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How to Write the NYU Essays 2024-2025

NYU has one supplemental prompt for all applicants this year, and an additional prompt which is required for Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars Program applicants. 

Although the prompt for all applicants is technically optional, NYU’s prime location in the heart of downtown New York City, campuses all across the globe, and affiliation with excellent graduate schools in a range of subjects make it highly competitive to gain admission. So, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to share something new about yourself with admissions officers.

Read these examples of past NYU essays about diversity and “Why NYU?” written by real students to inspire your writing!

NYU Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants, optional.

Prompt: 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 words)

Mlk scholars applicants, required.

Prompt: In under 250 words, please share how you have demonstrated your commitment to the legacy of Dr. King’s ideals of “Beloved Community” as evidenced through academic achievement, research or service. (250 words)

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:

Since NYU has a reputation for being highly competitive, especially in recent years, we strongly recommend that you respond to this optional prompt. You only get so many chances to share yourself with the admissions committee, so any time you’re given an extra one, you should seize it! Especially when the margins between applicants are so thin, you never know what could be the difference-maker.

Understanding the Prompt

This prompt seeks to understand how your experiences have shaped you as a connector and collaborator, and how you will use these experiences and the skills you learned from them to continue working with others in the future. NYU even provides some more specific questions that should help you brainstorm your narrative:

• How do you envision being a bridge builder during your time at our university and beyond?

Brainstorming

To start generating answers to these questions, consider the following ideas:

• Personal Experiences: What experiences have exposed you to different cultures, perspectives, or groups? Have you ever felt like an outsider and had to connect with others who were different from you? What did you take away from those experiences?
• Challenges: Have you faced any personal challenges that required you to bring people together? What obstacles did you overcome in these situations? How did you change as a result?
• School and Community Involvement: Have you ever organized events or led initiatives that brought different groups together? Did you start or participate in clubs that fostered understanding among diverse students? What was your motivation for doing so, and were you successful?
• Future Plans: How do you see yourself continuing to build bridges in college? Are there specific clubs, organizations, or initiatives at NYU where you plan to make an impact?

Thinking of robust anecdotes, that are both engaging and reflect your values, before you start writing will streamline things significantly. Note, however, that you have a limit of 250 words. While this should be ample space to express your ideas, you likely won’t be able to cover more than one experience in detail, or two shorter ones that are directly linked.

As you brainstorm, though, don’t worry about filtering your ideas just yet. On the contrary, having a longer list is better, as you can then evaluate a wider range of possibilities and determine which one is just right for the point you’re trying to make.

What Makes a Good Response

A strong essay will include:

• Personal Narrative: Begin with a specific story or example that highlights your role as a bridge builder. This could be an instance where you connected different groups at school, or a moment when you mediated a conflict, among other options.
• Clear Examples: Provide concrete examples of your actions. Instead of saying, “I brought people together,” describe exactly what you did—whether it was organizing a multicultural event, leading a discussion group, or facilitating a project that involved different perspectives. This is one of the most important rules for writing vivid narrative essays: “Show, don’t tell.”
• Impact: Reflect on the impact of your actions. How did your efforts change the situation? What did you learn from the experience?
• Future Vision: Conclude by connecting your past experiences to your future plans at NYU. Mention specific programs, clubs, or opportunities where you hope to continue your bridge-building efforts. Don’t just say “I’d love to do something similar at NYU”–instead, tell NYU admissions officers exactly where and how you’ll do so, as that in turn will help them envision you as a member of their community.

Hypothetical Student Examples

To give you some ideas of what a bridge builder could look like, here are some hypothetical examples:

• Ravi , a student with a background in both Indian and American cultures, grew up balancing two very different worlds. In high school, he noticed that students from different cultural backgrounds rarely interacted. To address this, Ravi organized an annual cultural showcase that brought together diverse groups to share their traditions, foods, and music. His essay could focus on how this experience taught him the power and importance of cultural exchange, and on how he plans to continue fostering cross-cultural understanding by taking advantage of opportunities at NYU’s satellite campuses around the world.
• Elena , who was the only female member of her school’s robotics team, noticed that girls in her community were underrepresented in STEM fields. She founded a mentorship program that connected female high school students with women working in tech. Her essay could discuss the challenges of starting the program and how she plans to continue her efforts through WinS, a mentorship program at NYU that pairs students with girls at NYC public high schools who are interested in STEM.
• Marcus grew up in a neighborhood with significant racial tension. In high school, he initiated a dialogue series where students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds could share their stories and experiences. His essay might explore how this project not only reduced misunderstandings but also created a more inclusive school environment. He could then connect this experience to his interest in social justice and the law, and how BIPOC Legal Society at NYU would give him a strong network as he pursues his goals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Vagueness: Avoid general statements about being a bridge builder. Also don’t rely on generic definitions of what makes someone a bridge builder. Instead, provide specific stories and examples that show your actions and their impact, and clearly demonstrate what being a bridge-builder means to you personally.
• Clichés: Don’t rely on Hallmark card-y sentiments like “At the end of the day, we’re all human.” Instead, connect your points to your real experiences, to make your story personal, tangible, and easy to understand.
• Overemphasis on Future Goals: While you do want to discuss your future plans, make sure the majority of your essay focuses on past experiences. The admissions committee wants to see evidence that you’ve already acted as a bridge builder, and talking too much about the future without connections to the past may make you sound naive.

Good and Bad Examples

Good Example:

“The first time I hosted a cultural dinner at my high school, I had no idea what to expect. My parents, who immigrated from Mexico, brought homemade tamales, while my friend Jin’s parents contributed Korean bulgogi. As we set up the buffet, I noticed that students who usually kept to their own groups were mingling, curious about each other’s food and traditions. Conversations quickly blossomed, with students exchanging stories about their families, holiday traditions, and the meanings behind the dishes they brought. For the first time, I saw walls come down as we bonded over shared meals and experiences.

Inspired by this success, I expanded the event into a quarterly gathering, incorporating cultural performances, storytelling sessions, and even cooking demonstrations. Over time, these dinners became a cornerstone of our school’s efforts to promote inclusivity and understanding, bridging divides that had previously seemed insurmountable. Witnessing the friendships that formed and the stereotypes that were dismantled, I realized the profound impact that simple acts of connection can have.

At NYU, I’m excited to join the International Student Council and to continue building bridges through shared experiences. I hope to start a monthly “Cultural Connections” dinner, where students can explore each other’s backgrounds over a meal. I also plan to collaborate with the Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation to organize events that celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures on campus, ensuring that everyone feels seen, heard, and valued in our community.”

Why this is a good example: This response provides a specific, vivid story that illustrates the student’s role as a bridge builder. There’s clear personal growth, and a plan to continue this work in college. In particular, the idea of the cultural dinner shows that the student doesn’t want to just pitch into existing projects at NYU–they want to start their own, to make the school even more inclusive.

Bad Example:

“I’ve always believed in the importance of bringing people together, especially in environments where differences can lead to misunderstandings. In my sophomore year, I noticed that students from different backgrounds often stuck to their own groups during lunch. I decided to encourage more interaction by starting a lunchtime club where anyone could join and talk about various topics, from hobbies to current events. Although the turnout was lower than I had hoped, I felt proud of my efforts to create a space where people could connect.

At NYU, I plan to join clubs that promote diversity and inclusion, and I hope to contribute to a more connected campus. I am eager to participate in activities that bring students from different backgrounds together, whether through cultural events, discussion groups, or volunteer work. I believe that by fostering understanding and collaboration, we can build a more unified community that appreciates the unique perspectives everyone brings.”

Why this is a bad example: This response falls short in a few key areas. The student provides a general description of their efforts to build bridges, but lacks concrete details that demonstrate impact or personal growth. In short, the essay tells rather than shows, which makes it less impactful than the first example. 

The essay also misses an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned or how these experiences will influence the student’s future actions. A partial attempt is made, but the language is vague, as phrases like “promote diversity and inclusion” and “foster understanding and collaboration” could apply to any school, and thus do not showcase a deep connection to NYU, the way references to school-specific opportunities would, or the student’s unique role as a bridge builder. 

By selecting an anecdote that is personal and detailed, and that directly connects to the future you’re imagining for yourself at NYU, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a compelling essay that shows NYU how you’ve been a bridge builder in your own life, as well as how the university’s resources align perfectly with your plans to continue building bridges during your time in college.

In under 250 words, please share how you have demonstrated your commitment to the legacy of Dr. King’s ideals of “Beloved Community” as evidenced through academic achievement, research or service. (250 words)

Do your research.

Before you even start thinking about a response to this prompt, you should research Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his work, and his message, and the notion of the “Beloved Community.” Because this program is known to be selective, you’ll want to show the admissions officers that you truly understand the program’s mission and spirit.

The primary goal of the program is: 

“to develop scholars who strive to realize Dr. King’s ‘Beloved Community’ and who embody ‘a love-centered way of thinking, speaking, acting, and engaging that leads to personal, cultural and societal transformation’ (The King Center). ” 

By doing your research first, you can strategically choose experiences that show that you’re the kind of student who will take full advantage of this program, rather than accidentally selecting anecdotes which may be strong on their own, but don’t reflect the program’s values.

While you should definitely do your own research on this topic, for a rough overview the “Beloved Community” is a society based on justice, equal opportunity, and love for all, free from poverty, hunger, and hate. You’ll need to provide specific examples of how you’ve embodied these ideals in your academic life, research, or service efforts.

Brainstorming Questions

The prompt provides three domains in which you may have demonstrated your commitment to the ideas of the “Beloved Community.” Let’s take a look at each one, and think about some things you may have done in each:

• Academic Achievement: Have you taken courses or completed projects that address social justice, equality, or community building? Did you participate in discussions, presentations, or papers that promoted these ideals?
• Research: Have you conducted research on issues like racial equality, social justice, or community service? How did your findings contribute to promoting Dr. King’s vision?
• Service: What volunteer work or community service have you done that aligns with the ideals of the “Beloved Community”? How did your actions directly contribute to fostering a more just and loving society?

There are a few things you should include in your response to make it strong.

• Specific Examples: Use concrete examples to demonstrate your commitment. Rather than just saying “I’ve done research on social justice,” explain what the project was and why you chose to get involved.
• Connection to Dr. King’s Ideals: Clearly link your actions to Dr. King’s vision of the “Beloved Community.” Explain clearly how your work promotes justice, equality, and love–don’t leave anything up to inference.
• Impact: Highlight the impact of your work. How did your actions contribute to a positive change in your community or field of study?

Notice that each point can seamlessly lead into the next to establish a good narrative flow. Begin with anecdotes, examples, and details about the experiences you’ve had. After describing these experiences, connect them to the ideals of Dr. King’s “Beloved Community.” Finally, highlight how your personal impact within the broader experience demonstrates your own commitment to these ideals.

• Student A: A student who took an advanced sociology course and chose to focus his capstone project on the effects of systemic racism in education. He analyzed how inequities in school funding perpetuate the achievement gap, and ended up presenting his results to a local school board while advocating for reforms that align with Dr. King’s ideals of equal opportunity.
• Student B: A student passionate about biology who joined a community health initiative in her neighborhood which provides free health screenings and education about preventive care. She can explain how this work helped address healthcare disparities by directly supporting the health and well-being of underserved populations, in line with Dr. King’s vision for a more equitable society.
• Student C: A student who organized a series of community dialogues between local police officers and students after tensions arose in their town. They could discuss how these conversations aimed to foster mutual understanding and reduce conflict, and thus embodied Dr. King’s principles of nonviolence, reconciliation, and community building.
• Vague Responses: Don’t just say that you care about social justice. Instead, provide detailed examples that concretely illustrate your values.
• Generalizing: Avoid broad statements about equality or justice. Your focus should be on how you’ve personally contributed to these causes.
• Ignoring the Prompt: This prompt isn’t just about social justice in general, so make sure you have a clear, direct connection to Dr. King’s vision of the “Beloved Community.”

“For a final history paper in high school, I explored the legacy of redlining in urban communities. My research revealed how discriminatory housing practices have perpetuated economic inequality, limiting opportunities for minority communities.

Inspired by Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community,” I turned my studying into action by volunteering with a nonprofit that assists first-time homebuyers in historically marginalized neighborhoods. My role involved guiding families through the complexities of securing a mortgage, understanding property taxes, and maintaining financial stability. I also collaborated with the organization to develop workshops that educate prospective homeowners about their rights and resources, empowering them to overcome systemic barriers.

By helping these families achieve homeownership, I aimed to break the cycle of poverty that redlining had enforced for generations. One particularly meaningful experience was seeing a single mother of two receive the keys to her first home, as I knew that this would create a more stable and hopeful future for her children. This work deepened my understanding of economic injustice and reinforced my commitment to fostering a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. I believe that by empowering individuals with the tools they need to succeed, I am contributing to the realization of Dr. King’s dream of a just and equitable community.”

Why this is a good example: This response has a specific, detailed description of how the student’s academic work ties into their service efforts. It clearly connects to Dr. King’s ideals of addressing economic injustice and promoting equality, and show that the student made a tangible impact on their community. There is also emotional depth, which makes the response even more compelling.

“I’ve always believed in the importance of equality and treating others with respect, which is why Dr. King’s ideals resonate with me. Throughout high school, I took my studies seriously because I know education is a powerful tool for change. I’ve also volunteered occasionally, helping out at food banks and participating in community clean-ups. I think it’s important to be a good person and do what you can to help others, whether it’s through academics or service. In the future, I hope to continue Dr. King’s legacy by being kind, respectful, and supportive of those around me, doing my part to make the world a better place.”

Why this is a bad example: This response is vague, without any specific examples of how the student has actively worked to advance Dr. King’s vision. It mentions general values like kindness and respect, but does not demonstrate a clear connection to the ideals of the “Beloved Community” in particular, or describe how the student made their community a more equitable place. 

If you identify vivid examples that demonstrate your commitment to Dr. King’s ideals and legacy, and how you’ve already started to make an impact, you’ll be well on your way to showing NYU why you’d be a great fit for this remarkable program.

Where to Get Your NYU Essay Edited For Free 

Do you want feedback on your NYU essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

Need feedback faster? Get a  free, nearly-instantaneous essay review  from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

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How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay 2024–2025

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New York University (NYU) boasts almost two hundreds years of history, three campuses around the world, and a nearly $6 billion endowment . NYU’s esteemed alumni include many famous actors and musicians, including Idina Menzel, Adam Sandler, and Donald Glover. Their alumni also include many well-known CEOs, such as Tom Freston (MTV Networks), Daniel Schulman (PayPal), and Cathy Minehan (Federal Reserve Bank of Boston). Hoping to become a Bobcat ? Let’s dive into the NYU supplemental essay.

New York University’s 2024-2025 Prompt

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, we’ll review your essay.

Receive edits in as little as 24 hours

General Tips

The NYU admissions team has only set one prompt for applicants this year. The essay must be 250 words or fewer , and in your response, you can answer multiple of the questions posed, or just one. Students do not need to write an essay response for this prompt in order to apply to NYU. Although the NYU supplemental essay is optional, we still recommend that you at least attempt to write the essay. If none of your drafts are working, or you’re too strapped for time to compose a thoughtful essay response, then you don’t have to write one.

That said, this essay provides applicants with just one more opportunity to share who they are as a person with the NYU admissions team. This is a good thing: the more you can share, the more chances you have to stand out from the crowd. Standing out from a crowd of 118,000 applicants is challenging, but your NYU supplemental essay gives you the opportunity to do so.

Write about your unique, individual experiences. Use specific, concrete (as opposed to abstract) details. Get personal where you can and vulnerable when you feel comfortable. All of these writing techniques will help your essay feel more vivid to the reader. And a vivid essay is a memorable one.

NYU Supplemental Essay

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..

This is the opening paragraph of the NYU supplemental essay, minus the line introducing the questions the prompt proceeds to pose. In this paragraph, the NYU admissions team sets the stage for the prompt. From this paragraph, it’s clear that NYU is looking for independent thinkers who value collaboration and diversity.

Think about the times in high school when you’ve collaborated. Who did you collaborate with, and why? What were your dynamics as a group/team/partners both before and after the collaboration? In other words, how did the experience of collaborating change your relationship dynamics ? If you can identify the answer to that last question, then you’re well on your way to answering this prompt effectively.

Now, let’s break down the questions the prompt proceeds to pose. Remember, you can respond to one or more of these questions.

This question calls for a narrative response. In other words, tell a story of a time when you were challenged to build a bridge. Describe the people or events that influenced the way collaborate with others. You can build a whole essay off of this answer, or you can start an essay with this story and move onto one or more of the other questions posed by this prompt.

It might be helpful to start your brainstorming process for this essay by considering how you would answer this particular questioned, even though it’s posed second. That’s because regardless of which questions you choose to answer in this essay, your real bridge building experiences will form the basis of this essay.

Consider the phrase “bridge builder” expansively. Maybe you built connections between two classmates who didn’t get along. Maybe you founded a non-profit that improved relations between different socioeconomic groups in your city. Or maybe you’ve worked to connect older generations to younger generations by coding a chatbot that teaches senior citizens how to use technology.

However you have built bridges in your life, identify one or two of those occasions/experiences to focus on in this essay. Then, free-write about these experiences before you broach the rest of the essay. This exercise will force you to narrativize your bridge building experience, which will ultimately benefit your essay-writing process overall.

Building off of the last question, you’ll need to get specific when answering this question. If you like, you can make a list of the actions you took. You can even write up a timeline of those actions if that is helpful to you. Think of this listing process as akin to writing a list of job responsibilities on a resume, except that you can get even more specific here. Once you have this list, work off of it (staying specific) while drafting your essay.

This question asks you to look toward your aspirational future at NYU. Like the last question, your response will benefit from specificity. Consider the specific programs, groups of people, organizations, initiatives, and so on that will be relevant to your bridge building intentions. Who do you want to build bridges between? Why do you want to build those bridges? What will be the impact of building those bridges? And, most importantly, how will you build those bridges? If you’re able to answer all of these questions, then you’ve got all the tools to nailing this essay response.

If you need help polishing up your NYU supplemental essay, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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