Apply for Admission

The Common Application is required for students applying to any or all of NYU's three degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, or Shanghai. Required school documents may be submitted directly through the Common Application or separately.

NYU applicants pay a non-refundable application fee of USD 80. Students who are unable to pay the application fee can request a fee waiver.

Common Application Explained

Watch this helpful video to learn about the process and deadlines.

Step 1

You will need:

1. Contact information for the counselor or other school representative who will complete your Common Application School Report (including the Counselor Recommendation) and submit your official secondary school transcript.
2. Contact information for a teacher who will complete the Teacher Evaluation form.
3. Nonrefundable $80 application fee. Students who are unable to pay the application fee can request a fee waiver.
4. To indicate campus of interest: When applying to NYU through the Common Application, you will be asked to indicate your primary campus of interest (Abu Dhabi, New York City, or Shanghai). If Abu Dhabi is your primary campus of interest, you still have the option of indicating up to two alternate campuses of interest. Your application will not be disadvantaged in any way if you choose to do so.

Step 2

Submit Your Common Application School Report and Transcripts

• Common Application School Report and Transcripts
  Make sure to have your counselor submit the Common Application Mid Year Report (with an updated transcript)  by March 1 through the Common Application. This should show your first semester/term grades from your final year. Transcripts must come from an official school source to be processed. The name used in your application and supporting documents should be exactly as it appears on your passport or birth certificate.
  
• Teacher or Instructor Evaluation
  Ask your counselor and teacher  to complete and submit the required school forms. Once you provide an email address for your school officials in the Common Application, they will be sent a message inviting them to fill out the necessary forms online. While digital submission via the Common Application is preferred,  they may submit any documents in hard copy by mail.  You should follow up with your counselor and teacher to confirm that all required materials have been submitted on your behalf.
  
• Timing
  The school officials you identify do not need to wait for you to submit your application before they submit supporting materials, but universities will not be able to access their forms until you have submitted your application.

Step 3

Submit Your Appropriate Standardized Testing

Send official score reports or predicted scores. Results from scholastic exams are an important criteria for evaluating our global pool of applicants. With that said, NYU has one of the most flexible testing policies of any college or university. You only have to submit results from one of the following:

•  SAT (essay test not required)
• ACT (writing test not required)
• Three SAT Subject Test scores
• Three AP exam scores
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
• Three IB higher-level exam scores if not an IB Diploma candidate
• Nationally accredited exam that shows you completed your secondary education

Note: Test scores must come from an official source to be processed. Use your name exactly as it appears on your passport or birth certificate on your application and supporting documents.

English Language Testing
All NYU students must have a strong command of the English language to be successful in a fast-paced, rigorous academic environment. If English is not your native language, we recommend you submit results from an English language testing exam.

See full list of accepted English language proficiency exams

Step 4

Teacher Evaluation

You will need to submit one teacher or instructor evaluation. When you start the Common Application online, make sure you have contact information for a teacher who will complete the Teacher Evaluation form. 

Once you provide an email address for your school officials in the Common Application, they will be sent a message inviting them to fill out the evaluation form online.

Remember: Use your name exactly as it appears on your passport or birth certificate on your application and supporting documents.

Step 5

Short Response (Essay)

You will need to answer one important question on the Common Application: "Why NYU?" Make sure to demonstrate fit with your campus of choice in this short essay by showing your interest in your intended study major, specific courses or projects you would like to take, and student events and opportunities you would want to be a part of. If you are applying "undecided," you may talk about why you want to figure out your academic interests while at NYU. 

Sending Documents

To be considered official, all documents (including academic transcripts) require an original signature of the registrar or other designated school official, or the institution's seal. If a document isn't in English, then a translation should be provided (a school official or a translation agency accredited in your country can issue the translation). All official testing should come from the relevant examination board or testing agency.

Note: Transcripts and test scores must come from an official source to be processed. Use your name exactly as it appears on your passport or birth certificate on your application and supporting documents.

New York University
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
383 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003
USA

or via email to admissions.docs@nyu.edu