NYU offers two Early Decision application options for freshman applicants who are certain that NYU is their first-choice university. Students applying as Early Decision candidates will receive their admission decision after December 15th (Early Decision I) or after February 15th (Early Decision II).
An Outline of NYU’s Early Decision Philosophy and Process
NYU's Early Decision programs are, in fact, binding agreements, whereas if an applicant is offered admission and provided with a financial aid package that enables the student to enroll, the student must withdraw any previously submitted applications and accept NYU's admission offer – roughly within 2-3 weeks of receiving an admission offer. Students are then restricted from filing any new applications as well. Providing that a student has completed the Early Decision Financial Aid application online, the student will be provided with a financial aid estimate soon after the student is offered admission. Again, admitted students will have roughly 2-3 weeks to review their financial aid package before confirming their enrollment at NYU.
We believe that part of our commitment to Early Decision applicants is to provide an "early" decision, and as a result, we typically either admit or deny Early Decision candidates.
Early Decision and Financial Aid
NYU uses the same methodology in providing financial aid for Early Decision candidates as we do in providing financial aid for Regular Decision candidates. Students are not offered more or less financial aid based on when they apply for admission.
For Early Decision I candidates, we use information students share with us via the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE online to provide admitted students with an estimated financial aid package after December 15th. For Early Decision II candidates, we use this information to provide admitted students with an estimated financial aid package after February 15th. Students are then provided with their official financial aid award in late April, assuming students have completed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15th.
Students will only be released from the Early Decision agreement if they believe their estimated financial aid package does not enable them to attend. Students must be aware that applying Early Decision will not enable them to compare financial aid packages from other universities. If comparing financial aid packages will be necessary for a student, the student should apply under our Regular Decision program. NYU will still reserve the majority of our admission offers for students applying for Regular Decision, so students should not feel pressure to apply Early Decision if finances are of concern.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Applying Early Decision
As most students know, the biggest advantage to applying Early Decision is that if you are offered admission, your college search process can be completed early and thus, reduce a tremendous amount of anxiety over the college admission process.
Many students want to know if it is “easier” to be admitted through our Early Decision process. The reality is that no, it is not “easier” to be admitted Early Decision, as the quantifiable criteria we use to evaluate candidates for admission – GPA and class rank (if available), test scores, etc. – is the same during both the Early and Regular Decision processes. Students who are offered admission during the Early Decision round will have remarkably similar credentials as those offered admission during the Regular Decision round and vice versa. That said, given the relatively small size of our Early Decision applicant pool, we have been, in recent years, able to admit a larger percentage of our applicants during the Early Decision round. Most recently, we were able to admit roughly 39% of our Early Decision applicants v. roughly 30% of our overall applicant pool.
Early Decision Application Process
- Complete the Common Application and NYU Supplement online and check either the Early Decision I or II option.
- Download and sign the Early Decision Agreement from the Common Application website. Secure the signature of your parent or guardian and your college adviser/guidance counselor. If you apply online, the Early Decision Agreement may be submitted along with your high school transcript. If you apply using the paper version of the Common Application, the Early Decision Agreement should be submitted with your application.
- Submit all supporting materials such as transcripts and standardized test scores to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by the appropriate deadline.