Real Humans of the NYU Stern MBA Class of 2025

Sam Marquis, NYU Stern MBA Class of 2025

Age: 28
Hometown: Los Angeles County, CA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Southern California – BA in International Relations Global Business
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): Surface Warfare Officer, US Navy, 5 years 3 months

Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I wanted to facilitate a smooth career transition after completion of my military service contract, and business school is a great way to do that. I’ll be forever grateful for the work experiences, friendships, and memories that I gained during my time in the Navy, and the foundation I built there will serve me well in this next chapter of my career.    

Why did you choose NYU Stern? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Here are my biggest reasons for choosing Stern:

1. I wanted to go to school in a city that gave me the most access to as many industries as possible. It is so much easier to network and meet people in a place that is as diverse as NYC. Also, in a city like New York, you really get to maximize the amount of fortuitous opportunities and events that can happen in your life.
2. Stern offers phenomenal support to veterans through its Fertitta Veterans MBA Program, which is designed for US military veterans and active duty students to support their transition to business school, including the opportunity to get started early on coursework during the summer. Because of this, I don’t have to take as many credits during some of my semesters at Stern, which will allow me to focus on other things like recruiting and networking. Stern really does go above and beyond in terms of the resources and support it gives to its veteran students.

What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
As a Navy officer, I was given leadership roles at an earlier point in my career compared to most of my peers that had more traditional jobs. During my time in the Navy, I got to work with, work for, and manage people from an incredible variety of backgrounds. Owing to that experience,      I cultivated soft skills to be able to work with many kinds of people in a variety of roles and settings. My hope is that I can take some of those skills that I learned and apply them in group settings and projects at school. 

Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I like to create order, so sometimes in my spare time I like to tidy up and clean my friends’ apartments

Post-MBA career interests:
Strategy, operations, business development, consulting and tech are all interesting to me.

 Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I thoroughly enjoyed the introspective aspects of the MBA application process, and I spent a lot of time soul-searching and reflecting on my life. Throughout the application process, I got to think about who I am, what I value, and to an extent, how I want my life to be.

–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I wish I would have taken the GRE a little bit earlier so that when applications opened, I’d only have to focus on essays, resume, and interview prep.

–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Taking the standardized test since I don’t enjoy taking tests. I think staying consistent with my studying, not cramming, and viewing it as a challenge rather than a hurdle to overcome really helped me frame it more positively in my mind.

What is your initial impression of the NYU Stern students/culture/community?
Sharing and a willingness to help others are definitely valued as virtues here. Stern advertises this, but I have now witnessed this on multiple occasions from faculty, other MBA1s, and MBA2s. If you have a question or need help with something, people will genuinely take the time and effort to thoroughly assist you.

What is one thing you have learned about NYU Stern that has surprised you?
I’ve always known that there would be students from many backgrounds and cultures at Stern, but it’s another thing to see it in person and witness everyone’s unique perspectives and life experiences. Also, I have nothing but the utmost respect for my international classmates who took the risk and uprooted themselves to go back to school in a foreign country like the US, and in a city like New York.

What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Recruiting and getting an internship.

What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Seeing how much my classmates and I will learn and grow together.