From Rejection to Ross: A Reapplicant’s Guide to Getting into the Full-Time MBA Program
Hi! My name is Randy Siregar, and I am from Jakarta, Indonesia. Before pursuing my MBA at the Ross School of Business, I spent 10 years working at companies like Deloitte and Shopee in financial services, consulting, entrepreneurship, transportation, technology, and logistics.
Working in these functions since the beginning of my career has made me interested in transitioning from working in finance to a more hands-on and high-level strategic role in global operations and supply chain strategy. This inspired me to get my MBA at the Ross School of Business, which clearly stood out in this area.
As a current student who applied multiple times to the program, I wanted to share my top tips for successfully reapplying to get accepted and start your MBA journey.
Why did you decide to reapply to the Ross Full-Time MBA Program?
When my application was rejected back in 2023, I knew that I still had to apply again next year. Based on what I researched about Michigan Ross resources, alumni profiles, and the network, I still believe the Ross MBA is very unique and the best fit for me. Moreover, I have a specific interest in the Tauber Institute for Global Operations, and you can't find that at other programs!
What resources or support systems did you find most helpful during your reapplication journey?
The first thing I did when I decided to reapply was talk to a current student and try to replicate some of their methods for success in my next interview.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering reapplying to the Full-Time MBA Program?
There are three pieces of advice that I can give to reapplicants:
- Try to connect with your interviewer! They are Ross alums, and they know Michigan Ross has a close-knit MBA program. Your ability to talk and connect with people is very important at Ross, so demonstrate that with the interviewer, but also try to be genuine and intentional.
- Make your reapplicant essay as unique as possible. Show the admissions team how much you have developed after your previous rejection and align that with your MBA and career goals. Pack all of that into intriguing stories of why you want an MBA, why Ross, and why now.
- In the interview, instead of showing off all of your achievements, it’s better to focus your answers on showing why Michigan Ross is the best fit for you. Ross gave you an invite because they already know you are a high achiever and successful, but they also want to know about your fit with the program.
