With so many applicants, NYU is crazy selective now (~12-13%)…
Especially for Tisch and Stern programs.
Anyone else feel like NYU went from “dream school” to “wildest fantasy” in like 5 years? 
Quite right — you’re not making this up. NYU’s admission rate has dropped a lot over the past decade, and it really does feel like it went from competitive to almost impossible overnight.
That’s why it feels that way:
• Applications exploded in the last few years, especially after more schools adopted test-optional policies.
• NYU’s location + reputation attracts huge international and domestic interest.
• Programs like Stern and Tisch are even more selective than the overall university rate.
So yeah, it’s not just perception — the competition has genuinely gotten much tougher.
Fr. It used to feel competitive, now it feels like playing the lottery, especially if you’re not applying with some insane extracurriculars or legacy connection. NYU Stern? Basically Ivy League now.
bro, it’s insane. Even people with 4.0s and crazy extracurriculars are getting rejected left and right.