Letters of Recommendation

GSAS requires three letters of recommendation. Recommenders should be chosen from people who know your academic qualifications and are most familiar with your former studies, research interests, or work — preferably in the field in which you expect to study. If you have been out of school for some time, a letter from an employer or supervisor should be provided. We do not accept letters of recommendation via Interfolio and other credentials services.

You'll request your recommendation letters through the online application; your recommenders will also submit their letters online. Our online system is easy for the recommender, greatly facilitates the processing of your application, and ensures the department receives all materials together at the same time.

Do you have any advice about requesting my letters?

We suggest you contact your recommenders in advance of requesting a recommendation. Let them know a bit about the program to which you are applying and your academic goals. Also, let them know the application deadline for your program.

When you submit your request for a recommendation in your application, you will have the opportunity to write a brief personal message to each recommender. We suggest you do so, thanking them for writing a letter on your behalf and reminding them of the program to which you are applying and the application deadline.

How many letters are required? Can I submit more?

Most applicants find three letters sufficient and you should not submit additional letters unless there are strong reasons for doing so.

The advanced certificate program in Ergonomics requires two references, but they are not asked to write letters of recommendation. This is the only exception to the three letter requirement.

What if my recommenders don't have internet access or an email address?

We understand that in very exceptional circumstances a recommender may be unable to use the online system (e.g., no access to the internet). You must still request your recommendation letters through the online application.

If you cannot request a letter through the online system because your recommender does not have an email address, please write a brief explanation of the issue, including the recommender's name, organization/affiliation, position/title, relationship, and contact details, and upload it in the Additional Information section of your application.

In the case of the exceptions listed above, ask the recommender to send their letter to the Graduate School in a sealed envelope with their signature written across the flap. Please note that we will not accept the letter by email or fax.

The mailing address is as follows:

U.S. Postal Service (including express and priority mail):

New York University
Graduate School of Arts and Science
Graduate Enrollment Services
P.O. Box 907
New York, NY 10276-0907

FedEx, DHL, UPS, or other express mail service (do not use for U.S. Postal Service express or priority mail):

New York University
Graduate School of Arts and Science
Graduate Enrollment Services
One-half Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10003
Telephone: (212) 998-8050

At what point in my application should the letters be requested or submitted? Do they impact my timeline in submitting the application itself?

We encourage you to request letters from your recommenders early, even before you submit your application. When you request a recommendation, your recommender will receive an email with information on how they can access the system to submit a recommendation on your behalf. Then, as soon as they submit the letter, it will become a part of your application record.

You should submit your application as soon as you have completed it. The letters of recommendation will become a part of your application as they arrive.

How can I check the status of my recommendations?

You can check the status of your recommendations for each recommender by going to your Application Status page and looking at the Application Checklist section. Below each recommender's name you will see if it was "sent to recommender," "in progress," or "submitted."

Can I add or change my recommenders after I have submitted my online application?

You may add a new recommender to your listing by clicking on the "Add Recommender" link. You may delete a recommender by using the "edit" link to "exclude" their name.

My recommender hasn’t completed their recommendation, or hasn't received my request by email. What should I do?

You can send them a reminder by going on your Letters of Recommendations page. Choose the recommender, click "Edit" and click "Send Reminder."

If your recommender has not received your request, ask them to double-check their spam folder, looking for a message from "NYU GSAS Operations" with the subject line "Letter of recommendation request for [Your Name]".

If they cannot find the email, or they accidentally lost it, you can send a reminder using the instructions above. If they still have not received it, please ask your recommender for an alternative email address. Use the "Add Recommender" link to send this new request. You may also "Edit" and then "Exclude" the first unsuccessful email address.

If the email message is still not received after those attempts, you will need to ask them to send the recommendation by mail — see the answer to question 3 above.

Do you accept recommendations or other documents from a credentials service or a career services office (e.g., Interfolio or my undergraduate institution)?

No, we do not accept letters of recommendation via Interfolio and other credentials services. This policy became effective September 1, 2010.

We do not accept any other documents through Interfolio and other services. The personal statement should be included in your online application and not sent through them. Transcripts and translations should be uploaded to your online application, as well.