Tips for Incoming Students

This is a time of change, but there are things you can do to prepare for life at MSU. 

• Familiarize yourself with health and well-being services and resources on campus, like free wellness coaching, supportive Alcohol and Other Drug programs, and medical and mental health services.
• Save these contacts for help in a crisis or after-hours.
• See the data about students’ health and well-being at MSU. There are a lot of myths about college culture, but the reality is often quite different. Some of the data may surprise you — like knowing that 71 percent of MSU students consume zero to four drinks when they party, and one in three choose not to drink at all.
• Follow the New Student Health Checklist to get ahead of health care needs for illness or injury.
• Learn how to transition your health care to MSU or continue working with a provider from back home.
• Remember the coping skills that have gotten you this far — they'll be helpful for years to come:  exercise, meditation, listening to music, talking to a trusted friend, etc.

As providers and support staff, we always encourage you to communicate with a trusted family member or guardian about big health decisions. For information on your rights as a patient, read MSU Student Health & Wellness Patient Rights and Responsibilities.