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 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!
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!
NYU Stern application deadlines
| First deadline: | September 18, 2023 |
| Second deadline: | October 18, 2023 |
| Third deadline: | January 18, 2024 |
| Fourth deadline*: | April 18, 2024 |
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
Women: 45%
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%
| Race and ethnicity | Federal guidelines | Multi-dimensional guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian, Alaska native, American Indian, Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander | 0% 0 | 2% 5 |
| African American, Black | 6% 13 | 8% 17 |
| Asian American | 25% 5 | 27% 60 |
| Hispanic, Latino | 13% 28 | 13% 28 |
| White, Non-Hispanic | 45% 101 | 57% 127 |
| Multi-race | 4% 9 | 14% 32 |
| Did not specify | 8% 17 | 8% 17 |
GPA statistics:
Average: 3.62
80% range: 3.34-3.89
100% range: 3.03-4.00
Standardized test type:
GMAT: 49.4%
GRE: 21.3%
Test waiver: 10.5%
EA: 9.2%
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%
Other: 9%
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%
Law: 3%
Manufacturing, Import/Export, Trade: 3%
Energy: 2%
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!