Meet NYU Stern’s MBA Class Of 2019

Adam Scheer 

New York University, Stern School of Business 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: An ordinary person who enjoys significant challenges, solving problems, and building shared success.

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I was stuck in an avalanche when climbing Mt. Whitney.  I made it out!

Undergraduate School and Major: SUNY Binghamton University, B.S. in Biology

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: U.S. Navy SEAL Officer. I’ve held the roles of SEAL Team Squad Commander, Cross-Functional Team Commander, and Platoon Commander.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Being asked not to leave the SEAL Teams by my teammates and superiors. There is no higher honor in the Naval Special Warfare community than knowing your reputation is highly regarded and highly respected.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? I recommend for anyone who has been out of college for a significant period of time to take a formal GMAT preparatory course. I was frustrated that I had reached a plateau studying on my own, and out of desperation signed up for a relatively expensive name-brand course. It raised my score – and my confidence that I can succeed in business school academia – significantly.

In regards to the essay writing, I found it very helpful to do some introspective analysis for some of the more personal questions.  Some of the most powerful and impactful example essays I read from colleagues were those where the writer seemed to truly pour his or her heart out onto paper, but in an eloquent and intriguing fashion.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The single most important factor in my selection of Stern is probably very different from most Stern admits. Stern’s location, reputation in finance, and flexible curriculum are all amazing, but it was the passion, warmth, and propensity for mentorship displayed by the Stern Military Veterans Club that made the choice easy.  They really took me under their wing early on in my application process, and continued to do so during my interview and campus visits.  Coming from a small, tight-knit, specialized military community, their behavior really resonated with me and was something I was looking for in an MBA program.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? As an investment banking summer associate, I hope to display, professionally and personally, all the distinguishing attributes that make Sternies standout in the business world.