Michigan Ross Class of 2026 essay analysis
Michigan's Ross School of Business has released its questions for the 2023-24 application cycle.
Part 1: Short Answers (choose one from each group; <100 words each; 200 words total)
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 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.
2023/24 essay question analysis
Part 1 prompts
The prompts remain unchanged from last year, requiring direct, concise writing. Unlike other essay questions where how you explain an answer matters as much if not more than the topic you choose, for these questions your topic matters most. Make sure you choose something that highlights your unique attributes, rather than vague references to how great you are. Easiest to write and for the reader to remember will be specific instances and examples, even for Group 1 topics which may be harder to reference a specific event. Overall, be creative and let your personality come through to the reader!
Part 2:
This question is similar to what other schools ask for regarding your career goal, so you can likely borrow much from those essays. The slight difference is that this question only asks for short-term goals; focus on 1-5 years after graduation. When detailing why your goals are right for you, keep explanations concise, and make sure you highlight 2-3 core characteristics about you that make you the right applicant to pursue this goal. Remember, you’re trying to convince the reader why they need you in their class!
Optional essay
If you have a differentiated long-term goal (i.e. a specific business idea you’re working on now), and haven’t expressed it elsewhere in your application, you can use this space to explain it and give comfort to the reader that Ross will help you achieve success.
2023/24 deadlines
Deadline time: 11:59pm EST
Round 1: Application deadline: Sept. 14, 2023; Decision date: Dec. 8, 2023
Round 2: Application deadline: Jan. 11, 2024; Decision date: Mar. 15, 2024
Round 3: Application deadline: Apr. 4, 2024; Decision date: May 3, 2024
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