First Year PAs, Class of 2027

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 ORIENTATION THIS SUMMER?

Orientation is a hybrid experience this summer involving 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 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 will receive a message in April from the Office of New Student Programs (ONSP), instructing you to register for an Orientation Session and complete any necessary steps in advance of that session, including the UM virtual Orientation course.

Once you have completed the ONSP portion of the virtual Orientation course, you must complete the portions for both your home school as well as the Ross School of Business. It is required that you complete every section of the Ross portion prior to your Advising Day. You will notice several other steps on this site that you should complete prior to your Advising Day, 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 2023 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 2024:
  • Successfully complete the following two courses at the Ross School of Business by the end of Winter 2024: 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 2023 and Winter Term 2024.
  • 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.

  • Will I take any business courses in my first year?
    • All First Year students are required to attend a weekly seminar course, BA 100 (1.0 credit hours), Intro to Ross: Foundations for Learning Business, in both the Fall and Winter terms.
    • All First Year students will be required to take BCOM 250 (1.5 credit hours), Introduction to Business Communications, during the Winter term of their first year. This course must be taken for a letter grade.
    • BCOM 250 and BA 100 are the only business courses students take in their first year. Aside from these courses, students are encouraged to explore the liberal arts to provide a strong foundation for their academic career, in addition to completing the First Year requirements.
  • ​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 later this summer after our Virtual Advising Days are complete.  In the meantime, you may reach out to Ross Advisors via email at rossugacadadvising@umich.edu with any questions or concerns you may have.