Frequently Asked Questions

About Random Walks 2025:

1. What are Random Walks?
2. When are the trip dates?
3. Who can participate in Random Walks?
4. Can Random Walks accommodate specific assessitibliy needs? Which trips best suit my needs?
5. How flexible is a trip’s itinerary?
6. I have a "can't miss" wedding on the departure or return weekend. Can I join the group late or leave early?
7. Can I stay longer in my trip destination?
8. Do I have to fly out with the group from Chicago or can I meet up at the trip destination?
9. Will I miss any Chicago Booth activities if I go on a Random Walk?
10. I can’t make these trip dates work. Do I have any other options?
11. Will I have a roommate during Random Walk?

Registration:

12. How does the trip registration process work?
13. What does it mean to be put on the waitlist?
14. I am only interested in going on a specific trip - can I sign up and be guaranteed of getting that one?
15. Can I be on the same Random Walk as another incoming student?
16. Can my significant other register for a Random Walk?

Financials:

17. How much do trips cost?
18. What is typically included in the price?
19. How much should I expect to spend out of pocket during the trip?  
20. Can I use frequent flyer miles to purchase my flight?
21. How can I make payment?
22. When is final payment for my Random Walk trip due?
23. I bet I could arrange this trip for less money. How are the trip costs determined?

Passports and Visas:

24. Are passports required for travel to non-U.S. destinations?
25. Are visas required for travel to non-U.S. destinations?

Trip Notifications and Timings:

26. When will I find out which trip I will be going on?
27. If I am going on a Random Walk when should I plan on moving into my apartment?

Preparing for Travel:

28. Do I need any vaccinations for my trip?

Cancellations and Insurance:

29. I'm no longer able to go on a Random Walk – is the deposit refundable?
30. Can I purchase trip cancellation insurance?
31. Is medical insurance provided in case I get sick or injured during the trip?
32. Is it possible that any of the Random Walk trips will be cancelled?

Additional Information:

33. Are there special considerations for travelers who are pregnant or may be pregnant?

 

About Random Walks 2024:

Q1: What are Random Walks?
A: Started in 2001, the goal of Random Walk is to create long-lasting relationships between incoming Booth students through domestic and international trips before the rigors of the MBA program begin. Through collaborative efforts of student leaders, administration, and our travel partners, Random Walk has become an integral part of the Booth experience and has grown into the most successful pre-MBA travel program in the United States.

Q2: When are the trip dates?
A: Trip dates are staggered, with departures as early as Thursday, August 28 and returns no later than Sunday, September 7. Check the Domestic and International pages to see each trip’s specific departure and return date.

Q3: Who can participate in Random Walks?
A: The program has been designed exclusively for incoming Booth students enrolled in the Full-Time MBA program on the Hyde Park campus. There are four trips available to students who wish to bring their partners. Most trips will have 12 to 16 first years and 4 second year trip leaders.

Students enrolled in other Booth programs including but not limited to Evening MBA, Weekend MBA, and Executive MBA are not permitted to participate in Random Walks – even in cases where they may be enrolled in classes offered through the Full-Time MBA program. Students who enroll in the Full-Time MBA program but then cancel or defer their matriculation are also ineligible to participate. Financial penalties for cancellation from Random Walks will be imposed in accordance with terms in effect at the time of cancellation. Students cannot bring children of any age on Random Walks.

Students cannot bring children of any age on Random Walk.

Q4: Can Random Walks accommodate specific assessitibliy needs? Which trips best suit my needs?
A: Random Walks aim to be inclusive of all in our community, so we will partner with you, our vendors, and student life to do all possible to make Random Walks accessible. Please reach out to us directly at RandomWalks@worldstrides.org for any concerns related to accessibility.

Q5: How flexible is a trip’s itinerary?
A: The itineraries are set and established by the Random Walks Committee and WorldStrides with input from the trip leaders. While there is no flexibility on night-by-night accommodation, most trips do include some free time for exploration. How to spend that free time is a discussion you can have with your trip leaders. Recognize that the goal of Random Walks is for you to get to know your classmates. To that end, we don’t encourage individuals or groups of 2 or 3 from splitting off and doing things separately from the rest of the group.

Q6: I have a "can't miss" wedding on the departure or return weekend. Can I join the group late or leave early?
A:With a range of dates for the trips, you are asked to select trips whose dates are compatible with your scheduled event. Shortening your trip by arriving late or departing early won't likely reduce your cost, as you will still need to pay for your half of a room, and special transportation arrangements to or from the airport. In some cases, your costs could be slightly higher than the core package price. If you have a "can't miss" event and are unable to rank a total of 5 trips that are compatible with your scheduled event, please email RandomWalks@worldstrides.org with any questions related to date conflicts. All exception requests will be reviewed by university administration, and approved exceptions will be shared after trip assignment.

Q7: Can I stay longer in my trip destination?
A: All international Random Walks will have flights booked by WorldStrides, and admits are unable to extend their travel. Booth requires all incoming students to fly with the group. If you would like the flexibility to book your own flight and extend travels, please rank a domestic option in your top choices as all travelers will have the flexibility to book their own flight.

Q8: Do I have to fly out with the group from Chicago or can I meet up at the trip destination?
A: All international Random Walks will have flights booked by WorldStrides, and admits are unable to extend their travel. Booth requires all incoming students to fly with the group. If you would like the flexibility to book your own flight and extend travels, please rank a domestic option in your top choices as all travelers will have the flexibility to book their own flight.

Q9: Will I miss any Chicago Booth activities if I go on a Random Walk?
A: As set forth by the university, all trips will return before orientation. Please note, all trips return by September 7th.

Q10: I can't make these trip dates work. Do I have any other options?
A: Unfortunately, due to internship schedules of second year students on the front end, and pre-MBA classes and orientation on the back end, there are no other date options for Random Walk-style trips. We do try to offer many different date options in order to give admits options to choose from. If you cannot make these dates, you will certainly have many opportunities to interact with your new classmates during orientation.

Q11: Will I have a roommate during Random Walk?
A: All travelers will be assigned a roommate for the duration of their Random Walk. Trip Leaders will be paired with other trip leaders, and incoming students will be randomly assigned to room with another incoming student of the same gender. To maximize the amount of bonding and interaction, your roommate may change whenever you change hotels. Booth Couples are the exception as they will be able to room with their partner for the duration of their trip. If you are travelling with your partner and it is not a designated Couples trip, please see question 15 and send an e-mail to RandomWalks@worldstrides.org to note your preferences.

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Registration:

Q12: How does the trip registration process work?
A: Online registration kicks off for admits the Tuesday following First Day. Registration will open from 9 a.m. Central on the following Tuesday and will close at 1 p.m. Central on the following Friday. During this time, a link will be activated on the Random Walk website that will allow you to register and list your top five trip preferences. If you register in this time window, don’t rush. Registrations in this timeframe are not first come, first served. All registrations received during this period will be randomized before trip assignments are made.

When you register, a nonrefundable deposit of $300 will be required. This deposit must be made via e-check (if you have a U.S. bank account) or by credit card. Credit card payments carry a 2% handling fee. All registrations must be made via the website. If you have only international forms of payment, please email RandomWalks@worldstrides.org for wire instructions.

Registration for the waitlist will open for ALL incoming students at 9 a.m. Central on Monday, May 5th.

Q13: What does it mean to be put on the waitlist?
A: Once registration closes, the Random Walks website will be updated to include instructions on being added to the waitlist. To ask questions about the process, students can e-mail the Random Walks Team at RandomWalks@worldstrides.org. Once the waitlist is open, students will be able to register without paying a deposit. During registration, students will still list their top 5 choices. When waitlist assignments begin, we will email groups of 5-10 students based on the order in which they were added. We will include all trips that are available at that time, and students will rank their choices based on their priority order. Example: student #4 will list their top 4 choices from the available trips.

The waitlist is managed by WorldStrides during the summer and students on the waitlist are periodically notified of status. Please note in recent years, all individuals on the waitlist have been offered a chance to participate in Random Walks. While we cannot always guarantee this will be the case, we encourage those interested to add to the waitlist. We plan to begin waitlist placements starting in mid-June.

Waitlist Common Questions:

• Q13a: “What should I do if I am the 8th on the list, but I only am interested in 6 of the trips?”
  • A: Only list trips you would be willing to commit to. If we do not have a spot for you on any of the 6 trips you listed, you will remain on the waitlist in your original spot and will have an opportunity to re-rank when we send openings to the next wave of the waitlist. But it is likely that the number of trips we will have to offer you will be much smaller. This week is your best way to guarantee a spot on Random Walks so we encourage you to be as flexible as possible.
• Q13b: “What if I respond to the e-mail and say I’d rather wait until the next wave?”
  • A: We will hold your place on the waitlist, and we will offer you an additional opportunity in the next wave for whatever destinations remain open at that time.
• Q13c: “What if I respond to the e-mail and am offered a trip I listed, but decide not to take it?
  • A: We will keep you on the waitlist, but we will drop you to the bottom of the list. So please only list trips you will accept.
• Q13d: “What if I don’t respond to the e-mail?”
  • A: Unless you have already told us (or tell us now) you will be out of the country and offline, we will keep you on the waitlist, but may drop you to the bottom of the list.
• Q13e: “What if I accept an assignment and a trip I prefer opens later?”
  • A: Just as we did not reshuffle assignments for admits who registered during normal registration– so that you would have a robust list of trips to select from – we also are not reshuffling assignments for Waitlist participants once you sign up to leave options for those incoming students further down the waitlist from you.

Q14: I am only interested in going on a specific trip – can I sign up and be guaranteed of getting that one?
A: No, your spot will not be guaranteed. The registration system will require you to choose five distinct destinations-- they are all great!

Q15: Can I be on the same Random Walk as another incoming student?
A: Friendship pairings can't be guaranteed. To maximize your chances of this, we would ask that both friends register online simultaneously, listing choices in the exact same order. Then, send an e-mail to RandomWalks@worldstrides.org letting us know of your preference. While we will try to get you on the same trip, please note, this could diminish your chances of getting your first choice.

Q16: Can my significant other register for a Random Walk?
A: Please refer to the partners tab to see which trips are available for partner participation.

Couples where both partners are matriculating at Booth have the option of choosing a Couples trip, but also can choose any other of the Random Walks destinations if they prefer. In this case, if both partners want to attend the same singles trip together, they should email RandomWalks@worldstrides.org to notify us of their preference to travel together or separately.

If you would like to attend a Couples trip, you must register both yourself and your significant other at the same time you submit your trip preferences. Please note that a $300 per person non-refundable deposit will be required at this time for both the student and the partner, and that you will be unable to register your significant other at a later date.

We cannot guarantee placement on one specific couples trip. There are three exclusive couples trips. If we cannot find space for you on one of the Couples trips, WorldStrides will refund your significant other’s deposit and contact you regarding your interest in a non-couples trip. If you choose not to attend a non-couples trip, your $300 deposit will also be refunded.

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Financials:

Q17: How much do trips cost?
A: The range for trips this year is between $2300 and $4700 per person, based on double occupancy rooms. Please note that a 2% convenience fee applies to credit card payments.

Q18: What is typically included in the price?
A: The program price includes transportation within the country, lodging, breakfast daily, and selected activities/cultural events. On a typical trip, most lunches and dinners are not included. All international trips include long haul air. Visas, where required, are not included in the program price.

Q19: How much should I expect to spend out of pocket during the trip?
A: This will depend on the additional activities you choose to participate in, the amount of shopping you do, and what you decide to spend on food and beverages. We find that generally people spend around US$500 during their trip, but it really varies by individual and by the cost of living in each country. Some will spend more than that, some less.

Q20: Can I use frequent flyer miles to purchase my flight?
A: Because the flights were booked in advance at group rates, frequent flyer miles can't be used as a method of payment. However, you may be eligible to earn frequent flier miles for many of the Random Walk flights. Note that some airline group contracts do not allow frequent flier mileage accumulation or allow a partial accumulation. If you would like the flexibility to book your own flight using miles, please consider ranking domestic destinations in your top choices.

Q21: How can I make payment?
A: Deposits can be paid online via e-check (if you have a U.S. bank account) or credit card. If you have extenuating circumstances and cannot pay by these methods, please contact the Random Walks Team at RandomWalks@worldstrides.org.

Q22: When is final payment for my Random Walk trip due?
A: A non-refundable $300 deposit is payable at registration and will be applied to your final payment. Final payments for all Random Walk Trips are due on Tuesday June 3, 2025. Failure to make payment in full by this date will result in cancellation of your registration.

Q23: I bet I could arrange this trip for less money. How are the trip costs determined?
A: Booth has engaged professional travel planners to coordinate the registration process and all logistical arrangements. The vendors in turn work with professional ground teams in each country to manage and implement your Random Walk. In addition, securing group seats and group hotel blocks and locking in prices several months in advance may end up costing more than an internet special or deal that you may find. The dynamics of planning and transporting and accommodating up to 20 people is very different than a personal vacation for 2 or 3 friends. So yes, you could arrange most of these trips cheaper on your own. But it wouldn't be Random Walks!!

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Passports and Visas:

Q24: Are passports required for travel to non-U.S. destinations?
A: Passports are required for all international trips. Students should make sure their passports are current and will not expire until March 7, 2026 since a 6-month validity is now required by most countries.

Q25: Are visas required for travel to non-U.S. destinations?
A. U.S. nationals will require a visa/ETA to enter Brazil, Kenya, New Zealand, UK and Vietnam. U.S. nationals do need a visa for entry to UAE; however, they only offer a cost free visa on arrival, so no action will be needed in advance of travel. U.S. nationals also need an ETA to enter South Korea; however, an exemption is in place allowing U.S. nationals entry to South Korea for short stays in the year of 2025. ETIAS will be required to enter the Schengen area starting in 2025. It is currently not in operation and will go into effect 6 months following the EES going into effect. Please refer to the ETIAS site for the most up to date information as you get closer to travel dates. Information is available on It is the responsibility of the traveler to obtain any needed visas. All travelers will be provided with supporting documents for visa processing after trip assignments.

International students may have visa requirements for travel to some non-U.S. destinations. More detailed guidelines for visas for international students will be provided once trip assignments are made. There are some destinations where it may be difficult for some international students to secure visas.

In addition to visas for travel to a Random Walk country, it is the responsibility of all international students to make sure they have the appropriate documentation to enter the United States before and after travel is complete. Please contact the Random Walks Team at RandomWalks@worldstrides.org should you have any questions or concerns.

Please note that visa fees are not included in the trip price.

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Trip Notifications and Timings:

Q26: When will I find out which trip I will be going on?
A: You will be notified of your final trip assignment the week of May 19, 2025.

Q27: If I am going on a Random Walk when should I plan on moving into my apartment?
A: We would recommend that you come to Chicago a few days before the Random Walk trips depart. This will give you time to get acclimated to your new surroundings, unpack, and get settled before leaving. Some groups also may have pre-departure gatherings the night before the trip.

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Preparing for Travel:

Q28: Do I need any vaccinations for my trip?
A: Please note that it is the participant’s responsibility to ensure that they have all necessary travel documents, such as medical certifications, entry visa(s), transit visa(s), and a valid passport. Vaccination requirements are dependent on government requirements and where you have recently traveled, including transit countries. WorldStrides will notify incoming students of any required vaccinations based on departure from the U.S. directly to your Random Walk’s destination. We advise all travelers to determine if other vaccination requirements may apply.

You may refer to the State Department site to determine if you need additional vaccines for your trip. You can also visit the Center for Disease Control’s website to see if there are specific vaccines they recommend before travelling. Please note that it is always best to speak with your doctor regarding medical conditions prior to travel. Many Random Walk destinations will have CDC recommended vaccines. WorldStrides will not notify travelers of recommended vaccines.

Below is the link to the State Department site.
http://www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html

Below is the link to the Centers for Disease Control site.
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/

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Cancellations and Insurance:

Q29: I'm no longer able to go on a Random Walk – is the deposit refundable?
A: No. The deposit is non-refundable immediately upon registration. If you need to cancel, please e-mail RandomWalks@worldstrides.org as a courtesy toward other students.

Q30: Can I purchase trip cancellation insurance?
A: Yes! This is the best way to protect your investment in Random Walk. WorldStrides does offer a trip protection plan for a fee that includes a ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ benefit. The Higher Ed Trip Protection Plan offers trip interruption protection, trip delay protection, additional medical coverage, and many other benefits in addition to the ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ benefit. For specific details, please see the Trip Protection Plan information on the WorldStrides registration site. This option will become available to you when you are assigned a trip. You will then have 14 days to purchase before the option will no longer be available. If you are assigned a Random Walk from the waitlist, you will need to select and pay for the protection plan at the same time you complete payment for the trip.

Q31: Is medical insurance provided in case I get sick or injured during the trip?
A: All Random Walk trips include $500,000 in medical insurance for international destinations and $7,500 in medical insurance for domestic destinations. This insurance is primary and can be used regardless of whether or not you have other insurance. Usually, you will be required to pay for the medical services in advance, and then file a claim with receipts upon your return to Chicago.

Q32: Is it possible that any of the Random Walks trips will be cancelled?
A: While unlikely, there are two primary situations where a trip might be cancelled. The first situation would be if there wasn’t sufficient student demand for a destination. Fortunately, demand for Random Walks has been so strong that it has been many years since any trips were cancelled due to under-enrollment.

The second situation would be if Booth and/or WorldStrides feel that travel to a destination is no longer safe. In those cases, if time allows, we will work to reroute the group to ensure all travelers have a travel opportunity.  If travelers decide to cancel, they are not guaranteed their trip fees will be reimbursed.

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Additional information:

Q33: Are there special considerations for travelers who are pregnant or may be pregnant?
A: There are inherent risks in traveling while pregnant. All pregnant travelers, or those who may be pregnant, should consult their medical provider before traveling. Together, you can make a plan to help minimize risk.