Michigan Ross Signing Week Open Thread: Day 1
This is the open thread for any and all Michigan Ross MBA Round 1 candidates to publicly announce their suitors and decisions. The program is hoping to sign a Top 10 class in both Businessweek and US News and World Reports. Feel free to post your recruiting profiles for the B-School or any other under/grad programs you’re applying to below. This is so much more stressful than undergrad admissions.
Name: Zone Left
MBA Prospect
Class of 2013
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Employer: Marine Corps
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 200lb
Evaluation:
What really jumps off the page when looking at Left is his extensive work experience. He’s got over eight years, which is significantly more than the average candidate. While the experience lends him a perspective unavailable to the average mid 20’s consultant, we wonder if schools will see him as past his prime and unable to compete with the younger folks.
His GMAT score is average to slightly above average for this level of competition. He has solid, above average writing skills, producing strong essays and interviews well, but we’re unsure if his sub-par GPA, despite being over eight years old, is going to cause the elite programs to take a pass. Overall, he’s the kind of solid prospect you build programs around. He’s got descent upside, is a solid team player, and projects as a solid professional.
Considering: Michigan, Texas, Notre Dame
While Left is a Southern California resident, he’s a Midwestern native and has been surprisingly disinterested in the powerhouse LA programs at UCLA and USC. He also got a strong push from the local boys at San Diego State, but thought nothing associated with the program had anything to offer a native of Michigan. His recruitment has been focused on national brands, including the goliaths in the Northeast, but that interest was not mutual.
His most active suitor was Notre Dame. They stepped in with his first offer, and have made a really strong push. Despite its diminished stature, the Irish brand name has great pull nationally. However, his family appears to be against the move, with one member actively comparing South Bend to the frozen 9th Circle of Dante’s Hell.
While he doesn’t have any geographic ties to the region, Texas has made a strong push for Left’s commitment and is certainly in the running. He is reportedly attracted to the Longhorns for the high quality of education, strong local economy, family values, and the second floor view of the treadmills at the school’s student gym. He has offers from both Notre Dame and Texas.
However, Ross is clearly his number one choice. The combination of hometown connections, excellent program, and outstanding history of churning out excellent professionals appears to be greater than Texas’s excellent location or Notre Dame’s strong recruiting push. That said, we’re unsure if Zone has a committable offer to Ross or not. He expects to find out in the next week and will announce on January 14th.
On the Trail:
Sep 20: Official visit and interview at Notre Dame
Sep 22: Official visit to Michigan
Sep 25: Official visit to Texas
Nov 3: Interview and unofficial visit to Michigan
Dec 3: Interview with Texas
Dec 17: Offered by Notre Dame
Dec 18: Offered by Texas
Jan 14: Expected decision (Likely not televised by ESPN)
Which will he choose?
January 10th, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^
I want a video of a double fake hat choosing.
January 10th, 2011 at 1:09 PM ^
Best of luck!
Regardless of where you go, you will get a 1st class education. That said, I hope it's Michigan!
Keep us posted!
January 10th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
M or UT.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:11 PM ^
You can't make a bad choice.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:19 PM ^
Hey me too! BBA from Ross and am in the MBA program at UT right now. What did you go into post-MBA if you don't mind me asking?
January 10th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
is that Ross is going through a coaching (er, Dean) change at the moment. apparently this hasn't fazed Zone Left, because it appears that the new Dean will continue to deploy the Action-Based Learning offensive scheme.
January 10th, 2011 at 1:16 PM ^
The dean change reportedly isn't affecting his decision, because he hasn't actually met the current dean and is certain he can succeed in an action-based learning scheme or a pro-style case scheme.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:41 PM ^
"Action-based learning" is like a spread offense. You have to read the market and scramble or pass accordingly.
By the way, can you kick a field goal? We need that too.
PS Former marines always do great in my classes.
January 10th, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^
I've heard he is making his decision largely based on the school so the dean shouldn't play a big role. Glad to see someone is taking their education into account in the important decision. Too many time we see kids make their Business School decision based on leaving early for the stock exchange. It's just such a fragile and risky move you don't see it pay off often enough.
January 10th, 2011 at 9:42 PM ^
There are rumors the search committee is using it, but I heard from an inside source that the b-school students rented the Bus to someone who is using it to deliver alcohol to Michigan alumni in nearby Big Ten cities.
January 10th, 2011 at 1:14 PM ^
whats your 40 time?
January 10th, 2011 at 1:14 PM ^
I got my MBA from Michigan in 1995 (pre-Ross days) - it was a great education and a great two years.
January 10th, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^
and Congratulations.
January 10th, 2011 at 1:21 PM ^
I'm a current MBA2 at Ross, and remember how anxious I was hoping for the phone call from admissions. Ironically, this coaching search seems to trigger that same level of anxiety! The application process involves a lot of hard work, but that one phone call makes it all worth it. Regardless of the outcome, you've been admitted to two great schools and I'll bet you have an excellent chance of getting into Ross. Good luck!
January 10th, 2011 at 1:24 PM ^
Yeah, life's good regardless. I'll be disappointed if I'm not admitted to Ross, but Austin will make up for it.
January 10th, 2011 at 1:57 PM ^
the Michigan B-School, Columbia B-School, and a Grayshirt (wait-list) at Wharton.
The decision was sealed when Michigan threw some $$$ at me in the form of a scholarship. The cheap bastards at Columbia only wanted to give me loans. I didn't want to wait on Wharton in the hope that they would oversign.
It now occurs to me . . . should I have checked to make sure that the $$$'s were on the up and up and that they were not funneled to me from an overzealous booster? It's impossible to keep track of the rules.
January 10th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^
Law school is the coolest! Have fun with all that counting, nerds!
But seriously, congratulations and good luck.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:02 PM ^
Have fun memorizing the constitution
January 10th, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
My high school civics teacher made everyone do that. He was a shitty teacher.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
Now I always know what is going to happen next on Law & Order.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
HTTP 403 error coming your way!
January 10th, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
Did you see the article in the NY Times yesterday? Yikes...
I'm not sure why people go to bottom tier schools unless there's a very specific purpose and a job guarantee afterwards. I can't imagine going to some lower tier school (with a family) and saddling myself with 200K in debt. Ugh.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:09 PM ^
I graduated in 2007 from USC and our class did fine but folks started getting laid off about a year in. I left the lawyering game pretty early on so I don't have a finger on the pulse, but I have seen no indication that things are close to returning to normal from a hiring numbers perspective.
As for comparisons, B-school is less competitive and potentially more fun but it is shorter and is full of dudes. Kind of a pick your poison situation.
January 10th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^
B-School may have more dudes than Law School - but that's nothing compared to my electrical engineering experience! Oh right, I'm married now and thid doesn't factor into my decision...
January 10th, 2011 at 3:28 PM ^
Apparently, "going undergrad" is an MBA sport. I'm married, so I'm not going to be at the bar on Tuesdays, but the view will be nice. My tour guide at Texas walked me to the second floor of the gym (above the cardio equipment) and told me to look down. There was a row of treadmills populated by undergrads--it doesn't hurt to look...
January 10th, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^
I spoke with a student when I interviewed who was telling me how all the MBA guys like to Rick's. I asked her what happened that Rick's is no longer the greek scene bar. She shot me a puzzled look and goes "That's why they go." I felt dirty after hearing that :-p
I'm amazed people have time to go nuts like this in B-School. Most people I know have said they've done nothing but work and try and find a job.
January 10th, 2011 at 9:44 PM ^
I think a lot of folks are sponsored by their employers and just need to graduate. That, and being maybe 25, gives them license to live really hard for a couple of years. Frankly, I can't imagine being a part of a bunch of clubs and other extracurriculars, but I'm 30 with a kid.
January 11th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
Didn't realize companies paid for full-time MBAs. My employer will shell outa few grand for me to "go" to Phoenix, Strayer, or Capella...
Were you able to play up your family life as part of your app? Just curious, because I really feel us married folk, and especially guys like you with kids, are a lot more serious about our education and have more to gain from B-School.
Anyway, good luck! Sounds like the ad-comm has started making calls to international students this morning.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:08 PM ^
Congrats on McCombs and good luck with Ross! You'll have a great experience at either one.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^
Seems to lack top end savoriness...
January 10th, 2011 at 2:19 PM ^
January 10th, 2011 at 2:25 PM ^
I basically feel the same way. It's horrible.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:29 PM ^
You may not get into Ross, but you're both still more qualified to coach the football team than Brady Hoke. You just have to believe in the process and wait for Brandon to call.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^
January 10th, 2011 at 2:30 PM ^
UM Undergrad and UVA grad... anxiously awaiting news from Ross. I think my application is fine, but I'm freaked out about the interview. Wasn't bad but was super nervous (enthusiasm may have been masked) and just wasn't myself. Hoping that I didn't do poorly or the interview isn't enough to weigh down my high gmat and terrific essays.
Best of luck to you and everyone else awaiting a call.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^
FWIW, I just hacked into your accounts and sent disparaging emails to the Ross admissions staff from your addresses. Never hurts to eliminate the competition.
Who am I kidding. Even if I wanted to, I'm far too stupid to do that.
I actually enjoyed the interviews. I have a really good idea of who I am and what I want to do, so the interviews ended up being fun. Remember, they're not admitting 1% of interviewees. They're admitting something like 50% of interviewees. I think the interviews are mainly to gauge whether or not you're a friendly person, your application story seems genuine, and that you would be a good fit for the program.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:44 PM ^
January 10th, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^
I interviewed with an Ad-Com member and while she wasn't too rough the interview just went differently than I expected. I've never had a 25 minute intereview before. The pace of the interview was so quick I feel I left a lot in reserve for questions I expected but wasn't actually asked. She also focused a lot on my long term goals - which are significantly more hazy than the short term. Just felt different than job interviews I've been on- I've also never wanted a "job" so badly. But, I've met students who made significant blunders in their interviews and were still admitted.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:41 PM ^
What's ZL's fake GMAT score?
January 10th, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^
Unfortunately, they're all electronically timed. Zero FAKES out of five.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:50 PM ^
Good luck to everyone applying. Also, I have an apartment that could use some remodeling and a brother with off-the-moon GMAT scores and BA from Harvard. So, let's make a deal...
January 10th, 2011 at 3:13 PM ^
Anything can happen on signing day. For a long time I was considered a strong M lean given my local ties, but surprised everyone on signing day by bolting for a distant powerhouse (Wharton '03).
Seriously though, good luck. Business school is a blast (way more fun than law school).
January 10th, 2011 at 4:54 PM ^
January 10th, 2011 at 5:27 PM ^
I really enjoyed my time at the B-school and met some great, life-long friends. I graduated in '05 and feel like the $100k I borrowed to go full time was some of the best money I ever spent.
January 10th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
first thing I would suggest is changing "descent" to "decent". Not your typical typo.
"...He’s got descent upside..."
details matter
UM MBA '82
January 11th, 2011 at 7:53 AM ^
January 11th, 2011 at 12:34 AM ^
quick question
whats the lowest GMAT score you have heard that got accepted into the Accounting or MBA program at Michigan for the Ross School of Business.
I thought mine might of been a tad low to get in ? Even with a 3.504 GPA
Just want to know if Mine was good enough, doubt it, but oh well
Currently working on my masters at UW- Milwaukee in Accounting
January 11th, 2011 at 1:19 AM ^
January 11th, 2011 at 8:43 AM ^
What in tarnation do you mean, "there are no grades?"
<br>
<br>I lose a lot of hours grading that could have been spent watching football. Please do not tell me that that was all part of some cruel hoax
January 11th, 2011 at 3:02 AM ^
white, male, 3.504 gpa, 520 gmat ( super high on math, did bad on english ebcause i swear all i got were english questions related to science)
so wait, no grades in the MBA or the Masters Accounting program ?