Applying to Ross through The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business is a member of The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, an alliance of 15 leading American business schools and some of our country's top corporations.  The mission of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, an alliance of leading American business schools and some of our country's top corporations, is to enhance diversity in business education and leadership by helping to reduce the serious underrepresentation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in both our member schools' enrollments and the ranks of management.  All applicants to the Consortium, regardless of race or ethnicity, must be able to demonstrate commitment to this mission.

• The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan strongly encourages eligible prospective candidates to apply to the Ross MBA Program using the Consortium application.
• If you apply as a Consortium candidate, you are not required to complete the Ross MBA application.
• Visit www.cgsm.org for more information.

The Consortium Application Deadlines

• Early deadline November 15, 2009
• Final deadline January 5, 2010

Consortium Applicant FAQs 

What is the Ross School of Business interview policy for Consortium applicants?

• Students applying through the Consortium are required to complete a Consortium interview and if invited a separate Ross Admissions interview.
• Your Consortium interview may be conducted by a representative of any of the Consortium member schools or a Consortium alumnus in your area.

How is the Consortium interview different from the Ross Admissions interview?

• A Consortium interview must be completed prior to submitting your application.  This interview is comprised of questions pertinent to all participating member schools.
• A Ross Admissions interview is by invitation only and at the discretion of the Admission Committee after review of your application.  In addition to general questions, a Ross Admissions interview will contain questions specific to the Ross MBA program.

Does my Consortium interview need to be conducted by a representative from the Ross School of Business?

• No.  It is not necessary to interview with an admissions staff member at the Ross School of Business
• Your Consortium interview may be conducted by a representative of any of the Consortium member schools or a Consortium alumnus in your area.
• Only one interview will be taken into consideration.

Is it possible to arrange a Consortium interview at Ross?

• Yes.  All interviews should be arranged well ahead of the appropriate deadlines.  If you request an interview at short notice or very late in the application cycle, we may not be able to accommodate your request.  To arrange a Consortium interview at Ross, please contact the Interview Office at rossintv@umich.edu. Your subject heading should state your last name and "Consortium interview request."

When are invitations for Ross Admissions interviews extended?

• After reviewing applications, the Admissions Committee extends interview invitations at its discretion.
• Invitations are extended on a rolling basis.

Do I have to complete my Ross Admissions interview on campus?

• We highly encourage all applicants to visit campus for their interviews and to utilize that time to schedule a formal visit if possible.  There will be additional opportunities to interview with alumni or staff in select cities around the globe.  For individuals who are unable to interview in person via either of these options, there will be a limited number of phone interviews available.

What is the school specific essay I will be required to write if I apply to Ross through the Consortium?

• In addition to the essays required by the Consortium for all candidates, there is a required school specific question for each member school to which you apply through the Consortium.  The Ross-specific question is:

               Please answer both of the following two short answer questions (300 words each):

a)    If you were not pursuing the career goals you described in Essay 1, what profession would you pursue instead? (For example, teacher, musician, athlete, architect, etc.) How will this alternate interest contribute to your effectiveness in solving multidisciplinary problems?

b)    Describe your experience during a challenging time in your life. Explain how you grew personally, either despite this challenge or because of it.

• The admissions process is blind to the rankings, and admissions committee members do not see the rankings while reading your application or conducting interviews.  After admissions decisions have been made for R1 and R2, the committee uses the rankings in the fellowship award process.

How does the fellowship award process work?

• The ranking process is intended to allow you to determine which schools will be the first to have the opportunity to offer you a fellowship.  You can only be considered for fellowship by schools which admit you.
• If you are admitted at your first choice school, that program will have the first option to offer you a fellowship.  If your highest-ranked school does not admit you or opts not to offer you a fellowship, the school you ranked next highest who has admitted you gets the next opportunity to offer the fellowship, and so on.  Admission to a program by no means guarantees a fellowship offer, and it is wise to plan your finances in a manner which allows you to pursue your MBA either way.
• Please note that the current Consortium policy is that you cannot change your ranking after you have submitted your application.  As this can have major implications for your fellowship options and eventual selection of an MBA program, you are encouraged to visit schools, speak with students and alumni, and overall assess the fit of each program for your personal needs prior to applying and ranking the schools.