ross mba essay examples

Michigan Ross MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Uncover the essential insights and expert tips for crafting compelling Michigan Ross MBA essays with this comprehensive guide.

Posted March 1, 2024

Featuring Andy P. and Geri T.

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The University of Michigan Ross School of Business is renowned for its top-ranked MBA program, and one crucial component of the application process is the essays. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide an overview of the Michigan Ross MBA essays, offer tips on how to craft compelling responses , and provide examples of successful essays from admitted students.

University of Michigan Ross Application and the Role of Essays

The University of Michigan Ross MBA application is a highly competitive process that requires applicants to submit four essays as part of their application package. These essays serve as a critical component in the admissions process, providing applicants with a platform to showcase their experiences, goals, and fit with the Ross community .

When crafting their essays, applicants are encouraged to reflect on their personal and professional experiences, highlighting key moments that have shaped their journey and influenced their decision to pursue an MBA at Ross. The admissions committee carefully reviews these essays to gain valuable insights into each applicant's personality, motivations, and potential contributions to the Ross community.

One of the essays prompts applicants to describe their short-term and long-term career goals. This essay allows applicants to articulate their aspirations and demonstrate how an MBA from Ross will help them achieve these goals. It also provides an opportunity for applicants to showcase their understanding of the industry they wish to enter and how their unique skills and experiences align with their chosen career path.

Another essay prompt focuses on the applicant's leadership experience. Ross places a strong emphasis on developing leaders who make a positive impact in their organizations and communities. This essay allows applicants to highlight their leadership abilities, showcasing instances where they have taken initiative, inspired others, and made a difference. It also provides an opportunity for applicants to discuss any challenges they have faced as a leader and how they have grown from those experiences.

In addition to these two essays, applicants are also required to write about their personal and professional accomplishments, as well as their reasons for choosing Ross specifically. These essays provide applicants with a chance to reflect on their achievements, highlighting moments of growth, resilience, and success. They also allow applicants to demonstrate their knowledge of Ross and explain why they believe it is the perfect fit for their MBA journey.

Throughout the essay writing process, applicants are encouraged to be authentic and genuine, allowing their true selves to shine through their words. The admissions committee values diversity and seeks applicants who will contribute to the vibrant and collaborative Ross community. Therefore, it is important for applicants to use their essays as an opportunity to showcase their unique perspectives , experiences, and passions.

Once the essays are submitted, the admissions committee carefully reviews each application, taking into consideration the applicant's academic record, test scores, letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials. The essays, however, play a crucial role in the decision-making process, allowing the admissions committee to gain a deeper understanding of each applicant beyond their academic achievements.

In conclusion, the University of Michigan Ross MBA application essays serve as a powerful tool for applicants to convey their personal and professional stories, showcasing their fit with the Ross community and their potential to make a lasting impact . Through these essays, applicants have the opportunity to demonstrate their unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations, ultimately setting themselves apart in the competitive admissions process.

UMich Ross Essay Prompts (2023-2024)

This year, the University of Michigan Ross MBA program has introduced a set of new essay prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle. The essay prompts are crafted to assess applicants' knowledge of their own personal and professional journeys and their alignment with Ross values. Let's dive into each essay prompt and explore strategies for crafting strong responses:

Essay Prompt 1: Describe your short-term and long-term career goals. What is your motivation for pursuing an MBA at Ross specifically? (300 words)

When responding to this essay prompt, it is crucial to clearly articulate your career goals and explain how a Ross MBA will help you achieve them. Demonstrate a deep understanding of the unique resources, programs, and opportunities offered by Ross that align with your aspirations. Consider discussing specific courses, clubs, or partnerships that align with your career goals.

Essay Prompt 2: At Ross, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to creating a positive change in the business world. How have you contributed to creating an inclusive environment? (300 words)

In this essay, highlight your experiences and initiatives that have contributed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Showcase your ability to foster an inclusive environment through your actions, whether it be through collaboration, mentorship, or community engagement. Be specific and provide examples to illustrate the impact of your contributions.

Essay Prompt 3: Describe a time when you faced a challenging situation in a professional or team setting. What did you learn from this experience? (300 words)

This essay prompt requires you to reflect on a challenging situation and share your learnings. Focus on your growth and resilience in the face of adversity. Discuss the actions you took to address the challenge and the lessons you gained as a result. Convey your ability to learn from setbacks and apply those lessons to future situations.

Essay Prompt 4: Ross is a place where people from all backgrounds with different career aspirations can thrive. How will you contribute to the Ross community? (300 words)

In this essay, emphasize how you will bring a unique perspective to the Ross community and enhance the learning experience of your peers. Highlight your past experiences of collaboration, leadership, or mentorship and explain how you will leverage those skills at Ross. Showcase your understanding of the Ross culture and your potential contributions to the community.

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List of Expert Tips for Each Ross Essay Prompt

To maximize your chances of crafting compelling essays, here are some expert tips for each essay prompt:

• Clearly define your career goals and demonstrate a strong fit with Ross resources and programs.
• Showcase specific experiences and initiatives that exemplify your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Choose a challenging situation that highlights your resilience, problem-solving ability, and growth mindset.
• Highlight your unique attributes, skills, and experiences that will contribute to the Ross community.

MBA Essay Tips: How to Write Compelling Essays

Writing compelling essays requires careful thought and strategy. Here are some general tips to help you craft impactful responses:

• Start early and allocate sufficient time for brainstorming, drafting, and revising your essays.
• Be authentic and genuine in your writing. Your essays should reflect your unique experiences, perspectives, and aspirations.
• Provide specific examples and anecdotes to support your statements and showcase your achievements.
• Use a concise and clear writing style, focusing on conveying your message effectively.
• Proofread your essays to eliminate errors and ensure clarity.

UMich Ross Essay Examples From Success Admits — With Analysis

Examining successful essay examples can provide valuable insights into what makes a strong response. Here are some essay examples from admitted Ross students:

• Essay Example 1: Aligning Career Goals with Ross Values

[Essay content and analysis]

• Essay Example 2: Promoting Inclusion and Diversity
• Essay Example 3: Overcoming Challenges and Personal Growth
• Essay Example 4: Contributing to the Ross Community

UMich Ross Essay FAQs

As you embark on your essay-writing journey, you may have some common questions in mind. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the Michigan Ross MBA essays:

• Q: How long should my essay responses be?

A: Each essay should be limited to 300 words.

• Q: Are there specific formatting guidelines to follow?

A: Stick to clear and concise writing. Use paragraphs, proper punctuation, and avoid excessive formatting.

• Q: Can I exceed the word limit if necessary?

A: It is strongly recommended to adhere to the word limit to ensure your responses are impactful and concise.

• Q: Should I use jargon or technical terms in my essays?

A: Aim for clarity and avoid excessive jargon. Your essays should be accessible and understandable to the admissions committee.

With this comprehensive guide, you now have the tools and knowledge to tackle the Michigan Ross MBA essays with confidence. Remember to showcase your unique story, demonstrate a strong fit with Ross, and craft compelling essays that leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee. Best of luck!

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2023-2024 Michigan Ross MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

Jul 1, 2023

• Who is Ross looking for?
• How should I answer Ross essay questions?
• Make sure you get into Michigan Ross
• Michigan Ross Deadlines

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on August 9, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

With its famous MAP project, Michigan Ross is a haven for collaboratively-minded leaders who love to learn by getting their hands dirty.

However, Ross has rapidly increased in the rankings in the past few years, making it more difficult than ever to secure admission to this elite MBA program. 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Ross admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to Michigan Ross MBA sample essays to ensure you give your Ross application your best shot.

1. Who is Ross looking for?

(Michigan Ross students participating in Ross’ 7-week MAP program , Photo courtesy of Michigan Ross)

“Ross students and alumni are a highly engaged, impressive network of people.” Ross Admissions  

Every year, Michigan Ross searches the globe for outstanding professionals for its annual class of 380 students. With a strong emphasis on diversity and leadership, there is no “typical” Ross student, yet the average admitted student for the Class of 2024 had a 720 GMAT score or 160V/160Q GRE score and an average of 5.6 years of work experience . 

NOTE: Michigan Ross is continuing to offer GMAT/GRE waivers. If you would like to be considered, an additional essay is required. Find out more information here .

Beyond the impressive statistics, though, Ross offers its students the chance to prepare themselves to lead by giving them multiple opportunities for hands-on learning. 

Check out this video on the Ross student experience: 

If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering Ross’ admissions essay questions.  

2. How should I answer Ross essay questions?

2.1. short answers tips.

Part 1: Short Answers (choose one from each group; 100 words each)

• I want people to know that I:
• I made a difference when I:
• I was aware that I was different when:

I was out of my comfort zone when:

• I was humbled when:
• I was challenged when:

The most important task is first considering which prompts you will choose from each category , especially considering there is space for repeating themes. This is even more challenging this year, since you will only be able to write two essays, as opposed to the three you were allowed last year. 

When looking at each category, choose the question that is both easiest to answer and that allows you to shine light on a new element of your profile. If you’ve already mentioned community service in one question, for example, perhaps avoid repeating community service as the theme in other answers. 

Most importantly, consider what you want Ross to learn about you . Ross’ application is short and sweet ( we love this! ), but it does mean that you won’t show off everything you have to offer unless you’re very careful and strategic in how you use each and every word the application gives you. 

TOP TIP : Start these essays by simply writing out the story without worrying about word count. You want to make sure you fully answer the question and can always trim your word count later. 

Group 1’s questions seem to clearly ask about a time when you generated impact or how you handle diversity . To answer, mine your top stories for examples where you used your free time (or your professional work!) to leave a meaningful mark on others. 

This group of questions is broad enough for you to talk about a particular way in which you are diverse (perhaps you are LGBT, grew up as an immigrant, etc.) or how you adapt when faced with challenging situations. 

The most important part of this essay will be to quickly establish what made you different or what was challenging, then show how you navigated the situation and grew or learned an important lesson from your experience. 

We suggest starting your essay by answering the question, for example: “I made a difference when I volunteered in Chilean Patagonia in 2011.” 

Then, talk about exactly how you generated impact (a condensed version of the STAR methodology will work very well here) and end with the result you obtained or lesson you learned. 

• I am out of my comfort zone when:

Group 2 is geared towards allowing the admissions committee to understand how you will fit into the action learning environment at Ross by seeing how you respond when things aren’t perfectly going your way. 

If you choose to go with the humility theme, you may want to explore an achievement of yours that humbled you, a time someone else did something meaningful for you, or seeing a team project succeed. 

False humility will be easy to spot here, so make sure you’re able to authentically demonstrate your experience and why it was humbling. 

If you choose to explore the theme of being outside your comfort zone, you have slightly more range in terms of types of examples you could use, in our opinion. For example, you could speak about a promotion, a new project at work, an international experience, a volunteer experience … the list goes on and on. 

The key to this essay is to clearly establish the situation and how it pushed you outside your comfort zone (adding the right amount of drama in your setup here will help sell this point). Then, show how you overcame the challenge and were able to obtain a winning result. Finally, make sure you show the lesson you learned as a result of this experience. 

Of course, before you start writing, you might want to check out this video in which the Ross admissions team shares their tips for this year’s essays. 

Need more guidance? Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of Michigan Ross essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning Michigan Ross essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join ! 

2.2. Essay 1 Tips

What is your short-term career goal and why is this the right short-term career goal for you? (150 words)

As one of the most transparent admissions committees in the MBA world, Ross has taken clear steps each year to make their application increasingly streamlined. 

This is important to keep in mind, because Ross has deliberately been very clear about what they want here: short-term goals only. 

TOP TIP : If you’re not sure what your goals are, check out this post designed to help you think through this critical component of your application!

To answer the first part of the question, you want to clearly and concisely state your short-term goal. When discussing your goals , clarity is king, so make sure you include a job title and industry in your description of your post-MBA aspiration. Additionally, we suggest you briefly elaborate on your vision for impact – or, what you hope to accomplish in your stated position in the future (if necessary, you can move this part to part two of this response!).

However, goals without context can be a little confusing to decipher or understand (or they can just seem a bit lackluster) – hence the second part of Ross’ question. For part two, it is essential that you include that context.

We suggest including that context in the form of a brief story or past experience that shows the reader why your goals are meaningful to you or how you have worked towards them so far. For example, if your goal is to focus on sustainable transportation methods, you may want to include a story about how you have helped catalyze sustainable solutions in the past. 

After clearly stating your motivations for your goal, we suggest you briefly touch on how Ross can help you achieve these goals, if you have space. This should not be a “laundry list” of 10 classes you found on the Ross site, nor a section in which you repeat clichés about the school. 

Instead, you should thoughtfully consider how you must grow personally and professionally to reach your stated short-term goal and what elements of Ross (classes, faculty, clubs, etc.) will help you reach them. You only have space for 1-2 sentences, however, so choose wisely. 

If you do not have space to include a mini Why Ross section, that’s ok . You want to make sure your answer fully addresses the prompt!

Ending your essay with a killer conclusion sentence to leave your reader with a strong image of your profile is the perfect wrap-up. 

2.3. Optional Essay Tips

Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation? You might want to discuss the completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate.

This section should only be used to convey information not addressed elsewhere in your application, for example, completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate. 

Though with such a short application you may be tempted to use this response to add additional stories and information you couldn’t quite squeeze in elsewhere, restraint is necessary here. Make sure you focus on explaining gaps in your application only , though you can use these explanations to highlight related achievements. 

For example, our client Fernando needed to explain his 6-month gap in work experience. As luck would have it, he spent these 6 months volunteering in Asia, so we not only addressed a “weakness” but were also able to include a new achievement in his application. (Read more about Fernando’s time in Asia by downloading our Ross sample essays below).

We have written extensively on the issue of optional essays, giving tips and tricks for how to address issues like low GMAT scores or poor academic performance here . 

Looking for Michigan Ross MBA essay examples? Check out our real sample essays that got our clients admitted here .

3. Make sure you get into Michigan Ross

You only get one chance to make an impression on the Ross adcom, so make it count!

Good storytelling in your essays is often the difference between telling a story that moves elite business schools to move you forward in the application process and a “no.”

Yet translating your professional “highlights reel” into compelling stories is no easy task. 

That’s why our team at Ellin Lolis Consulting is obsessed with telling your story . 

This is the approach we took with our client Eduardo, who was admitted to Michigan Ross last year: “I only wish I’d found Ellin sooner! There are MBA consultants, and then there is Ellin. Her extremely human and hands-on approach made me feel comfortable and confident with the process. Throughout the time we worked together, I always knew I was being personally taken care of by her and her team. To anyone that is looking for someone to help them with their MBA application journey: look no further. You have found the unrivaled best consultant in the business.I only wish I’d found Ellin sooner! There are MBA consultants, and then there is Ellin. Her extremely human and hands-on approach made me feel comfortable and confident with the process. Throughout the time we worked together, I always knew I was being personally taken care of by her and her team. To anyone that is looking for someone to help them with their MBA application journey: look no further. You have found the unrivaled best consultant in the business.”

Let our award-winning editors use their expert writing abilities, deep understanding of what Ross is looking for, and marketing know-how to transform your application from average to attention-grabbing and get you a spot at Ross! 

Ready to put the Ellin Lolis Advantage to work for your MBA application essays? Get in touch with us ! 

4. Michigan Ross Deadlines

The deadlines for the 2023-2024 season are below. You can access the Ross application here .

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2023-2024 Michigan Ross MBA Essay Analysis and Tips

Admit expert.

• July 22, 2023

Michigan Ross stands as a premier institution for MBA education due to its exceptional commitment to excellence, innovation, and impact-driven learning. Renowned for its dynamic and relevant curriculum, Ross equips students with practical skills to navigate complex business challenges successfully. The school’s emphasis on action-based learning fosters real-world problem-solving, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for the ever-evolving business landscape.

Additionally, Ross boasts a vibrant and collaborative community, promoting diverse perspectives and networking opportunities through its extensive alumni network. Additionally, with top-notch faculty and a strong focus on leadership development, it is not difficult to see why the University has thousands of applicants for their MBA program. An important part of that application process, however, is the essay, which is what we will dive into below!

Michigan Ross MBA Essay Prompts

Short term career goals essay, final thoughts.

Compared to other universities, Michigan Ross has a unique essay process. While many other universities have maybe 2 or 3 mandatory essays to answer, Ross has 2 separate groups of 3 essays each that an applicant can pick from. Both Group A and Group B have three personalized questions that need to be answered within 100 words. Additionally, there is a career-based question that needs to be answered in under 150 words and an optional essay relating to any gaps in the candidate’s profile.

Here are the Michigan Ross MBA Essay Prompts

Part 1: Short-answer questions

Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. Respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less (<100 words each; 200 words total).

• I want people to know that I:
• I made a difference when I:
• I was aware that I was different when:
• I was out of my comfort zone when:
• I was humbled when:
• I was challenged when: 

Part 2: Career Goal

What is your short-term career goal and why is this the right goal for you? (150 words)

Optional statement: Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation? You might want to discuss the completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc.  Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate.

Now that we’ve covered what their questions are, let’s dive into detail on how you can ideally answer them.

Michigan Ross MBA Essay Analysis

Group a framework.

The framework for how you can go about writing your essay for Ross’ MBA is as follows: This framework has been further explained below to give you more insight while crafting your essays.

I want people to know that I…

• Reflect on your strengths.
• Be specific and provide examples.
• Connect your experiences to your MBA goals.
• Demonstrate self-awareness
• Express your passion and motivation.
• Showcase your potential contributions.
• Maintain a confident and positive tone.

I made a difference when I…

• Identify a significant achievement.
• Describe the context.
• Outline your actions.
• Quantify the results if possible.
• Emphasize teamwork and collaboration.
• Reflect on the significance
• Connect to your MBA goals.
• Showcase personal qualities.
• Use storytelling techniques.

I was aware that I was different when…

• Choose a defining moment.
• Describe the situation.
• Reflect on your differences.
• Discuss your response.
• Highlight your strengths.
• Show cultural competency.

Michigan Ross MBA Group A Essay Analysis

I want people to know that i… (100 words).

When answering the question, “I want people to know that I…” in an MBA essay, it’s important to focus on highlighting your unique qualities, experiences, and achievements that demonstrate your potential as a successful MBA candidate.

It is also important to remember to tailor your response to the specific requirements and values of the MBA program you are applying to. By effectively conveying your unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations, you can create a compelling essay that captures the attention of the admissions committee and showcases your potential as an MBA candidate.

Below are some points to help you craft an effective response:

• Reflect on your strengths: Consider your personal and professional qualities that set you apart. What are your unique skills, attributes, or experiences that make you stand out? Think about your leadership abilities, problem-solving skills, industry expertise, or any other strengths that showcase your potential as a business leader.
• Be specific and provide examples: Instead of making broad statements, support your claims with concrete examples. Describe specific instances where you demonstrated your strengths or achieved significant results. These examples could come from your work experience, academic projects, extracurricular activities, or community involvement.
• Connect your experiences to your MBA goals: Show how your experiences and strengths align with your future goals as an MBA candidate. Explain how your past accomplishments have prepared you for the challenges and opportunities that an MBA program can offer. Discuss how you plan to leverage your MBA education to further develop your skills and achieve your long-term career objectives.
• Demonstrate self-awareness: Show that you have a clear understanding of your strengths and areas for growth. Discuss any challenges or obstacles you have faced and how you have overcome them. Emphasize your ability to learn from your experiences and continuously improve yourself as a professional.
• Express your passion and motivation: Convey your enthusiasm for pursuing an MBA and your genuine interest in the business field. Share what drives you and why you are passionate about making an impact in the business world. Discuss any specific areas of business or industries that you are particularly interested in and explain why they resonate with you.
• Showcase your potential contributions: Highlight how your unique qualities and experiences can contribute to the MBA program and the broader business community. Discuss how you can bring a fresh perspective, diverse experiences, or specific skills to the classroom and collaborative projects. Articulate how you can add value to your future classmates’ learning experiences.
• Maintain a confident and positive tone: Present your accomplishments and aspirations with confidence, but avoid sounding arrogant. Showcase your self-assurance and belief in your abilities while maintaining humility and respect for others.

I made a difference when I… (100 words)

When answering the question, “I made a difference when I…” in an MBA essay, it’s important to highlight specific instances where you have had a positive impact or created meaningful change. Remember to be authentic and genuine in your response, focusing on the impact you made and the lessons you learned.

By effectively communicating how you made a difference, you can showcase your ability to create positive change and demonstrate your potential as an MBA candidate. Also, you must keep in mind that while bringing out the below aspects you need to be brief and precise. Here are some tips to help you craft the essay more effectively:

• Identify a significant achievement: Think about a specific situation or project where you made a tangible difference. It could be a professional experience, a personal initiative, a leadership role, or community involvement. Choose an accomplishment that showcases your ability to drive positive change and make an impact. Below are a few points to help you write the draft more effectively:
• Describe the context: Provide background information about the situation or problem you encountered. Explain the challenges, goals, or issues that prompted your involvement. Clearly articulate why this particular situation was important and the impact it had on others or the organization.
• Outline your actions: Describe the actions you took to address the situation and make a difference. Explain your role and responsibilities, the strategies or approaches you employed, and the specific steps you took to overcome challenges or obstacles. Highlight any innovative or creative solutions you developed.
• Quantify results if possible: Whenever possible, quantify the results or outcomes of your actions. Did you increase revenue, improve efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, or achieve any other measurable improvements? Use metrics or specific data points to demonstrate the magnitude of your impact.
• Emphasize teamwork and collaboration: If your achievement involved working with others, highlight the collaborative aspects of your efforts. Discuss how you effectively led a team, built partnerships, or fostered cooperation among stakeholders. Show how your ability to work with others contributed to the success of the project and the achievement of your goals.
• Reflect on the significance: Discuss the broader implications or significance of your accomplishment. How did your actions create value, solve a problem, or contribute to the overall success of the organization or community? Reflect on the long-term impact and sustainability of your efforts.
• Connect to your MBA goals: Articulate how this experience aligns with your aspirations as an MBA candidate. Explain how it has shaped your perspective, developed your skills, or reinforced your passion for making a difference in the business world. Discuss how an MBA education can further enhance your ability to drive positive change and make a lasting impact.
• Showcase personal qualities: Highlight the personal qualities or strengths that enabled you to make a difference. Whether it was your leadership abilities, problem-solving skills, resilience, or determination, demonstrate how these qualities played a crucial role in achieving your goals.
• Use storytelling techniques: Craft a compelling narrative that engages the reader. Use vivid language, anecdotes, and examples to bring your achievement to life and make it memorable. Show your passion, enthusiasm, and dedication through your storytelling.

I was aware that I was different when… (100 Words)

When answering the question, “I was aware that I was different when…” in an MBA essay, it’s important to reflect on a specific moment or experience that made you realize your unique qualities, perspectives, or experiences. Brevity and conciseness are also key, considering the short word count of the essay. By effectively conveying the moment you became aware of your differences and the subsequent impact on your personal and professional growth, you can create a compelling essay that showcases your self-awareness, resilience, and ability to contribute to diverse business environments. Below are some tips to help you write the essay better:

• Choose a defining moment: Identify a specific incident, situation, or experience that stands out in your life where you realized your differences. This could be a personal or professional event that made you aware of your unique qualities, background, or perspectives.
• Describe the situation: Set the context by providing details about the situation or environment in which you felt different. Explain the factors that contributed to your realization. Was it a cultural setting, a work-related project, an academic experience, or a personal encounter?
• Reflect on your differences: Share what made you different in that situation. It could be your cultural background, a particular skill set, a different approach to problem-solving, a unique perspective, or any other aspect that sets you apart. Explain why this difference is significant and how it influenced your perspective or actions.
• Discuss your response: Describe how you reacted to the realization of your differences. Did you embrace your uniqueness, seek to understand others, or leverage your differences to contribute in a meaningful way? Discuss any challenges you faced or personal growth you experienced as a result.
• Highlight your strengths: Emphasize the positive aspects of your differences. Discuss how your unique qualities, experiences, or perspectives have contributed to your personal and professional development. Explain how they have influenced your decision-making, problem-solving, leadership style, or ability to collaborate effectively.
• Connect to your MBA goals: Relate your awareness of being different to your aspirations as an MBA candidate. Explain how this realization has shaped your motivation to pursue an MBA and your desire to contribute to a diverse and inclusive business environment. Discuss how your differences can add value to the MBA program and the broader business community.
• Demonstrate self-awareness: Show that you have reflected on your differences and have a clear understanding of their impact. Discuss how you have leveraged your differences to create positive outcomes or overcome challenges. Articulate how your awareness of being different has influenced your personal and professional growth.
• Show cultural competency: If your differences are related to your cultural background, demonstrate your cultural competency and ability to navigate diverse environments. Discuss your understanding of different perspectives, your ability to adapt to new cultures, or your experience working in multicultural teams.

Group B Essay Framework

I am out of my comfort zone when…

• Choose a relevant experience.
• Articulate your discomfort.
• Highlight the learnings.
• Showcase your adaptability and resilience.
• Reflect on personal growth.

I was humbled when…

• Choose a significant experience.
• Explain the humbling moment.
• Reflect on the lessons learned.
• Discuss your response and growth.
• Showcase your adaptability.
• Express gratitude and appreciation.

I was challenged when…

• Choose a meaningful challenge.
• Clearly define the challenge.
• Outline your response.
• Highlight your skills and qualities.
• Reflect on the learnings.
• Showcase resilience

Group B Essay Analysis:

I am out of my comfort zone when… (100 words).

When answering the question, “I am out of my comfort zone when…” in an MBA essay, it’s important to reflect on situations or experiences that have challenged you, pushed you beyond your limits, or required you to step outside of familiar territory.

By showcasing in these 100 words, briefly, your experiences of being out of your comfort zone and the resulting personal growth, you can create a compelling essay that showcases your adaptability, resilience, and willingness to take on challenges. This can demonstrate to the admissions committee that you are prepared to embrace the opportunities and complexities of an MBA program and succeed in the business world.

Let’s have a look at some tips to help you craft the essay better:

• Choose a relevant experience: Identify a specific situation or experience where you felt out of your comfort zone. This could be a professional challenge, a personal endeavor, a leadership role, or a new environment that stretched your abilities or tested your limits.
• Describe the context: Set the stage by providing background information about the situation. Explain the factors that made you feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Was it a new role, a complex project, a cultural setting, a public speaking engagement, or any other circumstance that took you outside of your comfort zone?
• Articulate your discomfort: Clearly express why this situation made you uncomfortable or challenged you. Identify the specific aspects that were outside of your comfort zone. Was it the level of responsibility, the need to learn new skills, the pressure to perform, the need to adapt to a different culture, or something entirely else?
• Discuss your response: Describe how you responded to being out of your comfort zone. Did you embrace the challenge, seek support or guidance, take calculated risks, or adopt new strategies to navigate the situation? Discuss any personal growth, resilience, or adaptability you experienced as a result.
• Highlight the learnings: Share the lessons or insights you gained from this experience. Discuss how being out of your comfort zone enhanced your skills, expanded your perspective, or pushed you to develop new capabilities. Highlight any positive outcomes, achievements, or personal development that resulted from embracing the discomfort.
• Connect to your MBA goals: Relate your experiences of being out of your comfort zone to your aspirations as an MBA candidate. Explain how these experiences have prepared you for the challenges of an MBA program and a future career in business. Discuss how your ability to thrive in uncomfortable situations can contribute to the learning environment, foster innovation, or enable you to navigate complex business challenges.
• Showcase your adaptability: Highlight your ability to adapt to new situations, embrace change, and thrive outside of your comfort zone. Discuss any specific instances where you successfully overcame challenges or achieved positive results by stepping outside of familiar territory.
• Reflect on personal growth: Show that you have reflected on your experiences and understand the personal growth that comes from being out of your comfort zone. Discuss how these experiences have shaped your character, expanded your capabilities, or deepened your self-awareness.

I was humbled when… (100 words)

When answering the question, “I was humbled when…” in an MBA essay, it’s important to reflect on a specific experience or moment that brought about a sense of humility and taught you valuable lessons. By concisely and precisely conveying a humbling experience and the resulting personal growth and reflection, you can create a compelling essay that showcases your humility, resilience, and capacity for self-improvement.

This can demonstrate to the admissions committee that you possess the qualities necessary to be an effective and empathetic leader in the business world. Here are some tips to help you craft an effective response:

• Choose a significant experience: Select an experience or event that had a profound impact on you and led to a sense of humility. It could be a personal or professional situation, a mistake or failure, a realization of your limitations, or an encounter with someone or something that challenged your perspective.
• Describe the situation: Set the context by providing background information about the situation or event. Explain what happened and why it was humbling for you. Describe the circumstances, challenges, or interactions that led to your realization.
• Explain the humbling moment: Clearly articulate how the experience humbled you. Discuss the emotions, thoughts, or reflections you had during that time. Explain how it affected your perception of yourself, others, or the world around you. Highlight the aspects that challenged your ego, assumptions, or preconceived notions.
• Reflect on the lessons learned: Share the lessons or insights you gained from the humbling experience. Discuss how it influenced your personal and professional growth. Reflect on how it changed your perspective, values, or behavior. Highlight any positive changes you have made as a result.
• Discuss your response and growth: Describe how you responded to the humbling experience. Did it inspire you to take action, seek self-improvement, or change your approach? Discuss how you used the experience as an opportunity for personal growth, learning, or self-reflection. Show how you embraced humility as a catalyst for positive change.
• Connect to your MBA goals: Relate the humbling experience to your aspirations as an MBA candidate. Explain how it has shaped your values, leadership style, or approach to problem-solving. Discuss how your newfound humility can contribute to your success as a business leader, foster collaboration, or drive ethical decision-making.
• Showcase your resilience: Highlight your ability to adapt, learn, and grow from challenges or setbacks. Discuss any specific instances where you demonstrated resilience and rebounded from humbling experiences. Show how you have used these experiences to develop resilience and a growth mindset.
• Express gratitude and appreciation: Demonstrate gratitude and appreciation for the experience that humbled you. Discuss how it has provided you with valuable insights, self-awareness, or a deeper appreciation for others. Express humility by acknowledging the role of others, mentors, or circumstances in your journey.

I was challenged when… (100 words)

When answering the question, “I was challenged when…” in Ross’ MBA essay, it’s important to reflect on a specific situation or experience that presented significant obstacles or difficulties both briefly and precisely. By portraying your challenging experience and the resulting personal growth, resilience, and problem-solving abilities, you can create a compelling essay that showcases your ability to handle complex situations and excel in the MBA program and beyond.

This can demonstrate to the admissions committee that you possess the qualities necessary to thrive in the business world and contribute meaningfully to organizations.

Here are some tips to help you craft an effective response:

• Choose a meaningful challenge: Select a specific situation or experience that genuinely tested your abilities, skills, or resilience. It could be a professional challenge, an academic endeavor, a personal project, or a team-based task that requires you to overcome obstacles or push your limits.
• Describe the context: Set the stage by providing background information about the challenge. Explain the circumstances, goals, or expectations that made it particularly demanding. Discuss the complexity, time pressure, resource constraints, or other factors that intensified the challenge.
• Clearly define the challenge: Clearly articulate the specific nature of the challenge you faced. Identify the key obstacles, problems, or difficulties that need to be overcome. Explain why this challenge was significant and how it impacted you or the situation at hand.
• Outline your response: Describe the actions you took to address the challenge. Discuss the strategies, approaches, or innovative solutions you employed to navigate the difficulties. Explain how you identified and analyzed the root causes of the challenge, developed a plan of action, and executed it effectively.
• Highlight your skills and qualities: Emphasize the skills, qualities, or strengths you utilized during the challenge. Discuss your problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, leadership qualities, resilience, and ability to collaborate effectively. Demonstrate how these attributes helped you overcome the challenge and achieve positive outcomes.
• Reflect on the learnings: Share the lessons or insights you gained from facing the challenge. Discuss how the experience impacted your personal and professional growth. Reflect on how it enhanced your skills, expanded your knowledge, or influenced your approach to future challenges. Highlight any personal development, self-discovery, or increased confidence that resulted from the experience.
• Connect to your MBA goals: Relate the challenge to your aspirations as an MBA candidate. Explain how this experience has prepared you for the rigors of an MBA program and a future career in business. Discuss how your ability to navigate challenges and overcome obstacles can contribute to the learning environment, inspire others, or drive innovative solutions in the business world.
• Showcase resilience: Highlight your ability to adapt, persevere, and learn from challenging situations. Discuss any specific instances where you demonstrated resilience and successfully faced adversity. Show how you have used these experiences to develop adaptability, a growth mindset, and the ability to thrive in dynamic environments.

Short-Term Career Goals Framework

• Be specific and concise.
• Connect to your past experiences.
• Align with your interests and strengths.
• Show understanding of the industry.
• Connect to your long-term aspirations
• Relate to the MBA program
• Showcase your impact and contribution.
• Discuss your motivation.
• Show commitment and feasibility.
• Edit and refine

Short-Term Career Goal Essay Analysis

When answering the question about your short-term career goal and why it is the right goal for you in an MBA essay, it’s important to provide a clear and well-reasoned response that aligns with your background, interests, and aspirations.

It is important to both effectively and briefly communicate your specific short-term career goal and explain why it is the right fit for you so that you can create a compelling essay that showcases your alignment with your chosen field, your aspirations, and your motivation to succeed. This can demonstrate to the admissions committee that you have a clear sense of direction and purpose and that an MBA education will be instrumental in achieving your career goals.

Let’s discuss some pointers that will help you write more effectively:

• Be specific and concise: Clearly state your short-term career goal in a concise and specific manner. Avoid vague or general statements. For example, instead of saying “I want to work in finance,” specify the exact role or industry you are targeting, such as “I aim to secure a position as a financial analyst in a leading investment bank.”
• Connect to your past experiences: Explain how your past experiences, skills, or education have prepared you for your short-term career goal. Highlight the relevant knowledge, expertise, or achievements that make you a strong fit for the chosen field or role. Show how your previous experiences have shaped your interest and passion for this particular career path.
• Align with your interests and strengths: Discuss how your short-term career goal aligns with your interests, passions, and strengths. Explain why this goal excites you and why you believe it is the right path for you. Demonstrate self-awareness by highlighting the specific skills, qualities, or values that make you well-suited for the chosen career.
• Show understanding of the industry: Display your knowledge and understanding of the industry or field you are targeting. Discuss any relevant industry trends, challenges, or opportunities. Demonstrate that you have conducted research and are aware of the current landscape and demands of the industry. Highlight how your short-term career goal aligns with these trends or addresses industry needs.
• Connect to your long-term aspirations: Explain how your short-term career goal serves as a stepping stone towards your long-term career aspirations. It is also important to demonstrate the logical progression from your short-term goal to your ultimate career vision. Show how achieving your short-term goal will provide you with the necessary skills, experiences, or network to move closer to your long-term goals, thereby justifying the fact that it is the right goal for you in the short term.
• Relate to the MBA program: Connect your short-term career goal to the specific MBA program you are applying to. Explain how the program’s curriculum, resources, or network can support your goal and help you acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for success. Discuss any unique opportunities or attributes of the program that make it a good fit for your career goals.
• Showcase impact and contribution: Articulate how achieving your short-term career goal will enable you to make a positive impact or contribute to the industry, organization, or society. Explain the value you aim to create or the problem you aspire to solve through your chosen career path. Demonstrate your ambition to make a meaningful difference.
• Discuss your motivation: Share your personal motivation and passion for pursuing this short-term career goal. Explain why this goal is important to you on a personal and professional level. Discuss any experiences, values, or personal connections that have influenced your decision.
• Show commitment and feasibility: Convey your commitment to your short-term career goal by discussing any steps you have already taken towards achieving it. Highlight relevant experiences, certifications, or ongoing professional development that demonstrate your dedication and preparedness. Ensure that your goal is realistic and achievable within the given timeframe.
• Edit and refine: After writing your response, review and revise it to ensure clarity, coherence, and impact. Eliminate any unnecessary information or repetition. Ensure that your essay flows smoothly and convincingly presents your short-term career goal and why it is the right choice for you.

Drafting the essays is one of the most important parts of the application process. And the above should perhaps help you craft it more effectively and efficiently. However, if you think you could use additional help with the process, our team of experts at Admit Expert have ample experience and will undoubtedly be able to guide you better through our in-depth analysis catered specifically for you. So, what are you waiting for? Contact us now .

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• Michigan Ross School of Business Essay Tips and Examples

June 23, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

In our view, the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan takes a very no-nonsense, just-the-facts approach to its application essays (even the scope of its optional essay is relatively narrow). For the school’s “short answer” questions, candidates choose one prompt from each of two lists of three and are asked to submit what are essentially mini essays of just 100 words. In Ross’s (again concise) 150-word-total career “essay,” candidates share and explain their short-term professional aspirations, thereby demonstrating for the admissions committee that they have a plan in mind and have given serious thought to why they need a Ross MBA to achieve their goal. No specific word limit is stated for the program’s optional essay, but applicants are gently encouraged to use bullet points in their response, reinforcing our impression that the program really just wants the key facts about its candidates, without any extraneous filler. Read on for our full analysis of the school’s 2023–2024 essay prompts.

University of Michigan (Ross) Essay Analysis, 2023–2024

Part 1: Short Answers 

Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less (<100 words each; 200 words total)., i want people to know that i:, i made a difference when i:, i was aware that i was different when:, i was out of my comfort zone when:, i was humbled when:, i was challenged when:.

The Ross admissions committee clearly hopes these mini essays will reveal distinctive facets of applicants’ personalities in a straightforward manner, unencumbered by any unnecessary wordiness. Given the mere 100-word maximum for each, you might be tempted to just jump in and start writing, but thinking strategically about who you are as an applicant is critical here. 

We encourage you to first consider very carefully which option within each group feels most authentic to and revelatory of who you are as an individual. Then, thoroughly and thoughtfully brainstorm to identify your strongest possible responses. You want to be able to “own” your answer—as we like to say—meaning that no other applicant could write the same thing as you do. Using the second prompt of the first group as an example (“I made a difference when I…”), writing something like “gave back to my community by volunteering with the local homeless shelter” would be far too general a response and could likely be stated by multiple applicants. Instead, something much more specific like “dedicated every Saturday morning for three years to helping cook and serve scrambled eggs, biscuits, and bacon at the local homeless shelter, where I introduced a bulk-shopping plan that saved hundreds of dollars each year on supplies” would stand out for its originality and paint a clearer picture of the candidate who wrote it with respect to their values, dedication, and fiscal creativity. In addition, using a narrative approach is a good way to paint a dynamic picture of how you conduct yourself and to engage your reader with a compelling story that has a clear beginning, middle, and end. If you simply discuss a trait without a narrative, you risk sounding as though you are bragging. In addition, this would be a wasted opportunity for the admissions reader to get to know you in more depth.

When you are done writing, look over your responses and see whether they are complementary of one another. If they seem repetitive or focus on the same general idea, story, or area of your life, you should probably rewrite one. Your goal is to have each response reveal something new and interesting about you. Another factor to consider is everything the admissions committee will already know about you from the other portions of your application; you do not want to miss this chance to paint a well-rounded picture of yourself by repeating information available elsewhere in your profile. 

So, to recap, you want your responses to (1) genuinely reflect who you are as a candidate and be as specific to you alone as possible; (2) present a narrative that allows the reader to walk in your shoes, so to speak; (3) be complementary of each other, with each one revealing something different about you; and (4) not repeat an aspect of your profile that is already well explained or represented in a different part of your application.

​Part 2: Career Goal

What is your short-term career goal and why is this the right goal for you (150 words) .

With just 150 words total, you do not have any space to waste here, so you must present your answer as directly and thoroughly as possible—and give the admissions committee what it wants! In the past, the Ross admissions office has expressed a preference for responses that concentrate more on the “why” than on the “what,” and at one time, it even separated this prompt into two parts to ensure that applicants used more space discussing the latter element. Although the school is no longer prescribing just how much space candidates have for each part of the prompt, we would still encourage you to focus primarily on conveying your reason for choosing the goal, rather than getting overly wordy or detailed in presenting the goal itself. 

To effectively convey the “why” element, you should include a little context for your stated goal so that your career path makes sense. Stating your goals in a vacuum, without any connection to where you have been, can be a bit confusing for the reader, especially if you are a career changer. For example, imagine that you plan to move from consumer marketing to equity research for consumer goods companies after graduating. If you were to simply state, “Post-MBA, I want to join a boutique equity research firm” as your opening sentence, your reader could be left wondering where this interest comes from. But if you were to instead write, “For the past four years, I have basically lived and breathed Fruity Pebbles. I now understand how the tiniest increase in coconut oil prices or a competitor’s coupon can affect a product’s margins. I have subsequently become obsessed with the big data that drive computer goods and want to spend the next phase of my career in equity research, helping investors understand the riddle.” These are two very different answers, all because of some helpful context. From here, you can delve deeper into why equity research is right for you—how you intend to grow in your role and further develop your passion for the position. 

Michigan Ross does not ask you why its program is the right one for you, but we encourage you—if at all possible—to note at least one specific resource at the school that would enable you to make your career goal a reality. Truly integrate your mention of the resource(s) into your essay in a way that shows genuine professional need. We explain these concepts and how to achieve them in more detail in our  mbaMission Personal Statement Guide , which is available free of charge, so download your complimentary copy today!

And for a thorough exploration of Michigan Ross’s academic program/merits, social life, unique offerings, and other key characteristics, check out the  mbaMission Insider’s Guide to the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business , which is also available for free.

Optional Statement

If there is any other information that you believe is important to our assessment of your candidacy, feel free to add it to your application. (if in written form, limit your response to 500 words.).

Michigan Ross has tightly worded its optional essay prompt to  specify that this essay is intended to give candidates space to address unclear or problem areas in their profiles and is not an open invitation to discuss anything more they wish to share with the admissions committee. The directive about bullet points seems to be a not-too-veiled implication that the school wants you to focus on imparting key information rather than offering a detailed and longwinded explanation of the issue in question. This is absolutely not the time or place to share another cool story or otherwise try to impress or pander to the admissions committee. If you do not truly need to explain an issue or potentially confusing element of your candidacy, we recommend that you not submit an optional essay; if you do have issues to clarify, keep things concise. In our free  mbaMission Optional Essays Guide , we offer detailed advice on when and how to take advantage of the optional essay, including multiple examples.

The Next Step: Mastering Your Michigan Ross Interview

Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. We therefore offer our free Interview Guides to spur you along! Download your  free  copy of the  Michigan Ross Interview Guide  today.

To learn more about the essays for other top business schools, visit our  MBA Essay Tips and Examples Resources Page .

2023-2024 Business School Essays MBA Essay Tips University of Michigan (Ross)

Tags: business school essay career goals free guides Insider's Guides MBA application essays Michigan Ross optional essay

Upcoming Events

• Mar 26, 2024 Your 2024 MBA Application Action Plan (Online)
• Apr 25, 2024 Assessing Your MBA Profile (Online)

Upcoming Deadlines

• Mar 25, 2024 Dartmouth Tuck (Round 3)
• Mar 25, 2024 London Business School (Round 3)
• Mar 26, 2024 Texas McCombs (Round 3)
• Mar 26, 2024 Vanderbilt Owen (Round 4)
• Mar 28, 2024 Berkeley Haas (Round 4)
• Apr 1, 2024 Penn State Smeal (Round 4)
• Apr 2, 2024 Penn Wharton (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Columbia (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Northwestern Kellogg (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Virginia Darden (Round 3)
• Apr 4, 2024 Chicago Booth (Round 3)
• Apr 4, 2024 Michigan Ross (Round 3)
• Apr 8, 2024 MIT Sloan (Round 3)
• Apr 9, 2024 Stanford GSB (Round 3)
• Apr 9, 2024 Yale SOM (Round 3)
• Apr 10, 2024 Cornell Johnson (Round 3)
• Apr 12, 2024 UCLA Anderson (Round 3)
• Apr 15, 2024 USC Marshall (Round 3)
• Apr 29, 2024 Toronto Rotman (Round 4)
• Apr 29, 2024 UNC Kenan-Flagler (Round 4)
• Apr 30, 2024 Georgetown McDonough (Round 4)

Click here to see the complete deadlines

2023–2024 MBA Essay Tips

• Berkeley Haas School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• BU Questrom School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Cambridge Judge Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Chicago Booth School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Columbia Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management Essay and Examples
• Dartmouth Tuck School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Duke Fuqua School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Emory Goizueta Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Esade Essay Tips and Examples
• Georgetown McDonough School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Harvard Business School 2+2 Deferred MBA Program Essay Analysis 2024
• Harvard Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• HEC Paris Essay Tips and Examples
• HKUST Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• IE Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• IESE Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• INSEAD Essay Tips and Examples
• International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Essay Tips and Examples
• Ivey Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• London Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• NYU Stern School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Ohio Fisher College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Oxford Saïd Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• SMU Cox School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Stanford Graduate School of Business Application Essay Tips and Examples
• Texas McCombs School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Essay Tips and Examples
• The Wharton School Essay Tips and Examples
• Toronto Rotman School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• UCLA Anderson School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• USC Marshall School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• UVA Darden School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• UW Foster School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management Essay Analysis, 2023–2024
• Villanova School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Yale School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

Click here for the 2022–2023 MBA Essay Tips

MBA Program Updates

• Berkeley-Haas
• Boston University (Questrom)
• Cambridge Judge Business School
• Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
• Columbia University (Columbia Business School)
• Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
• Cornell University (Johnson)
• Dartmouth College (Tuck)
• Duke University (Fuqua)
• Emory University (Goizueta)
• George Washington University (GWSB)
• Georgetown University (McDonough)
• Harvard University (Harvard Business School)
• IE Business School
• IESE Business School
• Indian School of Business
• Indiana University (Kelley)
• Ivey Business School
• London Business School
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
• New York University (Stern)
• Northwestern University (Kellogg)
• Notre Dame (Mendoza)
• Ohio State University (Fisher College)
• Oxford University (Saïd Business School)
• Penn State Smeal College of Business
• Rotman School of Management
• Saïd Business School
• Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)
• Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)
• University of California Los Angeles (Anderson)
• University of Cambridge (Judge)
• University of Chicago (Booth)
• University of London (London Business School)
• University of Michigan (Ross)
• University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
• University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
• University of Southern California (Marshall)
• University of Texas at Austin (McCombs)
• University of Virginia (Darden)
• Vanderbilt University (Owen)
• Villanova School of Business
• Yale University (School of Management)

Homepage > MBA Admissions > Michigan Ross MBA Essays: Analysis and tips for 2022 intake

Michigan Ross MBA Essays: Analysis and tips for 2022 intake

Posted by Suheb Hussain | Aug 17, 2021 | Business Schools , MBA Admissions , MBA Application Process

Michigan Ross has announced the deadlines and essay questions for the 2021-22 MBA application season. This year, Ross has returned to three rounds of application unlike four rounds last year. Ross has pushed back the Round 3 deadline rather than having an additional round.

There is no change in the essay questions. Like last year, this year’s applicants will answer two short answer questions and a goals essay. Soojin Kwon, managing director Full-time MBA program writes in her  blog ,  “ We felt really good about the quality of this year’s candidates and the prospective students’ feedback about our application, so I encouraged the team not to tinker too much with what is working… We enjoy providing students a choice in their essay answers. This past year, we received very insightful answers to the prompts that allowed us to learn more about your values and what you would add to the Michigan Ross community .”

Once again, the applicants have only 400 words to present their candidacy to the admission committee.  From 5 essay questions totaling 1700 words in 2012-13 to 2 essays of only 400 words, Ross has come a long way in its ‘less is more’ requirement.

In this article, Poonam Tandon from myEssayReview, who has been helping students with their MBA applications since 2011, shares her tips on the Michigan Ross MBA essay for 2022 intake.

Let’s first look at the MBA application deadlines for Michigan Ross.

Application Deadline for the Michigan Ross MBA Application 2021-22

The below table provides information regarding the Michigan Ross MBA Application deadline

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Michigan Ross MBA essay analysis 2021-2022

Part 1- short-answer questions, select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less (<100 words each; 200 words total). every word counts here — the tight word count is intentional to force you to focus..

• I want people to know that I:
• I made a difference when I:
• I was aware that I was different when:
• I am out of my comfort zone when:
• I was humbled when:
• I was challenged when:

The purpose of these short questions is to give the admissions team valuable insight into who you are as a person and how you view yourself.

Therefore, answer it in such a way that allows you to tell them what  you  want them to know about you. These questions require you to introspect and dig deeper for specific stories/ life experiences when you ‘made a difference’ or ‘when you were humbled’ or ‘when you were challenged’.

Begin your response to each prompt by completing the question. Your responses to these questions will showcase your unique personal traits- your interest as well as the impact you made, and your self-awareness (Group 1) and your humility, your experience of being out of your comfort zone (Group 2).

Both the groups ask for a behavioral response, where you discuss one experience or situation and reflect on it. The key to all these responses is to demonstrate how you responded in the face of different situations and emerged a better and stronger person.

What makes these essays more challenging is the multiple-choice component?

I can imagine applicants having a hard time deciding which option will paint them in a better light or which stories will reflect the traits that Ross is looking for.

My advice is that you brainstorm ideas on all the 6 prompts and then evaluate which are your best 2 stories that you would want the Ad Com to know about you as a person.

After you have finalized your best 2 stories, begin formulating your response, focusing on the challenges you faced, the action you took, and the impact you made. Don’t forget to include your thought process behind your decisions as your thoughts and actions will provide the reader with a glimpse into your values and beliefs.

It’s a challenge to discuss two different experiences in only 200 words.  To meet the tight word limit, make every word count, and be as precise as you can.

Short answer questions Tips from Ross MBA Admissions Blog

“ The team has found that essays that reveal something personal- about what you value, how you think- give us much more insight into how you’ll fit into the Ross culture than an accomplishment story. And, as you’ve probably learned, fit is an important part of our decision. (It should be an important part of yours, too). There are many other opportunities in the application to share your work accomplishments, use the essays to get personal .”

Part 2- Career Goals Essay

Michigan ross is a place where people from all backgrounds with different career goals can thrive. please share your short-term career goal. why is this career goal the right choice for you (200 words).

This essay focuses on short-term goals and your reasons for those goals. When explaining your post-MBA goals, make sure to be as specific as you can.

Specify which industry, which company, and what position you would like to see yourself after graduating from Ross. Even if you are not 100% sure, you should be clear and decisive about your short-term goals. Though the question asks only about the short-term goal, you may still touch upon your long-term goal, but you should not elaborate on it.

Next, provide a brief account of your career history, summarizing your skills/strengths. Then go on to explain how your work experience has inspired your career plans and discuss the gap in your skillset that an MBA would fill. You don’t want to discuss the ‘Why Ross’ part because the school doesn’t want a ‘laundry list’ of the courses offered by Ross.

With a total of 400 only words to tell your story to the Ross admission committee, you should make every word count. There is no room for elaborate details or beating around the bush. To present a well-rounded picture of your candidacy, use 200 words (short questions) to demonstrate who you are as a person and 200 words (goals essay) to showcase who you are as a professional.

Optional Statement

Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation? You might want to discuss the completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate.

As directed in the essay prompt, you may use this essay question to address a weakness in your profile, such as employment gap, low GPA/low GMAT, completion of supplemental work, or unusual choice of the recommender. Your weakness may also bring out a positive aspect of your personality. You may either use bullet points or essay format for the optional statement.

Video interview of a Ross student :  In this video interview with Poonam, Pablo  shares his amazing experiences during his first year at Ross .

For more information about the reapplication process click  here.

For Short answer questions Tips from Ross MBA Admissions Blog, Click  here.

For more advice and tips on application essays, resume, and LORs,  do not forget to check out the video from a few members of the admission team of Ross:

Free Resources:

• 10 Key Essay Tips with Examples
• Essay Analysis of Other Top Programs-2021-22
•   MER Students Share their success Stories
•  E-book of 30 Essays that Worked
• Case Studies

Since 2011, MER ( myEssayReview ) has helped many applicants get accepted into the top 20 MBA programs, including Ross. (Poonam is one of the  top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club .)

Do you have questions about your application? E-mail Poonam at  [email protected]  or sign up  here  for a free consultation.

About the author

Poonam, one of the  top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club , is a master storyteller with more than three decades of experience in successfully helping students craft compelling stories for undergraduate and graduate school programs.

A Ph.D. in English, with three decades of teaching experience in India and the US, Poonam launched myEssayReview (MER) in 2011 to provide highly personalized and dedicated consulting services to Business School applicants. Since then, she has helped hundreds of students around the world get into top MBA, EMBA, part-time MBA, and specialized graduate programs. A full-time consultant, Poonam is passionate about her work and is highly committed to each of her students’ success.

Here are a few other topics related to MBA Essays: 

• Michigan Ross School of Business: Class Profile, Employment Reports, and Salaries
• What is a good GMAT score for Michigan Ross?
• How Aayush scored a 750 on the GMAT and received admits from Columbia and Michigan Ross
• Importance of MBA Essays in Business School applications
• How to make an impressive MBA Application Video Essay
• MBA essay: 5 types of essays explained with examples

About The Author

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Advice, tips and insights from the admissions dream team., table of contents, michigan ross mba essays: tips & strategy.

• By Sharon Joyce

The Michigan Ross MBA essay questions are among the shortest — both by word count and number of questions posed — among top business schools.

In previous application cycles, applicants were indeed asked standard questions such as, “Why Ross?”  The admissions team found that responses tended to mirror some version of its very own website; this was not very insightful or useful in Ross’s competitive selection process. In responses, Ross decided to try a unique approach, Ross Senior Associate Director of MBA Admissions Taya Sapp told Fortuna. The school streamlined questions to require succinct replies (a mere 100 words!). The tight word count is intentionally designed to force applicants to be laser-focused in their answers.

How to Tackle the Michigan Ross MBA Essay Questions

Applicants are asked to select one prompt from each group of the two groups below.

Group 1 I want people to know that I: I made a difference when I: I was aware that I was different when:

Group 2 i am out of my comfort zone when: i was humbled when: i was challenged when:.

Rest assured that there isn’t an underlying “trick” or favored choice in terms of which prompt to answer. It’s not which prompt you choose that’s being evaluated, but what you share in the content of your response.

Sapp emphasized that the questions were crafted to get at traits that are valued at the school. Specifically, Michigan is a place for those who like to push themselves outside of their comfort zone, those who enjoy learning by doing, and those who don’t mind “getting their hands dirty.” The current questions are essentially behavioral-based questions to evaluate how actions and activities from an applicant’s past mesh with a “fit” for Ross.

As Michigan Ross is well known for offerings like the Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) course and Student-Run Investment Funds, the program’s emphasis on fit is more than marketing fodder; Ross MBA admissions really is evaluating candidates to see if traits are aligned.

Conveying the ‘why’ behind your short-term career goal

Alongside these essay questions, the Ross application also asks, “What is your short-term career goal and why i s this the right short-term career goal for you?” (150-words)

While the short-term career goal question is typical among business schools, the follow-up “why?” is not.  In getting at the “why,” the Admissions Committee wants to see that applicants are thoughtful about their career aspirations. This is a great way to share how previous experiences inform your short-term goal statement and  that you also have a realistic understanding of your future intended industry and/or functional role. It’s suggested to name a company, or two, as part of the short-term goal – bonus points for citing companies that recruit at Ross and knowing what kind of positions/pathways newly minted Ross MBAs secured.

Optimizing the Optional Question

Ross also offers a final optional question:

Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation?

You might want to discuss the completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc.  Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate.”

While there isn’t a specific word count, my Fortuna Admissions colleagues and I suggest no more than 250 words. This is a standard question for applicants to address any factor(s) in their application that might need more explanation. My advice here is to keep it simple (and remember Ross’s bias toward concision and clarity.) For example, in addressing a low GPA, it is useful to describe factors that contributed to it, but don’t go too into the weeds. Rather, share briefly what happened (think: explanation, not excuses). What’s more important to convey is what was learned, how study skills have improved, and cite factors that would bolster an Admissions Committee’s confidence that an applicant can handle the rigorous coursework at Ross (e.g. a strong GMAT, passing CFA exams, additional post-bacc coursework).

Let’s Get You In.

Fortuna Admissions is a dream team of former MBA Admissions Directors and Officers from 18 of the top 20 business schools. With our unparalleled collective expertise, we are able to coach you to develop a clear vision of your goals for business school and beyond. We work closely with you throughout the application process and provide expert guidance at every stage to maximize your chances of admission to a top school.

Our free consultations are consistently rated as the best in the industry. To learn more about Fortuna and assess your chances of admission to a top business school, request a free consultation .

  Fortuna’s Sharon Joyce is an MBA Admissions Coach and former Berkeley Haas Associate Director   of Admissions. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA   program, sign up for a free consultation .

• Posted on October 3, 2023

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• Menlo Coaching
• Top MBA Programs
• Admissions Essays

Michigan Ross MBA Essays: Tips for 2023-2024

The 2023-2024 Ross MBA essays have been released, which means it’s time to start preparing! Most MBA programs will highly value the personal statement in your application. So don’t slack on it! Writing a unique essay that captures your individuality while responding to the prompt is a challenging task, but here at Menlo Coaching, we have the comprehensive guide to help you perfect it.

Ross is looking for students with a well-rounded background and lots of experience that can be translated into a succinct and compelling statement. One of the essential tips for an impactful essay is asking yourself why you chose to highlight a particular experience. Did it show significant professional development? Did it show how you overcame a personal struggle? Connecting your essay to the prompt, especially how it shows why you are pursuing an MBA, will make your essay stand out. No matter what the essay prompt is, these tips are broadly applicable.

At Menlo Coaching, we noticed that most MBA essays will fall into one of a number of categories: personal essays, career goals essays, behavioral essays, etc.. Read ahead for our expert guide on approaching these essays for the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

The Behavioral Essay

• Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. Respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less. (200 words total)
• I want people to know that I:
• I made a difference when I:
• I was aware that I was different when:
• I was out of my comfort zone when:
• I was humbled when:
• I was challenged when:

One Thing From Your Resume

• Pick one thing from your resume and tell us more. (100 words)

Career Goals Essay

• What is your short-term career goal and why is this the right goal for you? (upload file, 150 words)

Optional Essay

• Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation? You might want to discuss the completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate. (No word limit)

To make it simple: the behavioral essay is meant to show the team at Michigan Ross that you have developed some sort of leadership skills, what your values are as a leader, and how you are going to most benefit from their development programs. 

The admissions committee is looking for applicants that are self-reflective. Whether it’s through a setback you’ve experienced, or how you dealt with situations that have gone awry, the school is looking for students who are resilient and able to learn from their mistakes.

Do not overexaggerate (or underexaggerate!) the situations you decide to write about. Be honest about what happened; Ross is looking for genuine people to join their campus community, and they are less likely to admit an applicant who has overinflated their prior experiences. 

Last but not least, make sure to describe what you learned and how you implemented this in a subsequent situation. This is an  expected  element of the behavioral essay, even if it’s not directly written in the prompt. The school is looking for applicants who will act with humility, and have confidence without attitude. Prompts that deal with these topics can be daunting, especially when they require you to write about a weakness you have or a failure you’ve experienced.

One Thing from Your Resume

Another of Ross’ MBA essay prompts concerns your resume, which—surprisingly—is quite unusual in the MBA application landscape.

In this essay, Ross gives you the opportunity to highlight an aspect of your resume that you’re particularly proud of, so you can afford to keep your resume nice and tight.

One thing to beware of, however, is that this essay has an upper limit of only 100 words, meaning that you will still need to be concise in your approach.

The Career Goals Essay

The career goals essay is the space to emphasize your post-MBA plans. MBA programs want to accept students who have concrete, achievable career plans and a roadmap to success. MBA programs want a glowing post-grad report that proves they produce successful graduates with many job prospects (and who will donate money in the future)! Ross also wants students to promote their program to friends, co-workers, and prospective applicants. The career goals Ross essay combines your hard statistics (ex: GMAT score) with your interpersonal skills (ex: recommendations) to formulate the case for getting an MBA.

Make sure to state your achievable short-term and long-term goals explicitly. Explain why an MBA would help you achieve these goals and how Ross is essential to your plan. Connecting the positive attributes from your personal essay to your career goals essay is critical to forming a well-rounded application. Ross students enter the consulting, technology, and financial service industries, so emphasize your findings in the essay to show you’re genuinely interested.

Once you’ve completed your application, the optional Ross essay gives you an additional opportunity to provide the AdCom with any additional information or clarity that you feel would enhance your application.

One trap that MBA applicants fall into is using the additional space provided by this essay to write on a whole new topic. However, this is not always the best idea.

You should only make use of this essay if you what you write will provide context to an element of your application to improve your candidacy—you don’t want to jeopardize your chances by adding unnecessary noise to your application.

Overall, honesty and growth are the most important parts of a successful MBA application essay. In addition, applying the lessons you learned shows improvement in your interpersonal and professional skills, making you a more attractive candidate for MBA programs.

At Menlo Coaching, we are prepared to help you take the next step and perfect your essays. Seamlessly navigate the Ross MBA essay prompts with our expert MBA consulting guidance and personalized feedback.

Related Articles

• Michigan Ross MBA Program Overview
• MBA Essay Tips From 3 Top Admissions Consultants
• How to Get Into MBA Programs at Top Business Schools

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January 4, 2024

Michigan Ross MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023 – 2024]

The Michigan Ross MBA program is thriving. Its graduates get jobs throughout the United States and around the world. 

Here are a few key stats, drawn from the school’s 2023 Employment Report :

• Of the school’s 2023 grads, 96% had at least one job offer within three months of graduation.
• Forty-five percent of the Class of 2023 received offers from McKinsey & Company, Bain, and BCG. Deloitte and Amazon are also among the program’s top hiring companies. 
• On-campus recruiting facilitated 87% of offers. 

As for the school’s incoming students in 2023, the latest Michigan Ross class profile offers the following data:  

• The average GMAT score was 719.
• The average GPA was 3.43. 
• The average GRE 160 verbal 160 quantitative 4.5 writing
• Acceptances rate was 28.1%

There’s opportunity in these numbers. The Michigan Ross MBA program is a fantastic option that is slightly easier to get into than other top programs, particularly if you want to join an MBB consulting firm!

Ready to get to work on your Michigan Ross application? Read on.

Michigan Ross application essay tips

Michigan ross application deadlines, michigan ross class profile.

Ross likes its application essays short, sweet, and to the point. The bad news about this is that you don’t get much real estate in which to tell your story; the good news is that you can quickly crunch out two 100-word (or shorter) essays and one 150-word career goals essay in one night. 

The school’s “short-answer questions” allow you to paint a unique, multidimensional picture of yourself and provide the Ross admissions committee with insight into “your values and what you would add to the Michigan Ross community.” Keep that goal in mind as you craft your submissions. Use your responses to provide context for events described elsewhere in your application, offer your perspective on your values, and convey your ability to contribute at Ross and beyond.

Remember, your application allows the admissions committee to meet and get to know you.

Michigan Ross Short-Answer Question 1

Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. Respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less (<100 words each; 200 words total). 

For the Ross short answers, you must start by asking yourself  which prompt speaks to you most.

Select the question in each group that is easiest for you to answer and allows you to present events and experiences that complement not only each other but also the information provided in other parts of your application. You want to minimize repetition and overlap.

Ross doesn’t label the groups thematically. Group 1 appears to be an opportunity for you to talk about something you’re proud of –  your identity  or a contribution you’ve made. Group 2 relates to handling a challenging experience or situation, and to your resilience. 

Again, choose the individual questions that allow you to present yourself best and “stand out,” as  Ross instructs  at the top of its application requirements page. Both groups of prompts demand a behavioral response, in which you discuss one experience or situation and reflect on it. You don’t have room to address any more.

As you choose which questions to answer, consider what you want Ross to know about you. The prompt indicates what they want to know. Now, respond by telling the admissions committee what you want them to know.

• I want people to know that I: 
• I made a difference when I:
• I was aware that I was different when I:
• I was out of my comfort zone when:
• I was humbled when:
• I was challenged when:

Given the  100-word limit for each response  to these behavioral questions, you need to describe the incident or situation and succinctly analyze it within the context of the prompt. For example, why do you “want them to know” about X (Group 1, bullet 1) or the reason you were humbled or out of your comfort zone (Group 2, bullets 1-2)?

Michigan Ross Short-Answer Question 2 

​ career goal: what is your short-term goal, and why is it the right goal for you (150 words).

The reasons for your short-term goal could include the following: 

• How the distinctive elements of your background shaped your goal
• What you hope to accomplish in that position or how it will prepare you for a longer-term goal
• What aspects of the role appeal to you and times you have enjoyed similar work
• The values you will realize in that role
• An achievement or challenge you faced and how it influenced your goals (Share the story of that experience and how it affected your short-term MBA goals.)

Those are just a few ideas. Although this is Ross’s most extensive essay, it’s still only 150 words. Make every word count.

Michigan Ross Optional Statement

Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation? It would be best to discuss completing supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, why you used your former supervisor for your recommendation rather than a current supervisor, etc. This is not an opportunity to take an essay you wrote for another school and plop it here. It provides context for extenuating circumstances. Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate.

Ross doesn’t provide a word limit for this essay, but you should keep your response short.

For expert guidance with your Michigan Ross MBA application, check out Accepted’s  MBA Application Packages , which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you, too!

Source:  Michigan Ross website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Michigan Ross directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

*All applications are due by 11:59 pm ET on the date listed. International students can apply in any round but are encouraged to apply in Round 1 or 2 to allow sufficient time for visa processing.  

Here is a look at the Michigan Ross MBA Class of 2025 (data taken from the  Michigan Ross website ).

Class size: 379

Female: 43%

LBGTQIA2S+: 10%

International: 43%

Countries represented: 39

Military: 8%

First-generation college: 17%

Pursuing a dual degree: 12%

Students of color (U.S. citizens and permanent residents): 43% 

Underrepresented students of color (U.S. citizens and permanent residents): 19%

Race and ethnicity (U.S. citizens and permanent residents):

• American Indian or Alaska Native Federal guidelines: 0 (0%)  Multidimensional reporting: 1 (0%)
• Asian American Federal guidelines: 52 (24%) Multidimensional reporting: 59 (27%)
• Black or African American Federal guidelines: 12 (6%) Multidimensional reporting: 14 (6%)
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Federal guidelines: 0 (0%) Multidimensional reporting: 0 (0%)
• Hispanic or Latinx Federal guidelines: 16 (7%) Multidimensional reporting: 16 (7%)
• White Federal guidelines: 117 (54%) Multidimensional reporting: 128 (59%)
• Not Indicated Federal guidelines: 6 (3%) Multidimensional reporting: 6 (3%)
• Two or More Races Federal guidelines: 13 (6%) Multidimensional reporting: n/a

Average GPA: 3.43

Average GMAT score: 719

Middle 80% GMAT score: 670-760

Average GRE Verbal score: 160

Average GRE Quant score: 162

Average years of work experience: 5.8

Industry backgrounds:

• Consulting: 18%
• Finance: 17%
• Health: 12%
• Engineering/Manufacturing: 10%
• Military: 6%
• Education/Nonprofit/Government: 6%
• Media/Hospitality/Sports 4%
• Energy/Sustainability 3%

Is Ross at the top of your wish list? 

Get the competitive edge with Ross-specific advice and inside information:

• Applying for Your MBA Through The Consortium: Best Deal in Town
• What Prospective MBAs Should Know About Applying to Michigan Ross, podcast Episode 365
• Short and Sweet: Tips for Writing “Mini” MBA Essays
• Nine Tips for Team Interviews

By Natalie Grinblatt, a former admissions dean/director at three top business schools. Natalie has reviewed more than 70,000 applications, interviewed more than 2,500 candidates, and trained nearly 700 admissions directors and alumni volunteers to select outstanding candidates for admission. Her clients gain admission to top programs, including those at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Cornell, Columbia, Berkeley, Chicago, Northwestern, and NYU. Natalie holds an MBA from Michigan Ross.  Want Natalie to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• GMAT, GPA, and MBA Acceptance Rates: The Selectivity Index
• University of Michigan’s Ross MBA Program: Everything You Need to Know , podcast Episode 479

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Tips for Your Michigan Ross Application Essays 

June 28, 2023

Sophie Hilaire

Michigan Ross Application Essay Tips, 2023-2024

Michigan Ross takes a short-and-sweet approach to its application essays. The maximum number of words you can use for all the school’s essays combined is just 350! For Part 1, you must choose two sentence prompts to complete that will give the admissions committee more insight into your personality and character, and for Part 2, you are asked to share your post-graduation career goal.  

Free: Download Stratus Admissions’ Guide to Getting into Michigan Ross School of Business

Part 1: short answers , select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less (<100 words each; 200 words total). , i want people to know that i:, i made a difference when i:, i was aware that i was different when: , i was out of my comfort zone when:, i was humbled when:, i was challenged when: .

The purpose of these short-answer questions is to give the admissions committee a better idea of who you are as a person and how you view yourself—kind of a peek “behind” your resume. Every word counts here; the tight word count is intentional to force you to focus. Ross is guiding its applicants to share more about themselves in a very direct and focused way. When the school first switched to this question format in 2020, Ross’s MBA Admissions Blog noted, “The most interesting and insightful responses to these prompts remain when applicants share personal examples that allow us to learn more about who you are as a person, and what unique experiences and insights you would bring to the MBA class.” 

Most of the prompt choices focus on your personality traits and actions you have taken in the past. Use your answers to demonstrate to the admissions reader how you are like no one else. Try to find examples that give insights into who you are and that complement the information in your resume, rather than repeating it, and don’t be afraid to share non-work-related examples. Incorporate details that will make your responses clearly and undeniably your own, and be sure to focus on what you have learned from the experiences and how those takeaways have contributed to the person you are today. 

Most applicants will probably assume that they should discuss only positive experiences or accomplishments in their answers to these prompts, but keep in mind that sharing an example of how you failed or made a mistake and learned from it can be an effective way to show growth. Relating a challenging experience can demonstrate that you are self-aware and can learn from obstacles, so the resulting essays can often be great as long as you focus on how you grew from the experience. Strive to choose the two prompts that will set you up to share your most revealing stories, whatever they might be. 

Part 2: Career Goal 

What is your short-term career goal and why is this the right goal for you (150 words).

This is a straightforward and traditional essay prompt; Ross wants to know what you envision for yourself professionally in the years right after you graduate, as well as what your motivation is for pursuing this path. Be explicit in describing your short-term career goal, and make sure to build a compelling story as to “why” this is a fitting choice for you, including how your background or interests have prepared you for your stated goal. Maybe a work project got you excited about pursuing a leadership position, or maybe a personal passion is driving a career change. The “why” shows that you have been thoughtful in selecting this career aspiration and creates a compelling story. Given the minimal word count, prioritize telling your story as clearly and directly as possible. 

Although “Why Ross?” is not explicitly asked here, if you are efficient enough in your response that you have a little wiggle room to work with, consider addressing specific ways you believe that Ross in particular will help you achieve your goal, such as via certain courses, programs, events, clubs, and so on. Make sure to do your research—Ross has a lot to offer in addition to its big-ticket programs, so showing you’ve familiarized yourself in depth with the school will impress the committee! 

Optional Statement 

Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation you might want to discuss the completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. feel free to use bullet points where appropriate.  .

By stating outright that it’s okay to use bullet points in your response to this prompt, Ross is clearly indicating that it just wants the most relevant information here. This is not your chance to share another story you think is interesting but that will not actually add to the admissions committee’s knowledge or understanding of you in any meaningful way. So, provide this optional information only if one of the suggested situations applies to you (“completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues”) or some other element of your candidacy would benefit from further clarification. One example would be if your recommender is not your direct supervisor. Or maybe you have a disciplinary issue in your past that could be mitigated by some explanation. At any rate, there’s no need to make your response any longer than it needs to be (or even to respond at all!)—just communicate any critical information. 

In Stratus Admissions’ Guide to Getting into Michigan Ross School of Business , you will find information on a variety of the MBA program’s offerings, such as the Multidisciplinary Action Project, the Erb Institute, MTreks, and the Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund. Download our guide to learn more about Michigan Ross!

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Michigan Ross Application Deadlines and Essay Advice: 2023-2024

The  University of Michigan Ross School of Business  has released its application deadlines and essays for this season. While the school offered four application rounds last year, they are returning to three rounds for the upcoming season. Ross also removed one essay question from the MBA full-time application (more on that below).

Upcoming Michigan Ross MBA application deadlines are:

Round 1: September 14, 2023

Round 2: January 11, 2024

Round 3: April 4, 2024

2023-2024 Michigan Ross MBA Application Essays:

Michigan Ross Essays: Part 1: Short-Answer Questions

Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. Respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less (<100 words each; 200 words total).

I want people to know that I:

I made a difference when I:

I was aware that I was different when:

I am out of my comfort zone when:

I was humbled when:

I was challenged when:

Below is Personal MBA Coach’s advice on how to approach the Michigan Ross MBA application essays.

While not explicitly stated, with a more traditional career-focused essay to follow, consider your personal background as you answer these short questions. Pick the prompt that resonates best with you as there is no preferred option.

For Group 1, think about your most unique attribute or accomplishment. What sets you apart from other applicants? A personal accomplishment or a fond personal success story would work well here. Volunteer or extracurricular stories could also be good to cover.

If you have a unique skill or talent, Group 1 would be a good place to share it. If you did something amazing that is not on your resume or that you want to call more attention to, that also would work well for this prompt. Other options for this prompt include examples of passions or values. Remember, MBA admissions directors aspire to bring a well-rounded group of students to campus each year. This is your chance to share something about your upbringing or personality that will position you to add another perspective to class discussions. Try not to overthink it — as we previously shared in our post-AIGAC conference blog , admissions directors are growing tired of reading trauma essays and just want to get to know their candidates.

For Group 2, show the reader a bit about your character. What would working and studying with you be like? This is not the time to sing your own praises but instead the time to show you are human. Show what you have gained from this experience and let the reader see that you are someone students would want to be around.

Alternatively, these prompts give candidates the opportunity to show an area of relative weakness. Authenticity and growth are key hot points for many admissions committee members. Candidates are applying to business school to grow and are not expected to be perfect when they arrive. Discussing a challenge that you have overcome and/or will continue to overcome could be a nice choice here.

Michigan Ross Essays: Part 2: Career Goal

What is your short-term goal? (25 words)

Why is this the right short-term career goal for you? (150 words)

Be straightforward here when citing your short-term goal.

Once you have clearly stated your short-term career goal, you will want to explain the why behind this goal. You will want to explain both why this goal is right for you AND why you are positioned to succeed. There are many questions you should consider as you answer this prompt.

These include: What experience do you bring to the table? What attracts you to your chosen field? Why are you passionate about it? How will this short-term goal help prepare you for your long-term goal?

Optional Statement: Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation? You might want to discuss the completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate.

The optional Michigan Ross essay should only be answered by those with extenuating circumstances. Read more on our  approach to optional essays .

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Tuesday Tips: Michigan Ross MBA Essay Tips 2023-2024

The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business is a top-ranked MBA program that provides real-world opportunities for students. Ross MBA essays are about demonstrating you fit in the culture. Visiting Ross or learning about the program through current students, alumni or faculty would be helpful. Review our Ross MBA essay tips and show the admissions committee you are intellectually curious and able to accomplish your goals.

Listen to B-Schooled Podcast Episode #156 : Spotlight on Michigan Ross

Part 1: Short Answer Questions

Select one prompt from each group. respond to your selected prompts using 100 words or fewer (<100 words each; 200 words total)..

• I want people to know that I: • I made a difference when I: • I was aware that I was different when:

• I was out of my comfort zone when: • I was humbled when: • I was challenged when:

Take note that these short answers are about getting to know you personally—not your collection of accomplishments. Ross values community engagement, interpersonal communication, and teamwork skills. The admissions committee says clearly: “The most interesting and insightful responses to these prompts remain when applicants share personal examples.”

For example, you may want to write about an important extracurricular moment. Or maybe a challenge you overcame or a life event that highlights something unique about your background. The questions are short and purposeful. The experiences you describe should be clear and stand alone.

Looking at each Ross MBA essay group in turn, Group 1 might be an opportunity to talk about your values and background. It reads as a place to highlight what drives and motivates you on a deeper level than your career.

The first open-ended prompt allows you to talk about something you feel proud of—a personal quality or experience. For the next prompt, you could describe when you made a difference to an organization or person or advanced an important cause.

Finally, the last prompt is about how you are unique. Consider what sets you apart from others and what unique qualities you will bring to Ross.

Group 2 is more about your reaction to events in your life and your character. In addition, it could be an essay to describe your accomplishments. How do you interpret what happens to you and how do you handle adversity and discomfort? Perhaps you have had unique experiences in life thus far.

For example, living outside your home country, working with diverse groups, or overcoming a challenge at work or in your personal life. In essence, this is an opportunity to shine with your best stories of work, school, and relationships.

Are you curious about your chances of getting into Michigan Ross School of Business? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session  with an SBC Principal Consultant. 

Part 2: Career Goal

What is your short-term career goal and why is this the right goal for you (150 words).

The Ross admissions committee has often said the best essays are focused. Remember, the ‘why’ is the most impactful and differentiating aspect of each essay. Therefore, Ross is asking for a succinct career goal and then an explanation.

Many MBA candidates struggle to refine a career goal to just one. Of course, it’s possible to change your goals once you start attending school. However, clear goals tend to lead to success. If you have several career interests, take the time to choose one. Consider how your career goal makes you feel. Can you envision the company you will work for? What about your day-to-day tasks?

Precisely imagining your goal also helps with the “why.” Consider what is most appealing about your goal. Why are you interested in it? Also, why are you a good fit for the role? Specific examples that showcase your personality will help!

Optional Statement

Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation you might want to discuss the completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. feel free to use bullet points where appropriate..

Take it directly from former Ross admissions director Soojin Kwon: “The optional essay should only be used if there’s something in your background that requires a brief explanation. It’s not the place to submit an essay you wrote for another school or to tell us how much you love Ross.”

Think about anything that may raise questions while reviewing a resume, transcript, or recommendations. Typically the kinds of gaps that raise questions are significant gaps in employment (more than a few months), anything below a C on your college transcript (particularly in quantitative coursework), and low test scores.

For more information on applying to the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, please visit the admissions website .

Stacy Blackman Consulting has successfully coached applicants for the Ross MBA program each admissions year. Now that you’ve seen these tips for the Ross MBA essay prompts, please contact us  to learn more about how we can help you set a winning application strategy. Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of  the AdCom expertise  on the SBC team:

With deadlines around the corner, you may be interested in the world-famous SBC Flight Test . Once a full set of application materials for your initial school have been drafted, but not finalized, the application will be sent to a former admissions committee member for a one-time review, adcomm style. You’ll have the benefit of a true admissions committee review while still having the ability to tinker and change.  You will receive written feedback within two business days after submitting.

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An Example of UMich’s Ross School of Business Prompt 1

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Robert Crystal in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered

Setting the scene, proposing a solution, taking initiative, being specific.

In this post, we go over an example answer to the first essay prompt for the University of Michigan ’s Ross School of Business. For more information about this college’s admissions, check out this article on how to get into the University of Michigan .

The first essay prompt reads:

“Choose a current event or issue in your community and discuss the business implications. Propose a solution that incorporates business principles or practices. The review panel will look for creativity, drawing connections, and originality.”

This example essay is about how one student worked to close the gender gap in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) by making their robotics club more inclusive. It begins:

“Over the whir and clank of the seniors’ latest 3D printing project, I struggled to hear the freshmen introduce themselves during our school’s first robotics info session. My heart sank as I looked around the lab and realized that orientation was in just a couple of weeks, and it looked like I’d be the only girl on the team — again.”

This response starts off with an anecdote, using onomatopoeia and sensory language to draw in the reader right away. You can imagine what’s going on here as you’re being immersed in this world. This writer also sets up the main issue that she’s trying to solve, all within the first few sentences. Even if she doesn’t say explicitly that there aren’t enough girls on the robotics team, the reader can gather that immediately. It’s a good idea to keep the background and context short like this, so the reader knows the central issue of your essay right away.

Next, the student shifts to discussing her proposed solution:

“Day to day, practices can be tough in this boys’ club. It’s not that I don’t get along with my teammates, but sometimes, they exhibit a sort of bromance I just don’t feel like I’m a part of. This year, I was tired of setting an example from afar — I was determined to make sure everyone who was interested felt empowered to join our team.”

This is what the writer plans to do about her problem, spoken in plain terms. We get a sense of the dynamic of this club and what the student’s goals are in terms of changing the culture.

She goes on:

“After the info session, I laid a whiteboard on one of our workbenches and got to work brainstorming potential solutions to this gender gap. I analyzed our current recruiting methods by crafting a flowchart and pinpointing specific spots in which the gender balance started thinning out. I isolated our social media approach as a faulty positive feedback loop — as we grew our mainly het-cis male following, more of them were likely to follow us, and their mutuals, typically also male, would show up as our suggested outreach audience.”

This is where the student shows that she has thought critically about why this gender gap issue exists. She’s done her research by analyzing the current recruiting methods, crafting a flowchart, and identifying a potential issue. Business elements are making an appearance in the essay at this point. 

The essay goes on:

“With this information in mind, I drafted up a social media campaign that I felt would attract and retain more nonmale participants. I focused on the target audience and drafted tenets for our robotics team to embody this year that would hold us accountable to gender parity. By catering this campaign to women and nonbinary folks at my high school, I hoped that the right groups of people would feel empowered to at least check our robotics club out.”

This section shows initiative on the part of the student. It’s clear she was actively working toward increasing the number of nonmale participants in the club. This section would be a bit stronger, however, if the student gave more specific details about what she did and how she put these ideas into practice while using more business terminology specifically and correctly. 

“Pitching my campaign idea to my team reinvigorated my love for engineering. Together, we talked through logistical barriers, potential obstacles, and other conflicts that could arise as we tried to reach our goal of making the team more inclusive.”

This section demonstrates the student’s leadership skills in including the rest of the team in her initiatives. She could have added more detail about whether there were any difficulties in getting the male participants on the team to be receptive to her ideas. This section could also benefit from including more business case terms and more specifics about the process. 

“Not only did I pitch my campaign idea to my team, but I also did cross-club outreach by presenting to the Women in STEM Club and Gay/Straight Alliance to reach my target audiences. I created fliers to hand out at these events with our social media handles to maximize our reach.” 

Here, the writer is providing specific details on how she worked to achieve this goal. For this essay prompt, it’s important to give as much detail as possible on your initiative: what you did, who you engaged with, and how your experience aligned with your own principles and business goals. 

The essay concludes:

“Two weeks later, I stood by the 3D printer and passed out orientation badges. As I glanced over the pronouns written under the name stickers, my heart soared as I took in the diversity around me in this once homogenous robotics lab. Seeing the hopeful faces of our newest members, I vowed to continue championing diversity within STEM to create safe spaces within technology for all.” 

This is a great ending. It ties everything together and reiterates the student’s goals and principles. It could be improved by the inclusion of more specifics, such as numbers to show the exact increase in nonmale participants following her campaign. The student does hint that there are more nonmale participants, but the ending would be stronger if she quantified them with data.

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