Recruiting the Leaders and Best: Collaboration Drives Ross Undergraduate Admissions
The Undergraduate Admissions Office at Michigan Ross is where the journey for future business leaders begins. The team works year-round to connect with prospective students, guide them through the application process, and help them discover everything that Michigan Ross and the University of Michigan have to offer. But the Undergraduate Admissions Office’s commitment goes beyond providing information and promoting the BBA program — it’s about shaping a community.
“Building a better world through business means that we need diverse minds from all over the country and from all different backgrounds,” said Blaire Moody Rideout, director of undergraduate admissions. “We’re assembling classes of students who can bring multiple perspectives to the program, and who are ready for engagement, leadership, and an action-based learning environment.”
Engaging, selecting, and supporting the next undergraduate class
Moody Rideout leads the undergraduate admissions team, overseeing six full-time staff, more than 100 temporary application readers, and about 30 student workers who meet with prospective students and give campus tours.
According to Moody Rideout, the undergraduate admissions team’s work is seasonal. In the summer and fall, they focus on outreach and promoting the BBA Program to high school students. The team travels to locations across Michigan for Discover Ross, while All-Access Weekend brings out-of-state students and their families to Ann Arbor to experience the school in person.
In the winter months, the team shifts its attention to reviewing more than 13,000 BBA applications. Team members assess each application three or four times.
“Deciding who to admit is always tough,” said Moody Rideout. “With 13,000 applications for just 500 spots, there are many more qualified applications than we have space for. However, it speaks to the reputation and success of the program that so many students would like to study here.”
Despite spending much of the year traveling for recruitment events and meeting prospective students, the admissions team makes a special effort to be together in person for “Decision Fridays” — the day when admissions decisions are released. It’s a meaningful tradition that allows them to celebrate their hard work and the successes of the students they’ve supported.
“Everyone makes a point to be in the office on Decision Fridays,” said Moody Rideout. “There’s a lot of excitement and anticipation — it almost feels like Christmas Eve. No one can focus on anything else, because you’re waiting for the students you’ve been working with and hearing from to get the news. There’s a lot of excitement when the students email you, and they thank you, and they’re so happy.”
After admissions offers are sent, the team hosts Ross Preview Weekend, inviting about 50 out-of-state students who have received major scholarships to campus with their families, and Campus Day, which is open to all admitted students. These events give students and their families a chance to explore Ross, meet the community, and hopefully feel inspired to accept their admissions offer.
Collaboration at the core of Ross admissions
The admissions team works closely with other Ross units to help make the BBA Program successful. This includes working with Ross IT to keep application systems running smoothly and the Office of Marketing and Communications to promote the program, events, and deadlines to prospective students. They also collaborate with staff and faculty from centers and institutes, such as the Sanger Leadership Center, Zell Lurie Institute, and Tozzi Center, to plan workshops and activities for campus events like Ross Preview Weekend.
“We’re always looking for faculty to give guest lectures or join panels at recruitment events,” Moody Rideout shared. “If a faculty member has a lecture they enjoy giving that would resonate with high school students, we’d love to partner with them.”
Moody Rideout credits these collaborations for the success of recruitment events and the welcoming atmosphere students experience. By teaming up with different groups across Ross, the admissions office ensures their programs are helpful, engaging, and informative for students making important college decisions.
