I’m on the Waitlist…Now What?: NYU Waitlist Advice

The NYU Reality: It’s not a race. Submitting your form right away doesn’t give you an advantage over someone who submits it on May 1st (the deadline!). 

What does matter? The information you provide. Be thoughtful about your program(s) of interest, first-year away options, the updates you want us to consider, and try to only submit the form once. If you forget something or something changes, it’s OK to submit a new form as an update but submitting the form more than once does not make you more competitive.

We get asked every year: does selecting a new or additional campus, school, or major offer a better chance of being admitted?

The NYU Reality: Our advice? Pursue your genuine interests. We want to ensure that students are excited about their offer of admission and internal transfer is not guaranteed. So while you are welcome to add interests on the waitlist response form, make sure they are opportunities you want to pursue.

Should I submit a letter of continued interest (LOCI), a portfolio, additional letters of recommendation, and/or send an email to let you know that I’m interested?

The NYU Reality: In short, the answer is no to all of the above. We only consider your Waitlist response form, your original application, and updated academic information (e.g. transcript with midyear/final grades, new test scores). 

Some things may have changed since you submitted your application so tell us about that! Some updates that are helpful include:

• Extenuating Circumstances: If your grades dipped because of a life event, let us know so that we have that additional context in our review. 
• Accomplishments: Did you win any awards, join new clubs, or experience a significant life event since applying? We want to hear about it! !

Program(s) of Interest: Maybe you’ve done additional NYU research since your application and fell in love with a new program – don’t be afraid to open yourself up to new opportunities!

We know you are eager to complete the visa process for attending college in the US and that it can be a lengthy process.

The NYU Reality: We work as quickly as possible to give our international students an answer. If you have a government scholarship deadline, feel free to note that, but keep in mind we cannot “expedite” individual reviews. If you are admitted, our Office of Global Services (OGS) will support you through the visa application process.

We know that attending college is a financial investment for both you and your family. A lot of students on the Waitlist are curious about two things: Is admission need aware or need blind? Will I be offered financial aid if I’m admitted from the Waitlist? 

The NYU Reality: We remain committed to making NYU affordable, and every year we admit students from the waitlist who receive financial aid. Don’t feel pressured to withdraw your financial aid request to “boost” your chances. We want NYU to be a financial reality for you and your family.

If you are admitted from the waitlist, you will be awarded the same scholarship that you would have qualified for if you had been admitted in our initial decision rounds. Another thing that hasn’t changed is that we can only consider you for NYU scholarships if you submitted the CSS Profile on time with your application. We cannot accept late submissions of the CSS Profile. However, for US Citizens and eligible non-Citizens, the FAFSA can still be submitted for federal or state aid consideration.

If you only remember a few things about our wait list process (and really, there are only a few things to remember!) here they are:

• Respond to the Waitlist form by May 1. Be discerning about how many times you submit the form.
• Check your email! If your school email will be deactivated over the summer, contact us with a new primary email address. 
• If admitted, you’ll have a few days to respond. 
• If you applied for financial aid, your package will be provided alongside your offer of admission.
• Take a deep breath, be comfortable with the unknown, and get excited about whatever comes next.

Interested in learning more? Watch the “I’m on the Waitlist…Now What?” session recording in your NYU Applicant Portal.