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Change: Studio

2024-2025 NYU Stern MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

Jun 15, 2024

• Who is Stern Looking for?
• How should I answer the essay question?
• Get into NYU Stern

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on August 14, 2020. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

Located at the center of a major business hub and offering specialized 1-year programs in tech and fashion, NYU Stern is at the top of the list for a growing number of both US-based and international MBA applicants. 

However, with impressive recruiting statistics and its new Change: Studio program, the competition to join Stern’s elite MBA is more difficult than ever. 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Stern essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to NYU Stern MBA sample essays to ensure you give your Haas application your best shot. 

1. Who is Stern Looking for?

(Photo courtesy of @nyustern on Instagram)

“We look for people who share our values, and understand who we are and what we are about. EQ is something we have always looked for. We want people who want to be part of the NYC landscape, our urban advantage. We look for those with an understanding of what good business can do for society, not just looking at the bottom line.” Rabia Ahmed , Executive Director of Strategic Marketing and Admissions at NYU Stern School of Business

Every year, NYU Stern reviews thousands of applicants from outstanding professionals in order to determine who to admit to its class of around 320 full-time MBA students. With a strong emphasis on international and gender diversity, there is no “typical” NYU Stern student, yet the average student admitted to the Class of 2025 did have a 732 average GMAT score, 163V/163Q GRE score, and 5.2 years of full-time work experience .

Beyond the impressive statistics, though, Stern is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers. That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through test scores and university grades), Stern seeks candidates who possess the following qualities:

If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering Stern’s challenging admissions essay questions. 

2. How should I answer the essay question?

2.1. short answer tips.

Short Answer: Professional Aspirations

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

What are your short-term career goals?

Like many other schools, NYU Stern has taken clear steps each year to make their application increasingly streamlined. 

This is important to keep in mind because Stern has deliberately been very clear about what they want here: short-term goals only . 

TOP TIP: If you’re not sure what your goals are, check out this post designed to help you think through this critical component of your application!

When discussing your goals , clarity is king, so make sure you include a job title and industry in your description of your post-MBA aspiration. 

However, goals without context can be a little confusing to decipher or understand (or they can just seem a bit lackluster). For example, a recent client initially started his essay by saying: 

“ I want to become a Business Development Director at a Brazilian company. ”

While interesting, it’s better to give a little bit of context to help these goals come to life. Check out the final version of the same essay’s introduction:

“In the 1970s, the phrase “think global, act local” came into use, suggesting that for the world to change, one must be active locally. With this mindset, I focused my career on Brazilian multinational companies to start creating global change at home. I now seek to take the next step to become a “glocal” leader by becoming Business Development Director at a Brazilian company.”

After clearly stating your goal ( and your motivations for having this goal ), we suggest you briefly touch on how Stern can help you achieve these goals, if you have space. This should not be a “laundry list” of 10 classes you found on the NYU site, nor a section in which you repeat clichés about the school. 

Instead, you should thoughtfully consider how you must grow personally and professionally to reach your stated short-term goal and what elements of NYU Stern (classes, faculty, clubs, etc.) will help you reach them. 

Ending your essay with a killer conclusion sentence to leave your reader with a strong image of your profile is the perfect wrap-up. 

Need more guidance? 

Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of NYU Stern MBA essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning NYU Stern essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join ! 

2.2. Essay 1 Tips

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) Examples:

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

One of the biggest mistakes we see for these more creative essays is that applicants tend to think of the catch-phrase or motto as being more important than the rest of the content of the essay. Here, though it is instrumental that you fully answer the prompt, you want to make sure to be highly strategic in how you tackle this question.

In that sense, we recommend that you first consider the rest of your application. In the other two (very short!) essays, your CV, and your Letters of Recommendation, what will the Stern Admissions Committee learn about you? Thinking about your personal brand , have you covered everything about your profile that makes you truly unique?

We then recommend that you compile a list of stories that you weren’t able to share elsewhere and filter these stories for those that have an element of change and that are truly meaningful to you. 

For example, last year, we worked with a client who advocated tirelessly for transgender rights, even leading a movement to change a biased law that provided healthcare to this population. Not only does an example like this show an important achievement that was deeply meaningful to the applicant, but it also featured a strong element of change. 

NYU Stern highly values emotional intelligence , and this essay prompt can be a great way to demonstrate that you possess this trait. 

On the other hand, the second part of the question means that you also need to choose a story that you can tie your engagement with the NYU Stern Community . So, while getting into a great college might have been an important moment for you that changed your trajectory, it might not be the best story to connect with Stern. Of course, there are always exceptions, but make sure you can convincingly tie the story you choose to Stern. 

After choosing your example, start to brainstorm the word you’ll use to complete the prompt (if you don’t use one of the phrases the admissions committee gives). Here, don’t aim to find a word that the AdCom has never heard of, just to try to stand out. Instead, choose an example that goes to the core of the change that drove the example you’re presenting (and why this type of change was important to you). For example, if we use the story about transgender rights above, the candidate might choose to write something like “Change: Demand it” or “Change: Fight for it” or even “Change: Ensure it benefits all.” There are no right or wrong answers here, but the best phrases will show a thoughtful, direct connection to your story. 

Of course, this essay is not complete without sharing how you expect to embrace your tagline while at Stern. In this part of the essay, you want to brainstorm ways that you can participate in and contribute to the Stern community. 

This question requires you to complete extensive research on the school , so make sure you give yourself ample time to explore the website, talk to current students and alumni, attend a few webinars, check out Stern’s YouTube and Instagram accounts, and, if possible, visit campus. I would then suggest you think of 3-4 ways you can put your slogan into action. These can range from clubs to specific initiatives to how you plan to connect with others on campus through study groups and other activities. 

Of course, end your essay with a killer conclusion statement that ties it all together and that aligns with your tagline! 

2.3. Essay 2 Tips

Introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. The Pick Six is a way to share more about the qualities you will bring to the Stern community, beyond your professional and academic achievements. 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 your interests, values, motivations, perspective and/or personality.
• 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. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.

For many years, MBA applications have focused on your CV and your goals to get a very concrete picture of what you bring to the table as an applicant. In recent years, however, we’ve seen a greater move towards questions that get to know the person behind the accomplishments . This is exactly the mission of this essay, which NYU Stern has retained as part of its application for the past several years. 

However, given the extremely open format of this essay, applicants often find themselves panicking when starting to craft their NYU Stern essays. We’re here to tell you that this essay can actually be a very enjoyable experience that highlights your creativity and unique life story! 

When starting out, we recommend that you first think back to your personal brand and the list of achievements and life experiences you compiled during this process. Now, thinking about the fact that you have already had the chance to highlight aspects of your career in the goals essay, what do you believe is still important to include in your application in order to convey the full picture of what you could contribute to the Stern community?

Though you might be tempted to target funny or quirky elements of your profile, we suggest you think more strategically about what NYU Stern is looking for in a candidate and how each image and caption you choose will work to demonstrate your fit with their program. 

For example, perhaps you have a long track record of giving back to the community and want to share a photo from one of your volunteer projects. Or, perhaps you conducted a project in a foreign country and want to share an image of a meeting or cultural event you attended while there and how this encounter shaped your mindset. 

You can also choose to include one or two “lighter” photos that demonstrate interests and hobbies you have actively pursued but make sure these add value. Showing off a meal you ate at a fancy restaurant (unless perhaps you’re like our client Martha and have a thriving food blog with 100k+ subscribers), won’t do much to prove you’re an interesting, dynamic, well-rounded addition to the NYU Stern class. 

After selecting the stories/images you want to use, it’s time to craft your captions. Though you may be tempted to quickly write a description of the photo, remember that the caption is where you are able to demonstrate what you want the admissions committee to learn about you . Since you are limited to a single sentence for each image, concision is key, but make sure that the sentence clearly articulates the experience/value/achievement you want to convey. 

For example, last year, our client Kelsey used a photograph of newspaper article on her handball team’s championship win. Her caption brought in what this meant to her in terms of developing her leadership style, stating: “My first ever leadership position has a huge space in my heart: being captain of my handball team taught me not only the power of commitment, discipline, and teamwork but also of having the sharp emotional intelligence to face my most challenging opponent – myself.”

This is an excellent caption, in our opinion, as it demonstrates a connection with NYU’s focus on emotional intelligence, demonstrates a relevant leadership insight, and includes the right measure of creativity by using a sports metaphor directly linked to her photo.

Top tip: though you can choose to use photographs for all 6 images, things like charts, PowerPoint slides, paintings, drawings, etc. are all fair game. 

2.4. Optional Essay Tips

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee and/or give context to your application. This may include important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, including but not limited to: hardships you have encountered, 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.

If you are a reapplicant, please utilize this optional essay to highlight any changes since your last application. 

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

This is not a place for you to retell your life story or sum up your interest in Stern or need for an MBA. It is also not a place to copy and paste a strong essay you wrote for another school. Make sure you focus only on weak spots and also discuss what steps you have taken or took to rectify the weaknesses. 

Find additional tips and tricks to help you master the optional essay here . 

If you’re a reapplicant, check out these tips . 

3. Get into NYU Stern

Landing a spot at NYU Stern is no easy task. You’ve spent years building a track record of professional success, dedicated yourself to getting a good GMAT score, and carefully developed your application strategy . 

Now is the time to make sure your accomplishments truly shine, and the only way to do so is to write a clear, compelling admissions essay. 

Ellin Lolis Consulting began with one mission: provide the best possible service to our clients and get them the best possible results . Serving our customers is at the core of our company, and we know that applying for an MBA can be a difficult, long process, but our goal is to take away as much of the stress as possible by acting as your ally in the process. 

So if you need much more than just a few comments on your essay but instead want focused help shaping how you present your life’s greatest hits to one of the world’s toughest critics , you can count on us. 

Our editing service focuses on helping you determine how to present yourself in your NYU Stern essay while using appropriate, impact-driven language and adequate storytelling techniques. 

That’s why 98.9% of our clients secure admissions to at least one of their target schools .

Get in touch and let our award-winning team of writers and storytellers help you make an unforgettable first impression. 

4. Deadlines

The deadlines for the 2024-2025 season are below. You can access the NYU Stern application here . 

NYU Stern Round 1 Deadlines (Full-time MBA)

Application Deadline : September 16, 2024

Initial Notification by* : December 1, 2024

*You will receive one of three initial notifications: invitation to interview, waitlist offer, or denial of admission 

NYU Stern Round 2 Deadlines (Full-time MBA)

Application Deadline : October 16, 2024

Initial Notification by* : January 1, 2025

NYU Stern Round 3 Deadlines (Full-time MBA)

Application Deadline : January 16, 2025

Initial Notification by* : April 1, 2025

*You will receive one of three initial notifications: invitation to interview, waitlist offer, or denial of admission

NYU Stern Round 4 Deadlines (Full-time MBA)

Application Deadline : April 16, 2025

Initial Notification by* : Ongoing

NYU Stern Round 1 Deadlines (Fashion and Luxury MBA – Summer 2024)

Application Deadline : September 6, 2024

NYU Stern Round 2 Deadlines (Fashion and Luxury MBA – Summer 2024)

Application Deadline : November 6, 2024

Initial Notification by* : February 1, 2025

NYU Stern Round 3 Deadlines (Fashion and Luxury MBA – Summer 2024)

Application Deadline : January 6, 2025

Initial Notification by* : March 1, 2025

NYU Stern Round 4 Deadlines (Fashion and Luxury MBA – Summer 2024)**

Application Deadline : February 6, 2025

*You will receive one of three initial notifications: invitation to interview, waitlist offer, or denial of admission **US Citizens and Permanent Residents only

NYU Stern Round 1 Deadlines (Tech MBA – Summer 2025)

Nyu stern round 2 deadlines (tech mba – summer 2025), nyu stern round 3 deadlines (tech mba – summer 2025), nyu stern round 4 deadlines (tech mba – summer 2025)**.

**US Citizens and Permanent Residents only

Applications are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the deadline date. Any applications received after this date will be considered for the next round or will not be considered (if you’re applying for the last deadline). 

**You will receive one of three initial notifications: invitation to interview, waitlist offer, or denial of admission

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NYU Stern Essay Tips and Application Deadlines: 2024-2025

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 #7 full-time MBA program and #4 part-time MBA program .

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 16, 2024

Round 2: October 16, 2024

Round 3:  January 16, 2025

Round 4: April 16, 2025

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 consultation today to find out how Personal MBA Coach can help you get into NYU Stern.

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Everything you need to know to get Accepted

June 26, 2024

NYU Stern MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2024-2025], 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 you are a student there? Check out Admissions Straight Talk Episode 525, “ How to Get Accepted to NYU Stern ,” in which Executive Director for MBA Admissions Lindsay Loyd discusses Stern’s Change Studio (see 8:40). 

NYU Stern Essay #2

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

Introduce 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 your interests, values, motivations, perspective and/or personality.
• 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, the assistant director of MBA admissions 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, each 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 to us at Accepted 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 and/or give context to your application. This may include important aspects if yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, including but not limited to: hardships you have encountered, 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, schedule a free 30 minute consultation with an Accepted expert. 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 2025 (data taken from the NYU Stern website ). Note that NYU Stern has adopted the Graduate Management Education Admissions Reporting Standards.

Applicants: 3,075

Admits: 966

Admission rate: 31%

Number enrolled: 327

U.S. military veterans/active duty: 13%

LGBTQ+: 13%

Students with international citizenship: 48%

Countries represented: 46

Average age: 28

Age range (100%): 21-37

Minorities: 47%

Underrepresented minorities: 17%

Race and ethnicity ( multidimensional guidelines )

• White, Non-Hispanic: 57%
• Asian American: 33%
• African American, Black: 9%
• Hispanic, Latino: 8%
• Did not specify: 6%
• American Indian, Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander: 1%
• Multi-race: -%

Average GPA: 3.61

GPA range (80%): 3.34-3.87

GPA range (100%): 2.96-4.00

GMAT average: 732

GMAT range (80%): 700-760

GMAT range (100%): 650-780

GRE Quant average: 163

GRE Quant range (80%): 157-170

GRE Quant range (100%): 155-170

GRE Verbal average: 163

GRE Verbal range (80%): 158-168

GRE Verbal range (100%): 155-169

Standardized test type:

• Test waiver: 9%
• NYU test waiver: 6%
• MCAT/LSAT/DAT: 4%

Students with work experience: 99%

Average years of work experience: 5.2

Range of years of work experience (100%): 0-14

Prior industries:

• Financial Services: 26%
• Consulting: 12%
• Technology: 10%
• Military, Government: 8%
• Entertainment, Media: 6% 
• Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals: 6%
• Nonprofit, Arts, Education: 6%
• Consumer Products, Retail: 5%
• Real Estate: 5%
• Advertising, Public Relations: 3%
• Engineering 2%
• Manufacturing, Import/Export, Trade: 2%

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!

Related Resources:

• M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 202 4
• The MBA Admissions Calculator
• How to Get Accepted to NYU Stern , podcast Episode 525

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Stern at NYUAD One-year Full-time MBA essay questions give students the opportunity to more fully present themselves to the Admissions Committee and to provide insight into their experiences, motivations, and goals.

Essays must be written entirely by the applicant. An offer of admission will be rescinded if an applicant did not write their essays.

Essay 1: Change: _________ it

(350 word maximum)

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 in the Stern at NYUAD One-year Full-time MBA program?

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

Essay 2: Why the Stern at NYUAD One-year Full-time MBA Program?

(500 word maximum)

What fuels your interest in pursuing the Stern at NYUAD One-year Full-time MBA Program? How does it support your short and long-term career goals?

Essay 3: Additional Information (optional)

(250 word maximum)

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information.

We can improve your MBA profile and boost your candidacy. Gain insight into the review process and eliminate weaknesses from your MBA application.

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NYU Stern Essays for the MBA Class of 2027

Is New York University’s  Stern School of Business on your list of target MBA programs? Then get ready to hit the ground running. The NYU Stern essays and deadlines have been confirmed for the 2024-2025 admissions season.

But first, a note about these NYU Stern essays from the AdCom team:

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.

Please note the following details when completing your essays:

• Written essays must be submitted using double-spacing and 12-point font.
• Your response to Essay 1 should answer all parts of the question with a maximum of 350 words.
• Your essays should be written entirely by you. An offer of admission will be revoked if you did not write your essays.

NYU Stern Essays for 2024-2025

Short answer: professional aspirations.

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

• What are your short-term career goals?

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.]

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

Introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions.  The Pick Six is a way to share more about the qualities you will bring to the Stern community, beyond your professional and academic achievements. 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 your interests, values, motivations, perspective and/or personality.
• 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. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.

Essay 3: Additional Information (Optional) (500 word maximum)

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee and/or give context to your application. This may include important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, including but not limited to: hardships you have encountered, 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.

If you are a reapplicant, please utilize this optional essay to highlight any changes since your last application.

For more information on applying, please visit the  NYU Stern MBA admissions website. If you need guidance on your NYU Stern essays and MBA application or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a  complimentary analysis  of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School Kellogg MBA

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School MBA, the Wharton School

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

Admissions Officer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Asst Director MBA Admissions at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Director MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Minority Admissions, the GSB Diversity Programs, the GSB

Associate Director MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute

Director, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Professional Writer

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) NYU Admissions

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) M.S.Ed, Higher Education, U of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS)

Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure.  Ashley  holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years,  Ashley  was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...

Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and  ...

A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally.  Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM.  For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...

Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS).  In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds.  Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students.  In additio ...

Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years.  Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...

Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.  In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School.  Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...

Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...

Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...

Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications.  She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...

Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford.   Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...

Anthony 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. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year.   Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...

Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...

Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team.  During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students.  She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...

Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS).  During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...

Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...

Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director.  Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants.

image by Flickr user Ajay Suresh CC BY 2.0

With deadlines around the corner, you may be interested in the world-famous SBC Flight Test . Once a full set of application materials for your initial school have been drafted, but not finalized, the application will be sent to a former admissions committee member for a one-time review, adcomm style. You’ll have the benefit of a true admissions committee review while still having the ability to tinker and change.  You will receive written feedback within two business days after submitting.

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The Journey So Far

One year ago today, I was where you are.  I was writing essays, studying for the GMAT in my spare time and avoided every single person that I knew.  I get it – no social life, but it was time I wanted to focus on myself.  After 4 years of working, I always knew that I wanted to go back to business school and I was going to do whatever it took.  As the year went by, the stress levels only got higher as I received waitlist after waitlist, but I’ll tell you, my persistence and determination to come back to school helped me.  I received acceptances up until July, hearing from NYU Stern last.  Dropping everything to stay in New York was the best decision I could have made, and getting the acceptance letter with the digital confetti was probably one of the happiest moments of my life.  I didn’t have to say goodbye to the place I call home and was getting the opportunity to pursue a career in Luxury Marketing, something that Stern especially is known for and something I would have had to give up going somewhere else.