Female student with glasses reviewing a sheet of paper

Since NYU is recognized throughout the world, our applicants — first-year and transfer alike — come from a variety of secondary school experiences. With that said, everyone is measured against the same admissions criteria.

To succeed at NYU, what should I have taken in high school?

We find students are best prepared for NYU if they’ve studied the following subjects:

  • English/Writing - 4 years
  • History/Social Studies - 3 to 4 years
  • Mathematics - 3 to 4 years
  • Laboratory Sciences - 3 to 4 years
  • Foreign Language - 3 to 4 years

Note: Our top applicants have taken demanding coursework in the above subjects for four years, however, we understand that not all students have options for choosing coursework depending on the type of school they are in. We will not hold students at a disadvantage if they do not meet these requirements if they did not have the option to do so.