Soojin Kwon Koh, director of admissions at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, updated the MBA admissions blog Friday with the news that round three decisions were released earlier in the week and the waitlist has seen some activity–both with admits and denies.

Sometimes helping the environment can be good for a business’ bottom line. Just ask the companies and the MBA students who have participated in the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corp. Initiative.

Recently, the Environmental Leader reported that the Climate Corp. has helped 66 Fortune 1000 companies save $439 million in operational costs and prevent 557,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions yearly. New companies joining the program this summer include Facebook, Dunkin’ Brands, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

MBA students who are accepted into the program will be placed at these and other companies to help them locate energy-saving strategies. So far, 84 percent of student recommendations have been initiated or completed by the participating companies. The Environmental Leader wrote about a Duke Fuqua School of Business student who helped AT&T achieve an 80 percent savings in energy use on a lighting project, and a University of Michigan Ross School of Business student whose energy solutions will help the Hospital Corporation of America save 7.8 million annually in electricity costs.

Companies participating in the Climate Corp. Initiative aren’t the only ones focused on environmental efforts these days. A new study conducted by the MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group found the following, also reported by the Environmental Leader:

69 percent of companies plan to increase their investment in and management of sustainability this year. Just over one-quarter (26 percent) plan no change, and only two percent plan to cut back on their commitment.

Which shows that MBAs participating in projects like Climate Corp. aren’t simply learning how to be energy-savvy. They’re also adding experience to their resumes that will make them more appealing to the growing number of sustainability-minded employers.

For many b-school applicants, location is a key consideration. Wall Street hopefuls are naturally drawn to Columbia Business School and NYU Stern, whereas future Silicon Valley entrepreneurs will gravitate toward Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. For MBAs interested in urban renewal, perhaps no program is better situated than the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, given its proximity to Detroit.

Ross students attending the Revitalization & Business Conference: Focus Detroit earlier this month learned about the many post-MBA career opportunities available in the region.

According to a Ross School of Business press release:  The Revitalization and Business Conference grew out of a cross-university effort by students to illuminate the vast opportunities for business growth and innovation in Detroit. The conference included tours and meetings downtown, as well as panels with entrepreneurs, developers and speakers hosted by the Ross School’s Real Estate Club. Presenters included Ford and DTE Energy Chairman Anthony Earley, among others.

The Conference’s keynote address was delivered by Ford Motor Co. Chairman Bill Ford, Jr. He naturally focused on opportunities in the motor industry, given new technologies at work in developing electric cars and in-vehicle entertainment systems, boasting, “There’s nothing going on in Silicon Valley or anywhere else that’s as advanced as what’s going on here.”

The region is also attracting its share of venture capital. ePrize founder John Linker recently established Detroit Venture Partners to assist local startups, and the Renaissance Venture Capital Fund has invested heavily in the area.

Anthony Earley perhaps best summed up the big idea of the conference, ”If you’re a bright, young person who wants to make a difference, you have the opportunity to do that in Detroit. In another town, you have to pay dues for years and years. If you’re willing to work and if you’re committed, you can make a difference very quickly here.”

The following are 5 MBA interviews tips from the Ross Michigan MBA program. The latest application advice offered this week by admissions director Soojin Kwon Koh of the Stephen M. Ross Michigan MBA Program covers how to use the interview experience to provide added dimension to the “paper” version of yourself.

As we’ve noted before, the purpose of the interview is twofold: it gives AdCom a chance to see a candidate’s personality, leadership qualities and motivation for pursuing an MBA; and it also lets applicants tell their own story beyond the essays and other materials in the application.

Applicants should remember that an invitation to interview doesn’t mean you’re a shoo-in. The admissions interview is intended as a “fit” interview, says Soojin, so you should approach it with the same seriousness and vigor you would a job interview.

Here are some of the admissions director’s MBA interview tips for conquering the admissions interview with grace:

Be professional: Schools want to admit candidates who will represent their institution well to recruiters and the outside world — both as students and future alums. Interviewing with a second-year MBA student doesn’t mean that you can be more casual in your language and demeanor. Remember to keep it professional.

Know yourself: You should be prepared to answer the question, “Why an MBA?” While you already have written about it in your application essay, AdCom also wants to know how you talk about it in person: Do you have your “elevator pitch” down?

Anything on your resume is fair game, so know it well. Explain your experiences clearly and succinctly. Provide specific examples and relevant details. Use the “CAR” approach — context, action, result — to frame your responses.

Know the school: Interviewers tend to feel more positively about candidates who have done their homework. They don’t just want really smart, accomplished students to join the community; they want students who will engage in the many opportunities Ross offers.

Knowing all about Ross doesn’t guarantee an interviewer’s endorsement, but you can make a more favorable impression on an interviewer — whether it’s for b-school admission or for a job — if you show you’re interested enough to research the organization.

Distinguish yourself: Make sure the stories and examples you share give the interviewer a sense of your interests, passions, goals, values, decision-making framework, and personality. AdCom wants to get to know you as people, not as resumes.

Practice: Here is the last, but arguably the most important, of the MBA interview tips. Practice discussing your professional experience, and identify stories that highlight some of the characteristics the school is looking for in candidates — leadership, teamwork, initiative, engagement, integrity, self-awareness, curiosity, passion, etc.

Conduct a mock interview with a colleague or friend to crystallize your thoughts and figure out the appropriate level of detail and length of response. And remember to relax and be yourself. We hope the above MBA interview tips were of help.

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If you’re in the midst of preparing your application for the Ross School of Business’s Round 2 deadline coming up on January 5, 2011, read Stacy Blackman’s complete Michigan Ross Advice section for essays tips, application updates and more!

In the latest MBA Newsletter from the Stephen M. Ross Michigan MBA Program, admissions director Soojin Kwon Koh explains how treating your resume like a first impression can help you put your best application forward.

Admissions officers weigh your resume quite heavily to assess your candidacy, so make sure this first impression is a good one, says Soojin. Does your resume concisely convey your background and accomplishments? This marketing tool foreshadows your future potential, so make sure you maximize the precious real estate on this document, the director advises.

Here in a nutshell, some guidelines Soojin offers to ensure your resume will make a powerful first impression:

• Keep it professional, polished, concise and complete.

• Remember your audience may not be familiar with your industry or organization, so steer clear of jargon and define the context of your organization if necessary.

• Show the whole package of what you bring to the table both professionally and personally. An MBA is much more than classes and networking; how will you participate in and contribute to the school’s community?

• Review, review, review. Don’t turn in the first draft of your resume…ask objective reviewers to gauge whether it is a strong and accurate depiction of you.

This advice from the Michigan MBA program holds true no matter where you’re applying. Take time to polish this crucial element of your application and it can open the door to your B-school future.

For Stacy Blackman’s MBA essay tips specifically geared for the Michigan MBA program, follow this link. Additional Michigan MBA advice can be found here.