Cecilia Manzolillo balanced precariously on footholds attached to a 40-foot wooden pole, with only one small, but giant, step to reach the top. With her fellow first-year M.B.A. students calling "Do it!" from below, Cecilia placed one foot, then the other, atop the perch and broke into a broad smile.

She then slowly turned to face a trapeze hanging several feet away. With only a moment's hesitation, she jumped and caught the bar.

"I was shooting to make it halfway up the pole, but this shows you can always go a step farther with any challenge," said Cecilia, getting hugs from fellow classmates.

Cecilia was one of 330 full-time M.B.A. students who tackled the Ropes Challenge Course as part of The Anderson School's orientation program. First-year M.B.A.s are required to attend the course, although participating in every challenge is optional, said Eric Mokover, assistant dean and director of the M.B.A. program. This year's incoming class achieved 100% participation in all the exercises.

It's not just a physical workout. The course is one way to engage new students in the spirit of teamwork and challenge them to reach beyond their comfort zone, Anderson officials said.

"The school has always emphasized the importance of teamwork and the importance of being a leader in organizations," Mokover said. "The ropes course is a first step in setting that tone for the future."

After many years of trucking students to a ropes course in Pomona, Anderson funded the construction of the course at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center. Operated by UCLA Recreation, the course uses a series of "adventure-based learning activities" to facilitate group and individual development, with safety measures in place.

Manzolillo, for example, had to confront her fear of heights.

"It helps you realize that at Anderson, you will often need to stretch beyond what you think you are capable of achieving," she said. But it also made clear that "someone will be there to support you and catch you in a symbolic and literal way."