Frequently Asked Questions

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Freshman Admission

How does NYU decide which students to=20 admit?

Admission to NYU is highly selective. A large and exceptionally=20 well-qualified applicant pool enables us to enroll a freshman class that = is=20 academically talented as well as remarkably diverse. However, there are = no set=20 "formulas" that we follow when we review your application. Recognizing = that each=20 applicant offers a unique combination of achievement and potential, we = carefully=20 consider your entire application =D1 academic and extracurricular = records, essay,=20 letters of recommendation and standardized test scores. We actively seek = students who have a variety of interests, talents and goals. We also = seek a=20 class that is diverse geographically, socially, racially, and = economically.=20 Finally, we are interested in how well you have made use of the = opportunities=20 available to you, however great or limited they may have been.

Are there minimum GPA or SAT requirements = for=20 admission?

No. NYU does not utilize numerical cut-offs when we evaluate = applications for=20 admission. Having said that, you should also know that NYU receives = applications=20 from many students with extraordinary academic records; more, in fact, = than we=20 could possibly admit each year. As a general rule, applicants with the = strongest=20 academic programs, the highest grades, and the highest test scores are = those=20 most likely to be offered admission.

What's most important in the admissions=20 decision?

Grades and test scores provide a tangible record of your academic=20 accomplishments. Essays and recommendations broaden our knowledge and=20 understanding of the "academic" you. Your record of participation in = school,=20 community and work experiences adds information concerning your = interests and=20 accomplishments outside of the classroom, and assists us in evaluating = important=20 personal qualities such as motivation, compassion and leadership. If we = had to=20 select one factor as being more important than any other, it would = probably be=20 your overall academic record as viewed in the context of the strength of = your=20 program.

Does NYU take into consideration the = difficulty of=20 a particular curriculum or different high school grading policies when = making=20 admissions decisions?

Yes. We encourage students to take the most challenging curriculum = available=20 to them, because when we evaluate your record, we consider the rigor of = the=20 program you've completed.

How important are letters of = recommendation?=20 =20

The most helpful and informative recommendations are from individuals = who=20 know you well and who can write specifically about you and your = accomplishments,=20 either academic or extracurricular. For example, recommendations assist = us when=20 they discuss information about you that might not be readily apparent = from even=20 a careful review of your transcript, or when they provide insight into = your=20 character; in other words, when they help us to distinguish you from = other=20 applicants. However, note that the admissions decision is not influenced = by the=20 number of recommendations we receive for an applicant, nor by the social = or=20 political prominence of the person providing the recommendation.

Does it help if one or both of my parents = attended=20 NYU?

It might. If your application is otherwise competitive, the fact that = you are=20 the child of an alumnus or alumna of NYU may help influence the = admissions=20 decision. However, having an NYU graduate in the family won't compensate = for a=20 mediocre academic record, and no one is admitted solely because they are = related=20 to an NYU alumnus.

Does NYU Accept the Common Application?=20 =20

Yes. We do accept both the paper version and the online version of = the Common=20 Application. Using the Common Application instead of the NYU application = has=20 absolutely no impact on the admissions decision.

We do, however, have a supplement to the Common Application that MUST = be=20 returned with your Common Application. [In fact, while you will be able = to=20 submit the online version of the Common Application your application = will=20 actually not be released to NYU until you have completed and are ready = to submit=20 the NYU Supplement as well.]

If you complete the online version of the Common Application, = you must=20 submit the online version of the supplement [available on the = Common=20 Application website].

Likewise, if you complete the paper application, you must = complete the=20 paper version of the NYU Supplement that can be downloaded from = our=20 website at admissions.nyu.edu/apply.no= w/.=20

Can I apply online?

Yes. You may apply either online or via a downloadable form. The = medium you=20 use to submit your application has no influence on the admissions = decision.

Can I apply to more than one NYU = undergraduate=20 college at the same time?

No. When you apply for admission, you must indicate the single = undergraduate=20 college you wish to attend. If you are interested in cross-disciplinary = study,=20 take a look at the Gallatin School http://www.nyu.edu/gallatin/. =

How important are deadlines? =

Very important. Your application and all supporting = credentials should=20 be received in our office on or before the application deadline; the = earlier the=20 better. For the last several years, we have had to return applications = for=20 admission that we received after the application deadline. Just how late = after=20 the deadline information is received usually determines how it is dealt = with. A=20 day or two late is usually not a problem. A week or month late, on the = other=20 hand, could be a big deal. Information received extremely late is = usually not=20 considered. If, for example, you wait until January or February to take=20 standardized tests you should realize that those scores usually do not = reach our=20 office until mid to late February.

Should I schedule an interview? = =

Formal interviews are not part of the admissions process at NYU. We = feel that=20 we can fairly evaluate your candidacy through a careful and thorough = review of=20 your application and supporting credentials. If you would like to = provide=20 information beyond the regular application materials, you may wish to = include a=20 personal statement with your application. Note, however, that we = definitely=20 recommend that all prospective students visit NYU.

When will I hear?

NYU sends admissions decisions for Early Decision freshmen by = mid-December,=20 and on or about April 1st for regular decision freshmen.

What's Early Decision?

Early Decision is an admissions option for freshman applicants who = are=20 certain that New York University is their first choice college and who = have=20 decided that they will attend NYU if admitted. If you apply as an Early = Decision=20 student, you must submit your application by November 1, and you will = receive=20 your admission decision in either December or January. If you apply to = NYU for=20 Early Decision consideration, you may also apply to other schools. = However, if=20 we offer you admission, you must withdraw any other applications you may = have=20 submitted to other colleges and pay a nonrefundable tuition deposit = within three=20 weeks of notification. Please note that NYU does not offer early action=20 admission.

Are my chances for admission better if I = apply=20 Early Decision?

Possibly. The Early Decision applicant pool is considerably smaller = than the=20 regular decision applicant pool. Also, keep in mind that the number of = offers of=20 admission we can make for regular admission students is always limited = by the=20 number of spots we have available in the freshman class. Every year, we = have=20 regular decision students who have qualifications very similar to those = we have=20 admitted who are not offered admission due to space constraints. That = problem=20 doesn't occur for Early Decision students, since we do not have to cap = the=20 number of Early Decision offers of admission we can make.

Is it possible to receive an estimated = financial=20 aid package if I apply as an Early Decision candidate?

Yes. The NYU application packet includes a paper "Early Decision = Program=20 Financial Aid Application". All Early Decision students who want to be=20 considered for need-based financial aid must file this form by November = 1st.=20 Early Decision students who receive awards must confirm the information=20 submitted on the Early Decision Program Financial Aid Application by = filing the=20 2009-2010 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January = 1,=20 2009, and before February 15, 2009. All Early Decision students are = considered=20 for merit awards whether or not they file an application for an = estimated=20 package. However, Early Decision students who do not file the Early = Decision=20 Program Financial Aid Application WILL NOT be considered for NYU = need-based=20 financial aid at a later date, even if they file the FAFSA after January = 1st.=20

How do I apply for Early Decision? = =

Use the same application as if you were applying for Regular = Decision, but=20 clearly identify yourself as an Early Decision applicant. Do this by = checking=20 the appropriate box under "Filing Status" and by completing the Early = Decision=20 Agreement. If you use the Common Application to apply, you should follow = the=20 instructions to indicate that you are an Early Decision applicant. All = Early=20 Decision applicants must complete the Early = Decision=20 Agreement Form.

Does NYU have an Early Admission Program = for High=20 School Juniors?

No. NYU used to have such a program but it has been discontinued. =

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