nyu supplemental essays examples

How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay: Examples + Guide 2024/2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is the nyu supplemental essay prompt.

• How to write the NYU supplemental essay prompt
• How to write the MLK Scholars essay prompt

NYU only has one supplemental essay—you have the option to choose from a few different quotes (or choose your own), and share what it inspires in you, and why.

If you want to get a clearer sense of what NYU is looking for, you can explore an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information on its Common Data Set . And for insights into how the university envisions itself and its role, and how it wants to grow and evolve, read its strategic plan . Reading through this will give you a strong idea of what NYU values—and may offer nuggets you can sprinkle into your 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. Please consider one or more of the following questions in your essay (word limit 250): 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?

MLK Scholars- Incoming first-year applicants who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to civic engagement and social progress are invited to apply to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars Program at NYU (Optional): Optional: 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.

(Note: This question is only available to those who select "yes" to being considered for the MLK Scholars program in the "New York Campus" section of the CommonApp)

How to Write The Supplemental Essay Prompt for New York University

NYU’s single supplemental essay invites you to describe how you’ve been a bridge builder in your life—making connections between groups, cultures, or ideas. Citing “a world where disconnection seems to often prevail,” NYU signals its intention to admit individuals who can craft and lead us toward a more connected and collaborative world. 

Consider your role as bridge builder. How have you been a changemaker who has brought people or groups together, reached across divides, and shaped collaboration in your school, community, or personal life? How do you see yourself expanding on those actions in college and beyond? 

STEP ONE: DECIDE ON A TOPIC

You can go about choosing a topic for this essay in a few ways. Whichever you choose, think strategically. This is the only supplemental essay you’ll write for this highly selective school (unless you’re applying for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars Program at NYU; see below). Beyond your academic record and activities list, consider what is most important to share about yourself that clearly and powerfully sets you apart.

Communities

One way to decide on a topic is to consider the communities you’re a part of, and how you’ve engaged within or across them in ways that “connect people, groups, and ideas” to “span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration.” Communities may be based on geography (like your city, or country of national origin), identity (religion, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.), circumstances, interests, groups, shared activities, and more. To brainstorm all the communities you’re a part of, check out the communities chart in our guide to “community essays” .

As you fill in the chart, actions you’ve taken within one or more of the communities you participate in may emerge as the one(s) you want to write about for NYU.

Another way to choose a topic is by considering how you, individually, will contribute to the overall diversity of the school—the “dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community” named in the prompt. What combination of identities, cultures, and life experiences are you adding to the mix? The If You Really Knew Me exercise in our guide to ”diversity essays” can help you identify those aspects of yourself and your experiences that have most put you in a position to build bridges. 

(Pro Tip: This exercise can actually help you generate the key content to include in all of your applications!)

Extracurricular Activity

Have you got a passion project or rockstar achievement that spans divides, fosters understanding, or promotes collaboration? Focusing your essay on a meaningful extracurricular activity can be a great way to flex your achievements while highlighting the skills, qualities, values and experiences you’ll bring to campus. You can read more about this approach in our guide to ”extracurricular essays” .

STEP 2: USE THE BEABIES EXERCISE TO GENERATE YOUR ESSAY CONTENT

You’ll find detail on the BEABIES Exercise + a chart you can use at that link.

But if you just want the short version, the exercise asks:

What do you actually do in that community, experience, or activity? (Tip: use active verbs like “organized” and “managed” to respond to the part of the prompt that asks what specific actions you’ve taken to build bridges between diverse groups, ideas, or cultures).

What kinds of problems have you solved (personally, locally, or globally)?

What specific impact have you had?

What have you learned (skills, qualities, values)? 

How have you applied the lessons you learned from this community, experience or activity?

Don’t skip this step. It’s important. Remember to focus on the aspects of what you did that highlight your bridge-building capabilities.

Pro Tip: Consider the “Powerwall” structure (AKA narrative or problem/solution structure)

Because NYU’s essay focuses on how you’ve been an agent of change, the Powerwall structure can shine for you here. You can find out why we call it Powerwall in our guide to ”extracurricular essays ,” but here’s the TL/DR version of how to use it:

First, lead by announcing a problem you’ve encountered in the world—personal or political, local or global.

Then, follow on with how YOU have addressed that problem through your engagement with a community, experience or activity. In this case, your approach to the problem will involve connecting people, groups, or ideas to show how you’ve been a bridge builder.

Wrap by naming the impact you had , lessons you learned , or values you gained .

Check the “extracurricular essay” guide for solid examples.

Because this is a new prompt for NYU, we don’t have an example written for the it. But here’s an example, written for a different school, that illustrates the direction to head in.

In the 1930s, 36 members of my family were lost to the Holocaust, and that fact has since led me to carry on the memory of my ancestors through tradition—preparing for my Bar Mitzvah, observing Jewish holidays, and going to synagogue for Rosh Hashana. Additionally, it has driven me to teach others about the Holocaust. At my first-year Entry, I would share my involvement within the Jewish community, and how it has led me to become a more engaged member of society.

During this past school year, I became an educator on the Student Leadership Board of the Seattle-based Holocaust Center for Humanity. Meeting biweekly, we discussed historical anti-Semitism as well as modern-day discrimination toward oppressed groups of people.

Before joining the board, I had felt disconnected from Jewish activism and lacked a community of fellow Jewish activists. My year on the board solved that. Each week, I added my ideas and learned from fellow students during group discussion. Additionally, I built an interactive website to share the story of a Holocaust survivor. 

Even though we weren’t all Jewish, this group’s drive for educating others and spreading peace brought us closer. It was a community where we could talk about serious current events, but also where we could share a laugh.

At Williams, I hope to discover that same kind of community. I’ll join the Williams College Jewish Association, where I can carry on what I loved about the Holocaust Center’s board, participating in discussions, leading service projects, and making impactful art to share stories.

Even outside that group, I’ll bring to Williams my Jewish values and enthusiasm for meeting people from different backgrounds, spreading a greater message of peace and kindness. (282 words)

— — — 

Tips + Analysis

Situate yourself within the community, identity or experience. One of the prompt’s questions to consider is, “What personal experiences or challenges have shaped you as a bridge builder?” In this example, we learn about the significance of this student’s Jewish identity, history and community as they share about their family’s experience of the Holocaust and carrying on their ancestors’ memory through traditions such as preparing for Bar Mitzvah, observing Jewish holidays, and going to synagogue for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. What details can you share about your identity, culture, or experience that invite the reader into your world and form the launch point for your work as a bridge builder?

Point to that bridge. What is the bridge you built? The prompt’s second question to consider asks, “How have you been a bridge builder in your school, community, or personal life?” Here, the student joined a board of Jewish and non-Jewish members who discussed challenging issues, spread peace by educating about historic and current discrimination, and became close across their differences through these efforts. 

Clarify your role. Another question the prompt offers you to consider asks, “What specific actions have you taken to build bridges between diverse groups, ideas or cultures?” This is where you can show NYU what you’re capable of. Consider using the Epic Verb List to enumerate the specific steps you took to build the bridge. This student shared their involvement within the Jewish community, taught others about the Holocaust, joined the student leadership board of the Holocaust Center for Humanity, added ideas to the discussion, and built an interactive website for the center. Highlight the range of skills you bring to the table.

Look ahead. The prompt’s final question asks, “How do you envision being a bridge builder during your time at our university and beyond?” Is it necessary to respond to all four questions for consideration? No. But it never hurts to end an essay by looking ahead to how you’ll contribute on campus, as this student does here: They plan to carry on their work and discover the kind of community they built with the board by joining the Williams College Jewish Association. See how they named an actual organization on campus to demonstrate their genuine interest and research they’ve done about the school? Pro move.

Here’s another example essay written for another school that could work well here:

Essay Example:

Every season, my high school volleyball coaches pick an inspiring quote to label on the back of our practice shirts. My favorite? “Be a voice, not an echo.” 

After wearing braces for several years to correct a persistent jaw pain, I was elated when they were removed. However, after just a few months, my orthodontist noticed my teeth shifting to their previous position and recommended tongue therapy.  

Though reluctant at first, I gained a newfound confidence through tongue therapy. In the classroom, no longer the last to speak. On the volleyball court, effectively communicating plays and rotations. Tongue therapy allowed me to freely speak my mind. 

As my confidence soared, so did my desire to help others. Through Lion’s Heart, I once provided baby supplies to needy families in Santa Ana and noticed a long line forming for the provisions. Realizing many immigrant families were struggling with filling out the forms, I offered to translate for them. Through Chinese and Spanish translation, I not only reduced wait times, but became the voice for those who could not speak, literally.

As a selected participant for Girls Who Code, I found even more voices. Introduced to coding for the first time, I  now know more languages, including HTML and JavaScript. I now plan to help others discover their voice. Using technology-based solutions, I will develop innovations for society’s problems. Perhaps, a device that can both translate multiple languages and teach correct pronunciations. 

After all, I am a voice, not an echo.

Work a theme. This student’s essay revolves around the idea of finding one’s voice. Drawing on their personal experience of developing their voice through tongue therapy, the student built bridges by offering their voice to others. This theme of voice intertwines beautifully with that of language, one of the student’s key interests. Organizing your essay around a theme adds depth.

The details tell your story. Reading this short essay, we find out so much about this student: the ways they overcame the challenges of pain and orthodontia, their desire to serve and the specific contexts in which they do that, their Chinese and Spanish language abilities, and their involvement with coding and tech. The more specific details you can provide, the better an admissions reader can know who you are and distinguish you from other candidates.

Values speak volumes. This essay ultimately works because it shows us what matters to this student—their values of gaining confidence, using one’s voice, helping others, learning, the importance of language, empowerment, innovation, and of course, building bridges! More than anything you’ve done or thought or made, the values that steer you through life comprise your unique fingerprint, and when you share them with admissions, you rise off the page. Take a few minutes to identify your top values , and consider building your essay around them. 

And here’s another example essay written for another school that could work well here:

“Creating an environment that allows students to build lasting friendships, including those that cut across seemingly entrenched societal and political boundaries...requires candor about the inevitable tensions, as well as about the wonderful opportunities, that diversity and inclusiveness create."

The buzz spread across campus like a California wildfire. My waterpolo teammate, an international student, had been ostracized by the community in an instant. An exaggerated rumor destroyed his reputation at school, cost him his friendships, and led to his suspension. Was this fair? Was it the truth? How could I help?

For the past two years, as a member of SLAC, a student life advisory committee focusing on restorative justice, I have partnered with my school administration to build an inclusive community to prevent conflict, de-escalate disputes, and reintegrate students. To solve my teammate’s conflict, we were tasked with the responsibility of bringing resolution both on the micro and macro levels. 

First, we had to solve the issues between the immediate students at harm. I applied my training in active listening and tailored my questions so that the students could communicate more honestly, share their concerns, and help resolve their own conflict. Then, we had to address the grade-wide friction and show our community the harmful effects of spreading rumors. To do so, we hosted interactive ice breaker games, team building activities, and conversations about non-inclusive behavior. Conflict is bound to take place in communities -- cliques are natural -- but so long as we are willing to be vulnerable and learn how to communicate better, we can be a stronger community and build new relationships. 

My experience in SLAC has made me a more empathetic listener and an active participant in creating a positive community -- one where the students can feel safe, engaged, and supported. At Amherst, I am excited to participate in the First Year Experience and get involved with the Center for Restorative Practices to help build a strong 2025 class culture where we encourage reflection, mindfulness, and student engagement. 

Tips + Analysis:

Draw your reader in. This essay starts with campus buzz spreading like California wildfire. Both the descriptive language and the mystery evoked prompt the reader to lean in to find out what the author has to say. Although you can’t go too big with your intro in this 250-word essay, a short hook can help you start off strong.

Consider a problem/solution approach. This student leads with a problem: a rumor destroyed a reputation, cost friendships and ended in suspension, implicating truth and fairness. Then in the essay, they set out how they solved the problem. You can read at the link about this powerful structural tool, which we call the Powerwall approach .

Show and name your values. At the start of the second paragraph, we understand that this individual is committed to restorative justice. In your essay, lean heavy into the values that underlie your efforts. Peep this Values List to identify what’s most important to you—one of the best ways you can tell NYU about yourself.

Delineate your specific role and actions. This student describes their role on the student life advisory committee and how they used active listening and created a community-building event at their school to resolve the conflict. Detail about what you actually did highlights the skills you’ve gained and will bring to NYU. Yes, it’s ok to brag.

Relate back to NYU. In the conclusion, the writer says how they’ll extend their restorative justice work in college, by participating in the First Year experience and getting involved with the Center for Restorative Practices. How will you be a peacemaker, changemaker, global citizen, boundary breaker, creative or innovator at NYU? Don’t talk in generalities. Research the school and hone in on specific opportunities that illuminate your inspiration—academic, research opps, programs, extracurriculars, etc.—and that you plan to engage with at NYU. The research tips in our Why Us? Guide will help you dig deep for offerings that align with your values and interests.

Since 10th grade, I have been offering TED Talks on topics of self-expression and inclusivity. I have learned to turn my experience of being bullied and silenced into a determined voice to combat bullying and promote a spirit of inclusivity. In 11th grade, I created an anti-bullying organization, which teaches middle schoolers how to deal with the transition to high school.

I would like to take these conversations about the importance of safe space and inclusivity to middle schools in Providence, working with organizations such as “No Bully” and initiatives such as Be Fearless Be Kind to encourage kids to stand up for each other. 

As poetry has become the cornerstone of my personal growth and a tool for helping others,  I plan to contribute to The Round Magazine and organizations such as WORD! I would explore opportunities to bridge poetry and the visual arts by possibly collaborating with Artbeat. 

I am also interested in studying connections between poetry and the sciences, their mutual applicability, and ways science can help me write better poetry while becoming an outstanding psychiatrist. 

By working with Providence organizations such as AS220, a non-profit community arts organization in downtown, I could tap into my passion for the arts and writing. I would be a AS220 volunteer teacher and possibly introduce activities and workshops to encourage others to express themselves more fully and vulnerably.  (228 words)

Write an intentional opening sentence. You’ll notice there’s no prolonged introduction or hook for this essay. Since the word count here is pretty restrictive, opening with a sentence that 1) hints at or tells the reader exactly where this essay is going, and/or 2) opens with values, means you’re saving space for more words later. The writer here opens with an activity they’ve been doing, but emphasizes their values of self-expression and inclusivity. 

Envision yourself at the university. This plays into the “Why us?” part of the response. Through careful and thorough research, you’ll be able to identify campus organizations and programs that resonate with you, especially in terms of the ways you’ve outlined your areas of diversity. Going this extra mile shows NYU officials that you’re familiar with what the community has to offer and that you can envision yourself on campus, not just thriving but contributing. This writer names a handful of organizations and programs at Brown or in the nearby community, drawing specific connections to their interests.  

Tie in your career aspirations. This is not necessary, but if it comes up organically while writing, it’s a nice nugget of information to include—it gives some backstory and motivation to your interests, and how you can use the university’s programs to achieve that goal. By noting their dream of becoming “an outstanding psychiatrist,” this student is able to add additional context around how these experiences will combine to enhance and inform their journey after college.

Show diversity through community. This essay is a good example of the community approach mentioned above. The writer touches on varying activities and interests, expanding by sharing how those experiences would help them contribute to the Brown community in specific ways. Like this: “As poetry has become the cornerstone of my personal growth and a tool for helping others,  I plan to contribute to The Round Magazine and organizations such as WORD! I would explore opportunities to bridge poetry and the visual arts by possibly collaborating with Artbeat.”

How to Write The MLK Scholars Essay Prompt

( Note: This question is only available to those who select "yes" to being considered for the MLK Scholars program in the "New York Campus" section of the CommonApp) 

When you hear the words “community,” what comes to mind? Your school, your local area, cultural or religious connections, your orchestra section, the discord you started… ? The foundation of this prompt is the community(ies) you’re a part of and how you’ve made change within it/them. 

See the guidance on identifying your communities from the main supplemental essay above. Because there is some possible overlap in essay topics, if you’re applying for the scholars program, make sure your topic diverges from the one you chose for the main  supplemental essay. 

So think for a minute about all the different communities you participate in. They can be based on geography (like your city, or country of national origin), identity (religion, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.), circumstances, interests, groups, shared activities, and more. Check out our guide to “community essays” for more ideas and sample essays.

Choose one where you’ve had measurable impact bringing positive change to that community. Might be the Girls Who Code club you started at your school, a city-wide initiative connecting young social entrepreneurs with sponsoring organizations, a pride festival you organized, or service work with the mosque. Explain why you’ve chosen to engage in this way, answering the prompt’s inquiry about your motivation. Lay out the details of what you did—as well as the impact you had—in order to emphasize your scholarship-worthy talents, skills and accomplishments.

Here’s an essay that was written for a Boston College prompt, but that demonstrates the direction to head here (though it would need fairly big word count cuts).

In 2020, various racially motivated hate crimes such as the slew of disturbing police killings and spread of Asian hate caused me to reflect on racial injustice in America. While such injustices can take many different forms and be overt or subtle, all are equally capable of creating racial inequality. A societal issue significantly impacting minorities is educational injustice between private and public schools since students of color account for more than 75% of public-school enrollment. The pandemic exacerbated this problem as some private institutions (like my school), not impeded by a lack of financial resources or bureaucracy, could return to in-person instruction, while many public institutions stayed closed for the majority of the 2020-21 school year, their students’ educational experience less optimal as a result. The values of service instilled through my Sacred Heart education prompted me to act in response to this injustice and do my part to propagate educational equality across races in the Bay Area. My interest in tutoring began in middle school when I volunteered in my school’s peer tutoring program. In high school, I created a tutoring club, giving my peers the opportunity to help younger elementary students on financial aid with their homework. With the club being sidetracked by COVID-19, I joined 826 Valencia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced students in the Bay Area. This experience prompted me to transition my old club to a remote format, adapting to restrictions posed by the pandemic. I worked with my friend to rebrand the club, naming it TutorDigital, registering it as a non-profit, and designing a website, efforts which expanded our reach to include local public schools. Through our efforts, we’ve helped provide tutoring services to 32 underprivileged Bay Area students, while also identifying other opportunities to support public schools, such as donating upwards of 60 iPads and creating a book donation program.  While educational injustice is an issue that unfortunately will not be solved overnight, it’s an issue that must be aggressively addressed, now more than ever given the massive impacts from the pandemic. I look forward to continuing this work at Boston College. But for now, I gain comfort from each thank you note from a parent or good grade achieved by a student, knowing my efforts have potentially improved the academic trajectory of these children and helped to address racial injustice in America. — — —

Use the problem/solution structure. This student starts the essay by naming how racially motivated hate crimes raised their awareness of racial inequity and then identifying the specific context that concerns them, educational injustice. Once they flesh out the problem in the second paragraph, they launch into a description of the steps they took to address it. The structural approach used here can also work well in other essays you may be writing about volunteer or community service.

Be specific about your role and activities. The bulk of this essay—the third paragraph—clearly lays out this student’s actions on the issue: started a tutoring club, joined a nonprofit, rebranded the club, registered it as a non-profit, etc. Using clear, active verbs with this kind of detail helps you highlight your skills and achievements for your admissions reader.

Show your impact. Thank you notes and good grades let this student know how they might have improved their students’ academic trajectory and achieved their goal of addressing racial injustice. And offer tangible evidence when possible: 32 students, 60 iPads, book donations. What has happened because of your efforts? What outcomes can you report? Whom have you affected and how?

Looking ahead… at NYU. This author points out that there’s still much to do and that they plan to continue their work in college. You could go further by suggesting one or two specific things you plan to do on campus on your issue, building on what you’ve already done. For ideas, do a little “ Why Us? ” research and link back to the MLK, Jr. Scholarship mission: outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to civic engagement. 

Published September 23, 2024

Your Guide to the 2024-25 NYU Supplemental Essay Question

Katie Hindman

Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

The NYU supplemental essay, an optional component of the first-year Common Application application, gives you a succinct and creative opportunity to share a little bit more about who you are with the admissions committee. 

This year’s question is designed to spark the type of connections and critical thinking skills you’ll use daily as an NYU student:

“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?”

It’s true – we love a good bridge at NYU, whether it be one of the iconic physical ones connecting our global cities or one of the many metaphorical ones connecting our diverse and international student body. These connections are vital at our university. Joining NYU’s vibrant community starts with conceptualizing bridge building in your current life.

To bridge the distance (ha!) between our brand-new question and your unique answer, here are some tips and tricks for writing the NYU supplemental essay (from a real person reading it on the other side of the screen)!

HOW DO I START?

Think of the NYU supplemental question as an exercise in the types of creative thinking you will use as a college student and global citizen. Try to approach it with a sense of curiosity and excitement rather than apprehension or perfectionism.

Everyone’s writing process is distinct. Don’t judge your writing before it’s time to edit! Sometimes the best work starts out as a series of fragmented, unfinished thoughts. Writing a single sentence, jotting down word associations, taking a walk, or journaling may get ideas flowing just as well as a structured outline does.

Remember – the supplemental question is meant to be concise! When you get to the editing stage, make sure your writing is direct. We’re confident you can communicate your thoughts in 250 words or less.

WHAT SHOULD I WRITE?

Don’t limit yourself by contemplating only the grand metaphorical London or Golden Gate Bridges of your life – a subtle piece of wood laid strategically across a creek can be just as significant in its own context. Consider the big and small ways you’ve challenged yourself to unite a community around something important to you. Or, think about how you’re eager and willing to learn this essential skill at NYU. 

Regardless of where or how you grew up, and regardless of the perspective you bring with you to college, you’re guaranteed to come across a person or idea that challenges your perceptions of the world and pushes you outside your comfort zone while you’re here. NYU students enter college eager to use these experiences to hone their bridge building skills. They will then graduate with the confidence to put those skills to world-changing use. 

Use this question to show us you’re ready.

THE BOTTOM LINE…

The answers to this question will be as diverse as the students writing them! Your background is valuable, and every applicant has something worth sharing.

Remember that those of us on the other side of the application are interested in and inspired by you, rather than judgmental of what you choose to share with us. We’re grateful for the time, energy, and vulnerability you put into your application.

The admissions committee wishes you the very best of luck with your final year of high school. Keep being unique, driven, bridge-building members of your communities. We’re excited to read all about it!

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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!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay (with an Example!) [UPDATED FOR 2024-2025]

Let’s talk about how to write NYU's supplemental essay....

How do you write NYU’s supplemental essay, Lisa?  What are they asking for? I don’t know where to start!

The NYU supplemental essay for the 2024-2025 college application cycle is finally out!  And it’s a doozy!  

Considering that NYU’s supplemental essay from last year was one of the essays that I got asked about the most last year (along with the Stanford roommate essay), I’ve put together this guide to help you as you start tackling this challenging new essay.

Do I have to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay?

To be clear, the NYU supplemental essay is optional.  The essay is in the optional, pre-checked Writing section and is not a required part of the NYU application.

To drive that point home, NYU notes that the essay is for “if it feels right for you to tell us a little more about yourself in the application” and “it really is optional!.”

So no, you absolutely can submit your NYU application without ever writing the supplemental essay.  

That being said, NYU received 118,00 applications last year for its class of 2028, and its overall acceptance rate dropped to a new low of 8%.  With NYU admitting fewer than 1in every 10 applicants, most applicants are going to be doing anything they can to stand out in that enormous pile of applications, and the supplemental essay is one way to do that.

So while you don’t have to write the supplemental essay, if you’re serious about applying to NYU, I would strongly suggest thinking long and hard about it!

And here is NYU's supplemental essay prompt for 2024-2025....

The NYU supplemental essay prompt [updated for 2024-2025]

So here’s the NYU supplemental essay prompt for the 2024-2025 college application cycle:

“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?”

How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay: a Breakdown 

So where to start with this essay prompt?

Well, as all my students know, I first like to take a step back and think about what the college trying to get at with a question before trying to put together an answer.

The reason is because with NYU receiving over 100,000 applications a year at this point, if they’re asking a question, there has to be a good reason they want to read another 100,000 essays.  If NYU is asking a question like this, there’s something specific they want to know about you, something important that’s going to help them say “yes” or “no” to your application.

When writing the NYU supplemental essay, rememnber to answer the question!

College Essay Coach Pro Tip:  Unlike personal statements prompts which are open to all kinds essays, supplemental essay prompts are asking you about something specific that they want to know about you.  Supplemental essay prompts often ask you to tell the admissions committee something about your background, what you plan to do in college, or how you interact with people.

These are not theoretical questions.  They actually want to know those specific things about you, so please don’t go off on tangents.  You usually only have 150-300 words to answer the question!

Step #1 to acing any supplemental essay prompt is answering the question that the admissions committee is asking!

So what does NYU want to know here and why?

Well, this one is easy to figure out.  NYU wants to know how you interact with people who think differently than you and/or may have different beliefs, may come from different backgrounds, and/or in some cases, just flat out disagree with you.

And in particular, NYU wants to know how you have connected with  and maybe even worked together with people who are different from you in the past.  What are your experiences with people from different backgrounds?  How do you describe those experiences?  And how has your background influenced how you act in those situations?

NYU's supplemental essay question is tryiing to get a sense of what you would lbe like in a diverse university community with many points of view.

Why Is NYU Asking this Question?

The reason for this supplemental essay is also pretty obvious. 

Colleges have always been been places that students from a wide, wide range of backgrounds come together to form a learning community.  To foster a vibrant university community, it is vital that schools find students who are going to be able to connect and learn from students of different races, religions, cultures, and backgrounds.

And that’s especially true of a school like NYU which is in New York City, a diverse global city where over 200 languages are spoken and which serves as the home to a kaleidoscope of faiths .  

In particular, at a time when protests on college campuses have become a cultural flashpoint and college are just bracing for more , knowing how a student has handled being in situations with people who aren’t just like them and may disagree is an issue that can weigh heavily in a college admissions committee’s decision.

The NYU Supplemental Essay: Step #1

Okay, all that being said, where to start with the NYU essay?

In fact, in this case, NYU makes it very explicit exactly what they’re looking for: “…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.”

So above all, what you need to do in your answer to NYU is show how you are a “bridge-builder” who can “connect people, groups,” “foster understanding” and “promote collaboration” in a “vibrant academic community.”

So as you approach this question, clearly the most important thing for you to do is to show NYU that you are what they are looking for: a student who is a bridge-builder!

This is in no way a theoretical question!  Looking at NYU’s own guidance on this essay, the admissions committee wants to learn about “where you will turn to for inspiration, and what experiences have shaped you and resonate with you.”  

Over and over, NYU’s guidance states that they want to know about YOU. But how to do this 250 words or less?

The NYU supplemental essay for 2024-2025 is all about how you build bridges.

NYU is actually straightforward in their guidance for this question, giving you 4 points to consider in your answer.  Let’s take them step by step:

Personal Experiences or Challenges that Have Shaped You as a Bridge-Builder

The first element that NYU asks you to consider in your answer is: What are the p personal experiences or challenges that have shaped you as a bridge builder?

The best way to think about this part of the question is: “Well, why are you a bridge builder?  What in your background and/or experiences have made you someone who builds bridges?”

If nothing is immediately springing to mind for you, here’s some guidance on how to think about this part of the question.  Usually with “Why are you the way you are?”-type questions, the answer starts one of two ways:

Bridge-Building Has Been a Part of Your Life Since Childhood

This is something that’s always been a part of you and your life since childhood.  Think of those vet origin stories where the person was always taking care of sick cats and dogs.  It’s the same idea.

Maybe you grew up in a multicultural household or neighborhood and bringing together different groups of people was part of the fabric of your family:  As long as I can remember, my family home has been meeting place for   Or maybe you came from a place that was culturally volatile, and it informed your strong beliefs in working across cultures.  

If who you are as a bridge-builder is rooted in how you grew up, this is probably the approach you should take.  

Write 2-3 sentences about how your childhood shaped who you are as a bridge-builder.

A Specific Experience Made You Become a Bridge-Builder

The other approach is to write about a specific experience which made you become a bridge-builder.  For example, did you witness a conflict which made you realize that you wanted to build bridges across groups of people? Or perhaps you had a realization when you saw a unlikely group of people coming together to solve a major problem?

This involves about a specific moment in which you had a major realization that change d something in you.  If this is you, write 2-3 sentences about this moment inspired you to want to build bridges and connect people.

The NYU supplemental essay asks how you've built bridges in your school, community, or personal life in the past.

2.  You as a Bridge-Builder in Your School, Community, or Personal Life

The second point in NYU’s guidance is to consider how you have been a bridge-builder in your school, community or personal life.  

Okay, now that you’ve established why you are a bridge-builder, this guidance is asking you to think about your “What?”:  What are the bridges that you are building?

So think back over the connections that you build:  Who are the groups that you bring together?  How do you foster relationships between people who are not alike and who  may disagree?  What connections are so meaningful to you that you spend your time and energy building them?

This could encompass many different aspects of your life from the global and political to the very personal.  What matters is that this needs to be about you and what’s important to you.  Again, write 2-3 sentences on this.

3.  Building Bridges Between Diverse Groups

The third part of NYU’s guidance asks about what “specific actions” you have taken to “build bridges between diverse groups, ideas, or cultures.”

So now comes the nitty-gritty.  Now that you’ve established the why of your bridge-building and the what you’re building bridges for, now NYU wants to know the how :  What are the specific actions you’ve taken to build those bridges?

This is where your essay gets grounded in reality.  It’s not enough to say that building bridges is important to you, NYU wants you to talk about real steps you’ve taken to build bridges.  That doesn’t mean that if you haven’t organized and hosted peace talks for the Middle East you have nothing for this essay, but NYU clearly wants to hear about tangible steps that you’ve taken to build bridges.

That could be hosting a lunch table for students of different faiths at school or starting a gay-straight alliance for teens at your church.  Maybe you started a podcast inviting people of opposing political viewpoints to come on and have a conversation.  Or maybe it’s something as simple as building a bridge across family members who have become estranged because of differing viewpoints.

Whatever it is, jot down another 2-3No sentences about what you’ve done.

The NYU supplemental essay asks how you envision building bridges at NYU... and beyond!

4.  Your Vision of Building Bridges at NYU and for the Future

Now, unlike Part 3 which was all about the concrete steps you’ve already taken to build bridges in your community, the fourth part of NYU’s guidance is all about your vision for the future.

I often tell my students that college essays are about helping admissions officers make sense of your application.  The essays help admissions officers answer the essential questions of “Who are you?,” “Why have you done what you’ve done?”. “Where do we think you’re going in the future?”

So part of this question is to help the NYU’s admissions committee understand who you would be on their campus: How would you interact with NYU’s diverse, international community of students, faculty and staff?  How would you connect with your fellow students and help foster connections between your classmates?  Is there an issue that you would want to bring members of the NYU community together over to accomplish something greater?

And ultimately, looking out into the future, are you someone that NYU may one day point to as an example of how their alumni promote collaboration in an ever-changing and global world?  Is there something you’ve been passionate about bringing together people for?  If so, is this something you plan to continue with beyond college?  Or is there another problem that you plan to collaborate with others on to solve?

Whatever it is, jot another 2-3 sentences down on it.

The NYU Supplemental Essay: Putting It Together

If you’ve been following along on this guide, you probably have the beginnings of a draft for the NYU supplemental essay by now.  It may be more of a rough outline, but it should give you someplace to start.

What this look like when you put it all together though?

Here's an example of the NYU supplemental essay!

An Example of the NYU Supplemental Essay

Because this is a new prompt for the 2024-2025 college application season, I don’t have an actual example of a successful essay, but I’ve put together an example of what a successful essay may look like based on essays that some of my students have written for other applications:

Growing up as a preacher’s son, I thought everyone’s parents spent 12 hours a day in deep prayer.  It’s wasn’t until I started school that I realized that these marathon prayer sessions weren’t quite the norm.

I also realized that even though I loved my mom, I actually despised many of her views as a preacher. It was painful to realize how hateful my mom’s views were to marginalized people like my best friend who is openly gay.

At first, I tried to “correct” her views, but my mom remained steadfast. But over time, I realized our dialogue could not be about “right” or “wrong.” They had to be about understanding each other, and that’s how I approach every conversation now—even when viewpoints are very different. I have no desire to be “right.” Curiosity thrives in me—why do they have this viewpoint? How can I understand them? 

It was in this spirit that I co-founded my school’s first Genders and Sexualities Alliance Club with my best friend.  It’s a place where students of all genders and sexualities can come together to work to effect change and also to understand each other better.

At NYU, I can’t wait for the opportunity to be curious about everything and everyone.  I’m looking forward to continuing to promote dialogue among students from different backgrounds and with different viewpoints in in solving problems we all face like climate change.  I expect to change, understand, be understood, and to grow with my fellow classmates.

Writing the NYU Supplemental Essay: Last Thoughts

Above all, remember, the NYU admissions committee needs to be able to see you as a student at NYU and participating as a vital member of their community.  Paint that picture for them!

How would you engage with your fellow NYU students, and what of your experiences can give them some indications of what that would be like?

If you can start from there, you will be well on your way to acing this supplemental essay!

Need more help with your college essays?  

Check out my college essay coaching !  

And for additional help with your college applications, check out my college admissions consulting and college interview preparation and coaching .

Are you applying to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)? Check out my guide: How to Write the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Supplemental Essays (with Examples!)

Are you applying to the University of Southern California (USC)? Check out my guide: How to Write the University of Southern California (USC) Supplemental Essays (with Examples!)

Or How to Write the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) Supplemental Essays (with Examples!)

Check out my blogs on popular college admissions topics like:

How to Write the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay

How to Write a College Essay about Leadership (with Examples!)

9 Good Questions to Ask During Your College Interview

What Not to Write About in Your College Essay

How to Write a Medical School Interview Thank You Letter or Email

How to Write the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Supplemental Essays (with Examples!) [UPDATED FOR 2024-2025]

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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NYU Supplemental Essays 2024-25 — Prompt and Advice

August 23, 2024

In the 2023-24 admissions cycle, NYU received nearly 120,000 applications. That was a record-breaking figure for the university, as was the all-time low acceptance rate of 8%. To put these numbers in proper context, consider for a moment that in 1991, NYU had an acceptance rate of 65%. At the start of the Obama presidency, NYU still only received 37,000 total applications. These numbers lead us to the topic of this blog, the NYU supplemental essay.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into NYU? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into NYU  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Clearly, standing out as an applicant to NYU was a heck of a lot easier a generation or even a mere decade ago. For the Class of 2027, the median SAT score for an admitted applicant was 1540, meaning that even a standardized test score in the 99th percentile won’t do much to separate you from the hordes of equally credentialed applicants.

Although it only has one prompt, NYU’s essay still affords applicants an opportunity to illustrate what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below is NYU’s supplemental essay for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. We then follow with College Transitions’ advice on how to craft a winning composition.

2024-2025 NYU Supplemental Essay

This is a new prompt for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. It’s optional, but we highly encourage anyone who would like to be a serious contender (which, if you’re taking the time to apply, hopefully you are) to answer it.

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 (250 words):

·   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?

NYU Supplemental Essay (Continued)

This prompt—and its questions—are focused yet open-ended, offering you the power to decide what aspect of being a bridge builder—past, present, and/or future—you would like to address. As such, take a look at the guiding questions and note which ones resonate with you. Does the term “bridge builder” remind you of an experience you’ve had, a challenge you’ve overcome, or a belief you hold? Perhaps it calls to mind an aspect of your background or perspective. Or, it could speak to a particular social or political cause that you’ve advocated for, a group discussion you’ve contributed to, or a club you founded. Alternatively, in college, what do you want to do ? What type of change do you want to affect? How so?

The strongest responses will look to the future while also incorporating past personal experiences or influences. For example, perhaps, earlier this year, you went out of your comfort zone to speak up at a school board meeting about your school district’s book ban policy, ultimately meeting & agreeing to continue working with a group of fellow students who also opposed the policy. Finally, you can then incorporate how you plan to seek out specific related experiences or resources at NYU.

How important is the NYU supplemental essay?

NYU deems four elements as “very important” in evaluating a candidate. These are: the rigor of your secondary school record, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores, and talent/ability. The NYU supplemental essay is considered to be “important” alongside letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and character/personal qualities.

Want personalized assistance?

In conclusion, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your NYU essay, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

Looking for more writing resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

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Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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New York University (NYU) 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

You Have: 

New York University (NYU) 2024-25 Application Essay Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s) : Community , Diversity

How to Write a Compelling NYU Supplemental Essay

NYU’s supplement only asks for one (1) essay, but they give you four (4) options, all focused on building bridges. Since you can speak about as many of these prompts as you want in your response, spend some time freewriting and see what you come up with. NYU Admissions instructs: “There are no formulas to making admissions decisions; NYU seeks a mix of students who have a variety of interests, talents, and goals.” So don’t be afraid to dive into whatever strikes. Read on for more detailed advice for writing your NYU supplemental essay!

NYU Essay Prompt Breakdown

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.

NYU aims to admit students who will be active participants in and contributors to a dynamic and inclusive campus culture, so all of these prompts focus on the idea of community in a different way. The first one asks you to describe your background and what has made you into a person who can bring others together. The second asks you to describe concrete ways you have built bridges in your life so far. The third asks you to describe actions you’ve taken in a more expansive way; rather than in your personal life, focus on broader cultural or ideological bridges. The last prompt asks you to think about how you will foster collaboration once you’re admitted to NYU. Note that you can talk about any number of these questions in your final essay. Maybe you’ve volunteered at your church’s food pantry every other weekend since you were in middle school or canvassed for political candidates that you believe will generate positive change for generations to come. Whatever your example(s) may be, don’t be afraid to touch on what those experiences meant to you as well as the work you hope to do in the future (hopefully around NYU’s campus!).

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