Experience during the program

Ross was the perfect location and program for someone such as myself looking to learn more about my personal career interests and to experiment with classes and extracurricular activities. All of the clubs are student led and run---there's a strong sense of ownership and pride. I enjoyed the diversity of classes and often felt there wasn't enough time to take all that I wanted! However, the classes I did take were very impressionable and all together, I feel that I am a more competent, grounded, and inquisitive business professional. I was very happy with the ample opportunities to recruit for and receive multiple internship and full-time offers from top ranked companies and organizations. Overall, I loved my time in the charming college town of Ann Arbor and could not have asked for a better experience.

About professors, classes and curriculum

Excellent classes and professors that genuinely will take time out of their day to chat and talk through life goals and career questions. I never felt there was a shortage of interesting classes with world class professors at my fingertips---picking was the hard part!

About job placement process

Only bit I would add here is that if you're an international student, it is important to be aware of what portion of on campus companies will offer internship and full-time opportunities. It's better to know this coming in to the program so that you have grounded expectations.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Alumni Network
Career opportunities provided by school

Best fit at this program:

Marketing
Management

Can be improved:

Student body, diversity
Brand/Ranking
Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)

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Experience during the program

The best part of Ross are the people. It's extremely cliche, but some of my closest friends have come from Ross. Additionally, if you're trying to go into a bulge bracket investment bank, Ross is probably the best route. Because the entire class isn't trying to get into IB, it's less cutthroat. Your classmates are willing to actually help you prepare and do well for interviews. Also, the culture of your class is going to reflect the culture of two classes ahead of you, largely because they are the ones who conduct the interviews. Set realistic and ambitious goals, and Ross will help you achieve them.
Overall, it's great. You'll get a great network. You'll learn a fair amount. You'll have fantastic experiences. I'd do it again.

About job placement process

Career Services is definitely one of Ross' weaknesses. Off-campus recruiting will yield much worse results if you attend Ross. Tech, real estate, and non-IB finance jobs are also difficult. Just check the employment report before making any decisions.

Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
Schools contribution (1.0)
Classmates rating (3.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Alumni Network
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Investment Banking
Management

Can be improved:

Career opportunities provided by school
Brand/Ranking
Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)

Read More

Experience during the program

Ross provides a cooperative atmosphere where you will find yourself working on multiple student teams and learning from that experience. I learned as much in class as I did from my classmate's contributions, whether it may be from an investment banker, consultant, doctor, attorney, former military, or teacher. The diversity in the perspectives of people was truly great in understanding the many sides of the subjects we were taught. It is very fast paced in the first year - 3 quarters of fast paced classes to prepare you for MAP and take on real world projects all over the globe. I travelled to 3 different continents as part of mine. I feel that MAP more than anything else prepared me for my internship, which resulted in a full time offer from a Fortune 25 company. The extras include being able to cheer the best team in college football, the awesome and quaint little town of Ann Arbor, and the wonderful people that live here.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Alumni Network
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking

Can be improved:

Brand/Ranking

Read More

Experience during the program

Ross was everything I ever could've wanted in an MBA program - excellent action based learning curriculum, access to the best companies and jobs, and a strong, passionate, and supportive alumni network, which I know I can use throughout any stage in my career.

Future applicants should make sure to really get to know the school and look past ratings - after a certain tier school, all the companies that come on campus are the same. I got into higher ranked schools and while I'm sure I would've been happy there, the Ross student body really felt like it's where I should have ended up.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Alumni Network
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Entrepreneurship

Can be improved:

Location

Read More

Experience during the program

Soojin Kwon once described Ross and Ann Arbor as a walled garden - why would you ever want to leave? The thing is, you don't. Ross has cultivated a community and culture that is supportive, exciting, and loyal. There is a genuine attempt to foster an environment where meaningful relationships can be created. This extends to professors, staff, and even the partners programs.

The coursework is not the highlight of Ross. You can learn NPV and the 4P's anywhere else. But the feather in their cap is MAP. Your MAP experience may be "very cool" to not at all, but the point is how you use that experience to grow as a team member and leader. Whether it's the Impact Challenge, the Crisis Challenge, or the "CEO's class", Ross is great at providing learning experiences ("experiential" as they call it) that the current Dean is trying to expand.

Finally, there's something to be said of the university itself. Dual degrees and students who want to take coursework outside Ross will have a lot to choose from. The community is mostly safe and the sports games pull Ann Arbor together. Overall, I enjoyed my Ross and Ann Arbor experience, and part of me wishes I never left.

About professors, classes and curriculum

There are several star professors at Ross, it is worthwhile to seek them out either for classes or just to visit them during office hours. For the most part they are very accessible.

About job placement process

The recruiting is strong for Seattle, the Midwest, and the East coast. Recruiting is the greatest stretch when trying to reach California (SF, LA).

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (3.0)

Strengths of the program:

Alumni Network
Career opportunities provided by school
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Tech

Can be improved:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Location

Read More

Experience during the program

I stepped into Ross with a lot of uncertainty, especially because I was still wait listed at some of my other top choices. Within a few weeks, after meeting some of my classmates and stepping into the full bschool experience, I was assured that I had made the correct choice. From the caliber of pre-bschool experience of my classmates to the types of companies that were lining out of the door, I was thoroughly impressed by the Ross difference. What was less expected was the larger Michigan network that I was being invited into. Wherever I travelled there was a constant "Go Blue" chant among those who recognized my Michigan gear - something that is haven't experienced in a smaller undergraduate institution. The culture really set itself apart as well - Our success post bschool was definitely a group effort of all of the classmates pulling together to help each other out to guarantee each other performs their best.

If you find yourself choosing between Ross and another similar tier school - I'd definitely push Ross. You won't regret your time in Ann Arbor!

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Alumni Network
Career opportunities provided by school

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Tech

Can be improved:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Location
Admissions Team

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Experience during the program

Had wonderful experiences with my classmates traveling and doing action-based projects around the world. Built a strong community. Got my dream job in my dream city on the west coast. Hosted conferences for hundreds of people. Organized events to showcase my diverse point of view. Had an amazing two years in a beautiful town and became a part of the most accessible alumni network in the world. Spent a semester in Europe deepening my knowledge of luxury. Ross delivered on everything that I was promised upon enrollment and beyond. My MBA experience surpassed my expectations and I can't wait to give back as an engaged and active alumnus.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Alumni Network
Career opportunities provided by school

Best fit at this program:

Marketing
Tech

Can be improved:

Brand/Ranking

Read More

Experience during the program

Ross is an excellent school with a fantastic alumni base. The culture is very laid back and not competitive at all. There are so many fun events for students and spouses, no matter what your interests are.

Despite having a non-traditional career goal, I left Ross with a job offer in hand and meet some great people at the same time. I can't speak to the academic rigor at any other top 10 MBA programs, but courses are not all that difficult depending on your background. What is more important is recruiting and Michigan has an excellent reputation from that standpoint.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Alumni Network
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Investment Banking

Can be improved:

Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)

Read More

Experience during the program

The Ross MBA experience is an open book. Current students and alumni are all very honest about their stories and their time here. And this reflects a lot the culture here - the straightforward, non-assuming camaraderie is a big plus to my time here this past year. You will get an honest version of what students think about any aspect of your life here. The on-campus recruiting opportunities are numerous, but off-campus support seems a lot more limited and self-guided. The social life is really great - Ann Arbor is a great town to be in for your MBA, and recruiters are happy to come to us.

About professors, classes and curriculum

The broad range of experiences in quality of professor is something worth mentioning. Some sections seemingly had a much better stats or operations professor.

About job placement process

Many boutique consulting firms do not come here but will go to other schools.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (4.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Tech

Can be improved:

Alumni Network
Brand/Ranking
Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)

Read More

Experience during the program

I was initially not considering Ross - I didn't know much about the program, I don't really care about Michigan, I pictured Ann Arbor as a small sleepy town, and I don't like snow (born and raised and returning to the South post-MBA). After several very strong endorsements from friends/acquaintances who were currently in the program or recent alumni, I looked into the program. I ended up accelerating my timeline by a year and only applying to Ross that year. If I didn't end up getting in, I would consider other programs the following year. I took the GMAT once and cleared 700 and figured it was worth throwing my hat in the ring for R2. Luckily it worked out and now I'm really passionate about helping other people find the right fit for their business school experience but especially in getting the word out to regions outside the midwest about how great Ross has been for me.

Ross hits all the standard marks for what you should expect from a top 20 MBA program: great recruiting opportunities (I'm going to what I consider to be the #1 consulting company post-Ross), iconic and accomplished professors, student-led culture with many leadership opportunities, and an extremely strong and varied alumni network. I wanted to learn more about entrepreneurship and social impact and Ross was surprisingly strong in both of these areas (research Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies - tons of resources for student startups, the Center for Social Impact, the Center for Positive Organizations, Social Venture Fund, TechArb Student Venture Accelerator, and Detroit Revitalization & Business Club). I've been limited only by my own time, there have been way more opportunities to work on my own ideas and explore other opportunities, contribute to projects in Detroit (in both meaningful and less meaningful ways - important reflection and experiences), and learn about new career paths than I could have expected.

Ann Arbor surpassed all expectations: it's a great college town that shuts down for football games and also has incredible, international thought leaders coming to speak on campus regularly. A lot of local food options, very safe, and beautiful. But I've been blown away by Detroit. It's incredibly complex and I think a lot of the beautiful and not-so-beautiful things happening in the city are going to be increasingly relevant to the rest of American cities. Understanding the friction of "revitalization" and getting a front row seat to the burgeoning entrepreneurship and VC scene has been invaluable.

This is probably also something that a lot of top schools do well but I think I have benefitted tremendously from the amount of diversity (in every sense of the word) in my class. Something like 30% international, 40% women, a lot of military veterans, many students of color (although it could probably be higher) -- it leads to a lot of powerful conversations and messy interactions that I think are preparing us to be more effective managers in an globalized world post-MBA. I would much rather be educated about business in Asia from classmates who have done business there than just reading articles about it, travel with classmates from Latin America to their home countries and see it from their perspective, talk about ongoing racial tension in America with the students from communities most effected than assuming I know mostly what I need to know, and learn about the city of Detroit from students who have lived most of their lives there rather than fellow hipsters who moved in and bought a duplex last year and now feel like they're a critical part to the city's "comeback." Wherever you go to school, you should be using your MBA to learn as much as you can about different cultures. It's an unparalleled opportunity.

For future applicants -- figure out what you're really interested in and find a school that will help you explore those passions. These could be directly or indirectly related to your career. You being able to talk passionately about the school's programs/clubs/diversity/events/location etc. will stand out in your application and interview and help you come across much more authentically than your peers who are going to use the same language as everyone else that they got from the website. Visit a wide range of schools BEFORE you apply (I can't stress this enough - it helps you figure out which schools you actually want to apply to vs. just reading these forums or hearing info secondhand) and genuinely talk to current students to understand why they chose that school vs. others and what they would change about their current program/process so you can learn from mistakes.

About professors, classes and curriculum

Non-grade disclosure is awesome but standard at most schools. I would not have liked attending a program where grade disclosure was the norm - my GPA is still 3.6+ but I took harder classes that were more interesting to me because I wasn't try to game the GPA game for employers. There are some iconic professors at Ross that I would follow anywhere, but I'm sure it's like that at other schools as well. What I think helps Ross stand out is how many other top-ranked colleges/programs there are at the University of Michigan - I've taken class with School of Education and School of Information (for UX/UI design work) and they're both top ranked programs. Law School, Med School, and Engineering School are all also extremely strong which creates this ecosystem where you're taking cross-disciplinary courses and teaming with smart people from a lot of different backgrounds across programs. A big focus of mine is entrepreneurship and I've directly benefitted from learning from the start-ups coming out of these other schools + using the talented students as consultants for my own idea.

About job placement process

Ross has a branding problem because it's really good at a lot of different areas. There's an incredible amount of diversity in career aspirations across the class and that creates less competition for spots at top companies, especially those outside of consulting (a lot of people still want to do consulting). All of the same large companies that recruit at other top-ranked schools come to Ross and our starting salaries are very competitive, but I would argue for certain companies your chances are higher at getting a spot coming from Ross than another school where everyone is trying to do X industry and going up for the same companies.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Alumni Network
Career opportunities provided by school

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Brand/Ranking

Read More