NYU Stern MBA Essays: Prompts and Word Limits
The NYU Stern Full-time MBA essay prompts for fall 2027 entry, quoted from Stern, with word limits and format rules.
Essay overview
The prompts below are quoted from Stern's Full-time MBA essays page as published on October 15, 2026, during the fall 2027 application cycle. Stern asks two required essays and one optional essay. Stern states: "Your essays must be written entirely by you. An offer of admission will be rescinded if you did not write your essays."
Essay 1: Professional Aspirations (500 word maximum)
"What are your short-term career goals? Why is the Stern MBA the necessary next chapter in your professional story? Please be specific." Format: 500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font.
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."
Pick Six required 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.
- Visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images. The essay must be uploaded as a single PDF and cannot be sent in physical form or linked to a website.
Essay 3: Additional Information (optional, 500 word maximum)
"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." Format: 500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font.
EQ Endorsement questions
- Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant's role in your organization.
- How does the applicant's performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles (if applicable)? Please provide specific examples.
- Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response.
- Please provide one specific and compelling example to demonstrate the applicant's emotional intelligence.
- (Optional) Is there anything else we should know?
EQ Endorsement rules
One EQ Endorsement is required and must come from your current supervisor; if that is not possible, you must explain why in the application. A second endorsement is optional and may come from someone who knows you professionally or personally. Immediate family members should not write an endorsement.
Sources
- 1. NYU Stern, Full-time MBA Essays
- 2. NYU Stern, EQ Endorsement