How To Become A Microsoft Student Partner (MSP)
Introduction
The Microsoft Student Partner Program is a worldwide educational program to sponsor students majoring in disciplines related to technology. The MSP program attempts to enhance students’ employability by offering training in skills not usually taught in academia, including knowledge of Microsoft technologies.
Last year, I had the opportunity of taking part in the amazing Microsoft Student Partner program, and it has been a really great experience ever since. As a community leader, I do believe that knowledge-sharing, is one of the best gifts a person can give to humanity. the Microsoft Student Partner program is such a great deal to me, and Congratulations! to all other MSP’s
Why be an MSP?
- The MSP program is an educational and promotional program to sponsor undergraduate and postgraduate students majoring in disciplines related to technology and computer science.
- As a whole, the program aims to increase awareness of Microsoft products, programs, and initiatives. Consequently, the program helps to expand the user base of Microsoft products and results in better availability of properly educated workforce in those technologies.
The Fun thing about being a Microsoft Student Partner is that you do not work for Microsoft but rather you work with Microsoft.
Benefits of being an MSP
- Office 365 subscription
- Visual Studio Enterprise (similar to MSDN subscription) along with Azure credits worth $150/month
- LinkedIn Learning free for 6 months
- Free training in Microsoft technologies via Microsoft Learn
- Food and Beverage support in events through Subway
- Networking opportunity with Microsoft officials
- Chance to visit nearby Microsoft HQ for meetups or hackathons
- Opportunity to be invited for annual regional MSP Summit
Immediately one gets into the student’s partner program, you are giving a unique opportunity to utilize tools that could cost you $5000+ if you were to purchase them yourself. These tools include third-party tools as well that will help you to make your community better.
THE FIRST STEP (Application)
- Visit this site and sign in with your regular mail account: https://studentpartners.microsoft.com/
2. After you signed-in press the “Apply Now” button so you’ll be taken to the Application Status page.
3. Press the “Resume Application” button to get to the final stage.
Here, you find six sections to fill in, they are:
- Privacy and Terms
- Personal Info
- School Info
- Written Sample
- Additional Info
- Technical Skills
In the “Privacy and Terms” section make sure you fit in criteria.
- You must be at least 16 years old and study at University/College.
5. After, press the “I agree and wish to continue” and “Next” buttons.
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THE SECOND STEP (filling the form)
- The next sections to fill are “Personal info” and “School info”. I am sure you handle it :)
2. The “Written Sample” section is where you show up your skills!
There are 3 fields:
• Inspire
• Teach
• Promote
There you must explain how you will inspire, teach and promote, and you should also include a 30–60-second video explanation for some of them.
Let’s dive into it!
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• Inspire
In this field, you have to explain what excites you about technology and the reason why you’ll help other students.
About videos:
- Sound first (make sure your voice is clear on video this is done by the good quality microphone)
- Find the right place to capture so that you are visible enough on video. (Direct light works well)
- Keep your videos short and simple.
- Actions better words (include what you’ve been doing so far)
- Embed subtitles into your video (sometimes subtitles help to better understand your speech)
Keep in mind that you have to include the “Inspire” video along with a written sample.
Link to my video
• Teach
In the Teach field, you need to explain how would you explain technical concepts to your peers.
Here are the samples for you:
Explaining basic concepts from programming
The same way record yourself how you explain tech things.
(But it is not necessary you can submit a written or video sample)
• Promote
So, this is about how you are going to promote your events.
There are dozens of ways to do it, some of you are a part of the “Students Union” organization in your University, some own channels on social networks or at least have some friends who are willing to help you with promotion.
Here are the samples for you:
How I would promote:
1. Flyers & Banners — themed flyers to give them a basic understanding of the event;
2. Video promotion — people need to know what it feels to be in particular pride, through the video we can deliver the atmosphere of the event;
3. Go offline, go in-person — reach out them with offline presentation (explaining the benefits they take from the event);
4. “Hands-on” stories on Social Media- it will give them the feeling of how enthusiastically we are preparing for the event;
‼ The most important thing is to knock on the right door
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3. The next section is “Additional info”.
Here you have to provide links to your social networks such as Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn. Also technical posts and recorded technical “how-to” videos (in any language). If you have GitHub & Stack Overflow (technical sites/communities) accounts provide them as well.
But if you don’t have some of them it is totally okay and you can skip those fields.
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4. The last section is about “Technical Skills”
Feel free to select fields you are interested in, then PRESS SUBMIT BUTTON AND YOU ARE READY TO GO!
NOTE: now when you submitted your form you can edit it at any time until submission date closes.
Applications are open the whole year and will be reviewed on a quarterly basis.
Student Partner Milestones
Once you do make it into the program, there are various tiers that you can achieve. Each tier has its own benefits. The tiers are:
- Alpha 1- new Student Partners enter the program at Alpha 1 and receive exclusive access to our global student network and Microsoft experts on Microsoft Teams, an Office 365 subscription, access to Snag It and Camtasia software, and more.
- Alpha 2- Student Partners who complete a Microsoft Learn path will unlock Azure credits with Visual Studio Enterprise subscription benefits.
- Beta- Student Partners who complete the requirements for Alpha 2 and have hosted an event for other students in their community will earn the Beta badge to unlock event support and resource benefits. This could include an invitation to join our annual Microsoft Student Partner Summit!
- Gold- select Student Partners who have gone above and beyond in earning their badges and serving their local community will be invited to the Gold milestone and can become Student Partner Program Regional Leaders, gain access to special events, and may even be invited to become a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP).
Conclusion
Thanks for going through this article. I hope it is of some help to you. The MSP Program is definitely an amazing program. It is nothing short of a privilege to be a part of the program.
So, apply today to become a Student Partner here! Join our MSP community. Learn, share and develop! Make contributions to the tech world.
About Me!
Hey guys! My name is Saksham Taneja pursuing BCA from Jecrc University, Jaipur and I am a Beta MSP.
would love to solve your queries .
If you do have any queries, do contact me at:
Email: sakshamtaneja7861@gmail.com
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/tanejasaksham/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sakshamtaneja00
Github: https://github.com/sakshamtaneja21
