Expanding Access, Building Community: Ross's Commitment to the Consortium

I'm Jahnee Horn, senior associate director on the Full-Time MBA Admissions team here at Michigan Ross. One of my favorite parts of my role is serving as the admissions liaison for the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. This work connects directly to my personal mission: expanding access to business education for students who might not have seen themselves in these spaces before. 

What is the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management?

The Consortium is an organization with a mission that I deeply believe in: expanding access and increasing representation in business education and leadership. The Consortium works to strengthen enrollment and develop future leaders across for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, government agencies and contractors, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Simply put, the Consortium is committed to making sure that the spaces where business decisions are made reflect the diversity of the world we live in. And that matters, because I believe that business education is at its best when it brings together people with different lived experiences, perspectives, and visions for what's possible.

The Benefits of Applying Through the Consortium

Beyond the mission, applying through the Consortium comes with some real, tangible advantages:

• A streamlined, common application to Michigan Ross and more than 20 other top member schools
• If approved for membership, you'll gain access to the Consortium’s preMBA Orientation Program and Career Forum, giving you a significant head start on recruiting before your first year even begins
• A built-in network of 1,200 current Consortium students and over 12,000 alumni who share your values and your commitment to representation in business

The Ross Consortium Community

Michigan Ross has been a proud Consortium member school since 1983. That's over four decades of demonstrated commitment to access and opportunity in business education — and that longevity is something I take a lot of pride in. Ross is also home to one of the largest Consortium alumni bases of any member school, which is a testament to the strength and staying power of this community over time.

Consortium Fellows at Ross

The Ross Consortium community is anchored by three pillars: Community, Leadership, and Development.

Community

Each year, Ross welcomes a cohort of 50–60 Consortium Fellows. This group builds genuine, lasting relationships through a full calendar of signature events, including:

• CGSM Welcome — setting the tone for the year with connection and belonging
• CGSM Unplugged at UpClose Weekend — giving prospective students an authentic look at the community they could be joining
• Holiday Party, Mystery Dinners, and Senior Send-Off — because community is built in both the big moments and the small ones

Leadership

Fellows bring a sense of purpose and ownership to everything they do, and it shows up across the entire Ross community.

• 75% of our Class of 2027 Fellows hold leadership positions in MBA Council, student clubs, student-run investment funds, career peer coaching programs, and more
• 50% of section leader presidents are Consortium members

Development

The investment in your growth starts before you ever set foot on campus. Development opportunities for Consortium members at Ross include:

• Mock interview support
• Consortium Orientation Program preparation to help you hit the ground running with early recruiting
• Weekly consulting prep sessions to build your skills and your confidence

My Tips for Applying to Ross Through the Consortium

The Consortium application opens August 15. And if you're considering applying through the Consortium, here's my honest advice:

1. Start Early — Earlier Than You Think

The MBA application journey is a long one. The more lead time you give yourself, the better positioned you'll be. I encourage you to explore MBA prep programs through some of our trusted partners. Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT),  Admit.Me Access, and The Forte Foundation all offer structured, guided preparation designed to help you put your best foot forward.

2. Know and Own Your "Why"

The strongest applications I read are rooted in genuine self-awareness. Start by identifying your core values — think about the people, places, and experiences that have shaped who you are and what you care about. That clarity becomes the foundation everything else is built on.

3. Connect with the Ross Community

I truly believe that the best way to understand a program's culture — and determine whether it's the right fit for you — is to connect with the people in it. Attend admissions events, visit campus if you're able, or reach out to a Consortium Student Ambassador who can give you a real, firsthand perspective on what it means to be a Fellow at Ross.

Final Thoughts

If you're considering applying through the Consortium, I hope this gives you a clearer, more personal picture of what this community looks like at Ross. And I mean it when I say — reach out. Whether you're just starting to explore business school or you're deep in your application, I'm here to talk about your story, your goals, and whether Ross might be the right place for your next chapter. Connecting with prospective students is genuinely one of my favorite parts of this work.

Go Blue!