Resources

Michigan Ross has built a reputation for combining academic rigor with an unusually collaborative culture. Whether through Action-Based Learning, the “Go Blue” alumni network, or life in Ann Arbor, Michigan, students are expected to learn by doing and to elevate those around them. 

The Michigan Ross application reflects those same priorities. In just 500 words across two essays, admissions officers want to understand both where you are headed professionally and, just as importantly, how you create impact. The first essay focuses on your future. The second reveals how you operate when faced with challenges and opportunities. Together, they provide a remarkably complete picture of your candidacy and give the Ross admissions committee an idea of not only what you hope to accomplish after business school but also the kind of classmate and future leader you will become.

Part 1: Career Aspirations

What is your short-term career goal, and how do you plan to leverage the Ross MBA and its program offerings in your first role after graduation? Please be specific and answer both parts of this question (300 words).

The first Ross essay is, at its core, a traditional career goals essay, albeit with its own distinctive wording. Like many schools, Ross wants to know your short-term professional aspirations, yet the school goes one step further by asking what you expect to take from Ross into that initial post-MBA role and how those experiences will position you for success.

As with every career goals essay, it is important to think about what I often call “the equation.” A compelling response will explain the following:

• Where you want to go
• How your past experiences have inspired your goals
• Why an MBA—and one from Ross specifically—is necessary to bridge the gap between your past and future

Your goals should be ambitious, thoughtful, and logical. The admissions committee should be able to see how your previous experiences have prepared you for your target role while also understanding what knowledge, skills, or experiences you still need to develop. The committee should also understand why these goals inspire you. 

When speaking about the resources at Ross, remember that specificity and rationale matter. Perhaps you are transitioning from an operational role in technology into general management consulting and see Ross’s Multidisciplinary Action Project as a lower-stakes opportunity to build client-facing experience and confidence before beginning your full-time role. Maybe you hope to orient your engineering training toward AgTech and therefore aim to immerse yourself in Ross’s Food, Bev, and Ag Club. Any resource you mention should connect directly to your intended development and career trajectory. 

Resist the temptation to simply compile a list of courses, clubs, and programs. Mention fewer resources, but explain them in greater depth. Ross is not evaluating how many parts of its website you visited; it is evaluating whether you have thought carefully about how you will use your MBA.

For more tips, watch our video workshop Your Career Statement – Fact, Fiction, and How to Build One.

Essay 2: Impact and Growth

Michigan Ross is proud to support a community of leaders and impact makers who value growth. As a future member of this community, we want to know more about who you are and what drives you. Choose one of the following prompts to tell us more about what makes you stand out beyond your academic and work experience. List the prompt you are answering at the top of your essay. (200 words)

• Think of a time something important did not go as planned. What did you do next? 

• What is something you worked on for an extended period of time (over six months) that ultimately resulted in a positive outcome? What kept you committed? 

• Share an example of a specific situation when your actions created a positive impact on your community or an individual.

Ross’s second essay offers one of my favorite formats: the “choose your own adventure” essay. Although the specific prompts have changed over the years, the underlying philosophy remains consistent. Applicants are given several options, each designed to reveal something meaningful about who they are beyond their resume.

One prompt asks about overcoming something that did not go according to plan. Another focuses on persistence. Another explores how your actions created a positive impact on a community or another individual. Many applicants spend too much time worrying about which prompt to choose, but really, there is no “best” option. Each option gives you an opportunity to demonstrate initiative, resilience, leadership, and growth. The “right” choice is the one that allows you to showcase one or more of the qualities that feel meaningful and authentic to you. 

Notice that the prompt asks you to share something that will help the admissions committee understand what makes you stand out beyond your academic and work experience. That does not mean you should avoid professional examples. The point is not to avoid discussing work; it is to go beyond the bullets on your resume. Ross wants to understand how you think, what motivates you, how you approach problems, and how your actions create meaningful results.

All three prompts beg for a story in response, so keep the STARR framework in mind:

• Situation
• Task
• Actions
• Results
• Reflection

As always, generic words such as “project,” “client,” “workstream,” “portfolio company,” and “model” are difficult to visualize. Instead of relying on such terms, include enough concrete detail that the admissions committee can actually picture the situation you are describing. Specifics make your story memorable and transform it into one that only you could tell.

For additional strategies on crafting your essay, watch our video The Importance of Business School Application Essays (and How to Write Them).