Joining MDST
Instructions
Thank you for your interest in joining MDST! We're super excited to get you started on the process for joining the club.
Step 1: Sign up for our mailing list
Our mailing list is going to be the fastest way for us to reach you with the latest information on how to join, mass meetings, and other onboarding events. Fill out the interest form linked below to be added to our mailing list.
Step 2 (Optional): Attend our Mass Meetings
MDST is hosting two mass meetings this year. Join us on September 4th (Friday) 6-7 PM virtually (Zoom) or on September 9th (Wednesday) 8:15-9:15 PM in CCCB 3420. At these meetings, we will discuss details about our club, what we do, and how to join. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions you may have about joining.
Come visit us during Festifall on September 2nd (Wednesday) 6-8 PM at Table E-065, Central Campus — Session 2!
Take a look at our slides and recording from last semester's mass meeting:
Step 3: Complete Tutorial Checkpoints
New members are required to complete two checkpoints giving an introduction to data science and programming in Python. The purpose of these tutorials is to make sure that all of our members, despite their background, are able to equally contribute to MDST projects.
Need help with the tutorials? Drop by our office hours: September 10th (Thursday) 6-8 PM in 3353 Mason Hall and Final Office Hours September 20th (Sunday) 11 AM-1 PM in 3330 Mason Hall.
Step 4: Submit Tutorials
As a final step to join the club, you must submit your checkpoints certifying that you've completed the fundamental requirements to join the club.
See our Tutorials Repo for information on completing and submiting the tutorials.
- If your checkpoints are incomplete, then you will not be allowed to join MDST for that semester. In such circumstance, you may attempt the checkpoints again the next semester and resubmit.
The submission form will be due September 21st (Monday) 11:59 PM, after which we will no longer accept sign-ups to join MDST for the Fall 2026 semester.
Step 5: Attend the Project Exploration Fair
Before joining the club, we will host a project exploration fair on September 13th (Sunday) 12-3 PM in CCCB 3420 to share the projects which we will run this semester. You can speak with our project leads and learn first-hand about the type of work being done in each project, what the prerequistes are, and if the project is a good fit for you.
After attending, you will be given access to a form to specify your top 3 project choices, from which we will place you into your preferred project (subject to constraints and appropriate difficulty).
Once placed, kick off the semester with your project team at our First Work Session on September 27th (Sunday) 12-3 PM — Location TBD! Meet your teammates and start working together.
MDST F26 Recruitment Schedule
Festifall - Central Campus
Come visit us during Festifall at Table E-065!
Mass Meeting #1
Join us virtually to learn more about MDST and how to become a member. Meeting Link.
Mass Meeting #2
Join us in CCCB 3420 to learn more about MDST and how to become a member.
Office Hours #1
Drop by 3353 Mason Hall to ask questions, get help with tutorials, or chat with current members.
Project Fair
Meet project leads, explore this semester's projects, and find the right team for you in CCCB 3420.
Final Office Hours
Stop by 3330 Mason Hall for last-minute tutorial help or any questions before the deadline.
Tutorials and Project Matching Form Due
Submit your completed tutorials and project matching form by this deadline to be eligible for project placement.
First Work Session
Kick off the semester with your project team! Meet your teammates and start working together. Location TBD.
FAQ
Are there any requirements to join?
No! We welcome all University of Michigan students, regardless of academic level or major.
I have no data science experience. Can I join?
Yes! Everyone is welcome to join the team! In fact, most of our members have very little data science experience prior to joining. Our goal is to help you learn the data skills necessary to contribute to our projects and perform data science on your own. We do strongly recommend newcomers attend our introductory tutorials, as they will teach you the basics of the tools we use and are also a great opportunity to meet others in the same boat!
During onboarding, are the new member mass meeting/live tutorial/office hours mandatory?
No, they are not.
When is the regular meeting time of MDST?
We meet on all Sundays (except for holidays) from 12-3 for a mandatory work session. You are permitted to miss a few of these but we unfortunately cannot accept you if you have a hard conflict.
We also meet on Thursdays from 6-7 for optional social and professional events such as guest speakers and networking sessions.
For a detailed schedule, please see our events calendar.
Will I be able to choose which project team I am on?
Yes! After you join the club, you will be asked to rank your top 5 projects after talking with project leaders. Historically, 90+% of people are placed into one of their top two preferences.
How much time commitment do you require?
Most MDST members spend 3 hours weekly for work sessions + 1 hour for socials on Thursday, totaling about 4 hours per week. This may vary based on the project and level of familiarity with data science.
Does MDST allow for remote participation?
MDST is primarily an in-person club, and all of our events and work sessions are held in-person on campus. We allow remote participation for our projects, but not for our other events. We recommend attending our meetings in-person whenever possible to maximize your experience with the club.
What languages do you use?
We primarily use Python for our projects. If you are an R user, we recommend checking out some helpful tutorials from DataCamp.
I am not a student at the University of Michigan. Can I join?
No. We only accept Umich students.