How to Get Into NYU 4 Key Tips to Build a Great Application

How to Get Into NYU 4 Key Tips to Build a Great Application SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you want to go to NYU, you’ll need to make sure your application is strong enough to stand out from the crowd of other applicants. NYU’s acceptance rate is falling every year, so you’ll need all parts of your application to be competitive if you hope to be admitted to NYU. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to get into NYU. First, we’ll talk about how hard it is to get into NYU in the first place, taking a look at the average test scores and grades of admitted applicants. Next, we’ll discuss NYU’s admissions requirements and essays. Finally, we’ll give tips to teach you how to get into NYU. How Hard Is It To Get Into NYU? NYU has been getting more and more competitive over the recent years. In 2018, NYU’s acceptance rate fell to a record low: 19%. That means that NYU admits 19 out of every 100 applicants. An acceptance rate of just 19% means that NYU is highly selective - and getting even more so. Just a few years ago, NYU’s acceptance rate was in the 35%, meaning that it’s fallen by nearly half in a short while. Each subsequent year, NYU admits a smaller and smaller percentage of students, meaning that the acceptance rate for the Class of 2023 may be even more competitive than 2022’s was. What Is NYU Looking for in Its Students? NYU prizes diversity: it has the highest number of international students in the United States and students from all 50 states in the US. In 2017, 20% of NYU’s incoming freshmen class was from outside of the US. NYU also sends more students abroad than any other American university, so it’s safe to say that the university values exposing its students to other cultures and ways of life. With satellite campuses in fourteen different countries around the world, NYU has unparalleled opportunities to broaden your horizons. While the university prizes diversity, it’s equally clear that NYU prizes strong academics and hard work. While acceptance rates reached a record low this year, the average test scores of admitted students reached a record high, meaning that incoming students are exceptionally well-qualified, too. Can You Apply to NYU Early? NYU offers early decision to applicants that are certain NYU is the right school for them. If you apply for early decision admission, and are admitted under the early decision notification, you are expected to enroll at NYU. In addition, you have to withdraw your applications from other schools, and cannot submit new applications. Early decision offers to NYU are binding, unless you don’t receive enough financial aid to be able to attend. If you don’t get into NYU during the early decision period, you won’t be able to apply again regular decision. NYU offers two early decision dates: November 1 and January 1. Students who apply at the November 1 deadline receive their decision on December 15; students who apply on January 1 learn on February 15. It can pay off to apply early to NYU. For the Class of 2021, for instance, the overall admissions rate was roughly 28% while early decision candidates were admitted at a rate of roughly 38%. That means that you have a statistically higher chance of getting admitted to NYU early than you do as a regular decision candidate - provided, of course, that your application is strong. NYU Application Deadlines and Requirements NYU has three degree-granting campuses: New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai. The admissions process is the same for all three schools. In order to apply as a first-year at NYU, you must be either: Currently in high school, even if taking college courses, or Participating in a dual-enrollment program, even if you’re earning enough credits for an associate’s degree, or Graduated with a GED or high school diploma equivalency test and not enrolled in a degree-seeking program. To apply, you’ll need to complete the Common Application and have a recommendation from your guidance counselor and up to two teachers. NYU doesn’t accept the Coalition or Universal applications. You'll also need to send in your official high school transcripts and official transcripts for any college-level work you've completed. If you're applying to the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and Tisch School of the Arts, you'll need to complete an audition or submit a portfolio of work in place of standardized testing. Steinhardt requires an audition or portfolio for all applicants to the Music Department with the exception of Educational Theatre, and a portfolio for those applying to Studio Art. Tisch requires an audition or portfolio for applicants to all programs with the exception of Interactive Media Arts. If you didn't apply to Steinhardt or Tisch, you'll need to submit your standardized test scores. Regular decisions applicants must submit their applications by January 1 and are notified on April 1. Want to get into NYU or your personal top choice college? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. What GPA Do I Need to Get Into NYU? Most students admitted to NYU have a GPA of 3.6 or higher, which means that you’ll want to achieve at least a 3.6 to be seriously considered as an applicant. In order to achieve a 3.6, you’ll need to earn mostly A’s and A-’s on your coursework. If your GPA is below 3.6, you can try to make up for that on other parts of your application, like your test scores or your portfolio, if you’re applying to Tisch or Steinhardt. What Test Scores Do I Need to Get Into NYU? NYU requires that you submit standardized test scores unless you’re applying to Steinhardt or Tisch, where your portfolio can take the place of test scores. NYU accepts a wide variety of test scores, though most students submit SAT or ACT scores. Here’s the full breadth of scores NYU accepts: SAT; or ACT; or International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma; or Three (3) SAT Subject Test scores; or Three (3) AP Exam scores; or Three (3) IB higher-level exam scores if not an IB Diploma candidate; or Other international examinations that show you completed, or if submitting predicted results show you will complete, your secondary education. You can find more information on these international examinations here. For this article, we’ll focus mainly on SAT and ACT scores, since those are what the majority of applicants submit. While NYU doesn’t have cut offs for SAT or ACT scores, you’ll need to make sure your scores are competitive with the average scores of admitted applicants. Let’s take a look at those. What SAT Scores Do I Need to Get Into NYU? As NYU’s acceptance rate lowers, the average SAT score of admitted applicants rises. The Class of 2022 had the highest average SAT composite score yet: 1440. That means you’ll need to score at (or very near) 1440 to be considered competitive with your fellow applicants. NYU doesn’t state which SAT scores they accept on their website (all, highest, etc), so you’ll need to contact the admissions office to learn which of your scores factor in. What ACT Scores Do I Need to Get Into NYU? NYU’s average ACT score is also rising. The average ACT score of admitted applicants to NYU is 30. Even though NYU likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 28 or below, you'll have a hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 30 and above that a 28 will look academically weak. NYU Application Essays You'll need to submit both the regular Common App materials as well as an NYU supplement, which includes a short essay, for your NYU application. The NYU essay prompt asks you to answer the simple question: why do you want to go to NYU? Here’s the text of the prompt in full: We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. We are particularly interested in knowing what motivated you to apply to NYU and more specifically, why you have 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 tell us why you are interested in each of the campuses, schools, colleges, or programs to which you have applied. You may be focused or undecided, or simply open to the options within NYU's global network; regardless, we want to understand - Why NYU? The essay has a 400 word limit, which means that you have space to really expand on what specifically attracts you to NYU. While you should make it clear why you want to attend NYU with your essay, you don't need to agonize for hours over it. Ultimately, other parts of your application (including your test scores and grades/course rigor, and letters of recommendation) are more important factors to your acceptance. You just need to show that you've done at least a little research into NYU and why you want to apply there in particular. For a more in-depth look at how to answer this prompt, check out our article dedicated specifically to acing this essay. Tips for Getting Into NYU It’s difficult to get into NYU†¦ and it’s getting more difficult every year! If you want to be admitted to NYU this year, follow these key tips for how to get into NYU. #1: Reflect NYU’s Values NYU values diversity and providing its students with a truly global experience. If you want your application to stand out, you can talk about a.) how these values are important to you, too, and b.) how you’ll take advantage of this policy when you go to NYU. You can talk about this as part of your why NYU essay. Be sure to have concrete examples of how you’ll engage with this mindset - don’t just say it would be fun to go party in another country, have specific programs, classes or experiences in mind. #2: Polish Your Application As NYU gets more and more competitive, you’ll need to put more and more effort into making your application equally competitive. Your test scores should meet or exceed the average scores of admitted applicants, as should your grades. Ask for letters of recommendation from teachers who really know you and your work to give an idea of why NYU can’t live without you. #3: Wow With Your Portfolio If you’re applying to Steinhardt or Tisch, your portfolio needs to be stellar. Pick examples of your work that showcase your specific talents and individuality. Your portfolio should have a point-of-view and personality - don’t submit generic work that could be attributed to anyone. #4: Have a Spike When you’re applying to college, it’s tempting to seem well-rounded and interested in all the things. Don’t do that. Your application won’t stand out if you’re mediocre in band, on the track team, and on student council. It will stand out if you travel to Japan to perform with a world-class performance ensemble or qualify for the Olympic trials in shot put. When your focus is on one thing, you’ll be better at it than if you have to split your time and attention. What’s Next? Looking for application tips for other selective schools? Read our complete guides to the University of California system and to the Georgetown application. Should you apply early or regular decision to college? Find out the pros and cons of early decision in this article. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.