Recent Interdisciplinary Studies graduate Jimmy Li earns a perfect 4.0 G.P.A.
January 9, 2025
Jimmy (Zeyu) Li recently graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science and a minor in Asian studies while earning a perfect 4.0 GPA, landing him on the Board of Trustees 4.0 list in addition to being on the dean’s list.
Li, a first-generation college student, began his studies at MSU during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2021, attending virtual classes while residing in China, which was far from the conventional beginning of a college experience for many.
“It was different starting classes while living in China. I just really wanted to see East Lansing and connect with my classmates,” Li said.
Li officially moved to East Lansing in January 2022, as the world was still reeling from the pandemic. He said the adjustment of living in a new country was tough, but he felt supported throughout his time at MSU.
“When I got to Michigan in 2021, this was my first time in America,” he said. “I felt helpless because so many things were so different, and I had to get used to them. For example, I tried to use PayPal at the grocery store and obviously that did not work. Thankfully, my roommate gave me some money to help me out. As someone who has long lived in a warm southern region, I was unaccustomed to the winters at MSU upon my arrival, feeling the biting cold wind and snow fiercely cutting against my face.”
Even transportation was tough to get used to, Li said. But he said thanks to the support system he built at MSU over the years, he was able to thrive even when the odds were against him.
"Sure, things were not easy, but I built a lot of friendships here and I made sure to always do my class work before anything else. Having that type of dedication helped me succeed at MSU.”
During his time at MSU, Li participated in numerous extra-curricular activities and held a range of jobs on campus including working as a student research assistant for the Office of K-12 Outreach and being a member of MSU’s Social Science Scholars.
“I enjoyed working with the Office of K-12 Outreach because the people there were so friendly and kind to me. Being an international student living in a new country can be overwhelming but having the support like I did in this office made such a difference for me and their kindness makes me feel warm and cared for.”
Li said his colleagues were so helpful that they even helped him register for housing.
“During one semester, I forgot to register for housing, and I was so stressed out. Jacqueline, Tyler, and other colleagues helped me figure things out because they are so patient and friendly. They helped me with everything from learning to write research papers to how to use Excel. I was quite lucky to work in that office with them and have that kind of environment to work in.”
Li was also a member of the Honors College, an opportunity that facilitated his undergraduate research efforts. During the fall of 2022, he took a research seminar (UGS 200H) focused on the Middle East, and he presented his research from this class at the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum in the spring of 2023.
“The opportunity with the Honors College was great because it allowed me to present my research at UURAF,” Li said. “I think being a member of the Honors College was a very valuable experience because they really helped me in certain areas for example when I joined them it was my first time doing research and I had the chance to do the research independently.”
In the summer of 2023, Li participated in a study abroad program (SSC 490: Special Topics in Social Science) and traveled to Africa.
Li said, “Seeing the number of people in poverty and meeting those who are impoverished are two completely different things. I am glad to have had the opportunity to participate in this valuable project and to help the local community to the best of my ability. An individual's strength is limited, but the power of many is boundless. I can see that many international and local organizations are working to promote Tanzania."
Li said he chose to major in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science because he was drawn to studying multiple subjects at a time to get a comprehensive view of the world. He is now applying to master’s degree programs in China.
“I am curious about social issues like religion, race, and education. There are so many perspectives and choosing one major makes it difficult to analyze all those perspectives. Now that I have my degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, I can continue to analyze multiple perspectives while studying various subjects and I can learn a lot more about the world since I have a degree that helps me do that.”