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Frequently Asked Questions
Why the MBA/MS
Program? Why not the
MBA with a few
electives in
sustainable
enterprise?
We believe that
those who lead us in
a quest for
sustainability need
to be world-class
managers who are
steeped in knowledge
regarding the word's
most pressing
environmental and
social challenges.
Effectively
confronting these
challenges requires
that effective
partnerships be
built and managed
across disciplines,
sectors and
geographical
borders. Working
alone, business
people, engineers,
scientists,
policymakers, and
advocacy groups
cannot solve these
problems, but
working together –
they can. Our fully
integrated
dual-degree program
develops leaders who
are capable of
working effectively
across sectors with
businesses,
non-profit
organizations, and
government agencies.
The
interdisciplinary
environment allows
students to develop
and refine their
ability to
understand
complexity and
communicate
effectively with
multiple
constituencies. Our
students are not
merely exposed to
issues of
sustainability while
enrolled in the
program; they are
immersed in this
subject matter
throughout their
time at Michigan.
Our three-year
program offers an
experience that is
both broader and
deeper than what is
available through an
MBA with a
concentration in the
Environment or
Sustainable
Enterprise. The
additional
coursework, Master's
project or thesis,
second internship
and social
interaction provide
a richer educational
experience and more
time to reflect on
career options and
direction.
FAQ's
How do I apply to
the MBA/MS Program?
You must submit
an application to
the Ross School of
Business (RSB) AND
an application to
the School of
Natural Resources &
Environment. You
also must notify the
Erb Institute office
that you have
applied. If you are
admitted to both
Schools, then you
are admitted to the
MBA/MS Program!
FAQ's
Where can I find the
applications for the
Ross School and
SNRE?
The applications
are available
on-line on the and
SNRE websites. In
July and August, the
applications are
updated and may not
be available
electronically.
Check directly with
the Admissions
Offices in both
Schools for detailed
information about
the applications.
FAQ's
Do I need to take
the GRE as well as
the GMAT?
You only need to
take the GMAT if you
are applying to RSB
and SNRE
concurrently. RSB
does not accept the
GRE.
FAQ's
Can I apply to the
program immediately
after receiving my
undergraduate
degree?
To have the most
enriching graduate
school experience,
the Business School
encourages
prospective students
to have 2-5 years of
work experience
after receiving your
baccalaureate degree
before applying to
the program. The
work experience
becomes an asset as
you progress through
your three-year
experience.
FAQ's
I am an
international
student. How do I
apply?
Complete the
applications for
both Schools. Be
sure to take the
TOFEL exam as well
as the GMAT. Request
a list of RSB and
SNRE alumni or RSB
and SNRE alumni who
are living in your
country from the
Admissions Offices.
Alumni are excellent
resources for
information about
navigating the
application process
successfully.
FAQ's
Do I need a science
or business
undergraduate degree
to apply to the
MBA/MS Program?
You do not need
to have a business
or science
background to enroll
in the program. Both
RSB and SNRE
encourage diverse
educational
backgrounds within
their student
bodies.
FAQ's
What is Rackham?
The Horace H.
Rackham School of
Graduate Studies is
a community of
scholars,
researchers, and
students in 130
programs at the
University of
Michigan, joined
together by the
rigors of their
academic pursuits.
Rackham works in
conjunction with 17
schools and
colleges.
Departments
recommend admission
to Rackham. Rackham
oversees the
requirements and
procedures and
certifies the
admission
recommendation as
appropriate. SNRE
falls under the
auspices of Rackham.
RSB does not.
FAQ's
May the same people
write my
recommendation
letters for both RSB
and SNRE?
Yes. Each school
has a form for the
letters of
recommendation. Be
sure they understand
their letters will
be going to two
different schools.
FAQ's
Who reviews my
applications?
The RSB
admissions staff and
the Erb Institute
Managing director
review the RSB
applications. SNRE
faculty committees
review the SNRE
applications and Erb-affiliated
faculty members are
part of the SNRE
committees.
FAQ's
Where are the MBA/MS
Program alumni
working?
MBA/MS Program
alumni are working
in corporate,
non-profit,
governmental
organizations. A few
are entrepreneurs. A
list of where the
alumni are working
is on the website.
FAQ's
What kinds of
internships do
MBA/MS Program
students have?
MBA/MS Program
students participate
in summer
internships with
corporations,
non-profits and
government
organizations. Many
of these
opportunities come
through the Erb
Institute External
Advisory Board and
our extended
network. Also, many
students develop
their internship
opportunities
independently based
on their specific
interests. A
complete list of
internships is on
the website.
FAQ's
Do I really need the
Master of Science?
Having an
in-depth
understanding of
science, technology
and policy issues
related to
sustainability is
critical to becoming
an effective leader
in the field. It
also provides the
credibility
necessary to
communicate with
constituencies
outside the business
arena. One of our
alumna put it best
when she said "The
strong emphasis on
research at SNRE
taught me different
skills and exposed
me to courses that
gave me invaluable
scientific
knowledge. I guess I
still don't consider
myself a scientific
expert, but I know
enough to know when
others are making it
up."
FAQ's
Do I really need the
Master of Business
Administration?
The invaluable
management, teamwork
and leadership
skills you cultivate
as a Michigan MBA
transcend business,
and will allow you
to be a more
effective leader in
any organizational
setting.
FAQ's
In which School
(SNRE or RBS) should
I start?
There are good
reasons to start in
either school. Make
the effort to speak
with current
students regarding
their experiences
and perceptions.
FAQ's
If I start at SNRE,
may I take Business
School classes?
Yes. It is a good
idea to get one or
two business school
core courses out of
the way while
enrolled at SNRE.
This will give you
increased scheduling
flexibility in your
second year. There
are also many
electives including
Erb Institute
special-topic
courses that are
offered each year
and all new students
are required to take
the MBA/MS Program
seminar offered each
Fall.
FAQ's
If I start at SNRE,
will I have access
to Business School
resources?
Yes. You are a
dual-degree student
which allows you
access to the
resources all MBA
students have.
FAQ's
How will I pay for
School?
MBA/MS Program
students have been
very creative in
finding ways to fund
their three year in
graduate school.
Most take out
federal loans and
all business school
students are
eligible for the
Citi Assist program
(see RSB Financial
Aid for more
details). In
addition, there are
scholarships
opportunities
available through
RSB and SNRE, and
GSI and GSRA
opportunities
through Rackham
schools (including
SNRE). The Erb
Institute also
provides
scholarships to
students during
their third year in
the program. We
encourage admitted
students to invest
time in finding
scholarship money
(EPA STAR
Fellowships are a
popular option). The
Financial Aid
offices at SNRE and
RSB can help guide
you to other
resources. Keep an
open mind. Obscure
scholarships have
helped fund several
MBA/MS Program
alumni through the
program.
FAQ's
What is a GSI?
Graduate Student
Instructors (GSIs)
at the University of
Michigan are
considered members
of the community of
scholars. GSIs
contribute to our
teaching enterprise
by working as
partners with the
faculty members who
develop and
supervise course
offerings. GSIs are
involved in
instruction in a
variety of ways:
teaching sections of
introductory first-
and second-year
undergraduate
courses; guiding
small discussion or
lab sections of
large lecture
courses; and
assisting with
preparation of
materials, grading
and study sessions.
FAQ's
What is a GSRA?
A Graduate
Student Research
Assistantship (GSRA)
is an appointment
which may be
provided to a
student in good
standing in a
University of
Michigan graduate
degree program who
assists others
performing research
that is relevant to
his or her academic
goals.
FAQ's
How much are GSIs
and GSRAs paid?
Compensation
varies based on the
appointment
percentage, but can
be as much as full
tuition and a modest
stipend for the
duration of the
appointment.
FAQ's
How do I get a GSI
or GSRA?
Once you are
admitted to both
Schools, contact the
Office of Academic
Programs (OAP) at
SNRE to find the
most recent listing
of GSI and GSRA
positions available.
Most positions are
filled in March.
Some positions do
become available
after March. Get to
know the faculty. If
you have a specific
interest or level of
expertise in an
area, find the
faculty who are
working on research
in that area and
contact them.
Faculty research can
be found on most
Department websites.
If you need
assistance finding
more detailed
information on the
research, contact
the UofM libraries
or the staff who
work with faculty.
Consider teaching or
doing research in an
area that may not be
related to the
MBA/MS Program. Due
to the heavy
workload, we do not
recommend doing a
GSI during your
first year of
Business School (the
CORE).
FAQ's
What kind of laptop
setup should I buy
for graduate school?
The Business
School provides
information on
purchasing a laptop.
You should also
consult with recent
MBA/MS Program grads
and current
students. They have
hands-on experience
with the most recent
hardware.
FAQ's
Are there Peace Corp
and AmeriCorp alumni
in the MBA/MS
Program?
Yes! Several
alumni served in the
Peace Corps and
AmeriCorp before
starting the
program.
FAQ's
Can I join the
program after my
first year in the
Business School or
SNRE?
We recommend that
you apply to both
schools at the same
time. Each year,
however, some first
year students in RSB
and SNRE will apply
to the MBA/MS
Program by
submitting an
application to the
other school.
FAQ's
What kind of courses
do MBA/MS Program
students take?
A list of
sustainability-related
courses is listed on
the website, and
both SNRE and RSB
maintain updated
lists of courses on
their sites as well.
FAQ's
Do I need to take
any courses to
prepare to return to
school?
If you have not
successfully
completed a
college-level
calculus course, you
will need to do so
to before being
accepted to the
business school.
FAQ's
How close is the
international
airport to Ann
Arbor?
Detroit Metro
Airport (DTW) is a
short 25 miles from
Ann Arbor. DTW is a
major hub for
Northwest Airlines
and you can get
direct flights
nearly anywhere in
the United States.
FAQ's
How far are Chicago
and Toronto from Ann
Arbor?
From Ann Arbor,
Chicago is 240 miles
and Toronto is 280
miles. You can take
the Amtrak train to
Chicago directly
from Ann Arbor.
There is a train to
Toronto from
Windsor, Ontario,
which is across the
river from Detroit
(45 miles from Ann
Arbor).
FAQ's
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