Tag: Application Tips

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Navigating the Waitlist

Author: Tania Arciniega was a full-time MBA student (Class of 2025) at NYU Stern, where she was VP of Knowledge Management for the Entertainment Media and Sports Association, VP of Blocks for Stern Student Government, a Fellow of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management and a Leadership Accelerator Scholar. With five years at Microsoft as a Product Marketing Manager, Tania has led global AI thought leadership and digital marketing campaigns, developed impactful brand strategies, and streamlined processes across various teams. Post-graduation she is going into Fintech, driven by her passion for innovation.

Tania Arciniega headshot

There has been an update to the status of your application. I read those words for far longer than I’d care to admit before finally working up the courage to log in and see what the update was. But let me take you back a little further before I get back to that.

When I was evaluating MBA programs, a mentor of mine told me to apply to programs that would be a good fit for me, not just the ones that looked good on paper. It just so happened that that piece of advice had me doubling back to Stern. A year before I started applying I talked to current students, got their opinions of the program and their favorite parts. After three of those conversations, I knew Stern was going to be my MBA program. I just needed to get in. 

I loved the focus on experiential learning, the various international opportunities, and of course the rankings didn’t hurt. Once I decided that Stern was my top choice, I worked tirelessly for a year prepping for the GMAT, getting my transcripts in order, brushing up my resume, lining up my recommenders so when Round 1 applications opened, I had everything ready to submit immediately. 

Months went by and despite receiving acceptance into other great MBA programs, I was still waiting to hear from the program I was most excited about. Then I finally got the email: There has been an update to the status of your application. I took a deep breath, and clicked the link taking me to my application portal. As I opened the update, my heart stopped: “Waitlist”. I was expecting to either be crushed or elated…not in a state of limbo. Then my brain reengaged and I said to myself, “The waitlist is not a no.” 

This was the moment I decided to treat the waitlist as an opportunity. Stern may not have been sure about me just yet, but I was. Now it was my time to prove it. The first thing I did was accept my spot on the waitlist and then I read through the document the Admissions team provided with tips for waitlisted applicants and I completed every item that I could. Stern gave me an opportunity to show them that I wanted this, and I took it. I wrote another essay, I took yet another exam, I got another recommendation.

You might be wondering, weren’t you exhausted? How did you have the time/energy to go through these items? The answer is yes, I was exhausted. I was working full time, and studying for the GMAT. Again. I felt guilty for asking yet another colleague for a recommendation. I attended one Stern admissions event a month after receiving my waitlist decision. It would have been so easy for me to do nothing and just wait and hope the Admissions Committee would review my application again and decide I was deserving of admission. But instead I thought, ”how many people on this waitlist are willing to do everything on that list to get in?” If the admissions committee gave me a list of recommendations to help my application, well then that just became my to do list. 

I saw the waitlist as a mental game, much like tennis. I grew up playing tennis and my coaches told me time and time again your mindset on the court determines the game. I approached the waitlist the same. Each person on the waitlist decides how much energy they want to put in. This was a game I did not want to lose because Stern was my top choice for my MBA. I wanted to prove my resilience, my commitment and my passion to attend Stern. 

Now that I’m graduating in May, you could say that my persistence paid off. I got off the waitlist! I showed up at admitted students weekend bright eyed, and enthusiastic. I made lifelong friends that weekend, who are also graduating from Stern with me this year. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t simply sit back and wait. I’m grateful to the admissions committee for seeing the effort and energy I put into my application and giving me a chance. But I will say, if things hadn’t gone my way, at least I would have been able to tell myself that I did everything I could to get in. 

Since attending Stern, I’ve talked to a lot of students who have been on the waitlist about my experience. I give them all the same advice I gave myself back then: although it may not be the news you want to hear, remember, the waitlist is not a no. 

The waitlist is an opportunity for you to see what you truly want. I went above and beyond for this program and I’m glad I did.

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My Re-applicant journey

Author: I am from Gujarat, India. I am part of the full-time MBA class of 2025, majoring in Strategy and Corporate Finance. I interned at Novartis during the summer in Corporate Finance and will return there upon graduation. Before coming to Stern, I was working as Senior Manager at ICICI Bank in a General Management role. I also worked in sales and wealth management before entering the general management role during my six-year professional journey. I hold a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and a Masters degree in Marketing.

Mit Desai Headshot

It was early morning of December 2, 2022 when my sleep was disturbed by movement in the house. I was visiting my parents’ home to attend my school friend’s wedding. I checked my phone to see the time – it was 5.30 AM (I was in India). As I was about to go back to sleep, something else caught my attention. It was a notification about an email from NYU Stern with the subject line – “Application Status Update.” I thought to myself, “I don’t need this update right now.” I didn’t open the email and instead, closed my eyes. As I tried to fall asleep again, I started getting flashbacks of the entire journey.

The journey had started over four years ago when I had made my first attempt at GMAT. After two more attempts, I had finally secured a score on the third attempt that gave me the confidence to move to the next phase of the process – crafting and submitting applications. However, before diving into the application process, I pushed myself at work for a year, striving to get a fast-track promotion to strengthen my application, which I received. Nevertheless, as an international student, the application process was completely foreign to me. With no one around who had completed an MBA from a U.S. business school, I relied on virtual information sessions and coffee chats that schools offered to learn about the process. After months of information gathering, I finally started working towards submitting applications to a handful of top business schools I had shortlisted. A few weeks later, I got the dreaded message – my application had been rejected. I was faced with a decision – should I move on with my life or should I try one more time?

The decision didn’t come easy. I decided to seek advice from my mentors. However, instead of asking them whether I should reapply, I chose to focus on understanding the potential gaps in my candidacy and the reasons for my unsuccessful application. I thought I might stand a chance as a reapplicant if I could realistically fill those gaps. If not, I thought it would be unwise of me to resubmit a similar application and expect a different result. Fortunately, I was able to recognize several areas of improvement in my application. There were no guarantees whether these improvements would be sufficient to get an offer, but since I had found tangible ways to improve my application, I decided to give it one more shot. This is how I thought about resubmitting my application –

As I continued to attend virtual information sessions from India at midnight (while the hours were odd, one good thing about being in a different timezone was that I never had to skip these sessions for work), I learned how the admissions team evaluates candidates. There were three key areas of focus – academic readiness, quality of professional experience and alignment with Stern’s core values. With over six months until the Round 1 deadlines of the next cycle, I had time to improve my application across the three areas.

First, academic readiness. While I felt confident about my GMAT score, I felt less confident about my undergrad grades. My overall GPA was strong but my grades during the first two years were not good. This mattered since the admissions team looks at individual semester grades in addition to the cumulative GPA. This is what had pushed me to take the GMAT three times to get a strong score in the first place. Still, I felt I could do more to prove my academic readiness. So, I enrolled in a pre-MBA course that covered the basics of accounting, statistics and economics. I did well on the tests and saved the results to submit with the application.

Second, professional experience. Since I had been promoted only a year ago and had stepped into a new role, another promotion was out of the question. However, I talked to my manager and got involved in two different stretch projects between getting denied admission and reapplying in the next cycle. This meant that although my title hadn’t changed at the time of reapplication, my responsibilities had increased, and so had my impact at work. I highlighted these points on my resume, and I also asked my manager to include them in my recommendation letter to shed more light on them. (Getting promoted because of these projects two months before I left for Stern was icing on the cake!)

Lastly, alignment with Stern’s core values. As I reviewed my applications from the previous cycle, I realized that I had been too focused on professional aspects of my life, sidelining the personal side of my story. I had enough time to reflect on my past and think of tangible things to share with the admissions team that would help them see me as a whole person. For Stern, this is especially important. I did not fully understand how deeply embedded the IQ+EQ philosophy was until I stepped foot here. However, the virtual information sessions and coffee chats helped me understand how this was the area where I needed to let my EQ shine. I put in just as much time and effort in ensuring I got this third piece of my application right as I did the first two.

I only took a two-week break between receiving my rejection and starting my new application for the next cycle. But I quickly realized that I needed to enjoy life along the way to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy, positive mindset. Striking the right balance hasn’t always been my strength, but looking back, this was one time when I did find that balance, and it provided me with the fuel I needed to keep going. It also meant that I was ready to submit my application within a week of Stern opening its next application cycle.

Waiting is possibly one of the hardest parts of business school applications. I started to get somewhat nervous as weeks rolled by. Then, one fine day at work, I received an email from Stern inviting me for an interview. I vividly remember pumping my fist in the air out of joy before quickly realizing I still had work to do. I focused on two aspects in my interview preparation. First, even though I knew my behavioural stories inside out, I put time to practice them. It’s one thing to know the stories, but a whole different thing to deliver them with calm, poise and confidence. Second, I wanted the admissions team to feel my genuine excitement about Stern. I doubled down on my research on the school, spoke to current students with a different focus, and asked thoughtful questions. I also dived deep into the resources that Stern has to offer – and Stern has a LOT of unique resources such as experiential learning, professors, structure of the program, etc. – and tied them to my goals. With all this preparation by my side, the interview itself went smoothly. The interview was very conversational, which helped calm my initial nerves. 

December is a cozy month in India, but with all these memories flashing back and forth, I couldn’t fall asleep. The email from Stern with the subject line “Application Status Update” still remained unread. I checked the time on my phone for the third time – it had only been 10 minutes since I had checked it the first time at 5.30 AM. I sat on my bed and decided to open the email. I could feel my heartbeat going up. I opened the email, half expecting the email to say “sorry,” but instead it asked me to login to the portal to read the update. The more buttons I clicked, the more certain I became that I’d been rejected again. “Why not just tell me that I’ve been rejected in the body of the email?” I thought to myself. When I logged into the portal, I saw the below screen –

Mit's acceptance letter to NYU Stern
Mit’s Acceptance Letter to Stern

I vividly remember gasping the air upon seeing this screen and realizing what it meant. My very next thought was, “there has to be a ‘but’ in there somewhere that says I’ve been put on a waitlist or something.” I read the entire two-page letter twice, at 5.45 in the morning; there was no ‘but’. In the following weeks, I would receive acceptances from four more schools but, I guess, the first one hits differently. With the clock closing in on 6, I tried falling asleep again but I couldn’t – this time for a different reason though. I knew the trajectory of my life had changed forever!

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My Waitlist Journey – Experience & Tips on What to Do.

Author: I’m a current second-year student and graduate ambassador for the Full-time MBA program! Before joining the Stern community, I started at a defense contractor working on nuclear submarine design and maintenance/repair in various roles. I’m a part of several clubs at Stern, including the Management Consulting Association (MCA), Stern Hoops and Softball, and the Adventures Club. In my free time, I enjoy reading (sci-fi, non-fiction), trying new coffee shops/restaurants, and exploring the city!

Scott Liguori Headshot

Like many others, earning an MBA from a top program has been both a dream and a powerful step toward achieving my goals:

  • Moving to a major city
  • Growing from a personal standpoint
  • Pivoting into a career in management consulting

When researching schools, NYU Stern was a clear top choice for me. Located in the heart of New York, Stern sits at the center of one of the most dynamic and influential cities in the world. Being close to home (Rhode Island), New York City offers an unmatched energy and endless opportunities for personal and professional growth. Stern’s small class size and diverse student body foster strong networks and friendships, allowing me to connect with people from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, religions, and experiences. Finally, Stern’s outstanding alumni network and professional relationships with top firms across industries (i.e., tech, finance, consulting, CPG, marketing and more) made it clear that a Stern MBA could provide the opportunities and resources to transform my career and life.

With high hopes of where the MBA could propel me, I applied in Round 1 but was waitlisted. The decision was difficult to process as I initially felt like a failure and I would never achieve my goals. I accepted the waitlist decision and took some time to reflect on where I was in my journey and I realized that a waitlist or rejection does not define you on a personal or professional level.  

While waiting to hear back, I began exploring backup options and preparing for the opportunity in case I did receive an invite to interview. There is no exact method to getting off the waitlist since the admissions committee evaluates applicants holistically. After being waitlisted, I continued to grow in my role at that time but did not send any updates to my application, but I’m sharing some tips if you do want to provide updates to the admissions committee. 

Tips for Updating your Application While Waitlisted:

Apply when you have the strongest application, not for a specific round.
I rushed my application, which I believe was a major factor in being waitlisted. Taking more time to strengthen my materials and essays could have improved my outcome.

Review your application for areas to improve.
Before applying or after receiving a waitlist decision, take a close look at your application to identify where you could provide stronger support or additional detail.

Provide the admissions committee with relevant updates.
This can include:

  • Improved test scores or new professional credentials
  • A new work position or leadership responsibilities
  • Supplemental letters of recommendation or endorsements (personal or professional).
    Additional information provides more data points for the admissions committee to consider.

Show your commitment to Stern.
Engage with the Stern community by attending events that will be helpful to you. Submitting an updated essay that further clarifies your career goals and fit with Stern can also help reinforce your interest.

Although being waitlisted can be disappointing, don’t let it discourage you. Remember to keep working hard in your current role and remain open to reapplying in the future!

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Updates to the 2024 Application from our Executive Director

Lindsay Loyd is the Executive Director for MBA Admissions at NYU Stern. She joined NYU Stern in January 2023 after a 20-year career in financial services.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Hi, I’m Lindsay Loyd, and I’m excited to announce some key information for the upcoming admissions cycle, and also take this opportunity to introduce myself.

I joined Stern in January 2023 as the Executive Director of MBA Admissions after a 20+ year career in financial services. I’m thrilled to be a champion for the Stern Full Time MBA programs and lead the admissions team as we meet future Sternies each year. I was energized to become part of this community after working with several Stern alumni during my tenure at American Express. This will be my first full admissions cycle, and I’m delighted to share some updates as we gear up for the application launch.

Important Things to Know for the 2023-2024 Cycle

While our applications for the next cycle are not yet open, we’ve announced some key information you should know as you are preparing your candidacy. This spring, we took a comprehensive look at our application process and worked to find ways to make applying easier for prospective students.

New Deadlines

For the upcoming cycle, we’ve expanded our deadlines to give you greater flexibility so that you can apply when it makes sense for you. It’s important to note that our process is a bit different than the more structured “rounds” used by other programs. Our admissions committee reviews applications on an ongoing basis. We don’t wait for a deadline to pass to begin reviewing applications, and most applicants will receive an initial decision notification (e.g., invitation to interview, waitlist offer, or denial of admission) within 8 weeks of applying.

More Standardized Test Optionality

We continue to be test agnostic and accept a wide range of tests. There are no minimum score requirements to apply and we do not have a preference for which test you take. I want to highlight four key points to keep in mind on tests:

  • A standardized test score is required for the Full-Time program and the Fashion & Luxury Focused 1-Year program. 
  • The Andre Koo Tech Focused 1-Year program will be test optional this cycle.
  • We offer a separate test waiver application for anyone who is unable to prepare for or take a standardized test, but can demonstrate academic readiness through prior academic and/or work experience. 
  • Your test options include the GMAT (both current and Focus Edition), GRE (both current and new), EA, MCAT, LSAT, and DAT.  

One EQ Endorsement

To further streamline the application process, we’ve also reduced the number of EQ endorsements required from 2 to 1. This EQ endorsement should come from your current supervisor. You have the option of submitting additional EQ endorsements, but I encourage you to be judicious and consider whether additional endorsement(s) add significant value and/or a different perspective to your candidacy. A tip on EQ endorsements – start thinking about who you want to write in support of your application and set up a meeting with this person. Do this early so your endorser has time to prepare. 

Continued Commitment to a Holistic Review Process

What hasn’t changed for this cycle is our interest in getting to know you through the application. We have a chance to learn about you academically, professionally, and personally during this holistic review process. Our essay questions remain largely unchanged from last year, so you can start thinking through those now. We find that your answers to these essay questions provide incredible depth and insight into your experiences, goals, and motivations. We look forward to meeting the whole ‘you.’

Why Now is a Great Time to Get an MBA

It’s been almost 20 years (!) since I was in your shoes: studying for the GMAT, researching MBA programs, lining up endorsements from current and former supervisors, and starting to write application essays. It feels like not nearly that long ago, yet I appreciate the big picture view that time span affords. No matter when you decide to apply, the Stern MBA will have value long after graduation.

Investment in Yourself 

Pursuing an MBA full-time is a big investment of time and money, and I firmly believe it’s one of the smartest long-term investments you can make in yourself. I’ve seen first-hand how it can significantly change the trajectory of your career, help you weather economic storms, and create career optionality, not just in the short-term, but throughout the course of your life. This is still true today. Take a look at our employment report to see the ROI of the Stern MBA. 

Versatility for Your Entire Career Journey 

My MBA experience allowed me to try an industry and functional career switch with my summer internship. It then helped facilitate a move back to the financial services industry, but at a higher level, in a new geography, at my dream company, and in my preferred functional area. It set me on a course to grow laterally and rise up the ranks at that company.  And when it was time to make a midlife pivot for a “second act” career, my MBA experience and network helped me navigate my way to Stern to lead the Full-Time MBA Admissions team.

At Stern, you’ll take core business classes that will help you build foundational skills that are broadly applicable across various industries and functions. You’ll also be able to customize your MBA experience with over 200 electives and seemingly endless opportunities for experiential learning. You’ll be part of the vibrant NYU community in the heart of NYC. You’ll be just a short subway ride from many prospective employers, a wide array of industry resources, and a vast network of Stern alumni ready to pay it forward. As a Stern alumnus, you’ll continue to have access to the support of the Careers team and have the ability to audit classes, so you can stay at the top of your game as your interests and the job market evolve.

Meet Your Future Forevers

I also made some great friends during my MBA, and in fact, met my best-friend-now-husband while setting up a fantasy football league for our b-school classmates. During your MBA experience at Stern, you will create friendships and a professional network that will be with you long after you graduate. I cannot promise that you will find your life-partner, but your MBA experience will last a lifetime. 

My husband and I during business school!

If this all sounds good to you, I hope you’ll consider applying to Stern. If you feel you are ready, don’t wait. If you aren’t sure, know that we’ll be here to help you along the way.

Be the First to Know When the Application Goes Live

Sign up here to receive more information about Stern direct to your email inbox, including notification of when our applications for the 2023-2024 cycle are live.

We also offer many virtual and in person opportunities to learn more about Stern. Join us in person on campus for a information session and tour, or at one of our many stops around the world this summer. We also offer virtual “Ask A Sternie” coffee chats with current students, virtual information sessions.

Best wishes as you begin the first steps of your MBA journey!

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The Value of EQ

Matthew Moll is a Director of MBA Admissions on the digital marketing team. Outside of Admissions, Matthew and his partner are usually trying to convince their rescue dog Lentil to make new friends.

IQ + EQ is one of the core values that defines the NYU Stern community experience. Sternies join the MBA to hone their knowledge and IQ. Similarly, Sternies are committed to looking honestly at their EQ – their emotional quotient or emotional intelligence. How do we improve as leaders? When do we step back and support? What can we do to address challenges differently? These are only a few of the questions our students consider as part of their MBA journey.  

Much like how there isn’t one ‘type’ of candidate who is admitted to the program,  there is not a single set of EQ traits we see thrive at NYU Stern. What is common is that students who challenge themselves and self-reflect are able to benefit from and contribute to the NYU Stern ecosystem. 

Let’s explore the value of EQ and how EQ is part of our admissions process.

The value of EQ

Building community – EQ is foundational to our evaluation process during our assessment of candidates. The many ways candidates express EQ become part of what makes each class its own special unit. If the community is a tree, EQ is like nutrient rich topsoil that provides the needed fuel for a sapling to flourish. EQ is part of what drives and sustains a strong community. The students, faculty, and administrators are all invested in the people around them which is crucial to building community.

Employers see the value of EQ – Our focus on EQ is not only to level-up the student experience and foster people-first and team oriented values. We regularly hear from employers that they emphasize EQ during the hiring process and NYU Stern students have the tools needed to excel in the modern, evolving workplace. The numbers support this. We continue to see record compensation and employment by Sternies.

Sternies pay it forward – The ROI of the Stern MBA goes beyond your first pivot into your new career, in part because the need for EQ does not end at graduation. The collaborative student experience is woven into the Sternie DNA, which then translates into a ‘pay it forward’ mentality for both students and alums.  

Where you have a chance to express your EQ during the application process

Below are some of the places where you can highlight your EQ as a candidate.

Pick 6 Essay – Each essay gives you the space to showcase your EQ, but the Pick Six is the most obvious. We can literally see your personality outside of your academic and professional achievements. This is a blank canvas for you to show the Admissions Committee some of the ways you will interact with your peers. Read our blog post for more on the Pick 6.

EQ Endorsements – This is our first opportunity to learn more about you from another source. Recommendations are like a quasi-omniscient narrator’s voiceover that gives us insight into the storyline of your career; how you performed under pressure, showed up for your teammates, or navigated the everyday challenges of professional life. 

 We encourage you to reflect on how you express EQ by reviewing the IQ+EQ specific question (below). 

IQ+EQ is a core value of NYU Stern, and we seek exceptional individuals who possess both intellectual and interpersonal strengths. Emotional intelligence (EQ) skills such as self-awareness, empathy, communication and self-management are at the core of our community of leaders. Please provide one specific and compelling example to demonstrate the applicant’s emotional intelligence.

You can review all the questions we ask endorsers on our website. Get tips on the EQ Endorsements on our blog.

Interview – This is how we see your EQ in action! If you are invited to interview with us you will meet with someone who has reviewed your entire application. We want to have a conversation and get a sense for how you will spend your time on campus as a Sternie. Take a look at our interview tips.

EQ for you

These are some of the ways EQ is part of the application and where you can highlight your EQ to our team. However, the process of applying is also an opportunity for you to think deeply about how you will engage at NYU and be a lifelong learner of both IQ and EQ.

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Applying to Stern with a Nontraditional Background

Gisselle Lankenau is an Assistant Director on the MBA Admissions team at NYU Stern. She joined the team last March, previously working with NYU Stern’s Leadership Accelerator. Hailing originally from Miami, Gisselle enjoys museums, cooking, and coffee shops.

Prospective students typically pursue an MBA to advance within their current industry or to make a career change. Applicants looking to make a career pivot often ask about resources at Stern that facilitate this transition and how they can showcase their current experience, particularly if they are coming from a non-traditional background. 

What is a non-traditional background? Typically, a non-traditional MBA student is someone who has experience other than the standard business to MBA career route, although many of our students do not come from a ‘traditional’ business background. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, from technology to education to military experience. We view the wide range of backgrounds of our students as an asset, with each individual bringing their own unique perspective to the classroom and enhancing the overall Stern community.

At Stern, there are a number of ways to get involved, contribute, and gain hands-on experience. For those coming from a non-business background, Stern offers several options for career support. 

  • Office of Career Development: One of the best resources for career support is the Office of Career Development. During the summer before the MBA program begins, our Careers team offers the IGNITE program, which consists of resume reviews, mock interviews, networking workshops and industry panels to put you in the best position to meet with recruiters from day one of the program. Career coaches will work with you to align career goals, set up a game plan to tackle the recruiting process, and they will continue to provide support throughout your time at Stern and when you are an alum. 
  • Lean on your peers: Your classmates will be joining the MBA program from a variety of industries. They will become your network and will support you during the recruiting process. Your peers might have worked at a company or industry that you are interested in, so you can lean on their expertise and connections. At Stern, your peers want to see you succeed.
  • Experiential learning: Through Stern Solutions courses, you will be able to learn about your industry of interest, immerse yourself in an environment where you can tackle a real business issue, and reflect on the experience. These experiential learning opportunities allow you to gain real world experience, build your skill set and more broadly provide the space to be curious. You will be able to test out different roles, leadership styles, and to feel free to fail and learn from your mistakes and triumphs through reflection. 
  • Student Clubs: Professional clubs play a vital role in preparing students for the recruiting process and their next career step. At Stern, collaboration is key with MBA 2 students mentoring MBA 1s and guiding them through the recruiting cycle, providing interview prep, working through skills together and organizing events on campus and off-site at companies. So whether you are interested in pivoting to consulting, marketing, finance or technology, our student clubs are ready to help guide you through the process and share their insights.

The Stern community is committed to supporting your future success with several options to build on your current experience, regardless of your professional background. Prospective students often ask us how they can speak to their unique experience in the application and highlight their experience through their resume.

When crafting your resume, put your best foot forward and lean into your experience. As you are looking to make a career change, it is important to take a step back and access your transferable skills while identifying any potential gaps you may need to fill. In your resume, highlight your strengths and quantify your impact in previous roles. If there are potential knowledge gaps, look into resources to leverage at Stern to fill those gaps and highlight these in your essays. The MBA is an opportunity to grow and develop your skill set regardless of previous experience; highlighting these interests in your application indicates you’ve gone the extra step to look into how Stern will help you achieve your future goals. 

Ultimately, the biggest piece of advice for candidates with a non-traditional background is to spend some time reflecting on your career so far. What energizes you at work, what strengths are you bringing to the table, what are areas for growth and what changes would you like to see moving forward? Answering these questions will not only help you craft your story during the application process, but will help guide your overall career transition and help to hold yourself accountable. At Stern there are numerous resources available to support your career change. Plan ahead, determine your strategy, and take advantage of every opportunity. 

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Moving Beyond ‘Fit’

Caroline Murphy was an Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Stern. Caroline worked at Stern for four years and completed the Langone Part-time MBA program. Outside of work, Caroline loves watching Texas Longhorn football and playing with her nieces and nephews.

Often, candidates ask our team what would make them the right “fit” for Stern. They are trying to learn what the typical Stern student looks like in terms of career background, passions, or post-MBA goals. But the answer is, there is no “typical Stern student,” and applicants should focus instead on what makes them unique. Rather than thinking about how you can ‘fit’ at Stern, reframe your process to think about if the qualities of NYU Stern’s programs align with you and your goals.

The Ideal Candidate

If you’ve sat in one of our mock application sessions, you have seen a small snippet of how the admissions process works. At Stern, we look at each applicant individually and holistically. There is no specific quality that each student must possess, rather, we want to see how an applicant’s entire story comes together to show who they are individually. There is no one-size fits all when it comes to our student body – each of our students has a different background and their own story to tell. We value all work experiences and paths that have led people to apply for an MBA.

When you are crafting your application, I encourage you to reflect on what makes you you and how that will help you develop into a strong business leader. Are you inclusive in your leadership? Are you able to bring out the best in difficult colleagues with your light hearted humor? Are you efficient and willing to go the extra mile? Are you reserved and thoughtful about your choices? All of these are individual strengths that contribute to who you are and can be leveraged in business school and beyond. It’s up to you to determine how you’ll convey these strengths in your application.

Communicating Your Authentic Self

The Stern application provides many opportunities for you to share your story and showcase your unique qualities and interests. For instance, the “activities and achievements” section on the application communicates how you spend your time and what you choose to be involved in. The “Change” and Pick Six essays  give you the freedom to be creative and share personal experiences or show what makes you tick. All of this helps us understand your story and get to know you better. Through our conversation in the interview stage, we’ll get to see this person come to life as we learn more about what you shared in your application. We want to get to know you as an individual,  rather than assessing  how you might be similar to current Stern students. 

Finding Your Fit at Stern

Rather than focusing on how you fit, focus on how Stern fits for you. There are a lot of ways to determine if the culture at Stern aligns with what you’re looking for in a network and to see if our programs align with your goals. The first step is to attend events – we have a range of events from virtual to in-person, admissions focused to student-led. Events can highlight specific areas of interest (like club office hours) and help you identify what recruiting paths are available, as well as help you get to know students and what they love most about Stern. On that note, you can also chat candidly with current students through coffee chats or by emailing mbaga@stern.nyu.edu to set up a time to chat. They can help you with any concerns that you have and tell you about their experience. Lastly, explore our website! There is a ton of information on our site about the curriculum, post-MBA outcomes, school news, and more. Becoming familiar with the program will help you to envision yourself at Stern and recognize if it’s the right program for you. Don’t be shy in communicating the aspects of Stern that you’re most excited about on your application or in your interview – this helps us learn more about you and why you’re excited to go on this journey at Stern.

As you apply, I hope you’ll remember that the only type of candidate we want to see at Stern is an authentic one. Lean into what makes you YOU and it will shine through in your application. We can’t wait to meet you!

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Communicating your Work Experience

Matt Bird is a Coordinator on the MBA Admissions team. He joined the team last April after graduating from the NYU Steinhardt Higher Education and Student Affairs Masters program. He enjoys baking, coffee, and helping students. 

 

 

Hi! My name is Matt Bird and I am a member of the Admissions Committee at NYU Stern MBA Admissions. I previously worked in college career centers for years as a resume reviewer, which makes me very passionate about helping people sell their work experience effectively. Your resume is an opportunity to brag about yourself. What amazing internship did you land? What innovative project did you collaborate on? How many deals did you close? Your resume should be a highlight sheet of your professional story. As application readers, we rely on the Resume and Work Experience sections to describe who you are as a working professional. This post should give you some ideas on making the most of your work experience on your MBA application.

Keep it Snappy.

Many times we see sprawling 2-3 page resumes that contain a laundry list of all job responsibilities. Oftentimes people find it hard to narrow down their role to 3-5 bullets. And we get it. Everything we do is important to us. But a resume is not the place for your autobiography. It is a document to communicate your best of the best. Instead of including 10 bullets on your role, pick 2-3 experiences where you made the most impact. Save the memoir for when you’re a successful business leader. 

It is smart to have multiple versions of your resume in order to mix and match experiences tailored to the opportunity. Your resume for Deloitte’s summer internship program may look very different from your resume for a Brand Manager role with L’Oreal. It may even be helpful to have a catch-all resume from which you pick the best experiences to include on the final version. It is important to have the most relevant experiences prominently highlighted. My rule of thumb is if you see yourself talking about an experience in the interview, then include it on the page.

Formatting, formatting, formatting.

In addition to narrowing down your bullet points, formatting can be a very effective way to keep your resume brief. Below are a few tricks to trim the empty space on your page:

  • Reduce your margins.
  • Identify lines taken up by one word. Simplify the language to get that bullet to one line.
  • Play around with format. See if a two column approach eliminates or creates space.
  • Job Title, Name of Organization, Date can be one line.
  • Slightly reduce your font size. A good range is 10-12 point font. 
  • Reduce space between section breaks. Just ensure the page doesn’t look too cramped.

Specificity is key.

It is difficult to imagine a person’s impact when reading:  “Responsible for day-to-day operations of the company.”

Numbers are helpful here. How many team members did you work with? What was your budget? What did this project result in? Quantitative bullet points paint a clear picture of your role and impact. 

It is a bit vague to read a Skills section with words like: Teamwork, Communication, or Management. Anyone can list these as skills. Only you have your specific experiences to showcase them. 

Tell your story.

It may be intimidating to compare resumes with your peers. No matter how much experience we have, insecurities may creep in. Regardless of your job titles, your resume is an opportunity to show your trajectory. Your case becomes much more compelling when you clearly demonstrate your professional journey. Don’t get bogged down in worries about not having the perfect portfolio. Instead, highlight your experiences in their best light. 

Many applicants worry they will be out of the running if they have less than the average years of work experience. NYU Stern does not have a minimum work experience requirement to apply to the MBA program. We evaluate and accept applicants from many stages of their career. Your Resume and Work Experience section is an opportunity to show the Admissions Committee not only who you are as a working professional, but also who you want to become.

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Acing your NYU Stern Interview

Adam Smith is a Director of MBA Admissions. Adam has worked on our Operations team for over 9 years and is a graduate of the Langone Part-time MBA. Outside of work, you are most likely to find him playing or watching tennis!

 

We get questions about interviews at every stage of the candidate life cycle. Whether you are still deciding where to apply or if you are putting the final touches on your Pick 6, this post should give you the knowledge you need and some insider tips on how to set yourself up for success.

The basics

Let’s start with logistics.

How and when: Interviews are by invitation only. If you are invited, you will hear by the notification date that aligns with when you submit your completed application.

Who: Members of the Admissions Committee meet with candidates during Stern interviews.

Where: Currently we are conducting interviews virtually via Zoom.

For more: Details

AdCom Tips

Review what you submitted before your interview

NYU interviews are not ‘blind,’ which means your interviewer will have fully reviewed your application. Take time to reread your essays, check in on your goals, etc. You want to be prepared to talk about anything you included in your application, like the ballroom dance classes on your resume as well as your recent promotion. This way you are not only ready to meet with someone from Stern, but also to remind yourself why you were excited to attend NYU!

Have a conversation

This is an opportunity to share more about you. We want to get to know you! If there is anything that you feel you were not able to highlight in your application, bring it up. This is your chance to dig deeper. We want this to be a conversation and a chance for you to get to know us better as well.

This is your time

Don’t be shy about asking questions. We know you have them! We want to make sure you have as much information as you need when making your final decision. The interview is one piece of our holistic review process, but we know you are also considering the next step in your journey. We want you to feel informed about all things Stern.

Finally

Interviews are a good thing! This means you advanced to the next step of the process. While we will meet with more candidates than we can admit, we are excited about each of these interactions. We are committed to creating an environment where you can do your best and leave knowing a little more about Sternie life.

This was mentioned earlier, but it is worth saying one last time. We want to get to know you! Really!

We can’t wait to hear from you.

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Your Stern Interview: Tips from a Student

Chris Cognetta is an MBA2, specializing in Tech Product Management, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Brand Management. Prior to Stern, Chris worked at Charles Schwab. This summer, Chris interned at FTI Consulting as a Technology Consultant and will be returning next year. Additionally, Chris is involved in SGov, Stern Technology Association, Gaming and eSports Management Society, Stern Follies, SpeechMasters, and European Business Society.

I remember the moment I found out I was going to interview for the Full-Time MBA program at Stern. I was in the middle of a work meeting and received an email explaining I was invited to an interview. The anxiety immediately settled in, followed by questions such as “I haven’t interviewed in years, how well will I do?” and “Is my story good enough?”

I enlisted the help of my father (who had no idea what he was getting into) and gave him a list of typical MBA interview questions to ask me over repeated video calls. He would later tell me how much he hated hearing me repeat the same answer to him over and over again. But I needed the practice. When I answered a question that felt stiff or didn’t easily roll off the tongue, we went back to the drawing board to rework my answers. I found that the more honest I was about my experiences, the easier it was for me to answer the questions.

The actual day of the interview finally rolled around. I spent most of the day before rearranging my bedroom to optimize the natural lighting from my window and clear any distractions from my background. I practiced breathing exercises until I logged into the Zoom meeting and awaited my interview with nervous anticipation.

My interview began. We started off with a friendly conversation before she made a funny reference to my Pick 6 application (I had included an image of Spider-Man). These actions immediately put me at ease, so much so that during some of the questions, I included funny details about my work that my father recommended I leave out of my answers. It was an easy and pleasant conversation, one that I didn’t realize ultimately ended sooner than I had thought. My first MBA interview was done, and it wasn’t the nightmare I had anticipated.

Through my experience, there are a couple of learnings that I think, you, as a prospective student can use to ultimately make your NYU Stern interview successful:

1. Be your authentic self

Probably the most important item on this list because Stern is aiming to build a diverse student body. The Admissions Committee can’t achieve this if everyone is trying to act like a stereotypical business student. Show the interviewer your true personality, tell authentic stories, and let them get to know the real you. It’s a lot easier to remember stories that actually happened and to share the excitement or learnings from those experiences.

2. Practice, practice, practice

Enlist a family member, friend, or colleague to conduct a mock interview with you so that they can hear your answers. Even if they don’t provide feedback, practicing answering the questions will allow you to spend less time thinking about the words, and to have your stories sound more coherent.

3. Review your application

The Admissions Committee member who interviews you will have just read your application, and they will ask you questions on what you wrote. It’s a smart idea to review your application so you can speak to the major points you mentioned in your application.

4. Feel confident going into the interview

Finally, remember to show up confident in yourself and your abilities to the interview. Not everyone makes it to the interview stage of the application, so you should feel confident about yourself for making it this far. Show the Admissions Committee why you would be a good NYU Stern MBA Candidate and feel assured about your answers.

Best of luck to you on your interviews!