The Michigan Ross BBA Application Is Open — Before You Submit, Do These Three Things

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By: Blaire Moody Rideout

It’s an exciting time! The 2019-20 application for admission to the University of Michigan and Michigan Ross officially opened on August 1. And while we know the excitement at being able to apply can be high, I want to encourage you to pause for a second and not rush into things. 

If you want to apply before our Early Action deadline, you have plenty of time before November 1 rolls around. 

Here are three things you should do before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboards) and start filling out the Michigan Ross BBA admissions application:

Get Clear on the Story You Want to Tell

Understanding the reason you want to pursue a business degree in college will help you focus your efforts as you develop your application materials. And trust me, that focus will translate into a stronger application.

Having a stated purpose you can go back and reference will help immensely as you try to make decisions about what to include in your portfolio or how to talk about an experience.

Prepare your Portfolio Materials 

The Ross admissions portfolio consists of a 500-word business case discussion and the submission of an ‘artifact’ or piece of content that showcases your passions or a unique aspect about who you are as a person. 

These materials are our opportunity to get to know you on a deeper level, and it’s your opportunity to share what makes you who you are — so it’s important you spend adequate time prepping the materials you’ll include in the portfolio to make sure you put your best foot forward. 

For more on what the portfolio is and what some successful submissions have looked like, check out a few of my past blog posts on this topic.

Blog posts about the portfolio

Read about Successful Essay Submissions

ESSAY HELP

My Best Tips For Writing Your Ross BBA Application Essays

I’ve read thousands of college application essays, and I know what makes a good essay and what makes a bad one — and I want to share those secrets with you. 

Read more

When you apply to the University of Michigan and Ross, you’ll need to complete four total essays as part of your application, each one asking you to reflect and share on a different aspect of your life, your passions, and your future goals. 

The essays are an essential part of the application because they give us a view into who you are, your individual approach to problem solving, and the vision you have for what you want to achieve during and after college. 

Writing “the perfect essay” is a stressful task for many, so it can be helpful to read up on what the admissions committee is looking for, and how you can best portray yourself in your essays. In a past blog post, I shared my five best tips for tackling the essay questions, and I think you’ll find those tips helpful as you plan your own approach to the essays. 

Michigan Ross BBA Application Requirements