Updated Essay Prompts for the Part-Time MBA Applications: Get Ready to Tell Your Story
We are excited the applications are open for the 2026 Michigan Ross Online and Weekend MBA programs!
We understand how much time and thought applicants put into crafting their essays. These essay responses offer a window into your goals, values, and the impact you hope to make at Michigan Ross and beyond. Each year, the admissions committee reviews our essay prompts to ensure we’re asking the right questions, ones that help us understand who you are and how you might contribute to the Michigan Ross community. For this application cycle, the committee has made a few updates to the essay section, which you can see below. We look forward to reading your essays and learning more about you!
Part 1: Career Aspirations
What is your short-term career goal, and how will the Ross philosophy of action-based learning help you achieve it? Please be specific. Please answer both parts of this question. (300 words)
Part 2: How will you make an impact at Michigan Ross?
Michigan Ross is proud to support a community of leaders and impact makers. As a future member of this community, we want to know more about who you are and what drives you. Please 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 response. (200 words)
- What makes you unique?
- Can you provide a specific example of how you've overcome a personal challenge?
- What makes you excited to get up each morning?
- Describe a time when you made a difference in your community or with an individual.
Optional Essay
Is there something in your resume or application that needs a brief explanation? Appropriate uses of this essay would be the explanation of an employment gap, academic outliers, choice of recommender, completion of supplemental coursework, etc. You may use bullet points where appropriate. (250 words)
Online MBA
January 2026 Start
Early Deadline: Aug. 11
Final Deadline: Sept. 22
Late August 2026 Start
Early Deadline: March 23
Final Deadline: May 11
Weekend MBA
May 2026 Start
Early Deadline: Dec. 1
Final Deadline: Jan. 19
The essays are not the only change to the 2026 application. Check back to our blog next month to find out more about the new Test Requirements section of the application.
