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June 12, 2023

NYU Stern MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023-2024], Class Profile

In addition to its traditional two-year, full-time MBA, NYU Stern offers a menu of options in graduate management education, including a one-year Tech MBA and a one-year Fashion and Luxury MBA.

Stern MBA students can select up to three specializations or choose not to specialize at all.

Ready to get to work on your NYU Stern application? Here is some expert advice to help you get accepted:

NYU Stern application essay tips

Nyu stern application deadlines.

• NYU Stern class profile

NYU Stern Essay #1

Change: _____ it..

(350 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____ it. Fill in the blank with a word of your choice. Why does this word resonate with you? How will you embrace your own personal tagline while at Stern? Examples:

• Change: Dare it.
• Change: Dream it.
• Change: Drive it.
• Change: Empower it.
• Change: Manifest it.
• Change: [Any word of your choice] it.

As you approach this question, obviously you have to think about what change means to you. But what is more important than the specific verb you choose to fill in the blank is the rest of the adcom’s question. WHY are you choosing it? Do you have one or two examples that show how you have effected change in your work or personal life? Finally, given your reasons and your verb choice, how will you embody this motto while at Stern?

To answer the last part of the question, you must do your research. What are the curricular and extracurricular opportunities at NYU Stern that will allow you to live your tagline while a student there? Check out Admissions Straight Talk Episode 525, “ How to Get Accepted to NYU Stern ,” in which Executive Director of MBA Admissions Lindsay Loyd discusses Stern’s Change Studio (see 8:40). 

NYU Stern Essay #2

Personal expression (a.k.a “pick six”).

Describe yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements:

• A brief introduction or overview of your “Pick Six” (No more than 3 sentences).
• Six images that help illustrate who you are.
• A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you.

Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images that best describe you. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.

Nedjee Corriolan, admissions coordinator at Stern , shares her advice on tackling this essay: “From your first image to the very last image, you’re creating a visually dynamic story. It’s important to understand what the message behind each photo is so you can capture the narrative in your brief caption.” She states that the “why” means more than the “what.”

As you are selecting your images, ask yourself these questions: Why is this important to me? And what does this show about who I am? Corriolan suggests that you show the images to a friend and ask them what the images convey about you. Does what they say match your idea for a caption? Maybe they have other ideas. Brainstorm and see what you can come up with. This is a fun essay, so you should have fun putting it together! It doesn’t have to be about your professional achievements – that is covered elsewhere in your application and resume. You are not your job. Think about who YOU are in your life outside of work and what is important to you. Although you have the option of including something professional or related to your goals, make sure that your images complement those goals. Let your individuality shine in this essay to differentiate you from other candidates. This can be a great place to reveal personal interests, hobbies, or community service commitments.

Remember, the caption is only one sentence, so don’t pick an image that will require a complicated explanation. It might relate back to one of your essays, but really, it should showcase a new facet of your personality. 

NYU Stern Associate Dean of MBA Admissions and Program Innovation Isser Gallogly, explained that today, images are used as much as words are for communications. He strongly feels that combining images with a few sentences and captions might be more comfortable for applicants accustomed to communicating on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms. So let your visual talents shine. You can go deep into one special interest or let your six picks show different facets of you and your experience.

You can use word clouds, graphs, infographics, charts, and of course pictures. Basically anything two-dimensional that will go into a PDF for uploading can work for Stern’s Pick Six essay.

NYU Stern Essay #3

Additional information (optional).

(500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information.

Stern provides several suggestions regarding what to include in this essay. However, if you have something significant you would like the admissions committee to know and that topic isn’t mentioned in the school’s prompt, don’t worry. This prompt is open enough that you can still write this optional essay to explain it. Just don’t duplicate information that’s found elsewhere in your application.

For expert guidance with your NYU Stern MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages , which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to NYU Stern’s MBA program and look forward to helping you, too!

Watch our Admissions Straight Talk podcast Episode 525 with Lindsay Loyd, executive director for MBA admissions on “How to Get Accepted to NYU Stern. ”

For expert guidance with your NYU Stern MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages , which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to NYU Stern’s MBA program and look forward to helping you too!

Source: NYU Stern website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with NYU Stern directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

NYU Stern Class Profile 

Here is a look at NYU Stern’s full-time, two-year MBA Class of 2024 (data taken from the NYU Stern website ):

(NYU Stern has adopted the Graduate Management Education [GME] Admissions Reporting Standards.)

Applicants: 3,553

Admits: 962

Admission rate: 27%

Number enrolled: 324

U.S. military veterans/active duty: 11%

Countries represented: 41

Students with international citizenship: 44%

100% Age range: 23-42

Race and ethnicity ( Per federal guidelines, all students identifying as both Hispanic, Latino and any other race are represented as Hispanic, Latino only. Students who identify with more than one race, but not Hispanic, Latino, are represented as Multi-race. Per multidimensional guidelines, students can identify with more than one race. )

Minorities: 47%

Underrepresented minorities: 21%

GPA statistics:

Average: 3.62

80% range: 3.34-3.89

100% range: 3.03-4.00

Standardized test type:

GMAT: 49.4%

Test waiver: 10.5%

NYU test waiver: 5.9%

MCAT/LSAT/DAT: 3.7%

GMAT statistics:

Average: 733

80% range: 700-760

100% range: 640-800

GRE statistics:

Q Average: 163

Q 80% range: 158-169

Q 100% range: 153-170

V Average: 162

V 80% range: 157-167

V 100% range: 150-170

Professional experience:

Students with work experience: 98%

Average years of work experience: 5.0

100% range years of work experience: 0-14

Prior industries:

Financial Services: 24%

Consulting: 12%

Consumer Products/Retail: 8%

Military, Government: 8%

Technology: 7%

Nonprofit, Arts, Education: 6%

Entertainment, Media: 5%

Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals: 4%

Real Estate: 4%

Advertising, Public Relations: 4%

Manufacturing, Import/Export, Trade: 3%

Engineering: 1%

Are you considering applying to business school?

We have the resources to help you navigate the options and make the right choice:

• M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2023
• How to Prepare for Interviews at Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton
• The MBA Admissions Calculator

Is NYU Stern at the top of your wish list?

Get the competitive edge with actionable advice and inside information. 

• How to Get Accepted to NYU Stern , podcast Episode 525

Can you see yourself as part of NYU Stern’s MBA class of 2025? We know how to get you there. Partner with one of our expert MBA Admissions consultants to unlock your competitive advantage and GET ACCEPTED!

Related Resources:

• Why MBA? , a guide to writing about your MBA goals
• Navigate the MBA Maze: 10 Tips to Acceptance , a free guide
• Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive List and Overview

Dr. Christie St-John has more than 25 years of higher ed and admissions experience, including ten years in admissions at Dartmouth Tuck. She was formerly the director of MBA recruiting and admissions, director of international relations, and an adjunct faculty member at Vanderbilt University. Having also served on the board of directors of the MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance and the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, Christie has a deep knowledge of MBA and other graduate admissions. Want Christie to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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NYU Stern Essay Tips and Application Deadlines: 2023-2024

For candidates who have their hearts set on relocating to (or remaining in) New York City,  NYU Stern  is a great option. This year,  US News & World Report ranked NYU Stern the #10 full-time MBA program and #4 part-time MBA program.

This past application cycle, NYU Stern admitted applicants with an average GMAT score of 733 and an average undergrad GPA of 3.62. The class of 2024 has an average of 5 years of pre-MBA work experience. Records also note that 45% of students are female and 44% of students have international citizenship.

Unlike many other top programs, the  NYU Stern full-time MBA  has a round 2 application deadline in October. This option is great if you cannot make the round 1 deadline but prefer not to wait until January to submit everything.

The NYU Stern Application Deadlines Are:

Round 1:  September 18, 2023

Round 2: October 18, 2023

Round 3:  January 18, 2024

Round 4: March 18, 2024

Please see below for Personal MBA Coach’s tips on how to answer the NYU Stern essays.

Personal MBA Coach’s NYU Stern Essay Tips:

“Our Stern essay questions give you the opportunity to more fully present yourself to the Admissions Committee and to provide insight into your experiences, goals, and thought processes.”

NYU Stern Essay 1:  Change: _________ it

(350 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font) In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____ it. Fill in the blank with a word of your choice. Why does this word resonate with you? How will you embrace your own personal tagline while at Stern? Examples:

• Change: Dare it.
• Change: Dream it.
• Change: Drive it.
• Change: Empower it.
• Change: Manifest it.
• Change: [Any word of your choice.]

With a short word limit and a lot to cover, this NYU Stern essay question is a challenging one.

As you answer this question, pay careful attention to the opening: Stern lets you know it is looking to learn about your “experiences, goals, and thought processes.”

This means both the  what  and the  why  are important here.

As you pick a tagline, be sure to consider why this approach to change is meaningful to you. Naturally, you should be able to connect it to a part of your experience. Show the reader how you have lived this tagline.

It is also crucial that you cover what you will do moving forward, both at NYU Stern and beyond! Tell the reader HOW you will drive change.

There is a lot to cover here so use your words carefully and avoid cliches.

NYU Stern Essay 2:  Personal Expression (a.k.a. “Pick Six”): Describe yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements:

• A brief introduction or overview of your “Pick Six” (no more than 3 sentences).
• Six images that help illustrate who you are.
• A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you.

Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, collages, or any other images that best describe you. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.

If you are seeking NYU Stern Pick Six examples, know that there are no wrong answers here as this is your chance to let the reader into your world. You do want to include a well-rounded mix of photos that tell the reader more about you. Treat this as a personal story essay, just narrated in a different medium.

While a mix of personal and professional photos can work well, some candidates will include only personal details. Think about what makes you unique and what values drive you as you select these images. Finally, follow the directions. One sentence is ONE sentence. Have fun with this and feel free to be creative.

NYU Stern Essay 3:  Additional Information (optional) (250 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information.

Along with the NYU Stern full-time MBA, those interested in NYU Stern also can pursue a  Fashion & Luxury MBA ,  Tech MBA ,  Executive MBA , or  Part-time MBA . Personal MBA Coach has been helping clients get into NYU Stern, alongside other top business schools, for 16 years.

Hear how Personal MBA Coach helped this client gain acceptance into Columbia Business School, Chicago Booth, NYU Stern and Yale SOM:

Ready to apply? Reach out for a free consultation today to find out how Personal MBA Coach can help you get into NYU Stern.

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• NYU Stern School of Business Essay Tips and Examples

June 2, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

NYU Stern 2023–2024 Essay Tips

Short Answer: Professional Aspirations 

What are your short-term career goals (150 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font).

With this rather no-nonsense query about your motivation to earn an MBA and expectations as to where you will go with it after graduation, NYU Stern simply wants you to spell out what you have in mind as you approach this phase of your life and career. With just 150 words, you do not have any space to waste here, so focus on presenting your answer as directly and thoroughly as possible. Keep in mind that the rest of your application needs to provide evidence that your stated goals align with your existing skills and interests, especially once they have been augmented by an MBA education. This will show that your professed objectives are achievable and thereby lend credibility to your statement. The school does not ask specifically about past experiences or what about its program in particular makes it the best one for you, though brief mentions of either would be acceptable if they are particularly important to conveying your main points. 

Essay 1: Change: _________ it 

In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. using nyu stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. change: _____ it. fill in the blank with a word of your choice. why does this word resonate with you how will you embrace your own personal tagline while at stern (350 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font), change: dare it. change: dream it. change: drive it. change: empower it. change: manifest it. change: [any word of your choice] it..

If your first instinct when you read this prompt is to immediately start brainstorming catchy, cool-sounding slogans and trying to find something that will “wow” the admissions committee, you need to pump the brakes. To craft the most effective response to this unique essay prompt, you will most likely need to work backward. The slogan is obviously the centerpiece of this essay, but you must be able to persuade the school that it is truly meaningful for you personally and is the basis of something you expect to do at the school and/or how you anticipate engaging with the NYU Stern community. So if you do not choose an authentic idea (word) that will position you to write compellingly and convincingly on these two points, you will have probably wasted your time, not to mention this interesting opportunity to share more about yourself with the admissions committee.

Start by thinking at length about what change really means to you personally and professionally. How has it played a role in your life and career to date? What is your reaction to change? How do you tend to navigate it? Do you enjoy creating change, or do you resist it? Why? Let your mind really roll with these kinds of questions so that you uncover as many options as possible, and rest assured that there is no “right” answer that the admissions committee is expecting you to guess. Choosing a word that is genuinely important to you and reflective of your attitude with respect to change is what will make your essay powerful and memorable—not a word you are hoping no one else will use or that forces the admission reader to reach for the dictionary because it is so obscure. And keep in mind that you do not necessarily have to frame change as something that should always be indiscriminately pursued merely for change’s sake. For example, something like “regulate change” could be an appropriate and even compelling choice if the candidate has strong personal reasons for this mind-set and can clearly express how it could be an additive or useful one at Stern.

Again, in asking how you expect to “embrace your . . . tagline while at Stern,” the admissions committee wants to know how you envision yourself participating in, and perhaps influencing or contributing to, the school’s greater community. For you to offer your strongest possible ideas on this point, you really need to know the school well, because if what you describe or propose is just not possible at Stern or does not align with its values and culture, this will definitely not be a point in your favor. As you do your research, look for specific niches and opportunities that correspond not only with your proposed slogan but also with your personality, strengths, knowledge, and/or experience. Read student blogs, peruse discussion boards, catch up on the past year or more of press releases from the school, spend some time on Stern’s YouTube channel —these are all good places to start (or better, continue!) educating yourself about what life at the school is really like, beyond the course work.  

Also, for a thorough exploration of NYU Stern’s academic offerings, defining characteristics, crucial statistics, social life, community/environment, and other key facets of the program, consider downloading your free copy of the mbaMission Insider’s Guide to the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University .

Essay 2: Personal Expression (a.k.a. “Pick Six”)

Describe yourself to the admissions committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. your uploaded pdf should contain all of the following elements:, a brief introduction or overview of your “pick six” (no more than 3 sentences). six images that help illustrate who you are. a one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you., note: your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images that best describe you. your document must be uploaded as a single pdf. the essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website..

We imagine that the initial reaction most candidates have to pretty much any prompt that does not request a traditional essay is momentary panic (though, to be fair, that is likely many applicants’ reaction to traditional essays as well), but let us reassure you a bit before we delve more deeply into how best to approach this one. One could argue that in many ways, this essay prompt is merely asking you to do something we assume you are already doing every day and have possibly been doing for years—curate an impression of yourself for others by sharing certain images and other media that resonate with you. Is that not what people regularly do via Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and any number of other social media venues by posting photos, memes, infographics, cartoons, and the like, typically along with a related comment? When you think of the task NYU Stern has presented you with this framework in mind, do you feel a little more confident about mastering it? We hope so.

In this case, rather than passing along just anything you think is funny or interesting or documenting your latest adventure or meal, you are communicating directly with a very singular audience, within a certain context, and with a very specific goal in mind. So start by carefully considering what you want the admissions committee to know about you—with the goal of sharing as many different aspects of your life and personality as possible—and what it will already be able to learn through your other essays and the rest of your application (resume, recommendations/EQ endorsement, transcript, etc.). You want the admissions “reader” to take away something new from each image they see.

Your images do not need to be sequential, nor do they need to always include you. Consider photos of meaningful locations and people (or animals, even) in your life as well as inanimate objects, such as a musical instrument, a pair of running shoes, a home-cooked meal, or a blooming flower. As long as the subject of the image is reflective of who you are as an individual—and remember that you will have the accompanying sentence for each image to clarify this connection, as needed—then you will be on the right track. Keep in mind also that not all of your images need to be actual photos, either. They can include drawings, paintings, charts, tables, emojis, and so on. And finally, although getting accepted to your target business school and earning an MBA are serious goals and undertakings, this does not mean that all your images for this essay submission need to be serious in nature, especially if your personality is naturally more lighthearted and humorous. Costumes and comical arrangements, if used judiciously, can be valid options if, again, the resulting final image is truly reflective of your character and/or life.  

Your one-sentence captions are clearly an opportunity to enhance the meaning of each image you are submitting. In some cases, you might use the caption to provide a direct explanation of who or what is depicted in the image, chart, artistic expression, etc. You could also use the sentences to create a narrative link between multiple images, perhaps as a way of profoundly illustrating a particularly meaningful aspect of your life or personality. Another option would be to use the caption sentence to explain your state of mind in relation to the image or to express an associated viewpoint, value, or philosophy. As you write your short explanations, keep in mind that these statements must adhere to the school’s one-sentence rule, and be sure to not simply reiterate whatever is already obvious in/from the photo but to use the additional content to enhance the admissions reader’s understanding of you.  

This prompt from NYU Stern offers a lot of leeway, but take care not to get carried away with overly elaborate or complicated images. This is not an art contest or a battle of wits but an opportunity to express and portray yourself to the admissions committee. Each time you consider an image to include, come back to the central question of  Does this truly capture who I am?  If so, then proceed, but if not, stop and reconsider your options. An increasingly complex series of images that lacks the proper heart and meaning will not elicit the response you want!

Essay 3: Additional Information (optional)

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the admissions committee. this may include current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the gmat, gre, executive assessment, ielts or toefl, or any other relevant information. (500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font).

NYU Stern’s optional essay prompt is broader than most in that it does not demand that you discuss  only  problem areas in your candidacy, though the examples it offers within the prompt seem to imply a preference for these topics. Ultimately, this is your opportunity to address any lingering questions that an admissions officer might have about your profile— if you feel you need to . We caution you against simply trying to fill this space because you fear that not doing so would somehow count against you. And of course, however tempted you might be, this is not the place to reuse a strong essay you wrote for another school or to offer a few anecdotes you were unable to use in your other submissions. But if you are inclined to use this essay to emphasize or explain something that if omitted would render your application incomplete, write a very brief piece on this key aspect of your profile. For more guidance, download our free mbaMission Optional Essays Guide , in which we offer detailed advice on when and how to take advantage of the optional essay, with multiple examples, to help you mitigate any problem areas in your application.

The Next Step: Mastering Your NYU Stern Interview

Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. To help you reach this high level of preparation, we offer our free  Interview Guides . Claim your complimentary copy of the  NYU Stern Interview Guide   today!

2023-2024 Business School Essays MBA Essay Tips New York University (Stern)

Tags: business school essay MBA application essays NYU Stern optional essay Pick Six

Upcoming Events

• Mar 26, 2024 Your 2024 MBA Application Action Plan (Online)
• Apr 25, 2024 Assessing Your MBA Profile (Online)

Upcoming Deadlines

• Mar 25, 2024 Dartmouth Tuck (Round 3)
• Mar 25, 2024 London Business School (Round 3)
• Mar 26, 2024 Texas McCombs (Round 3)
• Mar 26, 2024 Vanderbilt Owen (Round 4)
• Mar 28, 2024 Berkeley Haas (Round 4)
• Apr 1, 2024 Penn State Smeal (Round 4)
• Apr 2, 2024 Penn Wharton (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Columbia (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Northwestern Kellogg (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Virginia Darden (Round 3)
• Apr 4, 2024 Chicago Booth (Round 3)
• Apr 4, 2024 Michigan Ross (Round 3)
• Apr 8, 2024 MIT Sloan (Round 3)
• Apr 9, 2024 Stanford GSB (Round 3)
• Apr 9, 2024 Yale SOM (Round 3)
• Apr 10, 2024 Cornell Johnson (Round 3)
• Apr 12, 2024 UCLA Anderson (Round 3)
• Apr 15, 2024 USC Marshall (Round 3)
• Apr 29, 2024 Toronto Rotman (Round 4)
• Apr 29, 2024 UNC Kenan-Flagler (Round 4)
• Apr 30, 2024 Georgetown McDonough (Round 4)

Click here to see the complete deadlines

2023–2024 MBA Essay Tips

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Click here for the 2022–2023 MBA Essay Tips

MBA Program Updates

• Berkeley-Haas
• Boston University (Questrom)
• Cambridge Judge Business School
• Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
• Columbia University (Columbia Business School)
• Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
• Cornell University (Johnson)
• Dartmouth College (Tuck)
• Duke University (Fuqua)
• Emory University (Goizueta)
• George Washington University (GWSB)
• Georgetown University (McDonough)
• Harvard University (Harvard Business School)
• IE Business School
• IESE Business School
• Indian School of Business
• Indiana University (Kelley)
• Ivey Business School
• London Business School
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
• New York University (Stern)
• Northwestern University (Kellogg)
• Notre Dame (Mendoza)
• Ohio State University (Fisher College)
• Oxford University (Saïd Business School)
• Penn State Smeal College of Business
• Rotman School of Management
• Saïd Business School
• Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)
• Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)
• University of California Los Angeles (Anderson)
• University of Cambridge (Judge)
• University of Chicago (Booth)
• University of London (London Business School)
• University of Michigan (Ross)
• University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
• University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
• University of Southern California (Marshall)
• University of Texas at Austin (McCombs)
• University of Virginia (Darden)
• Vanderbilt University (Owen)
• Villanova School of Business
• Yale University (School of Management)

MBA Resources

NYU STERN MBA Essays : Sample Essays & Writing Tips

MBA & Beyond Team

22/12/2023 | 9:09 pm

Are you dreaming of joining the prestigious NYU Stern for your MBA? Well, you’re in for an exciting journey, and I’m here to guide you through a crucial part of your application – the essays. Let’s dive right in, shall we?

ESSAY 1: PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATIONS

Embarking on an MBA is a significant step in your career, and NYU Stern wants to hear all about your plans. So, what are your short-term career goals? This question may seem straightforward, but it’s your golden ticket to show the admissions committee why NYU Stern is the ideal launchpad for your dreams.

KEY ELEMENTS TO INCLUDE:

• Specificity is Key: Be clear about your desired role and the industry you aim to enter post-MBA. Numbers and facts play a big role here. For instance, if you’re eyeing a role in management consulting, mention the kind of projects or sectors you want to delve into.
• Link to Stern: Why NYU? Maybe it’s their top-ranked Finance program or their impressive network in the tech industry. Whatever it is, make it clear how Stern aligns with your goals.
• Short and Sweet: With a 150-word limit, precision is your friend. Every word should drive home why you’re a perfect fit for Stern and why Stern is perfect for you.

EXPERT TIP:

Did you know that NYU Stern’s MBA program has a robust offering in areas like Fintech and Luxury & Retail? Tailoring your goals to these unique strengths can showcase your fit and research.

ESSAY 2: PERSONAL EXPRESSION (PICK SIX)

This one’s my personal favorite – the “Pick Six” essay. Think of it as a blank canvas to paint a vivid picture of who you are beyond your resume. You get to choose six images that represent your passions, life experiences, and dreams. But remember, it’s not just about the pictures; the captions are where you bring your story to life.

CRAFTING YOUR PICK SIX:

• Diverse Imagery: Mix it up! Your images could range from a snapshot of a volunteering experience to a prized personal achievement. This is your chance to showcase the breadth of your personality.
• Meaningful Captions: Each caption is a chance to give context to the image. What’s the story behind that picture of you crossing the marathon finish line? Use these snippets to give depth to your narrative.
• Reflect Your Values: Are you passionate about sustainability or women’s leadership? Let your images reflect these values. Remember, authenticity is key.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT PICK SIX?

Let’s look at an example. Imagine you choose a photo of a bustling street market in Bangkok. A simple caption like, “Exploring global markets, understanding diverse consumer behaviors – a step towards my dream of a career in international marketing,” ties your personal experience to your professional aspirations.

ESSAY 3: BEHAVIORAL ESSAY – EMBRACING CHANGE

“Change: _____ it.” This intriguing prompt from NYU Stern’s MBA application is not just about your take on change; it’s a window into how you adapt, innovate, and lead in a dynamic world. Let’s decode it together!

UNPACKING THE PROMPT:

• Personalizing ‘Change’: This is where you fill in the blank with a word that embodies your approach to change. Are you someone who ‘drives’ change or ’embraces’ it? Your choice of word is a powerful indicator of your mindset.
• Illustrating with Examples: Use real-life instances to show how you’ve lived this mantra. Did you lead a project that required swift adaptation? Or perhaps you initiated a change that had a significant impact?
• Word Limit Wisdom: With a 350-word limit, your narrative needs to be crisp and engaging. Focus on one or two compelling examples rather than trying to cover too much ground.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

NYU Stern values candidates who can thrive in an ever-changing global landscape. This essay is your chance to prove that you’re not just prepared for change – you’re ready to be a catalyst for it.

OPTIONAL ESSAY: PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This section of the application might seem optional, but it’s a hidden gem for those who use it wisely. Here’s where you can address any part of your profile that needs more context – maybe a gap in your resume, a unique life circumstance, or additional insight into your academic record.

WHEN TO USE THE OPTIONAL ESSAY:

• Clarifying Gaps: If there’s a gap in your employment or education, explain it. But remember, this isn’t about making excuses; it’s about providing clarity.
• Academic Anomalies: Had a rough semester? Use this space to give context but also to show how you’ve grown from the experience.
• Extra Achievements: Got something impressive that didn’t fit into other essays? This is your place to shine.

CRAFTING YOUR RESPONSE:

• Be Direct: Get to the point quickly. The admissions committee appreciates brevity and directness.
• Stay Positive: Focus on the lessons learned or skills gained, even from challenging experiences.
• Word Limit: With a maximum of 250 words, every sentence must add value to your overall narrative.

WRITING TIPS AND BEST PRACTICES

Crafting an essay for an MBA application, especially for a prestigious institution like NYU Stern, isn’t just about answering questions. It’s about telling a story – your unique story. Here are some essential tips to make your essays stand out:

STRUCTURE AND CLARITY:

• Opening Strong: Your first sentence sets the tone. Make it engaging and indicative of what’s to come.
• Clear Structure: Organize your thoughts. Use headings or bullet points if necessary to enhance readability.
• Conciseness is Key: Be succinct. Respect word limits and don’t wander off-topic.

SHOWCASING PERSONALITY:

• Authentic Voice: Write like you speak (within the bounds of formal language). Let your personality shine through.
• Unique Insights: What makes you, you? Maybe it’s your multicultural background or an unconventional career path.

BACKING WITH DATA:

• Quantify Achievements: Use numbers to give weight to your accomplishments. Increased sales by 30%? Say it!
• Facts from Trusted Sources: Cite NYU Stern’s official website or reputable publications for any external data.

COMMON PITFALLS TO AVOID:

• Repetition: Don’t rehash your resume. The essay is an opportunity to show more than what’s on paper.
• Overcomplicating: Simplicity is powerful. Avoid jargon or overly complex language.
• Negativity: Even when discussing challenges, focus on growth and learning, not on blame or regret.

FINAL THOUGHTS AND CONCLUSION

As we wrap up, remember that your essays are a mosaic of your aspirations, experiences, and personality. They are a conversation with the admissions committee. Be honest, be yourself, and let your passion for Stern and your future career shine through.

LEAVING A LASTING IMPRESSION:

• Reflective Tone: Conclude with a reflective note on what attending NYU Stern means to you and your future.
• Future Orientation: Talk about how you envision contributing to the Stern community and beyond.

ENCOURAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION:

• You’ve Got This! Writing essays can be daunting, but view it as an opportunity to introspect and articulate your journey and dreams.
• Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from mentors or peers. Fresh perspectives can be invaluable.

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Part-time MBA

Video: benefits of the part-time mba.

Students and alumni give voice to the Stern advantage. (Video length: 0:36)

Program Overview

• Highly flexible - can be completed in 2-6 years, slow down or speed up as needed
• Four program options - Weeknights, Accelerated Two-Year, Saturday and Online/Modular
• Specialize in up to three areas from 27 options

Video: Program Overview

Watch an overview of the NYU Stern Langone Part-time MBA program. (Video length: 3.58)

Take the Next Step:

Attend a Webinar Schedule a Call with an Admissions Counselor

The Fall 2024 application is now open! The Spring application is typically available in June.

Spring 2025 (preliminary)

In the majority of cases, we send notifications earlier than the dates above. Initial notifications: 

• Offer of admission
• Waitlist offer
• Denial of admission
• (Interview – but only in rare cases)

More Info on Deadlines & Process

Video: Admissions Overview

Watch an overview of the NYU Stern Langone Part-time MBA admissions process. (Video length: 4.36)

Learn about the Admissions Process and Application Requirements

NYU Stern requires one of the standardized tests listed below, unless you qualify for one of the test waivers.

• GMAT or GMAT Focus Edition
• EA (Executive Assessment)

Test Waivers

You may qualify to waive the standardized tests if you meet the conditions of one of our two test waivers.

Business Major Test Waiver

• Have earned a four-year bachelor's degree from U.S. accredited college or university in the U.S. 
• Were a business major (per our approved list)
• Graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher

NYU Undergraduate Test Waiver 

• Have an undergraduate degree conferred by New York University
• Have earned a final cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher

Please see here for Full waiver details and conditions .

Video: Part-time MBA vs. Full-time MBA

Watch this brief video overview of the differences between the Part-time and Full-time MBA programs. (Video length: 2.40)

Class Profile Highlights

Tuition and fees.

2023-2024 Tuition per credit for Part-time MBA students is $2,754 - and the Part-time MBA program is a total of 60 credits. A rough estimate of the total tuition and fees for the Part-time MBA program on a three-year schedule is approximately $170,380. There are numerous assumptions in this estimate – read full description in the Financial Aid section of the website. See full breakdown and details

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NYU Stern: Part-Time MBA Program Guide

• Class Profile
• Class Format

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Why nyu stern.

• Useful Links

The Stern School of Business at New York University is consistently on the list of top business schools worldwide. This business school offers a full-time MBA program , an executive MBA program , and a part time MBA program for those who cannot leave their work full-time to pursue their degree. Here, we talk about NYU Stern’s part-time MBA program .

Part-time MBA formats are aimed at those who need to work while getting their degree and follow a class schedule that takes the industry workweek into consideration. This resource page lays out the basics on the NYU Stern’s part-time MBA program, and covers all you need to know about whether the program is right for you.

NYU Stern Part-Time MBA Class Profile

Nyu stern part-time student experiences.

NYU Stern Part-Time MBA 

If you’re looking into part-time programs, you may also be wondering how the coursework is structured, and how you can realistically balance working full-time with completing coursework and other program requirements. We hear this question over and over again from applicants who are not applying to full-time programs, so no, you’re not alone! We’re going to break down the format of the Stern part-time MBA so that you get a sense of what to expect.

NYU Stern Part-Time MBA Class Format

The NYU part-time MBA offers different class formats : including a flexible weeknight option, and an option with Saturday classes. Each has a different set of strengths and limitations that are worth considering in detail.

The weeknight option is the most popular of the part-time formats. Spring and Fall semesters are 12 weeks long with courses held from 6-9pm one night a week. Summer session is divided into two six-week semesters and classes are held two nights a week. At the start of the program, you are placed into a cohort with either a Monday/Wednesday or a Tuesday/Thursday block schedule; however, after the first two semesters, you can choose the nights during which you would like to take classes. There is also a chance to take accelerated classes during January and the late Summer session where additional class meetings may be held on weekends. You can look at their weeknight sample schedule to get a sense of how this might break down for you.

The Saturday option has the same semester breakdown with 12-week sessions in the Spring and Fall, and more intensive periods in January and the summer. The main difference is that classes are held on Saturdays 9am-12pm or 1-4pm. You are placed in a cohort with either the earlier or later time, and have the option to take courses at either time and on weeknights after the first two semesters. Intensive periods like January and late summer will have you taking classes at both Saturday times. You can check out a sample of the three year Saturday schedule to learn more.

In each case, faculty hold office hours outside of class times and often record lectures for later, remote viewing. 

The MBA at New York University also offers an accelerated two-year version of the program mentioned above. The schedule is identical to the weeknight schedule but with a heavier course load each semester. It cannot be taken with a Saturday option. NYU Stern notes that this schedule leaves less time for extracurricular activities, but that it is not set at a disagreeably grueling pace. You can check out their accelerated two year sample schedule to see if this option could be right for you.

NYU Stern Part-Time MBA Curriculum

The Stern part-time MBA offers a broad core curriculum that is designed to help students understand the wide spectrum of business fundamentals. They are also mindful of their part-time students’ time, offering a clear path to establish proficiency in many of their core courses, thereby allowing students to bypass them if they meet the qualifications.

After the core curriculum is finished, students can specialize in up to three areas out of a possible twenty six, including accounting , business analytics , FinTech , and luxury marketing . That is on top of a number of skill-based workshops outside of the specialization spectrum where MBAs can develop specific proficiencies. Past workshops have included Excel basics for business apps, the foundations of innovation and design thinking, and an introduction to cyber security.

NYU Stern Part-Time MBA Application

Make sure to consult the eligibility and selection criteria and application requirements for NYU’s part-time MBA program, taking note of any deadlines . Below, we discuss the latest essays that are required as part of the application and the part-time program interview process.

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In MBA admissions, starting early can significantly boost your chances. 

But there are no shortcuts, and while R1 2024 deadlines might seem far off, building your profile takes time.

Our Early Birds Toolkit has everything you need to get started right now —leave your name and email, and we’ll send you three actionable steps to elevate your profile, plus time-saving tools for faster progress.

NYU Stern Part-Time MBA Essays

As part of the application process to Stern’s part-time program, you will have to complete two required essays and one optional essay . These essays are intended for the AdCom to get to know you better. Here are the prompts for a recent NYU application cycle.

Professional Aspirations.

• What are your short and long-term career goals?
• How will the MBA help you achieve them?
• Optional: This essay is truly optional, and nothing is required here. It is simply an opportunity to provide any additional information that you feel is important in assessing your candidacy to the part-time MBA program and therefore would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This essay is truly optional, and nothing is required here. It is simply an opportunity to provide any additional information that you feel is important in assessing your candidacy to the part-time MBA program and therefore would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. For example, this may include significant current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, EA, IELTS, or TOEFL, or any other relevant information. If you are planning to attend the Langone part-time MBA program and do not currently live in the NYC metro area, please indicate your plans to pursue the program. If you are planning to relocate to the NYC area, please indicate your plans for employment. We recognize that in some cases this information may be able to be provided in just a few short sentences.  Therefore, you should not feel compelled to write a long essay on something that can be conveyed succinctly.

NYU Part-Time MBA Interview

MBA interviews for NYU Stern are offered by invitation only. After applying, should you be invited, you will be able to schedule one via your application status page. They are usually conducted by trained professionals in the Admissions department and are held in person, by phone, or by video conference.

NYU Stern Part-Time MBA Admissions

In addition to being New York City—the financial capital of the world and home to a wide variety of business headquarters—NYU Stern offers a variety of experiential learning opportunities through the Stern Solutions program. Past projects run through this program have included working on real-world business issues from branding to impact investing in family offices.

There are also global opportunities including “Doing Business In…” (DBi) programs located around the world. All of this is in addition to NYU Stern’s wealth of resource and research centers and initiatives which include Endless Frontier Labs , the NYU Pollack Center for Law and Business , and the Salomon Center for the Research of Financial Institutions . 

NYU Stern Part-Time MBA Useful Links

Access firsthand insights from students and professors with our comprehensive guide to the NYU Stern Part-Time MBA program, enhanced by video interviews and expert MBA application consultant advice.

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* All data retrieved from the NYU Stern Part-Time MBA Program webpages, unless otherwise stated.

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How to Write the NYU Essays 2023-2024

NYU has just one supplemental prompt this year, which allows you to choose from six different options. Although this prompt is technically optional, NYU’s prime location in the heart of downtown New York City, campuses all across the globe, and affiliation with excellent graduate schools in a range of subjects make it highly competitive to gain admission. So, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to share something new about yourself with admissions officers.

Read these examples of past NYU essays about diversity and “Why NYU?” to inspire your writing.

NYU Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prompt: We are looking for peacemakers, changemakers, global citizens, boundary breakers, creatives and innovators – Choose one quote from the following and let us know why it inspires you; or share a short quote and person not on our list who inspires you, and include why. (250 words, optional)

• Option A: “We’re used to people telling us there are no solutions, and then creating our own. So we did what we do best. We reached out to each other, and to our allies, and we mobilized across communities to make change, to benefit and include everyone in society.” Judith Heuman, 2022 NYU Commencement Address
• Option B: “I encourage your discomfort, that you must contribute, that you must make your voice heard. That is the essence of good citizenship.” Sherilynn Ifill, 2015 NYU Commencement Address
• Option C: “If you know how to fly but you never knew how to walk, wouldn’t that be sad?” Lang Lang, 2015 NYU Honorary Degree Recipient
• Option D: “You have the right to want things and to want things to change.” Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland, 2023 NYU Commencement Address
• Option E: “It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair.” Taylor Swift, Change, Released 2008, 2022 NYU Commencement Speaker
• Option F: Share a short quote and person not on this list, and why the quote inspires you.

“We’re used to people telling us there are no solutions, and then creating our own. So we did what we do best. We reached out to each other, and to our allies, and we mobilized across communities to make change, to benefit and include everyone in society.” Judith Heuman, 2022 NYU Commencement Address (250 words)

Brainstorming Your Topic

Although the framing is a little more particular, this prompt has similarities to two supplemental prompt archetypes: the  “Global Issues” essay and the “Community Service” essay. Basically, you want to show NYU that you’re able to not just identify a problem in the world around you, but actively work towards solving it.

That second piece, of showing that you’re someone who acts when you see injustice, rather than merely observing, is crucial. So, you should have a personal connection to the issue you write about, as the point of your essay ultimately isn’t to teach admissions officers about a particular issue, but rather show them what your passion for that issue says about your potential as an NYU student.

So, don’t write about how aboriginal people in Australia struggled during the 2020 wildfires if you don’t know anyone in that community and have never been to Australia, as your essay will likely end up sounding overly factual and academic. Instead, think about issues that have directly impacted your own life. 

Maybe that’s a social media campaign you spearheaded to help abandoned animals get adopted when the shelter was overcrowded. Or working with your friends from Spanish class to ensure the local soup kitchen always had a Spanish speaker working, to make the environment more welcoming to immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries.

Keep in mind that the story you tell should have some component of “reach[ing] out to others,” as this quote highlights the importance of collaboration when solving big issues. So, while creating a statistical model on your own to show the viability of solar polar is certainly something to be proud of, it may not be the best anecdote to write about for this prompt. If you then hosted webinars sharing the model with local business owners and answering their questions, however, that could be an effective way of aligning the story with the spirit of the prompt.

Tips for Writing Your Essay

Like any good college essay, your response should show, rather than tell, your readers what you did. What that means is to use descriptive writing, with strong sensory details, to paint NYU admissions officers a picture, rather than just saying “I did x, y, and z, and learned a, b, and c.” The more detail you can include, the more immersive your story will be, which will make your essay both more engaging and more fun to read.

The other key to a strong response is having takeaways that are both clear and personal. You don’t want your essay to feel like a Hallmark card, so avoid clichés like “This experience showed me the power of diversity” or “I realized that deep down, we’re all the same.” The point of the college essay is to distinguish yourself from other applicants, and relying on generic tropes won’t accomplish that.

Instead, think about how you can take one of these overused ideas and creatively reframe it through the lens of your story in particular. For example, if you write about the soup kitchen example above, you could talk about how you bonded with one person who attended frequently because you discovered you both enjoyed crocheting, and how that taught you to look for shared experiences even with people who may outwardly seem quite different from you. 

The general idea of diversity as a unifying, rather than divisive, force is the same, but by connecting that idea to something specific that happened to you, you’ll give NYU admissions officers of how that idea tangibly impacts your day-to-day life. Ultimately, they’re trying to figure out how you would fit into their classrooms, clubs, dorms, dining halls, and so on, and specificity gives them a much clearer idea of that than just big-picture ideas.

Mistakes to Avoid

There isn’t really any major pitfall to keep an eye out for here. Just make sure you’re conscientious of how you frame your issue. Even though NYU, like most colleges, is much more liberal than society as a whole, you still want to use discretion when discussing politics in a college essay, as you have no way of knowing exactly what context your readers are coming from.

So, if you’re writing about a fundraiser you and your friends organized after the overturning of Roe v. Wade to help women from red states afford travel to states where abortion would remain legal, keep the focus on your efforts and what this experience taught you. Don’t talk about your feeling that anyone who opposes abortion is a misogynist, as, for all you know, the person reading your essay may have a loved one who is pro life, or they may even be themselves. 

You can talk about controversial topics in this essay, but do so in a way that’s introspective and acknowledges the complexity of the issue, rather than in a way that celebrates your own moral superiority.

“I encourage your discomfort, that you must contribute, that you must make your voice heard. That is the essence of good citizenship.” Sherilynn Ifill, 2015 NYU Commencement Address (250 words)

Like Option A, this prompt has elements of both the “Global Issues” essay and the “Community Service” essay. However, the scope here is a little broader, as you’re being asked to talk about a time when you made “your voice heard,” rather than one when you were an active part of helping solve a particular problem. That means you have a little more flexibility in what you write about.

For example, you could describe the time when a conversation with a Jewish friend of yours made you realize Christmas-centric your school’s holiday decorations were, and how that motivated you to accompany her to talk to the principal about it, as she felt uncomfortable going alone. You could also take a similar angle as the one described above, with Option A, and talk about service work, like advocating for preserving wildlife habitat over expanding the boat launch at a nearby lake, or something else on a slightly larger scale that you spoke up about. 

However, don’t talk yourself out of writing about a more personal story like the Christmas example. Although this approach may seem less “impressive,” in reality talking about that kind of smaller moment in daily life can do a lot to show admissions officers what you’re like when nobody’s watching. Just about everyone applying to NYU will have an impressive resume, so you can really distinguish yourself by telling them a story that you’re still kind, altruistic, and thoughtful even outside the context of a particular project or organization.

That being said, both approaches can work incredibly well, so long as they honestly reflect your desire to speak up about the things that matter to you.

Once you’ve picked a particular moment to focus on, you want to think about what lessons you took away from that experience. NYU admissions officers care about who you’re going to be for the next four years, not who you were in the past, so they want to get a sense of how this experience is going to impact your contributions to their community.

There’s no one right way to do this, so if you immediately see a way to tell your story in a reflective, informative way, go for it! If you’re having writer’s block, though, one reliable approach would be to explain what happened, what you learned, and then include a second, much briefer anecdote that shows how you’ve utilized what you learned in the time since. 

For the Christmas example, after you finish describing the principal’s willingness to include menorahs and dreidels alongside the Santas and Christmas trees, you talk about how this experience showed you most people do want to be inclusive, they just might not know exactly how, so we all have a responsibility to speak up when we see a way to be better. You could then talk about how this realization then motivated you to talk to your manager at your part-time job about adjusting shift start times to align with the bus schedule, as she didn’t know that some employees didn’t have their own car.

250 words isn’t a lot, so depending on how much space you need to describe the original anecdote, you may not have space for the second one. That’s completely fine–as long as your takeaways are framed in a personal way that directly connects to the story you have just told, your readers will understand the significance of this experience to who you are today.

Letting your main anecdote breathe is the most important thing, as if you rush through things, your reader might not have enough details to properly anchor your eventual takeaways, which could make your essay feel impersonal or generic. 

For a somewhat extreme example of this, say you wrote about the day you noticed your school had changed their holiday decorations, and how happy that made you, but totally glossed over your own involvement in driving that change. Having a takeaway about the importance of standing up for what you believe in would then make no sense. So, make sure the details you include at each point in the essay work together to create a single, cohesive unit.

“If you know how to fly but you never knew how to walk, wouldn’t that be sad?” Lang Lang, 2015 NYU Honorary Degree Recipient (250 words)

This prompt may come across as overly philosophical at first, but before you rule it out, take a second to think about what it’s actually saying. Flying is more glamorous, exciting, and magical than walking, but walking is what we all do every single day to move around the world. While practicality never makes any headlines, daily life wouldn’t work without walking. 

Connecting that idea, about the value of practicality, to NYU’s focus on difference-makers means that you’ll want to discuss the importance of small, seemingly insignificant actions to driving broader change. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day: for every figurehead of a major, earth-shattering movement, there are thousands or even millions of people who spent years paving the road so that the leader could one day walk down it. These people rarely get fame or recognition, but the movement never would have succeeded without them.

Of course, to write a strong, engaging response here, you don’t want to write about a huge historical movement that happened generations before you were even born. Instead, apply the same general idea to your own life. Think about what you do, or observe, on a daily basis that shows you the value of sometimes just taking things one step at a time. If there’s something you’ve been passionate about for a long time, that can be a great starting point, as you’ve probably made many small contributions over the years, compared to something where you were just involved in one, big, “flying” project.

For example, maybe you’ve always loved animals, and as a child you used to talk to your mom about flying around the world and rescuing all the endangered species. Once you got older, you realized you couldn’t do that, but what you could do was start a blog featuring a different endangered species every month, along with nonprofits dedicated to helping that species survive. You’ve even established partnerships with some of these groups, and helped organize fundraisers such as bake sales and 5Ks.

As this example shows, ideally you want to show how you’re finding a way to contribute to a much bigger cause. NYU wants to accept difference-makers, and although most of us aren’t able to donate millions of dollars or spearhead new technological initiatives, you can still show that you’re dedicated to finding ways to help however you can. 

Remember, as we noted in Option B, describing your grassroots efforts can in some ways demonstrate your dedication to a cause more than a high-level accomplishment or accolade, because that kind of work truly shows who you are on a day-to-day basis. So, if something comes to mind, don’t sell yourself short by saying “Oh, but they won’t care about that.” If whatever it is was meaningful to you, we promise they will 🙂

This is the kind of prompt where the brainstorming, if you do it well, is 90% of the work. Since the prompt is more abstract, you’re going to have to spend more time up front thinking about exactly what you want to say, or else you may end up sitting down to write and realizing you have no idea where you want to go. So, if you find yourself staring at a blank page, we would suggest rewinding, and spending a little more time brainstorming.

Once you have a clear sense of the story you want to tell, all you really need to do is actually put the words on the page. As you do that, remember that you want to include strong sensory details, to make your essay as immersive and engaging as possible. Focus less on what you did, and more on how you felt and what you learned from the experience. You may or may not do something similar to, for example, raising awareness for endangered species during your time at NYU, but you want to show admissions officers that, whatever you get involved with, you’re going to bring a thoughtful, dedicated perspective to your work.

For example, rather than saying just “My post on the work done to get manatees from ‘endangered’ to ‘threatened’ got 5,000 views, from places as far away as Italy, Kenya, and New Zealand,” take the next step, and describe how that success made you feel. That might look something like: 

“When I saw the number, I went back to the first post I ever did, on the African Bay owl. That post didn’t get a single view from someone who wasn’t related to me. But as I flipped back to the manatee post, I realized that we’re all related to each other in ways other than blood, as we all share this planet, and reminding people of that can be as simple as putting up a blog post and letting them come find it.”

NYU would be impressed by your outreach alone, but what will truly take your essay to the next level is including this next layer of reflection, and showing them the broader lessons you learned from this experience. That will prove to them that you’re not just talented and motivated, but also that your values align with theirs.

We noted at the beginning of this prompt breakdown that you shouldn’t get scared off just because it’s a little more philosophical than some of the others, and we stand by that. However, its more abstract nature will likely make the brainstorming process take longer, and it’s possible you do end up just feeling stuck. 

If you don’t think you have the time right now to give this prompt the attention it needs, that’s completely fine! The advantage of option prompts is that you have, well, options. Even if you’re initially drawn to this prompt, if you find yourself beating your head against the wall and not getting anywhere, don’t be stubborn–just pivot to one of the others.

“You have the right to want things and to want things to change.” Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland, 2023 NYU Commencement Address (250 words)

Like Options A and B, this prompt is, roughly, a version of the “Global Issues” essay. That means you should have two main goals here. First, identify an issue that matters to you. Second, explain what your interest in that issue says about you as a person. 

Note that, unlike the first two options, the problem you choose doesn’t have to be one you’ve taken a lot of tangible action towards resolving. Obviously, you should have some level of personal investment in your issue, as otherwise your essay could come across as disingenuous. But if you have a cause you’re passionate about, but for whatever reason haven’t been able to get involved in directly, that would still be fair game here.

For example, maybe you’d like to increase access to healthy food options, as you live in a remote area and grow a lot of your own food with your family, so you know what a difference high-quality produce makes, but you also know how frustrating it can be to simply not have access to certain things, as your supermarket’s stock is limited. Because you don’t live in a city, you haven’t had the chance to get involved in any volunteer work related to this issue, so instead you’ve done your very best to learn everything possible about the process of growing your own food, so that you’ll have a wealth of hands-on experience to draw on when you are eventually in a situation where you can discuss theoretical, bigger picture solutions to this issue.

This hypothetical student hasn’t been able to take much concrete action towards addressing food inequality. However, they’re still demonstrating a genuine desire to help fix this issue, as well as forethought and motivation, by explaining how they’re finding a way to build up their skill set now, so that when the time comes, they are prepared to create tangible change. Any NYU admissions officer would feel confident about this student’s potential to become a difference-maker.

Of course, you are also more than welcome to write about an issue you have already done some work to help solve. We only want to highlight that already contributing to the solution isn’t a prerequisite for this prompt, so you can cast your net a little wider in your brainstorming than you would for Option A or B.

Once you sit down to actually start writing, the key is to make sure you aren’t just discussing your personal connection to this particular issue, but also highlighting admirable personality traits that will serve you in any of your future endeavors, whether related to the same issue or not. To see what we mean here, look back at the example we gave above. That student shows several traits admissions officers will find attractive, including:

• They are able to extrapolate from their own lived experiences to better understand a broader, societal issue
• They can appreciate the nuance of a big-picture issue
• They can critically evaluate their own skill set and determine the best way for them to contribute to a resolution

These qualities come across because of the (hypothetical) level of detail the student provides. If they were to instead just give a general sketch of the situation, along the lines of “I care about food inequality, and although I haven’t yet been able to combat this issue, hopefully I will one day,”  then admissions officers have a lot of blanks to fill in. 

Instead, you should do the work for them: build a concrete connection between this issue you care about and certain, broader attributes that are fundamental to who you are. That will show them not just that you’re passionate about this one issue, but that you’re an overall thoughtful, mature person who’s ready to take advantage of all NYU has to offer.

If you choose to write about an issue that you haven’t taken much concrete action on yet, just be careful that your essay doesn’t become more about the issue, and your interest in it on a theoretical level, than about your own personality. In the context of the example given above, that might look like a bunch of statistics showing how lack of access to healthy food disproportionately impacts lower income people. 

While that is certainly informative, remember that this isn’t an academic essay. It’s a personal reflection, so even if you’re still figuring out how you can best contribute to tangible change, you still want to highlight specific experiences or moments that showcase the strengths you will eventually use to make a real difference. Otherwise, NYU admissions officers may come away from your essay knowing more about the issue you’re highlighting, but not much about what you’d bring to their community, which is ultimately the question they’re trying to answer.

“It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair.” Taylor Swift, Change, Released 2008, 2022 NYU Commencement Speaker (250 words)

Like the previous prompt, this quote wants you to discuss a cause you are currently fighting for, or would like to fight for during your time in college and beyond. But the angle is a little bit different, as this quote is centered around the challenges of fighting for something in unfair circumstances.

If you choose this prompt, you’ll want to talk about an obstacle you’ve overcome, or are in the process of overcoming, in your effort to make your communities a little more just. This doesn’t have to be anything intense, like facing harassment or threats after a talk you gave at a school assembly about your experiences with racism. Of course, you are welcome to discuss this kind of extreme hardship if you are comfortable doing so. 

You don’t have to, however. There are a whole bunch of things that make advocacy work difficult, and many of them have nothing to do with physical violence. For example, you could talk about your attempts to research successful city planning projects that incorporate more green spaces, and your frustration upon realizing many of the articles you wanted to read were stuck behind paywalls.

Alternatively, you could talk about how you want to help increase access to affordable education in your city by tutoring, but not having a car makes it difficult for you to reach many of the people who seek out your help. No obstacle is too small–as we’ve highlighted in several of the previous breakdowns, contextualizing a societal issue within your own life is what NYU wants you to do with pretty much all of these prompts, so don’t feel like you need to dramatize anything. Just be honest about your efforts, and the things that have gotten in your way.

The key to writing a successful response is to not focus your entire essay on the challenge itself, as that will result in a rather defeatist tone. Rather, spend the first part of the essay explaining the difficulties you’ve faced in your efforts to resolve some societal issue, and spend the second half explaining what you’ve done to overcome them. That will result in a more positive overall vibe for your essay, which shows your ability to adapt and grow even in the face of challenges, a skill that will be vital to your success in college.

Like with the challenge itself, you don’t have to glamorize whatever it is you did to work around the obstacle you encountered. For example, don’t say you set up a consortium of high school students where everyone pitched in some money so that you could create shared accounts on all the sites you wanted to use, unless you actually did do that. 

It’s okay to say you asked your parents for their credit card, and that you agreed to take on extra chores around the house because being self-sufficient in your advocacy work is important to you. Or that saving up for your own car proved too difficult, so you’ve worked out a schedule with your elderly neighbor to use his car in the evening, since he goes to sleep early anyways, so long as you pick up his groceries on the way home. 

NYU isn’t going to judge you for the particulars of your situation. They just want to see that, when the fight isn’t fair, you still find a way to keep punching.

Taylor Swift may be the biggest pop star in the world right now, but this sadly isn’t an essay for you to talk about your fandom. Keep the focus on the challenges of tackling inequality, not on your Eras Tour outfit or opinions on which (Taylor’s Version) album has the best (From The Vault) tracks 😉

Share a short quote and person not on this list, and why the quote inspires you. (250 words)

While you may initially feel drawn to this option because of the freedom it affords you, we advise against defaulting to it if you don’t immediately feel a connection to one of the other prompts. The other options do have narrower focuses, but you have five to choose from, and all of the quotes are open-ended enough that you aren’t being forced into a box.

Because this prompt is already unusually flexible for a supplemental essay, you should have a good reason for creating your own option. Ideally you’ll already have a particular quote, or at least a particular person, in mind. If you’re just thinking “Oh, I’d like to write about [general topic],” the time you spend googling possibilities is time you could instead be spending on your actual response, so we’d encourage you to look back at the options already given to you and see if any of them could be an inroad to your desired topic.

Additionally, you may have noticed that, while the options NYU gives you all portray slightly different perspectives, and come from a wide range of speakers, they all have something to do with the theme of justice and equity. In the main prompt, NYU even says they’re looking for “peacemakers, changemakers, global citizens, boundary breakers, creatives and innovators,” so your quote should show your potential to become a difference-maker in the world. Avoid writing about, for example, Stephen Hawking’s thoughts on black holes, as that would be jarring for admissions officers.

Obviously, the exact structure of your essay will depend on which quote you select. But in general, many of the points we’ve made in our breakdowns of the other prompts will apply here too. The best advice we can give is:

• Use anecdotes, rather than speaking generally about whatever your topic is
• Make sure the essay doesn’t just focus on your topic, and instead teaches your reader about a few tangible personality traits that speak to your potential as an NYU student 
• Provide enough detail that your story feels personal, rather than like something any old applicant to NYU could have written.

With regards to this prompt specifically, since you’re taking this choose-your-own adventure path, don’t be afraid to be a little unconventional in how you do these three things. Maybe you share a quote of something meaningful your dad once said to you about having a responsibility to give back to others, and then you describe a few moments you have shared with him that exemplify how he embodies this ideal every day, and how you seek to do the same.

Alternatively, say you study Latin in school. Maybe you choose a quote from Ovid, your favorite Roman author, that relates to injustice, and explain how to you, this quote shows that, although it’s easy to get discouraged by all the doom and gloom on the news, humans have been trying to make the world a little bit better for as long as our species has existed.

These two examples both take advantage of the fact that you have a pre-existing personal connection to the actual person who said the quote, not just their words, as that’s something you probably don’t have with any of the options given to you (with the possible exception of Taylor Swift). As a result, NYU admissions officers get to see a level of depth and reflection in your response that they otherwise wouldn’t, which is the benefit of this option–you can pick both the framework and the content of your essay, rather than needing to fit what you want to say into a particular structure.

This isn’t a mistake, but just something to keep in mind if you’re seriously thinking about coming up with your own prompt: you still only have 250 words, and you’re going to have to spend probably about 20 of them just on your quote and the name of the person who said it. So, make sure your quote is relatively short (you can also use well-placed ellipses to save yourself room)–Option A, for example, would be much too long, as you’d be using over 20% of your space just on the quote itself.

Regardless of how short your quote is, however, you’re still going to have less space available than if you had chosen one of the options NYU provides, which is yet more reason you need to be 100% sure that this option will allow you to say something none of the others will. If you choose this option without already having some sense of what you’d like to say, having 20 fewer words may end up really biting you.

To summarize: if you’re feeling bold, and already have a clear sense of how you’re going to channel that boldness, this prompt is a great opportunity to truly set yourself apart from other applicants. But if you’re just choosing it because you can, and coming up with your own prompt sounds fun, we’d encourage you to give the pre-established options another look.

Where to Get Your NYU Essay Edited 

Do you want feedback on your NYU essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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NYU Stern MBA Essay Examples

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Yale MBA Essay Samples

We asked the NYU experts on our Stacy Blackman Consulting team, “What does NYU Stern Admissions look for?” They advised, “Excellence across academics, professional including depth of work experience and interpersonal: humility, leadership, and communication.”

SBC has several former NYU MBA Admissions Officer on our team. We know the nuances of applying to NYU Stern successfully. If you’d like to speak with one of our Principals about your candidacy, please request a free analysis here.

In the meantime, please see sample NYU Stern MBA application essays here from past successful Stern admits.

At the end of the Vietnam War, my parents, like most Vietnamese refugees, fled to America to escape communism. Similar to the political climate today, there was hostility towards the influx of immigrants. There are stories about how the Vietnamese started bringing egg rolls to their new neighbors in hopes of building a bridge between cultures. In my family, food has always been a unifying force. In a culture that is emotionally reserved, food is how my family expresses love and how we connect when words aren’t enough. Food greatly influences how I view the world, and its ability to bring understanding and acceptance is why I want to devote myself to that space.

Although I have always had an affinity for food, I never considered opportunities in that sector. After graduating with a business degree, I pursued finance at X. My responsibilities include performing analysis and finding innovative solutions to cut costs. Although I have a significant impact on X’s fiscal health, I became fascinated with finding ways to increase revenue rather than decreasing expenses. When I was chosen for the X Program, we built a new customer platform, and I saw how changing the design and user experience of the website shifted consumer interaction. I became interested in consumer motivation and how that leads to purchase decisions. Earning an MBA would allow me to pivot into marketing and pursue a brand management career.

After business school, I plan to work as an Associate Brand Manager for a CPG company in the sustainable food space because loving food is preserving it. I would love to work for Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods or bigger corporations transitioning to sustainable alternatives like XXX or YYY. The experience I will gain can eventually transfer and benefit smaller businesses. Long-term, I hope to start my own company specializing in marketing for sustainable restaurants. I want to change the way people eat and think about their food, and marketing sustainability as sexy will be my way of impacting the world.

Visiting Stern, I connected with so many diverse applicants willing to share their advice and experiences, which speaks to the people Stern attracts and the sense of community NYU instills. At Women’s Weekend, I met two panelists that pivoted from finance to marketing and gushed about the caliber of Stern’s marketing professors like AAA BBB who is a thought leader within the industry. I’m excited to join clubs at Stern like the “Social Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Food Business” and “Marketing Association” and continue to build on current organizations I work with like X. Living in X, I know Stern’s location presents endless opportunities, and my experience will be heightened by accessibility to the prominent speakers and businesses that come through NYU’s doors. The combination of Stern’s unique emphasis on EQ and community, fearless embracement of change, leadership in marketing research, and the connectedness of being in the most influential city in the world is why Stern is my school of choice.

“America is living in spin.” After watching the movie “Thank You for Smoking,” I knew what I wanted to do with my life: not become a lobbyist, but be the brains behind influencing consumers. Following graduation I joined Prophet to gain first-hand experience in understanding consumers.

At Prophet I have held four positions and worked with the world’s biggest CPG firms. I have learned about the research that develops marketing strategies, the need for dynamic approaches to compete, and the importance of relationships in forwarding initiatives. While I have learned so much, I desire to be closer to the products. I crave the ownership and execution that comes with brand management and am seeking a new challenge to push me beyond my comfort zone of analytics and recommendations. My ultimate desire is to be the CMO for a CPG company such as Unilever or L’Oréal. To attain this leadership position I hope to join the company following graduation as an assistant brand manager. An MBA is a prerequisite to this transition, and I am ready to shift my career. I have gained a thorough understanding of the CPG industry from Prophet, now I must broaden my business acumen, strengthen my global perspective, and hone my marketing and leadership skills to drive my career forward.

While an MBA is a prerequisite to my goals, I am seeking more than an MBA. I specifically want the Stern MBA as it uniquely provides academic rigor and a collaborative culture, all while being at the center of the bustling, cutting-edge environment that is New York City.

I first learned about Stern through Brenda Smith (Stern MBA ’99 alum) whom I consider both a mentor and an inspiration. Brenda is the type of leader that I hope to be: devoted to her team, engaged with her clients, and constantly seeking growth. In discussing my desire to obtain my MBA, Brenda shone light on her experience, opening my eyes to the natural fit that Stern would be for me. Brenda stressed Stern’s strong mix of both analytical and interpersonal learnings that guided the development of her leadership style; this instantly piqued my interest, and as I have researched further, I have become increasingly excited about Stern’s Leadership Development Initiative. I look forward to taking Leadership Models and practicing these classroom learnings in Leadership Simulations to refine my approach. I plan to apply these models in extracurricular pursuits such as leading the Graduate Marketing Association, which would allow me to continue refining the leadership tactics that will serve my pursuit of CMO.

Having spoken with Stern recruiters at the Forte Forum and the MBA Women’s Joint Discussion, I was energized as they spoke about the diversity of opportunity available at Stern. MBA fairs were yet another moment where I recognized that Stern would be the best fit for me. I value that Stern invests in a diverse set of specializations; I would like to specialize in Marketing, Product Management, and Global Business as I believe this unique combination would prepare me to one day run a multi-national consumer goods organization. My online research also opened my eyes to Stern’s distinctive course set, which illustrates to me that studying marketing at Stern is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Unique classes like Luke William’s Creativity will train me to apply distinctive messaging to my branding endeavors, allowing me to thrive within brand management. In addition to the diversity of academic experience, Stern offers countless opportunities outside the classroom, which too will broaden my business acumen. Located in the world’s business hub, I want to capitalize on Stern’s unique connection to New York companies – the opportunity to intern at firms such as L’Oréal during the academic year would provide me with the insider knowledge needed to thrive at these corporations in the future. As strong as Stern’s connection is to NYC, my research also indicated that Stern’s networks expand far beyond New York; I want to take advantage of Stern’s HEC exchange program where I can experience foreign luxury branding and expand my international perspective.

Each opportunity that Stern provides is a stepping stone of development toward my ultimate goal of CMO, and I am ready for this next step. As I’ve taken the time to research, I have come to the resolute decision that Stern is unlike other MBAs – providing unique specializations, thorough leadership development, and year-round connections to the world’s leading businesses. Stern is the best MBA program for me, and is undoubtedly my top choice.

When I began researching my MBA, the first place I looked was the NYU Stern website. I was immediately drawn to the flexible first-year curriculum, the ability to choose preferred courses from the menu core, and the extensive options under the Marketing specialty. I talked with David Dune (‘16) regarding the Firm & Markets core and believe this will be especially helpful for the various pricing projects I’ll face in brand management. I also spoke with Karen Riley (’15), founder of Stern’s Hospitality Club, and learned that Professor Serdai’s Luxury Marketing presents many issues and challenges that apply to hospitality industries – my industry goal after graduation. Learning from her experience as an architect, and how to provide a space that provides both comfort and relaxation to consumers, will aid me in applying this knowledge to a hotel or airline company.

At the Forte Foundation in Dallas, I spoke with Laura Berk, Admissions Coordinator, regarding the Stern Career Development Center. As the hospitality industry does not recruit heavily on campuses, Laura helped ease my concerns, informing me that close to 50% of students work with career services to secure positions outside of on-campus events. Lastly, I spoke with Jamie Smith (’14) and he emphasized the connection among students and the collaborative nature of the Stern campus.

Ultimately, through my conversations with current students, alumni and staff, I know that Stern’s strong curriculum, combined with its collaborative environment and career management support, will be the perfect program to reach my career goals.

Sports have always been an integral part of my life. At the age of four I began playing soccer, and captivated by the skill and teamwork the game required, I progressed up the ranks through high school where I traveled the country playing for a nationally ranked team. My affinity for soccer helped me learn that sports matter beyond wins and losses, teaching me accountability, determination and resilience. Sports even helped in a broader context when my four cousins moved in with us after a family tragedy. Initially full of grief, we bonded over soccer after my dad installed a net in our backyard. I always knew I wanted to make sports an important component of my life, and this interest led me to the Notre Dame where I studied Sport Management and held internships with the Chicago Bears and sports marketing agency, Octagon.

After graduation, working at Comcast as an Account Executive, I learned how to effectively communicate with clients, problem solve, and develop and maintain relationships. Next, to build upon what I learned at Comcast I accepted an offer from entertainment marketing firm, Talented, where I took on increased responsibility and learned to fuse client objectives with communications principles. Here, I quickly earned a promotion to manage the company’s relationships with brand and agency partners, and grow those relationships to increase billings and exposure.

Through my experiences, I have learned a great deal about sales and implementing marketing and public relations programs, but I now desire to move to the marketing and strategy side of business. I have long had an interest in the intersection of marketing and sport/entertainment, and have observed how brands can market their products utilizing these mediums to reach and connect with passionate fans, helping to transfer that passion into affinity for, and loyalty to the brands. I am interested in developing how companies create that brand preference and loyalty.

My long-term goal is to lead a sport/entertainment marketing firm, such as IMG, where I will guide Fortune 500 companies on a sport/entertainment marketing strategy, including how to best achieve marketing objectives, grow brands and develop their business. To make this transition, I need an MBA combined with a post-MBA brand management position with a company that has a stake in the ~$500 billion global sport/entertainment business, such as PepsiCo or AB InBev. There, I will learn to solve the marketing and business challenges faced by a major sports industry stakeholder. In this role I will also learn in depth about consumer product companies, improve my leadership skills, and expand my network. An MBA from Stern is the best means to achieve my goals.

I have taken a number of steps to ensure that Stern is the best program for me. After thoroughly researching online and visiting in April 2014, I gained an understanding of the people, curriculum and facilities that make Stern unique. A General Management MBA with specializations in Marketing, Management and Strategy would prepare me for a brand management position, based on my conversation with Graduate Marketing Association Co-President, Jamie Smith (’14). Jamie also introduced me to Professors Scott Galloway’s Brand Strategy and Al Lieberman’s Business of Sport Marketing classes, which are perfect starting points for me to learn about the strategic side of sports marketing. Speaking with Tom Brady (’14), who, like me, came from an account role with a fast-growing marketing agency, I learned about the Entertainment, Media & Technology Association, which has relationships with Verizon and the NBA. I intend on taking a leadership role in the EMTA, which would benefit my transition into sports-focused brand management. I learned about the strength of the Office of Career Development from Emma Smith (’15), who spent her summer at Miller Coors with a global marketing internship. She spoke of GMA’s outstanding relationships with PepsiCo, Unilever and others, and how the OCD helped her every step of the way.

Everyone I have encountered on my numerous visits and interactions gave me a positive feeling about Stern’s culture. Students mentioned participating in clubs such as the Stern Culture Club, and collaborating on school and career work. I walked away knowing that Stern’s curriculum is perfectly suited for my interests, and that I would also fit well into the active and collaborative culture which Stern breeds outside of the classroom. For all these reasons, after becoming intimately familiar with Stern and its opportunities, I can confidently say the Stern MBA program is the ideal school for me.

There are many career paths that fulfill my ultimate goal of making a positive difference in the lives of children—but two appeal to me most. The first is to climb the ranks of a child-focused nonprofit, such as March of Dimes or Ronald McDonald House, from Marketing Manager to CEO. Using the network developed at Stern, I will leverage my marketing background, social impact focus and acquired business acumen to obtain a summer internship, resulting in a Marketing Manager role upon graduation. Effectively bolstering year-round volunteer advocacy, growing grass roots initiatives and building event fundraising platforms, I will aspire to grow into the role of VP of Marketing and eventually CEO.

While I intend to follow this first path, I am excited to search out new solutions to social problems. Should I uncover an innovative and executable resolution to a youth issue, I would be eager to launch my own nonprofit or social enterprise—much like Jane Smith (’12) and John Jones (’12) have done with their development of a special vitamin to reduce calcium deficiency among Asian women.

I believe both paths clearly relate Stern’s mission, as on both I will use 21st century technology to solve age-old problems—such as how to increase fundraising and strengthen community ties. For example, social media are often underused tools for generating donations and maintaining steady communication with supporters. However, since neither tools nor challenges remain static, I will continue to seek out and apply evolving solutions to maximize results.

Also relating to Stern’s mission, as either a nonprofit manager or an entrepreneur, I will be challenged by the ambiguity and uncertain terms of operating a socially-driven business. In both roles, I will embrace a broad perspective of viewpoints in appealing to a wide base of donors or investors. As a nonprofit manager, I will appeal to employees’ commitment to the mission, leveraging passion as a higher currency, to motivate without monetary incentives. As an entrepreneur, I will be challenged to create a compelling and actionable vision to spark support from backers.

Working for an existing nonprofit appears to be the more fluid and clear career transition, as it has an existing framework. Here I will achieve and exceed established goals, and network with coworkers to climb the existing ladder. However, which path I take will be determined by where I can provide the greatest impact.

If I devise a new solution that provides greater significant change for children, I am likely to spring into action to fill that void. However, I would not establish a new organization for the sake of being entrepreneurial—rather, only if I had a unique approach to an unmet need. Also, to launch a new social venture, I will need the support of others already established in the nonprofit community. As my professional experience in this area is currently limited, I may need to first prove myself before branching out on my own. Ultimately, these two paths may not be mutually exclusive, but rather intertwined.

SBC’s star-studded consultant team is unparalleled. Our clients benefit from current intelligence that we receive from the former MBA Admissions Officers from Wharton, Columbia CBS and every elite business program in the US and Europe.  These MBA Admissions Officers have chosen to work exclusively with SBC.

Just two of the many superstars on the SBC team: Meet Anthony , who served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise.

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NYU Stern 2023-24 Part-Time MBA Essay Tips

Nyu stern part-time mba essay 1: professional aspirations:, what are your short and long-term career goals how will the part-time mba help you achieve them (350 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font).

It’s a fairly straight forward goal essay question. But how can you be little creative and add a twist? You can start the essay with one of your recent accomplishments or challenges that you have handled in your job and then explain to the admissions committee where you are in your career right now. Against the backdrop of this opening, explain your future career trajectory and show how a part-time MBA education will help you to move to the next orbit in your professional career. Demonstrate how you will implement the classroom lessons in your daily job and how this program will bring immediate benefit to your organization.

Your long term goal should flow logically from your short-term goal. Think about the big picture of your career and state your overall ambition. Don’t just focus on the job title or position. Instead tell them what value you wish to add to an industry, or to the society, or maybe just to that company. Keep in mind that you don’t wish to simply achieve the title of “CEO”, but you want to make your marks in the company, industry or society through the position of CEO of ABC or Partner in XYZ consulting firm.

Next question is “Why MBA”. Show admissions team why a part-time MBA is absolutely necessary to accomplish your dreams. Talk about the various leadership skills and competencies that you currently lack, which most possibly will prevent you from reaching your targets. Also show how it will increase your horizon and make you a far more competent leader.

If you do not live in the NYC metro area, tell us your plans to pursue the program. If you are planning to relocate, indicate your plans for employment in the NYC area.

If you are already working in New York, great! Your reason for choosing NYU Stern is very obvious. But if you are going to fly to NYC to join the classes, then ask yourself why not enroll in the part-time programs of other renowned schools such as Chicago Booth or Kellogg. Search your soul to find Why NYU Stern part-time program and not any other business school is your best choice.

In case New York Stern is your top choice for MBA, then explain your game plan. It should include your travel plan to New York, how you are going to delegate some of your personal responsibilities to your spouse and some professional workload on your colleagues and so on. Your plan should be detailed and must showcase your ability as a leader to create a strategy in order to juggle multiple responsibilities in office, home and B-School all at once.

NYU Stern Part-Time MBA Essay 2: Person, Place & Thing:

Please share three images - one of a person, one of a place and one of a thing - that will help the admissions committee get to know you. these selections should help provide insight into your personal characteristics and the qualities you would bring to the stern community.for each image you will be able to add a short paragraph explaining what your person, place & thing says about you (each paragraph should be no more than 150 words).your document of three images must be uploaded as a single pdf.

This essay is a true test of your creativity and imagination. You should also reflect on your personality and define who you are (and also understand who you aren't). Each picture should demonstrate one particular aspect of your personality. Selecting the pictures and writing suitable caption are not the most difficult part. Understanding your leadership personality and keeping the message in this essay in sync with your other essays will be the major challenge.

In 150 words, you have lots of space to explain why these images are significant to you. If your are little imaginative, you will love this essay. Go for it!

NYU Stern Part-Time MBA Essay 4: Additional Information (optional)

(250 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font), this essay is truly optional – it is an opportunity to provide any additional information that you feel is important in assessing your candidacy. this may include significant current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the gmat, gre, ea, ielts, duolingo or toefl, or any other relevant information. this information may be just a few short sentences, it doesn’t need to be a full essay..

Please review my tips for Optional MBA essays in my blog page here.

NYU Stern Part Time MBA Class Profile and other Applications details

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Sandip Bhattacharya, General Management Program (Harvard), Master's in Creative Writing (Oxford)

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NYU Stern Differentiation

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