The most accurate AI grader for NYU essays.
Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into New York University and the rest of the T20.
NYU essay prompts for 2025-26
Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.
These are the most recent NYU prompts Kolly has verified, checked . NYU may have updated them since, so check New York University admissions before you submit.
Open Dialogue
Tell us about a time you embraced (or observed someone embrace) free inquiry, the right to disagree, and the responsibility to listen.
250 words max · Required
Diverse Community
NYU was founded on the belief that a student's identity should not dictate access to higher education. We would like to better understand how your experiences would help us shape and grow our diverse community.
250 words max · Required
Bridge Builders — Observing a Bridge Builder
Tell us about someone you've observed who does a particularly good job helping people think or work together. How does this person set the stage for common exploration or work? How do they react when difficulties or dissensions arise?
250 words max · Required
Bridge Builders — Preamble
We are looking for students who want to be bridge builders—students who can connect people, groups, and ideas to span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration within a dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community. We are eager for you to tell us how your experiences have helped you understand what qualities and efforts are needed to bridge divides so that people can better learn and work together. Please consider one or more of the following questions in your essay:
250 words max · Required
Bridge Builders — Encountering a Different Perspective
Tell us about a time you encountered a perspective different from your own. What did you learn—about yourself, the other person, or the world?
250 words max · Required
Bridge Builders — Your Own Bridge-Building
Consider the big and small ways you've challenged yourself to unite a community around something important to you. Or, think about how you're eager and willing to learn this essential skill at NYU.
250 words max · Required
All NYU supplemental essays, with word limits and the published source.
How Kolly grades a NYU essay
The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. NYU readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.
Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read
ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what NYU readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.
Grading your personal statement?
Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see New York University admissions.