Why (and How) You Should Talk to Student and Alumni Ambassadors Before Applying to MBA Programs

Chatting with current students and alumni can be a valuable part of your school research process. They can share firsthand insights about the admissions process, student experience, and life post-MBA. At Michigan Ross, hundreds of current students and alumni have volunteered to help prospective candidates learn more about Ross.

The Full-Time MBA Ambassadors come from more than 30 countries around the world and have diverse career interests and backgrounds. At Michigan Ross, it’s all about paying it forward, and these ambassadors are eager to engage with you. 

As you prepare to reach out to one of our student or alumni ambassadors, here are some tips for making the most of your meeting time:

Be Strategic: Contact an Ambassador That Makes Sense for You

Chatting with students and alumni is an opportunity to learn more about a myriad of topics: a school’s academics, career resources, student clubs, community, and what it’s like to live in a new city, just to name a few. However, you can’t cover all topics in a 30-minute chat, so be strategic. Our student and alumni ambassador page has filters that enable you to search for students or alums by career interest, club, citizenship, and region, so you can focus your outreach on student profiles you can relate to. For instance:

• If you’re interested in transitioning from finance to tech, then consider reaching out to someone who has or is making a similar pivot. 
• If you live in a large city, such as New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, or São Paulo, reach out to someone from that same city as they will be able to talk about their transition to life on campus in Ann Arbor.
• If you’re relocating with a partner or children, connect with someone who also navigated that family decision.
• If you want to know how best to land a job in a certain industry or city, consider speaking to an alumni ambassador vs. a student ambassador.

If you have a particular interest that’s not reflected in the available filters, contact us at [email protected], and we can help find a student or alumni ambassador who’s available to chat with you.

Be Thoughtful: Ask Questions You Can't Find the Answers to on the Website

Simple things like deadlines, our class profile, which companies recruit on campus, etc., can be found on the Ross website. By doing homework on a school in advance, you can have a more useful conversation.

If you have specific admissions-related questions, direct them to our Office of Admissions (by participating in one of our office hours, in-person events, webinars, or emailing [email protected]).

Be Mindful: You're Talking to Real Students and Alums With Busy Lives, Just Like You

While ambassadors want to be helpful and are happy to talk with candidates, remember that they also balance the demands of many other things, like projects, exams, recruiting, work, family, and other responsibilities. So, always remember to be respectful of the student or alum’s time. We guarantee you’ll want the same when you’re in their shoes.

Good luck with your application! We look forward to learning more about you.