Difficulty of gaining admission to Michigan State University?

I'm looking into applying to Michigan State University, but I'm not sure how competitive it is. What kind of GPA and test scores do they typically look for? Any advice or personal experience would be appreciated!

Michigan State University (MSU) is a large public university with a moderate level of selectivity in admissions. To give you an idea of the academic profile of accepted students, here are some statistics from MSU's most recent freshman class:

- The average high school GPA was around 3.8 (on a 4.0 scale).

- The middle 50% SAT scores for admitted students were between 1100 and 1300.

- The middle 50% ACT scores for admitted students were between 23 and 29.

Keep in mind that these numbers are for reference only and are not strict cutoffs. MSU considers other factors in their admissions process as well. They will also review your coursework, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation to get a comprehensive view of your application.

To improve your chances of admission, you should aim to have a strong GPA and SAT/ACT scores within or above the middle 50% range. However, hitting those marks alone won't guarantee acceptance, so make sure to demonstrate a commitment to your extracurricular activities as well, and showcase your intangible skills through your essays.

Remember that MSU is test-optional for the 2024-2025 application cycle, so if you feel that your SAT or ACT scores don't accurately represent your academic abilities, you can choose not to submit them. However, if your test scores are within or above the ranges mentioned above, submitting them would likely strengthen your application. If you're unsure whether you should submit your scores or not, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which contains detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional

In summary, while gaining admission to Michigan State University can be competitive, focusing on having a solid GPA, strong test scores (if you decide to submit them), and well-rounded extracurricular involvement can improve your chances. Good luck with your application!