Tips for Answering the NYU Supplemental Essay Prompt [2019 †2020]

Located in the middle of bustling lower Manhattan, New York, NYU’s campus is intertwined with the city. It is not a campus in a traditional sense – its buildings and lifestyle are organized around Washington Square Park enabling students and faculty alike to take advantage of everything offered by this energetic area. It grants degrees from its NYU campus along with campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. In addition, it has satellite campuses in London, Accra, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv, Sydney and more. Access to these locations around the world, provide opportunities for a truly global undergraduate educational experience. Many students are particularly attracted to the ease with which they can study abroad and remain under the larger intellectual umbrella of the University. Get a free consultation: Click here to schedule a call to find out how our admissions experts can help YOU get accepted to NYU! NYU offers several admissions options including binding Early Decision I (November 1st deadline) and Early Decision II (January 1st deadline), as well as non-binding Regular Decision (also January 1st). In addition to the main Common Application essay, NYU requires only one additional essay response. The admissions committee is already aware of your grades, test scores, letters of recommendation, honors/awards, activities and whatever you wrote about in your main Common Application essay. Now is your chance to share your passion for NYU! Be careful not to repeat information you shared in your main essay. Use your NYU response to convince the admissions committee that NYU is the best place for you and to show how you might contribute to the diverse community at NYU. NYUs supplemental essay question Why NYU? We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. What motivated you to apply to NYU? Why have you applied or expressed interest in a particular campus, school, college, program, and or area of study? If you have applied to more than one, please also tell us why you are interested in these additional areas of study or campuses. We want to understand Why NYU? (400 word maximum) * The sole purpose of this prompt is to provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate your fit with NYU. You only have 400 words to communicate what draws you to the campus, school, college, program and or your specific area of study. Some of your discussion will reflect your thought process. It should also reflect your values, personal characteristics, and goals for the future. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm in your response. Think about your personal connection to the school and the city. Don’t just list interesting things about the city—you are not a tour guide. Instead, explain why those things are so important to you and your potential growth. Consider your values and how the unique qualities/opportunities at NYU appeal to you. In short, make a personal connection. How might the approach to education at NYU support your learning? This might include: studying abroad, potential experience with internships, meeting people from around the world, specific academic requirements or programs, career-related opportunities, or anything else you feel is important to your success. hbspt.cta.load(58291, 'b11ab1f4-ea16-477a-b602-88f511f102cc', {}); Think about what living and learning in a fast paced city like New York might be like—similar to what you are accustomed to or perhaps different, either way discuss the particular reasons you find this setting appealing. You must be able to demonstrate your independence because you will need to be independent in order to navigate the NYU world. The reality of having a campus embedded in a dynamic city is that you need to demonstrate your ability to survive, contribute to and thrive in this sort of atmosphere. How might you embrace this environment? How can you benefit from this experience? Why is studying at NYU your true calling? Keep in mind that NYU is assembling a first-year class that represents regional, global, and cultural diversity. NYU values difference and supports students of all identities and backgrounds. Don’t underestimate yourself and your story. Each applicant has something to offer that can enrich this distinct cohort. How might you utilize this opportunity to grow as a person, as a global citizen, as a future leader? As a school that accepts the Common Application, NYU is committed to a holistic review of your application materials. This means it takes all aspects of your application into account. Don’t miss your opportunity to stand out among your peers and provide a genuine sense of your character through your essay responses. Final thoughts on applying to NYU To offer some context for where you might stand, of the almost 84,500 students who applied to enter the class of 2023 at NYU, just over 12,000 or about 16% were offered admission. This was the most selective NYU class to date. Although it offers one of the most flexile standardized testing policies (see NYU admission website for details), the median SAT score was 1480, which equates to an ACT score of about 32.5 and the majority of accepted students had GPA’s in the top 10% of their high school class. This is a competitive applicant pool. Although it is wise to keep these statistics in mind, take a moment to relax and plan. Make sure you meet all deadlines and allow yourself adequate time to write and revise your essays. Consider the best way to reflect your personal experiences, convey your interests, express your enthusiasm for learning, and demonstrate how and why NYU is the best place for you! If you’re applying to NYU, you already know you’re up against tight competition. Don’t be overwhelmed. Get the guidance of an experienced admissions specialist who will help you stand out from the highly competitive applicant pool so you can apply with confidence, and get accepted! Click here to get started! hbspt.cta.load(58291, 'd81c5687-dd01-4648-93b4-33d2ae163735', {}); Marie Todd has been involved in college admissions for over twenty years. Marie has both counseled applicants to top colleges and evaluated 5000+ applications for the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science and the Arts; College of Engineering; School of Kinesiology; School of Nursing; and Taubman College of Architecture.  Want Marie to help you get accepted?  Click here to get in touch with Marie Todd. Related Resources: †¢ From Example to Exemplary, a free guide to writing outstanding essays †¢ How to Get Started on Your Personal Statement with One Easy Technique †¢ Focus on Fit, a podcast episode