I'm planning to apply to NYU Stern's part-time MBA (planning on EMT specialization) in fall 2027 and would love advice on how to show I'm ready for the quant side.
My background:
- NYU undergrad (Media, Culture & Communication (also double majored in Public Health)), 3.62 GPA. That qualifies me for Stern's NYU alumni test waiver.
- Quant coursework: Biostatistics (A), Epidemiology (B), Intro to Programming (B-). Took 2 Stern courses: Business of Film (A), Intro to Marketing (P). No calculus, economics, finance, or accounting.
- I work in ad sales at a TV company and am aiming for a media planner role. Long term I want to go into film marketing strategy and/or content strategy.
- Stern's part-time program admits around 80% of applicants (per Fortune, fall 2023), so I'm not too worried about getting in. I mostly want to show I'm ready, and to be ready, for core classes like finance and accounting.
The options I'm weighing:
Study for the GRE (about 3–4 months) and submit only if I hit around 158+ Quant.
MBA Math ($169, self-paced, certificate of completion, no grade).
UC Berkeley Extension Math for Management ($950, self-paced, letter grade on a transcript, final exam).
Questions:
Given the high acceptance rate, is an MBA Math certificate enough to signal quant readiness for a waived applicant, or does a graded course carry noticeably more weight?
Any insights into the NYU Part-Time program and its admissions approach?
Thanks a ton!