Study at NYU (New York University)

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Based in one of the most globalized cities in the world, New York University (NYU) was founded in 1831 and now has campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai in addition to a host of other centers across the globe. NYU was founded by Albert Gallatin, the Secretary of the Treasury in the cabinets of the 2nd and 3rd presidents of the US, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, also the first president of NYU. Needless to say, its history is quite literally linked to the “Founding Fathers” of the United States.

Arguably reflecting the city’s reputation for diversity and acceptance, NYU has the particularity of having been non-denominational from the start : contrary to all other top American colleges at the time of their creation

New York University (NYU) in a few words

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NYU now boasts over 26,000 undergraduate students and nearly as many graduates and in 2014, attracted more international students than any other American university, according to figures published in the “Open Doors” study by the Institute of International Education (IIE). In light of its growth and increasing popularity, the university has become more and more selective in part due to a nearly 100% increase in applications between 2007 and 2017. That year, NYU accepted 27% of its applicants. In 2017, that figure dropped to 19%.

The University has extremely strong ties with the city of New York, seen both in its use of its torch logo, like the Statue of Liberty, and also its location in central New York within the neighborhood Greenwich Village and more specifically, Washington Square. This area has for many years been known as a hub of cultural activity in New York was at one time home to historical figures as diverse as NYU chemistry Professor, creator of the telegraph and namesake of Morse code, Samuel Morse and abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock and cradle of the modern LGBT movement.

Academics

With more than 230 areas of study, NYU offers something for everyone. Its top ranked programs are social sciences (8th by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, 15th by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings,and 16th by the QS World University Rankings); psychology (11th by the QS World University Ranking).

Globally, NYU is ranked 18th in the Center for World University Rankings, 17th in International Colleges and Universities, 29th in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, 27th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and 46th in the QS World University Rankings.

Campus Life

NYU is an open, urban campus, but students still claim the area around Washington Square as their own. Washington Square provides an outdoor space for students to meet and relax or study, as many university buildings like the Silver Center, home to the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, are concentrated around this area. The university also provides numerous student-only spaces like the 24 hour Bobst Library, the Kimmel Center for University Life or the NYU Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life also on the square.

A range of activities are offered including competitive and intramural sports, fraternities and sororities known as “Greek life” on American campuses. As of 2014, about 13% of NYU students were members of these clubs.

Notable alumni include entertainment industry figures like Martin Scorsese, Adam Sandler and Dakota Fanning (class of 2018); business people such as the owner of Barnes & Noble books, Leonard Riggio and the founder of Ben & Jerry’s, Ben Cohen; authors including Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games and politicians including Bill de Blasio, the current mayor of New York City.

For more detail, see also: Williams College: Admissions, Requirements & Fees.

How do I apply?

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To apply to NYU, you will need to use the Common Application, a centralized platform through which you can apply to most American colleges and universities. You will need to fill in information about your family : including the occupation of your parents -, provide your transcript or high school grades, submit 1 teacher reference letter, submit one “school report”, draft a résumé or CV, send official test scores (SAT, SAT Subject Test scores, ACT and English language test scores), declare a major or intended area of study, describe your extracurricular activities and as with most highly selective colleges complete the essay questions on the Common App as well as answer additional essay questions specific to NYU. The NYU current question is “Why NYU?”. According to NYU, this is one of the most important parts of your application.

You must submit all your materials before the appropriate deadline. If you are sure that NYU is your first choice, then you may want to apply for Early Decision, which may increase your chances for admission. Early Decision 1 materials must be submitted by November 1st. NYU also offers Early Decision 2, which is due on the same day as Regular Decision, January 1st.

For more detail, see also: Study Abroad: Find the Ideal Master’s Degree for Your Career.

The Candidate

Your admission application for New York University (NYU) must comprise the following elements :

  • Your results from the SAT and from the Subject Test
  • Your results from the TOEFL, IELTS Academic or the PTE Academic Test
  • Your candidate file and the NYU Supplement
  • Your NYU Financial Aid Application
  • School Report, Guidance Counselor Letter and Transcript
  • Teacher Evaluation Form 1
  • Teacher Evaluation Form 2

Related reading: Middlebury College: Admissions, Requirements & Fees.

When do you have to start preparing for NYU?

Taking into account the numerous specific requirements for American universities like taking exams; consistently participating in extra-curricular activities including clubs, music, sports, and side projects; and the numerous essays to write, we recommend that students begin start to think about their path to Stanford as soon as they begin high school. The application itself is typically completed during the fall semester of students’ last year in high school.

On the same topic, see our article: Boston University: Admissions, Requirements & Fees.

What is the profile of the students at NYU?

A few more facts and figures: The freshman (1st year) class entering in 2015-216 was made of  5,917 students, representing 49 states and 91 countries, with 19% as non-US citizens. Typically, most freshmen applicants have a typical unweighted, high school GPA of 3.5/A (90-95%) and are in the top 10% of their high school graduating class. For the freshman class of 2018-2019, the average SAT score for accepted students was 1460/1600 and between 32/36 on the ACT. The student-to-faculty ratio at the New York campus is 10:1

For graduate programs, as of 2016, the average MCAT score of students at the School of Medicine is 36/45, average GMAT score of graduate students at the School of Business is 710/800, average GRE quant score of graduate students at the School of Engineering is 169.3/170, and average LSAT score of students at the School of Law is 171/180.

For more detail, see also: Duke Fuqua: MBA Admissions, Requirements & Fees.

Affording NYU

In order to be eligible for financial aid as an international student, you must apply every year using your personalized CSS Profile.

The deadlines to submit your financial aid application are as follows: Early Decision 1, November 15th; Early Decision 2, January 15th; Regular Decision, February 15th.

The University claims that the average student financial aid award is ,000 for the first year. Tuition (without Room & Board) is about ,000 per year in 2018.

Related reading: LLM in the USA vs UK: Cost & Fees Compared 2026.

Are you ready to study at NYU?

We’re here to help you succeed in your application.

Our Google reviews

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Annaé Aviges
74 days ago
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I received support from Your Dream School, particularly from Adam and Lawrence, throughout my final year of high school for my applications to universities abroad, especially through UCAS. Thanks to their personalized guidance, availability, and responsiveness, I was accepted into most of my UCAS choices. They were perfectly able to adapt to my profile and goals. I highly recommend Your Dream School to all students wishing to attend selective international universities. A huge thank you to Adam and Lawrence for their help!

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Frederic P
83 days ago
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We are extremely grateful to the Your Dream School team for the exceptional support our daughter received throughout her applications to American and British universities. Adam and his team demonstrated remarkable professionalism, availability, and expertise at every stage of the process. Thanks to their wise guidance and personalized support, our daughter was accepted into the Ivy League university of her dreams. We wholeheartedly recommend Your Dream School to any family wishing to confidently prepare applications for universities abroad.

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Frederic Asquiedge
97 days ago
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Delighted with the support from Adam, Lawrence, and the entire team in helping us navigate European programs and prepare rock-solid applications! Excellent results in the end!

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Anne WILTZ
101 days ago
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I wanted to express my immense gratitude to My Dream School for their support throughout Grégoire's university application process in England and Spain. From the very beginning, they were present, available, and remarkably professional. Thanks to their guidance, expertise, and support, Grégoire was delighted to receive offers of admission from prestigious universities such as UCL, King's College London, and IE University. We would especially like to thank Adam for his support during the release of the Baccalaureate results. Grégoire's score on the Grand Oral exam, well below our expectations, jeopardized several of his admissions, particularly that of IE, which requires a minimum Baccalaureate level. This was a particularly stressful time for our entire family. During this difficult period, My Dream School provided invaluable support. They guided us calmly and efficiently, prepared the necessary letters, advised us on the steps to take, and helped us present the situation in the best possible light. Their responsiveness, experience, and commitment made all the difference. Today, Grégoire is preparing to join IE University, after considering King's College London, where he had also been accepted. This is a fantastic opportunity for him, and we know that your support greatly contributed to this success. Thank you, Adam and Laurence, for your availability and dedication. We are very grateful. Grégoire is thrilled to begin this new adventure, and we share his joy completely.

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juliette Tisne
125 days ago
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A very responsive coach who did a fantastic job preparing my daughter for her interviews with different universities in France and abroad!

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anne hindermeyer
134 days ago
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I highly recommend Your Dream School to help your children/teenagers succeed in their exams. My son was accepted to Sciences Po Paris. Adam is not only very responsive and available, but he also immediately understands your needs. He will connect you with various tutors who are Sciences Po students themselves and will perfectly optimize your oral exam preparation. This is essential preparation because the oral exam is very specific. You will benefit from a great deal of flexibility in choosing the students, scheduling, and frequency, for example. It's a tailor-made approach that allows you to feel confident for the oral exam. My son was fortunate to be able to train in the best possible conditions with Emma and then Jeanne. Their dedication was crucial. My son was accepted to Sciences Po on his preferred campus. I can only thank Adam and his entire team!

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Chloe Ramel
135 days ago
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I had the opportunity to work with Yash and Jess throughout this year, and I couldn't have asked for better coaches. Yash guided me through my Personal Statement for the UK, while Jess helped me with my Common App and additional essays for the US. They were both incredibly supportive, backing my ideas while also pushing me to develop them further. We spent countless hours working and reworking my essays until we were all happy with the final result. Even outside of our calls, they took the time to give me detailed feedback so I could continue to improve my applications. They dedicated an enormous amount of time and energy to my application, and I am deeply grateful. They helped me rephrase certain sections to make them clearer, while still preserving my voice and authenticity in my writing. I highly recommend Jess and Yash to any student applying to the UK and USA!

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Matthieu Demaude
135 days ago
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We are absolutely delighted with the support our daughter received. Thanks to their professionalism, expertise, and dedication, she was able to take top-quality English lessons and successfully prepare for her IELTS exam. Beyond English, the team also coached her for her business school entrance interviews. Their advice was invaluable, relevant, and perfectly tailored to her goals. They helped her build confidence, structure her presentations, and highlight her strengths. The results far exceeded our expectations: our daughter performed exceptionally well in her interviews and gained remarkable confidence. We particularly appreciated their availability, attentiveness, kindness, and ability to personalize their support. They are a passionate team truly committed to their students' success. A huge thank you for your help and support. We wholeheartedly recommend their services to all families who want to give their children the best possible chance of academic and professional success.

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Othman Ouali
149 days ago
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I had the opportunity to be primarily guided by Adam for the academic guidance and Lawrence for building my application. Like my brother a few years ago, I am delighted with the results we achieved, particularly SOAS for my brother and King's College London for me. YDS adapts to each individual's profile and was very responsive whenever I needed help. I also greatly appreciated the teaching methods and support of my coach during my GRE preparation. I highly recommend them!

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Elia Azencot
181 days ago
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I am so glad I chose to work with Your Dream School. Thanks to their support, I was able to gain admission to universities like IE University and ESCP Business School, as well as other programs through UCAS. I received exceptional support from Adam and Lawrence, who played a vital role throughout the entire process. They were always available, incredibly dedicated, and encouraged me to give my best. I highly recommend Your Dream School to anyone wishing to gain admission to selective international universities. Their dedication and expertise truly make a difference.

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A few key figures about Your Dream School

5/5
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150+
5-star reviews
1000+
students supported

They got in with Your Dream School

Reassurance is what matters most when choosing your guidance.

★★★★★

« I was very satisfied with the care delivered, with the mentoring and the administrative procedures, particularly drafting the personal statement. I highly recommend this mentoring. »

MA
Mother of Anaelle B.
Parent · UCL & King’s College (maths)

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★★★★★

« Being supported by Your Dream School gave me a framework and a structure. I was accepted to the majority of the universities I applied to : very happy to start studying in London next year! »

AT
Adèle Thoumieux
Admitted to LCC, Westminster, Regent’s & Kingston (Media)
★★★★★

« …I managed to get my offer to UCL in London, one of the best English universities, which was my first choice. Their support was consistent and personal. »

HS
Hadrien Strichard
Admitted to University College London (UCL)
★★★★★

« I decided to apply to university in England for my Bachelor’s and I asked Your Dream School to support me. I’m so glad I did! I’m excited to go to London to study next year! »

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Chiara L.
Admitted to UCL, Bath, Durham & King’s College

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