7 Helpful Tips for Applying to Michigan Ross

As the Nov. 1 Early Decision and Early Action deadline nears, I am sharing my top tips to keep in mind when you are applying.

Tip 1: Read the instructions

Every year when I write a blog about my top tips for the application cycle, I start with this tip: Slow down and read all of the instructions. Seems simple, right? But with all that you need to keep track of with applications and school-related responsibilities, it is easy to miss something important. This is especially true this year because U-M has new application plans (read the Early Decision blog from July) and a new program of study with the Integrated Business and Engineering at Michigan degree. 

We have a variety of resources on our How to Apply: First Year Applicants page. Also, if you forget where to submit your portfolio, we have a Ross Admissions Portfolio website with the SlideRoom link available. 

Tip 2: Take ownership of your application process 

The more organized and in control of your college application process, the less stress you may feel. Taking ownership means understanding and tracking all deadlines you need to meet for the colleges you are applying to (including financial aid). This also means organizing what materials you need to submit, in addition to what is requested within the actual application. You will need to submit transcripts and letters of recommendation, among other items, and it is your responsibility to ensure that these materials are delivered on time. 

Tip 3: Make the call, not your parents 

Speaking of ownership, it is important that you make the call or initiate the email when you have a question related to your application. It can be challenging to navigate a complex application or university system, but it is also a very important experience for you to gain before you arrive on a college campus. Building that independence begins now. The more confident you are now in talking with the staff and faculty at colleges and universities, the more successful you will be later. Remember the common phrase, “no such thing as a stupid question”. That is entirely true! We are here to answer every question you may have and it excites us even more when we talk to a student who is considering our program. 

Tip 4: Show an authentic voice through reflective writing

Your voice is the most important part of the application process. College essay writing is reflective writing - not academic writing, and usually not creative writing. What do I mean by reflective? We want students to reflect on their interests, goals, what they will contribute to this new academic community, and what they want to gain from it.

Let’s take that typical “why [this college] essay.” When you answer that question, it is not about what the school will give you in terms of job placement rates or fancy facilities. It is about what you want to get out of your college experience. Reflect on the moment you knew you wanted to study business and tell us why. Was it a class within your high school? An extracurricular activity that exposed you to a new concept or idea? Try to be present with your thinking and stay away from essays that center on others as your reason, such as the “dinner time conversations with my parents on their business/job” or “my cousin who attended business school.” Remember, you are the one completing this degree, not anyone else, so you need to show that you have thought through your why.

And, write all of this without platitudes on how great Michigan or Ross is. We certainly love Michigan and Ross, too! But the essay is about you, your goals, and a reflection of what you want to study and why. 

Tip 5: Take a different angle in content from essay to essay 

I was recently asked by a school counselor if the Ross admissions team reads the Common Application essays, or do we just focus on the Ross Admissions Portfolio. My colleague  at the high school was asking because they were advising a senior who wanted to talk about the same topic in their Common Application essay as their Ross admissions learning artifact. And we get this question a lot!

First, the Ross admissions team reads all of the materials you submit, including your Common Application and Michigan supplement essays. When a student repeats a theme, it goes one of two ways with reader reviews: 1) the applicant expands on the common app essay to show a more detailed and engaged example of experience, or 2) the applicant uses the same example from the common app essay, and no new information is learned. (These are exact statements readers have utilized in their reviews.) So my advice here is to ensure that the reader is learning something new. You can still choose a similar topic or experience, but the content should be different. Remember, we are looking to learn something new about you in each essay that you submit. 

Tip 6: The Business Case Discussion is not a research-based prompt

In the BBA program, we solve a lot of problems and case study analysis is at the core of our broad-based management degree. Therefore, the portfolio has a performance assessment known as the Business Case Discussion that allows us to view and analyze your problem-solving ability. I wrote a blog post on it a few years ago and recommend that you check it out. But to quickly summarize, the Business Case Discussion is not a research-based prompt. You will give no citations or reference works of others. That is because the topic you will choose is local and not global. We are instead looking to see how you identify the business implications and what steps you take to think through or get to a solution. Also, it should not be something that you have worked on or previously solved. When applicants go this route, they get too caught up in what they did to solve the issue and miss including the business implications. It should all be original thinking on your part and should focus on a problem in your community that has yet to be resolved. 

Tip 7: Submit a few days before the deadline of your application plan

I will end with the last tip I always give: Please apply a few days before the deadline of your chosen application plan. Submitting a few days before the crush of the deadline will allow you to receive your Enrollment Connect login information in a more timely manner. This will allow you to see what materials have been received and relieve some stress if you know that you have met the deadline, and that can be confirmed in your portal.

I hope these application tips were helpful. Remember that our website is a wonderful resource for more information on applying, and we have many ways to connect with us. I look forward to reading your applications this fall and winter.