The University of Michigan and the School of Natural Resources and Environment has a long history of ichthyology and fisheries experts. The current researchers here have great reputations that continue this legacy. So the chance to work with them was an incredible opportunity. Combined with the proximity to the Great Lakes which hold 20% of the world's freshwater, it was a "natural" fit for me to work on these systems.
SNRE offers me the opportunity to pursue my interests in this vast field and it has been the best learning experience I have ever had. There are many valuable resources could be utilized on and off the campus. Plus, I very much enjoyed my life in Ann Arbor. Go Blue!
SNRE was an easy choice. The school has a very close-knit community and maintains strong relationships with other departments on campus. I was eager to meet students and faculty who shared my specific interests related to the environment, but I was also excited broaden my horizons. The range of people and projects at SNRE and UM in general make for a very dynamic and diverse intellectual community.
When I visited SNRE as an admitted prospective, I was impressed with the degree to which faculty took an interest in me. I did not get this attention at any other graduate school to which I applied. Another draw for me was the Erb Institute. I knew I wanted to study how sustainability can be used as a business tool to achieve competitive advantage,while also achieving positive impact.
Dual Degree: MBA
The strength of the social sciences at SNRE really makes it stand out against its competition. For me, these opportunities have included a masters project on an innovative federal land management policy, a course on ecosystem services, and researching current environmental legislation. These courses and projects ensure that the program serves the students well in post-graduate endeavors where they can truly make an impact.
Dual Degree: Public Policy
Two main characteristics of SNRE motivated my decision to choose the University of Michigan: the opportunity to work with a diverse group of colleagues and real-world clients on a masters project, and the caliber of the faculty I would be learning from. The flexibility of the curriculum at SNRE allows for me to take classes over a range of topics, each with professors who are considered leaders in their field.
As the only school in the nation with a program that combined my background of Psychology and Environmental Studies, the Behavior, Education and Communication track at SNRE was the only grad program that I applied to, My undergrad research was based on the work of the Kaplans, so finding Rachel Kaplan as member of the BEC faculty sealed the deal.
I decided to attend SNRE because of my faculty advisers. My research is in Latin America and both faculty members have renowned research in the area. Moreover, the University of Michigan offers an array of resources and opportunities to conduct research abroad. My own research in Ecuador and my studies of the Quechua language of Peru have been sponsored by UM and SNRE. The masters program truly fosters cross-disciplinary studies and collaboration.
