NYU Stern EMBA

March 1, 2023

May 15, 2023

NYU Stern has a rolling admissions process. Apply as soon as possible BEFORE the first and final deadline.

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Essay 1: Career Goals

Prompt: Describe your short- and long-term career goals and how the NYU Stern Executive MBA program will help you accomplish them. (500 words maximum, double-spaced font)

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Begin by breaking down the essay question:

What is your short-term career goal, the one that you will pursue while you are in the Executive MBA program? Tell them what job role that you seek. Tell them why this is your career goal (your motivation), and what experience and skills you will bring from your current professional experience.
What is your longer term career goal (meaning 5-10 years after your graduation from Stern)? Tell them why this is your goal.

For the second question, you should think of the answer in four ways:

What skills and/or knowledge that you lack today that you need to pursue those goals?
What skills and/or knowledge that you want to build upon that will help you achieve very ambitious goals? (You might achieve your goals on your own, but not as well or as easily.)
What are Stern's specific offerings that will help you gain what you lack or wish to build upon? (Choose only a couple of offerings that you will really engagin and benefit from.)
How will Stern's emphasis on EQ prepare you as a leader?

Essay 2: What's Important to You

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Prompt: NYU Stern is committed to helping students develop a deeper set of professional skills, and a broader perspective of the role of business in the world. (500 words meximum, double spaced font)

What is a significant contemporary issue on which you, as a business leader, would like to have an impact?‍
Why is it important to you?
How could you leverage your skills and resources to address the issue?

Stern is very clear on what they are looking for in an answer: your pet issue, your motivation, and your problem-solving abilities.

The tricky part is choosing what you would consider to be your pet issue. You might write about something unusual and interesting (say, finding good homes for the giant alligators in the NYC sewers), which would allow you to discuss the topic rather broadly because the Admissions Committee won't be experts in the topic. Or you might write about a pressing issue that is highly discussed in the business community (say, bringing your company to net zero carbon impact), in which case you would focus on the specifics for your own company (including data) and how your would address the issue in a meaningful and creative way.

Most people will choose to write about popular issues of the day. Knowing that, if you will be doing so as well, you will need to elevate your discussion above others. You will need to really interest the Admissions Committee with your insight.

If you choose to write about a more local and unusual issue, you need to make sure that it will be one that the Admissions Committee will consider to be important ("significant"). Part of your essay will be explaining the topic and its significance to the community.

Optional Essay

Prompt: Provide any additional information for the Admissions Committee. This may include additional details on your academic/quantitative preparation for MBA coursework through educational or professional experience, further explanation of academic history, current or past gaps in employment, or any other information relevant to your application. (500 words max, double spaced)

Use to address:

choice of recommenders (in particular, if your current direct supervisor is not writing your recommendation - which is no big deal!)
gaps in work experience
low GPA or inconsistent or questionable academic performance
interruptions in academic career
difficult issues (i.e., Driving Under the Influence or other types of arrests)
areas of weakness (i.e., less than 10 years work experience)
low GMAT or EA score

Stern allows you to provide details on why you are prepared to succeed in the MBA program, e.g., financial classes, leadership training, and relevant experience that is not shown on your resume, or that you with to highlight.

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Use this essay to turn a potential weakness into a strength. Tell the Admissions Committee what happened and why it happened. Be honest in your self-evaluation. Most importantly, tell them what you have learned from the negative experience, and how this learning has influenced future actions.