Posted: May 11th, 2022

Examples + Guide 2022: How to Write My NYU Supplemental Essay

Write My NYU Supplemental Essay In 2022

How to Write My New York University (NYU) Supplemental Essay In 2022

NYU only has one required extra essay, a conventional “Why us?” The pitfall here is to respond to that common request with a common response. This type of prompt might inspire very similar responses from applicants; therefore, the steps below will guide you on how to leverage NYU’s “Why us?” to set yourself out from the competition.

Suppose you want to gain a greater idea of what NYU is looking for. In that case, you can check through its Common Data Set for a comprehensive, by-the-numbers look at what it offers, from enrollment and tuition figures to student life and financial aid information. Read its strategic plan for insights into how the institution perceives itself and its function, and how it wishes to grow and change. Reading through this will give you a good picture of what NYU values and may offer pearls you can sprinkle throughout your essay.

WHAT IS THE NYU SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY PROMPT?

Prompt #1

We’d want to learn more about your interest in attending NYU. What drew you to apply to NYU? Why did you apply to or indicate interest in a specific campus, school, college, program, or field of study? Please explain why you are interested in these extra areas of study or campuses if you have applied to more than one. We’d like to know why NYU was chosen. (No more than 400 words)

HOW TO WRITE MY SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY PROMPT FOR NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

This is a common “Why us?” prompt, but as the accompanying guidance shows, you should think of it as a “Why us?” as in you + the school, and why you’d be a fantastic fit together rather than a “Why them?” We sometimes joke that you should approach the essay as if you’re assisting the school in understanding why your online dating profile and its online dating profile are perfect for each other and how you’d probably make terrific partners.

Click here for a complete guide to “Why us?” essays. Here’s a condensed version:

5 Common Mistakes Students Make on “Why us?” Essays

The first mistake is to write about the school’s size, location, reputation, weather, or ranking.

Mistake #2: Relying solely on emotional language to indicate fit.

Mistake #3: Making a mistake with the mascot, stadium, team colors, or names of prominent individuals or locations on campus.

Mistake #4: Reciting language from brochures or websites

Mistake #5: Describing the school’s well-known traditions

Mistake #6: Viewing this as merely a “why them” piece (as mentioned above)

So, if you shouldn’t write about specific topics, what should you write about? Here are some steps to help you figure it out.

Step 1: Conduct deep research.

Spend 1 hour or more investigating ten or more reasons why NYU might be a good fit for you (ideally, three to five of the reasons will be unique to NYU and connect back to you).

Step 2: Plan your research using this chart.

Step 3: Choose a method.

Method #1: The Simple, Reliable “Why Us?” Essay with a Variety of Motives

Here’s a simple, solid “Why us?” essay outline:

A clear thesis statement that names the academic area(s) you wish to investigate and possibly maps the course of the essay

Reason #1 and three or four specifics

Reason #2 and three or four specifics

Reason #3, as well as 3-4 specifics

An ending that may or may not explain what you will give back

Method #2: The “3-5 Unique Offerings” Approach

Find 3-5 chances that are unique to the school (i.e., not available at any other school or not available at any other school you’re applying to) and connect each one to you.

Method #3: The “One Value” Approach

It operates as follows: Tell a narrative about one fundamental value that connects you to the school. As an example:

Find a way for you and the school to be completely aligned.

Take your time when writing the essay.

Make an effort to be vulnerable.

Could I use a hybrid approach, focusing on a significant subject but yet providing a few reasons?

Yup.

We’re huge proponents of providing examples to demonstrate advice, so let’s see what happens when we combine the above.

Example 1

I’ve been worried about growing bored since my elementary school principal said only uninteresting people become bored. As a result, I’ve never been one to take the easy route; I’ve never been one to keep white sneakers clean.

Fortunately, I got the opportunity to break in my new Converse during my campus visit. My shoes gathered character-enhancing scuffs with each step on campus as I imagined the myriad avenues I had access to explore at NYU. The Gallatin School of Individual Study fosters an unorthodox setting in which I can pursue my shamelessly ardent interest in neuroeconomics.

I’m drawn to interdisciplinary studies because I’m fascinated by how seemingly disparate subjects can cross in unexpected ways. Gallatin’s one-of-a-kind curriculum will allow me to combine my interests in neuroscience, psychology, and economics into one area of study and explore my love for the cutting-edge research being conducted in these domains.

I will obtain a better grasp of how socio-cultural variables affect people’s decisions by attending Lenny Robert’s Consumer Culture and the Birth of the Department Store course, which will serve as a more solid foundation for my desired neuroeconomics emphasis.

I’d pick Experimental Economics, Social Psychology, Minds Bodies: A History of Neuroscience, and Finance for Social Theorists to create a personalized, thematic curriculum. This academic work would be supplemented by independent research with Kevin Fehrin on strategic interactions and the neurological roots of social and economic behavior.

I’d like to expand my social influence in addition to creating an academic impact by partnering with other disciplines of study. I jumped at the chance to lead a new Chadwick Global Opportunity trip to Cambodia called changing the Way the World Sees Girls. I was surprised by how much this trip changed my perspective on women’s equality; I was astounded to see how much women face discrimination in this part of the world.

It reminded me that I might contribute to the solution to this problem by establishing a branch in Cambodia to advocate for the education of girls in disadvantaged villages there. I’d convey the lessons learned from this project to the NYU community by collaborating with The Gender and Power Society student organization to spark dialogue about empowering women via education.

Tips + Analysis

1. Use straightforward structural elements. Take note of the introduction, which employs a solid thesis to directly establish why NYU and the student are an excellent match. It’s possible, if not likely, that your reader will read quickly enough to skim. If this is the case, a clear thesis, clear topic sentences, and a clear (but succinct) conclusion can help ensure that the reader does not overlook anything vital.

2. Demonstrate that you’ve done your homework. The body examines specific classes and activities offered by the institution and how they relate to the student’s interests. We get the impression that the student isn’t applying merely because the school is on a list somewhere or because she skimmed some basic information, but that she has taken the time to consider how NYU mainly offers what she needs in education.

3. Link those specifics to your principles. We typically refer to this as the essay’s “so what” element; don’t just tell NYU how fantastic their institution is (they know). Consider how those specifics relate to some of your fundamental beliefs by pondering on what exactly they will allow you to go after or explore and why those things are important to you. Bonus points if you can tie elements about the school that excite you to things you’ve previously done, as the student above did by connecting the Cambodia trip with the NYU community.

Let us look at another example:

NYU Supplemental Essay Example 2:

After several surgeries, I was still walking with a limp and suffering from excruciating shooting agony every day. I couldn’t even get dressed after losing 3.5 cm of bone in my left femur. Because my bone was not healing, I began to lose hope. My orthopedic surgeon proposed more surgery as a possible remedy, but I thought there had to be another option.

I discovered NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital after conducting a comprehensive research. I had never heard of an all-orthopedic hospital before, and I was fascinated. Months later, I was sitting in Dr. Nadia’s waiting room, relieved to be back in my home state. He strongly advised utilizing an electronic bone stimulator, which is a non-invasive procedure that applies a low electrical current to the fracture site to help speed up bone formation. I leaped at the chance, figuratively speaking.

The bone stimulation was effective after only one month. I was inspired by NYU’s study, as well as the revolutionary medical technologies and therapies offered by Dr. Nadia. I was determined to serve patients in the same way.

NYU is ideal for me to achieve my objectives. More specifically, the undergraduate Neural Science curriculum at CAS has captured my attention. I intend to study with Professors Andy Zuki and Kendrick Ken to learn how to combine the pleasant emotions evoked by sound, in this example, music, into the healing process.

Through Systems Neuroscience, Neurobiology of Brain Disorders will educate me more about Anterograde Amnesia, allowing me to treat Rolland, a woman with severe amnesia whom I met in the hospital.

I am also a passionate singer and musician, having taught myself to play the piano, guitar, trumpet, and xylophone and competing in musical theatre at the district level for three years. NYU will allow me to participate with the NYU A Capella Choir and pursue a cross-school minor in music at Steinhardt. NYU will allow me to pursue both my passions, brain research, and music, as well as the junction of the two.

Tips + Analysis

This essay takes an alternative structural approach, which has certain risks that we’ll discuss, but it also has the ability to help you stand apart.

It begins with a powerful hook and then follows it with a story that demonstrates both vulnerability and how the student’s main motivating value (“I knew there had to be another way.”) and a sense of purpose (“I knew I wanted to be able to serve patients in the same manner.”) match with NYU’s.

There is a little risk that the reader will become impatient and skim over the first few pages, wondering how this would answer the question “Why NYU?” However, the narrative does an excellent job of providing a fuller picture of who the kid is through this story. She also includes enough references to NYU that we have hope that the connection to the prompt will be made.

The remainder of the body does a good job of getting specific about aspects of NYU that align with the student’s academic and community goals.

What should you do after you’ve written a draft? Consider:

Three Ways to Ensure Your “Why Us?” Essay Is Effective

1. Look over your essay for capital letters. Why? Because capital letters almost always indicate that you’ve mentioned something particular that the institution provides. Indeed…

2. In bold, state your reasons for attending. Take note if you only have 1-3 items highlighted in bold. If this is the case, you may definitely cut some corners to make room for more reasons.

3. Make sure that you link it back to yourself every time you mention the school. How did you find out? Simply go through each reference of the school and see if you’ve expressed why it’s significant to you, not simply in general.