Admissions

At NYU Steinhardt, we are committed to finding teachers who will drive impact and help students reach their full potential. Our admissions process is designed to give us a sense of who you are, what drives you, and how you aim to positively influence the future of education.

Ready to take the next step towards your future as an NYU Steinhardt teacher resident? Once you have reviewed the program’s eligibility requirements and have determined the program is the right fit, you’ll navigate through three key stages of the teacher residency admissions process: 

1. Your application

NYU Steinhardt takes a holistic approach in evaluating your application, taking into account your academic background, personal and professional experiences, and motivations. The following is required to complete your online application:

a. Application profile – Build your prospective student profile to access our application portal, dashboard, and our team of enrollment advisors who can answer any questions you may have along your admissions journey.

b. Transcript(s) – Highlight your academic strengths. A transcript review helps us assess your eligibility for specific content area(s) within the program. Submit your unofficial transcript first, followed by a consent form so our team may request an official transcript on your behalf. 

c. Letters of recommendation – Provide insight into your character, experience, and achievements through the eyes of others. You’ll need two letters of recommendation, ideally from those who know you within a professional or academic context. If you are currently completing your undergraduate degree or have graduated within the past two years, we ask that you submit at least one recommendation that can speak to your academic performance.

d. Resume – Reflect your employment history, as well as your most recent achievements and pursuits. We’ll provide the preferred template of our faculty and hiring managers.

e. Essay – Demonstrate your commitment to ongoing reflection, learning, and the practice of inclusivity and accessibility for all learners. Answer one to two related questions in 500 words or less. 

f. Video introduction – Bring your application to life! Create a 90-second video to offer our faculty a better sense of who you are as an individual and will be as a future teacher. 

g. English proficiency exam – If English is not your native language, submit results from one of the following English proficiency exams: TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. This requirement may be waived if you received four years of education as either an undergraduate or graduate student where the official language of instruction of the institution was English. For more details, please see our English proficiency testing requirements.

h. Application fee – A $75 nonrefundable application fee may be required to submit your application. In certain cases, a fee waiver is available. Prompts within the application will guide you through the process.

2. NYU Steinhardt faculty admissions committee review and interview

NYU Steinhardt faculty review each application individually. Applicants who pass the faculty review will be invited to a group interview, where you will engage in discussion with a faculty lead and three to four other program applicants. You will be asked to read an article about culturally responsive teaching in preparation for the interview.

During this stage, you will also be asked to complete a residency preference survey to indicate for which residency locations you’d like to be considered. Please note: this survey must be completed before advancing to the final stage.

3. Partner school interviews and offer

Candidates advanced by our faculty will be invited to the final stage of the admissions process. Based on the type of residency you pursue, your experience may look one of two ways:

a. For prospective full-day residents (most applicants): Your application resume, essays, and video introduction will be forwarded to hiring managers for each of our partner schools whose location aligns with your residency survey preferences. Hiring managers will review your application materials to decide who to invite to first-round interviews.

Based on first-round interviews, the hiring team for our district and charter partners will hold final interviews. These interviews ultimately determine admissions decisions into the Teacher Residency program, as well as schools’ final offers to teach within their communities.

b. For prospective half-day NYC Department of Education (DOE) or Danbury Public School partnerships: If you are interested in Danbury Public Schools, you will participate in an interview with school-based leadership. If you are interested in the New York City DOE, you will participate in a one-on-one interview with Teacher Residency faculty. For all other residencies, you will be notified if you receive an offer.

Our Office of Graduate Admissions will notify you about your final admission to the NYU Teacher Residency via email. In most cases, the admissions process will take eight to twelve weeks from application deadline to decisions rendered.

Key dates and resources

Final admissions decisions for the Summer 2023 cohort will be communicated by May 2023. All components of the application must be submitted by the deadline in order to receive a decision within this timeframe.

Resources to make the most of your application:

• Choosing a Content Area (Secondary Education degree)
• Tips for an Impressive Grad School Resume
• Tips for Your Personal Essay
• Tips for Your Video Introduction

Important notes for the best admissions experience:

• NYU Steinhardt does not allow deferrals. Applicants who wish to be considered for a future year must reapply by submitting a new application with all supporting materials, including letters of recommendation, by the application deadline.
• NYU requires immunization records. To comply with New York State Public Health laws and University requirements, all students – regardless of location – are expected to follow NYU’s immunization guidelines.
• Partner schools may require a criminal background check. Licensing agencies and fieldwork placement facilities in your field of study require that you undergo a criminal background check, the results of which the agency or facility must find acceptable before placement or licensure.