MAGIC

 

College is a new experience for all incoming students, even for those who have been successful in high school. MAGIC (Maximizing Academic Growth in College) is open to all incoming MSU students, who often underestimate the challenges they may face when making the transition from high school to a university of 50,000 students.

MAGIC is coordinated by the Office of Multicultural Enrichment and Advocacy (OMEA) and is a one-week program offered twice in July for admitted incoming MSU students who have already completed their NSO (New Student Orientation) experience. MAGIC gives students a chance to begin the process of becoming a successful Spartan during the summer, before classes begin in August. 

Magic Packet

 

Testimonials

• Christian Pearson, First-Year in Advertising Management
  Having the honor of participating in MAGIC was easily one of the best experiences I've had to kick off my journey at MSU. I met a great community of peers and mentors who quickly turned a massive campus into a place that feels like home.
  
  MAGIC was an authentic space that was created for us to have great conversations and share experiences. The support system I built through MAGIC gave me the confidence to navigate my first semester successfully while having familiar faces cheer me on. Having that "family" dynamic before day one guaranteed that I'd never feel lost in the crowd.
• Jesslyn Wang, Third-Year in Finance and Economics

  I did MAGIC in the summer of 2023 and it prepared me well for starting at Michigan State. Before attending the program, my biggest concerns about college were not knowing where my classes were and getting lost, along with not knowing anyone and not being able to make friends. However, I really liked how MAGIC was structured since attending the informational sessions about college life in various buildings helped me get accustomed to my surroundings. In addition, mealtimes and free time in the evening allowed me many opportunities to get to know those around me. My favorite part out of everything were the friends I made: We only spent about a week together, but it felt like forever with how often we were around each other every day.

  Also, as an out-of-state student from the Chicago suburbs, I was able to connect with other Illinois students during this time, which was good to have since we made a group chat and discussed how we'd all be getting to campus. We even hung out together once we were back in Illinois.

  MAGIC truly helped me enjoy college. I was bursting with excitement as I already knew my way around. I already had a set of friends to hang out with. I have so many fond memories of this program, ranging from eating at the Brody dining hall for the first time and being amazed at all the delicious options to staying up late gossiping and playing card games with my friends. I'm so glad I participated in MAGIC and I highly recommend it to any incoming freshman. Trust me, you won't regret it!

• Reagan Karasek, First-Year in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy

  MAGIC was an overall fantastic experience. It gave me the opportunity to preemptively break out of my shell and learn how to talk to people I have never met before. I made some extremely close friends, some of which I still talk to today, and have found so much success in my classes. I have taken many of the lessons I learned at MAGIC about organizational skills and building professional relationships with my professors into my first year at MSU.

  MAGIC also taught me that success at MSU doesn't just revolve around succeeding academically; it is also the relationships you find in those around you. By embodying this lesson, I have found that MSU feels even more like a community that I truly belong to; it feels like home.

• Heaven Brooks, Third-Year in Human Biology (Pre-Med)
  The MAGIC program had a profound impact on my freshman year. It helped me explore the campus and its history before the fall semester began. Through MAGIC, I made many friends and connections that have been invaluable and also opened so many doors for me.
  
  I highly recommend this program to incoming Spartans because it played a crucial role in shaping my experience and identity as a Spartan today. Without it, I wouldn't have integrated into campus life as smoothly.
• Naomi Morgan-Martinez, Third-Year in Professional and Public Writing

  MAGIC was an amazing opportunity that prepared me to be a well-informed incoming freshman at MSU!

  Students were taught about helpful resources on campus, such as CAPS, tutoring services, and study abroad programs. We were given advice from influential speakers and staff at MSU about how to navigate through college and how to be successful in life overall. The first thing that I loved the most was being able to get to know the campus before attending in the fall; from staying in a dorm room, to eating at Brody dining hall, to running all over campus during our treasure hunt.

  The second thing is being able to recognize and greet people today who were in my group at MAGIC when I see them on campus or on social media. I would recommend MAGIC to any incoming freshman, and if they’re like me, join with a friend and experience the magic together.

• Lucy Zhang, First-Year in Electrical Engineering

  I joined MAGIC summer of 2025, and it was an amazing experience. I was really nervous entering MSU. Just thinking about having to navigate classes, make new friends, and find my own community on such a big campus was overwhelming. MAGIC helped lessen that stress a lot. I gained a community and I felt less afraid of going into college with the preparation and connections I made.

  I gained a lot of motivation from MAGIC, which helped me succeed in my first semester. By being informed of support groups, I knew where I could go if I ever needed help; and by being informed of research and honors college, I gained a goal I was going to aim towards when school started.

  MAGIC gave me perspective of our campus and connected me to grounded, inspiring mentors and peers. 

MAGIC Application

MAGIC introduces students to academic, cultural, professional, and social success strategies. This year's program will be held in-person and students have the option of participating in either week one (July 12-17) or week two (July 19-24). 

Apply Today