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 toward your future as an NYU Steinhardt teacher resident? Once you have reviewed the program’s eligibility requirements and determined the program is the right fit, you’ll navigate through three key stages of the teacher residency admissions process, the third of which will vary based on what type of residency you pursue. In most cases, the admissions process will take eight to twelve weeks from the application deadline to residency decisions rendered. 

Apply > NYU Interview > Residency preference survey > NYU admission decision > Candidate has the option to accept the NYC Public Schools residency offer. If the NYC Public Schools residency offer is accepted, no residency partner school interviews are required. If the NYC Public Schools residency offer is not accepted, the candidate may be invited to participate in partner school interview(s) with non-NYC Public Schools school(s).

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): Submit your unofficial transcript first, followed by a consent form so our team may request an official transcript on your behalf. Transcript reviews help us assess your eligibility for specific content area(s) within the program and highlight your academic strengths. 

c. Letters of recommendation: Request 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. Your letters of recommendation should provide insight into your character, experience, and achievements through the eyes of others.

d. Resume: Update your resume to include 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: Pay a $75 nonrefundable application fee. 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 meet academic standards will be invited to participate in an asynchronous interview. You will be asked to respond to questions designed to help our faculty understand why the Teacher Residency is the right program to help you grow and thrive as an emerging teacher.

During this stage, you will also be asked to complete a residency preference survey to indicate which residency locations you’d like to be considered for. While you cannot choose your residency location, you can indicate regional preference. It is at the discretion of the hiring partner school, network, and/or district to offer you an interview and/or hiring opportunities. You can ultimately accept or decline the offer(s) for residency engagement. As teaching is an integral part of the program, you must commit to working for one year at your contracted residency school location.

After the interview process, our Office of Graduate Admissions will notify you about your admission to the NYU Teacher Residency via email.

You may pay your tuition deposit upon admission to the program to reserve your position or you may wait until your residency offer is secured before paying your deposit.

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 most applicants: Your application materials will be forwarded to hiring managers at the district/charter partner schools we have determined as the best fit based on your residency preference survey responses. Hiring managers will then decide whom to invite to final interviews.

Final interviews will take place with our district and charter partners to determine your residency offer and solidify your residency location.

b. For NYC Public Schools residents: No additional action is needed. You will be notified by NYU Teacher Residency faculty where you will be placed in one of our NYC Public Schools partner schools with your residency offer.

Individual residency schedules and compensations will vary. All teacher residents are required to be on-site at their contracted school Monday through Friday with hours determined by the school. Compensation and benefits are solely determined by the district, network, or school and can vary greatly by school. See our residency partner schools to explore the range of opportunities.

Key dates and resources

The application for the Summer 2025 cohort is now open. We encourage you to apply by the upcoming deadline to make the most of your admissions experience. All application components must be submitted by the deadline in order to receive a timely admissions decision.

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.