2024: A Year in Review

2024 was an amazing year for the University of Michigan, the Ross School of Business, and the Full-Time MBA Program. The Michigan football team started last year by winning the 2024 College Football National Championship and rang in 2025 by defeating Alabama again! At Ross, we also celebrated our school throughout the year with events honoring our 100-year legacy and strengthened our presence on the West Coast with the announcement of the new, dedicated location for the Michigan Ross L.A. Campus. 

The Full-Time MBA Program graduated the Class of 2024 and welcomed the Class of 2026, which comprised one of the most diverse classes in its history. The Full-Time MBA Program’s reputation remains as strong as ever, and was recently ranked No. 7 in the country by Fortune and No. 8 by Businessweek. 

While these major milestones are awesome to acknowledge and celebrate, it’s actually the little, daily opportunities that the Full-Time MBA experience at Ross offers that make it such a special place. In particular, what sets Ross apart are the endless opportunities to both engage with the broader community (University of Michigan and Ann Arbor) and still tailor one’s experience to fit a specific interest. 

This made me think of a recent experience with my son, who received his first “Choose Your Own Adventure” book. He has really enjoyed the ability to express preferences, ask questions, and make trade-offs as the main character navigates a complicated, overwhelming world (sound familiar, MBA applicants?). What he really appreciates about this book is that even though the journey and outcomes are different with each decision, the characters and the world he’s navigating are consistent, creating a comforting space to try new things.   

This “choose your own adventure” mindset best represents the Full-Time MBA Program at Michigan Ross. As a student, you have endless opportunities to create your own experience by engaging with classmates, faculty, centers, and institutes, along with taking classes in more than 100 other top ten-ranked programs across campus. Even though each person’s journey at Ross can be vastly different, you’re still sharing the same world with others through section and school pride and a commitment to make the world a better place through business.    

So, with that, below, I’d like to share a few examples from 2024 that represent how you could write your "Choose Your Own Adventure" chapter at Ross. 

I look forward to welcoming many of you to Ross in 2025, where you will begin another new adventure. Lastly, as a reminder, the Round 3 Application deadline is on March 24, 2025. 

All the best, and Go Blue!

Matt

Interested in entrepreneurship?

At the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, you will gain the skills to launch your own startup or entrepreneurial venture. ZLI/Ross was ranked No. 5 in MBA entrepreneurship programs this year.

Passionate about solving the climate crisis?

In February 2024, we hosted the annual ClimateCap Conference. We also offer an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concentration, which will help prepare you to transform how enterprises engage with the natural environment and climate change.

Want to grow yourself as a leader?

Check out this podcast from the Sanger Leadership Center’s managing director. Or take one of the most popular courses at Ross, Management as a Calling (MO 635) with Andy Hoffman. This course consists of a series of immersive retreat experiences designed to help students discern their calling and shift the focus from a direct business impact to a societal one. It is unique in its design and pushes MBA students to think beyond profit.

Seek to better understand how positive organizations operate?

Read this student’s experience with the Center for Positive Organizations. 

Care about work-life balance and self-care?

Ross is one of the first top MBA programs to hire a director of student wellness and has offered the Calm app for free to every student, staff, and faculty member.