Students applying to the undergraduate school -- or freshmen applicants, as they are referred to -- are considered for admission only in the fall semester in September. Students who are in high school at the time of application are considered freshmen applicants. They must apply with any one of the following: SAT scores, ACT (writing test) scores, three SAT subject test scores or three AP exam scores earned by the student before senior year. They must complete the general application and pay a $70 application fee. Applicants must also provide official high school transcripts and transcripts of all college work for which the student has earned academic credit. Some specialized courses like those in music, studio art, dance and drama have some additional requirements.
Homeschooled students applying for undergraduate admission must submit transcripts indicating the coursework completed, with a brief summary of course content. In addition, they must submit their scores on standardized tests (SAT/ACT/AP) and two recommendations, including one from the primary instructor. The second recommendation must be from an individual who can assess the student's ability to begin courses at NYU, but not a parent.
All freshmen international applicants are required, in addition to the other requirements, to submit their scores on SAT, ACT or AP tests as well as results of IELTS or TOEFL tests taken in the last two years. Foreign students need to possess good verbal and oral communication skills in English to be considered for admission.
New York University offers graduate courses in arts, sciences, medicine, public administration, the arts and law. The basic requirements are that all applicants should have completed an undergraduate degree (or the equivalent) and have a strong academic and extracurricular background. Specific admission requirements vary, depending on the program to which the applicant is applying. Applicants to the Tisch School of Arts, for instance, have to submit an application, official transcripts from their schools and colleges, a personal statement, a personal artistic resume, GRE scores (if applying for the cinema studies or to moving image archiving and preservation courses) and two letters of recommendation. The courses for the performing arts (for example, theatre, music, cinema studies, dramatic writing or photography) have their own audition and/or portfolio requirements.