Recommendation FAQ: Is One Letter REALLY Enough for NYU?

In two words, reducing barriers. NYU receives applications from all over the world. School systems and their resources vary greatly. Not all students can easily obtain a recommendation from both a teacher and a counselor, and for some students, the teachers and counselors that they have access to might not be the people who can best speak to their readiness for college. By reducing our requirement to one letter and expanding who could write that letter, we hope to ease this pressure point for applicants.

Yes! Many colleges and universities still require two letters of recommendation. So don’t feel you need to withhold a second letter just because we only require one. NYU will happily accept up to three letters of recommendation.

But even though we will accept up to three, if you feel one recommender is truly the best advocate for you, there is no need to obtain additional letters just for NYU.

No. When we say your recommendation letter can be written by anyone in a position of authority, we mean it. For some students, their strongest supporter may be someone outside the classroom:

• athletic coach
• artistic director
• club advisor
• employer
• CBO (community-based organization) mentor
• leader from faith-based organization

Make sure they understand the assignment. A babysitting reference and a college recommendation are not interchangeable. And your recommender will need to address your potential to grow, succeed, and achieve in a college environment. We look forward to learning more about you through their letters.

Because teacher recommendations are still required by other schools, the majority of letters we received last year were written by teachers. And that’s okay! So if you’re excited for admissions to read your teacher recommendation, there is no need to reinvent the wheel.

Whenever possible, choose a teacher who taught you in a recently completed school year (for instance, 11th grade in the United States). This way the recommendation reflects the most challenging coursework you completed so far and represents the perspective of someone who witnessed your development over a full year.

In essence, a teacher recommendation serves as a “highlight reel” for your performance in their class. Your teacher should be able to speak to things like:

• How you engage with the academic material
• Your strengths
• How you approach challenges or setbacks
• Your contribution to the classroom experience (e.g., if you were absent from class one day, what would be lost)

So if you got A’s in two different classes, but you felt like your passion for one subject shined through more than the other, that might help you decide which teacher to ask. A quality recommendation consists of much more than what grade you received on the final.

Yes, as long as they are your primary instructor or the person who assesses your academic performance.

The Common Application allows you to select who will submit your recommendation letter(s). If your recommender is unable to submit their letter through the Common Application, they can email it directly to [email protected]. Please have them include either your date of birth or Common App ID.

Three keys to a thoughtful recommendation letter are TIME, SPACE, and GRACE. Give your recommenders ample time to write your letter without constant reminders of the looming deadline. Once the letter is on its way, express your gratitude for their advocacy and keep them posted on your progress. They appreciate the opportunity to support you in your college journey and look forward to celebrating your success.