Itʼs arguably the most popular question that admissions offices receive—and weʼre going to break it down for you
“How Do I Make My Application Stand Out?”

Research Is Everything

Little Details Can Have a Large Impact
The second element lies in your application itself: proofreading. I know this seems like a very, very small part of the process, but it’s the easiest to overlook. It can also have a big impact on making your application stand out. A minor typo might not seem like the biggest deal. But it can be a big deal if you accidentally paste the wrong essay into the Common Application or if you accidentally write another institution’s name in your essay (or vice versa!). Ultimately, if you need to make changes to your application, we can help you do that. But every university will have different philosophies surrounding these mistakes, so it’s best to ensure that you don’t make them. You want to put your best foot forward wherever possible, and that extends to the finer details.
This Isnʼt About Us—Itʼs About You!
We often get asked questions about what we’re looking for in applications. What kinds of essays do we want to read? Which grades are good enough? Which clubs should you showcase? Instead, try to focus less on what you think we want to read and more about what you want to showcase.
At NYU, we’re a very diverse place. Students come to us from over 100 countries/nationalities, and they’ve studied in equally diverse environments. Not everyone has access to the same opportunities—and we get that! In most cases, we’re not looking for you to have taken specific courses or to have been part of a specific club. We’re looking to see how you challenged yourself in the classes that you had at your disposal. We also want to learn what your passions are and how you pursued them at school or in your community. Everyone is unique—and we want to see your uniqueness! Don’t worry about what other students are putting on their applications. Focus on telling us more about who you are and what you’ve done.

Think Twice Before You Skip Questions
There Is No Magic Formula
There isn’t one way to gain admission to your dream school. Every student follows a unique path with unique passions in a school community with different opportunities. We use information that you and your school will submit to account for these differences in our process. However, doing the above—conducting research, proofreading, being aware of deadlines, demonstrating your interest in us—will go a long way in helping your application stand out! At the end of the day, while you’re preparing your materials, remember that our doors are always open. We want to admit you—we don’t get our jollies out of denying students! If you have questions about the process, our requirements, or how to make your application stand out—don’t hesitate to give us a call. And when you finally hit “submit,” you can learn more about what happens next.