NYU Stern Essay 1
Think about the decisions you have made in your life. Describe the following (500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font):
(a) What choices have you made that led you to your current position?
(b) Why pursue an MBA at this point in your life?
(c) What is your career goal upon graduation from the NYU Stern? What is your long-term career goal?
NYU Stern Essay 1 Tips
This is a straight career progression and career goals essay from Stern NYU. But it is also more than that. The clearly delineated questions allow space for Pre-Stern, Stern and Post-Stern phases of your career. But if you can tie them in with the basic theme of your NYU Stern essay you can also blend in non-career aspects that are relevant to your story. The "choices" part of the essay is why I have such a high regard for the NYU Stern essays. Now you have to push yourself, look beyond a straight career narration and explore and reveal parts of your personality as well. Yummy! - use this opportunity.
The NYU Stern "why MBA now" question is tougher than usual because the second essay is a thorough Stern centric analysis and expression essay. So you might not get away with putting in some basic info gleaned from the Stern website - that and more will be needed for NYU Stern essay 2. The approach might be to look for a connecting link between part a. and part c. of the essay and then try to bring New York University and Stern into the picture if required.
Treat the Post-Stern "career goal" question with moderation and realism. Be specific, both about the industry and the role you are seeking. This however is not a dream job essay: the earlier parts of the essay should lead to your goal. Remember that there is a reason why these three questions are grouped together. Find and express a logical link between the three phases. Perfect links are acceptable but do make them credible; small deviations in career progress which retain credibility are far better than a perfect career progression that challenges credulity.
NYU Stern Essay 2
The NYU Stern community is one of our strongest assets. Please answer the following questions about this community: (500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)
(a) What is your personal experience with the Stern community? What actions have you taken to learn more about us?
(b) What is the most difficult piece of constructive feedback you have received, and what did you do as a result of it? How will this experience make you a better member of the Stern community?
NYU Stern Essay 2 Tips
Part (a) obligates you to show how serious you are about seeking admission to Stern? What kind of online and offline research have you done so far? Have you talked to current students or alumni? Have you visited Stern or any of the fairs or receptions hosted by them?
What is part (b) of the question doing in this section ?!%? Guess they are trying to grasp how well you can learn, adapt and change in a situation (like your Stern MBA class) where you have access to multiple viewpoints (and unlimited advice?!). Choose an example that shows how well you learn, communicate (spelled LISTEN), understand and adapt in group settings.
Last year NYU Stern had asked one of the most specific "why this B School?" application essays of the entire lot in this section. They had followed up (a) with "(b) How would you contribute to our community as a student?" and "(c) How will you benefit personally and professionally from the Stern community?". Perhaps that's the clue. Through part (b) show how you can contribute to any student community, specifically the Stern community. Try to find a fit with part a. of the essay but the main objective here is to project your learning skills and open mindedness.
NYU Stern Essay 3
Please describe yourself to your MBA classmates. You may use any method to convey your message (e.g. words, illustrations). Feel free to be creative. All submissions become part of NYU Stern’s permanent records and cannot be returned for any reason. We do not recommend submitting anything that must be played or viewed electronically, that is perishable (e.g. food) or that has been worn (e.g. used clothing). If you submit a written essay, it should be 500 words maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font.
NYU Stern Essay 3 Tips
First and foremost take some time to forget the "creative" part of the question. Figure out the various points that you would like the Stern NYU admissions committee to know about you that have not been covered in Essays 1 and 2. Try to look at the situation from an admissions committee and then a Stern NYU classroom viewpoint.
Once again the subject is YOU. Perhaps you can try a different take, but the subject remains the same. While the question asks for a class perspective, you do NOT have to restrict yourself to that mode IF you have a clearly better approach. NOW think of the creative aspect.
Unleash your imagination. Forget about presenting your unique variety of Fragrant Fried Rice or an ice sculpture (how'll you transport it?); and they don't want your old clothes either. So what's left? Hand drawings, photographs, a short one-act play, a collage - and any number of other options. If you really start thinking about it you can do much better than that. And please do not ask ME for a creative option - I am saving it for my NYU Stern application :-)
NYU Stern Optional Essay
Please provide any additional information you would like to bring to the attention of the admissions committee. This may include gaps in employment, your undergraduate record, plans to retake the GMAT or any other relevant information. An explanation must be provided in Essay 4 if:
You have been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation or required to withdraw from any college or university.
You have ever been convicted of a crime.
You cannot provide a recommendation from your current supervisor.
NYU Stern Optional Essay Tips
Here's that Stern optional essay again: the essay that you need to work on even if you don’t write it. The main question in any NYU Stern optional essay is to decide whether you need to write it at all. Of course under the specific circumstances mentioned in the question, an explanation MUST be given. If not, attempt the NYU Stern optional essay only if you feel that your essay will improve the factual and material strength of your application.
Do not submit your Stern NYU optional essay as an addendum to any of your essays. Do not submit your optional essay because you feel the quality of your earlier essays is improvable – in which case you should actually redouble your efforts in the earlier essays and leave the optional essay alone.
Use the Stern NYU optional essay to explain shortfalls in your application which you feel are truly detrimental to your candidature. Areas of underperformance (academic or professional or GMAT) or events which stick out (gaps in your resumes or second MBA) or application issues (reapplications) can be commented on if you have an explanation that is intelligent, interesting and credible. One other situation when an optional essay is acceptable is when you need to describe at length an extraordinarily positive information that just CANNOT be accommodated in the other essays.
In case you find any of the above applicable, note down the options and then consider again if the optional essay is a strong constructive addition to your candidacy. If yes, then start working on the essay.
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