NYU Stern Business School

Full-time MBA Essays and Deadlines 2025-2026

Essay Prompts

Short Answer: Professional Aspirations

What are your short-term career goals? (150 word maximum)
   

Essay 1: Change

Change: _________ it
In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____ it. Fill in the blank with a word of your choice. Why does this word resonate with you? How will you embrace your own personal tagline while at Stern? Examples:

  • Change: Dare it.
  • Change: Dream it.
  • Change: Drive it.
  • Change: Empower it.
  • Change: Manifest it.
  • Change: [Any word of your choice.]

(350 word maximum)
 

Essay 2: Personal Expression (a.k.a. “Pick Six”)

Introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. The Pick Six is a way to share more about the qualities you will bring to the Stern community, beyond your professional and academic achievements. Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements:

  • A brief introduction or overview of your “Pick Six” (no more than 3 sentences).
  • Six images that help illustrate your interests, values, motivations, perspective and/or personality.
  • A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you.

Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.


Optional Essay

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee and/or give context to your application. This may include important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, including but not limited to: hardships you have encountered, current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information. (500 word maximum)

2025-2026 Stern Full-Time MBA Deadlines

  Deadline Initial Notification* By
1st Deadline September 15, 2025 December 1, 2025
2nd Deadline October 15, 2025 January 1, 2026
3rd Deadline January 15, 2026 April 1, 2026
4th Deadline April 15, 2026 Ongoing
*You will receive one of three initial notifications: invitation to interview, waitlist offer, or denial of admission.

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