Courtesy of the NYU Photo Bureau
About New York University:
Since its founding in 1831, NYU has been an innovator in higher education, reaching out to an emerging middle class, embracing an urban identity and professional focus, and promoting a global vision that informs its 20 schools and colleges.
Today, that trailblazing spirit makes NYU one of the most prominent and respected research universities in the world. Anchored in New York City and with degree-granting campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai as well as 13 study away sites throughout the world, NYU is a leader in global education, with more international students and more students studying abroad than any other US university.
The largest private research university in the US, NYU provides a rigorous, demanding education to more than 64,000 students and undertakes $1.34 billion in research annually. It counts among its faculty recipients of the highest scholarly honors and is a top producer of patents and revenue from licensing among US universities. NYU has a vast network of alumni who have gone on to succeed across professions, from the sciences to the arts and government, throughout the world. Thriving beyond borders and across academic disciplines, NYU has emerged as one of the most networked and extensive worldwide platforms for learning, teaching, researching, building knowledge, and inventing new ways to meet humanity’s challenges.
About the Stamps Scholarship at New York University:
The Stamps Scholars Program enables extraordinary educational experiences for extraordinary students by awarding multi-year scholarships to driven and talented student leaders to help them achieve their goals and make positive contributions to society. The Stamps Scholars at NYU have access to up to $15,000 in funding to be used during their time within the program. Scholars are typically selected during their sophomore year at NYU and engage in a cohort-based leadership development program that helps them clarify their purpose, align their academic and professional goals, and develop an engagement plan to support their impact. Scholarship funds can be applied to high-impact experiences for students, including study abroad, research, unpaid or underpaid internships, conferences, and leadership training.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should:
- Be in their sophomore* or equivalent year at NYU (typically 32-63 credits); and
- Have a minimum GPA of at least 3.2; and
- Have a demonstrated commitment to leadership, service, and creating positive change
*Students outside of this credit range may still apply to the program but priority will be given to those in their sophomore year
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be evaluated based on the following:
- Demonstrated Leadership and Initiative: Strong applicants will show a track record of impactful, self-driven leadership—not simply holding a title. This may include initiating change, overcoming obstacles to achieve a collective goal, or contributing positively to a group or community.
- Intellectual Drive and Talent: Applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic merit and intellectual curiosity. This will be assessed through GPA, rigorous coursework, independent research, and strong endorsements from recommenders who can speak to their talents.
- Clarity of Purpose and Alignment with Impact: Strong applicants will articulate a sense of purpose, and describe how their academic and professional goals are explicitly directed toward making an innovative or creative contribution to society or addressing a specific social challenge. Additionally, applicants should present a compelling plan for how they intend to use the $15,000 enrichment funds. This will be assessed through the application materials.
- Potential for Cohort Contribution: Applicants must demonstrate openness to collaboration, self-reflection, and a capacity to both lead and support their peers. They should demonstrate the capacity to be an active, engaged member of a small, intensive leadership group. This will be assessed primarily through the interview process.
- Exceptional Character and Integrity: Applicants should demonstrate a strong ethical compass, empathy, and integrity. This will be assessed through the personal essays, letters of recommendation, and in the interview process.