The Aspire Program

Admissions & Application

Who is eligible to apply?

• You must be in 10th grade and enrolled in a New York City high school. You must also be a first-generation college-bound student. 9th grade, 11th grade, and 12th grade students are not eligible to apply. Students who will be younger than 15 years old at the time of the program are not eligible to apply.

Is there an application fee?

• No, the application is free.

How selective is the program?

• NYUSPS Aspire is a highly competitive scholarship program. Successful applicants have shown improvement in their academic performance between 9th and 10th grades, have been involved in extracurriculars in their local or school communities, have been recommended by their schools, and have completed the required Aspire Program interview. Please note: due to the high volume of applicants, not all students will receive an invitation to interview.

What does the program scholarship cover?

• Students admitted to the program receive a full scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, housing, and meals during the summer session, as well as the cost of attending monthly workshops and accessing NYU resources. Please note: this scholarship only covers cost of program attendance during a student’s Junior and Senior years, it does not provide any additional funds for undergraduate studies.

Where do I send my official high school transcript?

• An official copy of your high school transcript is required even if you have uploaded an unofficial copy with your application. All official transcripts must be emailed or mailed to our processing center by your guidance counselor or school representative:
  
  By Email* (official transcripts & recommendation letters): sps.aspire@nyu.edu
  By Mail:
  NYUSPS Aspire Program
  7 E 12th street, Room 829
  New York, NY 10003
  
  * Submission via email is preferred and strongly recommended to shorten processing times. Transcripts sent via email as a PDF should include the following subject line: "NYUSPS Aspire Program Transcript for [YOUR NAME HERE]"

Where do I send my letters of recommendation?

• Your letter of recommendation should be uploaded to the online application by your recommender. Instructions to upload are included in the application. You may also email or mail your letter of recommendations to sps.aspire@nyu.edu . Please note: all application materials must be received in order to consider your application complete and ready for review. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

How will I know if you have received my application materials?

• Once we receive all of your materials you will receive an email from NYUSPS Aspire staff to confirm that your application is complete.

Will I earn college credit?

• No, the Aspire program does not award college credit.

Are students required to live on campus during the summer?

• Due to COVID-19, all Aspire Summer 2021 courses are being delivered remotely. Students will attend classes online via Zoom from their home.

Will completing the program help me to gain admission to NYU?

• Successful completion of the NYUSPS Aspire program will add to your admissions profile, but participation does not guarantee admission to NYU or to any other university. For more information on how to apply for an undergraduate degree at NYU, visit Undergraduate Admissions .