NYU supplemental essays are emerging as the most significant determinant for students joining this premier university. The admission year 2022-23 saw over 120,000 applications, while only 8% of the applicants passed the test. This proves that New York University supplemental essays are pivotal in determining admission decisions besides a good GPA, a compelling personal statement, or a perfect recommendation letter. In this blog, our admission essay experts will expound on NYU essay prompts and provide writing tips. They also help students write winning supplemental essays and personal statements.
What Do the NYU Supplemental Essays Entail?
NYU has only one supplemental essay. Every year, students are offered a variety of options to choose from. While this supplemental essay is considered optional, students must submit it considering the number of applications the institution receives. So, what do NYU supplemental essays entail? Below is an in-depth analysis of each prompt and how best students can respond.
NYU Supplemental Essay Prompts
Recently, NYU developed a single prompt that guides the students on tailoring their supplemental essays. Students are then supplied with six options from which they are needed to pick only one. The following is the most recent NYU supplemental essay prompt:
“We are looking for peacemakers, changemakers, global citizens, boundary breakers, creatives and innovators. Choose one quote from the following and let us know why it inspires you, or share a short quote and person not on our list who inspires you, and include why.”
Predicating their arguments on the above question, students are expected to write on one of the following options in not more than 250 words:
Option 1
“We’re used to people telling us there are no solutions and then creating our own. So, we did what we do best. We reached out to each other and our allies and mobilized across communities to make change, benefit, and include everyone in society.” Judith Heuman, 2022 NYU Commencement Address
How To Approach Option 1
The admission committee expects students who choose to write their NYU supplemental essay on this option to demonstrate exceptional skills in identifying and solving problems surrounding them. Whatever story students decide on sharing should have an element of students caring about others. Rather than tell the admission committees what they did, students should strive to show. This implies that students should apply descriptive writing with strong sensory details.
Option 2
“I encourage your discomfort, that you must contribute and make your voice heard. That is the essence of good citizenship.” Sherilynn Ifill, 2015 NYU Commencement Address (250 words).
How To Approach Option 2
As opposed to the preceding option, this option has a broader scope. This option asks students to tell a story about when they made their voices heard rather than when they actively took part in finding the remedy for a particular problem. For this essay, students should strive to be altruistic and concerned about others. Students should reminisce about certain moments to achieve this effect and pick the most suitable ones. Once they do, they should decipher the best lessons they learned in their NYU supplemental essays. While at it, they should persuade the admission committee to believe that the lessons shaped their future for the better.
Option 3
“If you know how to fly but never how to walk, wouldn’t that be sad?” Lang Lang, 2015 NYU Honorary Degree Recipient (250 words)
How To Approach Option 3
This option is a little bit tricky because it is philosophical. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of the philosophy in it, the admission committee expects that students should aver the benefits of small or insignificant actions in driving change. The story students should resonate with their lives. Students should tailor their New York University supplemental essays about what lessons they learned from the experiences they will have written about.
Option 4
“You have the right to want things and to want things to change.” Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland, 2023 NYU Commencement Address (250 words)
How To Approach Option 4
Like the first two options, the admission committee expects students who write about this option to achieve two things. First, students should identify a relevant experience that resonates with them. Secondly, students are expected to explain what their interest in that particular experience says about their personality. But unlike the first two options, this option does not limit students to experiences they actively participated in.
Option 5
“It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair.” Taylor Swift, Change, Released 2008, 2022 NYU Commencement Speaker (250 words)
How To Approach Option 5
As for this quote, the admission committee expects that students aver any course they are fighting for or would like to fight for while in NYU and beyond. To write a compelling NYU supplemental assay based on this quote, students should tell the admission committee about an impediment they overcame or are in the process of overcoming. The end should be in explaining how whatever obstacles they have overcome or are overcoming makes the world a more just place.
Option 6
Share a short quote and a person not on this list and why the quote inspires you. (250 words)
How To Approach Option 6
While this option may be appealing because of the degree of freedom students can afford, it is not as simple as it appears. The most significant reason why students who choose this question do not write the best NYU supplemental essays is because of irrelevant quotes. Experts, therefore, advise students to desist from picking this option for their essays. For those students who decide to write about it, however, they should be keen on picking a quote that portrays them as difference-makers in the world.
New York University Supplemental Essays: Secure Your Spot At NYU
Even though NYU supplemental essays are optional, students who want to join this institution must write them. This is given the plethora of students who apply for the limited number of spots. Students can easily persuade the admission committee that they deserve a chance at their institution by writing stellar supplemental essays. This blog discusses the prompts students should expect and tips on approaching each. Do you need help with your NYU supplemental essay? Hire our expert essay writers and submit a masterpiece that guarantees admission. Congratulations in advance, and let’s see you at New York University.
