The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is one of the top business schools in the country at one of the top public universities in the country. That’s double-tops. Michigan is extremely popular with our clients, and Ross even more so. Michigan Ross is perfect for students who want a strong business education, a robust college culture, and an impressive alumni network. But if you’re here, you know all this, because you’ve set your eyes on Ross and want advice on how to get in.
Ross is the most competitive school at Michigan. As a top public university, Michigan overall boasts about a 20% acceptance rate – this is true of both in and out-of-state applicants – but Ross’ acceptance rate is less than 10%. That means getting into Ross is just as hard as getting into schools like Vanderbilt, USC, NYU, and the Ivies. If you’re serious about Ross, we have a guide to help set you up with the best chance of success.
Is Ross your top choice? We’ve helped countless students gain admission to Ross and other top undergrad business schools. Our counselors are ready to provide expert, personalized guidance to help you meet your goals – reach out to us today.
Get the Grades
To get into Ross, you need to have the stats to get into Michigan plus some. Students who get into Ross are on the high end (or above) Michigan’s overall middle 50 data.
You also need straight As. The average unweighted GPA for Ross is a 3.9, and we guarantee those aren’t in easy A classes, either. In order to be competitive, you need to take the hardest classes your school offers and get straight As in them. This is a non-negotiable.
Build a Niche
If you’re aiming for Ross, a generic “I’m interested in business” isn’t going to get you very far. Michigan is looking for students with direction – ones who’ve already started carving out a path. Explore the different tracks and specializations Ross offers, like Business and Sustainability, Real Estate Development, or Strategy, to help you get clearer on what you want to pursue.
Let’s say finance is your starting point. Don’t stop there. Maybe you realize you're particularly drawn to investing, and then, after a few articles or podcasts, you find yourself digging into impact investing. From there, maybe you’re looking into how nonprofits can benefit or how finance can support affordable housing. That kind of progression – from broad interest to specific focus – is exactly what Ross loves to see. You're not just checking boxes; you're building a narrative.
Wondering how to actually show that? Let’s walk through it.
Courses and Reading
One of the best ways to find and refine your business niche is by diving headfirst into learning. We often guide students toward online courses through platforms like Coursera, The Great Courses, and Yale Open Courses, all of which offer strong foundations and opportunities to explore more specialized topics. Reading is just as important. Luckily, there’s no shortage of books written by business leaders or focused on topics like strategy, innovation, and leadership, giving you a solid place to start.
Staying on top of current business events will help you too. Business news, trade publications, podcasts, and even niche newsletters can help you keep up with trends and developments in the areas you’re most interested in. As you go, make sure the content you’re choosing helps you go deeper, not just wider. Ross values students who’ve done more than just skim the surface – they want to see that you’ve found and explored deeper than just that broad topic.
School Extracurriculars
If your school has business clubs, join them. If it doesn’t, or if what’s offered doesn’t match your interests, start your own. Maybe that’s a club for aspiring entrepreneurs, future consultants, or even something niche like Sports Business or Women in Finance. What matters is that you’re showing initiative and digging deeper into the area you care about most.
And don’t feel boxed into traditional business activities if you have other interests that tie into your passion for business. Writing profiles on local businesses for your school paper, leading a service-based club, or taking on a leadership role in student government can all demonstrate the kinds of skills Ross is looking for: leadership, problem-solving, and the ability to think strategically. It’s not just about what you do, it’s about how it connects back to your broader goals and the story you're building.
Out of School Extracurriculars
Our students work – during the summer, over weekends, whenever they can. And we strongly recommend it, especially for future business majors. Holding a job, whether it’s lifeguarding or scooping ice cream, shows that you’re reliable, hardworking, and not afraid to take responsibility.
You should also look into summer programs geared toward business students. Ross offers several, including Michigan’s own summer experiences for high school students, and there are plenty of other competitive programs across the country that can help you deepen your interest and get a taste of college-level business coursework.
And of course, land an internship. For students applying to Ross, this is especially important. Just make sure it aligns with the story you’re telling in your application. If you say you’re passionate about finance, but all of your experience is in your uncle’s real estate office, that creates confusion. The most compelling applicants have resumes that clearly reflect the path they’re claiming to pursue. Don’t give Ross mixed signals.
Start a Company
Saying you’re interested in “entrepreneurship” is kind of like saying you’re interested in “ambition” – nebulous. It’s more of a personality trait than a field of study. And while it might bring to mind the Mark Zuckerbergs and Bill Gateses of the world, remember: they dropped out of college. Schools like Ross aren’t looking to admit students who seem like their goal is to be the next big thing college-dropout founder.
If entrepreneurship is truly your thing, that’s great! But you need to back it up by developing tangible skills. Focus on areas like marketing, management, or operations. In our experience, students who are natural entrepreneurs don’t need to say it – they show it. Maybe you launched a reselling business, ran a summer camp, started a tutoring service, or created a small nonprofit. That kind of initiative speaks louder than any buzzword.
Apply Early
Michigan offers Early Action, and they recently added direct admission to Ross for first year applicants. Applying EA is a no-brainer, there’s literally no risk to you, and even if you apply ED or REA somewhere else, you can still apply EA to Ross. It may not give you a massive bump, but it can help show that you’re passionate about the school.
A competitive Ross applicant has the grades, the rigor, and a resume that already shows signs of future leadership and impact. If Ross is your goal, you need to start laying the groundwork now. The earlier you focus your efforts, the stronger your application will be when it counts. Don’t hesitate if Ross is the goal, reach out to us today for help.
Need help strategizing for Ross? Contact us now.