Recommendations

We want to understand the full scope of who you are, not only through your own experiences, but also through the perspective of those who have seen you lead, grow, and succeed.

Recommendations play a vital role in the admissions process, offering insight into your professional achievements, leadership potential, and character. Your chosen recommenders should know you and your work well, who can speak to your contributions, impact, and readiness for the Stern at NYUAD Executive MBA.

• Two recommendations are required. 
• One recommendation must come from an applicant’s current supervisor. Applicants must provide an explanation in the online application if they are not able to do so.
• The second recommendation may come from someone who knows an applicant professionally and/or personally.
• Recommendations should come from individuals who can objectively assess potential for success in the Stern at NYUAD Executive MBA program and in future career.
• Submitting more than two recommendations is not encouraged but is allowed. Applicants should carefully consider whether additional recommendations add significant value and a new, unique perspective to your application.

Your recommenders will be asked to provide an answer to these questions: 

1. How long have you known the applicant and in what capacity? Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.
2. What are the applicant’s principal strengths? If applicable, how does the applicant’s performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples.
3. IQ+EQ is a core value of NYU Stern, and we seek exceptional individuals who possess both intellectual and interpersonal strengths. Emotional intelligence (EQ) skills such as self-awareness, empathy, communication and self-management are at the core of our community of leaders. Please provide one specific and compelling example to demonstrate the applicant’s emotional intelligence.
4. What observations do you have of the character and integrity of the applicant?
5. What is the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant? Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

Once you have entered the contact information for your recommenders in the online application and click the “Send to Recommender” button, your recommenders will be contacted automatically with submission instructions via email. We strongly encourage you to alert your recommendation providers to this in advance.

Recommendations should be written in English. If your recommender provides a supplemental recommendation letter with their form submission, this letter should preferably be on institutional letterhead and include the recommender’s signature.

If your recommender cannot submit an online recommendation, you must email emba.admissions@sternad.nyu.edu to explain the circumstances and request approval for your recommender to submit a paper endorsement.

If your recommender cannot complete their recommendation in English, they will need to follow the instructions above and have the recommendation translated into English through a certified English translation service. Upon submitting the recommendation, your recommender must include the original letter and the translated copy. Applications that only include the translated copy are considered incomplete. Recommenders can upload these documents directly to the application as a single PDF via the link provided. Recommendations can only be accepted directly from the recommender. 

Organization Sponsorship Form

The Stern at NYUAD Part-time EMBA program is designed for experienced professionals who remain employed while pursuing their degree. As such, we require admitted students to submit the Organization Sponsorship Form from their employer confirming support for attendance at all class sessions. If you will not be employed throughout the program, we recommend that you speak to us before applying by contacting us at emba.admissions@sternad.nyu.edu.

The Organization Sponsorship Form summarizes the time commitment required for the program, and should be used as a tool to have a conversation with your employer around time and financial sponsorship. 

Download the Organization Sponsorship Form

Please upload the Organization Sponsorship Form to the Program Information page of the online application form.