NYU Essay
NYU Essay Prompts: Quick Facts
- NYU Acceptance Rate: 9%—U.S. News ranks New York University #30 on their National Universities list, so you’ll need an outstanding NYU Essay to gain acceptance.
- Requirements for NYU Essay:
- Common App personal statement
- 1 (~250 word) optional essay
- New York University Application: Students must submit their application through the Common Application. Be sure to have all the required materials, including essays, ready when applying.
- NYU Application Deadline:
- Early Decision I: November 1
- Early Decision II: January 1
- Regular Decision: January 5
- Quick Tip for your NYU Essay: Although the NYU supplemental essay is optional, we recommend that all students complete one in order to bolster their admissions odds.
Does NYU have supplemental essays?
There are no required NYU supplemental essays. However, all students must complete the Common App personal statement. Additionally, there is an “optional” NYU essay. We recommend that students consider this NYU essay a requirement.
Since New York University is among the best universities in New York, the NYU acceptance rate is extremely competitive. As such, applicants should do everything possible to stand out to NYU admissions. Completing the NYU essay is essential to doing so.
NYU Essay Prompts
There aren’t multiple NYU essay prompts for students to complete for their optional supplemental essay. Here is the only current supplemental essay prompt for New York University:
NYU Essay Prompt
In a world where disconnection seems to often prevail, we are looking for students who embody the qualities of bridge builders—students who can connect people, groups, and ideas to span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration within a dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community. We are eager to understand how your experiences have prepared you to build the bridges of the future. Please consider one or more of the following questions in your essay:
· What personal experiences or challenges have shaped you as a bridge builder?
· How have you been a bridge builder in your school, community, or personal life?
· What specific actions have you taken to build bridges between diverse groups, ideas, or cultures?
· How do you envision being a bridge builder during your time at our university and beyond?
Responding to the optional NYU essay may feel overwhelming. Rather than stressing about writing the essay, consider it an opportunity to make your application stand out. This essay is the time for you to share more of your unique story. Take advantage of it!
Let’s check out some pointers on how to respond to the optional NYU essay prompt.
Understanding the NYU essay prompt
The NYU essay prompt may seem like multiple NYU essay prompts in one. However, while the prompt is certainly multifaceted, with many ways to respond, there is indeed only one NYU essay. You might look at the questions as separate NYU essay prompts—but they are simply meant as possible topics to write on.
These provided questions should help you respond to the prompt by getting ideas flowing. The main purpose of the prompt is to find out what experiences have formed you as a collaborator. Most importantly, the prompt asks how you will use these experiences and skills during your time at NYU and beyond.
Getting started
Before you start writing your draft, you’ll want to be clear on the overall theme of your essay. You’ll do this by choosing the topic you will highlight and reflect upon.
Begin to brainstorm by thinking about experiences you’ve had interacting with different groups of people. How did you handle the differences you encountered? What helped you bridge the gap and work with those different from you? What did you learn from it and how will it apply to your future? You can also consider your involvement in your communities or even school groups. Did you bring people together?
You might also think about challenges you’ve faced that relate to the prompt. For example, was there a time when you had to bring people together to solve a problem? How did you tackle the challenge and overcome it? This is a good opportunity to highlight your leadership abilities as well. A leader will most certainly bring people together for a common goal.
As you brainstorm personal stories to highlight, consider your future. How do these lived experiences play into your life at NYU and after? What skills will you continue to apply and foster?
Once you have an idea of the personal experiences that you’d like to highlight, you’re ready to begin drafting! Often, choosing the main topic or anecdotes to use is the most challenging part of essay writing. They should share something new and positive about yourself, while comprehensively responding to the prompt.
Write, revise, repeat
Impressive NYU supplemental essays will hook the reader from the start. Often, beginning your essay with an anecdote or a specific detail can accomplish this. Of course, it needs to directly relate to the prompt and should be an example that showcases how you’ve been a bridge builder. Keep in mind that you have a word limit of 250. So, you need to convey a narrative and completely answer the prompt in a relatively succinct matter.
Use the adage “show, don’t tell” when crafting your essay. Instead of stating that you brought a group together, paint a picture with words about how you did so.
Be sure to show personal growth and reflection in this essay. How did the experience affect you and your future? What will you take from it and apply to your time at NYU and beyond? Mentioning the future is key to writing an excellent essay, so don’t forget to apply your learnings to your future!
College essay writing can involve a lot of rewriting. So, don’t be afraid to mark up your first draft with revisions! Get feedback from trusted friends, family, and mentors to help you perfect your essay. However, be sure to maintain your unique voice and style when applying the feedback of others.
Don’t forget to do a final edit to polish your essay. Spelling or grammatical errors will distract the reader and take away from your narrative. Be sure your final essay is mechanically impeccable.
Is there a Why NYU essay?
As we mentioned, there aren’t multiple NYU essay prompts. Moreover, the only NYU essay students need to write is not a “why school” essay. NYU essay prompts in past years, included a “why NYU” essay. However, that was removed in previous admissions cycles. For now, there is simply one NYU essay — which is not a “why NYU” essay.
However, the why school essay prompt requires students to do their research on specific offerings at their school of interest. In that respect, you should still apply some elements of preparing for a “why school” essay. For example, figure out why you want to attend NYU. Is it a certain program, course, organization, or other opportunity only found at NYU?
Another pillar of a “why school” essay is showing that you’d be a great fit for that institution. When writing with this in mind, consider what you will bring to NYU’s campus. Indeed, this step of the “why school” essay can certainly be applied to this year’s NYU essay prompt. In fact, the final reflection question in the prompt specifically asks about it: “How do you envision being a bridge builder during your time at our university and beyond?”
While there is no “why NYU” essay this year, strategies to respond to a “why school” essay can still be useful when writing your NYU essay. Namely, researching the school and considering what makes you a great fit for its campus are important steps to prepare.
Is the NYU Essay optional?
Yes, the NYU essay is optional. However, you should consider it a requirement when planning your application timeline. The NYU acceptance rate is low, meaning that impressing admissions isn’t an easy feat. They receive tens of thousands of applicants each year, a significant portion of which are extremely qualified. Therefore, not writing the optional NYU essay would be a huge wasted opportunity to strengthen your application.
While technically there are no required NYU supplemental essays, all students will need to write the Common App personal statement. It may be tempting to think that you can rely on the personal statement to convey everything you need. However, if you’re serious about applying to NYU and want a chance at admission, the essay is essential. Admittedly, there are no official statistics about admitted students and whether or not they submitted an essay. At the same time, common sense dictates that more, specific information in your application can boost your odds of acceptance.
Should I write the NYU Essay?
Absolutely! Applicants should write the optional New York University essay. In fact, we urge students to consider it a requirement when planning their application timeline. Give yourself sufficient time to write an excellent NYU essay and Common App essay.
The NYU essay is an opportunity for you to share more about who you are and what you’ll bring to NYU. Carefully consider how you want to respond to the NYU essay prompt. This New York University essay focuses on how you make connections, share perspectives, and collaborate with others. You’ll absolutely want to write this NYU essay in order to stand out to admissions and optimize your chance of admission.
How long is the NYU essay?
Through the years, NYU supplemental essays have typically been short essays. The word limit for the NYU essay is 250 words—less than half the 650 word count for the Common App essay. While the NYU essay probably isn’t the shortest essay you’ll write, you still need to be concise and consider your words carefully. NYU supplemental essays should tell a story while comprehensively answering the prompt. You’ll only have 250 words to do so in this New York University essay.
How to stick to the word count
Write multiple drafts.
You might consider a free-write to get you started. From there, you can pick a theme within that draft that most speaks to you. After deciding on your essay’s main topic, you can write another draft with the word count in mind.
Be concise, yet thoughtful with your words.
Yes, you need to be concise in your NYU essay. However, 250 words is still a decent amount of words in which to tell a new part of your unique story while answering the prompt. Choose your words carefully. Don’t blandly answer the prompt; use descriptive language, hook the reader, and craft a narrative.
Cut out unnecessary words.
You’ll need to focus on having the best of the best in your NYU essay. Especially after the first draft, be prepared to cut things out. Dissect your draft and eliminate unnecessary words, phrases, and ideas. This aspect of revision may see you calling on mentors or writing-savvy friends for help.
Be specific.
Just because you have a 250 word limit for this New York University essay, don’t feel like you should omit evocative imagery. On the contrary, be specific and intentional when sharing your story. Don’t use generalizations, as these are wasted words. Find unique, vivid ways to communicate your message in your NYU essay.
NYU Essay Requirements: The Common App Essay
Similar to many colleges, NYU requires students to write the Common App essay. However, the good news is that your Common App essay can be used for various schools. So, if you write one excellent Common App essay, you’ll be set when applying to multiple universities.
What is the Common App essay?
The Common App essay is a 250–650 word personal essay that students will submit to multiple schools via the Common Application. Students may choose from among seven prompts when writing their Common App essay.
No matter the prompt you choose, your Common App essay should share a unique story about yourself that further conveys who you are to admissions officers. You’ll want to highlight attributes that haven’t been showcased in other parts of your application. As with the NYU essay, your Common App essay needs to paint a picture of what you’d bring to campus. How will you positively impact a school’s community?
In general, your Common App essay is sent to multiple schools. However, you may be able to adapt it for schools that use different platforms like the Coalition Application or UC Apply. For schools that receive your essay, however, be careful not to repeat information in school-specific writing supplements.
For the Common App essay, students will have their choice of prompt. Ideally, both it and your New York University essay will add new information and value to your overall candidate profile. Let’s take a look at this year’s Common App prompts:
Common App Essay Prompts
- Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
- The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
- Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
- Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
How to choose a Common App essay prompt
Your Common App essay is an important part of not only your New York University application, but also other college applications. Therefore, it’s important that your Common App essay shares information that isn’t obvious from your transcript, extracurriculars, and standardized test scores. Choosing a prompt that highlights one of your unique qualities or experiences is key.
Unless one prompt really calls out to you and has you excited to start writing, brainstorming possible essay topics for each prompt is a good place to start. When brainstorming, consider specific personal stories that relate to the topic. These examples should be crucial factors in shaping who you are.
You might also choose to consider unique events or experiences you’ve had in your life. Is there something that makes you particularly different? Have you experienced a moment that drastically altered your life? Has your life been unconventional? If you have a moment that is out of the ordinary, perhaps you can find a way to use it in an essay. You may even choose the seventh “prompt” and share a compelling, unique essay! However, be sure to reflect seriously on the experience and how it has impacted you and your future goals or motivation. What have you learned or taken from this experience — how has it informed your worldview or values?
Focus on what excites you
Most importantly, you need to choose a Common App essay prompt that you are excited to write about. College essays are almost inevitably overwhelming or stressful. At the same time, they can provide an opportunity to reflect on your life and share more about who you are with admissions. Write about something that hasn’t been seen anywhere else in your application. This essay will likely be sent to multiple colleges and will play an important role in admissions decisions. Give it the time it deserves and write your best Common App essay!
What does NYU admissions look for in essays?
The NYU essay is an important part of your overall application. If you’re making a “how to get into NYU” plan, then writing an exceptional essay should be an important part of it. Contrary to other parts of the application, NYU supplemental essays should share who you are, rather than just what you do. You might choose to highlight a new aspect of your personality, a value, a meaningful experience, or even all three.
While you shouldn’t necessarily write your NYU essay trying to match what admissions wants to read, consider what they look for in applicants. Indeed, NYU admissions uses a holistic evaluation process, considering both applicants’ academic and personal experiences. Admissions will consider academics, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, essays, and lived experiences in their admissions process.
When writing the NYU essay, you should be authentic. Highlight aspects of yourself that show your strengths and personal growth. Ideally, you should mention attributes, experiences, perspectives, or values that haven’t been highlighted elsewhere in your application. For example, write on different topics in your NYU essay and your Common App essay. Don’t reiterate similar experiences, reflections, skills, or values in both essays. You only have one supplemental NYU essay to show admissions who you are — take advantage of it!
NYU Essay Examples
A great way to write your best NYU supplemental essays is by reading essay examples. These can serve as excellent inspiration. While the NYU essay prompts are subject to change each year, essay examples can still help you. Essays responding to previous NYU essay prompts allow you to see how accepted students shared their story and stood out to admissions.
Take a look at these essay examples from previous NYU essay prompts. These are “why school” essays; however, even though the NYU essay prompts have changed, you can still take some tips from these essay examples. We also break down why these NYU supplemental essays were successful, giving you valuable insights into what to aim for when telling your own story in your NYU essay.
Additionally, NYU provides Common App essay examples. Reading Common App essays that worked will also allow you to craft your best Common App essay — an important part of the majority of your college applications, not just NYU.
Applying to NYU
The NYU essay and Common Application essay are only part of the application process. There are other required materials you’ll need to submit to be considered for admission. If you’re applying to certain programs you’ll need to complete additional requirements. For example, an audition or portfolio are required for certain artistic programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and Tisch School of the Arts.
Here are the general steps involved in applying to NYU:
Overview of NYU Application Steps
1. Complete the Common Application online.
This involves submitting your essays and paying an application fee of $85. You don’t have to submit everything in one sitting; however, you do need to do so by your chosen application deadline.
2. Gather and submit required documents.
You’ll need to collect your NYU essay, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and any other specified documents. Keeping a list of materials needed can help you stay on track.
3. Choose an NYU application deadline.
You want to choose the date that works best for you. Consider your timeline and make sure to give yourself enough time to complete the application on time.
4. Check your application status.
Once you’ve successfully submitted your Common Application and all required materials, you’ll want to log in to your NYU Applicant Portal to check your application status. The portal also provides information on any missing materials or how to submit documents.
What is the application deadline for NYU?
Choosing the best NYU application deadline for you is important. It can even affect your odds of acceptance. Let’s take a look at the deadlines:
| Application Deadline | Decision Notification | |
| Early Decision I | November 1 | December 15 |
| Early Decision II | January 1 | February 15 |
| Regular Decision | January 5 | April 1 |
If NYU is at the top of your college list, meaning you’re set on attending if accepted, then you should consider applying to an Early Decision deadline. The NYU Early Decision deadlines are binding agreements. This means that if you’re accepted, then you’re expected to enroll. You’ll also need to withdraw your other college applications.
Therefore, if you apply to either of the early decision deadlines, you should be certain about attending NYU. If it’s not your #1 school, then apply regular decision.
More Resources for your NYU Essay
Luckily, you won’t have to take on the NYU essay blindly. The NYU website provides some tips on how to complete the NYU essay in this guide. The guide starts off by describing the NYU essay as a “succinct and creative opportunity.” It then goes into how to get started, choose a topic, and states the main point of your NYU essay (sharing more about yourself with admissions). Take advantage of this useful resource and give it a read before starting your NYU essay — after all, it’s straight from the admissions office.
In addition to an NYU essay guide, the university also provides applicants with a guide on how to fill out the Common Application. All students must submit their application via the Common App, so understanding how to do so is vital.
Reading previous essay guides can give you some more valuable tips on how to approach your essays. While the prompts have changed, the tips will help you when writing various college essays. College essays require a certain approach that is broadly applicable regardless of the prompt, so much advice is timeless.
CollegeAdvisor also has plenty of resources to utilize when crafting the NYU supplemental essays. The New York University essay and the Common App essay are important when it comes to deciphering how to get into NYU. Check out our How to Get Into NYU guide, which provides essay tips as well as other application tips to help you stand out to admissions.
NYU Essay- Takeaways
We’ve reviewed plenty of information about the NYU supplemental essay. Let’s recap some of the most important takeaways.
5 Key NYU Essay Takeaways
1. Start your essay early.
The NYU essay is technically optional. However, with NYU’s acceptance rate so low, you’ll want to do everything you can to stand out from the crowd. Essays are a vital way for admissions to get to know who you really are—beyond your grades and extracurricular list. Give this essay the attention it deserves by allowing yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, draft, revise, rewrite, and edit.
2. Intentionally choose your essay topic.
The prompt dictates to a certain extent the overall theme of your essay. In the case of the NYU essay, it’s all about how you collaborate and build connections. However, the actual topic you choose to write about depends on your lived experiences. Be sure to choose a topic that you’re excited to dive into and highlights one of your unique and valuable qualities.
3. Mention the future in your essay.
There is no “why NYU” essay this year as there has been in previous admissions cycles. However, you still want to show that you would be a great addition to NYU’s campus community. Reflect on how you will foster connections on NYU’s campus and beyond!
4. Highlight what makes you unique.
This is a part of choosing your topic, but we’re mentioning it again because it’s extremely important. You want to share something unique to you — something that no one else could write about. Be specific and avoid generalities in your essay. Consider asking a friend or family member to read your essay. If they say it reads as you, and only you, then that’s a good sign!
5. Add value to your overall application.
The NYU supplemental essay is an opportunity to add important information to your application narrative. This essay and the Common App essay are your only chances to really let your personality, strengths, and values shine. Think of these essays as the human side to your application, different from the numbers and lists. Write in your unique voice and style, and don’t be afraid to get creative. But, most importantly, your essay should add new information that shows you are a standout candidate.
There are plenty of resources to guide you when writing your college essays. CollegeAdvisor has a myriad of free resources to help with everything from acing your Common App essay to writing supplemental essays. Additionally, if you’d like personalized guidance with your college application essays, reach out to one of our expert advisors. They’ve helped thousands of students get into their dream colleges!
This article was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.
