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. Find complete class profile stats 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.
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. Essay 1 Tips
Part 1: 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)
First, you want to keep in mind that 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.
However, goals without context can be a little confusing to decipher or understand (or they can just seem a bit lackluster). For that reason, it is essential that you include that context.
We suggest including that context in the form of a VERY 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 sentence or two about why you’re so passionate about sustainability.
Once your goal is clear, shift to Ross. This part of the essay is your opportunity to show not just that you like Ross, but that you understand how its learning model will support your growth. Focus on how you will engage with Action-Based Learning in a specific and practical way. Whether that’s through MAP, REAL.ADVISE, REAL.INVEST, or a project with the Zell Lurie Institute, you want to show Ross that you’re ready to get your hands dirty and build real-world skills.
If you have spoken with students or alumni, this is the perfect place to include a reference. Hearing how someone’s MAP project shaped their internship path or how REAL helped them build confidence can make your essay feel more grounded and sincere.
Ultimately, the strongest responses show both focus and excitement. You know where you’re going. You know what you need to learn. And you know Ross is the right place to make it happen.
2.2. Essay 2 Tips
Part 2: Impact and Growth
Michigan Ross is proud to support a community of leaders and impact makers who value growth. As a future member of this community, we want to know more about who you are and what drives you. Choose one of the following prompts to tell us more about what makes you stand out beyond your academic and work experience. List the prompt you are answering at the top of your essay. (200 words)
- Think of a time something important did not go as planned. What did you do next?
- What is something you worked on for an extended period of time (over six months) that ultimately resulted in a positive outcome? What kept you committed?
- Share an example of a specific situation when your actions created a positive impact on your community or an individual.
We encourage you to first consider very carefully which of these prompts feels most authentic to who you are as an individual and will allow you to write a truly revelatory essay in response. Then, thoroughly and thoughtfully brainstorm to identify your strongest possible topic(s). Be sure to consider all aspects of your life outside of your professional experience and academic history. You want to be sure you can “own” your answer—as we like to say—meaning that no other applicant could write the same thing as you do. Strive to ensure that your essay genuinely reflects who you are as a candidate and is as specific to you alone as possible. You also do not want to repeat any element of your profile that is already well explained or represented in a different part of your application. Let us now take a closer look at each prompt option individually.
In this essay prompt, you’re given an opportunity to show the admissions committee a side of you that no one else in the class can claim, in a way that goes beyond your resume and transcript.
Choosing well here is essential. The rest of your application will speak to your academic and professional strengths, your goals, and why you feel Ross is a good fit for you. The majority of applicants will also check these boxes, so this essay question is your chance to show them why they should take YOU. One thing worth noticing: with the addition of “who value growth” and two prompts now pointing at a setback or a long, hard effort, Ross is signaling that they want evidence of resilience and follow-through, so keep that in mind as you weigh your options.
First, before looking at the prompts, I recommend that you brainstorm a list of examples that show off a side of you that hasn’t been covered elsewhere, that aligns with your personal brand, and that shows off why you’ll be a strong contributor at Ross. This could be experiences pulled from your volunteer work, a challenge you’ve overcome in life, a unique life experience, or a passion you pursue (like a sport or hobby).
Based on the wording of the question, I would stick to non-professional experiences/stories here, unless you have a truly compelling work story. Ross is also explicit that you should not repeat anything already well covered in your application, so cross off any story that overlaps with the rest of your file.
Once you’ve brainstormed, I would also suggest filtering your list based on which stories can be told in a STAR format, since these will have more impact than general statements, especially considering the tiny word count.
Finally, choose the prompt that best connects with your story and ensure that you frame your introduction and conclusion to mirror the wording of the prompt. For example, if you choose the prompt about something that didn’t go as planned but spend your whole essay on the thing that went wrong rather than what you did next, the essay won’t work exceptionally well.
To end, if you have space, you might want to share a sentence or two about how you’ll contribute what you’ve learned with this story/experience at Ross. This isn’t required, however, so don’t worry if you don’t have space.
Still not sure what Ross wants? Check out this podcast with Ross adcom to learn more about how to show fit and ensure you get in: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3T7tm2cxFZ2j2KHnMCoEvb?si=1e033054bd2d4f38
2.3. Optional Essay Tips
Is there something in your resume or application that needs a brief explanation? Appropriate uses of this essay would be the explanation of an employment gap, academic outliers, choice of recommender, completion of supplemental coursework, etc. You may use bullet points where appropriate. (250 words)
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 poor academic performance here.
3. This Isn’t Just Coaching. This is Elite-Level Strategy that Gets You Results.
The hardest part of MBA essays isn’t finding stories to tell. Instead, it’s finding the right stories and shaping them into something that matters. It’s the gap between the messy, complicated truth of your experience and the clear, compelling narrative that admissions committees need to understand who you are. That’s where most applicants get stuck because they’re too close to their own story to see what’s working and what’s noise.
The right essay support doesn’t just polish your grammar. It helps you find the beating heart of your narrative and bring it to the surface. Leland connects you with vetted essay coaches who do exactly that, from former admissions officers who’ve read thousands of applications and know what creates impact, to experienced consultants who specialize in turning raw ideas into compelling stories, to current students who just went through this and can help you see what your schools are actually looking for. You can work with them however you need: one session to brainstorm your approach, multiple rounds of editing and refinement, or just a sanity check before you hit submit.
Getting feedback from someone who understands your goals, your schools, and how to make every word count makes all the difference in standing out at top MBA programs and landing a spot at your dream school.
We earn a small commission when you book coaching through our link, which helps support the free resources we create.
4. Michigan Ross Deadlines
The deadlines for the 2026-2027 season are below. You can access the Ross application here.
Ross Round 1 Deadlines
Application Deadline: September 8, 2026
Interview Notification: Ongoing
Decisions Released: TBD
Ross Round 2 Deadlines
Application Deadline: January 4, 2027
Interview Notification: Ongoing
Decisions Released: TBD
Ross Round 3 Deadlines
Application Deadline: March 29, 2027
Interview Notification: Ongoing
Decisions Released: TBD
