What Does it Take to Get Into New York University?

NYU Is A Dynamic University In The Heart Of An Amazing City…

Students at NYU are remembered for their excellence and dedication to their work, service, and art. At NYU, students are encouraged to leave a strong impression on their careers as well as their peers and the city around them. Even the school’s very campus is woven into the thriving community of New York City and everything it has to offer.

If you’re dreaming of going to college in the Big Apple, then New York University might be the perfect college for you. Read on to find out how to polish your application to NYU’s standards and show off your best self to NYU’s admissions officers!

What You’ll Find In This Article

• NYU’s Ideal Student
• What You Need to Get Accepted Into New York University
• NYU’s Campus Life
• From Application to Career: What You’ll Experience at NYU
• Your Future at New York University

NYU's Ideal Student

New York University has made a name for itself by turning ambitious students into tomorrow’s future leaders, performers, and civil servants. Located in New York City, the main campus is home to renowned academics, a spectacular campus, and some of the brightest students in the world.

As one of the most well-respected research universities in the world, NYU is a very selective school. The university takes a holistic approach to applications, however, your academic record will still be very important in determining your chances of admission.

The average incoming test scores and GPA of students accepted into NYU look like this:

• GPA: 3.6
• ACT: 31
• SAT: 1410

Your academic record is not the only way that NYU’s admissions office will evaluate your application. All parts of your application will be reviewed, from your extracurricular involvement to your short answer responses, to see what type of student you really are.

New York University is known for supporting some of the most ambitious and trailblazing students in the nation. These students all hold a set of shared values that aligns them with NYU’s mission for innovation and excellence in education.

DYNAMIC

Students who thrive on constant progress and self-improvement will similarly thrive on any of the New York University campuses. Just as the city of New York is in constant motion and constantly improving, the university inspired by it seeks out students who are unafraid of and motivated by change.

INNOVATIVE

More than simply seeking out students motivated by change, NYU looks for students with an innovative mindset geared towards making change happen. If you’re the type of student who is always looking for a new way to approach old problems, you’ve got the spark of innovation that has made many NYU Violets before you successful.

DEDICATED

Students who are dedicated to furthering themselves and their communities will find themselves right at home at NYU. The university is known for pushing its students through rigorous courses and training in order to produce some of the most successful entrepreneurs, artists, and leaders in the world. In order to succeed at NYU, one of your core values should be dedication: to yourself, your goals, and your ambitions for the future.

AMBITIOUS

That being said, an ambitious spirit is woven into the very air at NYU. Those who are already driven by a desire to succeed will find themselves in good company at this school with big goals and even bigger dreams. Students are always looking for a challenge to push themselves and grow beyond who they were yesterday.

WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE: NYU’S PROGRAMS

New York University offers a set of majors and programs as diverse as its student body and the city it calls home. Students are given the support, education, and resources they need to pursue their passions academically and beyond. These majors allow students to explore their interests while preparing them for success in their future careers.

NYU’s most popular and highly-rated programs include:

• Film and Photography (Ranked 2nd nationally)
• Information Technology (Ranked 3rd nationally)
• Education (Ranked 7th nationally)
• Nursing (Ranked 8th nationally)
• Business (Ranked 12th nationally)

IN SUMMARY: NYU’S IDEAL STUDENT

The ideal New York University student is as driven as they are oriented around their goals. Those that love to approach a problem from multiple angles, brainstorming and studying until they find a new solution will find themselves in good company on this innovative campus. NYU’s overall approach to college admission is tailored to help find students with these values while also creating an uplifting and diverse student body.

What You Need To Get Accepted Into New York University

NYU’s prestigious history, location, and academic excellence as a research university all combine to make it a very popular school. The class of 2023 had a 16% acceptance rate. While this is the most selective rate in the history of the university, admissions are expected to continue being competitive with an average 19% acceptance rate.

Therefore, it’s vital that you take the time to carefully prepare your application in order to give yourself the best chances of being admitted.

THE COMMON APPLICATION

New York University uses the Common Application to make the application process easier for both students and admissions officials. This web-based application is used by a variety of schools to simplify admissions, so taking the time to learn how the Common Application works can help save you time in the long run.

New York University has three different deadlines you need to know:

• Early Decision I is November 1st
• Early Decision II is January 1st
• Regular Decision is January 1st

OFFICIAL SCORE REPORTS

NYU requires that you send your official transcript and test scores along with your application. All documents must be original or certified copies to be accepted. You’ll submit these through the Common Application, so make sure to have them before you start filling out the application.

APPLICATION FEE OR FEE WAIVER

Students are required to pay an $80 non-refundable fee to submit their application. Fee waivers can be requested if a student is unable to pay the fee.

COUNSELOR & TEACHER INFORMATION

You will need the contact information for your counselor and a maximum of two teachers to complete your application. Your counselor will be submitting your transcript and other vital parts of your Common Application, while your teachers will be completing the Teacher Evaluation form.

Note: You should always ask your teachers if they’d be willing to complete the form before you put in their information. If you’ve never had to ask a teacher for a recommendation before, it’s not as difficult as it seems!

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS

Within the Common Application, students will be given an essay prompt to answer revolving around one central question: Why NYU? You’ll have 400 words to answer this vital question. Remember to be specific and highlight your unique skills, talents, or history to help your essay stand out from the crowd.

Additionally, students may be required to submit a portfolio or undergo an audition if they apply to certain schools within the university. NYU recommends that these students submit their applications at least a month before the deadline to ensure there’s plenty of time to schedule these supplements to your application.

NYU's Campus Life

Set in the heart of New York City, NYU’s campus brings the high energy of the city into the classroom and beyond. As students study and explore all that Manhattan and the surrounding city has to offer, they’ll enjoy a memorable experience that draws in the best students from across the world.

CAMPUS

NYU’s sprawling campus is mainly located in Manhattan, with most central buildings surrounding Washington Square Park. From historic buildings to dorm rooms that were once hotels, the diversity of the architecture and experiences offered across campus is abundant. The school is constantly expanding to better meet student’s needs.

GREEK LIFE

New York University promotes a wide range of fraternities and sororities that students can become involved in. These chapters are held to NYU’s high standards and allow students to engage in leadership opportunities and community service around New York.

SPORTS AND ORGANIZATIONS

With over 300 clubs to choose from, students at NYU have plenty of ways to stay engaged outside of the classroom. Students can get engaged in clubs within their school, or clubs across campus to meet their dynamic interests.

Athletics at NYU are taken just as seriously as academics, with the best of the best representing NYU in varsity sports from golf to basketball. Other students choose to get involved in club sports or recreational sports to get involved on campus.

HOUSING, FOOD, AND TRANSPORTATION

Every undergrad who studies at NYU is guaranteed housing, and their large campus is home to residential dorms scattered around the area. Freshmen are housed closer to Washington Square Park, while sophomores receive priority pick in housing. From brand new dorm rooms to renovated hotels, they all let students feel the experience of living in one of the busiest cities in the world. Every residence hall has a dining hall, and students have access to a wide variety of food in and around campus. NYU operates a transportation system to get students around campus, so you won’t need (or want to) bring a car.

CLUB FEST

Twice a year, once during the fall semester and once during the spring semester, all the student organizations on campus gather together. Students can learn more about clubs across campus and find a club to join in this fun community and networking event.

From Application To Career: What You'll Experience At NYU

New York University’s rich experience starts with their application process. From the very first moment you step on campus, you’ll begin an adventure filled with academic opportunity and engagement with one of the most diverse communities in the world.

YOUR APPLICATION

Because NYU students are known for their excellence and innovation, you should tailor your application to showcase the highlights of your high school years. While your academics are important, don’t forget to showcase your achievements in extracurricular and civic life!

YOUR ESSAY

Because NYU’s essay prompt allows you to be specific, you should look to be authentic. Why do you want to study at NYU? Be more specific than just the location; is there something that NYU offers that you couldn’t experience anywhere else?

YOUR COLLEGE YEARS

Your days at NYU will be filled with new experiences in learning and in life. Surrounded by the diversity and rich experience of New York City, you’ll learn and grow as both a student and a person. With the resources and support you need to succeed available, you’ll find yourself and your like minded peers achieving things you never thought possible.

YOUR FUTURE

Your future as a Violet looks bright, and your education and networking will be vital to your success. As an NYU alumnus, you’ll join a group of names that includes actor Alec Baldwin, actress Angelina Jolie, and the co-founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey.

The future for NYU students is limitless, and many find themselves in fields like:

• Media & Entertainment
• Financial Services
• Health Care
• Marketing
• Law
• Education
• Computer Science

Your Future At New York University

NYU is known for encouraging excellence, dedication, and innovation in its students. Surrounded by the excitement of New York City, students will learn and be engaged with leading educators from around the world. The sprawling campus is home to a place where students can grow, learn, and engage with each other and the city around them.

This experience is what makes NYU a popular school, and numbers have shown that it’s becoming even more selective as more students across the nation apply. This is why you have to be specific in your application, highlighting your best qualities in order to increase your chances of admission.

If you’re finding that you need a bit of extra help to improve your application, please reach out to our WeAdmit counselors. We’d love to help you highlight your achievements and write the perfect essay to express your interest in attending NYU. Our counselors are here to help you through every twist and turn in the college application process, and we can’t wait to see you attending your dream college!

Are You Ready To Study In NYC? It’s Time To Get Into NYU!