NYU Langone Spring 2009

What's the world coming to if one can't get into PART TIME Stern MBA program with 660 GMAT????

Is that suppose to be sarcasm?
The problem is that adcom doesn't give you any feedback on your application. So as far as areas to improve for when I re-apply, the only thing I can come up with is the GMAT. What do you guys think?

No sarcasm. Just really wondering who gets into Stern Part Time if one can't get in with 660 GMAT. (I am Stern B.S. Class of 05 btw)

What are your stats? Maybe there's something else besides GMAT score that you need to enhance?

I'm Chinese American
26 yrs old
3-4 yrs on trading desk as a Trading Assistant
Gmat: 660, Quant 44, Verbal 38
BS degree, 3.6 GPA
2 Good Recommendations
No Interview for Part-time...at least I don't think they do

Your GMAT is within their 660

GPA is excellent (unless they care about undergrad reputation...which I don't think should be an issue)

2 things that came up right away:

1) When did you submit your app? Closer to deadline, you are at disadvantage due to high volume this year.
2) Do you think your essays were good? did you make sure to state clear career goals and plans and how Stern MBA would do that?

Many Adcom interviews state that this year, competition is fierce and whether it is Ft or PT, they want you to apply earlier. Did you have a backup school this year or are you going to reapply for Fall 2009?

I submitted my application way ahead of the deadline. Like 1 week before.
I thought my essays were good. As good as they can be since it's basically only limited to 1 page. And I had a professional writer take a look at it.
In my essays, I said something along the lines of Stern is a great school that will help me further my goals and ambitions..
No backup. Stern is the only school I want to get my MBA from. I am definitely planning on re-applying for the Fall 09. The question is now how can I improve my application...

my mistake. I mean to say 3.4 gpa

Maybe it really is the deadline issue. One week before deadline isn't really considered beating the deadline. People who submitted much sooner (think when Spring 09 Application became available) get their application reviewed sooner and then gets a slot earlier. This is especially so for PT programs.

My advice is remember, this is going to be tough application year. If you really think you can improve your GMAT score, why not take a shot. Also, monitor when Fall 2009 application becomes available. Be ready to apply again as soon as the application becomes available for their PT program. (Not sure when that is. I already submitted FT Fall 2009 Stern application back in October)

Also, ask people (who got accepted to STERN) about their application essays and compare it to how you wrote yours.

Anybody knows why there is no activity today? I was under impression that a final decision or waitlist decision will be posted today 12/1, but I didn't see anything. No news is a bad news?

Ok, just so we're on the topic. Are there any re-applicants here who got accepted? How have you improved your application? And what other advice would you offer?

12/1 is the decision deadline (accept, waitlist, deny) if all materials were submitted by 9/15. If your app was incomplete on 9/15, I think they can notify you anytime after 12/1.

DB: 276 as pf 11:25 am 12/2.

Just for everyone’s info, the benefits of sending in applications early do not really apply to this program. For Langone, they do not review apps until AFTER the deadline; there is no chance for early review (they do not appear to review them in order, either.)

You can get into Langone with a 660 gmat, but it is not a particularly strong gmat score for this program. A 690 - 700+ gmat is strong. From what I’ve seen, if you do not have a strong gmat, or you do not fit into an unusual group (for instance, you’re in non-profit broadcasting or something), then you’ll need a strong professional background or really interesting extracurricular activities to get you in. For instance, you’ve made director at a prestigious firm at 28, or you’re a kung fu black belt and won a few prestigious tournaments…

From what I’ve seen, NYU places importance in this order: GMAT, Career Progression, Quality of Person, and lastly, Undergrad.
Furthermore, you’re compared with those that are like you. If you’re an finance guy with an Asian background, you will be competing with all other Asian finance guys for the spots that they allocated for that group. Some groups (Male Indian Techies, for instance) have a really high bar.

Thank you Tenore. I appreciate your feedback. I'm definitely going to re-apply again, hopefully with an improve application. Goodluck to everyone else here.

I’ll share some of what I know and give you a little bit of my own story, maybe it will help…

Langone stresses career progression in their application progress. Most people who get in are extremely successful in their field and have promising careers. They expect that the MBA will propel them to the next level (for instance, the talented manager who wants to make director.) That’s the service Langone is providing for your 100 grand.

On the other hand, traditional on campus MBA Recruiters look for younger, entry level people who have a lot of flexibility (to travel, work slavish hours, etc...) Full time students tend to fit this mold far better than part timers. The commitments to our jobs and lives that caused us to be part-timers in the first place work against us in the traditional MBA recruiting process.

So try this… draw up your resume and, in the education section, put in an NYU – Stern MBA. Does your resume look like one that would open the door to the job you’re hoping for?

This little exercise led me to a lot of soul searching. I ended up forgoing my employer’s offer to pay for my MBA and I’m now nearing the completion of a switch to a new company that wants me in a far more elevated role. Financially, it ends up being a bit of a loss for me (I gain in salary but lose ~$35K+ a year in tuition reimbursement), but it will put my career on a far better track and should pay off handsomely in 2 years or so…

So the lesson I learned is that the MBA can be a powerful tool, but it won’t do all the work…



Oh... and it's the same MBA, same teachers, same building, same clubs...
BUT, you will not have access to on campus MBA recruiting... thats the key difference.

Thanks for sharing your experience. How did you go about finding a new employer?

The reason that I ask is that I am planning on attending the NYU Langone program this spring. However, over the past couple of months it has become increasingly clear to me that I may not have a job in the next 6 months given the financial difficulties that my company is having. Will NYU Langone provide any services to help me find a new job or am I pretty much on my own?

great post tenore, +1