2010 NYU Stern MBA Chat with Anika Pratt, Isser Gallogly and Paula Goldfarb
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Linda Abraham (Oct 14, 2009 11:03:29 AM)
Hello! First I want to welcome you all to Accepted.com’s NYU Stern Chat
with Admissions Directors. My name is Linda Abraham and I am the founder
of Accepted.com and the moderator of today’s chat. I want to welcome
all applicants to the NYU Stern chat today, and I want to congratulate
you for taking the time to learn more about the many resources
available at Stern. To make a sound decision and to get accepted, you
need to know as much as you can about the schools you are applying to.
Being here today allows you to ask the experts about this outstanding
business school.
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.
Arnab (Oct 14, 2009 11:55:49 AM)
I read somewhere that NYU expects its applicant to interview on campus. Does this apply to international applicants as well?
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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