Applying to Ross as a Second year - How to prepare?

KyleTwentyEleven · May 8, 2011, 1:14am

I've read the website and look at the profiles, but the information that you walk away with is just "it's hard to get in."

The website does seem to emphasize how important class selection is, and also how some of these classes should be quantitative (they push for quantitative study classes). So my question is, what classes should I take in the first year to maximize my chances of getting into Ross as a sophmore? I'm currently a political science major (officially) and plan to double major in finance and poly sci.

Here is my prospective first year schedule (15 credit hours per semester).

Sem 1:

Calc 1
First Year Writing
Econ 1
American Government
French (required in LSA)

Sem 2:

Econ 2
Poly Sci 300 level class
Poly Sci 300 level class
Poly Sci 300 level class
French

This thread is directed towards people who have applied to Ross previously and have been accepted or rejected, and to those who have extensive knowledge of the admissions process or the university in general.

Additional questions:
Should I aim to get into honors for poly sci to strengthen my application? 
Am I taking too hard of a courseload first semester? (should I put first year writing or econ into second semester)
Feel free to say any recommendations or problems you see with the schedule, it is very appreciated.

Additional notes:
I'm entering with AP credit for the US history requirement, poly sci 111 requirement, and a statistics credit. 
I understand that the other part of the application is essay/grades/extra curric. And I'll have no problems in those areas, I just want to assure I have the most competitive schedule possible.

Thanks guys! This board in part helped convince me to go to UM, and I'm so glad current students come back and help us incoming freshmen out.

lb5 · May 8, 2011, 10:09am

I think you are planning on too many classes first semester at least. Econ, Calc, and most 100 and 200 level French classes are 4 credits each. The suggestion is usually to take 14-15 credits first semester as a freshman.

Infinit · May 8, 2011, 5:00pm

There's no way they look kindly on a bare bones schedule. They don't want slackers. You're paying for an education, you might as well milk it for all it's worth.

res_ipsa · May 8, 2011, 8:13pm

I would stick to 4 classes per semester. If the American Government is AP credit, the first semester will be challenging but doable. In the second semester I would take only one poli sci course, the Econ, the French and perhaps a class that will satisfy natural science or humanities distribution credit.

KyleTwentyEleven · May 8, 2011, 11:16pm

I didn't realize that it was only 4 classes a semester for 15 Credit hours, here is my new schedule then:
Calc 1
Econ
French
American Gov't

Econ 2
French
Writing
Poly Sci 300 Level

Would this be competitive enough to get me into Ross?

wakeboardweirdoh · May 13, 2011, 1:45pm

econ 101 is a really competitive class and will take a lot of effort to beat the curve, and since calc 1 and econ 101 are the two 'weeders' for ross, i wouldn't suggest taking both of them your first semester.

just make a schedule that works for you and allows you to succeed.

wayneandgarth · May 13, 2011, 3:19pm

@wakeboard - is it then better to take calc 1 with econ 2 in the 2nd semester?

fhgoalie · May 18, 2011, 9:18pm

It really doesn't matter when you take Calc. Intro econ classes aren't necessarily difficult, just really really dry and depending on your professor may be the worst class you take at U of M that said, the upper level econ classes are better. What you take really isn't important to the admissions process. Its more important to do well in your classes. They want to see you explore your options, and have really good reasons to come to Ross, and diversify the bschool with your interests.

I also highly recommend focusing on pre-requisites and LSA requirements rather than looking at upper level major classes. You don't want to get to your Junior year and have to take a whole bunch of intro classes/requirements when you really want to take a bunch of seminars that will only be offered this semester. I also recommend taking advantage of first year seminars.