Introduce yourself to
your future Ross classmates in 100 words or less.
- This is your elevator pitch. The best advice I can offer here is – KEEP IT SIMPLE. Give your reader a few clear signals to remember you by – “he’s the Peace Corps guy from NC”, or “he’s the marathon runner from McKinsey” or “she’s the professional dancer from India”, or “she’s the Indonesia Govt emissary..”. You get the message.
- Keep your “change the world” ambitions out of this one – how would you really introduce yourself to other classmates? Where you’re from, where you grew up, what your professional experiences have been, what your goals are, what your interests and hobbies are – that’s it!
What about your
professional experiences has led you to determine that business school is the
right next step? (150 words)
It is hard to answer this question without discussing your
goals (which is asked in a subsequent question below), but try to avoid
discussing the future in too much detail.
Focus on your past experiences and why now is the most appropriate time
for you to do an MBA.
As you have researched
MBA programs, what actions have you taken to learn more about Ross and what has
led you to believe that Ross is the right MBA program for you? (150 words)
This essay should flow very smoothly from the previous one –
i.e., your past experiences and the “why Ross” piece should not seem
disjointed. Be sure to include specifics
about classroom courses, extra-curriculars such as interest and hobby clubs, as
well as professional and academic clubs and ventures that apply to your goals
and past experiences.
What career do you
plan to pursue after business school and why? (150 words)
Most structured way to respond to this would be to address
both short term (post-MBA and beyond) and long-term career goals. The “why” part should be self-evident in
your response. Again, this essay and the
previous two should flow smoothly with each other, and if read together, should
give a complete picture of your candidacy.
Describe a time in
your career when you were frustrated or disappointed. What advice would you
give to a colleague who was dealing with a similar situation? (400 word
maximum)
- Please, try to avoid blaming someone else through this essay – a large number of candidates will write about a co-worker who let them down or a horrible boss – remember, this is an essay about you, not them!
- A lot of candidates also think “what you learned from the experience” actually means “how did you fix the problem” – please don’t fall into this trap. It’s okay just to describe a setback or challenge, and what you took away from it – you don’t have to describe how much better you were the next time you faced the same issue or how you resolved it.
What are you most
passionate about and why? How will this passion positively impact Ross (300
word maximum)
Can be a cause, a hobby, a sport, a professional objective,
a personal goal, etc.
If you don’t have a passion, it’s okay. A lot of people don’t. Think of a something you have a strong
interest in that you can positively leverage to bring value to Ross.
