Spring Admission FAQs

We identified you as a student who we could envision making meaningful contributions to NYU, but we are unable to accommodate all qualified candidates in the fall. We have confidence that based on the strength of your academic record and evidence of your work ethic reflected in your application materials, you have the drive and tenacity to handle accelerated summer coursework to remain on track to graduate with first-year students entering in the fall.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions does not offer an appeal process for spring admissions decisions.

Only students who were admitted to the spring semester through our Early and Regular decision may apply for deferral, and may only apply to defer to the following spring term. Students who were admitted from the waitlist (for any term) are not eligible to apply for deferral, and are expected to enroll for the semester to which they were admitted.

This offer of admission expects that you will enroll at the school/college of NYU to which you were admitted. There is a process for our matriculated students to apply for internal transfer at the University, but this may result in a delay in your graduation timeline as each school has different requirements.

Since you will graduate on the same date as students entering in the fall, you will be required to complete your second freshman semester during the summer of your first year. Additionally, you will work closely with your academic advisor to review advanced standing or transfer credits received to be on track to graduate with your class. Students in the spring admission group are expected to be in school in New York City full time (12-18 credits) in the spring and summer semesters. Other than the required summer semester immediately following your first spring semester, students admitted to either fall or spring will have the same requirements for graduation.

You will follow the same curricular sequence as other students in your school, and will have opportunities to engage with peers from your program and across NYU through your core requirements and electives. Learn more about the curriculum on your school’s webpage.

• NYU Liberal Studies
• NYU SPS
• NYU Steinhardt
• NYU Tandon

The process for changing majors varies depending on the program and school or college you are enrolled in. Visit your school’s webpage for more information and important advising contact information.

• NYU Liberal Studies
• NYU SPS
• NYU Steinhardt
• NYU Tandon

No, assuming you have completed all the standard enrollment requirements for new students, you will be able to register for the spring semester in November, when all other students select classes.

The NYU summer session will run from late May through early August, but the schedules will vary slightly depending on the school you were admitted to. Learn more about the curriculum on your school’s webpage.

• NYU Liberal Studies
• NYU SPS
• NYU Steinhardt
• NYU Tandon

All of the same opportunities will be available to you for study abroad as those who begin their freshman year in the fall semester. Speak with your academic advisor or a global programs advisor during your first semester to discuss options, and to plan your coursework so that you can stay on track for graduation. We encourage you to attend the information sessions and panels about study away opportunities during Spring Welcome.

Our goal is for all students who begin in the spring semester to graduate with the rest of the NYU class who begin in the fall. As with students who start in the fall, this is, of course, contingent on maintaining a full courseload and keeping up with the departmental requirements.

There’s a lot you could do in a semester! It’s really up to you. Whatever you choose to do, we hope you’ll fully embrace the semester and find fulfillment in it. Here are just a few ideas:

• If you want to start gaining hands-on experience, or saving up some money to help fund your university expenses, you could choose to work or intern with a local organization.
  
• You could choose to take a gap semester and spend a few months volunteering or traveling. 
• You could spend some time honing your craft - whether that’s arts or athletics - by fully immersing yourself in your practice. 
• You could consider taking classes as a visiting student at a local college or university (just be sure to not enroll at another institution as a degree-seeking student). If you choose to take classes, touch base with your academic advisor prior to enrolling to ensure that any course you take will qualify for credit once you arrive at NYU and the Office of Financial Aid to confirm that it will not impact your financial aid eligibility.

Any admitted first-year student can take classes as a visiting student during the summer immediately before they enroll at NYU. Students offered Spring Admission, however, are not permitted to enroll as visiting students in the fall. You might instead consider taking classes at another university. Just be sure that you enroll as a non-degree/visiting student and not as a degree-seeking student; enrolling as a degree-seeking student at another institution will disqualify you from attending NYU through the Spring Admission option. You should also touch base with your academic advisor at NYU prior to enrolling to ensure that any course you take will qualify for credit once you arrive at NYU and will not impact your financial aid eligibility.

First-year students can receive up to 32 credits of advanced standing from all sources combined, including test (eg. AP, IB) and transfer (courses taken at other accredited colleges/universities). You may review NYU’s policy on advanced credits here.

Within the 32 credit limit, first-year students accepted for Spring Admission can take (and receive credit for) up to 8 transfer credits at another institution during the gap semester. The most likely options for transfer credit will be general elective, mathematics, natural science (only with a lab component), or foreign language courses (with a placement exam upon completion).

If you defer a full year prior to enrolling at NYU, you may still only transfer up to 8 credits for courses taken at another institution.

Only if you are attending another institution during the fall as a non-degree/visiting student. As mentioned, you should request pre-approval from your advisor for any courses you hope to have transferred toward your degree at NYU. Students can be considered for up to 8 transfer credits from another institution. Please note the most likely options for transfer will be general elective, mathematics, natural science (only with a lab component), or foreign language (with a placement exam upon completion). 

Throughout the fall there will be many opportunities to connect with your school representatives and fellow students. You will receive our Next Stop NYU communications throughout the fall semester from your academic advisors and student affairs, keeping you informed of important dates and deadlines. In addition, you will complete an online orientation to learn more about your program, advisor, and the registration process.

Students in the spring admission group will be expected to be in school full time (12-18 credits) in the spring and summer semesters at our Washington Square campus in New York, regardless of whether or not they have earned credits elsewhere. Tuition and fees for each of these semesters are the same. Housing charges in the summer are less expensive, making your total cost of attendance in the summer slightly less than the spring.

Learn more about tuition for Spring Admissions.

Yes, assuming you met our financial aid application deadlines, you will be considered for all forms of financial aid, including our scholarships, for the spring and summer terms. Students will receive the same level of funding as they would if they were starting in the fall.

If you are offered a financial aid award for this spring and summer, you will still have to refile each year in order to continue receiving aid.

Any grant or scholarships that you have been awarded will already be accepted on your behalf. If you have been offered federal financial aid, such as loans or work study, you will be able to accept them on your Albert Student Center. Please continue to check your NYU email address in the coming months for information about beginning the financial aid acceptance process. If you have questions about your financial aid, please call the Office of Financial Aid at 212-998-4444 during business hours.

If you choose to take classes at a local college or university as a visiting student and you borrow federal loans, it may impact your remaining annual eligibility for federal loans during your spring and summer terms at NYU. Please reach out to the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

At NYU, we want all members of our community to make sound financial decisions. NYU is committed to providing access to a variety of financial education resources to assist families in expanding their knowledge of personal finance. Learn more.

Yes, you will be guaranteed housing at one of our undergraduate residence halls, along with other members of the Spring Admissions cohort.

For students starting in the spring, the housing application will be available in October. Students will receive an email prior to this date with instructions and more information about housing options.

Yes, summer housing is guaranteed for NYU students who enroll in summer courses. Learn more on the summer housing website.

We do our best to assign students to a bed space that they will have the option to remain in through both the spring and summer semesters. That said, all housing is based on the availability of the inventory, and there are times where an administrative re-assignment is necessary. In these instances, the NYU Office of Residential Life and Housing Services will work to meet one of the student's top preferences for the summer term.

NYU will offer over 200 events during the spring semester to welcome first-year and transfer students. Spring Welcome takes place during the first three weeks of spring semester and includes a series of events, information sessions and meet ups for all students to kick start the new semester. Before classes begin, your school will also host dedicated orientation sessions for you to learn more about academic requirements, co-curricular opportunities, and to help ensure a successful transition to your community.

Activities and programs hosted for students admitted in the fall are currently not available to incoming students for spring, but we hope that you'll join us for one of our many events for spring admits.

You will have all of NYU’s resources at your disposal. NYU’s Wasserman Center for Career Development provides professional guidance and support from the moment you arrive on campus, and over 40,000 internships and jobs are posted on NYU’s career database every year. About a month prior to your arrival, you will also be granted access to CareerNet, NYU’s database for on-campus employment opportunities.