How to Have a Michigan Ross Experience Beyond the BBA
Each spring, the admissions team and I talk with applicants not offered admission to the BBA Program at the Ross School of Business. During these conversations, we like to focus on ways currently enrolled students at the University of Michigan can have a Michigan Ross experience that is beyond the BBA — and there are many!
Michigan Ross is ranked among the top schools for business majors in the world. If you were not offered admission to the BBA program, please know that this does not mean you are not an excellent student. Our review process is designed to help us admit a class of 500 students who meet both our academic standards and our institutional values and goals. A lot of challenging decisions are made to reach this class size, and while those are never easy for us to make, we know they can be even harder for you to hear.
The good news is that even if you were not offered admission to the Ross BBA Program, there are still ways for you to be involved in the business school during your studies at Michigan.
Business Minor
Michigan Ross offers a Business Minor, which adds a strong business complement to your studies and pairs you with a Ross advisor who will help you select the best coursework and experiences to pair with your degree.
Additional minors
Beyond the Business Minor, there are two additional minors that specifically include Michigan Ross curricular experiences and course offerings. The Entrepreneurship Minor equips undergraduate students from any area of study with the necessary skills to be an entrepreneur. The Real Estate Development Minor is designed for students interested in making a positive social impact in real estate development. Check with your academic advisor to find out which minors are accepted for your degree program.
Elective courses
We have many elective courses and programs available to non-business majors across the university, including courses in the areas of marketing, finance, banking, entrepreneurship, consulting, management, sales, social impact, and more. There are a ton of options for you to add a business focus to your studies. For example, the Cappo Sales Track at Michigan Ross gives students interested in sales the classes, experiences, and resources needed to kick start their career in sales. Explore all of them on this dedicated page.
Student clubs
Many of our student clubs, which hold events and programs across campus, are open for any student to join. There are a lot, but one example I’ll give is the Michigan Business Women club, which has over 400 members, making it one of the biggest undergraduate organizations at Ross. They host monthly events and run an annual conference called Women Who Win, which highlights female leadership in the business world and attracts some impressive speakers. Another club to highlight is the Michigan Real Estate Club. In partnership with the Weiser Center for Real Estate at Michigan Ross, this interdisciplinary student group organizes one of the largest student events, The Real Estate Convention, known by our students as RE-Con. They bring in some impressive names, including notable Ross alumni, from the world of real estate. Being involved in activities with Ross student clubs is a great way to stay connected to what’s happening in business, build a network outside of your home college, and help develop some exciting outcomes for your resume.
Study abroad with Ross
The majority of our global student experiences are also open to students from across U-M. Students travel abroad on business-focused projects and practicums several times a year, giving non-business students a chance to explore business on the global stage. Check out what four Michigan Ross BBA students were up to this past semester in Finland, France, Spain, and South Korea.
Engage with the centers and institutes at Ross
Our Sanger Leadership Center offers a variety of co-curricular activities to all students enrolled at U-M, with a focus on developing leaders that make a positive difference. From the much-loved Leadership Crisis Challenge to the Ross Leaders Academy, all U-M students have the opportunity to enhance their leadership and communication skills and build strong networks across sectors, industries, and disciplines.
The Zell Lurie Institute at Michigan Ross immerses U-M students in entrepreneurial environments where they create, lead, and shape innovative ventures. From a campus-wide business plan competition (Michigan Business Challenge) to student startup grants to supporting students who wish to launch their business upon graduation (Zell Entrepreneurs), there are many opportunities for U-M students to participate with the Zell Lurie Institute.
We know not getting into your school or college of choice is hard, especially after spending time preparing your application and waiting for admissions decisions. You’ve been invested in Ross for the last several months, and we thank you for that effort, interest, and determination.
While we can’t offer everyone who applies admission into the class, there are still many ways you can work with Ross to explore a passion for business and leadership. And we’d love to help you along that journey.
