in the snow and whitewater rafting in the rivers. It’s Bozeman! You can’t just pick one.

Latest attempt? Yoga. I did it for 4 days straight a while ago and was amazed at how much of a work-out it is! I am pretty good at the positions requiring acute balance but those strength poses…

Meet Kelsy Traeger - MSU Admissions Representative

2009-08-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

Name: Kelsy Traeger

Hometown: Sandown, New Hampshire

Major, Minor, Graduation Year: B.S. Anthropology minor in Museum Studies 2007

Favorite Class at MSU: Soc 365 Sociology of Globalization and Soc 303 Social Psychology

What areas did you visit in 2008? New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Eastern and Central Washington, Northern Idaho, Minneapolis, Alaska, Western Colorado, and Montana

What areas are you visiting in 2009? New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Eastern Washington, Alaska, Colorado, Northern Idaho and Montana.

What is your favorite local store in Bozeman? Tart in the Emerson Cultural Center. The Emerson Cultural Center has a bunch of great little art galleries, a restaurant and offers fun classes, concerts and events. Tart has some really unique jewelry as well as fun funky art and clothing many of which are produced by local artists.

What advice would you give to an incoming student? I would advise them to get involved in at least one student organization while you are a student. Getting involved in organizations outside of the classroom gives you great opportunities to develop leadership skills, network and make some great friends. There are over 120 student organizations at MSU giving you lots of choices.

As a student, where did you live on campus? I lived on the 11th floor (the top) of North Hedges on a coed floor for my first year. It was a lot of fun and had a great variety of students from all over Montana and the country. After my first year I lived in my sorority house for three years. This was great way to get involved and the house had a great cook and lots of room to hang out and study.

When you visit Bozeman, be sure to… check out one of the three ski areas. My favorite is Bridger Bowl. It is only twenty minutes from Bozeman and has great ski runs, short lines and often lots of powder.

What was your favorite freebee/discount as a student? Bobcat football games. They are tons of fun and the stadium is always packed. A great way to spend a Saturday outside with your friends cheering on the bobcats.

Latest attempt? Knitting..I made one scarf but I’m having a little trouble on the second.

Meet Ren Stoltz - MSU Admissions Representative

2009-07-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

Name: Ren Stoltz

Hometown: Lakewood, WA

Major and Graduation Year: Bachelor of Arts in Photography 2006

Favorite Class at MSU: Professional Practices in Photography & Photographing Italy Seminar

What areas did you visit in 2008?

Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Idaho, Utah, Illinois, Wisconsin, Washington and Montana.

Where will you be going in 2009?

Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Utah, Minnesota, Washington and Montana.

What is your favorite local store in Bozeman?

Stix Yarn in downtown Bozeman. They have a ton of yarns and classes, including FREE learn to knit or crochet workshops in the winter!

What is your favorite restaurant in Bozeman?

That would have to be Montana Ale Works. They have a ton of vegetarian options in a cool downtown atmosphere.

What do you do in your spare time?

I like spending time with my new puppy Oscar and watching the food network to come up with new ideas for interesting meals. I also enjoy attending MSU athletic events, and local community events like Farmer's markets and the art walk downtown. Over the years, I have become more adventurous when it comes to the outdoors and have begun cross country skiing and hiking on tons of the trails around southwest Montana. I also enjoy spending time working on projects around my new home in Bozeman.

Where is your favorite place to vacation?

My idea of a wonderful vacation day would include: sitting at the Burlington Bay Market & Cafe overlooking Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont on a sunny day. Riding a bike in Stowe, Vermont on one of the many trails in town and ending the day with a scoop of Ben and Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream! YUM!

Where will you be in 20 years?

In twenty years, I hope to have accomplished many things. Using my photography degree, I would like to take the small business that I currently have and create a full-time photography business. I enjoy photographing objects in the studio and creating dramatic lighting to enhance my subject. I spent my senior year at Montana State University in the photography studio and felt very at home in that environment. I would also like to have spent a few years traveling before settling down with a family. I have always thought it would be fun to live in several places. I would enjoy living somewhere warm, somewhere cold and a few different countries over the years.

What would you like to change about the world?

If I had the influence to change one thing about the world it would be to end hunger. According to the World Health Organization, hunger and malnutrition are the single gravest threats to the world's public health and malnutrition is by far the biggest contributor to child mortality. There were 923 million hungry people in the world in 2007 despite the fact that the world already produces enough food to feed everyone - 6 billion people and has the potential to feed 12 billion people. Throughout the years I have spend time volunteering in soup kitchens and participated in hunger walks and food drives to raise money and food donations for my local food banks.

Describe yourself in one word. Imagainative.

Hello Class of 2010, 2011 and 2012!

2009-07-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Montana State University's Admissions Blogs! Here you will be able to find our five representatives as they travel across the country and meet future MSU students! Follow along on our adventures to learn more about MSU, the Bozeman area and the Admissions Representatives.

Throughout the year, you will undoubtedly be looking at several colleges to find the right fit for you. Here at Montana State University, we provide students with a unique blend of "Mountains and Minds" where you not only get the opportunity to excel in the classroom, but also to enjoy the amazing outdoor opportunities that surround our campus.