After working in the digital advertising industry in Washington D.C., Leah McSteen (Ross, ‘21) decided to pursue an MBA. Her goal was to identify new career opportunities, and she landed at the University of Michigan (Ross) MBA program. In Ross, McSteen found a school that invested in its culture; a high caliber of classmates; and a community where she could challenge and grow her own beliefs. In this interview, McSteen shares her criteria for selecting an MBA program, and why focusing on both the short-term benefits and long-term value of a school helped her select Ross for her MBA program.
MBASchooled: What did you do prior to business school, and why did you choose to apply to business school?
I worked in digital advertising in Washington, D.C. at a medium-sized firm called GMMB. I mainly worked with political and advocacy clients—loved the quick pace, experienced a strong career trajectory, but felt that I was hungry to solve larger client problems that well-exceeded their needs for a marketing campaign. Whenever I looked at my network or potential next-stepping-stone jobs, they were still within the digital marketing realm, and I felt that didn’t quench my need to solve bigger problems or even problems that I had a greater passion for.
Being in politics, of course, every even-numbered year is a big year for the company. I had decided I did not want to be part of the 2020 election cycle, so I changed my timing of when I would need to start an MBA.
MBASchooled: What were your big questions coming into making your decision on which school to attend?
- Looking at the overall cost of an MBA at one school versus another (looking beyond tuition. I was considering the cost of living, whether I would need a car, etcetera.).
- Is this a place where I will be amazed and inspired by the new classmates I meet?
- What is the general success rate of alum from this school (LinkedIn was my best friend on this one)?
- Where can I succeed?
MBASchooled: What characteristics were important to you when selecting the right MBA school?
- A culture among the student body and faculty that would encourage me to succeed.
- A committed and in touch alumni network across geographies and industries given that my partner is in medical school and we’re unsure where he’ll be placed for residency.
- I have long-term career goals to be in an impact-driven role either focusing on equity or patient experience. I wanted to find myself at a school that had a strong infrastructure of classes and extracurriculars that met that mold.
MBASchooled: Why did you choose to attend Ross?
Despite Ross being my top choice throughout the admissions process, I still had a difficult time making my final decision. I chose Ross for the culture I was selecting to be a part of and for the long-term opportunities being a student at Ross would provide. I made my decision much less on the probability of getting my dream job immediately after school (which is still possible as the “dream job” is ever-changing and dynamic) but the career path I would be proud of and the resources I felt I’d be able to utilize one, two, five, and even 10 years down the road. I decided to attend Ross for the lifetime benefits.
MBASchooled: What about the culture and classmates stood out to you about Ross?
Ross definitely feels like one of those “culture schools”. It’s what initially interests prospective students (including myself) when considering where to apply. Because we are in a college town, if you don’t like the people at Ross, then you very likely will not like the experience. At Ross, we live and breathe getting to know one another outside of classes and clubs. I felt that I had witnessed this as a prospective student. It really seemed like student after student I met was able to make a connection or tell a story of the previous student I had spoken to before them. It really felt like a family, and that’s what I’ve always looked for in a company, and it became an important factor for me as a business school student too.
MBASchooled: How has Ross helped you work toward your own career goals and aspirations?
I feel like the student body and the variety of experiences have challenged me to question my own aspirations and how I view the world. I strongly believe that this has mainly been through my fellow classmates. From all the interview prep required to land a consulting internship to really expanding my grasp of the United States healthcare system, it has been the commitment and support of my classmates that has held me accountable to these goals and provided all the information and industry experience they could.
MBASchooled: What parts or aspects of the academic experience attracted you to Ross?
- I liked having the ability to work in varying groups during the core classes. While other schools may keep you with the same team, I feel that this has allowed me to get to know my classmates and challenge myself at varying levels.
- MAP, or the Multi-disciplinary Action Project, provides the opportunity for all first year students to take what they’ve learned in their core classes and apply it to a full-time, seven-week-long consulting project. The opportunity to work so closely with another organization, which wasn’t where I’d be interning, was very enticing to me.
- I appreciated how interdisciplinary classes are at Ross. Many classes outside of core classes are cross-listed with the School of Public Policy, the School of Public Health, and the Law School. This represents how Ross really does practice what it preaches when it comes to working across verticals to provide the most comprehensive learning experience..
MBASchooled: What’s something you wish you knew more about before starting your MBA at Ross?
Being part of the Ross community is fantastic, but I didn’t account for the impressive caliber of all the students with shared interests. This makes opportunities like the Social Venture Fund and Open Road extremely competitive.
Furthermore, I wish I understood a little more about life in Ann Arbor without a car. It’s been more difficult than I expected to get groceries or get out of town when I feel like it. If you already have a car, I highly recommend bringing it with you.
MBASChooled: What has been your favorite moment or experience during your first year of business school?
Those moments when I’m socially reunited with the student body after a few weeks of hard work. One moment happened in the fall. It was mid-October and, after a busy week, I ran a few minutes late to the first Risky Business performance, the Ross student and partner band. I loved seeing my classmates flex their talents outside of the classroom and having the chance to just celebrate the end of our first quarter together.
Another moment was the Out for Business charity performance, MBGay, this past February. The event has some of the highest student body turnout of the year, and I had the privilege to compete and perform in the event.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for those who are evaluating where they want to attend business school?
Investing in a full-time MBA is a big choice. Beyond the numbers you may be crunching or decision trees you may have made for yourself, consider the current and prospective students you’ve met at the schools you’re considering. From those experiences, which group of students feel like your people? Who would you be ecstatic to go to class with, experience moments of vulnerability with, or ask a favor from five or ten years down the line?
For More Insights on How to Prepare for Business School, Check out our Admitted MBA Students Guide