{"id":33214,"date":"2016-05-31T14:54:41","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T21:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=33214"},"modified":"2016-07-22T16:31:57","modified_gmt":"2016-07-22T23:31:57","slug":"ross-essay-questions-analysis-2016-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/ross-essay-questions-analysis-2016-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Ross MBA Essay Questions Analysis 2016-17"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Ross-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-33215\" src=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Ross-2.jpg\" alt=\"Ross (2)\" width=\"720\" height=\"452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Ross-2.jpg 720w, https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Ross-2-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The University of Michigan \u00a0Ross<strong> School of Business<\/strong> has released its <a href=\"https:\/\/michiganross.umich.edu\/programs\/full-time-mba\/application-requirements\">essay questions<\/a> and deadlines for the 2016-17 application cycle.<\/p>\n<h2>Dates &amp; Deadlines:<\/h2>\n<table width=\"476\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"156\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"156\"><strong>Application Deadline<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"156\"><strong>Decisions Announced<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"156\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"156\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"156\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"156\"><strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Round 1<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"156\">October 03, 2015<\/td>\n<td width=\"156\">December 16, 2015<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"156\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>Round 2<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"156\">January 02, 2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"156\">March 17, 2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"156\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>Round 3<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"156\">March 20, 2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"156\">May\u00a012, 2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><strong>Admissions Criteria:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em>\u201c<\/em>The Admissions Committee seeks to bring together talented students from a broad range of academic and professional backgrounds. Applications are reviewed\u00a0holistically; no single\u00a0factor \u2013 e.g.,\u00a0GPA, GMAT\/ GRE score, or years of work experience\u2014 determines the outcome.\u00a0Applications are reviewed with three broad criteria in mind:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Intellectual ability<\/li>\n<li>Professional and personal achievements<\/li>\n<li>Interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><strong><u>Essay Questions: <\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Like last two years, Ross requires its applicants to write two essays. However, \u00a0instead of 800 words for the two essays (400 words each), they now have to answer these two questions in only 650 words. Last year\u2019s essay question # 1 offered the applicants the option to choose either personal or professional accomplishment. \u00a0This year\u2019s applicants are not given that option. They need to discuss what they are proud of outside of their professional life which means they CANNOT share their professional accomplishments. \u00a0The second question (goals question) remains unchanged from last year, but alas the word limit for goals essay question has been reduced form 400 words to 250 words.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a closer look at the two essay questions:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>What are you most proud of outside of your professional life? How does it shape who you are today? (up to\u00a0400 words)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This question allows you to choose your story from your academic, personal, or community\u00a0 experiences . You will need to do a lot of self-reflection and come up with a story (<a href=\"https:\/\/myessayreview.com\/blogs\/?p=1199\">accomplishment<\/a>) \u00a0that best showcases your growth\/development. Create a list of your two proudest personal or community achievements. Then reflect on how each of these accomplishments helped you demonstrate your values and priorities. You may also choose an experience that is meaningful to you because it gave you an opportunity to make an impact on other people\u2019s lives and demonstrate your personal values of resilience, honesty, and integrity. Sometimes, the personal setbacks in our life teach us more valuable life lessons\u00a0 than any other experience or adventure that we might undertake and make us stronger individuals. If you are proud of how bravely you handled a personal setback ( e.g. sickness, death of a dear one) you may share that story as well.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever story you choose, please remember that the \u201cwhat\u201d of what you are most proud of is as important as the \u2018why\u2019 of it. That is, it is important to demonstrate what challenges you have faced, and how you stepped out of your comfort zone to overcome those challenges. In addition, don\u2019t forget to explain the \u2018significance\u2019 of the experience. The Ad Com would like to know how have grown or transformed from that experience to emerge a better person or a member of community.<\/p>\n<p>When the school asks you<em> \u201cWhat are you most proud of and why?\u201d <\/em>they don\u2019t want to know about your entire life story (some of my students actually made this mistake); instead, they want you to share a single accomplishment that makes you feel proud of yourself. Ross admission director Soojin Kwon explained in her blog last year:<em> \u201cDon\u2019t write two paragraphs of introduction before stating what you\u2019re most proud of. You can even start with, \u201cI am most proud of\u2026.\u201d Write as you would speak.\u00a0To a real person. We, who read the essays, are real people.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n<p>As always, I recommend that you follow the 4 part structure to organize your story:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Situation<\/li>\n<li>Action<\/li>\n<li>Outcome<\/li>\n<li>Significance<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI consider this experience as my most significant achievement because it was the first time I had conceived an idea, influenced others to accept my plan and implemented it to create a positive impact on society. Combining my passion for running and my intent for helping the underprivileged, I formed a team of like-minded colleagues and accomplished a fundraiser 8K. Ross would find in me a person who can effectively channelize her skills and interests to achieve a bigger cause.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Essay Question 2: What is your desired career path and why? (Up to 250 words)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This is a straightforward <a href=\"https:\/\/myessayreview.com\/blogs\/?p=1197\">goals essay<\/a> question through which the Ad Com would like to know why you want to go to business school. Begin your essay with a brief career history and provide details about how you have pursued your career, acquired new skills and progressed along your career path all these years. Explain your rationale behind each career move. Then go on to describe why you believe that an MBA is the next logical step in your career path NOW? What are those skills that\u00a0\u00a0 you still lack which you hope to acquire by an MBA?<\/p>\n<p>Then explain your post MBA and long term goals. \u00a0Please be as specific as you can in discussing your post MBA goals. That is, specify which industry, which company, and what position you would like to see yourself at after graduating from Ross.\u00a0 Even if you are not 100% sure, you should be clear and quite decisive about your short term goals. You need to make sure that there is a logical connection between short term and long term goals.\u00a0 For example, you do not want to say that your long term goal is to be CEO of Xyz Company if your past experience, current skills set, and your short term goals do not at all seem to be leading to that direction.<\/p>\n<p>Please remember that the \u2018goals\u2019 essay requires you to make a realistic connection between your past (past experience and skills), present (your need of an MBA), and future (your future goals). The key is to justify your rationale behind your chosen career path.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, even though the essay prompt doesn\u2019t ask you why you are interested in Ross, it makes sense to add 1-2 sentences ( if space permits) about how an MBA from Ross will bring to closer to your career objectives. Establish a connection between their offerings and your goals, and interests to justify your \u2018fit\u2019 with program.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWith its strong focus on experiential learning, a Ross MBA perfectly matches my goals. Ross\u2019 signature MAP project will help me implement my classroom concepts to solve real-time business challenges\u00a0\u00a0 eventually developing my leadership and professional skills. The core courses along with electives such as Strategies for Growth will provide me sound business foundation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Given the stringent word limit (250 words), you will need to <a href=\"https:\/\/myessayreview.com\/blogs\/?p=1837\">choose your words wisely, making sure that every word counts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>As you develop your stories for these two essays, make sure to showcase to the Ross admissions committee your well- rounded personality. The first question will help you paint your non- work side, and the second question will aid in demonstrating your professional side.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, Ross admission director Soojin Kwon explained in her blog, <em>\u201cFor both questions, there isn\u2019t an answer that we \u201cwant to hear\u201d other than a response that demonstrates that you\u2019ve done some self-reflection and gives us a sense of you as a person.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Optional Statement<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n<h3><strong>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<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/myessayreview.com\/blogs\/?p=1116\">This question<\/a> provides you an opportunity to explore an important aspect of your candidacy, or other significant achievements \/ strengths not mentioned in other essay responses and application form.\u00a0 Given the limited scope of Ross\u2019s essays, you can choose example\/examples from your work, an outstanding professional accomplishment that you could not share in essay 1 because it specifically required\u00a0 a non-work accomplishment. You may also share a life -experience that has greatly influenced your personality and life. The idea is to bring to light that aspect of your personality that truly makes you unique. Then you should try to demonstrate how you can leverage this skill or quality to enhance your MBA experience or your future career.<\/p>\n<p>As directed in the essay prompt, you may use this essay question to address a weakness in your profile, such as employment gap, or low GPA \/ low GMAT, or unusual choice of recommender. Your weakness may also bring out a positive aspect of your personality.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>\"The private tutoring job that I had to take up to support mine and my sister's education required me to spend 30 hours\/ week and left me with hardly any time to focus on my studies. This\u00a0eventually ended up\u00a0pulling down my grades to 70%.\"The tutoring experience, however, benefitted me in two ways. It reinforced my passion for teaching (I still find 10 hours\/ week to teach my home maid\u2019s children.) Also, it provided me the satisfaction of being a dutiful son.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>This <u>post<\/u> first appeared in <a href=\"https:\/\/myessayreview.com\/blogs\/?p=2737\">myEssayReview<\/a> blog. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>For questions, email\u00a0me at <a href=\"mailto:poonam@myessayreview.com\">poonam@myessayreview.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/myessayreview.com\/index.php\">Web<\/a> \/<a href=\"https:\/\/myessayreview.com\/blogs\/\">Blog<\/a>\/ <a href=\"https:\/\/myessayreview.com\/beforeafter.php\">Free resources<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/LinkedInProfile\">LinkedIn<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/myessayreview?notif_t=page_user_activity\"> Facebook<\/a>\/<\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The University of Michigan \u00a0Ross School of Business has released its essay questions and deadlines for the 2016-17 application cycle. Dates &amp; Deadlines: Application Deadline Decisions Announced \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Round&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[113],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-applications","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33214"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33841,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33214\/revisions\/33841"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}