NYU is a city campus in the truest sense. Founded in 1831, this university is a perfect blend of historic prestige and cutting-edge culture. With 50,000 students, it’s big for a private school and its student body is packed into the heart of lower Manhattan (or wherever it is they choose to rest their heads from Brooklyn on). NYU offers 19 schools and colleges from business to arts and just like its hometown, there’s something for everyone. The school also offers an expansive study abroad program, with campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. The acceptance rate was 15% this year, making NYU highly competitive.

The Question

Why NYU?
We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. What motivated you to apply to NYU? Why have you 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 also tell us why you are interested in these additional areas of study or campuses. We want to understand - Why NYU? (400 word maximum)

But First…

Read every word in the question above again. It’s fairly straightforward. NYU wants to know why you’d like to go there. But there are pitfalls. First thing’s first. The key to the treasure here is specificity. NYU ostensibly prompts you to reply with breadth. They ask you several questions about your interests and goals. But think of answering this question with a narrow scope. The point is not just to respond to each question. It’s to tell a story about who you are and what your academic path has been for the last several years. Most of all, your goal should be to connect your journey with the future that lies ahead at NYU. Before you do any writing, reflect upon your area of interest. Identify the classes you’ve taken that are relevant to the realm of study you intend to pursue.

The Origin Story

You should start out this essay with the story of how you first became interested in your area of study. This doesn’t need to be (and shouldn’t be) a dramatic existential tale. It should be simple and yes, specific. Details, please. Perhaps you saw an ad on television as a child for a hyper-absorbent paper towel brand and began experimenting with inventions, fueling your interest in mechanical engineering. Maybe you started a neighborhood babysitting enterprise in the 6th grade, motivating you to pursue a lifelong trajectory of entrepreneurship. Whatever the tale, fill 1-2 paragraphs with it.

NYU’s Story

The question can also be read, in part, as “Why NYU.” So, the next thing you’re going to want to do is to figure that out for yourself. While the city life and proximity to home might be genuinely important in your choice, you only have 400 words to convince NYU you’re the perfect fit. We recommend spending quite a bit of time researching all aspects of NYU that pertain to your area of interest. Identify the classes (sophomore-level and above) that are relevant to your hyper-specific academic corner. Research the professors and their areas of study. Learn about internship and study abroad opportunities. Again, get as specific as possible. Now, you’ll want to connect the dots. The reason why you want to go to NYU is that it’s the perfect place for you to study your very specific niche area. Talk about the classes you want to take and the professors with whom you’d like to conduct research. This should be a genuine expression of your interests in life.

What If You’re Interested in Two Majors?

You’re going to want to tell the origin story of both academic interests. If you’re applying to two very different areas of study (say Spanish and biology) you’re going to have to explain why you’re interested in these two disparate areas. However, if the two areas fit together (say, business and public health), you should talk about your strong interest in solving management-level issues in healthcare—an interest you developed after watching hearings during the passing of the Affordable Care Act and the way in which you doubled-down on your passion during the pandemic.

Need help honing in on your niche area of study? Reach out to us. We’re great at helping students match with their perfect school