Noor Msallaty, MM '24

Noor Msallaty always wanted to go to medical school. She grew up with dreams of becoming a physician and opening her own clinic. At first, the path to her dreams seemed clear — she would complete her undergraduate studies, take the MCAT, and start medical school. However, as she learned more about her dream career, she realized she wanted to go beyond a traditional medical education.

Seeking a Business Background

Before coming to the Ross School of Business, Noor earned her bachelor’s degree at Wayne State University, where she majored in nutrition and food science and minored in public health. During her studies, she was very involved in giving back to her community in any way she could — a calling that she picked up from family members like her grandmother, who had tirelessly campaigned and raised funds to aid families affected by the Syrian refugee crisis.

In her own volunteering efforts, Noor was able to gain experience working with student organizations and nonprofits that exposed her to new aspects of the healthcare field — and the business world.

“When I started working in the medical field and doing research, there was always business involved and business terms being used, but I didn't have an idea, necessarily, of what everything meant,” Noor said. “Knowing that I've always wanted to open up my own clinic, I realized I wanted to have some type of business background that would give me an edge over my peers who come from similar, health-focused backgrounds. I wanted to up my game.”

After completing her undergraduate studies, Noor decided she wanted to pursue a graduate degree with a focus on business before attending medical school. Since she’d already taken her MCAT, she was looking for a program that could give her the business background she wanted without demanding years of her time.

“I was looking into business-focused one-year master's programs that could actually help me in the real world,” Noor said. “I found out that Michigan Ross had one, the Master of Management, and the more I looked into it, the more I really fell in love with it; the fact that they focused on group work and unity.”

Connecting with Michigan Ross

Noor had some previous experience with the University of Michigan after serving as regional vice president for Charity Week of Michigan, a global nonprofit organization she is involved in which provides aid to children in need. While at Wayne State, she helped organize fundraising events for Charity Week that introduced her to the U-M community.

The positive culture, plus the action-based curriculum at Michigan Ross, was exactly what Noor was looking for, so she decided to apply for the Master of Management Program. After having a great pre-application experience with the school, she also convinced her lifelong friend to apply to the MM program as well.

“I wanted the best for her, too, so I also told her to apply to this specific program because of how much I loved it,” Noor said. “We were both accepted, so now we've been through middle school, high school, university, and this master's program together, too.”

During her first term at Michigan Ross, Noor hit the ground running. She was surprised at how quickly she was able to make valuable connections in her cohort, despite the fast-paced nature of the program.

“Since MM is a small program, you're really with each other every day, every single morning, for a good amount of time,” she said. 

I was amazed at how the program can turn you and a classmate into friends in just a day or two. I’ve met some really amazing people who have helped me through everything from class to random life problems.

“Even the professors are so willing to listen and share their own stories and experiences,” Noor said. “You'll be sitting in the Winter Garden, and they will just stop by to say hello and tell you an amazing random story. The professors actually get to know you and remember your name, even just a couple of weeks in.”

Finding New Paths for the Future

With recruitment season starting, Noor hopes to explore where she might utilize both her medical and new business expertise on her mission to one day open her own clinic and make a difference in the lives of her future patients.

“I went to a career fair and talked to some healthcare-specific companies that work in the business field, like Medline, OneMagnify, and Stryker,” Noor said.

To students thinking of applying to the MM program, Noor offered some advice:

“If you're thinking about applying, just do it. It really is worth it. It doesn't really matter what background you're coming from; it is going to help you immensely,” she said. “Not just because of the classes, but because of the Ross name and the connections."

There's always someone who has gone to Michigan Ross that could help you out. And that connection can help you get an offer or a referral for your business. Take the chance if you’re thinking about it, you really don't want to miss out.