NYU Stern School of Business
Why NYU Stern?
At NYU Stern, business education comes alive in the middle of Manhattan. The school leans into its location more than most—finance, fashion, tech, media, and entertainment are all just a subway stop away. Students aren't just studying case studies; they're interning during the semester, networking at industry events, and working on real-world projects with companies across the city. Stern's location fuels its hands-on learning model, giving students the chance to turn ideas into action in one of the most dynamic economic hubs in the world. Stern is also known for its strong finance and tech programs, and for cultivating students who are both ambitious and grounded.
🎓 MBA Class Profile (Class of 2024)
Key Demographics
- Enrolled Students: 360
- Acceptance Rate: 19%
- Women: 43%
- International Students: 39%
Academic Profile
- Average GMAT Score: 729
- Average GRE Scores:
- Verbal: 161
- Quantitative: 161
- Average Undergraduate GPA: 3.6
💼 Employment Statistics
Job Placement
- Employment Rate: 94% (within 3 months)
- Median Base Salary: $170,000
- Median Signing Bonus: $35,000
- Received Job Offers: 92%
Top Industries
- Financial Services: 35%
- Consulting: 28%
- Technology: 18%
- Entertainment/Media: 8%
📝 Essay 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)
🎯 What Stern is Really Looking For in This Essay
1. Personal Philosophy, Not Just a Punchline
This is not a creativity contest. Stern is testing how you think about change, not just in business, but in your life. The word you choose should reflect your relationship with change: how you respond to it, shape it, learn from it, or lead through it.
Tip: Don't choose a flashy verb unless it holds real meaning for you. Pick a word that could be your personal mantra. Something that captures how you approach growth, uncertainty, or progress. Stern wants a mindset, not a marketing slogan.
2. Depth Over Wordplay
Stern gives you 350 words for a reason. They are inviting you to unpack this one word through a story, a belief system, or a key experience. You need to show that this isn't a word you picked at random; it's something earned.
Tip: Anchor your word in a personal turning point or pattern in your life. Whether it's overcoming hardship, building something from scratch, or challenging the status quo, let Stern see the lived experience behind your word.
3. Vision for Stern: Show How You'll Activate It
The prompt explicitly asks how you will live out this "tagline" at Stern. This is a school that values energy, ownership, and emotional intelligence. Stern wants people who do not just adapt to change but energize it whether in the classroom, in recruiting, in student life.
Tip: Paint a picture of how your approach to change will show up at Stern. Will you bring a new initiative to a club? Push classmates to question groupthink? Champion innovation in a startup lab? Be specific and grounded in what Stern actually offers.
❌ Common Pitfalls
- • Choosing a word that sounds cool but feels empty
- • Forgetting to tell a story or reveal anything personal
- • Describing Stern as a backdrop instead of a stage where you will act
- • Writing a slogan, not an essay
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.
🎯 What Stern is Really Looking For in This Essay
1. Personality with Purpose
This is not a collage of vacation photos. It is a curated expression of who you are and what you will contribute to the Stern community. The goal is to reveal the person behind the resume — someone classmates would want to learn from and grow with.
Tip: Every image should serve a purpose. Whether it highlights a value, a passion, or a personal quirk, it should add a new layer to your profile. Avoid redundancy with your resume or other essays. Think complement, not copy.
2. A Strong Narrative Arc
The best Pick Six essays feel cohesive. They do not just throw together six unrelated moments. There is usually a thread. Perhaps values you live by, contrasts that define you, or experiences that shaped your voice.
Tip: Use the three-sentence intro to set the tone. You can pose a theme (like curiosity, risk-taking, or cultural duality) or simply frame the images as a window into what makes you tick. This opening anchors your visual story.
3. Authenticity Over Perfection
Stern is not looking for glossy branding. They want to know what matters to you and how you see the world. Humor, vulnerability, and self-awareness are all welcome here. So are the offbeat or unexpected.
Tip: Think beyond accomplishments. A childhood memory, a homemade dish, a messy first attempt at something new. These often say more about you than an award photo. You are not curating a highlight reel. You are showing humanity.
4. Stern Fit: Show You Belong Here
Even though this is not a formal "Why Stern" essay, it is still your chance to make a case for fit. Show values Stern cares about — empathy, collaboration, grit, creativity, global fluency and how they show up in your life.
Tip: Include at least one image that nods toward how you show up in a team, community, or learning environment. The admissions team wants to know what kind of classmate you will be, not just what kind of individual.
❌ Common Pitfalls
- • Images that are impressive but impersonal
- • No real connection or flow between images
- • Captions that are vague, stiff, or overly literal
- • Introduction that reads like a summary instead of an invitation
🎤 Interview Tips
Unique Interview Feature:
NYU Stern's interview is conversational but thorough, conducted by admissions committee members who have read your entire application in depth, including your essays and your "Pick Six" submission. Expect a 30–45 minute one-on-one conversation that covers your career goals, fit with Stern, emotional intelligence (EQ), and how you plan to contribute to the community. Since your interviewer will likely reference specific parts of your application, be prepared to discuss your Pick Six in detail, including what each image represents, why you chose it, and how it reflects your personality or values.
| Unique Questions Common to Stern | Prep Tips |
|---|---|
| What inspired your Pick Six choices, and which one feels most personal to you? | Be ready to go beyond surface-level explanations. Choose 1–2 images to highlight and explain the why behind them, what each image reveals about your values, identity, or passions. For example, if you included a photo of your grandmother's kitchen, you might share how cooking with her shaped your cultural identity and taught you about community. If one image shows you at a protest, talk about the cause and how it's influenced your leadership or career path. |
| Why do you want to pursue your MBA at Stern? | While this is a common question across most business schools, Stern places particular pride in its NYC location, so go beyond generic program highlights and speak to specific academic or professional opportunities at Stern and in the city that align with your goals. For example, you could mention Stern's strong ties to tech and media firms if you're pivoting to those industries, or talk about the value of being immersed in NYC's entrepreneurial ecosystem if you're aiming to build or join a startup. Show that you see Stern not just as a school, but as a launchpad rooted in a vibrant, global business hub. |
Note: For a full list of potential interview questions, check our MBA interview guide.
📅 Application Deadlines
| Round | Deadline | Initial Notification* By |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Deadline | September 15, 2025 | December 1, 2025 |
| 2nd Deadline | October 15, 2025 | January 1, 2026 |
| 3rd Deadline | January 15, 2026 | April 1, 2026 |
| 4th Deadline | April 15, 2026 | Ongoing |
*You will receive one of three initial notifications: invitation to interview, waitlist offer, or denial of admission.