NYU Admissions Breakdown: What It Really Takes to Get Accepted in 2025

Let’s dive right into 3 Real Profiles of Admitted Students at NYU. "NYU is one of the most sought-after universities in the world, but with thousands of ambitious students applying every year, how do you actually stand out? The competition is intense—and what works for one student might fail for another. Today, we’re breaking down the real application profiles of three students who got in—so you can see exactly what worked and how to craft your own winning strategy. Whether you’re a creative, a leader, or an academic powerhouse, there’s more than one way to impress NYU.

I’m Tina Chulet. Wharton Alumni & Kellogg Alum. Born & brought up in Chicago, we were taught how to build a profile early on so we could get into the top ranked colleges. This channel is about teaching you the strategies for getting into an elite college because if you don’t know what matters, you can never get admitted.

Listen in as we go into the academics and extracurriculars of each student. But beyond that, make sure you stay put for the post analysis so you have a clearer understanding of how to strengthen your profile and boost your chances of studying abroad at NYU.

And while NYU isn’t Ivy League, the level of competition is just as fierce—especially for international students. What you’ll see today applies to more than just one university. If you’re wondering how to get into Ivy League as an international student, or aiming for any top U.S. college, these lessons apply.

Also - Just a quick reminder — if you're feeling lost or need some extra help navigating the admissions process, my courses are here for you and linked at the bottom. They break everything down step by step, plus you’ll get access to exclusive downloads, including a list of over 450 scholarships to help fund your education."

So let’s get going.

Understanding NYU Admissions: What It Takes to Stand Out in 2025

Admit #1: The Well-Rounded Leader

Academics: IB Score: 39/45SAT: 1500AP Classes: None

Extracurriculars:

Passion Project: Founded a glass-blowing business, selling 5,000 products and earning $3,000 CAD Founded Harmony Heights Music Academy, a nonprofit providing music lessons to 50+ underprivileged children, with 40 volunteer teachers

Leadership: Soccer team captain; competed in international tournaments and trained in Europe Senior School Action Council Model UN Head Delegate (mentored younger students)

Research: Student Researcher at Lumiere (academic research in gene editing); Research in chemistry and cellular biology,

Community Impact: Volunteer at “Aastha” Hospice, supporting bereavement programs

NYU Admissions for International Students: Real Profiles That Worked

Admit #2: The Creative Influencer

Academics:

IB Score: 38/45ACT: 32

Extracurriculars:

Leadership: Student Body PresidentClass President

Honors & Awards: Swimming team ranked #2 nationally in USA

Creative Ventures: Built an Instagram comic strip account, "ThumbPaint," gaining 100K followersCo-founder of the Psychology Club

Community Mental Health Organizations: Support 14 local organizations by providing free resources for mental health awareness and support programs, especially for underrepresented groups; impacted over 5,000 students

Mental Health Awareness Campaigns: Organized 10+ events or social media campaigns to raise awareness about mental health, emotional resilience, stress management, or destigmatizing therapy.

Academic Excellence Meets Social Impact: Lessons from NYU Admits

Admit #3: The Academic Achiever with Social Impact

Academics:A-Levels: A, A, A-SAT: 1490 Super score

Honors & Awards:

International Recognition: John Locke Essay Competition Finalist (16.9% acceptance rate)

National Recognition: Indira Gandhi NSS Award for completing 240+ hours of service, including organizing blood donation drives

Other ECs: Bharat Scouts and Guides: Led sanitation & hygiene drives in rural areas (part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiative)Trinity School of Music (Piano, Level 6)

How Hard Is It to Get Into NYU? Breaking Down the Numbers

So what are your chances? Are you curious about how many international students actually get into NYC? Let’s talk about the academic stats first as ultimately college is an academic exercise. And stick with us till the end where I share the lessons you can apply to your college app.

1450/1510/1570 & 33/34/35 & Average IB is 37;Ranked 30 by USNews & Ranked 49 by Forbes

Around 17–18% of NYU’s undergraduate students are from New York State. Over 21,000 international students are enrolled at NYU across all programs. International students make up around 24–25% of NYU’s total student body. NYU students come from 130+ countries, making it one of the most globally diverse universities in the U.S.

So generally a college ranked 30 would be one that most of my students would shy away from. For example, have you heard of Williams College? It is the #1 Liberal Arts University in the USA but most would cringe when I suggest they apply because they have not heard about the brand. PUHLEASE don’t focus so much on branding. College is about getting a great education which will set you up for the rest of life – it is not about Brand Name. While I don’t believe you should focus on rankings, it does provide an indicator of the educational quality. That being said, even NYU, a college ranked as 49 per Forbes is a great educational experience and you should rest assured that if you fall in the top 100 universities in the USA, you are going to get access to terrific facilities, career opportunities, and an education. If you want some help researching colleges in the right way, check out my video on College Research below.

How to Build a Winning NYU Profile (and What These Stories Reveal)

Phew – so here is what you are waiting for – what lessons can you apply?

They focused on academics as a foundation. These students all have exceptionally high grades and test scores, proving that, at the end of the day, college admissions is still an academic exercise first. They demonstrate excellence via leadership, academic excellence, awards and honors. They used every second in high school and likely didn’t have a spare second. They meet the bare minimums requirements (see below)These students were well-rounded and enjoyed a variety of activities.

Now that you’ve got some ideas of real student profiles, it’s time to work on building your own profile. Make sure you head over to one of these videos based on where you see your greatest weakness.

By the way, if you prefer you can watch this on youtube channel here. Watch "College Rankings Miss This: Smarter Research for Students" on youtube.