New York University, or NYU, is one of the most popular universities in the United States, and not only because it’s in the middle of the action of New York City. NYU doesn’t have a campus in the traditional sense. Downtown NYC is the campus. Students live alongside outstanding pizza spots and jump on the subway to get to week-night concerts. The arts are alive at NYU, and students are able to start building their careers in business long before receiving their diploma. Unsurprisingly, competition is steep to get in. The first year is about for the New York campus, with the addition of the global campuses in places like Abu Dhabi only increasing the acceptance rate to 12%. For this post, we’ll be focused on the most competitive NYU campus: New York.
How to Write the Wake Forest Supplement 2026-2027
Wake Forest could be described as a liberal arts college with a strong research backbone, or as a research institution with a liberal arts ethos. Both apply. The university has become famous for offering undergraduate students the types of opportunities typically only available at much larger institutions, but in a manageable package and a close-knit community. There are 5,600 undergraduate students total, and that accounts for about ⅔ of the total student body. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2030 was 17%.
How to Write the Emory Supplement 2026-2027
Just as Ludacris once said, “Welcome to Atlanta.” Emory is Hotlanta’s No. 1 private research university. Emory has a lot going for it. They are best known for their health/premed programs (the CDC is pretty much in their backyard), the Goizueta Business School, and a strong liberal arts curriculum. They are also home to Oxford College, a smaller school for freshmen and sophomores looking for a LAC (liberal arts college) vibe before being folded into the greater Emory community for their last two years.
How to Write the Michigan Supplement 2026-2027
The University of Michigan is one of the most well-respected and well-known public universities in the United States. It is especially well-known for out-of-state students interested in studying STEM subjects. However, as a public university Michigan has to heavily prioritize in-state applicants. That has driven the acceptance rate down for out-of-staters, making actually getting into Mich a formidable challenge even for the best of the best. The overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was , but remember that this is a combined acceptance rate that includes both in-state and out-of-state applicants. Michigan has not broken out their in-state vs. out-of-state acceptance rates in recent years, but we are confident estimating that the in-state acceptance rate is closer to 30%, and the out-of-state acceptance rate is well under 10%.
How to Write the Pomona Supplement 2026-2027
How to Write the Brown Supplement 2026-2027
How to Write the Columbia Supplement 2026-2027
Columbia University is a world-renowned Ivy League university in the heart of New York City. The traditional undergraduate colleges, Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, are highly-sought after for students passionate about both learning and being in the midst of the action. The overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2030 was .
How to Write the USC Supplement 2026-2027
How to Write the Dartmouth Supplement 2026-2027
Dartmouth is the mountain Ivy. It is an outstanding top-tier university nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Due to its quite isolated location, it attracts students who are at the top of their game in school but who also want to be outdoors, in nature, and who aren’t scared of a hard winter. The overall acceptance rate for the was 6%. The Early Decision acceptance rate that same year was 21.6%.
How to Write the Carnegie Mellon Supplement 2026-2027
Carnegie Mellon is a university that puts the future in the now. They are on your next chapter beyond campus, and what you can build with the foundation you earn at Carnegie Mellon. The average starting salary for 2025 graduates was over $116,000. That is a wild number, but it also doesn’t shock us. Carnegie Mellon focuses on functional degrees that can turn into high earning careers. Basically, they mean business. Unsurprisingly, that has driven competition to get in. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was .
How to Write the Barnard Supplement 2026-2027
Barnard is the most famous all-women’s college in the United States. It isn’t famous just because it’s a top school for women, though. Barnard is simply a top college. Through its affiliation with Columbia University, Barnard students have access to nearly every resource Columbia has to offer, and then some. Students at Barnard also have unique opportunities and resources that are not available to other Columbia students. This long made Barnard a bit of a secret gem, but the secret is out. The acceptance rate has plummeted in recent years, and was for the Class of 2029. They have not released the admissions statistics for the Class of 2030 yet.
How to Write the Penn Supplement 2026-2027
So you want to apply to Penn State? Just kidding, we know you came here for advice on how to apply to the private, Ivy League research institution in Philadelphia, PA (and not the similarly named state school). The University of Pennsylvania, often just called Penn or UPenn, is a great choice for work-hard-play-hard types, budding business students, interdisciplinary liberal arts majors, and those looking for an elite East Coast institution. Cards on the table, we have a little soft spot for Penn since our founder is an alum.
How to Write the Rice Supplement 2026-2027
Rice is a prestigious research university in Houston, Texas that is consistently ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the country. They are especially well-known for their programs in business, architecture, and a unique relationship with . Rice has been working with NASA for over 60 years, collaborating on research that has shaped the national space program and global technologies and opportunities. The acceptance rate is .
How to Write the Williams Supplement 2026-2027
Williams is a tight-knit and prestigious liberal arts college rooted in tradition. Williams is one of the only schools in the United States to follow the Oxford tutorial system, which demands depth and the development of true expertise. Students who are drawn to Williams are deeply curious, passionate, and true academics at heart. With a student body of only a little over 2,000 students, you can’t hide in the corner of the classroom at Williams. Competition for a seat at the table is fierce. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2030 was.
How to Write the Vanderbilt Supplement 2026-2027
Vanderbilt is an impressive private research university that has transitioned from a regional powerhouse into a international name brand over the past 20 years. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and home to 7,300+ undergraduates, Vanderbilt has offered an exceptional educational experience for a long time. Today, it is the same school it was two decades ago. What has changed is how hard it is to get in. The overall acceptance rate for the was under 7.5%.
How to Write the MIT Supplement 2026-2027
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is one of the most famous STEM-focused schools in the world. For engineering, math, and anything emerging technology, there is nowhere more famous or competitive in the US than MIT. They challenge their students to think differently, to defy understood boundaries, and to play an integral role in the next generation of innovation. If you know anything about MIT at all, you probably know two things:
How to Write the Colorado College Supplement 2026-2027
Colorado College offers a unique educational experience and academic community that attracts strong students with an equally strong focus. The most unique piece of CC is the way they structure their academic program, the Block Plan. Through the Block Plan, CC students take one class at a time, diving completely into a subject or niche for 3.5 weeks of immersion. This program isn’t for everyone, but many students thrive in it. It has certainly made CC popular among small liberal arts colleges, and the acceptance rate for the Class of 2030 was . You should note, though, that the acceptance rate for Early Decision I and II, and Early Action, was a little that same year, while the Regular Decision acceptance rate was only 18%.
How to Write the Washington University in St. Louis Supplement 2026-2027
Washington University in St. Louis is a leading research university ‘between the coasts’ of the USA. Two decades ago, it offered an outstanding education but wasn’t all that well known on the coasts. Over the past 20 years, though, it has become a top choice for strong students and the acceptance rate has dropped by half. For the Class of 2029, the first-year acceptance rate was only overall.
How to Write the Harvard Supplement 2026-2027
Harvard. It’s a one word brand at this point, as well as a coveted educational opportunity. Harvard is one of, if not the, most famous education institutions in the world. So, there is not much we can say about Harvard that hasn’t been said a million times. It’s outstanding, it’s desirable, and it’s extremely difficult to get into. Every year, we get great students into Harvard — many of whom might surprise you, as they haven’t done all the fancy programs or flashy extracurriculars that students are led to believe they need to do to get in. They are simply awesome humans with strong, curiosity-driven narratives. You need that kind of narrative to beat the Harvard odds. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was only .