Admissions

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Applicants

Applicants are selected by the Admissions Committee each year. The Admissions Committee offers admission to only a select group of first-year applicants. Most begin their NYU studies at the campus in New York City, but a smaller group of candidates may receive the opportunity to begin their studies at one of NYU’s global academic centers in Florence, London, Madrid, or Washington, DC. Transfer applicants are not eligible for admission to the Liberal Studies Core; Global Liberal Studies does admit a select number of internal and external transfer students each year.

The Admissions Committee carefully considers each candidate’s application and gives weight to a number of factors: academic record, standardized test scores, recommendations from counselors and teachers, and essays. The Admissions Committee will only consider test scores if an applicant chooses to submit them. The committee seeks a class that is diverse in all respects and carefully considers the applicant’s special talents, geographic location, and more. The committee is also interested in applicants who have an active and sustained level of involvement in school and/or community activities and who have taken on the responsibility of leadership.

Applicants must file their application by the stated deadlines in order to be given full consideration.

Admissions Process

Admission to Liberal Studies is based on the quality of the applicant’s secondary school record. Sound preparation, however, should include English, with a heavy emphasis on writing; social studies; foreign language; mathematics; and laboratory sciences. The Admissions Committee pays particular attention to the number of honors, college-level, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses the applicant has completed in high school (if offered). The students most competi- tive for admission will have challenged themselves within the context of their school’s offerings. An interview is neither required nor offered for admission.

The Admissions Committee finds that students are best prepared for NYU if they have studied the following subjects:

  • 4 years of English/Writing
  • 3-4 years of mathematics
  • 3-4 years of foreign language
  • 3-4 years of laboratory sciences
  • 3-4 years of history/social studies

Note: NYU’s top applicants have taken demanding coursework in the above subjects for four years.

Standardized Testing Policy

NYU has one of the most flexible testing policies of any college or university. To be eligible for admission, candidates must submit one of the following:

  • SAT; or
  • ACT; or
  • The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma; or
  • Three (3) SAT Subject Test scores; or
  • Three (3) AP exam scores; or
  • Three (3) IB higher-level exam scores if not an IB Diploma candidate; or
  • Other international examinations that show the student completed, or if submitting predicted results show the student will complete, their secondary education . Approved options are available on the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Candidates may use the Office of Admissions’ International Qualifications Tool for information about credentials NYU accepts from the country in which the candidate is enrolled in secondary school.

All applicants to NYU’s New York campus must meet NYU’s English Language Requirements, which are described in further detail on the Admissions Office website, as well as in the English Language Testing section below.

SAT

SAT tests should be taken in advance of NYU’s application deadline. While NYU will consider scores received after the application deadline, the Admissions Committee cannot guarantee that it will wait for those scores to arrive before making an admission decision.

NYU does not consider results submitted by the applicant as official. The College Board should send the applicant’s scores to NYU. If this is not possible, the applicant should have a school official submit them. NYU’s school code for the SAT is 2562.

Applicants who have taken the SAT more than once can select which results to send to NYU using Score Choice. The Admissions Committee will review the highest SAT scores submitted. If an applicant submits scores from the old and new versions of the SAT, however, the Admissions Committee will not create a new “superscore,” as the old SAT is a different test from the new SAT.

ACT

ACT tests should be taken in advance of NYU’s application deadline. While NYU will consider scores received after the application deadline, the Admissions Committee cannot guarantee that it will wait for those scores to arrive before making an admission decision.

NYU does not consider results submitted by the applicant as official. The ACT should send the applicant’s scores to NYU. If this is not possible, the applicant should have a school official submit them. NYU’s school code for the ACT is 2838.

For applicants who have taken the ACT more than once, the Admissions Committee will recalculate a new composite using the highest of each section, regardless of test date.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

For many students, IB Diploma results will not be available prior to NYU’s application deadline. Students for whom this is the case must submit predicted scores through the Official Predictions Submission Response form (this unique form is sent to the school official/counselor after receipt of the School Report for any student opting to submit predicted exam results). NYU requires predictions for 6 subjects for Full IB Diploma students, and does not require predictions for the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge (TOK). Beginning in 2021, NYU will accept the Higher and Standard Levels of either Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation for any major at NYU.

Note: While an offer of admission may be made based on an applicant’s predicted IB results, NYU reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission if the applicant’s final Diploma results are not within an acceptable range of their predicted results.

SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and IB Higher-level Exams

For candidates who choose to submit three (3) SAT subject test scores, (3) AP Exam Scores, or (3) IB Higher-Level predicted or final scores to fulfill the standardized testing requirement, the Admissions Committee wants to see at least one (1) score from the following academic areas:

  • Literature and Humanities
  • Math and Science

The third SAT Subject Test, AP Exam, or IB Higher-Level Exam may be in any subject appearing in the applicable “Additional Accepted Exams” list on the Admissions website. Please refer to the Standardized Tests section of the Admissions website for a list showing which exams satisfy the Literature and Humanities, Math and Science, and Additional Accepted Exams categories for the SAT Subject Tests, AP Exams, and IB Higher-Level Exams.

Other International Exams

As part of NYU’s Flexible Testing Policy, the university accepts dozens of examinations and other qualifications from around the world. The qualification must meet the following criteria:

  • It shows the applicant completed—or, if submitting predicted results, shows the applicant will complete—their secondary education;
  • It was administered by an independent body (not the applicant’s school); and
  • It was approved by NYU.

The Admissions Committee understands that some examination results may not be available prior to NYU’s application deadline. When this is the case, the applicant must submit predicted scores through the Official Predictions Submission Response form (this unique form is sent to the school official/counselor after receipt of the School Report for any student opting to submit predicted exam results).

Note: While an offer of admission may be made based on the applicant’s predicted results, NYU reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission if the applicant’s final results are not within an acceptable range of their predicted results.

Applicants can refer to NYU’s International Qualification Tool to see which examinations they are able to submit and the supporting documentation required. The Standardized Tests section of the Admissions website also provides more detailed information.

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. Candidates for whom English is not their native language, and who are applying to NYU’s New York campus, may be asked to submit results from one of the following English language proficiency examinations:

  • TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test) . We will accept results from the in-person version or the iBT Home Edition.
  • IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)
  • PTE Academic (Pearsons Test of English Academic)
  • C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency)
  • iTEP (International Test of English Proficiency)
  • Duolingo

We do not accept results from the IELTS Indicator, the TOEFL ITP Plus for China, or TOEFL Essentials.

An applicant does not need to take a language proficiency test if English is their native language; or if they have already completed (at the time of application submission) at least 3 or more consecutive, full academic years at a school/university where the primary language of instruction was English.

Exams should be completed before the application deadline, and results cannot be more than 2 years old by the application deadline. While NYU will consider scores received after the application deadline, the Admission Committee cannot guarantee that it will be able to wait for those scores to arrive before making an admissions decision.

NYU does not have minimum score requirements on language proficiency tests, but competitive applicants will receive:

  • 100 and above on the TOEFL iBT
  • 7.5 and above on the IELTS Academic
  • 70 and above on the PTE Academic
  • 191 and above on the Cambridge English Scale
  • 4.5 and above on the iTEP
  • 125 and above on the Duolingo English Test

For the TOEFL iBT, use NYU’s code 2562 to submit results to NYU.

For the IELTS Academic, search for “New York University” and release results to Undergraduate Admissions as opposed to one of NYU’s schools or colleges. Similarly, for the PTE Academic, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, select “New York University” as opposed to a specific NYU school or college. Searching for “NYU” will not return any results; applicants must search using New York University’s official name.

For the Duolingo English Test, please follow the instructions outlined in Duolingo’s “How do I send my Duolingo English Test results to institutions?” documentation to send your score to NYU for free.

For additional information on language proficiency testing, please see the English Language Testing page on the Admissions Office website.

Academic English Placement Questionnaire

If an admitted student’s application suggests that the student might benefit from additional English-language support, they may be required to complete a placement questionnaire through the Academic English for Liberal Studies (AELS) program before arriving on campus. Based on the results from this placement questionnaire, the admitted student may be expected to take an English-language support course during their first semester at NYU. For more information, see the “Academic English for Liberal Studies” information in the Academic Advising chapter of this Bulletin or visit the International Students website for Liberal Studies. All international students, regardless of placement, are encouraged to take advantage of weekly LS writing support (scheduled appointments or drop-in hours) as well as reading discussions and virtual chats hosted throughout the semester.

Early Decision

Students for whom NYU is their first- choice college are encouraged to apply under the Early Decision Plan. Early Decision candidates should submit the application and all supporting credentials by November 1 for Early Decision I or by January 1 for Early Decision II. NYU’s obligation under this arrangement is to provide applicants with an admission decision beginning in mid-December for Early Decision I or in mid-February for Early Decision II. The applicant’s obligation would be to enroll at NYU if admitted and offered a financial aid package that enabled them to attend. Please refer to the Early Decision page of the NYU Admissions website for more information.

Spring Admissions

The Liberal Studies Core admits first year students in both the fall and spring semesters. Spring admits are selected from the fall applicant pool by the NYU Office of Admissions and begin their studies in New York City in the spring semester. Spring admits have a gap semester in the fall immediately preceding their matriculation at NYU, during which time students might pursue an internship or employment, participate in a service project, travel abroad, or take courses at a local college, among other options. For both the spring and summer semesters of their first year, spring admits attend NYU full-time to complete the first-year core requirements for Liberal Studies. As such, they begin their sophomore year the following fall semester on track for their original graduation date. To learn more about spring admissions, including the academic structure and gap semester opportunities, please visit the program website for NYU Spring Admissions.

Applicants Without U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency

Financial documentation is not required when filing an admissions application. If the student is accepted, instructions for completing the Application for Certificate of Eligibility (AFCOE) online will be included in the acceptance packet. Appropriate evidence of financial ability must be submitted with the AFCOE to the Office of Global Services in order for the appropriate visa document to be issued. If the applicant’s studies are being financed by means of his or her own savings, parental support, outside private or government scholarships, or any combination of these, he or she must arrange to send official letters or similar certification as proof of such support. Additional information may be consulted on NYU’s Newly Admitted Students page. For information specific to undocumented students, please refer to the Undocumented Students page of the NYU Admissions website.

Fee Waiver

NYU’s application fee should not discourage any student from applying. Students who feel that the application fee would be a financial hardship for their families can simply request a fee waiver on the Common Application. The student’s counselor or school official will be asked to verify their eligibility, so anyone requesting a waiver should alert their counselor in advance.

Campus Visits

In-person campus visits are temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For information on virtual tours and sessions, as well as updates regarding in-person tours, please visit the Visit NYU page of the NYU website.

All prospective students and their families are invited to visit the New York University campus at Washington Square. Opportunities to tour the University, to meet students and faculty, and to attend classes are available to interested students.

Although interviews are not available, a visit to the campus is strongly recommended. Tours of the campus and admissions information sessions are conducted several times daily Monday through Friday, as well as on select Saturdays.

To make an appointment for a tour, an information session, or a class visitation, visit the Undergraduate Admissions Website or call 212-998-4500. It is suggested that arrangements be made several weeks prior to visiting the campus.

NYU Guest Accommodations at Washington Square

NYU’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions has partnered with local hotels to offer special, discounted rates to guests for their stay while visiting the NYU campus. Reservations should be completed through the reservation forms found on the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website at nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/visit-nyu/hotels-discounts to ensure the NYU Admissions discounted rate is received.

Student Visas and Orientation

Matters pertaining to student visas, pre-departure preparation, and orientation programs at the Liberal Studies sites in New York City, Florence, London, Madrid, and Washington, DC will be provided to admitted students upon receipt of the tuition deposit.

Readmission of Former Students

Any former student who has been out of attendance for more than two consecutive terms and who wishes to return to Liberal Studies must apply for readmission. More information about the process is available at the Office of Admissions’ Returning to NYU page (nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/how-to-apply/more-applicant-types-and-programs/returning-to-nyu).

Students who have attended another college or university since their last attendance at New York University must complete a transfer application for undergraduate admission, submit an official transcript, and pay the USD $80 application fee. As transfer admission is not offered into the LS Core, students who previously attended the LS Core but matriculated at another institution during their time away should apply for direct transfer into an NYU bachelor’s degree program. Global Liberal Studies does allow for transfer admission.

Enrollment Process

To be enrolled, an admitted candidate must do the following:

  • Accept the University’s offer of admission and pay the required nonrefundable tuition deposit.
  • Submit the required housing deposit, if planning to live on-campus in New York, or at one of the FYA global sites, for their first year. All students planning to begin in London, Madrid, Florence, or Washington, DC, are required to live on campus and thus pay the housing deposit.
  • Have their high school (and, if applicable, college) forward a final transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
  • Complete the new student health requirements, including a health history form and other vaccination records.
  • Pay the balance of tuition, housing, and/or meal plan fees by the stipulated deadlines.
  • Register for classes once contacted by their assigned academic advisor about the advising and registration process.

International applicants (students without U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency) admitted to either the LS Core or GLS should follow the guidelines listed above and, upon payment of the tuition deposit, will be provided with all the pertinent information for securing a student visa to enroll at New York University. Please note that upon acceptance, non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. permanent residents must submit appropriate evidence of financial ability. See “Applicants Without U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency" above.

For more information on the enrollment process, please visit the Admitted Students page on the NYU Admissions website.

Additional Information

Current data on full-time undergraduate retention and graduation rates is available through the NYU Factbook, maintained by the NYU Office of Institutional Research.

For more information about admission to Liberal Studies, please consult the website of the NYU Office of Undergraduate Admissions at nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions, or contact the Admissions Office directly at 212-998-4500.