Gear up for business with support from the Preparation Initiative, a learning community designed for current University of Michigan undergraduates who wish to apply to the Michigan Ross BBA Program.
All students who meet the eligibility requirements are welcome to apply. We especially encourage applicants with resource-limited and first-generation backgrounds, as well as those who may have had minimal exposure to business leadership concepts, experiences, and networks.
The Preparation Initiative seeks applicants who:
- Are in their first year at U-M and who want to transfer into the Michigan Ross BBA Program
- Had limited exposure to rigorous academics in high school
- Are currently enrolled in one BBA prerequisite course
- Have not previously applied to the BBA Program
Application Deadline: July 31, 2025
For more information, or to be placed on our application waitlist, email [email protected].
Benefit from a learning community designed to help you succeed in the Michigan Ross BBA Program and beyond. Participation will help you develop the skills and habits needed to shine academically, including by improving your mastery of essential mathematics and economics concepts.
Get a realistic preview of how to make the transition from excellence in high school to comparable distinction at Michigan Ross.
Weekly sessions with a personal PI advisor emphasize intelligent planning and time management, progress monitoring, and working through the inevitable challenges of managing college-level academics.
Each BBA prerequisite course, including precalculus, introductory calculus, and microeconomics, offers coaching support. With an emphasis on collaboration and “cross-teaching” with one or two classmates, your PI coach will help you develop the skills and habits you need to master course material.
During your first two terms in the program, participate in professional development seminars that provide exposure to major business disciplines like finance, marketing, strategy, and entrepreneurship.
Meet regularly with an assigned BBA junior or senior mentor who also prepared for the BBA Program through the Preparation Initiative.
Gain more exposure to the study skills needed to successfully manage college coursework. Develop your skills in key areas like time management, note taking, and test preparation.
Develop and maintain the discipline and stamina required to perform at the high level expected of every PI student (and every successful business leader) through required study tables. Spend a portion of your weekly study schedule with your classmates at study tables supervised by PI mentors and coaches.
Take advantage of the opportunity to travel with fellow PI students and Ross faculty members on a trek to companies in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Detroit. Hear from company leadership and get a firsthand look at how businesses in various industries operate.
After carefully considering their pre-university preparation, many PI students choose to complete their undergraduate experience in five years, rather than four years. PI staff members can assist all students (and their families) in deciding whether this option best suits them. Students who opt for the five-year plan receive an additional year of PI services to help ensure their readiness for entering the BBA Program successfully.
