Roll call updated.
mreevit
Please correct the round 1 deadline. I think it's Oct 10th or 11th.
Corrected R1 deadline. Thanks, mreevit.
michigancat
I'm interested in cleantech and sustainability, but I'm not interested in spending an extra year for the Erb Institute program.
Would this hurt my chances with Ross?
This is a great question, and I wanted to take some time to answer this. First, I want to make the disclaimer that I am not in the Erb program - I'm only in Ross - so take what I say with a grain of salt.
When I was applying, I did check out the Erb dual degree program; however, the three-year duration was the deciding factor for me in my decision not to pursue this option. Did it hurt my chances? I don't know, but I'd like to think not, since I did get in. During my on-campus interview, I was indeed asked this question - if I'm interested in cleantech/sustainability, why did I not apply to Erb? My answer was honest. I already have a Master's degree in engineering, so I didn't really feel that a dual degree would offer that much value to me, even though I wanted to pursue something in that sector.
That said, if you have a year to spare, and you don't already have an advanced degree, Erb could be an excellent option for you if you want to go into sustainability. The SNRE program (dual degree with Erb) is ranked top 3 in the country, so you will be in excellent company. If you decide to spend your first year in SNRE - you have the option to start with SNRE or Ross - you would still be able to establish ties with the Ross community. From what I've heard, the Erbbies - obviously, they don't like that nickname so I would recommend saying it as often as you can - are really passionate about what they do, so you would definitely be in great company - and a tightly-knit community - if you decide to pursue this option. The Erbbies that I've met have been smart, motivated, and nice people who are a lot of fun.
I'm probably not the best person to talk about the Erb program, since I'm not in it, but I would be happy to put you in touch with someone who is, if you are interested.
Best of luck!