We seek students with both strong intellectual ability and superior interpersonal skills (IQ + EQ)

We evaluate each candidate holistically based on his or her academic profile, professional achievements & aspirations, and personal and professional characteristics.

1. Academic Profile
We seek students who will flourish in our academic program. Your academic profile is assessed through:

Quality of and performance in your prior academic program(s), as seen from your transcripts
General aptitude as measured by the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Note:

NYU Stern has no minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) requirement and accounts for variances in grading systems around the world.
NYU Stern students have a variety of academic backgrounds, including liberal arts, science and business.
Stern has no minimum standarized test score requirements. We only consider your highest overall GMAT score, highest GRE scores (from the same exam) and/or highest overall TOEFL score (if required.) Therefore, feel free to re-take a test if you believe you can improve your performance.

Admissions Tips:

Listen to our podcast: Academic Profile.
Each school has its own policy regarding the impact of re-taking standarized tests. Be certain to research these policies prior to taking a test again.

2. Professional Achievements and Aspirations
We seek students with a proven track record of success, a high potential for future leadership, and a well-articulated plan to achieve their short- and long-term goals. Professional achievements and aspirations are primarily assessed by:

Résumé
Work history
Professional recommendations
Essay 1
Interview (by invitation only)

Note:

Most applicants have between one and ten years of work experience and come from a variety of professional backgrounds, such as consulting, financial services, entertainment, consumer products, nonprofit and technology. Because we value the diversity of our applicants' backgrounds, no industry is favored over another.
The Admissions Committee evaluates work experience not only in terms of years, but also in regard to depth and breadth of an individual's experience, responsibilities and progression.
Although academic work and internships do not count toward professional work experience, Stern reviews all work experience as part of the admission decision.
Work experience is not required to apply.

Admissions Tips:

Listen to our podcast: Presenting your Work Experience.
To help clarify your goals, take the time to conduct informational interviews in your desired field. Your undergraduate alumni network can be helpful in arranging these useful exchanges.
To feel confident in your career aspirations, use the resources provided by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC). You can investigate its CareerLeader self-assessment program at MBA.com.
Read detailed career information available at Vault.com.

3. Personal Characteristics
We value students with both intellectual and interpersonal strengths. We seek students who embody Stern's values of mutual support and collaboration and who will be passionate, engaged participants in the Stern community. These personal characteristics are often evidenced in: