New York University, usually just called NYU, is a private research university located in the middle of Manhattan. The school has an intensely urban campus, great business and art schools, and impressive study-abroad options. If NYU is a top school for you, you should strongly consider applying ED2 instead of RD this January.
If you are unfamiliar with ED2 (aka Early Decision 2), it is much like the first ED round. You will need to sign a binding agreement that states that if accepted, you will attend NYU in the fall. Give it some thought because if you choose to apply ED2, you are locked in. But it's a valuable tool.
Last year, NYU's overall acceptance rate was around 9%. This is a very competitive rate. Trust us, not every good student got in last year. This makes ED2 an especially useful tool for qualified candidates. While NYU did not release its ED acceptance rate last year, schools generally accept more students during ED rounds to protect their yield rate and start to build their incoming class. TLDR: ED exchanges your promise to go there with a higher likelihood of getting in (if you are a strong candidate… yes, you still have to be an NYU caliber applicant.)
Part of being a great candidate is writing a good supplement. Once you decide to apply ED2, you must look at your essays. NYU’s supplement is technically optional, but if you are serious about getting into NYU, it isn’t really. Whether you apply ED2 or RD, you really should write the optional supplement.
Optional:
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? (250 word max)
Ok, there is a lot to unpack here. They have a blog about how to approach this question, but it is a little unspecific, so we’re going to share our own tips.
While they say to answer one or more questions about being a “bridge builder,” these questions are all kind of the same. It’s a good idea to choose 1 to 2 of the questions to keep in mind while writing specifically. However, we caution you against choosing only the last one. It is a bit of a stand out as the first three ask to talk about what you have already done, and the last asks about the future. If you only write about the future without talking about your past, this essay will feel a bit unfocused and untethered.
For the first three questions, all they really just ask you to do is write a good story about an experience where you connected people or groups. It is that simple. This essay is only 250 words; it is ok (and honestly, preferable) to choose something small and pack it with great details.
For example, maybe as the captain of the boys' basketball team, you had a conversation with your teammates about supporting the girls' team and convinced them to attend women’s sports games. This is a bridge. Maybe you are the de facto conflict moderator of your friend group. You could tell a story about helping your friends solve an issue. Being kind to your little sister's friends, throwing a cultural event at your school, and solving a problem with a coworker are all building bridges.
The important thing to do with this essay is to introduce us to your world and community and showcase your interpersonal skills. And, of course, tell a good story.
A good story has a beginning, middle, and end. If you are helping your friend solve an issue, for example, you need to bring us into the conversation and problem. Show us where the problem solving is taking place. Explain why you are involved and show us how you think through problems and propose solutions. You want to avoid telling the reader all your conclusions.
Choosing to apply during the ED2 round might help boost your chances of getting into NYU, but you still need to be a great candidate. You should ensure that your application is as strong as possible, and if you don’t know where to start, we can help. There is still time to work with a professional!
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