Ross School of Business

Michigan Ross values the unique qualities that veteran bring to our MBA program. Veterans have been incredibly successful at Ross and is a growing community. Seven percent of the fall 2020 matriculating class were veterans, a record for the school. As you prepare to embark on the MBA Application journey, we wanted to share these key tips:

Deal with the Standardized Test early on

Most applicants, including our vets, agree that the standardized test is the most time consuming part of the MBA application process. Given that test scores are valid for five years and the amount of test prep required to do well, we recommend beginning test prep 12-18 months before intended matriculation. The vast majority of our students take the test multiple times and see improvement on subsequent attempts. You’ll want to leave yourself adequate time to retake the exam or even switch to a different exam if it’s a better fit. It’s easier to work on this earlier in the process rather than under a time crunch in the spring if you’re placed on a school’s waitlist.

Essays are one of the only opportunities for Admissions Officers to learn about who you are and what you value before interview selection. Many veteran applicants write essays about their experiences in service for many if not all of the essay prompts. These experiences are often strong and well written, but they also frequently repeat experiences we hear about in other parts of your application. You bring more experiences and perspective than just your time in service, so don’t be afraid to share your full self when writing essays.

Translate leadership experiences and impacts for your resume and interview prep

All Admissions teams are looking for students who have made an impact in their respective careers thus far and show an upward trajectory of success. It’ll take some time and preparation to clearly define your experiences on your resume. When possible, be sure to quantify key parts of your day to day duties- i.e. size of your unit and value of equipment you oversee. Clearly outline new ranks as they were earned and any accommodations or rankings that positively reflect your success. As you prepare for your interview, take time to practice limiting jargon and breaking down service experiences for those unfamiliar with military practice.

Define your career path

For any school you apply to, you’ll be asked to share your career goals. Most full-time MBA students are making a career switch, so don’t feel intimidated explaining your transition. The key is to clearly define your transferable skills and why you’re passionate about an industry. As much as possible, show the Admissions team you’ve done your homework on your post-service career and have already begun talking with people in the field to prepare. Recruiters always tell us that they trust MBA programs are providing students with the core quantitative skills to be successful. They focus heavily on matching student’s passions and values to their industry and company culture. If you have a personal connection and passion for your post-MBA goals, be sure to communicate it.

Leverage current veteran resources

Most schools have a veterans student group which is really hands-on in the Admissions process. Many schools even have special visit weekends for veterans which are a great way to learn about a school’s culture first-hand. Current students understand how demanding the Admissions process can be and make themselves available to help review essays/resumes etc. Don’t be bashful reaching out for this support- they were in your shoes just a year or 2 before and excited to pay it forward.

Why Ross for Veterans:

Michigan Ross is known for having more opportunities for action-based learning - learning business by doing business - than any other program. We repeatedly get feedback from our alumni veterans that this is a natural fit for their preferred learning style. Ninety-five percent of Ross students made a career pivot so you’re in good company. The best way to prepare for a post-military career is getting hands-on experiences from programs like MAP- a 7-week immersive consulting engagement course with real companies and organizations around the world, which gives you high-impact experience and helps prepare you for your internship.
The Armed Forces Association at Ross is an incredibly tight-knit group of veterans who support each other throughout the MBA experience. The group hosts one of the largest student events of the year- VetX, a TedTalk style event where veterans share their service experiences in front of hundreds of their classmates. Students also plan the Veterans Leadership Summit, bringing together veterans from all MBA programs with top companies at Ross.
As a public institution, the University of Michigan is proud to provide in-state tuition for all veterans and allows veterans to take full advantage of GI Bill benefits. In addition, Ross has recently created a cost of living stipend scholarship awarded to many veterans.
Ross is well known for having one of the most inclusive and largest partner communities across the country. Nearly a third of Ross students have a significant other and the University of Michigan offers generous child care stipends for graduate students. Ann Arbor is routinely ranked in the top 5 of best US cities to live in and is home to a top-ranked VA hospital.
As part of your Ross MBA, you can apply to the Tauber Institute a world-class Operations and Supply Chain program. Tauber offers students a highly interdisciplinary academic experience with a top engineering graduate program and a guaranteed operations focused summer internship.This program has been a natural transition for a number of veterans over the years.