QS MBA Community Scholarship: 2020 Winner Noah Ross

We’re pleased to announce that one of the winners of this year’s QS MBA Community scholarship is Noah Ross. 

The scholarship is awarded to five students annually, with each receiving an award of US$2,000. Recipients must attend a QS event, start their first year of MBA study in the next academic year, and the scholarship must go towards tuition fees.

We caught up with Noah to learn more about the impact this scholarship will have on his studies, as well as his top tips for future scholarship applicants.

What are you planning to study, and why did you choose the school you’ve applied to?

I will be studying my MBA at IESE Business School in Barcelona in September. I chose IESE Business School for several reasons, but one of the things I liked most about IESE was their commitment to making socially responsible business leaders. The school highlights the role business plays in contributing to a better society,  and I wanted to study at a school where we would develop leadership skills that emphasized the positive impact business leaders can have not just on companies, but on people and communities as well. 

What do you hope to gain from your degree? How will it affect your career plans?

I hope an MBA will make me a more well-balanced professional. I have experience working in the social and public sector and I am confident in my soft skills, but I wanted an opportunity to get exposure to the private sector and to improve my analytical skills. I genuinely believe that partnerships between the public, private, and social sector are invaluable to improving communities, and I hope the exposure an MBA provides to major companies will allow me to further understand the opportunities to use business and business-tools to better society. 

How did you find the scholarship application process? 

The scholarship application process was easy and straight-forward! The hardest part is writing the essay, as you only have several hundred words to show your commitment to community work and your experience as a socially responsible leader. It is a lot of information to condense, but it forces you to reflect and chose the key achievements in your personal and professional life.  

What difference will this scholarship make to you?

Business school is very, very expensive – so much so that the price is often a deterrent, especially for people coming from the social or public sector. Having worked in international development before business school, I never made a lot of money in my career and I understand first-hand how studying an MBA is a huge financial obligation. Thanks to the QS Community Scholarship, part of that financial obligation is covered, which makes it possible for 'non-traditional' candidates like me to learn and explore the world of business. 

What advice do you have for other prospective students who are applying for scholarships?

“Show, don’t tell”. Saying you are passionate about social impact is not as powerful as showing how you have made a difference through your work, educational, or volunteer experience. Try to highlight moments in your life where you have taken concrete actions to positively impact a community, a group, or a person– this will better demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility.