Welcome to another edition of Trivia Tuesday, our weekly look at the distinguishing resources and opportunities offered by the leading business schools. Today we turn our attention to the Ross M-Trek program at the University of Michigan. Ross is one of the few schools that give students an opportunity to jump-start their friendships with classmates through participation in outdoor experiential learning trips.
Prior to the start of Michigan’s formal pre-term and orientation programs, incoming students are invited to participate in M-Trek, an outdoor leadership program designed to foster leadership and teamwork skills while introducing students to their classmates. The trips were started in 1999 by a group of first-year students who wanted to strengthen the bonds between incoming classmates through experiential learning. The program has grown significantly since its inaugural year. Currently around 40-50% of incoming students participate in a Trek, with approximately 20% of second-year students choosing to lead a Trek. In August 2009, the Class of 2011 chose from 20 M-Trek trips.
The trips, which range from one-week to ten days, are entirely student-run and each is led by a group of three to four second-year students. Destinations range from North America and Europe to Africa and Latin America, with trips designed for a variety of skill levels and interests and with prices ranging from $400-$2,700, plus airfare. By tradition, the M-Trek trip names tend to incorporate a pun on the destination, and the 2009 Trek names were no exception. Some sample trip names include Kauai the Heck Not, Don’t Stop Belize’n, and MoroccOMG!; students on these trips traveled to Hawaii, Belize and Morocco, respectively.
For more information on Ross’s M-Treks or the outdoor learning programs offered by other business schools, be sure to check out the Pre-Term & Orientation section of the Clear Admit School Guides!
