michigan ross mba essay tips

michigan ross mba essay tips

Effective Strategies for Writing Compelling MBA Essays: Insights and Tips from the Michigan Ross Admissions Committee

1. Introduction to the Importance of MBA Essays in the Admissions Process

For those of you applying in round one, we know you are, right now, just beginning the process. And, if you find that none of the personal statements allows you to write an essay that truly presents your character, we suggest finding a new audience for your leadership abilities. To make your life easier, Michigan offers a very clear notion of what they expect to find within each essay. These excerpts should give you a clear idea of what to expect of the questions and of what writing an essay responding to it will entail.

Essays are a critical means of assessing an applicant’s motivation for attending the M.B.A. program and of determining their fit with the program. When writing your essays, our best advice is simple: answer the question. Respecting the word limits and answering the question constitute a critical part of our evaluation process. We also read every word you’ve written. Please don’t try to exceed the limits as this will make our jobs more difficult. Please do not include a resume, a list of awards, or reasons for wanting an M.B.A. Your profile is already documented, and we assess strengths and gaps relative to your goals.

2. Understanding the Michigan Ross MBA Essay Prompts and Evaluation Criteria

To achieve this, creating a logical structure is important. You should give us the “what,” the “why,” and the “so what.” Talking about the “so what,” the value that activity had for you, is usually what is the most powerful. This is where you get across what unique qualities Ross is likely to find in you. The flow you develop will help you avoid writing two 500-word essays. These essays have a word limit for a reason; knowing how to operate within that limit can really set you apart from applicants with amazing life stories but no space in which to tell them. When I said that, the Director agreed. She said she was eager to see some people use Ross’s terrific essay prompts to their full advantage. In fact, the Admissions Committee tries to be clear and direct in order to help you help us figure out why you want to be here.

This was really clarifying to me because it suggests how you should tailor your essay. Rather than trying to cram your life story into a 400-word essay, jump into a specific, unique aspect of your life that will help confirm your fit with the Ross school. A narrow focus such as why you are specifically looking to come to Ross tends to help you create a more focused, more airtight essay. This actually relates well to the following two pieces of advice: first, remember that you are trying to tell a story; and second, once you think you are finished answering the question, reread the question.

For each question, you can typically count on a word limit – in Ross’s case, 400 words. So how do you make the most value out of these limited opportunities? The key, which I found to be helpful, is to get an understanding of the essay topic. It turns out that each essay question relates to an important point of judgment used by Ross’s Admissions Committee in the application evaluation. Through the essay, you can offer us specific information on the more potentially ambiguous data points in your application – essentially, you can provide useful information related to your fit for the Ross environment.

3. Crafting a Strong Personal Narrative and Unique Value Proposition

More than other admission processes, the MBA application evaluation process is first and foremost about fit between the applicant, the school and the other students. This means that a person who does not show fit within a school’s culture is not admitted. Thus, to be successful at MBA admissions, the applicant must know that MBA program inside and out and make a compelling case for the Admissions Committee. A good story tells the reader who place or thing that is the story’s focus is. It also tells the reader how the narrator (in this case, the applicant) has changed over time as a result of that experience, relationship, or learning.

Building on the overview of the personal narrative essay, the specific and important function that the personal narrative essay serves within the MBA admissions context is to establish the applicant’s personal and professional “story.” That story, told in compelling and memorable ways, with sharp, engaging details, conveys to the Admissions Committee what the applicant has accomplished in his/her life, what important personal and professional values the applicant holds dear, and how the applicant contributes to the school. A good story tells the reader who place or thing that is the story’s focus is. It also tells the reader how the narrator (in this case, the applicant) has changed over time as a result of that experience, relationship, or learning.

4. Showcasing Leadership and Impact in Professional and Personal Experiences

The most obvious way to make an impact is by clearly articulating the leadership role you played in different organizations or activities. But title or position is not all that defines leadership. I hear stories all of the time from students about how the greatest leaders they have known come from a variety of levels and lines of responsibility. Leaders are the ones who with passion, courage and conviction are able to inspire people to follow. They are able to see around the corner and set a direction or vision for the people, the organizations, the causes or the projects they represent. The most effective and committed leaders are those who understand themselves and their experience within a broader context – no matter where they are in their careers. These are the leaders who show impact. And so when it comes time for you to reflect on professional or personal experiences, consider your role under the leadership microscope and the type of impact you were able to make. After you brainstorm some ideas and experiences to discuss in essays or an interview, try reflecting on these questions as you draft your essays.

In this section, I will share my thoughts on how to convey an effective and compelling experience set. I’ll provide examples of essays that successfully had it, and those that did not. There is no single profile that defines an ideal Michigan Ross MBA student. Our students come from various professional backgrounds and industries, and include a range of functional experiences such as marketing, finance, consulting, healthcare, operations, general management, technology, and entrepreneurship among many others. Industry diversity is an important part of the Ross experience from which great intellectual and social learning comes. Our students benefit from their own rich career experiences and also build relationships with students who don’t have similar backgrounds and experiences to their own.

5. Structuring and Editing Your MBA Essays for Clarity and Impact

Finally, don’t forget that your jurors will be reading hundreds of individual responses. Use these essays to help your jurors know you, and be honest while doing so. Highlight the special features of the Ross School of Business, and let the committee know what it is about the school and the MBA program that appeals to you and distinguishes it from the rest. With all applicants coming from a highly diverse number of backgrounds and possessing vastly different experiences, the program promises to be a truly memorable learning experience, for both you and your classmates. Your willingness to engage in your own learning process and work with others will add value and depth to your overall MBA experience. If we can assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Use the brainstorming process to identify the most critical message or messages you want to deliver in each essay, and include them in a natural and engaging manner. Ensure that your answers are clear, logical, well-structured, and succinct. Your thoughts must flow nicely, and you need to be careful not to repeat yourself. Clarity is essential because the response is not a solicitation for conflicting information. One idea per section—start your answer, develop your point, and then move to the next idea—is a great strategy. Small paragraphs are a big help in this regard. The interesting and relevant things about you can be nicely highlighted and not lost in a sea of identical answers.

The brainstorming part of the essay process is as essential as the writing itself. Allow your mind to think openly and be realistic. Review the information requested, and while your ideas may not be equally spread across all four essays, be certain that your response will cover all the topics. Your belief that the best and most interesting bits of you can be revealed in a sentence or two can be quite difficult, but the committee is not asking for an in-depth analysis or a detailed account of your business experience, so there is no need to elaborate. Only 250 words (about half a page) are available to you, which suggests that the main points will be of critical importance. The limitation is intentional: the committee does not want too long an answer, and the art of the concise statement is a useful talent.

The range of essay topics can be a bit overwhelming, and many applicants who look through the available essay topics struggle during the process. Relax and recognize that the essays are designed to provoke introspection and not to trick you into revealing the one correct piece of information the admissions committee is searching for. As you focus on developing your answers, consider what you wish to reveal in your answer, and take a look at the larger application. Is there a differentiating aspect that you want to provide some background for? What are the key aspects of your personality that you want to bring to the committee’s attention? These answers will prompt you to consider which topics to write about. Don’t attempt to simply give the adcom the Reader’s Digest version of your resume. Instead, try to reveal the importance of your most influential experiences. It is your job to extract important lessons from these experiences and let the committee know how your newly discovered points relate to the B-school.

After spending considerable time and effort drafting your MBA application essays, it is important to creatively and critically refine and re-craft your ideas. This step is essential in delivering the clarity and impact that will capture the interest of the admissions committee and highlight your suitability for admission to the Ross School of Business. The essays are structured in a way that will assist the committee in its evaluation and are designed to allow you to showcase the dimensions of your personality that the committee believes to be most important.