Admitted Student Online Chat Thursday, April 21, :00-1:00 p.m.

Transcription

1 Admitted Student Online Chat Thursday, April 21, :00-1:00 p.m. admissions_brian(p) admissions_brian(p) admissions_brian(p) Welcome to the NYU Stern Admitted Student Online chat. We hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions of MBA Admissions, the Office of Career Development and current students. Representatives of Stern available to answer questions include: Lauren Levine, Senior Associate Director, MBA Admissions Katie Rayhawk Volz, Senior Associate Director, Career Counseling Lauren Bernstein, Recruitment Team Coordinator, Office of Career Development Bios for Current Student Chatters: Hadley Heffernan is a second-year Stern MBA student specializing in Social Innovation & Impact and Finance at Stern. She spent this past summer at Pfizer working on a variety of tropical and orphan disease programs and will be returning to Pfizer s commercial leadership rotational program after graduation. At Stern, Hadley has served as a Board member of the Social Enterprise Association and the Student Chair of the Stern Board Fellows program. Prior to starting her MBA, Hadley spent 5 years in management consulting focused on marketing strategy. She is a native New Yorker and holds an undergraduate degree in International Affairs specializing in the Middle East from Columbia University. admissions_brian(p) Michael Robertson is a second-year Stern MBA student specializing in Corporate Finance. He spent his summer internship in investment banking as part of the Consumer Retail Group at Goldman Sachs and will be returning there as a full-time associate after graduation. At Stern, Michael is EVP of the Graduate Finance Association and the VP of Admissions for OutClass. Prior to attending Stern, he worked for Merrill Lynch in equity research focused on the specialty retail and department store sectors and before that for Abercrombie & Fitch in financial reporting. Michael is from East Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Economics.

2 admissions_brian(p) Andres Satizabal is a second-year Stern MBA student specializing in Finance, Strategy and Social Innovation & Impact. Andres was awarded the Social Impact Internship Fund Fellowship and spent the summer interning at Education Pioneers. After Stern, he will be working as an Associate Consultant at McKinsey & Company s New York office. At Stern, he has been a Board Fellow at NYC Academies, a Teaching Fellow and a Career Coach. He also led consulting projects with Harlem RBI and the Aspen Institute through the Stern Consulting Corps, the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club and personal contacts. Prior to Stern, Andres worked at a boutique management consulting firm in Latin America. He is from Bogota, Colombia where he completed his undergraduate degree in business management. admissions_brian(p) Kathryn Sheaffer is a second-year Stern MBA student. She spent the summer as a Brand Management Intern at Kraft and is looking forward to returning as a full-time Associate Brand Manager after graduation. Kathryn is VP of Corporate Relations for the Graduate Marketing Association and participates in the Board Fellows program at Stern. Prior to Stern, she spent 4 years working in the Consumer Promotions division of News America Marketing. Kathryn grew up in Dallas and attended The University of Texas at Austin where she earned a degree in Marketing with a minor in Spanish. admissions_brian(p) Endri Tolka is a second-year Stern MBA student specializing in Finance and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. He spent his summer working as VP of Finance and Operations for a start-up, YourCampus360, and will be returning there as CFO after graduation. YourCampus360 is the leader in creating virtual experiences that connect educational institutions with prospective students across all of the most popular platforms: EDU websites, mobile devices, Facebook, YouTube and more. At Stern, Endri is a member of the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club and the Latin American Business Association. Prior to getting his MBA, Endri worked in corporate finance for Fidelity Investments. He is originally from Tirana, Albania and graduated from Brandeis University. ashwin27(q) mba_andres(a) Hi - In the second year one can choose up to 3 specializations. What are some of the popular choices for consulting focus? Hi! Popular specializations are strategy, finance (there are several to choose from), entrepreneurship and innovation, social innovation and impact, and marketing. It depends on your interests and career path.

3 angelineg(q) mba_michael(a) I have a question related to housing. How difficult is it to get an apt in NYC? I imagine that is a challenge. It's definitely a challenge, especially on a student budget! But NYU provides great resources to help you out. Some students moving to NYC choose student housing for their first year and then move off campus for their second year, once they have found their footing. You can generally find good deals in Noho or the East Village, which are very convenient to the school. angelineg(q) ocd_lauren(a) ginou(q) mba_andres(a) Do CA recruiters come to campus? In general? Sometimes. But often it's a locally based recruiter that comes to campus but is knowledgeable about positions open in their firm on the West Coast. There are also many job postings that are submitted by companies for openings on the West Coast. Is there a way to combine Strategic consulting and ENT? Hi. Do you mean as a career path? If so, I think it's doable in three ways. One, you can join a growing strategic consulting practice. That way, you can be part of an entreprenurial organization delivering consulting services. Second, you could work for a couple of years as a consultant, develop analytical skills and knowledge, and then jump to start your own thing. You'll have a network to tap on that will help you succeed. Third, you can be part of the advisory board of a startup, providing strategic support to entrepreneurs. Russ(Q) mba_kathryn(a) Hi, this is russ from Det.Thanks for taking time to meet with us.as a career switcher, in what ways should I expect a marketing position to challenge me? Hi Russ, there are many positions available in the marketing field that offer interesting challenges across a broad spectrum of industries and opportunities. You will certainly be able to find something that challenges you in a fun and new way. For me, I'm going into CPG Brand Management and this means you sit at the hub of the wheel of the brand. It requires being a bit of an expert in all areas of the business including finance, operations, sales and so forth so there are always new things to learn and interesting challenges. The Graduate Marketing Association has been amazing here in helping me find opportunities and figure out the best place for me within the marketing field.

4 mhalpert(q) mba_hadley(a) In terms of the mix of students at Stern, does it feel like most people are pursuing finance and banking or is there an even mix in specializations? Thanks for your question! There is a great mix of specializations. Many people are, of course, pursuing finance and banking given the strength of Stern's programs in those areas, but there is true diversity of interests. If you can imagine it as a post MBA career, there is someone at Stern pursing it. Everything from alternative energy, to the arts, to education reform, to green marketing - just to name a few. edking(q) ocd_katie(a) How has NYU's placement been in nonprofit/social enterprise firms for summer internships? Placement is very strong - Every student I'm working with who was dedicated to pursuing Social Enterprise for the summer has secured something at this point. The placements range across all functions - social venture capital, non profit, corporate social responsibility, etc., with both new organizations as well as those with whom we've had exisiting relationships. JSinger48(Q) mba_endri(a) blin(q) mba_michael(a) Does NYU have good connections - in terms of possible internships - for people looking to start their own business, but need creative help? The Berkley Center is a fantastic resource for those who would like to start their own businesses. The Center brings in industry mentors that help student entrepreneurs with specific issues that they re facing in starting or growing their business. Furthermore, the Berkley Center and the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club (EEX) club work closely together to bring in start-ups to recruit at Stern. This year EEX and the Berkley Center are offering a summer stipend to encourage first year students to pursue an internship at area startups. What type of both courses and career placement are offered for a VC/PE career path? Also, is it possible to focus on VC/PE and start-up opps? We have student clubs dedicated to both VC and PE, and career services is always a big help. There are also a number of courses dedicated to entrepreneurship, VC finance, and private equity. Those are two career paths that are very much reliant on using your personal network, and Stern absolutely gives you the tools you need to leverage that in the best possible way.

5 VarunOberoi(Q) mba_andres(a) Is there significant exposuire to entrepreneurship opportunities during your summer internship? Hi. It depends on what type of exposure you're looking for. There are several students who have joined startup organizations during their summer. It has been an interesting experience for most of them. Others have actually started up their own business. This coming summer a couple of students will be in India starting up a social venture to cure a disease. They were supported by the Social Impact Internship Fund fund and hopefully they'll advance their entreprenurial idea. maria(q) mba_kathryn(p) Steve_S(Q) mba_kathryn(a) ngajwani(q) mba_endri(a) Sternie2013(Q) Can you tell us about the different treks and study abroad opportunities at Stern? Hi Maria- There are many treks and study abroad opportunities. The treks are run by the student organizations and change a bit every year but there are some popular classics that tend to happen every year such as Brazil and South Africa. The trips are some of my best memories from business school! Study abroad options are at top business schools around the world. This semester I have friends in South Africa, Spain and England. What is the size of the Luxury & Retail club? The Luxury & Retail club is a big club on campus with a lot of really unique and interesting events. I'm not sure of the exact size but they have made a big mark this year with the opportunities they've brought to students and they continue to grow. Their conference this year was incredible! Can you describe the format of the entrepreneurship classes? Are they mostly lecture style, do they allow you to interact with real companies? The entrepreneurship classes are a combination of lecture, class discussion and interactions with entrepreneurs. For example, in my Entrepreneurial Finance class we had several entrepreneurs come into our class and share their experiences with us. In addition, the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club (EEX) always brings in entrepreneurs to speak at different panels here at NYU Stern. One week we did a case study on Zipcar, then two weeks later the founder of Zipcar spoke to us at one of the events hosted by EEX. How successful have career switchers been in getting banking jobs without much prior finance experience?

6 mba_michael(a) Very successful! Consulting, engineering, and ops are all very natural transitions into IB, and Stern does a great job of giving you all the finance knowledge you need to prep for interviews and the internship. zidane10(q) admissions_lauren(a) What are the key differentiating factors between cbs and Stern? While I can't speak for other schools, one of the differentiating factors of Stern is our extremely tight-knit and collaborative community. Stern is a place where you can take advantage of our New York location but also be part of a very supportive community. You really get the best of both worlds. Scott(Q) mba_andres(a) will(q) mba_kathryn(a) JWinterbottom(Q) For the career switchers, did you do anything in particular to prepare for entering the MBA program and getting a consulting position? Hi. Consulting firms look for a set of analytical skills and leadership experiences. I think the MBA will help you with both, through coursework and consulting engagements with startups and social enterprises (through the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club program, and the Stern Consulting Corps to name a few). Beforehand you may want to assess your strengths and weaknesses and see where you may want to start improving. For most career switchers I would recommend getting involved in projects outside of their job. If you are, or can get involved with some sort of startup or nonprofit, doing any type of consulting work leveraging your skills, you can get experience that will give you an advantage. I'll be relocating from Texas - when would you recommend making a trip to NYC to do a full scale apartment hunt? Thanks in advance for your help. Hi Will. I moved from Texas as well! I came to NYC about a month ahead (you don't want to come more than that because places don't tend to open up ahead of that) and just spent four days dedicated to finding a place. I set up appointments ahead of time, researched quite a bit on Craigslist, and was able to find a place. Be ready with all the paperwork you will need like proof of finances and so forth and you will be good to go! I'm interested in pursuing CPG marketing on the West Coast. Can you tell me about off-campus search support, and give any examples of past successes? Thx!

7 mba_kathryn(a) austinite(q) mba_andres(a) nrovelli(q) mba_michael(a) Hello, I did some recruiting out on the West Coast for CPG. In particular I interviewed with Clorox. Ultimately I decided to go to Kraft but I found that the Stern name on my resume was extremely helpful in networking, and I was able to leverage resources here at school as well as the alumni network to find opportunities. Hello everyone! Thanks for hosting! Does Stern host any treks or trips for its students BEFORE the Fall semester starts? Hi! At Stern, students organize most of the treks and informal trips through the clubs or just as friends. Before the Fall semester I know many students connected through social networks and met in their cities. I know a couple who took a trip together before school. Michael, how can a first year interested in Investment Banking learn about that world (i.e. difference between IB dpts, or industry groups, etc) The best way is to talk to someone. There are a bunch of prep guides out there (Breaking Into Wall St., Vault, etc.) but nothing compares to speaking to someone who has actually done the job. Starting in Pre-Term, students are provided with ample opportunity to speak to students who have worked in banking and can answer all their questions. Plus the Graduate Finance Association does a bunch of info sessions and boot camps to help you get up to speed before the craziness of recruiting begins. Sarah_F.(Q) mba_hadley(a) Alexandra(Q) mba_kathryn(a) Will Hadley's upcoming role at Pfizer combine her skills in Finance as well as Social innovation? Hi. I found my role at Pfizer by meeting Pfizer employees through the on campus recruiting process. Through that process, I spoke with people who worked there at length about my interests in social enterprise and global health and they felt strongly that there was a place for me in their organization. So I applied through the Office of Career Development and was ultimately placed on their malaria team. My fulltime role (starting in September) is a rotational program where I ll spend 2 years in four different roles. My hope is that I will get to use all of the skills I ve gained at Stern and develop new skills and healthcare expertise. What companies recruit for luxury marketing in the fashion business on campus? Hi Alexandra, I didn't recruit in luxury marketing but I have friends who are going to companies like LVMH, Gilt Group, Rent the Runway, Coach, Prada and several others. There are many wonderful opportunities through the Luxury & Retail club as well as the Office of Career Development.

8 Sarah_F.(Q) ocd_lauren(a) Carla(Q) mba_endri(a) Are there resources for students to lead career paths combining both Finance and Social Innovation? If so, what are they? Hi Sarah! Sure. A huge resource when you come to campus are the MBA2 students. They are a great group of students who have already gone through a recruiting cycle and know/understand the different job opportunites that are out there. You should also come into OCD to chat with Career Counselors and Student Coaches. Endri, could you give a bit of insight as to how you found your internship at a start up? Did career services help you out with that? Carla, I had started my company a few months before coming to Stern so I decided to work on that idea during the summer, given the great response we were getting from our clients. There are tons of opportunities to work for startups that come through the different clubs such as the Entrepreneurs' Exchange and the Technology and New Media Group. Given that the start-up recruiting process is very informal I would recommend participating in these clubs as they have strong ties to the entrepreneurial community here in NYC. It is a fantastic time to be an entrepreneur in NYC and the list of opportunities is growing every day. JC85(Q) mba_michael(a) Sternie2013(Q) admissions_lauren(a) fygi(q) At what point do we choose a specialization? You should probably have an idea about your specialization in the second semester of your first year, but honestly it is not something to stress about. You don't actually formally declare it until your final semester, so there is tons of flexibility. Can any of you shed light on how long the Kroll verification typically takes? I would like to submit my notice only after the confirmation. Thanks! Hi Sternie If you have not informed your current employer of your plans to attend business school and do not plan to do so until after your verification deadline, please admchair@stern.nyu.edu and do not initiate your verification process. Kroll does contact your employer as part of the process. Which courses would you recommend regarding the consulting field, particularly in technology, media and entertainment? Thanks.

9 mba_andres(a) Hi! It depends on your previous experience. If you aren't strong analytically I would suggest taking strategy courses and electives (advanced strategic analysis, implementing strategy), and more finance courses. If you are already strong you may want to round up your knowledge taking some of the technology, media, and entertainment courses. There's a wide range of courses, but I would definitely recommend Brand Strategy, which involves a consulting project that taps a lot into social media and digital marketing. It depends on what type of consulting you're looking to do. You can also look to work on consulting engagements through the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club, where there are several media and entertainment startups seeking help! Jerry(Q) mba_hadley(a) Hi. What percentage of students choose to live on campus? How does the experience differ for those who choose to live off campus? The vast majority of students choose not to live in on-campus housing, but many do live very close to the school. (It's a great opportunity to live in downtown Manhattan!) I would say there is not a huge difference in the experience if you live 3 blocks away or 30. I personally live about 30 minutes away in Brooklyn and have found that to be very manageable. I spend a lot of time on campus and am very active in student organizations and socially. will(q) ocd_katie(a) Olutosin_Fashusi(Q) mba_andres(a) JC85(Q) For summer internships, what % of the on-campus recruiting companies are looking to fill NYC positions vs. positions elsewhere? Hi Will! Great question. It definitely varies -- while the majority of students choose to spend their summers in the tri-state area (NY/NJ/CT), companies recruit students for locations all over the world from Southeast Asia, Latin America, the UK, etc. Are there pro-bono consulting projects I can participate in this summer with the MCA or SOC or for example local media,technology companies? Hi! Once school starts in the fall you can start participating in probono consulting projects with the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club. These are engagements with local startups, many of them media and technology companies. During your second semester you can also join the Stern Consulting Corps, which is a longer probono consulting engagement with a local nonprofit. I know all admitted students are quantitatively able, but do you recommend any sort of math refresher before school starts? If so, to what level?

10 mba_kathryn(a) mmikus(q) mba_hadley(a) aron.solomon(q) mba_andres(a) Frieda(Q) admissions_lauren(a) Caroline(Q) ocd_lauren(a) Hi, I had this same exact question. Stern offers two "crash courses" right before classes start in accounting and math (calc in particular). It's a few hours during Pre-Term but they were extremely helpful to me in brushing up on some of those old skills. It was a great way to get everyone on the same page before classes like statistics started. What is the best way to go about finding housing for the summer and fall semesters? Oh finding housing in New York is always fun! I would start with the Admitted Student Website and forums. Current students will post their apartments up there if they are leaving New York. I would also look on Facebook for groups for your class - a lot of people find roomates that way. Good morning! Do students have the flexibility to create their own consulting initiative- ex. in accounting strategy, by partnering with SCC? Thanks. Hi! Stern is a very student oriented school. Students constantly propose new initiatives and lead them. These efforts are done through the clubs. In terms of a consulting initiative you might want to join the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club. They organize consulting engagements with local startups and you can propose a new platform on consulting. You can also meet with the SCC if you're interesting in bringing new types of consulting projects. They are very open to hearing about new opportunities. My question is about the I-20. I've been waiting for over a month since I sent out the AFCOE form. When possibly will I receive the I-20 form? Once you submit the AFCOE form, you should receive your I-20 from the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) via mail within one month. In your case, I would recommend following up with the Office of International Students and Scholars directly at afcoenew@nyu.edu to make sure they have everything they need. Does Stern have a bidding system for inerviews during recruiting, or are interviews by invitation only? Hi Caroline! Yes - some companies (historically CPGs) will opt for a "bidding" schedule. This is a company decision (not a Stern decision) -- and it will be clear on the student's Career Account which schedules are "bidding" and which are "pre-select to alternate" (where the company pre-selects which students they would like to see on a particular schedule, ie. invitation only). Often, companies that opt for a "bidding" schedule will also have a "preselect to alternate" schedule.

11 maria_mbaapp(q) ocd_katie(a) How is the placement for internships shaping up this year through on-campus recruiting? Hi Maria - We're fortunate to have seen a healthy and steady presence of employers recruit on campus this year. In all economies, the percentage of students securing internships through on-campus recruiting is a little over 50%, and I expect that will be the case this year. This represents all industriesthe "staples" like consulting, marketing, investment banking, pharma/healthcare, etc., as well as growing fields like luxury/retail, media & entertainment, social enterprise. Those who pursue opportunities outside of campus recruiting are for the most part looking to work for organizations that do not have the need to launch full-scale on campus recruiting efforts, which include organizations across all industries yet again (boutique banking and consulting firms, real estate, private equity, among others). Sagarjshah(Q) mba_andres(a) Similar to Will, I will be coming in from India. Would you also recommend coming in a month ahead to secure an apartment, or do you suggest 60 days? Hi! There are several ways you can secure an apartment. You can look for oncampus housing in the Palladium. You can also connect with fellow Stern students and become their roommates. If you definitely want to look for your own place and not depend on other people, you have options. One is to come early, 30 days should be enough but be wary that if you don't have a credit history you may need a cosigner or to pay in advance. Another option is to come, sublet an apartment for a month or two, and then take the time to look for a nice place. It depends on how much time you have for this. Good luck! Sternie2013(Q) mba_michael(a) alice(q) Are there any resources/websites out there that give ratings/reviews on professors and classes that could help us line up our classes? Your first semester will be all core classes, so there will not be much to worry about right off the bat. Once you start taking electives, you will be able to see professor ratings for each class you take through Stern's internal system. Your best resource is definitely the 2nd year students, though, since they have been through it all and can give you great tips on which classes and professors are not to be missed! As someone who is planning on specializing in finance but interested in real estate, are there a lot of opportunities to take classes at Schack?

12 mba_kathryn(a) visivasa(q) mba_endri(a) Sagarjshah(Q) mba_michael(a) Hi Alice. Stern MBA students are allowed to take up to 25% of their classes at other NYU grad schools including Schack. On the website there is a list of the pre-approved classes but you can also request approval for other classes not on this list. ( ON_022429) There are also a lot of courses within Stern that incorporate real estate and even some professors come from other schools to teach Stern classes. How will Stern EEX help MBAs start businesses in their home countries outside of US? Does Stern have ties with VCs apart from US? The Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club (EEX) hosts a lot of events on campus that allow students to connect with VCs in the area. Also by participating in these events you will be able to learn from entrepreneurs on how they started their business not only in the US but also outside. For example, we had one of the founders of Boxee on campus several weeks back who shared his experiences about setting up his company in Israel and how they raised VC funds. Having worked in an investment bank, I am now looking to work in Venture Capital post my MBA. Are there specific classes they look for besides Finance? We have some great classes for people looking at VC. I would recommend Foundations of Entrepreneurship, Valuation, Managing Growing Companies, and Entrepreneurial Finance as the most critical. Also some of the advanced strategy classes would be very relevant to this path, especially since you have a banking background and won't need that much help in the Finance area. Carla(Q) mba_hadley(a) How can partners get involved in the Stern community? Hi! Virtually all Stern social events are open to partners and many students take advantage of it. There is also a Partners Committee that is a part of SCorp that plans events specifically for students and their significant others - dinners, wine tours, etc. Another great option is to go on a trek together during spring break with one of the student clubs. Nothing like a week in Brazil or South Africa for your partner to get to know your Stern classmates! rfischer(q) Can you shed some light on the process to pass out of core courses?

13 mba_andres(a) There are a couple of ways to pass out. First you can opt out of one or two of the menu core courses. The risk is then you'll need to make sure this doesn't limit you in choosing electives that require the core course as a prerequisite. If you have sufficient experience in a core course prior to Stern you may be able to establish proficiency. For example, I took 3 Organizations courses as an undergrad. I submitted a letter highlighting my previous course experience and they let me waive the Leadership in Organizations course (but approving me to take courses that had Leadership in Organizations as a prerrequisite). I also didn't want to take a semester course in Accounting, so I studied and took the accounting exam. I passed it and then I could take my advanced finance courses. More information is available on the Academic Affairs website at: index.htm maria_mbaapp(q) ocd_lauren(a) shri(q) mba_andres(a) What firms are hiring Stern grads in consulting this year? Students are going to a variety of consulting firms including Bain, McKinsey, Deloitte, Booz, BCG and PWC, as well as many other smaller and specialized firms. Hi...typically how many students are part of the Stern Consulting Corps? Is there a selection procedure as well? Hi! It varies depending on the number of projects they're able to bring in, but in my year it was around students. There is an interview process, but mostly it's to make sure students have the commitment and the time to work on the projects. Stern wants to make sure the work reflects well on the school, so that's why there's a selection process. That being said, if you have the interest and the time to do it it's very likely you'll participate in the program. mmikus(q) When does the Fall recruiting process start and how should you best prepare for your internship search?

14 ocd_katie(a) The fall recruiting process starts fairly early for students pursuing opportunities that recruit largely through on campus (banking, consulting, marketing, strategy, finance, etc.). Companies begin coming to campus to do corporate presentations, Lunch & Learns and other recruiting activities in late September/early October. Actual on campus interviews for these functions don't begin until January. October may seem early to begin talking to companies, but their goal is to get to know you and to educate you on their industry and organization so that you can make the best possible decision for the summer. Therefore, the sooner you can begin to prepare for your internship search, the better. This means beginning to really assess your interests, as well as the skills you're looking to continue using, and those you're looking to develop. There is a great deal of information available to you through the Admitted Student Website - look through Vault and Wet Feet Guides to help you identify what the necessary skills for your function(s) of interest may be. Also, it doens't hurt to begin to get your resume in order - it will change a great deal over the course of your first year - but at least begin identifying the experiences you want to highlight through your bullet points. The career search is a constant work in progress, but the sooner you get started, the more prepared you'll be. Lastly - the best way to educate yourself at this point is very simple - talk to people! Even if they're working in industries and functions you're not sure you're interested in, this will help you to identify whether or not it's something you'd want to pursue, or possibly give you new ideas to consider. You'll feel more confident going into the job search process, and into business school. Good luck to you! mg21(q) mba_michael(a) Hi everyone! What do you suggest is the best way to target jobs in PE? Thanks! Networking!! PE is one of the more informal recruiting paths at Stern, so leveraging your network is absolutely critical. The Stern Private Equity Club is excellent at making connections for students (they hold one of the biggest conferences of the year), and the Office of Career Development and the alumni office will be able to provide plenty of assistance. mpg846(q) What is the strongest aspect of Stern's Entrepreneurial program that separates it from other top programs?

15 mba_endri(a) I cannot speak for other programs but NYU Stern has a tremendous entrepreneurial program. The Berkley Center hosts the Business Plan Competition and they give out $200K every year in seed money to startups on campus. The Berkley Center also provides industry mentors to entrepreneurs on campus. In addition, there is a big entrepreneurial movement occurring in NYC and NYU Stern has very strong connections with the entrepreneurial community. Caroline(Q) mba_michael(a) Do students work with their core course study group for the menu core classes 2nd semester? It's not required by any means, but often students stick with their core study groups because they have developed a good working relationship. Electives give you the flexibility to choose your own groups, so its entirely up to you. Eric_M(Q) ocd_lauren(a) Jerry(Q) admissions_lauren(a) My question is similar to Will's - can you name some companies in Boston that have a relationship with Stern and may recruit for summer internships? Hi Eric! Students typically go to companies in Boston for buy-side asset management and consulting. Some companies include Fidelity, BNY Mellon, and BCG. Are there any merit scholarships available in the second year of attendance and how do they fare in terms of availability and amount (range)? We do offer donor awards in the second year. These awards are merit-based. There is no application necessary, as we notify students. The amounts can vary depending on the award. Sternie2013(Q) mba_endri(a) Realistically, how many clubs/volunteer opportunities do MBA students typically have time for? In my experience students take on leadership opportunities in one or two clubs, but they participate in activities hosted by many clubs. I am the VP of treks for the Association of Investment Management & Research (AIMR) and although I don t hold a leadership position, I m heavily involved with the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club (EEX) and a member of the Latin American Business Association (LABA) and the Technology and New Media Group (TANG). Sternie16(Q) Please provide some guidance around how and when can we apply for housing in the Palladium. Thanks

16 admissions_lauren(a) The Palladium application for the upcoming academic year is currently available. You may access the housing application and instructions through the Admitted Student Website - apoorvamehra(q) I am looking to recruit for sales and trading. Does any one know how the sales and trading recruiting process is structured? mba_michael(a) S&T is one of the most structured recruiting processes on campus. There will be planned events starting very early in the first semester that will continue through winter break. It is a very time intensive process, for sure, similar to investment banking and consulting recruiting. Interviews and offers for internships generally happen in January. alac(q) mba_andres(a) Can you talk a little bit more in depth about the consulting projects through EEX? Who is selected them? How long do they last? How many to a project? Hi. It varies. These projects are executed throughout the semester but there's not a fixed starting date. Some projects start early in February while others may start in late March for example. They last between 4 and 8 weeks. They're typically teams of 3-5 people and work on a specific project for a local startup. There's an application and interview process, that's led by fellow students who are members of the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club (EEX). They are the ones who coordinate the projects also. George(Q) What's more important to IB's and consultancies - GMAT Quant score or level of math taken, and how important is either?

17 ocd_katie(a) Hi George - This is a question that really varies by company. Most buldge bracket IB firms and top tier consulting firms will ask you to provide them with your GMAT score at some point, either in an application or an interview. As far as the breakdown in the GMAT, that tends to be subjective - but for the most part, banks/consulting firms will not be as interested in the breakdown of your GMAT score vs. the overall score. Remember that they are looking for the strongest candidate overall - this includes scores/gpa's, etc., but just as important is the ability to demonstrate the necessary skills for the function, your interest in their firm and in a career in either banking/consulting, and how well you "fit" with their culture - Culture fit may be hard to quantify, but remains incredibly important, particularly for these two industries. As much as possible, begin to get to know the companies you may be interested in across these two fields; set Google Alerts to remain current on the happenings across their firms and the industry in general. If you can equip yourself with this knowledge now and throughout the next 4-5 months, the less of a learning curve you'll have once the recruiting process really kicks off in the fall. will(q) What kinds of fitness or recreational facilities do we have access to through Stern? Are spouses permitted to use the facilities as well? mba_endri(a) Hi Will, There are two recreational facilities that we have access to, Coles and the Palladium. I use the Palladium most of the time since it is closer to where I live. I believe that spouses can get a membership for approximately $150/year to the Palladium, one of the cheapest gyms in the city. DaveBerv(Q) I am considering applying to Wagner to pursue a joint MBA-MPA, where could I find more information on the application process and the joint program?

18 admissions_lauren(a) Hi DaveBerv, You can find more information on the program through our website at: egrees/index.htm#4 Sternie2013(Q) admissions_brian(a) Sarah_F.(Q) admissions_lauren(a) mlevitin(q) mba_andres(a) What is the target class size of this year? Hi Sternie2013- Our class size for the Full-time program is typically around 400. So you can expect that to stay around the same this year! When would students apply for the MBA/MS in Mathematics program? Is there an opportunity to take some of the pre-requisites at Stern before applying? Hi Sarah_F, I would suggest reading more about the program at our website at: ees/index.htm#3. Is there any big downside to placing out of core classes? Unless you're profficient in an area like accounting and you know you won't benefit from the core class I would suggest to take them all. The core classes will give you strong foundations as a manager. That being said, if you place out make sure you are not interested in taking courses that require that course class as a prerrequisite. If there are, you might want to take a proficiency exam or submit a letter proving you have had prior experience of the material (such as being a CPA or taking similar coursework during undergrad) in order to be able to take the related electives. mg21(q) mba_hadley(a) Can first year students participate in the New Venture Competition? I believe the competition starts in September. Hi! Absolutely! All members of the Stern community are welcome. The competition does kick off early in the year with a session where all entrants with existing venture ideas recruit teammates. Mark_admit(Q) Hi all, I am pursuing IB (from tech consulting) and I am curious, what are some of the things that the finance club does to help MBA1s in recruiting?

19 mba_michael(a) The GFA (Graduate Finance Association) provides tons of resources for first years looking at IB. Right off the bat they will begin holding Q&A panels, presentations, and boot camps to get you up and running in the recruiting process. The first informal recruiting event of the year is an alumni cocktail hour sponsored by the GFA, which always has a very strong attendance from recent grads working at all the major banks, and the GFA Conference is one of the biggest of the year. GFA members are also very available to sit down with you for coffee chats to answer any questions you have one-on-one (I recommend doing this a lot, and as early in the semester as you can!). maria_mbaapp(q) ocd_lauren(a) austinite(q) mba_endri(a) Hi OCD - do you have any suggestions for things we can do to get ready for the recruiting season ahead? Hi Maria. Great question. Recruiting season definitely calls for some stamina. Practice your 60-second pitch and have a concise reason as to why you want to go into "X" industry, "Y" firm. The counseling team at Stern will do a wonderful job preparing you for the recruiting season with resume workshops, interview-prep sessions, etc. Hello Everyone!! Can some of you speak to the staff/professors that were thought provoking and that had an impact on how you viewed business? Hello Austinite, Professor Okun has been a tremendous resource in helping me understand the issues faced by start-ups at different stages of their growth. I wish I had taken some of his courses before I had started my business as I would have avoided a lot of the classic mistakes that entrepreneurs do. His rigorous approach has made me think about my business in a different light. katie_stern(q) mba_hadley(a) Hi - I am excited to be a part of SEA. What are some of the things the club will be planning for next year? How involved is SEA in recruiting? Hi! Yay for SEA! The club is one of the most active on campus, so it is planning so many things for next year. Just to name a few - we will be launching a new recruiting cohort program so that members can connect with other students and alumni interested in the same areas. We will be continuing with the I Love New York event series where we visit local, sustainable and socially-driven businesses. And we will be expanding our relationships with social enterprises in New Orleans where SEA students do pro-bono consulting work.

20 Frieda(Q) mba_andres(a) When can an international student start working in the U.S.? Is it possible for international students to work in a non-paid job in their first year? As an international student you can do volunteer unpaid jobs. However, these jobs can not replace a paid position. By that I mean you cannot be brought in as a volunteer to replace someone that had a paid job. As a volunteer you can participate in consulting engagements or other projects. These are typically with startups or nonprofits. The Stern Consulting Corps (SCC) and the Entrepreneurs' Exchange Club (EEX) organize these engagements, but you can also look for one on your own. I'm an international student and worked on three volunteer engagements during my first year, one in a startup through EEX, one in a nonprofit through SCC, and one with the Aspen Institute by using my personal connections. You can start being paid during your summer internship and during your second year you can work part time on campus. After you graduate you can legally work for one year in the US using Optional Practical Training. rarmijo(q) ocd_katie(a) mariog(q) How many consulting internships are generally available vs full time positions after graduation? For consulting, the number of internships vs. full-time opportunities remains relatively flat - That said, consulting firms recruit the way most large firms do - using their summer class as the pipeline for full-time opportunities. We're fortunate at Stern to have a strong presence from consulting firms on campus in the fall for MBA2s; in fact, just about every consulting firm who recruits for summer interns comes back to recruit second-year students in the fall for full-time opportunities. In addition, there are the consulting firms who only recruit second-year MBAs and don't necessarily have a summer program. Just this past week we held our annual spring career fair, which brought in several large consulting firms who are currently interviewing our second-year MBAs for full-time opportunites. Stern has strong relationships with all of the major consulting firms, but it's important to note that our location also attracts the smaller boutique firms as well who may hire more on an as-needed basis. This is important to consider not just for summer internship and fulltime/post-graduation job opportunities, but also as an alumni, when you'll have access to the job postings throughout the course of your career. This year for international students is there the option of applying for loans without a U.S. co-signer?

21 admissions_lauren(a) Tim_Letts(Q) mba_kathryn(a) We are currently working on securing this option and will let students know when it is finalized. Did any of the students live in the Palladium? Can your give some pros/cons of living there? Hi Tim. I did not live at Palladium but I had several friends who lived there for both years of school. It is a nice building, walking distance from school, with a gym, doorman, etc. Those are some nice perks in NYC! I believe there is a floor designated for graduate students and that the people in Palladium would organize fun events to do together as well. It is a great option for a place to live. Carla(Q) mba_endri(a) Are there many students who start their own entrepreneurial venture during their time at NYU? There are a lot of students that are very interested in entrepreneurship here at NYU Stern. I know of at least eight different companies that are being started or are currently run by students. Starting a business during your MBA years is a great way of trying out your idea while you have the support of your classmates, professors and the rest of the NYU community. mg21(q) admissions_lauren(a) JayMorelock(Q) mba_kathryn(a) mlevitin(q) mba_michael(a) What financial aid options do you suggest for international students without a co-signer? I m an international student but I have been living in the US for 9 years and I have a good credit history. Thanks! Hi mg21, I would suggest that you reach out to our Financial Aid Office to discuss further. They can get to know your situation and best advise you. You can reach them at or fin-aid@stern.nyu.edu. Hey! Looking back, is there anything you wish you would have done the summer before entering Stern to prepare you better for recruiting? Great question! First I would say to enjoy the summer and relax because the first semester of school is pretty busy! It might be helpful to start doing research into companies with which you might want to recruit so that you can narrow your focus as much as possible. It is also helpful to start shaping up your "elevator pitch" about yourself. When do most treks and DBis get announced? It depends on when they are taking place. Treks often take place over breaks (Thanksgiving, winter, and spring) and there will be sign-ups and info sessions throughout the year for these. DBis count for course credit so you will lottery for these along with the rest of your courses.

22 shourya(q) ocd_lauren(a) Sternie2013(Q) mba_endri(a) Len(Q) mba_hadley(a) gustavo.tatsch(q) Do the investment banks coming to campus recruit for specific depts. Or do they hire a general batch for internships and jobs? It varies from firm to firm. They all hire division specific -- investment banking, sales and trading, or research -- but within those divisions, it varies firm to firm whether it's general or specific. What do we need to prepare for in order to pass the quantitative competency test during Pre-Term? Also, should we dust off our old TI-89's? I would recommend brushing up on your calculus. I don't believe you are allowed a graphing calculator during the test. Over the summer you will get a math packet that will allow you to refresh your math skills I am pursuing a career in healthcare (on the pharma side). What classes would you recommend taking? Hi! Stern is a great place for that. I would definitely recommend the Economics of Healthcare course as well as Pharmaceutical Marketing. But thinking a little more broadly, Corporate Finance is essential and Valuation is great if you ever plan to work in Business Development. I found both of those to be very relevent during my summer internship. I would also recommend getting involved with the Stern Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association. They are playing a role in building out the healthcare course offerings and have wonerful relationships with all of the pharma companies in the New York area. I'm a foreigner interested in an internship at a luxury firm, would you recommend taking specific courses to get the US approach to the luxury ind?

23 ocd_katie(a) Hello Gustavo, Because just about every student will find a need to adjust in some capacity on entering business school (being back in school, working in the US for the first time, learning about an industry you've never worked in, etc.), I definitely recommend taking measures to educate yourself on whatever this area may be for you. In your case, learning as much as you can about the luxury industry in the US would certainly help - though I don't know if there are specific courses you can take that would give you that broad-based understanding. My thought is that you could probably achieve a great deal by simply staying on top of the industry, which includes things like reading blogs/publications for the industry, following the biggest names in the industry. One of the most important things you'll need to do for this type of a search is to learn to really market yourself - while we see a number of luxury organizations recruit at Stern, many of them also rely solely on students' abilities to network within the organization to identify possible internships for both the summer as well as potential spring internships. They want to see passion for the industry, which should come naturally, but should also be coupled with a solid understanding of where the industry currently is and who the players are. jenny(q) mba_kathryn(a) Jerry(Q) ocd_lauren(a) rarmijo(q) Hi. Where do students typically stay during the Dbi programs? Is housing provided by Stern? Hi Jenny! I did Dbi Budapest and we stayed in a hotel down the street from our school. The Dbi program arranges a hotel for housing during the time of class. Several of us also traveled both before and after the program and had a great time! What companies in the technology space have recently recruited at Stern and for what types of positions? Do these opportunities vary from Columbia's? Hi Jerry! Firms include Google, Zynga, Yahoo, Microsoft and others -- types of positions include product manager, business development, sales, finance, etc. Where's the best location to see a "map" of where stern alumni reside and their industries?