First Year PAs, Class of 2026

Welcome to the Ross School of Business!

The Ross Academic Advising team is looking forward to meeting you and working with you throughout your time at Michigan.  The below information will help provide answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) as you start to plan your first year:

WHAT HAPPENS DURING NEW STUDENT HYBRID ORIENTATION THIS SUMMER?

New Student Hybrid Orientation involves both virtual and in-person components.  As a Preferred Admission student, you will have access to two different academic advisors during your first year.  The first of these advisors is through your home school (Engineering, Kinesiology, Stamps, or Music, Theatre & Dance) and the second will be through the Ross School of Business.  You are expected to utilize both advisors and should meet with each advisor periodically throughout your first year.

During New Student Hybrid Orientation, you will meet with your home school academic advisor to schedule your Fall courses and prepare for your transition to college.  The Michigan Ross Academic Advising team will reach out over the summer with resources and information to prepare you for your first year as a Preferred Admit as well as details on how to connect with an academic advisor to review the BBA curriculum and ask any questions you may have about Ross requirements.

WHAT STEPS DO I NEED TO COMPLETE PRIOR TO MY ORIENTATION EXPERIENCE?

You should have received messaging in late April from the Office of New Student Programs, instructing you to register for a New Student Hybrid Orientation Session in Wolverine Access, as well as complete the Virtual Orientation course.

In addition, Ross has created a separate Ross School of Business: First Year Orientation Student Site on Canvas.  It will be helpful for you to complete Modules 1 and 2 on this site prior to your Orientation experience.  You will notice several other steps on this site that you should complete prior to your Orientation, as well, including:

  • Complete the Math placement exam, UWrite placement exam, and a Foreign Language exam (if applicable) at least two weeks prior to your Orientation. Please go here to learn more information and find links to complete placement exams.
  • Complete the 2022 First Year Student Pre-Advising Day Questionnaire. This survey will be emailed to your Umich email account and will give us an idea of your experiences so far, as well as your expectations and goals while at Michigan and Ross.

WHAT ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS DO I NEED TO COMPLETE DURING MY FIRST YEAR IN ROSS?

In your first year at Ross, you must complete the following requirements:

  • Complete the following three courses at UM-Ann Arbor, each with a grade of C- or better, by the end of Winter Term 2023:
  • Successfully complete the following two courses at the Ross School of Business by the end of Winter 2023: BA 100, BCOM 250. Students are required to enroll in BCOM 250 on a graded basis.
  • Enroll in a minimum of 12 credits or more at UM-Ann Arbor during Fall Term 2022 and Winter Term 2023.
  • Maintain “Good Academic Standing” at Ross with a term and cumulative grade point average of 2.500 or higher at UM-Ann Arbor.

Note: These First Year Requirements are the Admissions requirements for Preferred Admission students. PA students who do not meet these Admission requirements at the end of the Winter term of the first year are not eligible to move forward with the Preferred Admission offer and enroll in the BBA program.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE BBA CURRICULUM?

During your first year, you will take a broad range of courses in addition to those required for the BBA program. Below is some general information and answers to common questions regarding Ross program requirements.  For more detailed information, please visit the BBA curriculum page. Ross academic advisors are another great resource for answering curriculum and course planning questions.

  • What business courses will I take during my first year?
    • Ross students will be required to complete BA 100 – Intro to Ross: Foundations in Learning Business.  This course will count for 1 credit during the Fall term and 1 credit during the Winter term.
    • Ross students will also be required to complete BCOM 250 – Introduction to Business Communications, during the Winter term.  This course will count for 1.5 credit hours and must be taken on a graded basis.
  • ​What other business courses can I take my first year?
    • ​BCOM 250 and BA 100 are the only mandatory business courses you will take in your first year. The only other business course opportunity for First Year students is through a Ross Study Abroad Program.  If you are interested, please review the information on the Global Initiatives website.
  • ​What kind of courses should I look at completing my first year?
    • Your first year at Michigan provides you with a great chance to explore different academic interests.  You will want to work with your home school advisor to select the appropriate required courses for that degree program, particularly if you are planning to complete a dual degree.
    • Aside from the required classes you must complete during your first year, it is suggested that you take courses counting toward your distribution.  You could also consider completing ECON 102.
    • Another suggestion would be taking coursework that may lead to a possible dual degree, minor, or other area of interest.  Your advisor can discuss with you the wealth of opportunities offered at Michigan while helping to ensure that you are maintaining a balanced schedule.
  • What are the Ross distribution requirements?
    • ​Ross students must complete three of the four areas listed in the chart below.  We adhere to the same distribution course list as LSA so you should utilize the LSA Course Guide to find courses that fulfill the categories below:
Complete 3 of the 4 Areas Below
Foreign Language – 4th term proficiency
Humanities – 9 credit hours
Social Science (excluding ECON 101 & 102) – 9 credit hours
Natural Science and/or Mathematical and Symbolic Analysis – 9 credit (MATH 105/115 counts toward this requirement)
  • What is the Inclusive Leaders Pathway and when should I complete this?
    • The Inclusive Leaders Pathway is a degree requirement that is designed to introduce Ross students to the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the contexts of their business education and roles as future business leaders.  Students must complete all four components of the milestone requirement to receive the BBA degree. This year, you will complete your first Inclusive Leaders Pathway Milestone through BA 100. Your BA 100 Canvas site will have information about how to fulfill the requirement. You can also reference the BBA Bulletin, talk with your academic advisor, or reach out to BBAmilestone@umich.edu.
  • What do I do if I still have questions?
    • ​Ross academic advisors are great resources for answering curriculum questions and helping you develop a course plan that supports your academic goals as well.  You will be able to start scheduling future academic advising appointments as we approach the start of the Fall semester.