This comprehensive analysis is a crucial tool for prospective MBA applicants, providing a deep dive into NYU Stern's MBA admissions essays for the 2024-2025 season. It's designed to guide you in crafting compelling submissions that will set you apart. The analysis also includes valuable general tips for essays required by other leading MBA programs.
 

Short Answer: Professional Aspirations What are your short-term career goals? (150 words)
 

Applicants should concisely outline their immediate plans after graduating from Stern, detailing the specific roles and responsibilities they aim to take on. Mention the target firms and the skills you wish to develop. Explaining how Stern serves as the perfect stepping stone toward your short-term objectives is beneficial. If space permits, you might touch on your long-term goals or the broader impact you aspire to achieve. However, ensure that your short-term career goals are clearly prioritized and thoroughly covered before adding additional information.
 

Essay 1: ChangeChange: _________ it (350 words) 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 tagline at Stern? This essay prompt seeks to understand your ability to adapt, innovate, and engage in a dynamic global business landscape. Choose a word that best encapsulates your approach to change and explain why it resonates with you. Use anecdotal evidence to illustrate how you have embodied this word in your professional or personal life. Describe a significant project or achievement where you were the primary driver of positive change and discuss the outcomes. With 350 words, be concise—identify the word you selected, set the stage with the major players involved, and detail how you drove change and achieved positive results.
 

Additionally, highlight specific features of the Stern MBA program that will enable you to evolve during the program or contribute to positive change among your peers. This could include club activities, courses, or other opportunities at Stern. Engaging with alums or attending admissions events can provide valuable insights into these opportunities.
 

Essay 2 : Personal Expression (a.k.a. “Pick Six”)Introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. Create a PDF that includes :
 

-A brief introduction (no more than three sentences).
-Six images that illustrate your interests, values, motivations, perspective, and/or personality.
-A one-sentence caption for each image explaining its significance.
 

This essay allows you to showcase aspects of your personality, interests, and values beyond your professional and academic achievements. Reflect on what you genuinely want your classmates to know about you. Since the first essay focuses on career goals and work experience, use this opportunity to highlight your life outside of work. Consider your values, personality, and what makes you unique compared to other applicants. Communicate your enthusiasm for meeting and working with fellow students and mention any ways you would engage with them that are not covered in your first essay. Use this creative exercise to effectively convey your interests, values, and personality. Consider using a captioned photo album of proud moments or a decision-making flow chart to show your creativity and dedication to your Stern application. Pay attention to tone, ensuring you come across as sincere, collaborative, and excited about joining the NYU community.
 

Optional Essay: Provide any additional information to the Admissions Committee (500 words max).

This essay is an opportunity to address any aspects of your application that are not apparent elsewhere, such as hardships, employment gaps, undergraduate record explanations, plans to retake tests, or any other relevant information. Given the detailed scope of the required essays, focus on the topics explicitly outlined by the admissions committee for this prompt.