OT - Ross interview advice plz
October 25th, 2010 at 9:01 PM ^
Undergrad or Grad?
October 25th, 2010 at 9:03 PM ^
Grad.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:15 PM ^
The interview typically lasts about 30-45 minutes and they ask common questions like:
Why MBA?
Why Ross?
Go over your resume
Describe leadership experience
Describe a tough decision
Describe a situation where someone in a group was against your decision, what happened and what did you learn?
What do you do outside or work? What can you contribute to Ross?
EDIT: Also, Ross is big on action based learning.
Action-based learning is an approach to business education that requires Ross to continuously create relevant, challenging ways to connect our students with the world of practice.It informs how the faculty teach, the way our students interact with one another, and how Ross thinks about leadership. Ross's Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) is the most distinctive of the action-based learning programs. It's an approach to education that looks beyond problem solving to opportunity sensing. It asks you to apply both analytical rigor and your imagination. It asks you to take a leadership role in customizing your own Ross experience.
October 25th, 2010 at 10:31 PM ^
I did admission interviews for another top MBA program. My suggestions;
1. Don't be an asshole - if the interviewer thinks you are not someone they would not like to work with then your chances are low. So be confident but not conceited. And be relaxed, it is horrible when the interviewee can't communicate during the interview.
2. Know your story - if you got the interview then you already sound good on paper. Review what you wrote. Why do you want to do an MBA? How does it fit with your prior decisions and future plans?
3. Why Ross? Schools do care about yield and thus they want to see someone who is really considering coming to Michigan if they get in. Talk about particular classes/clubs/profs and why does fit into your career plans or your personality. The action based learning that the prior poster mentioned is prob something that makes Michigan unique and you should mentioned it if it makes sense with the rest of the application. Most top MBAs offer very similar things, but there are certain aspects that make each unique.
4. What will the school gain by having you there. A big thing about the MBAs is that studetns make the school. Thus admissions is looking to bring in people that will make the school better for the rest of the class. What do you offer different from other candidates?
5. Answer the questions. I know there is a lot you want to say, but make sure you answer the question that is asked.
Good luck
October 25th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^
damn.
October 25th, 2010 at 11:19 PM ^
Are they going to administer a spelling test?
Damn.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^
HOLD ON TO THE DAMN BALL
October 25th, 2010 at 9:06 PM ^
STOP KICKING THE DAMN BALL
October 25th, 2010 at 9:11 PM ^
"How many wins does RR need in order to keep his job?"
Luckily I was prepared for that one.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:11 PM ^
It would probably be good to know some research from the heavy-hitting scholars at Ross. Find out who they are, find their more often cited articles (use googlescholar), and be able to say something smart about the field you are entering. If you don't know how to effectively read research - read "They Say, I Say" it is really good. Then figure out who the people are arguing with. I don't know if the B-school works the same, but most scholarship is the same.
That is what I would do.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:19 PM ^
To be honest, I'd disagree. I've spent the past 4 years at Ross and I don't feel the research aspect is important at all.
The most important thing to do is to find a way to differentiate yourself. Come armed with interesting stories and talking points on your resume. I have not been through an MBA interview, but I'm guessing they'll hit hard on your behavioral interview questions.
Differentiate yourself and you'll be ok.
October 25th, 2010 at 11:31 PM ^
I concur.
I used to be on the alumni admissions committee for the MBA program, and I'd say the holy trinity of b school questions are first and foremost:
1. Why an MBA? Do not have a canned answer. What is it you want to learn. Why do you want to learn it? What are you going to use it for afterwards?
2. Why here? Know why Ross addresses your needs. You're looking to spend $120,000 on an MBA. Know what you're buying and why you want to buy it.
3. Why now? Sounds odd, but b school needs to be the appropriate solution for you now. In essence, you've gone as far as you can without an MBA, and spending two years and six figures will enable you to fill in the gaps in your knowledge and position you for the rest of your career. The interviewer needs to believe there's no risk of premature matriculation (heh) and that you're not past your sell-by date.
Also, make sure you pay attention to your interviewer's 30-60 second spiel about who they are and their background. It'll tell you a fair amount about how to adapt for the interview. For instance, someone in the CEMP program will probably not respond to your dreams of a career in the oil and gas industry.
October 26th, 2010 at 12:34 AM ^
....and I also concur with this fellow/fellette's concurrent concurrence.
One other thing: look, everyone knows about action-based learning, and 99 times out of 100 an applicant brings it up in the interview. What I want to hear is how you intend to make the most of such an opportunity -- not only in an effort to become a more successful professional, but also what you intend to contribute to your cohort. Having a well-thought out approach to how you intend to spend your two-plus (yay dual degree!) years at Ross is a huge plus.
Best of luck!
October 26th, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^
That said, if you can GENUINELY bring up why the multi-disciplinary action project(required consulting type project that will take up all of your time during the 4th quarter of your 1st year) can help you/is attractive to you it will help out quite a bit. It's especially helpful if you want to get into consulting and can cite that as a good way to get consulting experience. It certainly helped me.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^
Even for those of us who didn't want to go the consulting path (I'm a banker), MAP is a great way to integrate and use what you've learned in the first 21 weeks of your MBA1 year.
For those of us who really learn best by doing, MAP (and Ross in general) is a great way to get all those disparate parts to fall into place and cement those lessons.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
October 25th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
Please change the title to "OT: Ross interview please advice".
October 25th, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^
I graduated from the Evening MBA program last May and my interview was a thirty minute conversation at a Starbucks with an alum from the program. It was mainly a conversation about why I wanted to get an MBA and why I wanted to go to Ross. It was a lot like a job interview but not as formal. We talked a little bit about my job history and education history, mostly about what were my experiences and lessons learned. We talked a little bit of my personal life (family, why I came to Michigan from Puerto Rico, hobbies, etc). Lastly we talked about what I was hoping to learn and achieve during my time at Ross and what I would do with my MBA.
All that being said, just be honest and candid with the interviewer. Don't try to find the million dollar answer, they just want to get an idea of who you are and what you bring to the table. The most important thing is to be able to explain why you want an MBA and what you bring to the table that can help make the Ross learning experience better for you and other students.
Good luck! Let us know what happens!
Edit: Definitely make sure the cell phone is off. Last thing the interviewer wants to know is which Cee-Lo song is your new ringtone.
October 25th, 2010 at 10:44 PM ^
And talk about how much you look forward to marketing class (hi jose).
October 26th, 2010 at 1:11 AM ^
...And a recently unemployed and re-employed guy out in Missouri (where, like it or not, a Michigan degree doesn’t carry as much cache), it sounds to me like you’re getting a lot of great advice on this thread.
And Jose is right: relax. I had the good fortune of hearing a speaker at a job club the night before I had my first interview at a well-known nonprofit, who said something that stuck with me: “Friends hire friends. So make that person across the desk your friend.” I had an offer six days later.
Just be yourself. Odds are, the interviewer thinks like you do, to some extent. We are our best selves with our closest friends. Bring some of that with you to the interview. It’s not BS. You don’t BS your friends.
Do what you can to genuinely make that person your friend.
Of course, if there is more than one interviewer, I wouldn’t know what the hell to do.
October 26th, 2010 at 2:35 AM ^
I had a interview for an IT internship, there were three interviewers, that was miserable. Felt like I was being cornered by a pack of hungry wolves.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^
wear a dolphins jersey
October 25th, 2010 at 9:33 PM ^
From the headline, I thought you were going to interview Ross. I would only have one question: "Would you please teach me how to make as much money as you have?"
October 25th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^
I just went through the MBA app process last year, but didn't apply to Ross (went there for undergrad though).
Go to the clearadmit wiki for some questions from past years. Know your story - what you've done in the past, why you want to get an MBA from Ross, why now, and future goals (short and long-term). Have a few stories for leadership, teamwork, handling difficult teammates, failure, etc. - basic behavioral interview questions.
Above all show you've done your research on the program and know the reasons why Ann Arbor and Ross are right for you (besides football). And like a few others said, be honest and differentiate yourself.
Good luck!
October 25th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
October 25th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
read BO'S LASTING LESSONS, then quote it repeatedly.
THE TEAM, THE TEAM, THE TEAM.
Also, firm hand shake, no sweaty palms.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
Ross is the easiest sort of grad program to get into, cuz the interviews basically boil down to:
"Mr/Mrs. [Applicant], are you prepared to exploit the working class and sacrifice your humanity in the name of capitalism?"
Then you sacrifice a goat on a shrine to Ross and BOOM MBA student.
October 25th, 2010 at 10:07 PM ^
good luck fool
October 25th, 2010 at 10:14 PM ^
longer than 25 yards? Consistently?
October 25th, 2010 at 10:31 PM ^
ive made them in practice before..that means im good right?
October 25th, 2010 at 10:34 PM ^
. I'm not a UM grad but I've interviewed many perspective job candiates only one was a UM grad she was hired interviewed well was well qualified. That form of questioning appears to be performance based interviewing or in some circles behavioral interviewing. here are some sites that may help you to "sharpen up" for that interview.
please excuse my presumption that you have not taken the time to look these up yourself.
http://itcoolguy.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/performance-based-interviewing/
http://www4.va.gov/jobs/hiring/interview.asp
these are all given a score the score is factored in among the cirriculum vitae and actuall work experience
October 25th, 2010 at 11:14 PM ^
Be prepared for questions regarding the possibility of redshirting Devin Gardner and the rules and regulations of medical redshirts.
Also, you will be asked about UM's 3-3-5 defense, whether it is an actual 3-3-5 or a simply a base defense with variants.
There is a possibility you will be expected to argue either side of the Carvin Johnson or Thomas Gordon debate --- I strongly suggest you volunteer the option of moving Cam Gordon to impress them. However, make sure to mention Vinopal's issues as an FS to cover all cons on any possible move.
And of course, be prepared for the standard question of "How many wins does RR need to come back in 2011." I can only suggest you think outside the box when answering this question. A simple "bowl win" or "As long as we beat OSU" won't do it in a Ross interview.
October 25th, 2010 at 11:19 PM ^
...pros and cons. Discuss.
October 25th, 2010 at 11:22 PM ^
I'd work into the discussion some knowledge of what Ross is good at. Don't say you want to go to the best finance school, they'll ask you "why not go to Wharton?"
October 26th, 2010 at 12:01 AM ^
Have a good question for the interviewer about why they chose Ross. Remember, you are looking for a good fit for your needs, too. Be interested. Listen, don't just wait for your turn to speak.
October 26th, 2010 at 12:09 AM ^
Muchas gracias and posbangs to all. Very helpful stuff. Truly.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:42 AM ^
I don't really have much more to contribute, they've pretty much got the layout down in the previous posts. Just be yourself, but a better version. Also, relax and be confident in yourself.
October 26th, 2010 at 8:32 AM ^
Think really hard before going to Ross. You will be spending upwards of $100k to get a degree from a fantastic school BUT you won't be in a geographically well placed region of the country as far as jobs are concerned.
You will be much better off finding the best school you can get into in a city that has plenty of jobs in the industry you are looking to get into. For example, if you want to get into Finance then I strongly suggest looking into top tier schools in Chicago, NY and Boston.
This will obviously not be a popular opinion here (I don't care), just wanted to give you something to consider. People will counter with "Michigan is a global brand,.....". Yes, that is true but hiring in the country is still very much local. It is much easier to get into Finance if you go to a top-tier local school than in Michigan.
October 26th, 2010 at 9:13 AM ^
and would suggest the OP speak to current/ former Ross students, look at career stats from Ross and other top schools, and ask business people at firms he wants to work in to confirm this.
Anyway, if I recall correctly, my interview was pretty standard in terms of why Ross, why now, what do you want to do post graduation, explain any potential shortcomings on application (low/ lower GPA/ test scores, extended time before MBA, work history...)
The OP should make sure you he visits the Ross site and talks to current/ former students if possible, because Michigan really believes they differentiate on Action Based Learning (make sure you understand the various ways Michigan does this). In addition, show the interviewer that you want an extra step in asking students for advice, speaking to people in business about the value of an MBA, really understand a realistic career path and that you will contribute to the MBA community in "extra curricular" activities.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
explain any potential shortcomings on application (low/ lower GPA/ test scores, extended time before MBA, work history...)If you took a few classes in the b school as an undergrad (e.g. Accounting, Econ etc) and didn't really perform well in those courses, I'm assuming this is fair game for discussion as well?
October 26th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
how poorly you performed. The interviewer gets your transcript and you should have an explanation for why you performed poorly in Accounting/ Econ..., but want an MBA. It may just be that at that time, you were more focused on other classes, extra curricular activities, your major (presumably not business)...
Like all B-Schools, they want to see that you have a logical thought process and are "smart", so a bad grade in a business class isn't the end of the world, just be prepared for questions.
October 26th, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^
I'm a Ross grad and currently recruit at Ross for my company, and for the full-time program, virtually none of the graduates take a job in the state of Michigan. That's bad for the state, great for the grads. Ford is the only company in the top 30 of hiring companies that's in the state.
Here is the list of the top hiring companies from last year:
| Company | Number of Hires |
| Amazon.com | 15 |
| McKinsey & Company | 13 |
| Deloitte Consulting, LLP | 11 |
| Accenture Ltd. | 9 |
| Citi | 8 |
| UBS AG | 7 |
| Booz & Company | 6 |
| The Boston Consulting Group | 6 |
| Cisco Systems, Inc | 6 |
| Dell, Inc.. | 5 |
| Bain & Company, Inc. | 5 |
| Samsung Global Strategy Group | 5 |
| PRTM Management Consultants Inc. | 5 |
How many of those companies are based in Michigan? Hint: zero. There are bound to be a few consultants who are based out of Detroit, but I don't know any of them.
Only 30% of graduates end up working in the Midwest, the bulk of them in Chicago or Minneapolis.
Here is some public knowledge that I can share:
http://www.bus.umich.edu/pdf/EmploymentProfile2010.pdf
I won't debate whether or not we're a global brand (our international student diversity would say we are), but we're certainly a national powerhouse brand. Businessweek MBA rankings (#5):
-
- 1 University of Chicago (Booth)
- 2 Harvard University
- 3 Northwestern University (Kellogg)
- 4 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
- 5 University of Michigan (Ross)
- 6 Stanford University
- 7 Columbia University
- 8 Duke University (Fuqua)
- 9 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
- 10 University of California - Berkeley (Haas)
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/index.html
Please don't make assumptions that you have no possible way of backing up. Especially when you're talking about UM. Not cool.
I'm not a frequent negger, but you get one for that post. Not cool to give life-changing advice when you're not informed on the topic.
OP, if you can get in, Go Blue.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^
Some of the firms you've listed are consulting firms (e.g. Deloitte, Accenture, McKinsey.) I know they have offices in Detroit metro, but do graduates of Ross that wind up at these companies still leave Michigan? I'm assuming the answer is yes, but just curious if that is revealed anywhere.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:51 AM ^
The consulting firms would love for UM grads to want to be located in Detroit. It's not exactly a high demand location these days. Hopefully that will turn around soon.
I'd guess there are a handfull of evening/part-time students each year that go into consulting based out of Detroit since they already live here. Just a guess though.
October 26th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
That's what I figured... but I still find those numbers interesting, because I work for one of the firms on that list, yet I know more people leaving the firm to go to schools like Ross, but I haven't heard as much about folks coming back, or coming to my company from Ross. Probably just indicative of my network/ large company.
October 26th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^
So far three of the current MBA2's who have accepted offers from Deloitte are going to the Detroit office, this is out of 13 of us so far and from what I can tell with the other companies in the Detroit area similar proportions are going to the Detroit office. Most of the rest go to Chicago, with a few others scattered about the country. Typically people from the area or with families go to Detroit , while the rest go to Chicago and TBH if I was single and in my late 20's like most of my classmates I'd do the same. However, I am old and lame with two kids and thus am staying in Detroit.
October 26th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
Say what? There are precious few Michigan alums in the MSP region, and I'd say 75% of them work for Target Corp.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^
Well, the thing of it is this: As you say, I do believe it's best to go to grad school in the area where you're looking for a job. That's precisely why I want to go to U-M. I don't much care what industry I get into. I think I can do the job regardless. I want to work in Michigan. If I don't get into Ross, I can get into UDM and I'll go there, but there's a big difference in the quality of the degree. I like that Ross offers something different than just sitting in class and listening to a lecture for two years.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:53 AM ^
It's clearly the best option for in state as well if this is where you want to stay.
FYI, if you already live in Michigan, it's a little easier to get into the part-time program than the full-time program...same degree just slightly less helpful in the career search (probably not a problem if you're staying local).
October 26th, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^
I'm currently an MBA2 at Ross. There has been a lot of great advice posted, but I do have a couple of things to add:
- Have you talked to any of the student ambassadors at Ross? Reaching out to a couple of them within your areas of interest is a great way to learn more about the program and how a Ross MBA will help you achieve your career goals. You should be able to better craft your responses to the common interview responses based on your conversations with current MBAs. The ambassadors are there to help you, so definitely take advantage of that. http://www.bus.umich.edu/Admissions/Mba/Tours/ambassadors.htm
- You mentioned that you don't care what industry you get into. That's all well and good, but you need to have some direction in terms of what your career goals are. Where do you expect to be in 5-years? 10-years? Those are common questions and you need to be prepared to answer them. You don't have to go towards the career goals you spoke about in your interview when you get to Ross, but you do need to have a story and career goals for your interview.
Having been in your shoes two years back, I know the process is very stressful. If you follow the tips that some of the other posters have mentioned and be yourself, you'll do great. Good luck!