New Essay Questions, Updated Standardized Test Policy, and Application Deadlines for 2022-23

It’s been an exciting year at the Ross School of Business, and we are looking forward to enjoying summer activities around Ann Arbor as we prepare for our next admissions cycle.

In May, our MBAs participated in short-term global immersions in countries ranging from Israel to Germany to Sweden, while others teamed up for a favorite Michigan Ross experience: Open Road, where students road trip to local businesses and social entrepreneurs across the United States to consult with them and assist on important projects. (You can read more about their experiences through their team blogs.) This month, our MBAs began working at internships around the world, with many landing positions at top firms in tech, consulting, venture capital, and social impact, among others. 

The start of summer also means the launch of our application is coming soon. The 2022-23 application will open later in July and we want to share a few changes you can expect this year. We have added an additional short-answer essay question and split our career goal essay into two parts. In addition, we have a new policy on how students can demonstrate their academic readiness for the rigor of a top MBA program without submitting a standardized test score.

Additional short-answer essay, career goal essay splitting into two parts

As with previous years, we are giving applicants flexibility in choosing from two sets of prompts in our short-answer essay questions, but we added a new short-answer question. The new question asks applicants to tell us more about one item on their resume. There is often a story behind a resume bullet point and we want to give you the chance to share it. What you choose is up to you — from why you started volunteering for an organization to a leadership position you held on a sports team. 

The career goal essay will be very similar to what we had in the past, but it is split into two parts to improve clarity and focus. Below are the essay prompts, and we look forward to reading your responses.

Part 1: Short-answer questions

Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. Respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less (<100 words each; 200 words total).

Group 1

I want people to know that I:
I made a difference when I:
I was aware that I was different when:

Group 2
I was out of my comfort zone when:
I was humbled when:
I was challenged when:

Part 2: Short-answer question

Pick one thing from your resume and tell us more. (100 words)

Part 3: Career Goal

What is your short-term career goal? (25 words)

Why is this the right short-term career goal for you? (150 words)

Option to submit standardized test or evidence of academic readiness

For the past two years, we have given applicants the option of requesting a standardized test waiver. We have admitted strong candidates with the test waiver, and we want to continue allowing students to demonstrate their academic readiness without a test score.

Instead of the waiver, this year we are requiring that all candidates either submit a standardized test score (GMAT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, PCAT, or DAT) or evidence of academic readiness for the Michigan Ross Full-Time MBA as part of the admissions application. If you choose the option to demonstrate your academic readiness without a test score, you will be required to respond to this prompt:

Please demonstrate why you are ready to meet the academic rigor of our program. (200 words)

In your application, we will look closely at your academic and professional accomplishments that may demonstrate your academic readiness for the rigor of our program, including, but not limited to: 

• Master's degree in an analytical or quantitative discipline
• CPA, CFA, or international equivalent
• Undergraduate or graduate record, especially in analytical or quantitative courses
• Post-undergraduate, full-time work experience in an analytical or quantitative function
• Performance on an expired GMAT or GRE
• Performance on the Executive Assessment

Please note that test scores provide an additional, relevant data point for the admissions committee to consider in reviewing your application as part of our holistic process. A strong test score can strengthen an applicant’s candidacy, and around 80% of last year’s class submitted a test score. 

We encourage you to review the application requirements and FAQs for further details.

This year’s application deadlines 

Other updates for 2022-2023

We will also offer a new way for applicants to demonstrate their English proficiency. Along with submitting a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Pearson Test of English (PTE), or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test score, applicants will now have the option of writing an essay that demonstrates alternative evidence of your English proficiency. We will look for evidence of immersive academic and/or professional work where English was the primary language, including but not limited to:

• Proof of working in a job where English was the primary language of communication for at least one year within the past three years
• Performance on an expired TOEFL/PTE/IELTS test
• Academic transcripts from a school at which English was the primary language of instruction

Again, refer to our application requirements and FAQs for further details.

For reapplicants, we are proud to continue our streamlined application for reapplicants and we will also continue waiving the application fee for all reapplicants. If you are reapplying to Michigan Ross, we encourage you to attend our 30 Minute Tips: Reapplicants session on July 11.

We look forward to seeing you at Admissions Office Hours and other Michigan Ross events this summer! 

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