Hi!

I'm looking for a reality check! Interested in getting my app in for NYU Stern MBA, round 1. Here are my statistics:

- Age / Gender: 28 / male
- Undergraduate: 3.8 GPA (top regional school) - chairman of a club + fraternity leadership
- GMAT: 710
- Work experience: account manager in investments (private equity, real estate) - 4.5 years
- Goals: not exactly sure yet. Probably to stay in private equity or financial services but also interested in consulting.

I'm open to retaking the GMAT if that's a weak point but I'd need to do it soon.

Any comments / advice much appreciated!!

You sound like an average applicant with no clear rationale for NYU rather than any other MBA. Your work experience and GMAT are not better than average. Unlikely to be admitted unless you have a strong application and alumni recommendations.

Why Stern? It seems a rather arbitrary choice. Focus on your goals and then narrow down your school choices accordingly. Also, a higher GMAT score wouldn't hurt when targeting NYU and better-ranked schools.

Thanks. My rationale for NYU is that I have several family members, including my father who did graduate studies at Stern, who are alumni. They all speak highly of it and it would make me happy to study in the same halls so to speak. Maybe that's arbitrary but it's important to me.

The window is closing for another shot at the GMAT if I want to get in my app for round 1. I'd have to do it beginning of October. I guess it is probably a good idea!

That's one reason but I'd think that when you're applying you'll need to be a little more certain about your career paths, and about why Stern is a good choice based on that. Do some research into which firms hire from the school and see if that lines up with what you're interested in.

I think a stronger GMAT score will help. However, I do think that there may be other schools out there that are more appropriate for you, based on your career goals.

Hey buddy I'm also gunning for NYU - looking to get the application in in October. Just want to say good luck to you!

Just pulled the trigger! Good luck to you as well!