Michigan Ross School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
In your first required essay for the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, you need to discuss your professional aspirations, then explain to the admissions committee why the program’s hands-on learning environment is the best way for you to gain the skills and experiences you need to achieve those career goals and succeed professionally in the long term. For Ross’s second essay, you have a choice of four prompts, all of which give you the opportunity to share something about yourself and your life that is separate from your career. A brief optional essay is available as well, should you have any elements in your candidacy that you believe warrant some clarification. Read on for our full analysis of the school’s 2025–2026 essay prompts.
University of Michigan (Ross) Essay Analysis, 2025–2026
Part 1: Career Aspirations
What is your short-term career goal, and how will Ross’ philosophy in Action-Based Learning help you achieve it? Please be specific. Please answer both parts of this question. (300 words
In most MBA applications, and almost all business school interviews, you will be asked about your career goals. Admissions committees understand that you might later change your mind about your goals and could be interested in different career paths; you might be planning to use the initial portion of your MBA experience to gain insight into which direction to choose. However, the schools still want to make sure that you have given your objectives serious thought. You must convince Ross not only that you have a goal in mind but also that an MBA is necessary to achieve it. Therefore, in responding to the first part of this two-part question, be as specific as possible in presenting your immediate post-MBA goal. The admissions committee knows that recruiting will start immediately after students arrive on campus, so the more you have thought about the role you want to target, the more effective you will likely be in your job search. In describing your target role, you can note your desired industry and function, as well as which companies (or type of companies) you plan to pursue. You might also need to provide context to show why your goal is realistic based on your background and your transferable skills. In addition, make sure that this specific job is feasible for a newly graduated MBA, especially one from Ross. Demonstrating that you have done your research on this post-MBA role will convince the admissions committee that you are confident that investing in this degree will pay off.