Congrats! You're going Mississippi State and I am so excited for you! You're going to meet some of your best friends here and we can't wait to welcome you to our bulldog community!
Let's talk about housing.
State has some really solid housing options. The honors college residence halls are definitely the nicest on campus if you can live in them. You have your own bathroom and are only a short walk away from quick food options at the Union. Among the other really nice options are Dogwood, Davenport, Magnolia, and Oak. I lived in Hull Hall my freshman year, which is a traditional style dorm with a communal shower and bathroom. It wasn't the nicest option, but it wasn't terrible and it was the cheapest housing option on campus. It was also in the middle of campus, so I could walk across the street and get food really quickly (which was honestly a real lifesaver sometimes). None of the options are particularly bad, so if you don't get the hall you were hoping for, don't sweat it! They all have their own pros and cons, and some people even like the traditional dorms better than the new construction. And if it doesn't work out, you can always move into an apartment the next year.
The town of Starkville has got your back.
You will see Mississippi State logos all over the downtown area, and even the local Walmart has an entire section dedicated to just MSU memorabilia. The whole town has a sense of bulldog pride and it's so nice to see that camaraderie and support surrounding you even after you've stepped off campus.
Literally everyone loves Bulldog Burger.
As far as good eats - Starkville has the best. When family is in town Bulldog Burger or The Lost Pizza Company is always a hit. Thai Siam is also one of my favorites, which is always a cute lunch spot where you can get bubble tea! In the downtown area, 929 has a great breakfast, at Starkville Cafe you get a lot of food for your money, and if you want something really nice, head over to Restaurant Tyler. I could keep going, because one of my favorite things about Starkville is all the good food, but you'll see for yourself soon enough.
PLEASE pack a raincoat.
Because I did not. During the summer we went through a period where there were months without a drop of rain. It was so hot outside I would get to class panting because of how thick the air was. And then, as soon as the temperature started to drop, the bottom fell out for weeks. I swear the campus was flooded for a solid month, and to get to some of my classes I had to walk through actual hills of mud. Don't make my mistake - literally pack for everything. You will need summer clothes. You will need winter clothes (walking across campus can get really cold at 8am in January). And you will most certainly need rain boots, a rain coat, and an umbrella... unless you want to sport a ridiculously oversized poncho for $1.99 that you bought in a pinch at the POD (I promise you don't).
Go to the football games, but don't forget about the other sporting events too.
The atmosphere at Davis Wade Stadium on game day is second to none. ESPECIALLY during the Egg Bowl. If you go to any football game throughout the year, definitely go to that one. It's awesome to be in a sea of maroon and white surrounded by the sound of cowbells on game day. Don't forget to go to the other sporting events too though! We're a Division I school and have one of the best women's basketball teams in the country. On top of that, baseball at Dudy Noble is always a great time and there are always some type of events on campus for you to go out and watch. You only get those student-priced tickets for so long, so take advantage of it!
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Good luck, you've got this!
The seniors are envying you right now. I promise you every year will go by so quickly. Get involved, and make the most of your time here. It's better to do too much than to regret not trying the things you could have.
Hail state!