Kendra Spruill, NYU Stern MBA Class of 2023
Age: 25
Hometown: Washington, DC
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Bucknell University, Psychology & Spanish double major
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 4 Years in the non-profit sector.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I knew that I wanted to go back to school, but just wasn’t sure for what. When I learned more about how many doors an MBA could open, I knew that was the next path for me. I spoke with a good amount of people with MBA’s at my job and was just amazed at how many different career paths one could take with an MBA. It wasn’t until a networking event at work that I realized that I had enough work experience and expertise to go to business school. I was always under the assumption that I needed at least 5 years of work experience to qualify. With work experience not being a issue, I was asked, “why wait?” Not having a good reason for why I should wait any longer, I applied to programs like MLT and Forte MBA Launch to ensure that I’d be able to put the best application forward.
Why did you choose NYU Stern? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I knew that I wanted to stay on the East Coast and go to a relatively small school that was also a consortium partner. What stood out to me at Stern was how willing students were to not only talk to me but be available to help me throughout my application process. It was also nice to talk to so many students who had backgrounds in the arts and sciences. I knew that going to Stern would mean that I’d be able to be around people who come from very diverse backgrounds. Being in NY was also a huge plus for me because its easy access to a lot of amazing companies and close to home.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2023?
Involvement is my middle name. As a Forté and Consortium fellow and a part of MLT, I am all about giving back and diversifying business spaces. With my unique background and skill sets, I bring another perspective to class discussions. Coming from the nonprofit sector, I am also a resource for those interested in pivoting into that sector.
Tell us a fun fact that didn’t get included on your application:
I kept my parents busy growing up. I started off dancing ballet and learning partner dances, played the Violin for many years, then turned to acting, and most recently ran track and cross country. I no longer do any of those things, but my passion for music, dance, theater, and exercise lives on.
Post-MBA career interests:
Consulting-Human Capital
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
– What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with current students as a prospective student and learning about why they chose the school that they were in. I consider every connection that I made meaningful and feel that I can reach back out to any person, even those who are not at Stern.
– What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have more confidence in myself throughout the whole process. I compared myself to other applicants a lot, and truly didn’t expect to get into any school. Though I had so much doubt in myself, my family, mentors, friends, and coworkers were not surprised when the acceptance letters started coming in.
– What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The GMAT! As someone who hasn’t taken a math course since high school, I truly struggled with the quant section. I was fortunate to be living with someone who was much better at math. I also could not have made it very far without the support from MLT, Sherpa Prep and Atlantic GMAT.
What is your initial impression of the NYU Stern students/culture/community?
The people at Stern are here to help. This is not a competitive atmosphere at all. It’s refreshing to be able to reach out to anyone and get help when I need it. There is also a different type of community for any type of person at Stern, which I think is great. Sternies are enthusiastic in everything that they do; whether it be a case competition, recruiting, or learning, it’s clear that they all want to be here. With such a positive aura surrounding the campus, you pretty much feel like you can do anything. During orientation week, I appreciated how intentional each activity that we did was. The IQ-EQ slogan that you hear about Stern is 100% true. Thanks to the intentionality of the selection process, I can truly say that I am surrounded by well-rounded individuals.
What is one thing you have learned about NYU Stern that has surprised you?
The amount of resources at our disposal at Stern is amazing! It’s going to take a while for me to find the perfect study space with so many options.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?I feel like I was more adventurous with my school selection thanks to everything being virtual. I probably would not have applied to all of the schools that I did if in person events and interviews were a part of the application process. Being able to save money, and join things virtually, allowed for me to maintain a work life balance and put my all into each school application.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Time management. I want to do everything but I don’t have the time. I am working to prioritize my extracurriculars in order to fit everything in.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Stern has some amazing student clubs. I am very excited about joining kick offs and learning about potential leadership positions that I can apply for. I am also very excited to meet more MBA2s!
