Returning to MSU
Welcome back to MSU, Bobcat! We know returning to school can be a daunting process, whether you have been gone only one year or twenty! Regardless of your circumstances, we are ready to help you!
If you are a former MSU student who left before completing your bachelor’s degree, use the steps below to guide your successful return back to campus!
IT BEGINS NOW!
Steps to Re-Enroll
A Return-to-Learn Advisor can:
- Help you map out a plan to return.
- Guide you through university processes and procedures.
- Provide tips and tricks for a successful return.
- Connect you with resources.
How to find the Intent to Register Form?
- Step 1: Log In to MyInfo
- Step 2: Choose Student Services Tab
- Step 3: almost at the bottom of the list you will see the option for the Online Intent to Register form.
Tips to submitting your Intent to Register:
Apply for re-admission by submitting the Intent to Register form online in the Student Services tab of your MyInfo account.
- We recommend submiting your Intent to Register at least 30 days prior to registration - but we understand this is not always possible.
- If you are changing your major, note your new major of choice on this form.
- If you attended another college or university since you last attended MSU, note this on the Intent to Register form, and then send an official transcript to the Office of the Registrar.
- Once the Intent to Register is processed (2-3 weeks), the Office of the Registrar will contact the email address provided on the Intent to Register form.
If you have any questions or concerns about your Intent to Register, contact the Office of the Registrar
Let a Financial Coach help!
Make smart investments in your education while also meeting your living expenses!
A financial coach can help you with...
- Student Loans
- Budgeting / Credit
- Savings
- Scholarships
- Building your financial future
File the FAFSA online to determine eligibility for federal low-interest loans and grants.
Filing the FAFSA does not obligate you to take out loans, but it can open up various opportunities to fund your education. Some scholarships require you to file your FAFSA.
Holds are a very common occurrence for returning students.
If you have a registration hold on your account, you will need to resolve it before you will be allowed to register for your classes.
- You can view if you have any registration holds on your account under the Student
Services tab in MyInfo. Select the Student Records link and then the View Holds link. - A Return-to-Learn Advisor can guide you through the specific steps to resolving your
holds.
Plan your schedule.
Academic advisors are guides, mentors, and educators who encourage personal development and lifelong learning. They share information about curricula, resources, and engagement opportunities. Students who engage in the advising process regularly will benefit from the guidance and support of their advisor.
Register using CatCourse
Once your Intent to Register is processed and you have met with an Academic Advisor, your Academic Advsior will provide you with a PIN to register for classes using CatCourse in the Student Services Tab of your MyInfo account.
The Office of Return-to-Learn offers a scholarship program specifically designed for returning students.
Additionally, MSU has a scholarship application portal called Cat $cholarships that is a one-stop-shop for most of the scholarships across campus.
Click below to learn more about the Return-to-Learn Scholarship opportunity and Cat $cholarships:
After You Re-Enroll
Going back to school after a break is not impossible – in fact, taking time away from
school is
very common! Many non-traditional students outperform their traditional-age peers
simply
due to their maturity and dedication to their studies.
Many returning students have concerns and fears about coming back to school. Don’t
ignore
these feelings! Face them head-on or you can run the risk of developing imposter syndrome.
Returning students are often concerned about:
- Whether the benefits of returning to school are worth the costs
- Not ‘fitting in’ with younger peers,
- Keeping up with classwork after a long break
- Balancing schoolwork and other obligations
- How long it will take to complete their degree.
Discuss your concerns or fears with your Return-to-Learn advisor or with professional
help with
MSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services. It is very likely that other returning
students have
felt the same way you do.
You are not alone; you can do this; you belong at MSU!
A common challenge for non-traditional students is balancing schoolwork into their already busy schedules. Non-traditional students often work more hours than traditional students, have family obligations, or commute to campus.
These challenges require returning students to be mindful about their time management.
- Buy a day planner that includes month and weekly views
- In the month views, plan out major events for the whole semester: holidays, important deadlines, exam dates, etc.
- Plan out your daily schedules for the upcoming week. Start by filling in your day with your fixed schedule: classes and work. Then fill in the empty areas with study time, mealtimes, sleep time, self-care time.
- Remember to schedule approximately 2-3 hours per credit per week for each credit hour you are taking. For example, if you are taking 12 credits, you should schedule 24-36 hours of study time per week. As a full-time student, you should treat school as a 40-hour per week job.
- Create a to-do list each day that includes your top 3 tasks for the day. Focus on your top 3 tasks first, then move to your other tasks.
Have honest, open conversations with your friends, family, and employer.
Your family may need to take on some of your household responsibilities while you’re taking classes. You may be less available to hang out with friends or go to events: ask your friends for support and understanding. Discuss with your boss and co-workers if you need any additional flexibility in your work schedule.
Having these conversations before the semester will help you feel more prepared for the upcoming semester.
Having a good study space is critical to success, and it will allow you to promote your learning and help you engage with your study material.
You want your study space to have,
- Minimal distractions.
- Good lighting.
- All your study materials.
You can either create your own study space at home or find a study space on campus or in a public space like a coffee shop. You may want to have different study spaces for working on different materials.
For example, you may want to work on flash cards with a friend in the library but work on a research paper from the comfort of your own home. You may want to listen to music while you do practice problems but need quiet for when you are reading. Brainstorm what you need for your study space to work best for you.
If you find yourself being distracted often while studying, you may need to reassess your study space and try something new.
