2010 NYU Stern MBA Chat with Anika Pratt, Isser Gallogly and Paula Goldfarb

Please feel free to let us know if you would like to be informed of future chats by sending e-mail to chat@accepted.com. We would also be interested in knowing if you would prefer a different format or different topics.

I also want to welcome our guests from New York University’s Stern School of Business:

• Anika Davis Pratt, Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions & Financial Aid.  Dean Pratt’s career at NYU began in 1996 in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where she was a member of the Admissions Committee for the College of Arts and Science. In May of 2000, Dean Pratt joined NYU Stern as an Associate Director in MBA Admissions, serving both the Full-time and Part-time MBA programs. As Assistant Dean for the past four years, she has overseen the selection and enrollment of more than 1,000 Full-time and Part-time students annually. Prior to NYU, Dean Pratt spent two years as a corporate recruiter for Ernst and Young’s Management Consulting Practice in New York, after interning in Production at the Juilliard School for one year.  Dean Pratt received her AB degree from Harvard College in Psychology and Art History and her Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from NYU’s Steinhardt School.


• Isser Gallogly, Executive Director of MBA Admissions. Now entering his seventh year with NYU Stern, Isser is responsible for marketing the Full-time and Part-time MBA programs to more than 50,000 prospective students and 6,000 applicants each year. He is also engaged in strategic projects that assist the school with its overall marketing, including co-leading the Dean’s marketing task force.  Prior to joining NYU Stern, Isser worked for almost a decade in consumer package goods marketing. He held positions in brand management at L’Oreal, Unilever and Mattel, working on consumer brands such as Maybelline, Suave, Mentadent, Snuggle and Hot Wheels. Isser serves as a key resource for Stern’s student-led Graduate Marketing Association. Isser received his BS degree from Colby College and his MBA from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.


• Paula Steisel Goldfarb, Senior Director of MBA Admissions & Financial Aid. Paula leads the strategic operations of the MBA Admissions office and oversees graduate financial aid for the Full-time MBA, Part-time MBA, Executive MBA and Ph.D. programs. She has served as the Chairperson of the Admissions Committee for both the Full-time and Part-time MBA programs. Prior to joining NYU Stern in 2001, Paula worked for the American Pardes Foundation as the Director of New Leadership and Resource Development and the Charles Bronfman Foundation in grant distribution and program development. Paula received her BA from Haverford College in Psychology and her Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Higher and Postsecondary Education at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education.


• Emily Zwanziger, NYU Stern Class of 2010. Emily Zwanziger is a second-year student, specializing in Marketing, Finance, and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Emily is a Board Member of the Graduate Marketing Association (GMA) and is currently serving as VP of the GMA Conference, which brings together over 300 students, alumni and marketing professionals annually. She is also a member of the Luxury & Retail Club, Stern Women in Business, and the Social Enterprise Association. Prior to attending NYU Stern, Emily worked in market research, most recently advising large healthcare clients on optimizing their marketing strategies. Emily received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in Communications and minored in Economics.

Thanks to everyone for joining.

Linda Abraham (Oct 14, 2009 11:06:11 AM)
Emily and Isser, can you tell us about the luxury and retail opportunities available at Stern?

Linda Abraham (Oct 14, 2009 11:06:26 AM)
Paula, having served on Stern’s social enterprise committee, can you tell us about the social enterprise opportunities at NYU?

Linda Abraham (Oct 14, 2009 11:06:41 AM)
Anika, what has been Stern's response to the financial crisis?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:07:20 AM)
Linda, Stern has a very active Luxury and Retail Club, which provides members the opportunity to learn about the industry across a variety of functions including finance, marketing and strategy. The club has been growing in size and presence on campus and serves as a great way for members to meet industry professional and make potential job contacts. One of the biggest events hosted by the Luxury and Retail Club is its annual conference, which is on November 6th this year at the Time Warner Center in NYC.

cmw82 (Oct 14, 2009 11:07:48 AM)
Emily: What are the primary advantages of pursuing a full-time MBA compared with a part-time program at Stern, particularly with regard to networking and career placement opportunities post-graduation?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:08:28 AM)
Linda, we have a great program for folks who want to change careers into Luxury/Retail called IMI. Stern’s Industry Mentoring Initiative (IMI) is a selective industry immersion program for first-year, full-time MBA students committed to learning about a new industry as they prepare to switch careers. For 2009-2010, IMI offers six industry-specific tracks through partnerships with leading companies in their respective fields. No one IMI track is exactly alike since each is tailored specifically to its industry’s structure, culture and trends. The Luxury/Retail partner is Coach. The six different IMI tracks are: Consulting, Investment Banking,  Luxury & Retail, Marketing,  Media & Entertainment  and  Sales & Trading.

Dan K (Oct 14, 2009 11:08:50 AM)
Isser: I would like to know your thoughts on the resume and work experience part of the application. Given that we should highlight achievements and show rising responsibility, is it OK to go a little over one page for the resume?

stuntgp (Oct 14, 2009 11:08:58 AM)
Emily, can you provide more information about the GMA and the marketing activities?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:10:37 AM)
Dan - standard format on a resume/CV is one page, but it is OK to go longer if you like. We also have a work history form that is required and can provide a lot of detail that isn't always on a resume. You also can talk about your career in essay one of the application.

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:10:47 AM)
CMW, the part-time program and full-time program offer different opportunities for full-time and part-time students. The full-time program is ideal for career switchers because a formal recruitment preparation program begins in the beginning of your 1st year at Stern. Students have the opportunity to sharpen their networking and interviewing skills, have their resumes reviewed and endless opportunities to meet with companies interested in recruiting Stern students across a variety of functions and industries. The part-time program hosts a Center for Working Professionals which is an excellent resource for seeking out job opportunities.

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:10:50 AM)
CMW- full-time and part-time are very different programs for students with very different objectives. If you are looking to make a significant career move, the FT program gives you the greatest resources to make that happen. If you are seeking an education to advance in your current field, PT is a good choice. Our FT students spend an incredible amount of time on the career search/prep - not just in our career office, but doing information interviews, company info sessions, research, and club activities. They find balancing career work and school work very difficult - working full time on top of that is simply not very feasible. We have a great table comparing our MBA programs online.

Harry (Oct 14, 2009 11:10:51 AM)
Emily: I am interested in what Stern offers entrepreneurial driven people.

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:10:53 AM)
Linda, NYU Stern has been at the forefront of the debate and discussion. In response to the financial crisis, 33 Stern faculty members wrote Restoring Financial Stability: How to Repair a Failed System. This book is a compilation of 18 white papers that look at the causes of the financial crisis and present solutions to repairing the system. Stern launched a course in Spring 2009 on the Financial Crisis Causes and Remedies. This five-lecture course was based on the book’s contents and was taught by a dozen of the faculty authors. This fall, Stern has added two new elective courses about the financial crisis and the future of the global economy. The expertise of Stern professors, such as Nouriel Roubini, has been sought out by the media on countless occasions since the beginning of the financial crisis. Stern students have the opportunity to learn from these leading researchers on a regular basis.

lcpink12 (Oct 14, 2009 11:11:21 AM)
Isser: I'm planning to attend the all day marketing conference on 10/30 - would you also suggest doing an on-campus visit?

neel (Oct 14, 2009 11:11:27 AM)
Anika: How important is it for an applicant to have strong quant skills? Do you look at the GMAT quant score? Should I take a calculus class at community college if I didn't take one in high school?

PaulaGoldfarbNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:11:36 AM)
Linda, there are many exciting opportunities for students interested in Social Enterprise at Stern. We have recently introduced a Social Innovation & Impact Specialization, and our New York Initiatives team just launched a Board Fellows program, which provides yet another experiential learning option in social enterprise. We have a fantastic program called the “Stern Consulting Corps”. This program gives you an opportunity to work with non-profit organizations in New York on specific consulting projects based on the organization’s needs. One of the unique aspects of this program is that you also get to work with a mentor from a consulting firm. Our Social Enterprise Club is very active and brings great speakers to campus.

Ankush B (Oct 14, 2009 11:11:45 AM)
Paula/ Isser: Does Stern plan to create sustainability related specialization in the future?

Ankush B (Oct 14, 2009 11:11:55 AM)
Emily, what attracted you to Stern?

naman (Oct 14, 2009 11:13:19 AM)
Isser: Stern MBA is traditionally renowned for finance, probably due to its location in NY. This is also supported in the recruitment profile for the last few years. How competitively are Stern MBAs (in other areas, specifically, consulting) viewed by the recruiters when compared with other top business schools?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:14:10 AM)
Stuntgp, the GMA is the primary club I'm involved in at Stern. It is one of the biggest organizations on-campus and boasts a very active membership. It is a primary resource for students interested in pursuing a career in Marketing. The activities include workshops for career switchers, networking opportunities with prospective employers, social activities for club members and an annual conference which brings over 50 companies to campus for relevant discussions, panels and networking opportunities. This year the GMA Conference is on October 30th and is called "Marketing Now: Innovation in a Changing Landscape." We will be hosting the CMO of Kodak as the keynote speaker who will discuss Kodak's journey from a print and film company to a digital company. We also have sponsors coming from Kraft, Dannon, Colgate Palmolive, American Express, Reckitt Benckiser and many more!

Mike P (Oct 14, 2009 11:14:34 AM)
Emily: How do you recommend getting involved in volunteer work at Stern? Especially if you have specific projects in mind that you would like to do?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:14:47 AM)
LCpink- Glad you can make the marketing conference. It would also be great if you can visit on campus too. The on campus presentation will give you a tour of the building, information on the program and on admissions - which the conference will not provide. You can also sign up online to attend a class. At the conference, you will be able to spend a lot of time with marketing students, both at the conference and at a panel we will set up.

PaulaGoldfarbNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:14:47 AM)
Ankush. Thank you for your question and I am excited to hear about your interest in sustainability. Sustainability is already a core part of the new Social Impact and Innovation curriculum.

Matt (Oct 14, 2009 11:14:54 AM)
Paula: Regarding social enterprise, does Stern offer any specific sustainability resources?

Sean (Oct 14, 2009 11:16:12 AM)
Emily, when you applied, did you choose to sit in during a class or did you choose to simply tour the campus? Which would you recommend?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:17:16 AM)
Naman - Stern is great across the board. In consulting, we had recruiters from McKinsey, BCG, Deloitte & Booz plus many others hire students. In fact, McKinsey and BCG were two of our top recruiters this year for the class as a whole.

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:17:22 AM)
Harry, Stern offers a specialization in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. The professors in this department are wonderful, accessible and generally bring a lot of their own past experiences to the classroom. Currently, I am taking a course called Managing Growing Companies with Glenn Okun, who is one of the best professors I've had at Stern. In addition, the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship hosts an annual Business Plan Competition which gives students the opportunity to win seed money to start their own venture.

MJ (Oct 14, 2009 11:18:12 AM)
Isser: I have heard wonderful things about the Stern Summer Start program. Can you tell me more about the selection process for that opportunity (since I know students cannot apply/request to be part of Summer Start)?

lcpink12 (Oct 14, 2009 11:18:50 AM)
Emily: What are 2-3 of the largest and most active clubs on campus?

PaulaGoldfarbNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:18:53 AM)
Hi Matt, we do have great resources for you here at Stern. There are great courses like the Student Social Venture Fund Class, the Energy and the Environment Class, and the Social Venture Capital class.

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:18:55 AM)
Neel: A strong academic/ quantitative preparation is important for success in business school. You are asking the right questions to ensure that you are fully prepared quantitatively. Applicants can demonstrate their quant preparation in a number of ways….through coursework taken at the undergraduate level, through standardized test scores and in their professional backgrounds. My advice would be to assess your skills and experience and determine whether or not it makes sense for you to take some classes prior to starting the MBA. If so, a course that can  provide brushing up on basic stats would be helpful.

lcpink12 (Oct 14, 2009 11:18:58 AM)
Anika: What % of students does a term abroad on exchange? How much does this affect recruiting/interviewing on campus?

Frank Bacchi (Oct 14, 2009 11:19:07 AM)
Paula: How does the entrepreneurship and innovation specialization have a special connection with small business in Greenwich Village?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:19:31 AM)
Naman- Another reason we do so well in Consulting is the students IQ+EQ. Not only are our students really smart, but they have superior interpersonal skills. Part of the reason we do the interview process the way we do is to get people with great EQ (emotional intelligence quotient). Recruiters really notice and appreciate that aspect of our students.

Linda Abraham (Oct 14, 2009 11:20:04 AM)
Isser what is unique about NYU's interview process that hones in on EQ?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:21:05 AM)
Hi Ankush! I was most attracted to Stern because of the people I met here! I looked at several other business schools, all of which had excellent MBA programs where I knew I couldn't go wrong with the academics. I made my decision based on my future classmates, professors and administrators that I met throughout the admissions process. Each visit that I had to Stern confirmed that this was the place for me - and I haven't second guessed myself once since being here!

Kelvin (Oct 14, 2009 11:21:40 AM)
Emily: Where does Stern rate itself for marketing ? What are opportunities one can get after an MBA in marketing from Stern?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:21:42 AM)
MJ - Our summer start program is really unique. We have about 60-70 students do a six week semester in the summer prior to joining the class in the Fall. They take 6 credits of classwork - statistics, management communication and negotiation. This allows them to take one less class in the Fall and Spring. There is also lots of social and leadership programming in the summer too. We hand pick people for the program based on a few things. First is leadership ability and strong interpersonal skills. Second is that the students may benefit from doing some coursework over the summer. Someone transitioning from a less traditional background (military, performing arts, etc) really benefits from taking a class like stats in the summer and having one less class in the fall. It's also great for people who have been out of school a while too. Additionally, it's good for people making more significant career transitions who would benefit from more time in the fall/spring for recruiting. Another reason we like leaders is because with less classes in the fall/spring, they can take on more club leadership roles. If you are interested in summer start, you can express that interest in your optional essay 4. Also, we do allow all Fall admitted students to apply for Summer Start as well. We always hold a few spots for some Fall to Summer switchers.

Linda Abraham (Oct 14, 2009 11:23:10 AM)
Emily, have the events in the financial markets and the recession affected your coursework? How have they entered your classroom?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:23:24 AM)
Hi Mike P! Stern's student body is a very active one - both inside and outside of school! All of the clubs host volunteer activities and volunteering is built in to your first semester with your block-mates. If you have a specific project in mind, you can explore clubs and your block for opportunities to find a group to help you out. I don't think it would be a problem because of the collaborative environment here at Stern. Also, we have a program called Stern Consulting Corps which pairs students with nonprofit organizations in need of help. So, if there is an organization you are thinking of, you can certainly work with the NY Initiatives office to get this organization involved.

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:24:16 AM)
LcPink12: Over 300 full-time and part-time students participate in our international programs each year. This includes semester exchange, our popular Doing Business in (DBi) program, and short-term opportunities in the summer. About 60 participated in semester exchange, 250 participated in the DBi trips, and 9 participated in short-term study. Students typically choose their semester to go abroad based on the recruiting schedule for their career of interest. If you want to immerse yourself fully in NYC, the DBi program is ideal because it is a one to two week format.

naman (Oct 14, 2009 11:24:24 AM)
Anika: I have reviewed the placement trends for 2008 on your website. It shows 14% of the class got placed in Consulting which was the second highest, but what I want to know is how many of those 14% actually changed careers? Is this information available on website?

Michael Chai (Oct 14, 2009 11:25:30 AM)
Isser: I am very much concerned about the admissions, especially which types of abilities Stern is looking for, and which is more important, personal working experiences or academic records?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:26:02 AM)
Hi Sean! When I visited Stern I took advantage of all of Admissions offerings to make sure that this was the place for me. After all, it is 2 years of your life! I visited campus more than once, sat in on a class and talked to current students. The way the Admissions office has visits set-up, you can actually do all three in one day!

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:27:45 AM)
LCPink12, the three largest clubs on campus are Stern Women in Business (SWIB), the Graduate Finance Association (GFA) and the Graduate Marketing Association (GMA). Although these are probably the largest, it's hard to say which are most active, because all of the clubs are quite lively!

PaulaGoldfarbNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:28:13 AM)
Frank, NYU Stern's Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies offers a comprehensive program of courses and practical experience for future entrepreneurs – those who plan to start their own business, run a family business and those who will be taking over a small organization and hope to make it grow. The Sixth Annual Berkley Center Conference is happening at NYU Stern in a few weeks. This is a great way to meet entrepreneurs from both the downtown NYC area and around the world. We offer many ways for you to meet and network with entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs at the Stern School.

Original (Oct 14, 2009 11:28:21 AM)
Paula: If an applicant applies to a dual degree program, do the different schools contact each other for any reason such as to review the separate applications or find out if they've been rejected for one of the programs?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:29:04 AM)
Linda-There are a few things that are unique about our interview process. It is by invitation only - we only ask to meet you if we are very serious about you after reviewing the application. About 60% of those interviewed are admitted, about 30% of those who apply are selected to interview. The interviews are almost always here in NYC at Stern and conducted by a trained admissions professional. You have 30 minutes to make your case in person to the committee. The interview is not blind. The interviewer will have studied your application and ask you deeper and more specific questions. While you are at Stern, you may visit a class and have lunch with a student (depending on the time of year). If you apply to Stern, save some vacation days and money to fly here for your interview. We take the interview very seriously and it's a unique part of our process.

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:29:09 AM)
Naman: NYU Stern is a great place to be if you want a career change into Consulting. Typically, over half of our incoming class plans on making a career change. At Stern, programs like the Industry Mentoring Initiative (IMI) partner with lead consulting firms and senior executives to mentor students changing careers into consulting. In addition, our student club - the MCA - has a rigorous casing training and prep leading up to consulting interviews -- just to mention a couple of the great resources here at Stern.

lcpink12 (Oct 14, 2009 11:29:27 AM)
Anika: What's the best way to connect with Stern alumni that live in my city?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:29:57 AM)
Hi Kelvin, Stern does extremely well with marketing opportunities after graduating. We have many companies which actively recruit on-campus including Colgate-Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft, Unilever, Dannon, American Express and Reckitt Benckiser! We have recent alumni at all of these firms and students intern at these companies every summer.

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:30:31 AM)
MChai- Our admissions process is holistic, meaning we look at everything you bring to the table. We evaluate your academics, professional profile and personal characteristics. No one section is more important than the other. We expect Stern students to be strong in all three areas.

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:31:41 AM)
lcpink12: A great way to connect with Stern alumni worldwide is to come visit us at a presentation or event - either on campus or at one of our upcoming off-site events. Stern has been hosting events around the world for the MBA Class of 2012 since August. Our remaining events include: Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Seattle, Vancouver, London, Paris, Bogota, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. You can RSVP via our event calendar. Hope we see you!

anmol (Oct 14, 2009 11:31:59 AM)
Anika, I am applying from India and therefore it is difficult for me to visit the campus to learn about the Stern even though I would like to. Would it be possible for me to contact the admissions office for the emails of some Indian alumni so that I can find out some more about the NYU?

PaulaGoldfarbNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:32:17 AM)
Original, we ask students interested in a dual degree to apply to each program separately. The Admissions Committee from each school will review your application individually and each school will determine your admission based on their process. Good luck! We look forward to reviewing your application.

Gaurav (Oct 14, 2009 11:32:29 AM)
Hi Paula! Could you shed some light on Business system consulting and what kinds of positions are offered to students from Stern?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:32:56 AM)
Samiur - thanks for taking the time to listen to my podcasts on Stern. We have a whole collection of tips/interviews/podcasts/videos on our site. It is perfectly fine to mention these, the website, your talks with any NYU people, or however you have come to learn about us.

Leo (Oct 14, 2009 11:33:12 AM)
Isser: How many students without full time work experiences are admitted each year by Stern? I had an internship in SME of Citibank for 10 weeks and two years research experiences on management science. How would you evaluate these kinds of experiences?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:33:47 AM)
Linda, in regard to the question about the financial markets and recession: I started at Stern in September 2008, just at the time of the collapse of Bear Stearns and the bailout of AIG and many of the largest banks. A financial event like this had never happened before, so all of our finance professors were eager to share their views. I really felt like I was in the epicenter of the action, as I regularly saw Stern professors on nightly news shows. Although it was difficult, professors attempted to keep focus on the core material as well - and were able to connect the material to the current events that were unfolding in front of us. A group of finance professors actually wrote an incredible set of White Papers on the crisis and offered a weekly lecture series to Stern students. I really felt like I had a great advantage being here - not to mention that I have been somewhat sheltered from the storm while in school!

Linda Abraham (Oct 14, 2009 11:33:47 AM)
Emily, what do you like best at Stern? What would you like to see improved?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:35:48 AM)
Leo - Having work experience is not a requirement to apply. We certainly have admitted students without work experience to the program. We do look at all the professional experiences or relevant experiences in evaluating your application - such as your time with Citi or doing research. We look at them like any experience. What were your responsibilities, what were your results on the project, did you lead teams, what skills did you use/gain, what did you learn, etc.

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:37:00 AM)
Linda, what I like best about Stern are the people that I interact with on a daily basis. This may be a broad answer, but it includes my classmates, professors, recent alumni and companies that come to campus. The relationships that I have built here will definitely last for a long-time after I achieve my degree. As I mentioned, there are many schools with strong academics, but what really separated Stern for me was the culture. I think future employers really value that Stern students are so motivated and collaborative.

lcpink12 (Oct 14, 2009 11:37:15 AM)
Emily: Is there a limit to how many classes/credits I can take at NYU outside of Stern? Do I need permission or have to rationalize with an adviser why I'd want to take a class outside of Stern?

PaulaGoldfarbNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:37:43 AM)
Gaurav- Stern has students that receive employment opportunities in management consulting, internal consulting and systems consulting. IBM Consulting and Booz and Company, for example, are active recruiters that come to campus.

naman (Oct 14, 2009 11:37:49 AM)
Paula: With specific regards to the current economic downturn and unemployment situation in the US, do you see the employment prospects for international students within USA diminishing? What steps has the school taken/prepared to take to ensure international students do not get discouraged from applying because of financial constraints or bleak prospects post-MBA?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:38:06 AM)
Linda, if I had to mention an improvement for Stern, it would be to change its reputation as only a Finance school! It's absolutely not true! While we do have a very strong finance department, other departments and industries for recruiting are also very strong!

Kaya (Oct 14, 2009 11:38:51 AM)
Isser: Anika: How does the AdCom interpret the GMAT scores?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:39:35 AM)
LCPink12, good question. There is a limit to the number of classes - it is 15% of the 60 credits, or roughly 5 classes. There is a list of pre-approved classes which are simple to have confirmed. If you want to take classes outside of this pre-approved list, there is an additional approval process.

LAT (Oct 14, 2009 11:40:05 AM)
Emily: Would someone be able to discuss the differences between the Luxury & Retail IMI as opposed to Marketing? What does one offer that the other does not?

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:40:13 AM)
Anmol: This fall we are launching some great new online resources for getting to know NYU Stern including a virtual tour of the campus, videos and an online forum. This should go far in helping you get a real sense of the program and the community although you are far away. In the meantime, reaching out to our Graduate Ambassadors by email can connect you with current students in the program - they are best equipped to speak about life at Stern today and can answer all your detailed questions about the experience. If you apply and are invited for an interview, you will have the opportunity to meet us in India if you wish.

anmol (Oct 14, 2009 11:40:18 AM)
Anika, could you throw some light on the number of scholarships that are available (in particular full and half tuition scholarships), and also on what the broad criteria are that you look at when awarding them?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:42:53 AM)
Kaya- The GMAT score is one indicator of how you will do academically. We also look at your undergraduate record, any graduate studies, continuing education class, certifications, etc. We are looking for students who will excel in the classroom. To see our GMAT ranges of admitted students and other info, visit our class profile online.

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:42:54 AM)
LAT, the primary difference between the Luxury & Retail and Marketing IMI is that Luxury & Retail is focused on an industry, and Marketing is focused on the function. For example, if you work in marketing or finance for a CPG or other industry, and would like to continue to do marketing or finance for a Luxury or Retail company, the IMI with Coach would be ideal. On the other hand, if you work in a function other than marketing and hope to get into marketing, the Marketing IMI partnered with American Express would be the way to go.

lcpink12 (Oct 14, 2009 11:43:52 AM)
Emily: One concern I have about Stern is that the students won't all live near campus (like they would at Michigan/UVA/etc) because I'm assuming they're spread out all over the city/boroughs. Is that assumption true or do most students live pretty close to school?

PaulaGoldfarbNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:44:10 AM)
Naman: We are very fortunate at Stern to have a wide network of alumni and deep connections with the companies that come to campus to recruit. This has enabled both our domestic and international students to be successful in the job search process this year. We have tremendous support for international students including a career counselor that work directly with international students to assist them in securing employment opportunities. We also have international loan programs with JPMC and HSBC to help students secure funding. We are proud of our diverse and global student population and committed to enrolling students from around the world each year.

AllisonW (Oct 14, 2009 11:44:51 AM)
Anika / Isser /Paula - What are some of your pet peeves when it comes to reading applicant essays?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:45:25 AM)
LCPink12, from my perspective, a majority of students live in Manhattan and campus is easy to get to from a large number of subway lines. Many students do live within walking distance of campus, however, you are right that others live further away. It is not really a concern though, because we are often on campus and doing activities or going out close to campus, so it's never a problem to meet up with people for study groups or socially.

MJ (Oct 14, 2009 11:45:40 AM)
Emily -- can you talk about the experience of being in a "block" while at NYU?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:45:57 AM)
You can take a test to waive certain core classes. You can replace those credits with elective classes.

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:46:00 AM)
Anmol: We have a great number of merit scholarships that we award each year to our top incoming students. Approximately 30% of admitted students receive a merit-based scholarship and these scholarships range in award amount from 10,000 to full. Recipients are selected on the basis of exceptional academic and professional performance, as well as personal qualities such as leadership, integrity and community service. And, we seek students who embody the Stern value: smart, have strong IQ plus EQ, are collaborative and high achieving and down to earth.

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:47:40 AM)
MJ, being in a block at Stern is a great way to make meeting your class of 415 classmates more manageable. In the class, there are 6 blocks, each of about 70 students. In your first semester, you take most of your core classes with these 70 people, so you get to know them quite well. There are also activities that are organized with the block, and inter-block Olympics that give a great opportunity to bond with the block, over some friendly competition! As you get to know your classmates in your block, your network will grow to other blocks through clubs and other activities.

AllisonW (Oct 14, 2009 11:47:45 AM)
Emily: What is Stern's approach to case-based learning? Are certain IMI tracks more case-based than others?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:48:20 AM)
AllisonW - To me, the most important thing on the essays is answering the questions asked and speaking from the heart. Tell us what you really want to do and why, have a well thought out plan, be excited about this new opportunity, do your homework and let us know, and show that you can write and express your thoughts clearly and concisely. Obviously try to keep to word limits, avoid typos and those types of things. Most importantly, really customize the answers to your essays to both you and each of the schools you are applying to.

Patricia (Oct 14, 2009 11:48:29 AM)
Isser- I've heard that campus recruiting for summer internships starts very soon after arrival on campus. How does NYU ensure that students are prepared for these interviews and that students know which function/industry they want to pursue for the summer?

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:50:52 AM)
AllisonW, Stern professors use a variety of different methods for teaching. Some classes, like Strategy and Marketing, leverage cases more so than others, like core Finance and Accounting. I've found that as I take more electives, they are more heavily case-based which leads to great discussion in the classroom. As far as IMI, this is outside of the classroom and has a wide variety of formats. Although I didn't participate in the program, I would imagine all of them have some component of learning about past business cases.

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:51:03 AM)
Patricia- It does start very soon, in fact some of the prep work actually starts before you arrive on campus. You will have pre-work to do over the summer. I would strongly recommend that you have a clear plan on your industry/function prior to applying to b-school. There is little/no time to figure it out and explore in depth once you get here. You'll get a much greater ROI on your MBA with a clear goal headed in the door (of course it's subject to change). You also do have time to better explore some of the differences in a narrow focus - for example marketing at a CPG vs. a luxury company. Our Office of Career Development (OCD) has a two year development plan to get your ready. You do not have class on Friday, but every Friday has lots of required career prep and training - networking, cover letters, corporate presentations, telling your story, interviewing, etc. Plus the career focused clubs all have activities too, that are incredibly helpful. For most of the on-campus recruiters - the interview happens in January between semesters so you can focus on those interviews.

Kaya (Oct 14, 2009 11:51:06 AM)
Emily: How much time does a student get for participating in club activities, on an average?

lcpink12 (Oct 14, 2009 11:51:23 AM)
Isser: What are you really looking for in essay 3? I'm assuming creativity and conveying my personality, but I'm a little bit at a loss when planning for this essay.

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:53:40 AM)
Anmol: After many years of reading applications, I can say that it never gets boring! Especially with the NYU Stern Essay 3 which asks you to creatively describe yourself to your future MBA classmates. We love getting to know applicants on this level – more personal and showcasing their true passions. So, pet peeves include typos (especially on the resume), not answering the question asked, telling the admissions committee how much you want to attend another program other than NYU Stern (hah!) and rambling without focus.

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:53:53 AM)
Hi Kaya! The amount of time spent on a club varies dramatically depending on how involved you become. It can be a very small time commitment, in which you may only attend select events or activities hosted by the club. Most Stern students get more involved in one or more clubs on-campus though! Right now, I am planning the Graduate Marketing Association Conference - and I spend at least a couple of hours a day planning this in the beginning of the year. Depending on if you take a Board position really helps dictate how much time you'll spend with the club. So the clubs are really what you make it! I definitely recommend getting involved though, because they are a great way to meet people and get prepared for jobs.

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:54:43 AM)
Lcpink- Applicants are always looking for a way to stand out and differentiate themselves in the app process. Essay 3 is the perfect place to tell us what makes you unique and what you bring to the class. It's an area of the application where we can get to see who you are as a person. It's much less about a creativity contest - and more about "who are you?".  I think starting with your passions/interests is a great place to start. We have a few interviews on essay three which may help.

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:55:35 AM)
Hi Harry! Yes, it is possible for MBA students to form a new professional club. In fact, this year's 1st Years are starting a professional club focused on Travel and Hospitality. It has already generated a lot of buzz on-campus!

PaulaGoldfarbNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:55:39 AM)
For students interested in Social Enterprise, you will find our supportive Career Development Office, our Social Enterprise Club, and Stern Private Equity Club to be great resources. Our Social Enterprise Club has a Wiki, job postings, mock interviews and workshops. There is also tremendous support through the alumni network. You also have the resources of the Stern Private Equity Club, too. Each year, they have a successful conference which is a great resource and networking opportunity for students.

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:57:28 AM)
Arnab, almost all interviews are conducted here at NYU Stern in NYC with a member of the admissions committee. We do limited interviews in China, India and UK - but apply the first deadline. We think of the admissions interview a lot like a job interview here - you should want to do it in person. It's a chance to make your case face to face with the admissions committee. Definitely plan on a visit to NYC (if you aren't in the locals I listed above). You can also do an info session, class visit and lunch with a student while here (depending on the time you visit). So yes, we do expect that all applicants interview in person here in NYC.

Jon89 (Oct 14, 2009 11:58:52 AM)
Isser: For those applying for the second time around (and through the CGSM), what  do you recommend they address in their essay, since they truly only have one essay to write  - the one school specific essay in the CGSM app?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:59:12 AM)
Ideally your letters of recommendation should come from an objective third party who can address your business acumen and who know you professionally. You can submit more than two letters of recommendation if you'd like, if you feel they may not be the most objective.

laxmi (Oct 14, 2009 12:01:06 PM)
Anika: I am working in Actuarial field and plan to become an Associate Actuary soon. Actuarial Science being a technical field, how do you perceive obtaining an MBA from Stern would help me increase the growth prospects ?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:01:34 PM)
Jon89-You can use the entire school specific essay to talk about why you want to be at Stern. You also can use the optional essay in the CGSM application to address your re-applicant status or anything else you feel is important for us to note. For all re-applicants or applicants in general, the optional essay is a great place to share information you think is important for the adcom to know in your specific case.

dianne (Oct 14, 2009 12:01:47 PM)
Isser, what would you recommend for couples (non-married) who plan to apply to NYU Stern? Is there a place in the application to indicate that your significant other is applying? Is it recommended to indicate that? Does this change the way each individual application is viewed?

Arnab (Oct 14, 2009 12:02:49 PM)
How strong is the Strategy Consulting program at NYU?

PaulaGoldfarbNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:03:44 PM)
Arnab: We have an exceptionally strong program in this area. The number of students going into consulting has grown tremendously over the last few years. We have most of the top recruiters in this space coming to campus including McKinsey, Deloitte, BCG, Booz, etc. There are many course highlights including a Game Theory and Business Strategy course (taught by Professor Adam Brandenburger, leading game theorist and co-author of Co-opetition). Other courses include Implementing Strategy and Corporate Governance.

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:03:47 PM)
Dianne- We do have a place on the application where you can indicate your significant other is applying too. Glad to hear you both want to come to Stern! It is helpful for us to be aware that you both are applying, but doesn't affect how we evaluate each of you. What it has helped with in the past is just trying to coordinate things like our interview invitation timing. We find that people who are traveling to interview here would rather do that together than individually.

Kaya (Oct 14, 2009 12:04:12 PM)
Paula: What role does prior work experience play in the case of an applicant looking for a career switch?

Olena (Oct 14, 2009 12:04:28 PM)
Isser: Hello, I have a question regarding loans to international students. Do you have any no-cosigner options and what are the eligibility criteria?

BrysonS (Oct 14, 2009 12:05:42 PM)
Emily: What types of activities and events do the Private Equity club get involved in?

VZ (Oct 14, 2009 12:06:25 PM)
Anika, what advice do you have for re-applicants? Do you recommend re-taking the GMAT, even though the current score is well in the 80% range for the admitted students at Stern? Or do you think at that point, focusing on other areas of application is more important?

JG (Oct 14, 2009 12:06:55 PM)
Isser: Can you reflect on any upside applying round 1 vs. round 2?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:07:41 PM)
JG-In general, you should apply at the earliest date you feel most competitive. Clearly there are more spots available in the class the earlier you apply, but it's better to wait and put forth the application that gives you the best chance of admissions. There are a couple other things to keep in mind for our first deadline: you get priority consideration for scholarships and for off-site interviews (China, London, India). Also, you will likely hear earlier about an interview invite from the first round and be able to schedule it earlier. So, you just get more information sooner with the first round.

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:07:56 PM)
Olena-We do have loan programs for international students with no co-signers. Details are on our financial aid website.

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:08:29 PM)
Hi Bryson, the Stern Private Equity Club or SPEC has lots of events each year. They include an annual conference, workshops, alumni and networking events. You can get an idea of last year's conference on our website.

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:08:33 PM)
Laxmi: The combination of technical training, general management education, soft skills, leadership development , and network for life make the Stern MBA a great choice for a variety of future business careers. We have world-renowned Accounting and Finance departments - the education you will get here is top notch. In addition, you have incredible support from our career development team and an alumni network that is 80,000 strong – many of whom are working in your desired field. The MBA is going to provide you with the confidence, skills, and network to move up in your field and become a great manager and leader.

Linda Abraham (Oct 14, 2009 12:08:42 PM)
Thank you again all for participating. Special thanks to Anika, Isser, Paula and Emily for joining us today.

We look forward to seeing you at future chats. On deck:

• Oct 20: Consortium Application Strategies

• Nov 5: Kellogg Q&A

• Nov 11: London Business School MiM

• Nov 18: Consortium Chat with Current Students

• Dec 7 : London Business School

• Dec 16: Dartmouth Tuck Q&A

If you would like to automatically receive notices about these MBA admissions chats and other MBA admissions events, please subscribe to our MBA event list. Please check the website for additional details.

Have a great day! Good luck with your applications!

EmilyZwanzigerNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:09:04 PM)
Thanks, Linda! I appreciate the opportunity!

Leo (Oct 14, 2009 12:09:19 PM)
Thanks a lot, Linda!

Linda Abraham (Oct 14, 2009 12:09:24 PM)
You're most welcome.

MisterE (Oct 14, 2009 12:09:33 PM)
Thanks!

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:09:35 PM)
Thank you all. Wonderful chatting with you. We really look forward to reading your applications this year. Best of luck to you!

anmol (Oct 14, 2009 12:09:36 PM)
Thanks!

stuntgp (Oct 14, 2009 12:09:39 PM)
Thanks a lot!

SL (Oct 14, 2009 12:09:46 PM)
Thank you!

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:10:05 PM)
Thanks all! Hope it has been helpful.

PaulaGoldfarbNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:10:11 PM)
Thank you to Linda and everyone on the chat. We look forward to reviewing your application!

Ankush B (Oct 14, 2009 12:10:11 PM)
Thank you!

jay (Oct 14, 2009 12:10:15 PM)
Salamat Po!

Frank Bacchi (Oct 14, 2009 12:10:31 PM)
Thank you!

dianne (Oct 14, 2009 12:10:42 PM)
thanks!

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 12:10:54 PM)
Visit us at Stern or talk to a Stern Student. Our first deadline is 11/15 - Best of luck to all!

Original (Oct 14, 2009 12:11:24 PM)
Thanks for answers to some great questions!

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