An Overview of Campus Life at Michigan Tech
This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Christine Grotzke, an associate director of admissions at Michigan Technological University, in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.
What’s Covered
- How Cold Is the Weather?
- What Kind of Students Attend Michigan Tech?
- Where Do Michigan Tech Students Live?
- How Do Students Get Involved at Michigan Tech?
How Cold Is the Weather?
Michigan Technological University, located in Michigan’s upper peninsula, tends to be fairly cold and sees lots of snowfall each year. The winter typically begins in mid-to-late November and lasts until the end of March. During these months, Michigan Tech tries to make the most of its chilly climate, with students skiing and snowboarding on the school’s own ski hill.
What Kind of Students Attend Michigan Tech?
Michigan Tech hails students from parts of southern Michigan as well as from all 50 states. As a result, the average drive for Michigan Tech students to get to campus is about eight to 10 hours. Because of this, students at Michigan Tech make the campus their home as commuting is often impractical.
Last year, Michigan Tech was rated the safest college campus in the nation following more than 15 years of being listed in the top five. The staff is required to complete safety training and remain proactive to ensure that students are as safe as possible on and off campus.
Where Do Michigan Tech Students Live?
Michigan Tech has four residence halls. First-year students are required to live on campus, and many also continue doing so during their second year. For those on academic scholarships, living in the residence hall for two years is required. Students transferring to Michigan Tech are not required to live on campus.
About 10% of Michigan Tech’s student body is international students. There is an annual Parade of Nations event, during which all the students’ home country flags are displayed, celebrating their place in the campus community. The parade ends near a historic hockey stadium in downtown Houghton and features international and local music, food, and dancing to celebrate the school’s diverse international students.
How Do Students Get Involved at Michigan Tech?
There are 240 student organizations on Michigan Tech’s campus, providing endless opportunities for students to get involved and build their own community.
One of the most popular events on campus is Michigan Tech’s annual Winter Carnival. Similar to a typical homecoming event, alumni return for this campus-wide festival. The event is so integral to the Michigan Tech experience that students’ classes are canceled the Thursday and Friday preceding the weekend of the carnival.
Activities include students building two-to-three-foot-tall snow sculptures, a parade down the ski hill, a beard-growing contest, and a human dog sled race.
The most anticipated event at the carnival is the large-scale broomball game with around 2,300 students participating. Similar to hockey, the game takes place on a sheet of ice. It’s also streamed live online and continues well into the evening.
Another well-known event on campus is the Cardboard Boat Races, where students build floats out of cardboard and duct tape. They race these makeshift boats down the waterway, known as the Portage, at Michigan Tech.
