Working with Harold [Simansky] was nothing short of humbling. His institutional knowledge guided me through the NYU Stern MBA application with a successful result.
He had a plan of action from the start and met with me to ensure we were aligned on execution. We worked through multiple iterations of my resume and essay where Harold provided guidance on how to improve my application. The best part of working with Harold is that he understood what the result should look like but would not give away the answers. He spent time coaching me to ensure I learned as the process progressed. Harold was prompt with his responses to my emails and always made sure I was clear on the task at hand.
Harold would be my top choice if you are planning to apply to any top-tier MBA programs.
NYU Stern MBA Program: Everything You Need to Know
New York University’s Stern School of Business, more commonly referred to as NYU Stern, is one of New York City’s two preeminent MBA programs along with Columbia Business School. Located in the business capital of the world, Stern provides a number of learning opportunities and career options for Stern students and graduates (known as “Sternies”). After all, NYU’s campus sits just a handful of subway stops away from not only every major finance, consulting, technology, and media company imaginable but also New York’s vaunted “Silicon Alley” start-up community. As any NYU graduate or student will tell you, Stern leverages this location to the advantage of its alumni in countless ways.
Unsurprisingly, NYU Stern is known primarily for its prowess in finance and sent more than one-third of its 2024 graduates into the notoriously competitive industry. With such professors as student-favorite Aswath Damodaran doling out lessons in corporate finance and valuation, practically every student graduates from Stern equipped to handle finance in whatever role they choose.
But NYU Stern is much more than just a finance school, offering 27 specializations, nearly 40 clubs, and more than 200 each of full-time professors and electives. Stern MBA students can chart almost any path they choose, pursuing specializations such as Entertainment and Media, Healthcare, Sustainable Business and Innovation, and FinTech. In fact, Stern offers two specialized one-year programs: the Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA and the Stern Luxury & Retail MBA. Last but not least, NYU Stern’s expansive entrepreneurship resources give its students the power to launch their own ventures in almost any field.
In addition to its reputation as a thought leader in New York’s business community, the NYU Stern MBA program has established a global presence through its ever-popular “Doing Business in…” (DBi) treks overseas. Plus, Stern’s MBA Class of 2027 includes students from 43 different countries. In many ways, the school brings the world to campus, while giving Sternies multiple opportunities to venture far beyond New York—thus earning NYU its place among the world’s elite MBA programs.
NYU Stern School of Business Insider’s Guide
After consulting with NYU Stern MBA students, admissions committee members, and alumni about their experiences at the school, we have prepared our Insider’s Guide to the NYU Stern School of Business. Taking an in-depth look at life as a Stern MBA student, we highlight how the program’s location, class size, curriculum, teaching methods, facilities, alumni involvement, and rankings all affect its culture and MBA experience. We then discuss Stern’s faculty and professional student clubs, explaining how they advance the careers of NYU’s MBA students. Through our guide, you will learn more about Stern’s commitment to innovation, including its Change: Studio and its “IQ + EQ” development programs, which emphasize emotional intelligence. You will also learn about the countless career paths Stern facilitates through its 27 specializations and more than 200 electives. Ultimately, our guide should serve as a road map for how to navigate all the rich opportunities within the NYU Stern School of Business.
NYU Stern Interview Guide
NYU Stern MBA interviews—almost always conducted by MBA admissions committee members—are generally relaxed and conversational, but applicants must demonstrate not only why NYU Stern is the right choice to help them achieve their professional goals but also what they will contribute to the Stern community. From candidates’ past experiences to their professional motivations for seeking an MBA, NYU Stern interviews aim to uncover as much as possible about applicants to determine whether they are the right fit for Stern. For sample interview question sequences and feedback from past applicants on their experiences, download our NYU Stern School of Business Interview Guide.
NYU Stern Application Essay Analysis, 2025–2026
The two required (and one optional) application essay prompts for NYU Stern demand that candidates tap into their personality and character and convey a bit of their creative side. But first, the school poses a straightforward and rather traditional question about applicants’ short-term professional aspirations, limiting the response to a succinct 150 words. For the first full essay, candidates must develop a personal tagline in the style of NYU Stern’s (“Change: Embrace it.”), discuss its significance, and explain how they would act on it as an NYU Stern student. For the second required essay, applicants face the school’s challenging but very revelatory “Pick Six” submission, which might be less intimidating for today’s candidates than it was when it was first introduced in 2017, given the ubiquitousness of social media. Together, Stern’s essay questions should allow you to present a good balance of your professional and personal sides for the admissions committee, though the optional essay is also on the table if you feel strongly that a vital part of your candidacy has not been covered by one or the other.
In our essay analysis, we provide guidance on each of NYU Stern’s 2025–2026 essay questions:
- Short Answer: Professional Aspirations
What are your short-term career goals? (150 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font) - Essay 1: Change: _________ it
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 own personal tagline while at Stern? Examples:
- Change: Dare it.
- Change: Dream it.
- Change: Drive it.
- Change: Empower it.
- Change: Manifest it.
- Change: [Any word of your choice.]
- Essay 2: Personal Expression (a.k.a. “Pick Six”)
Introduce 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 your interests, values, motivations, perspective and/or personality.
- A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you.
Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images that best describe you. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website. - Essay 3: Additional Information (optional)
(500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)
Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee and/or give context to your application. This may include important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, including but not limited to: hardships you have encountered, current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information.
NYU Stern MBA Class Profile (Class of 2027)
| Total Applications | 4,933 |
| Class Size | 336 |
| Average GPA | 3.64 |
| Average GMAT Classic Score | 737 |
| GMAT Classic Score Range (Middle 80%) | 690–760 |
| Average GMAT Focus Score | 682 |
| GMAT Focus Score Range (Middle 80%) | 645–725 |
| Average GRE Verbal Score | 163 |
| Average GRE Quant Score | 164 |
| GRE Verbal Score Range (100%) | 154–170 |
| GRE Quant Score Range (100%) | 155–170 |
| Average Years of Work Experience | 5.1 |
| Range of Years of Work Experience | 0–14 |
| Women | 45% |
| Students with International Citizenship | 43% |
| Countries Represented (including the United States) | 43 |
| U.S. Minorities (includes U.S. citizen/permanent resident matriculants who identify as African American/Black, Asian, Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, or Native American/Alaska Native) |
45% |
| Underrepresented Minorities (U.S. citizens and permanent residents who identify as African American/Black, Hispanic, or Native American/Alaska Native; also includes multi-racial students who identify with one of the aforementioned races or ethnicities) |
18% |
NYU Stern MBA Rankings
The NYU Stern School of Business has historically ranked in the top 15 or top 20 in the most popular business school rankings. Stern ranked number six in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report survey, in a tie with Harvard Business School and Dartmouth Tuck. U.S. News also placed Stern within the top five in the following specialty rankings: real estate (second), finance (third), part-time MBA (fourth), and business analytics (fifth). Bloomberg Businessweek ranked the program number 12 in its domestic 2025 survey. In the 2025 Financial Times ranking, Stern stood in 31st place internationally and 15th domestically. Finally, the 2024 Poets&Quants ranking placed Stern 11th within the country.
NYU Stern MBA Acceptance Rate
NYU Stern School of Business boasts an acceptance rate of approximately 25%, reflecting its competitive admissions process and the high caliber of applicants it attracts. As a prospective MBA student, understanding this acceptance rate is crucial in gauging the level of preparation and distinction needed to secure a spot in this prestigious program.
Achieving admission to NYU Stern is a testament to an applicant’s academic prowess, leadership potential, and unique contributions to the dynamic business landscape. With a focus on fostering innovative thinkers and global leaders, Stern seeks candidates who not only excel academically but also demonstrate a commitment to driving change and making a meaningful impact in their respective fields. As you prepare your application, consider how your experiences, aspirations, and values align with Stern’s mission as well as how you can stand out in a pool of exceptionally talented individuals.
NYU Stern Deadlines (2025–2026 MBA Application Season)
Round 1 Application Deadline
September 15, 2025
Round 1 Decision Notification
December 1, 2025
Round 2 Application Deadline
October 15, 2025
Round 2 Decision Notification
January 1, 2026
Round 3 Application Deadline
January 15, 2026
Round 3 Decision Notification
April 1, 2026
Round 4 Application Deadline
April 15, 2026
Round 4 Decision Notification
Ongoing