UPDATE: This article was originally posted on February 12, 2020. It has been updated with 2024/25 information and tips below.
Located at the center of a major business hub and offering specialized 1-year programs in tech and fashion, NYU Stern is at the top of the list for a growing number of both US-based and international MBA applicants.
However, with impressive recruiting statistics and its Change: Studio program, competition to join Stern’s elite MBA is more difficult than ever.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Stern admissions interview to stand out. We’ve rounded up not only our best tips but have also included sample interview questions to ensure you give your Stern interview your best shot.
How the Stern Interview works
Making sure you shine during your Stern interview is no easy task.
Stern interviews, since they are conducted by the admissions committee, tend to be highly personalized and based on your whole application. During the interview, the interviewer is also trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are, how interested you seem in the Stern program, and if you possess the emotional intelligence Stern looks for in applicants.
Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to test just how collaborative you really are. You can also expect numerous follow-up questions.
Our clients who have interviewed with NYU Stern in the past say that the interviewer was very friendly and relaxed in the interview. Though questions do tend to focus on standard MBA interview questions, be ready for anything.
Who will interview you?
You will interview with a member of Stern’s admissions committee.
In some cases, interviews will be held online. Having an online interview will in no way negatively impact your application. After being invited to interview, you will be given further instructions on how to schedule your interview.
Will the interviewer have read your application?
Yes. The interviewer will have read your entire application. Past reports indicate that interviewers develop specific questions based on your application, so make sure to take the time to review what you presented.
How long will the Stern interview last?
Most reports indicate that the interview will last around 30 minutes.
Who is Stern looking for?
Source: @nyustern on Instagram
“We look for people who share our values, and understand who we are and what we are about. EQ is something we have always looked for. We want people who want to be part of the NYC landscape, our urban advantage. We look for those with an understanding of what good business can do for society, not just looking at the bottom line.” Rabia Ahmed, Executive Director of Strategic Marketing and Admissions at NYU Stern School of Business
Every year, NYU Stern reviews thousands of applicants from outstanding professionals in order to determine who to admit to its class of around 350 full-time MBA students. With a strong emphasis on international and gender diversity, there is no “typical” NYU Stern student, yet the average student admitted to the Class of 2026 did have a 733 average GMAT score, 164V/164Q GRE score, and 5 years of full-time work experience.
Beyond the impressive statistics, though, Stern is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers. That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through test scores and university grades), Stern seeks candidates who possess the following qualities:
Source: NYU Stern’s website
Trends in recent NYU Stern interviews
Recent feedback from candidates interviewing at Stern highlights several notable trends that you should consider when preparing for your interview:
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Focus: Stern’s admissions office explicitly seeks candidates with strong EQ, making questions about teamwork, conflict resolution, and self-awareness more common. Interviewers may even test EQ indirectly by probing how candidates react to unexpected questions.
Increased Focus on Impact and Social Responsibility: Questions about how candidates will contribute to Stern’s mission of using business for good are becoming more frequent. Many recent interviewees have reported questions about personal values and how they align with making a positive impact on the world.
Collaborative Leadership: Stern’s culture emphasizes collaboration, and recent interview trends show a rising number of questions related to leadership styles, specifically collaborative leadership. Applicants may be asked how they’ve led teams to success or managed team dynamics.
How can you prepare for your interview?
Though no interview is 100% predictable, Stern interviews do tend to center around a fairly standard list of MBA interview questions. As such, we have prepared some model questions below that previous candidates have received in their past Stern interviews.
What questions are asked in the NYU Stern MBA interview?
The questions below are drawn from our clients’ interview reports, as well as from sites like clearadmit.com. Though these are not all the potential questions you could possibly receive during your Stern interview, preparing for these (and any follow-up questions you think you might be asked) should give you a very solid foundation for your interview.
STARTING UP QUESTIONS
- Tell me about yourself. (Expect follow-up questions like Why did you choose your university?)
- Tell me about your most formative professional experience thus far.
- What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
- What motivates you to pursue this specific career path?
- How do you see yourself managing the recruiting process?
- Why do you want an MBA?
- Why now?
- Why Stern?
- Why the full-time/part-time/fashion/tech MBA? (Tailor to your application type).
- What will you contribute to NYU?
- What clubs or organizations are you planning to get involved in at Stern?
- How do you align with NYU Stern’s mission to use business for good?
- What other schools have you applied for? If you get into all of them, how will you choose where to go?
- Have you visited campus? Spoken with alumni?
- How will you take advantage of New York City during your MBA?
LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK
- What is your leadership style?
- Tell me about a time when you didn’t get along with your team. What did you do?
- Tell me about one instance when you disagreed with your boss and how you handled the situation.
- How do you build relationships within a team? What about outside of work?
- What leadership goals do you hope to achieve at Stern?
- What role do you typically play within a team?
MISCELLANEOUS BEHAVIORAL
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- How would your boss describe you?
- How would your friends describe you?
- How would you want your classmates to describe you one year from now?
- Describe a recent situation where you had to adjust your approach based on self-reflection or new insights about yourself.
- How do you handle stress, especially when working in a team setting? Can you give an example?
CLOSING
- Is there anything else you would like us to know about you? / Is there anything you wish I had asked you?
- Questions for me?
We have found that answering real interview questions on the spot is a much better means of preparation than reading lists of interview questions for most candidates.
We highly suggest you take a look at mock interview questions and sample interview responses before your interview.
Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of real interview mocks from Stern, as well as detailed guides to help you prepare for questions ranging from “Why our MBA program?” to “Tell us about a time you failed.”
The Ellin Lolis Consulting MBA Resource Center is your one-stop shop to interview success. Click to join!
If you’re still not quite confident with your interview skills, our interview experts can help you craft your answers or prepare you for the NYU Stern interview through mock interviews tailored to your profile.
What To Do If You Get A Question You Weren’t Prepared For
Despite your most diligent preparation, you will almost always receive a question you had not prepared.
First, stay calm and take a deep breath. You have already made it this far in the process, and one question will not trip you up!
Second, make sure you directly answer the question the interviewer asked you. For example, if the interviewer asks you about a time you had to deal with a difficult manager, make sure to tell a story about a difficult manager and how you handled the situation.
If you’re having trouble thinking of an answer or an example to support your answer, however, take a drink of water to give yourself a few more minutes to think. If you really can’t think of an example from your personal or professional experience, you can use a hypothetical answer about how you would act in a certain situation.
Finally, assume that the interviewer is testing how you think on your feet and respond to questions you didn’t prepare in advance. Though your answer might not be as polished as if you’d had weeks to rehearse it, smile and confidently give your answer to show you can respond to any question they throw at you.
Effectively Tell your Story During your NYU Stern Interview
One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA interviews is that candidates fail to tell compelling, well-constructed stories about their profiles while also nailing the basics.
Striking this balance between sharing STAR-format examples that show off your background while also presenting strong answers to questions like “Why do you want an MBA?” is a challenging task that requires significant thought and preparation.
Because of this, it’s no surprise that, on average, 50% of interviewed applicants walk away without an offer.
This is why our interview preparation process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting is known as the best in the industry. We offer customized 1:1 support that ensures you’re able to turn your application’s strengths into compelling answers that show fit and sell your profile in any type of interview.
That’s why 98.9% of our clients secure admissions to at least one of their target schools.
Not only can you take advantage of our development process through multiple sessions – you can also benefit from a single session! If your budget is tight, our interview experts can focus your session on a single aspect of the preparation process, from workshopping your answers to providing mock interviews.
Forget simulation platforms or long lists of tips – our 1:1 preparation focuses on playing to your strengths and overcoming your weaknesses to turn you into an interview expert.
Hire our interview services here. Our interview packages sell out quickly, so make sure you sign up today!
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
