In our latest installment of the MetroMBA “5 Questions” series, we speak with Lauren Calio, Director of MBA Admissions at NYU Stern. She was kind enough to respond to our questions and share insight into what it’s like to attend Stern for an MBA.
1. How would you describe the culture of NYU Stern? Is it more collaborative or competitive?
“The culture at NYU Stern is absolutely collaborative. So much so that “Collaborative Community” is one of our four core values. We believe that collective efforts lead to greater success both inside and beyond the classroom. As an example, we often hear stories of students helping their classmates prepare to interview for roles that they themselves are also interviewing for. If they are not hired for a role, they want another Sternie to get that position. Another one of our core values is ‘IQ + EQ.’ Because we seek exceptional individuals with not only intellectual strengths but also high emotional intelligence, a collaborative spirit and desire to drive change together is ingrained in our student body, faculty, and administrators.”
2. What type of student is the best fit for NYU Stern’s MBA program?
“Students come to Stern with a passion for the School and experience from a wide range of industries and functions, and they aspire to land in a variety of post-MBA roles. Some are career switchers, others are not. Regardless of their experience or career goals, applicants should be able to highlight and quantify their accomplishments and clearly explain to the Admissions Committee their career goals and how they plan to achieve them. Beyond work experience and goals, a common thread among our students is their high emotional intelligence or EQ, and engagement in our collaborative community. We also pride ourselves on being a school where everyone can be themselves. Our students’ interests outside of the classroom are also vast, as evidenced by our 30+ student clubs serving professional, affinity, sports, and special interest areas.”
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3. If there was just one piece of advice you could give to an MBA applicant considering NYU Stern, what would it be?
“Connect with the Stern community. Get to know our community and our culture by speaking to current students, alumni, and the admissions team; attend a class visit; explore campus by coming for a tour and information session. This will help you picture yourself at Stern. If you are not able to make it to New York, you can connect with our current students virtually. They can share their experiences and provide an honest perspective on how their time at Stern has helped them grow both personally and professionally.”
“If you are not able to make it to New York, you can connect with our current students virtually. They can share their experiences and provide an honest perspective on how their time at Stern has helped them grow both personally and professionally.”
4. How accessible are NYU Stern professors? Do they frequently serve as mentors?
“Stern professors are very accessible. We have over 300 faculty members across industries, which means that students can connect with faculty in the areas they are passionate about. Faculty members are available to students and are often involved with projects and experiential learning opportunities, what we call Stern Solutions, working alongside students. Our faculty include top researchers, four Nobel laureates, and senior business leaders, some of whom are working in industry by day. My advice to students is to take advantage of this accessibility to build relationships while you are at Stern that will extend beyond your time here. Make your professors a part of your network.”
5. Where can you get the best NYC pizza near campus and where’s the best coffee shop for studying?
“These questions come up frequently in our office, and every person has a different answer. Being in the heart of NYC, we are surrounded by an abundance of pizza places and coffee shops. One of my favorite places to sit and get a pie is Numero 28. Their pizzas come in different sizes (up to 29”!), and you can mix and match toppings. Kopi Kopi is a cute coffee shop on West 3rd Street, right near campus.”