What tips does College Essay Guy have for applying to NYU?

Several students have found College Essay Guy’s resources helpful, especially when tackling NYU’s notorious "Why NYU?" prompt. One of the main tips he provides is to focus deeply on specificity—meaning, avoid generic reasons like “I love NYC” or “NYU has a great reputation.” Instead, you’ll want to pinpoint the unique opportunities, programs, or communities that actually draw you to NYU, connecting them to your own interests and goals.

A useful resource is his article on the "Why Us?" essay, where he breaks it down into sections like “What excites you about learning here?” He suggests listing 10-15 specific details about NYU, then tying 3-5 of those points to your own personality, ambitions, or past experiences. For instance, if you want to study at the Tisch School, you might mention a particular NYU course, professor, or club you’re excited about, and then explain why that aspect matters to you specifically. One student I know used this method to highlight a unique NYU urban studies course and then described an afternoon they spent photographing historic neighborhoods in their city—connecting NYU’s offerings to their real-life passions.

His brainstorming exercises, like the "Values Exercise" or "Essence Objects," can help you uncover stories or qualities that feel authentic, which you can then connect with NYU programs. Try jotting down core values or concrete moments from your high school years—then see which NYU resources align with them. This helps keep your essay personal instead of just a string of compliments for NYU.

For structure, the "Montage" approach (where you weave together several short anecdotes or interests) can work very well for the "Why NYU?" prompt so you sound dynamic. One example: someone wrote brief snapshots of their experiences with city life, creativity, and social justice, each one linked to a specific NYU course, club, or initiative.

To avoid clichés, steer clear of mentioning only location, prestige, or diversity; NYU admissions reads hundreds of those each cycle. Focus on the intersection between you and the school.

Finally, if you’re nervous, remember that the most memorable essays often include a specific moment or a small, vivid detail about the applicant’s life—like how a student layered their essay with references to subway lines, local cafés, and a favorite NYU speaker, making it clear they’d done their homework and truly saw themselves in NYU’s culture.

If you haven’t already, check out College Essay Guy’s "How to Write a Why Us Essay" video and his sample essays database, which are both very applicable to NYU. Good luck—you’ve got this!