Mike Wang, NYU Stern MBA Class of 2023
Age: 27
Hometown: Burlington, Canada
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Public Accounting, University of Toronto
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): Two years in public audit, followed by three years in investment banking
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Having worked for five years post-college, I have had time and experiences that have allowed me to gain a better understanding of what I want to do professionally and what I want to get out of business school. Therefore, it was the right time for me to apply.
Firstly, top business schools, like Stern, can provide me with a platform to grow and explore my passions. My undergraduate study and pre-MBA experience were primarily focused on the finance and non-for-profit industries. However, after working for five years, I am able to reflect and better understand who I am and what I want for my career. I want to further enrich my skill sets, connect with people from diverse backgrounds, and acquire knowledge in various disciplines. During this process, I want to fully explore my career options and continue to pursue my passions.
Secondly, I am looking forward to cultivating a world-class professional network with peers from various backgrounds. While this will make the two-year MBA period more enriching, I also hope to build relationships that will last for the rest of my life.
Lastly, I want to move to New York City, where there are endless possibilities and opportunities for me to explore and connect with like-minded people.
Why did you choose NYU Stern? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Culture, strength of the alumni network, and location are the three prominent factors I considered while choosing which school to attend.
Firstly, the culture at Stern appealed to me. While speaking with Sternies, I have learned that community is the favorite part of many students’ experience. The community at Stern is unique as it authentically integrates the IQ + EQ value everywhere on campus. We talk a lot about emotional intelligence (EQ) at Stern and how it impacts learning and team environments. Moreover, when I received an interview as part of the application process, Stern was the only school where an MBA1 student reached out to me to schedule a one-on-one chat. It helped me prepare for the interview and get to know the school better. And most importantly, it showcased the collaborative and inclusive nature of Stern’s culture. I am a firm believer of giving back as I am actively involved on the board of a nonprofit. I believe giving back to support students from the next generation greatly strengthens the bond among students beginning on day 1.
Secondly, Stern has a highly recognized brand in the US, especially in New York, which provides me with unique opportunities to network. Education is a never-ending process. I am confident that this strong network will continue even after I graduate.
Lastly, I reflected on where I want to live and build a community for the next two years of my life. To me, that place is New York City. Having worked and lived in both metropolitan and small towns, I am well aware that I enjoy the lifestyle in metropolitans, where there are more opportunities and more diverse people to interact with. New York City is also close to Toronto, with only an hour and half flight. I can visit family and friends back home more easily.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2023?
I have a unique background given my mixed industry experience and NPO work. I can look at corporations through the lens of social responsibility and look at a non-for-profit from the perspective of corporate practice. This allows me to provide a unique perspective in class discussions, group projects, and daily interactions with fellow Sternies.
Tell us a fun fact that didn’t get included on your application:
I organized and held the lead position for two sports clubs – tennis and skiing – in Toronto to help immigrants and international students better blend into the western culture! Toronto is a very multicultural city where over half of the city’s residents were born outside of Canada. Needless to say, there are lots of international students and immigrants who are new to the country. They want to make connections with local culture and sports, but do not have the resources to do so. Therefore, I organized two social groups, one for tennis and one for skiing, among international students and immigrants to bridge the culture gap. It was really fun for everyone to get together, learn and enjoy the sports, while having relaxed social outings. It was also very encouraging to witness everyone’s growth and settlement in their new country over time.
Post-MBA career interests:
I would like to take full advantage of resources at NYU Stern to explore various industries.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
– What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Reach out to at least three to five students at the business school to learn about their experience at the school. Each school is unique, so this allows you to have more data points in addition to the information obtained from admission events. This not only helps you with customizing essays, but also allows you to assess if the school is the right fit for you.
– What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would not rush applications simply based on their ranking and prestige. I applied to some schools that are in remote areas simply because of their rank. However, after some soul searching, I realized that I want to leverage a metropolitan location to further advance my career, which is one of the ultimate goals of pursuing an MBA education. I wish I realized this earlier so that I could narrow down the school list and focus more of my time and effort on fewer schools.
The application cycle is intense and competitive, so I would highly recommend that before starting to draft the application, deeply reflect upon who you are and what you want to get out of the program. This will help you focus your energy and time on fewer applications and result in the best outcomes.
– What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Getting someone who knows you well to proofread your applications. MBA application essays touch on lots of personal stories as the school admissions team really wants to know you as a person and how you have become who you are today. The Pick Six personal expression essay from the NYU Stern application is a great example of this. When I was trying to select the best six pictures that represent me and my growth story, I consulted with my dad and asked his input on some of the significant events in my life. By brainstorming with him, we bounced ideas off each other and his constructive feedback definitely brought in new perspectives. I could have skipped this part, but I think my dad’s input was invaluable.
What is your initial impression of the NYU Stern students/culture/community?
My initial impression of NYU Stern is that it is a very collaborative and cohesive community. Students are very supportive of each other. Also, it is a very diverse student body with students from various backgrounds and countries. Moreover, as a community within NYC, the students also benefit from the diversity and energy of the city. I had this initial impression after talking to a few Sternies and attending school informational sessions, even before I got to Stern’s campus. And these first five weeks at Stern have proved that my initial impression was absolutely correct, and even better – the community has far exceeded my expectations.
What is one thing you have learned about NYU Stern that has surprised you?
The number of activities and events organized by the school and fellow MBA students exceeds my expectations and is exciting. The entire student body and faculty members form a very cohesive and tight community which supports its members in all possible ways to ensure success in both professional and social aspects.
The LAUNCH MBA orientation program was phenomenal and provided students with lots of opportunities to engage with the community and get ready for the next two years of MBA life. As an international student, I am grateful for the advice from the Office of Career Development and MBA2s, which has helped me navigate the visa process and the upcoming recruiting process.
MBA2s have extensively engaged with MBA1s and act as valuable resources. They take a variety of roles within the Stern community including club management, teaching assistants, and block leaders. They are always there to help and answer any questions that MBA1s may have. Their experience has been very helpful as I navigate my own MBA experience.
Lastly, Stern has a very tight cohort. Every day, my fellow students discuss all kinds of topics in WhatsApp, Teams, and Slack. Students have self-formed a variety of interests and social groups from biking to tennis, hiking, poker, exhibitions, etc. This really helped me as a newcomer to NYC to explore and settle into the city.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?Overall, 2020-2021 was a more competitive application cycle across business schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic downturn caused by the pandemic resulted in more applicants compared to before. Moreover, there are fewer spots available because a number of previously admitted students chose to defer by one year. Therefore, the overall application cycle was more competitive.
As always, challenges and opportunities go hand in hand. The competitive cycle pushed me to think hard about how to uniquely present myself in the application. With the introspection of my career goals, growth stories, and passions, I am now clearer with what I want to achieve professionally and personally. I am confident about the future success with all the resources provided by Stern.
In addition, although the school informational events and interviews had moved online due to the pandemic, I personally benefited from the new format. It allowed the school to have the ability to hold more informational events to connect with applicants and offers applicants more opportunities to connect with schools. Because my work was very fast-paced and I was in the middle of a few important deals, the virtual setting gave me the flexibility to move around my schedule to connect with schools and excel at work.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
One thing is how to balance recruiting, social activities, and academic study during my first year. There are a large number of events and resources available at NYU Stern to support me both academically and professionally, and while all are very intriguing, I need to think about which are most aligned with my career goals and prioritize accordingly. Moreover, as I mentioned earlier, Stern has a very tight community. My cohort has been self-organizing a variety of events on a daily basis. While it is always fun to hang out with everyone, I need to ensure that it does not take away time from recruiting and classes. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to prioritize. This has been and will continue to be a learning curve for me.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Taking different classes based on my interests while also exploring various new knowledge areas. Stern’s wide offering of courses provides rich options of classes from world class professors. Personally, I am interested in taking courses like Conflict and Negotiation, Global Banking and Capital Markets, and Social Venture Capital.
