2010 Michigan Ross MBA Admissions Q&A with Soojin Kwon Koh
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Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 11:59:00 AM)
Hello. My name is Linda Abraham. I am the founder of Accepted.com and
the moderator of today’s chat. First I want to welcome all applicants
to the chat today, and I want to congratulate you for taking the time
to learn more about University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
It is critical to your decision process and your admission chances that
you know as much as you can about the schools you are applying to.
Being here today allows you to ask experts about this top business
school. I also want to extend a special welcome to the Ross representatives who have taken the time to meet with us today.
-
Soojin Kwon Koh,
Director of Admissions
- Doug Thomas, Senior Associate Director of Admissions
- Matt Schaar- Current Ross MBA Student
Matt is in the third year of a dual MBA/MPP degree at the
University of Michigan, focusing on corporate strategy and
international policy. He graduated in 2003 with a BSE in Aerospace
Engineering from Michigan and worked for several aerospace firms in the
US, Europe, and Brazil prior to returning to Ann Arbor for graduate
school. He spent the summer working for A.T. Kearney, a global
management and strategy consulting firm, and is interested in pursuing
a post-graduate career in consulting or greentech development in
emerging markets.
Thanks you for joining us.
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:00:07 PM)
Hi everyone!
G. Tan (Sep 10, 2009 12:01:16 PM)
First off, thanks for the chat Soojin, Doug, and Matt. I'm having a
little trouble with Essay #3 and what constitutes a "multidisciplinary
problem." Can you give an example of what a multidisciplinary problem
would be, say, in a Ross class?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:02:17 PM)
G.Tan - a multidisciplinary problem would be something that doesn't fit
into just one discipline, say finance or operations. From an essay
perspective, it's the ability to look at issues from multiple angles. Essay 3 seems to be the one we get most questions about. What we're looking
for in that essay is an authentic answer about what you'd love to do
other than the career you identified in Essay 1.
Cory A. (Sep 10, 2009 12:03:00 PM)
Doug: For applicants applying through the Consortium: Is it viewed
favorably if a candidate applies to only Ross rather than multiple
schools in the Consortium if the candidate knows Ross is his/her top
choice?
Ash (Sep 10, 2009 12:03:07 PM)
Soojin: How is Ross unique in offering courses related to the
sustainability sector? I know about one course offering
"Sustainable Finance" which is unique to Ross. What are other options
available at Ross in this regard?
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:03:17 PM)
Matt, what do you view as Ross's strengths?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:04:48 PM)
Cory: It shows that you have a strong interest in our program, but I
don't know if I would recommend to any applicant to only apply to one
school.
jzd (Sep 10, 2009 12:04:56 PM)
Doug: I am applying to Ross and the Tauber institute. Am I limited to
operation/manufacturing majors in Tauber? Would I be able to take some
product management/marketing electives?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:04:58 PM)
Ash: Our Erb program, which is a dual degree with the School of Natural
Resources, provides a wealth of curricular and other sustainability
opportunities.
G. Tan (Sep 10, 2009 12:05:11 PM)
Soojin, I am acquaintances with a faculty member at Ross. Does the
admissions committee accept unsolicited letters of recommendation?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:06:33 PM)
Jzd: You would still be able to take some electives, but the
opportunity would be greater if you were not in the Tauber program. I
recommend that you reach out to them directly and they can discuss the
specifics.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:06:45 PM)
G. Tan: We recommend that applicants provide 2 professional
recommendation letters from supervisors who know you well. If the
faculty member knows your professional abilities and potential, an
additional letter can be submitted, but should not be used as one of
your two official submissions.
GoBlue10 (Sep 10, 2009 12:06:51 PM)
Thanks for answering our questions! Soojin, what is your
advice to an applicant that's been laid off for 4 months now? Would the
candidate be looked down upon if he/she does not have a full time job
while applying?
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:07:12 PM)
Doug, how does Ross's Multi-disciplinary Action Project differ from a traditional internship or consulting project?
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:07:37 PM)
Linda, having worked alongside students from other programs, I can say
that Ross excels in several areas: First, its ability to instill a
multi-disciplinary approach to developing business acumen is unmatched.
It was extremely easy for me to pursue a dual degree here, and I
haven't regretted it one bit. The other area is in instilling a balance
between analytical capability and personal skills. Because of the
emphasis Ross places on extracurricular involvement and team-building
exercises. both in and out of the classroom, it creates a significantly more
well-rounded MBA. I think it's refreshing for companies to have a more
well-rounded young professional within their ranks.
Azule (Sep 10, 2009 12:07:57 PM)
Matt: How would you compare Ross to other top business schools? For example, its philosophy, curriculum, etc?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:07:58 PM)
GoBlue10: Absolutely not! We know what's happening in the economy, and
we've seen many highly qualified and experienced people get laid off.
The important thing is to address it in your essays and to discuss what
you've been doing in that time.
Jessie (Sep 10, 2009 12:08:12 PM)
Soojin: Many applicants had a different undergraduate major other than
business. Would you recommend people with a BBA degree to apply,
especially a Ross BBA?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:09:55 PM)
Jessie: If you question is whether non-business majors are accepted to
MBA programs, the answer is yes. If your question is whether someone
with a BBA should consider an MBA, the answer is yes as well. And if
someone has a BBA from Ross, I would, again, recommend that they
consider Ross for their MBA since the experiences and opportunities are significantly different in the two programs.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:10:15 PM)
Soojin, What’s new at Ross for the 2009/10 academic year?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:10:40 PM)
Linda: In many ways it does not differ, though students are evaluated on their
final presentation and their participation throughout the project. The
team also has the advantage of using faculty advisers as a significant
resource. Students also choose MAP projects for very different reasons,
such as getting some non-profit experience so that they can make a
bigger impact in their community.
jzd (Sep 10, 2009 12:10:49 PM)
Doug: Am I going to be severely disadvantaged if I submit an application for round 3 (3/1/10) vs. round 2 (1/5/10)?
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:10:59 PM)
Azule, I addressed a few of those points in my response to Linda, but
from a functional perspective, the Ross Leadership Initiative and MAP
are both unique aspects of the curriculum in their own right. In
addition, Ross has the added benefit of being part of a University with
dozens of highly-reputable graduate programs, which allows for students
to collaborate with peers from around the University community. It
makes for a very, very exciting environment that goes beyond the
"degree factory" that MBA programs have been labeled as recently.
choni (Sep 10, 2009 12:11:04 PM)
Hi Matt. How did you make the decision to pursue
a dual degree? Are you also planning to explore any international
opportunities prior to the completion of your degree?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:11:53 PM)
Linda: We're excited to welcome our biggest class of MBA students this
year. The class of 2011 is 500 strong! Our new building has given us
the capacity to expand our cohort from about 430. In addition, we've
revisited the content in some of our core courses in response to the
financial crisis.
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:12:19 PM)
Jzd: No, but we do tend to offer the bulk of our scholarship money prior to round 3. We do recommend that you apply when you can submit the best application possible.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:12:36 PM)
Soojin, have you added/changed cases or projects in response to the financial crisis?
Ash (Sep 10, 2009 12:12:40 PM)
Doug: As a reapplicant at Ross, what are suggested areas to work upon, since no feedback is available for past applications? Is it positive to
apply with same job-profile (but with improved responsibilities), 3 out
of 4 new essays and new recommendations?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:12:51 PM)
Jzd: the other drawback of applying in R3 is that admits in that round
won't be able to attend our admitted student weekend in April.
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:13:07 PM)
Hi Choni -- I was about 80% sure I wanted to pursue a dual degree
before I arrived on campus, and after speaking with several classmates
with similar interests, I applied to the MPP program here during my
first year at Ross. Essentially, I discovered that the coursework I
wanted to undertake, specifically to understand the economics and
politics in developing countries, wasn't quite deep enough at Ross -- I
don't think it is at any business school, really. Plus, having an extra
year here really allowed me to focus on areas in which I wanted to invest my
time more fully. As for international opportunities -- my MAP was in South Africa, I
traveled with the Emerging Markets Club to Jamaica to develop a
farmers' cooperative in a rural village, and I'll be co-leading an
economic development trip to the Philippines in February. So, yes, I've
had quite a few opportunities!
Tyler (Sep 10, 2009 12:14:00 PM)
Hi Doug, I'm a reapplicant this year. Can you describe what role (if
any) last year's essays will play in my application package this year?
Can I reference some of the same themes (i.e., I've expanded my
experiences with 'x') as last year's essay topics? Or should I
re-summarize those themes if I still want to expand upon them this
year?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:15:02 PM)
Linda: yes, the finance curriculum has been restructured and our Management
& Organization core course will focus even more on developing
students' leadership skills. Our courses and leadership programming
will focus even more on dealing with uncertainty and complexity.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:15:19 PM)
Thanks Soojin.
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:15:51 PM)
Ash: We require a cover letter highlighting what you have been doing
since your previous application. Review your essays from your previous
application. Did you answer the question? Were they well written? In
any application, you should be finding ways to highlight your leadership
and teamwork skills. Same job profile with increased responsibilities
would certainly be something to highlight.
Ash (Sep 10, 2009 12:16:03 PM)
Doug: As a reapplicant, is it possible to get a feedback on last year's application?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:16:54 PM)
GoBlue10: That's a good question. We've seen applicants write
successful essays that go far back. What we're looking for in the essay
is what you tell us about that challenge - how it might have shaped you,
what you learned because of it and how you grew.
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:17:00 PM)
Shake, our Healthcare and Life Sciences Club has a specific focus in
connecting students with health care companies; Plus, there are a few
dual-degree students at Ross, both in the Master of Public Health and
MD programs. Additionally, the Emerging Markets Club is developing a
partnership with M-HEAL, a student organization in the College of
Engineering that focuses on designing low-cost medical devices for
developing markets.
G. Tan (Sep 10, 2009 12:17:04 PM)
Matt, I know Ross stresses experiential learning, so how much of class is lecture and how much is working with other students?
G. Tan (Sep 10, 2009 12:17:07 PM)
Soojin, is the increase in attendees a result of more applicants getting accepted or just more applicants applying?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:17:14 PM)
Tyler: When reviewing your new application, we will also be looking at
last year's application materials and evaluation comments as well. It
is up to you how you want to approach the essays.
jzd (Sep 10, 2009 12:17:39 PM)
Doug: How important does the adcom view a campus visit? I plan to visit
the campus if I am offered an interview after submitting my
application. Is this something I can mention in the optional essay?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:18:13 PM)
Shake: you can reach out to one of the students in our Healthcare and Life Sciences Club.
Jessie (Sep 10, 2009 12:18:32 PM)
Thank you for your answer Soojin! What kinds of entrepreneurship programs does Ross offer? Is it open to all MBA students?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:18:44 PM)
G.Tan: Are you referring to the increase in students?
G. Tan (Sep 10, 2009 12:18:56 PM)
Yes, the increase from 430 to 500.
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:18:56 PM)
G. Tan, in your first semester at Ross, you should expect to be in class
for ~15-20 hours per week. Each of these courses will have team-based
projects and assignments you'll need to complete outside of lecture
times. Of course, during MAP, you'll have no additional classes and
your entire quarter will be devoted to team-based collaborative efforts.
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:20:16 PM)
Ash: We offer feedback only to a select group of people simply due to
staffing issues. Unfortunately, we are no longer offering feedback at
this time. I can tell you that most candidates I offered feedback
already had a good idea where they may have fallen short.
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:20:29 PM)
Azule, I always suggest avoiding the temptation to "boil the ocean".
You want to do your homework on each club, perhaps join several, and pursue
leadership opportunities in very few. Some students choose to devote
more time to their studies and less to extracurricular activities, or vice versa--the choice is yours.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:21:00 PM)
Matt, What’s been your not-to-be missed class/professor?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:21:50 PM)
Jessie: We have a variety of entrepreneurship courses and co-curricular
activities offered through our Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial
Studies. For example, students can win a
grant to start a business while they're in school. They can work on a
venture capital fund.
G. Tan (Sep 10, 2009 12:21:57 PM)
Soojin: As top business schools are trending towards younger
applicants, is the class profile of Ross getting younger as well? I
know the average age at matriculation is 29 and with 5 years work
experience.
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:22:31 PM)
Jzd: I usually recommend visiting the campus prior to applying. By
having a clearer understanding of all that Ross has to offer, you can
better convey how our program fits with your goals/interests. That
said, I would note on the application that you have a scheduled visit.
Ash (Sep 10, 2009 12:22:37 PM)
Doug: I've heard that visiting the campus and interacting with students
helps a lot during application, and also builds a positive rapport for the
Adcom. However, since I can't visit campus and connect with students in
person due to constraints, will that be viewed as lack of interest in
Ross? What other options can I avail of, other than connecting with
students/Alumni via mail/calls?
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:22:58 PM)
Linda -- oooh, that's a good one. I had Aneel Karnani for my core
strategy course and immediately signed up for his Strategies for
Growth elective --I loved it! And this may be speaking too soon, but I'm
taking Jim Price's New Venture Creation course this semester, and it's
already shaping up to be a fantastic experience.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:23:15 PM)
Great. Matt. Thanks.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:23:17 PM)
Matt, What is your biggest take-away so far from Michigan?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:23:56 PM)
G.Tan: Our class profile is similar to what it was last year - 28 years
old and 5 years of Full-Time work experience. But the range of ages spans from 23-48.
We're more interested in an applicant's achievements and potential than
we are in their age or years of Full-Time work experience.
Tyler (Sep 10, 2009 12:24:00 PM)
Soojin: Can you speak about
the typical 'profile' of students pursuing their MS-MBA through the Erb
Institute? Are there any students interested in Marketing careers
participating in the program? (Seems like this track may be more geared
toward people interested in operations or supply chain management or
policy/planning).
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:24:40 PM)
A
general rule might be that it is unlikely someone will
be admitted if both their GMAT and GPA are weak. We want to make sure
applicants can be academically successful at Ross.
Gaurav (Sep 10, 2009 12:24:44 PM)
Doug: Could you give a little bit of insight on how first year students
are mentored? Is there is specific process in place to do so?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:25:50 PM)
Tyler: I'd say there isn't a "typical" profile of Erb students. They
run the gamut from "traditional" jobs such as finance and consulting,
to more non-traditional jobs such as nonprofit and NGOs. I've seen
grads go to Wall Street and Wal-Mart.
FutureMBA2010 (Sep 10, 2009 12:26:10 PM)
Soojin: What's the average financial aid package that each MBA student gets at UM for this year?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:26:54 PM)
FutureMBA2010: About 70% of our students take out loan of varying amounts. Over a third receives some level of scholarship.
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:27:23 PM)
Ash: We understand that not everyone will visit. We recommend it
because it is the best way for you to see for yourself what a great
program it is and how you would fit into this community. Reaching out
to current students is definitely a good option for learning more about
Ross, especially when you can reach out directly to students who you
have something in common with.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:27:24 PM)
Soojin, what percentage of accepted students was accepted each round? Is there an advantage to applying in different rounds?
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:27:34 PM)
Linda, I have a bit of a unique perspective, having spent my
undergraduate years at Michigan, but if anything my experience has
taught me how capable a group of like-minded, passionate people is at
achieving great things. It sounds super-cheesy, but I arrived at Ross
with a goal of making it a better place than before I arrived here, and
alongside an equally-committed group of faculty, staff, and students,
I'd say we've accomplished that goal. All it takes is a little bit of
patience and a whole lot of listening!
G. Tan (Sep 10, 2009 12:27:54 PM)
Matt, is there anything you'd like to change about your experience at Ross so far?
jzd (Sep 10, 2009 12:28:06 PM)
Doug: Can I take a graduate engineering class (for example in
manufacturing) as an MBA student if I am not in a dual degree program?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:29:37 PM)
Gaurav: We don't specifically have a mentor program. The resources are
here, such as our Office of Student Life, Career Counselors through our
Office of Career Development and so forth, but it is up to you to use
these resources.
Ankush B (Sep 10, 2009 12:29:43 PM)
Hello Doug: I have a reapplicant question: I need to submit a cover
letter along with my application. Do I need to use the optional essay
section to upload this cover letter? Is there a word limit on the cover
letter?
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:29:47 PM)
G. Tan, good question. I would have gotten involved in courses related
to entrepreneurial studies earlier -- I'm just taking my first one now,
and I realize how much more comfortable I am with the oft-changing,
uncertain nature of start-ups. I think I boxed myself into a certain
"career" criteria way too early in my studies.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:29:50 PM)
Linda: About a third apply and is accepted in R1, about half in R2 and the
remainder in R3. We recommend that applicants submit their application
when they think it's the best it can be. But, we do encourage students
to apply in one of the first two rounds so that they have the option to
attend our admit weekend and meet potential future classmates, as well
as priority consideration for scholarships and other financial aid.
Jon (Sep 10, 2009 12:29:56 PM)
Matt: What one or two words would you use to differentiate Ross from other top MBA programs?
Jon (Sep 10, 2009 12:29:57 PM)
Soojin: Where have you seen students who embark on an 'entrepreneurial
track' take jobs after school and for their first year internship? Do
they use the office of career services? Are they put at a disadvantage
to the other students as they may not have pursued recruiting events?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:31:24 PM)
Jzd: You can take up to 10 credits at another graduate program at the
University of Michigan and count it towards your graduation
requirements from Ross. This normally equates to about 3 classes. You
could take more than that, but would not receive further credit at Ross.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:31:26 PM)
Jon: Some entrepreneurial track students start off in traditional
b-school grad jobs (e.g., finance, consulting, or operations). Others seek
opportunities in venture capital or private equity. And a few try to make
a go of their own entrepreneurial pursuit.
Ankush B (Sep 10, 2009 12:31:34 PM)
Doug/Matt: How has Ross adapted to the changing economics in the
finance industry? Are there new courses introduced at Ross to help
students understand what they might deal with in the near future?
quiver (Sep 10, 2009 12:31:36 PM)
Soojin: I applied last year and was invited for an interview, but then
it didn't go too well. I didn't understand the reason for the ding. Do
you think I should re-apply?
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:31:37 PM)
Jon: Only two words? That's tough! :) Okay, I'll use one: "swagger".
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:31:50 PM)
Why swagger? Sorry, I couldn't resist asking. :-)
DougThomasROSS(Sep 10, 2009 12:33:05 PM)
Ankush: You are correct. Use the "optional essay" to submit your cover
letter. There is no word limit, but keep in mind that we are looking
for students who can communicate in a clear and concise manner.
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:33:37 PM)
Ross doesn't pretend to be a peer school; Its leaders, professors, and
students all understand what it excels at -- developing a highly
collaborative, passionate set of leaders, year in, year out. You don't
hear many of us say "well, why can't we be more like that MBA program?"
-- and regardless of how the rankings fluctuate, the spirit and mission
of Ross doesn't waver. I hope that's an appropriate definition for "swagger"... :)
inspiron (Sep 10, 2009 12:33:53 PM)
Doug: Do you give preference to families of Michigan Alumni?
Tyler (Sep 10, 2009 12:34:01 PM)
Matt: After the applications are done, do you have any general
recommendations on how to spend the time between now and next fall
preparing for the quantitative/analytical aspects of b-school? Or,
which (if any) analytical courses did you find most challenging?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:34:06 PM)
Quiver: The interview is rarely the only reason for a deny decision. To
the extent that we have the capacity, we try to extend interview invitations to
as many potential students as we can. I would recommend reviewing your
application and figuring out what piece(s) of it could be improved and
focus on that.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:35:18 PM)
Thanks Matt. Good answer. "Swagger" is certainly more colorful than "pride" or "confidence", but I suspect they're related.
Ash (Sep 10, 2009 12:35:21 PM)
Soojin: In the optional Essay, is it ok to talk about something like
"One life-changing experience that taught valuable life lessons..."
(non-professional)? Or the optional essay is to be strictly used for
explaining some weak areas etc...?
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:35:44 PM)
Tyler, I think it depends on your quantitative background: You
certainly want to be brushed up on your basic calculus skills, so if
it's a concern to you, I'd suggest taking a course at a local college. I've found the finance courses to be more challenging from a
quantitative perspective, but it's less so the math than grasping the
concepts having come from an engineering background.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:36:41 PM)
Ash: the optional essay can be used to explain anything else you think
the AdCom should know about you. In the example that you chose -
one-life changing experience - that might be appropriate material for
E4.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:36:55 PM)
Matt, Do you have advice for prospective MBA's that may make their
transition back to student easier? What could make those first few
weeks as an MBA student easier?
choni (Sep 10, 2009 12:37:05 PM)
Soojin: I am interested in a career in General Management, and have
been informed that in addition to strong management skills, recruiters
are also looking for strong communicators. Are there specific
programs/initiatives and/or classes that help students develop their
communications skills?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:37:32 PM)
Ankush: That is a good question. I know that at least one elective was
added to address the changing financial landscape, and I believe our
core finance course has also been updated a bit. We consistently
re-evaluate all of our courses, including feedback from the students
who take them.
Ankush B (Sep 10, 2009 12:37:42 PM)
Doug: Another reapplicant question - If I opt to resubmit an essay,
will that essay be replacing last year's essay, or will it be read in
conjunction with last year's essay? Further, am I expected to present
only the new and updated information in the new essay, or does the
essay needs to be able to stand alone, containing all the details as per the
essay topic?
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:40:03 PM)
Linda, seeing all the new first years struggle through their first week
of classes has brought back a lot of wonderful memories. ;) I would
first suggest that you take as much time off from work as possible
before starting your MBA program -- it'll allow you time to relax and
clear your head. Second, I'd recommend that students find a core group
of classmates (which you'll likely meet through orientation) who can
support you -- and you, them -- when things get overwhelming. I think
both of those little tidbits can help alleviate the oft-stressful
experience of returning to school.
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:40:11 PM)
Inspiron: We would certainly take into consideration if you have family who
are alumni, but this would never override the rest of the application.
For me, I would expect you to have a strong understanding of the
program if someone close to you attended. If this was the case, I think
it would allow you to put together a better application.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:40:23 PM)
Choni: There are many communications skill-building opportunities
throughout our curriculum (e.g., Persuasive Management Communications; Management
Presentations), making presentations in other courses, including MAP,
as well as extracurricular activities (e.g., mock interviews, club
leadership roles, conference chair roles, and Toastmasters.)
williamsMBA (Sep 10, 2009 12:40:29 PM)
Soojin: My undergraduate GPA is low/lacking. Is there anything that I can do to strengthen my chances?
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:41:08 PM)
Matt, what is the extra-curricular activity that you have found most beneficial?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:42:22 PM)
WilliamsMBA: The GPA is only one factor among many that we use to
assess an applicant's academic abilities. Course rigor, GPA trends,
post-undergrad coursework, and GMAT also play into the assessment. We
also consider your professional experience; that often gives us an idea
of a person's analytical and quantitative skills.
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:42:48 PM)
Ankush: We will read this year's essays in conjunction with last years.
The cover letter allows for some flexibility, but f you are writing one
of our essay questions, then the expectation would be that you are
directly addressing that question.
azule (Sep 10, 2009 12:42:58 PM)
Doug: In researching full and part time opportunities, I find that most
people discourage being full time and working part-time in a top MBA
school. Do you feel as though this is the case at Ross?
Ash (Sep 10, 2009 12:43:08 PM)
Soojin: Can you provide some idea on what is the reapplicant-admit ratio at Ross?
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:43:56 PM)
Linda, I know Soojin will LOVE this answer -- I've been serving as a
Ross Ambassador for the past two years, working with the Admissions
office to serve as a resource to prospective students. Over this time span, I've probably spoken with hundreds of potential Ross MBAs,
and with each new conversation I discover how much I've really loved
being here -- and how fortunate, too!
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:44:05 PM)
Ash: we don't track that. I'd have to look into it.
G. Tan (Sep 10, 2009 12:44:11 PM)
Soojin: I've only worked at Deloitte and in the same group since
Undergrad. Earlier, you recommended two professional recommendations
but I feel that the two recommendations from my supervisors would be
fairly similar. If I have a significant position in a community
non-profit, would it be a red-flag to have one professional
recommendation and one from my non-profit?
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:44:24 PM)
Great answer Matt. :-D
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:44:39 PM)
Yes, great answer Matt!
Jon (Sep 10, 2009 12:45:08 PM)
Doug, how do you view applicants who have a BBA from Ross?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:45:27 PM)
Jon: You will not really be viewed differently at all. We will consider
all of the same criteria to evaluate your candidacy. Obviously, we know
it is a strong undergrad program, so this could be a good indicator of
academic success.
RSF (Sep 10, 2009 12:45:57 PM)
Doug: For reapplicants who were on the waitlist, would it be
appropriate in the cover letter to mention items (promotions, improved
test scores, etc.) that were communicated to the admissions committee
in waitlist update?
Gaurang (Sep 10, 2009 12:46:35 PM)
Soojin: How does the fact that one is applying
for the MBA/MS dual degree- at Ross and NRSE (ERB) affect one's chances
to get an admission into both schools? Does it make it a lot
tougher, since it's the dual degree that I am interested in and not just
one of the two courses?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:46:37 PM)
G.Tan: Have you worked on the same kind of project during your entire
tenure at Deloitte? If so, it would be better to have two different project
managers write your recommendation letters. But if you've always worked on the
same kind of project and your performance and role were the same
throughout, then an outside recommendation letter might be ok.
GoBlue10 (Sep 10, 2009 12:46:41 PM)
Matt, how many extra-curricular groups would you say the typical
student is involved in? Do you find it hard to manage all the commitments due to your class load?
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:47:34 PM)
Soojin & Doug, if you are looking at an application and the numbers
and basic profile are in the ballpark for a Ross student, what
distinguishes an application that is accepted from one that is rejected?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:48:06 PM)
Azule: I can't speak for other programs, but so much of the learning
experience at Ross is outside of the classroom that there is little
free time. If you are going to invest in an MBA at Ross but continue
working, I can guarantee that you are not getting the most out of the
program.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:48:13 PM)
Gaurang: The two admissions processes are completely independent. We
don't reserve or limit the number of admits we give to dual degree
applicants. It's no tougher (or easier) to be a dual degree applicant
than an MBA-only applicant.
Tyler (Sep 10, 2009 12:48:17 PM)
Soojin: Can you tell us about the way you evaluate an applicant's
extracurricular activities? I know it's preferable to have leadership experience
in these activities, but in some cases, that's not possible or
realistic. Are there additional aspects you look to see an applicant
highlight in these experiences in addition to examples of leadership?
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:49:34 PM)
GoBlue10 (and yes, Go Blue indeed!), it really does depend on your
capability to balance your course load with extracurricular involvement.
I, for one, am probably on the higher end of clubs in which to be
involved, and it certainly does stretch your time. I usually suggest
you take the first seven weeks of your time at Ross to understand just
how demanding your coursework may be -- then adjust your time
commitments accordingly.
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:49:38 PM)
RSF: Yes, I would address all of those things in your reapplication
regardless of what you submitted while being on the waitlist.
Ankush B (Sep 10, 2009 12:49:41 PM)
Thanks Doug, do you recall the name of the elective on the changing financial landscape? I would love to read about it online.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:49:56 PM)
Tyler: Good question. In addition to leadership, we're looking for
applicants who have a track record of engagement, initiative and impact.
None of these things requires that someone be a leader in an
organization.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:52:02 PM)
Jon: much of the first year is reserved for core courses that provide
students with a general management foundation. After that, students can take
electives in any area they choose. They can focus in one area, e.g., entrepreneurship, or they can take a broader approach and even take
classes outside of the b-school, e.g., a language class, or law, public
policy, area studies, engineering, etc.
G. Tan (Sep 10, 2009 12:52:32 PM)
Soojin: I love the UM commercials about "The Michigan Difference". What
would you say about Ross contributes to the Michigan Difference?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:53:25 PM)
G.Tan: I'd say the collaborative, community-spirit you see in the
Michigan Difference commercial pervades the entire campus. There's a
strong sense of community and giving back across our large campus, and
especially at Ross.
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:54:55 PM)
Linda: Most of our applicants will fit our basic profile. After that,
we consider their life/work experience. Do they have experience to both
build upon and share with their classmates? Will they provide a
different perspective? We heavily consider leadership and teamwork
skills since it is such an important part of a successful workplace. We
also look for students who take initiative, since as I mentioned
earlier, a great deal of learning at Ross takes place outside of the
classroom. Does the applicant have a track record of getting involved?
GoBlue10 (Sep 10, 2009 12:54:55 PM)
Soojin: What percentage of applicants do you extend an interview to and how many of those interviewed are accepted?
Ankush B (Sep 10, 2009 12:56:11 PM)
Doug: Is there a possibility of skipping certain core courses which are
already my strength? And instead take up other courses of interest in
the same semester?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:56:42 PM)
GoBlue10: The % of interview invites has varied each year based on the number of applications we receive. Last year, we invited about 40% of applicants
to interview.
Ash (Sep 10, 2009 12:56:52 PM)
Thanks Soojin. In my GMAT score there's a wide gap between quant and
verbal score (verbal being low) - although the overall score is above
the median score at Ross. Will that be a negative factor at Ross? What things
can I justify as improvement in the verbal part, since the time I took GMAT?
Beebe (Sep 10, 2009 12:57:06 PM)
Doug: Do you have a minimum GMAT requirement?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:57:48 PM)
Beebe: We don't have a minimum GMAT requirement, but this year's 80th
percentile range was about 640-760. What I tell applicants is the
farther you fall below this range, the better the rest of your
application will need to be. Every year we admit some stellar
candidates who simply struggle with standardized testing.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:57:57 PM)
Ash: in addition to the score breakout, we'll look at the AWA portion
of the GMAT, as well as your essays, what your recommenders say about
you, and how your interview goes to assess your verbal skills.
inspiron (Sep 10, 2009 12:57:58 PM)
Matt: What role is Michigan MBA playing in the Environmental/Energy sector?
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:58:11 PM)
Ankush: Absolutely. Students can waive out of core courses. Some are
based on an exam and some are based on previous experience. As you
mentioned, this would then free you up to take further elective courses.
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:58:12 PM)
Inspiron, I can't think of a program that's more involved in that
sector. Aside from the Ross Energy Club, the Erb Institute is the
front-runner in offering a core focus on sustainable enterprise. I've
been blown away by some of the experiences my classmates involved in
that program have undertaken -- including some start ups blossoming from
their work here.
GoBlue10 (Sep 10, 2009 12:58:13 PM)
Doug: How does Ross feel about the essay word limits? Is it ok to go a little over?
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:58:32 PM)
GoBlue10: Try to stay close to them, but we won't count.
G. Tan (Sep 10, 2009 12:58:53 PM)
Good point GoBlue, it's hard to fit all I want to say in the 500 and 250 word limits.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:59:04 PM)
That's part of the challenge.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:59:14 PM)
Ditto.
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 12:59:17 PM)
Thank you again all for participating today. Special thanks to Soojin, Doug & Matt!
We look forward to seeing you at future chats, and here is a list of the upcoming scheduled chats in the next several weeks:
Sept. 16: London Business School
Sept. 24: Notre Dame Mendoza
Oct. 1: Columbia Admissions Q&A
Oct. 12: Cornell Chatter
Oct. 14: NYU Stern
Oct. 20: Consortium Application Strategies
If you would like to automatically receive notices about MBA admissions
events and other MBA admissions events, please subscribe to our MBA
event list. Please check the website for additional details.
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 12:59:38 PM)
Thanks Linda, and everyone who participated! We hope to see you in Ann Arbor! Go Blue!
GoBlue10 (Sep 10, 2009 12:59:59 PM)
Thanks! Go Blue! :)
Tyler (Sep 10, 2009 1:00:01 PM)
Super helpful. Thanks so much!
MattSchaarROSS (Sep 10, 2009 1:00:06 PM)
Thanks everyone -- Go Blue!
Jessie (Sep 10, 2009 1:00:10 PM)
Thank you everyone!
SoojinKwonKohROSS (Sep 10, 2009 1:00:10 PM)
Good luck with the application process!
Linda Abraham (Sep 10, 2009 1:00:15 PM)
You're most welcome.
DougThomasROSS (Sep 10, 2009 1:00:19 PM)
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to learn more about us!
inspiron (Sep 10, 2009 1:00:21 PM)
Thanks all!
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