<p>How is the undergraduate research program at MSU? Assuming I get accepted that's something I'd like to be a part of (majoring in Chem, so I'd like to get some REAL lab experience in). Basically I'm wondering if I'd be able to find a spot in it as a freshman, or if I'll have to wait until I gain more years under my belt.</p>
<p>Undergrad research is excellent…you just have to be willing to make the effort to search for opportunities. Just one example of such opportunity: [Home</a> | VENTURE](<a href=“http://venture.msu.edu/]Home”>http://venture.msu.edu/) a website for undergraduate research opportunities (some paid, some volunteer/for credit). If you are accepted into the honors college there are honors research seminars or if you have a certain ranking/act/sat you might be awarded a professorial assistantship. If you aren’t in the honors college there are plenty of other opportunities (and depending on your major, different advisors to talk to/different directories) including research seminar classes and simply, if a professor is conducting some research you can ask them to participate as an undergraduate student and they will often say yes.</p>
<p>I’m a international relations/economics major so my lab experience is a bit different than yours. But in my 1st year I was hired to be part of a National Science Foundation study on media coverage of city governments, helping code and collect data (I found the job app through an email bulletin). So freshmen definitely can get research experience at MSU</p>
<p>As a fellow science major, I can tell you that unless you have been given a Professorial Assistantship, it will be difficult to find UG research until you have reached junior standing. The science UG research at MSU is very competitive. Since the colleges have been cutting budgets, it is more difficult for the individual colleges to find funding for students. However, I still encourage you to apply to UG research oppurtunities, because hey, you never know!</p>