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2019 – 2020 NYU Stern MBA Essay Analysis

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For those candidates who have their hearts set on relocating to (or remaining in) New York City, NYU Stern might be a great option. NYU Stern is the #12 full-time MBA program and #4 part-time MBA program according to US News & World Reports. Unlike many other top programs, NYU Stern has a round 2 application deadline in November (11/15/2019) which is great if you did not make round 1 but prefer not to wait until January to submit everything. There is also a round 3 deadline on January 15, 2020 and a round 4 deadline on March 15, 2020.
Please see below for Personal MBA Coach’s tips on how to answer this year’s essay questions.
Essay 1: Professional Aspirations (500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font): What are your short- and long-term career goals? How will the MBA help you achieve them?
This first essay should be very straightforward. As with any other goal-oriented essay, you want to be specific. Include both the role you hope to have and a discussion of what you wish to accomplish in this role. Your short-term goal and your long-term goal should flow naturally (be prepared to explain if they do not).
While I would not repeat your resume in this essay, some brief context behind these goals would be appropriate. Include just enough detail to let the reader know where you are today so that these goals make sense.
Finally, devote a good chunk of the essay to explaining how an MBA (and specifically Stern) will help. Think about your skill gaps and how an MBA will close these gaps. It is important that you allow adequate time to research all that Stern has to offer. I suggest being very specific in detailing the opportunities you plan to take advantage of on campus. Think about classes you are particularly interested in or perhaps professors you are looking to study with, etc. Do not include a laundry list. Instead, carefully think through how each offering will allow you to fill in your skill and/or experience gaps.
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.
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. While a mix of personal and professional photos can work well, some candidates will only include 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 one and feel free to be creative.
Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, Personal MBA Coach regularly helps applicants navigate their applications each year and is the #4 ranked admissions consultant on Poets & Quants. Personal MBA Coach's comprehensive support includes mock interviews with a team of former M7 interviewers and customized GMAT/GRE tutoring with tutors who scored in the 99th percentile.
Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for over 11 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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