Full-time MBA Blog

One of the most common questions I receive as a Graduate Ambassador and an undergraduate literature major is whether I struggled with the quantitative and analytical nature of business school. I’m here to dispel any myths you might have about transiting from a “soft” background into a “hard” one. I know this is a common concern of many applicants and I’m here to assuage your fears.
Never once have I felt as though I didn’t have the resources to succeed in any of my quantitative pursuits. In fact, the classes are taught to engage and challenge students at all levels. Plus, the professors are extremely accessible and your classmates are always willing to help. When I took Corporate Finance with the legendary Aswath Damodaran, I was shocked by the speed with which he would respond to my emails. Not only that but, he remember my name and that I was covering Burberry for my final project (out of a sea of 400 students) after I met with him for just 10 minutes. With his support and with the help of my classmates, I succeeded in his course despite the challenging nature of the material. Further, I had numerous classmates take time out of their busy schedules to assist me. Needless to say, I never felt like I was on my own.
When deciding what courses to take this semester, I was concerned that my financing and accounting skills were not strong enough to take financial modeling. It was a subject I had never seriously considered before. However, as someone who looks to start her own business one day or ascend to senior leadership, I came to realize that I shouldn’t leave business school without this skill. I knew the class was particularly demanding, and so I expressed my concerns to the professor. Via email, I asked if I should take the course. To my (pleasant) surprise, I received a phone call from the professor later that evening encouraging me to take the class and ensuring I would not regret it. With the help of the teaching fellows and my classmates, I found the class extremely rewarding. Despite my initial hesitation, taking the class was ultimately the right decision for me. With the sense that I am never alone in the Stern community, I had the confidence and resources I needed to complete the course and perform fairly well!
With my stories in mind, I hope you’ll realize that you there is no reason to worry. You’ll get by with a little help from your friends.

Hello! My name is Beth Lovisa and I’m an MBA 2 (second-year) here at Stern. I am excited to start blogging and sharing my experiences with you. The second year is flying by as the first semester is almost over! This post comes to you from Florida where I am on vacation for Thanksgiving Break. When I return to campus, there are about 2 weeks left of classes before Winter Break. Although I am fortunate enough to have a job lined up post-graduation, I have been incredibly busy this past semester. Not only am I a Graduate Ambassador in Admissions, I also serve on the board of the Management Consulting Association (MCA), I am a Career Coach to MBA 1’s, I am the chair of the Torch Committee Lunch program, I help plan events for the newly-formed Health & Fitness Club, and I still managed to find time to train for the NYC Marathon this past month.
I love being a Career Coach and being able to “pay it forward” like the MBA 2’s helped me last year when I was recruiting for a consulting position. Through this role, I’ve gotten to know some of the MBA 1’s very well. I enjoy helping them with everything from resume reviews to interviewing and casing techniques to cover letters and networking. Consulting is a very popular career path at Stern and I am very involved with the MCA. It is so rewarding to hear about the positive impact I’ve had on the MBA 1’s recruiting process and I know they will be very successful in securing internships.
Another recent fun event for the entire school was Charity Ball. This black tie party is our annual fundraiser. This year it took place at a swanky club in the Lower East Side, Finale, and proceeds were donated to the Lower East Side Girls Club, which is a great cause. The event is for MBA 1’s, 2’s, and Langone so it is a chance for the whole school to come together for a fun night including hors d’oeuvres, drinking, dancing, and a silent auction. Everyone was dressed to the nines in tuxedoes and fancy cocktail dresses.
Stay tuned for more posts in December chronicling the exciting life of an MBA 2 at Stern!

Hello Blog-readers; my name is Matt and I’m an MBA1 who has signed on to be one of Admissions’ featured bloggers.  Specifically, I come to you as someone who worked in television industry for seven years, someone who is on the EMTA (Entertainment, Media, Technology Association) board here at Stern, and someone who plans the “nontraditional” route for recruiting — that is, forgoing this first wave of banking/consulting/marketing internship interviews to look for (hope for?) opportunities in media later in the Spring.

Most deadlines for this first round of applications are due early to mid December, so it’s cover letter writing season for many MBAs.  I have been crafting a few which I’m about ready to send out (for specific companies that I am targeting, and who do in fact recruit now).  Still it doesn’t compare to some people (I have one study group member who is doing 15 applications, and is just getting started), but again that’s a function of one’s chosen industry.

Still, with a BIT of the calm before the application storm, some members of my block put together a brief respite this past weekend — a pre-Final exam, pre-application escape from the chaos of recruiting season.  It’s always great to get away, but particularly so when you can do it with new friends who you really are just beginning to get to know.  Though I see these same faces every day in Statistics class, friendships are really formed by the things we do outside of class.  That being said, I was lucky enough to be in a block (BLOCK ONE!) of students who are all–without exception–fantastic, open-minded, curious, fun-loving people from all over the globe.  Hence, we get along great.

So we went up to the Poconos, rented a cabin (with an outdoor Jacuzzi–that yes, I spent many hours in), and forgot about the stress of school for a few days.  We had a chili cook off, found a forest hike we were woefully under-prepared for (did you know it’s Bear Hunting season in Pennsylvania?  Neither did we.) and generally got to know each other away from the chaos of Manhattan.  Think everyone agrees it was a fantastic time and we hope to do it again, maybe expand it to a few hours so our entire block can join.  One great thing about being at Stern is of course enjoying the City that Never Sleeps, but if you’re a country kid (which I am, despite having city roots….not sure how that happened) it’s always amazing how close the mountains are (2.5 hours drive, in this case).

I wanted to open up my blogging with a description of this weekend retreat to stress how important the social element is during your time here.  Frankly, there’s a case to be made that everything you do in business is part of an elaborate social dance, and how you relate to and learn from your classmates is the perfect crucible for how well you will do in a business environment where teamwork is vital in getting the job done.  So, yes, go to that happy hour.  Yes, sign up for that trip with classmates.  Yes, definitely, participate.

And yes, take time for relaxation during the breaks we have.  We’re off this week for Thanksgiving, so it’ll be a nice couple of days of rest–punctuated, of course, with cover letter writing.  But that’s all in a day’s work for a Sternie.

Until next time, Eat Your Turkey and Have a Happy Thanksgiving-

Matt

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone. I’m Jessica, a first-year MBA student at Stern.

I have to admit that business school was never in my plan. I was a history major in undergrad, pursued a career in writing, and ultimately ended up managing content and community for a consumer products start-up.

Business school always seemed too corporate, an ivory tower that was distanced from my experience in the creative world. When I first started thinking about getting my MBA, friends in the start-up space scoffed. “You want to learn about business?” they said. “Build one.”

And so I did. I shelved my GMAT prep books and booked a trip to Cambodia, where I spent several months getting to know local social enterprises and ultimately sourcing a line of ethical accessories that I retailed in the U.S. I certainly learned a lot about business, but it was mostly by trial and a whole lot of error.

One of my biggest takeaways from the experience is the power of businesses to do good by being good and the profound impact that can occur when social responsibility efforts are implemented at scale. While I have a soft spot for start-ups and will probably return to entrepreneurship eventually, I am currently fascinated by how ethics and sustainability are implemented at larger companies, particularly in the apparel and retail space. There are huge opportunities to create positive change, particularly as tragedies like the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh put pressure on companies to change their ways.

But in order to be an effective change agent, I need to be able to make a business case for social responsibility, rather than an emotional one. For me, that was where Stern came in. I was drawn to Stern for its progressive approach to business, its pioneering efforts in socially responsible business, its location in New York, and its flexible curriculum. At Stern, we have the opportunity to choose up to three specializations from more than 20. I’m planning to focus my studies on Social Innovation & Impact, Supply Chain Management & Global Sourcing, and Luxury Marketing, and I already have a list of more than 60 classes that I want to take. It’s too bad we only have two years!

While I never foresaw going back to school to get my MBA, I am convinced that it has been the right choice for me. I am encouraged by the efforts of the dean, faculty, and administration to recreate Stern into an incubator for changemakers, and I am inspired daily by the passion and drive of my classmates, who come from wildly diverse backgrounds.

In coming posts, I will share more about life at Stern and how it is enabling me to pursue my passions and interests. If there is anything in particular you’re interested in hearing about, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Hey there! It’s great to meet you. This is my first time blogging about my Stern experience. My name is Adrea and I’m a second year MBA specializing in Leadership and Change Management, Business Analytics and Strategy. I’m also heavily involved in many of the academic and social activities here at Stern. A few of my favorites right now are participating in Stern Consulting Corps, being a Teaching Fellow and serving as president of the Association of Hispanic and Black Business Students.  Because of that I wasn’t sure just what topic I was going to choose for my first blog post, but now, as I write this, I know exactly what I want to discuss: specializations at Stern.

The topic of specializations has been a huge area of discussion for me and many others as we prepare for our last semester at Stern and actively recruit for full time roles. This topic became especially relevant two weeks ago when we entered lottery submissions for Spring classes, our last time doing this. In a week or so we’ll find out which classes we’ll be taking. If you’re worried for me, don’t be! The lottery system actually works really well – taking into account our status and preferences to make sure that students with one semester left have the opportunity to take the classes we most want to take before graduating. But anyway, the bigger conversation is around specializations.

As I was choosing my last set of classes I began to reflect on my academic journey at Stern and whether or not my classes reflected the specializations I had originally decided on at the beginning of my first semester. The short answer: not at all. I’m incredibly happy about that! So a couple of points here–first, specializations at Stern are not set in stone. You don’t have to officially declare them and they don’t appear on your diploma. You can share them on your resume and leverage them to guide class selections if you’d like, but there is no binding commitment to them. As I look back on the classes that I have chosen to take, I am so thankful for that. Why? Because the process of getting an MBA is a formative one and if you let it be, it’s a great time for self-reflection. Likewise for me, it has been a great opportunity to learn even more about my values and explore new interests. Not having to declare and remain true to a specialization supports that process.

While I was updating my resume the other day, I took a look at the specializations that I originally listed during my first semester here. Those specializations were Product Management, Strategy and Marketing. In case you didn’t catch my current specializations at the beginning of this entry, they are now Leadership and Change Management, Business Analytics and Strategy. Only one remains standing. So how did that happen? Am I completely indecisive and illogical? Despite what you may think and what I sometimes think, no.

Like many Sternies, I decided during my first semester that, for my remaining three semesters, I wouldn’t rely on my Specializations alone when choosing classes. Instead, I chose classes that reflect my interests, or that have amazing teachers that I would be honored to learn from, or that would challenge me in an area where I previously struggled. In some cases those classes aligned with my previously prescribed specializations but in many others they led me down new avenues I previously had no clue would appeal to me. Now, as I reflect on my academic career and begin my job search, I can truly say that I have taken a set of classes that resonate much more closely to who I am. Accordingly, I feel confident that I will leave Stern with a new career that I’m passionate about, not just a job that I sort of like.

Where did we leave off? Since my summer, I have been busy! They say your second year is supposed to be a bit calmer than your first year, but for me it’s quite the opposite. Between interning, consulting, and TA-ing, I find I am running around more than ever. However, with this self-inflicted craziness, I find I am more fulfilled than ever.

This semester I am interning with the fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra. I conduct sales and inventory analysis for the small, yet growing, seven-person team. The Luxury & Retail Club posted about the opening over the summer and since then I’ve been building a relationship with the company so that they continue to partner with Stern. It’s been an incredible experience thus far. Joseph, along with his dog, Bean, is in the office frequently. Despite the industry’s reputation for being standoffish, I have found the people at Altuzarra to be warm, welcoming, and encouraging. Watching the process unfold from design to production and sales has been invaluable.  I consider myself extremely fortunate for this opportunity. Just by virtue of sitting in the office, I am able to absorb so much. I’ve never been closer to the product nor have I gained such exposure to the financials of a company. It’s also my first experience outside of the digital realm, which is enabling me to broaden my resume and experience.

Another amazing learning experience is with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). I am developing an investor-ready business plan for a designer looking to launch a high-end women’s clothing line. The access to industry advisors and information will certainly be helpful throughout my career. Next semester, Stern is strengthening its relationship with the CFDA by turning the consulting projects into a class. We will be working with younger designers looking to grow their existing businesses. I will be the teaching fellow for that class and cannot wait to tell you how it unfolds!

It’s the final countdown! As I write this last blog post, we are just two short weeks away from graduation. Wow. I seriously have no idea where the time went! Everyone is busily finishing up classes, wrapping up the last of their group projects and getting ready for their final exams. Last night was my final presentation and I am officially done with all of my school work! (I somehow planned this spectacularly without even trying, my class projects wrapped up early and I do not have any finals. Awesome). However the end of classes is definitely bittersweet.

We’ve got a crazy couple of weeks ahead with tons of fun activities planned for “senior week.” It is kicking off tonight with the Out Class’s “School’s Out, So Are We” annual party complete with a drag show lip sync contest featuring fellow classmates – definitely one not to be missed. Tomorrow night we have a boat cruise and then next week there is an event planned every night of the week wrapping up with a weekend in Atlantic City.

I am so excited to spend the next two weeks hanging out with my classmates before everyone heads back out into the real world. Within these halls I have formed friendships that I know will last a lifetime. We have spent countless hours together working on group projects, procrastinating in the study rooms, grabbing drinks around campus and traveling the world-it has been awesome.

To the Sternies of the class of 2015, best of luck and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. I would give anything to be back in your shoes and I could not have made a better choice for my MBA than NYU Stern.

Hello readers,

So things are wrapping up here at Stern. As I write this, I have less than three weeks until my graduation, which is insane. These two years have been amazing, but they really fly by.

For those of you who have applied this year and will be joining Stern in the fall, first of all, congratulations are in order. I’m going to try to do something I don’t always do with this blog and give actually useful advice.

So you probably all know I’m going back into management consulting after I graduate, so I’ve been preparing for that for the last two years – taking part in the Management Consulting Association (MCA), networking, interviewing, and that often-forgotten part of business school, called “classes.” Prior to business school, I hadn’t really taken business classes, so I wanted to take the full core (minus micro and macro economics, since I had done that in undergrad), but I wanted to also make sure I got to take the classes I wanted that would help me in consulting and beyond. So I’m going to give you a resource that I wish I had before I started. Here’s a list of all of the core courses, and how each one helps for life as a consultant, so you can determine which cores to take and when. This week I’ll go into the four core classes that are only offered during the fall semester. Next week, I’ll focus on the two classes that only take place during the spring, as well as three courses that are offered during either the fall or the spring.

1. Financial Accounting and Reporting

This is one of the two required core classes, so you’ll take this (like it or not) unless you have a CPA, accounting major, or can test out of it. This class isn’t like an undergraduate financial accounting class (I know – I took one back in college). Instead of teaching students how to write journal entries, and essentially training students to be accountants, this class focuses on getting students to understand financial statements in a way that is relevant to a manager. A lot of time is focused on how different financial statements relate and interact with each other, and how a manager should understand what is actually happening in a business based on this information. Why should a soon-to-be-consultant take this course? If you want to fully understand a client to help them, say, become more profitable, you should probably understand how their cost structure works, how their working capital has changed, whether they have cash necessary to take on new projects, etc. A lot of that understanding comes from reading financial statements, and that requires some knowledge of accounting.

Interesting follow up courses: Modeling Financial Statements, Financial Statement Analysis

2. Statistics and Data Analysis

This is the other required core course, so expect to take it. You’ll learn probability through multiple regression, and will learn to analyze real data sets to draw out conclusions. From my experience in consulting, an understanding of statistical methods can really bolster your ability to draw insights out of large data sets. Since getting a solid understanding of statistical analyses, I’ve realized that many of the projects I’ve done in business school, as well as during my internship, benefited from this understanding, and I’ve been able to find better solutions to complex problems by understanding how different factors influence an end result.

Interesting follow up courses: Regression and Multivariate Data Analysis

3. Strategy

This course is probably the easiest to relate to a career in strategy consulting. Core strategy helps you understand the high level choices that firms can make to create and capture value. You’ll learn about how to create firm value, how to evaluate industries, how best to allocate scarce resources, and how to think in ways you probably haven’t had to before. These skills all directly tie to things you’ll actually do as a consultant, so it’s recommended to not skip this one.

Interesting follow up courses: Advanced Strategy – Tools, Managing Growing Companies

4. Firms and Markets

This is the name for our core microeconomics course. The basics of microeconomics focus on the interaction of supply and demand, the different market structures that occur in various industries, and way that firms interact from a game theoretical perspective. These are the forces that drive businesses to behave the way they do, and to make recommendations about what a firm should do, it would be wise to understand the constraints that a firm faces.

Interesting follow up courses: Game Theory, Urban Systems

That’s all for this week, stay tuned for next week’s post on Foundations of Finance, Marketing, Competitive Advantage from Operations, the Global Economy, and Leadership in Organizations.