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SUNY Application Tips: How to Apply, Deadlines, and More

The State University of New York system of colleges—commonly known as SUNY—encompasses some 64 different campuses throughout New York. These campuses include research universities, community colleges, and even specific programs housed at other universities like Cornell.

Though this means that students who want to attend SUNY schools have plenty of choices, it also means that the SUNY application can feel something like a maze of options. Which school do you need? Which application should you fill out? Are you applying to one school or many?

If you're thinking of attending one of these 64 schools and need assistance filling out the SUNY application, this guide is here to help. We'll be covering admissions requirements, which schools require supplemental essays, and some helpful information for filling out your application.

Feature Image: CC-BY-SA-3.0 / Matt H. Wade at Wikipedia

Despite having 64 different campuses, the SUNY system's application is fairly straightforward. Most students who apply to schools in the system use applySUNY , a proprietary application developed specifically for SUNY. You can use applySUNY to apply to almost any college within the SUNY system.

However, there are a few schools that require their own applications :

• Cornell University, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (Universal or Common Application)
• Cornell University, College of Human Ecology (Universal or Common Application)
• Cornell University, College of School of Industrial & Labor Relations (Universal or Common Application)
• Cornell University, College of College of Veterinary Medicine (Universal or Common Application)
• Downstate Medical University ( Apply Yourself Application )
• Empire State College ( SUNY ESC Application )
• Health Sciences Center at Stony Brook University ( Multiple Applications )
• Nassau Community College ( Nassau Community College Application )
• College of Optometry ( OptomCAS )
• Rockland County Community College ( RCC Application )
• Suffolk County Community College ( Suffolk County Community College Application )
• Westchester County Community College ( Westchester Community College Application )

If you're applying to any of those, be sure that you look up application deadlines, supplemental requirements, additional expectations, and other information in advance. Their requirements may differ substantially from the applySUNY requirements, so get started early.

Other schools accept the Common Application in addition to applySUNY. So if you already have your Common Application filled out, you a second option if you're also applying to schools that aren't in the SUNY system. Schools in the SUNY system that accept the Common Application include:

• Purchase College, SUNY
• SUNY Alfred State College of Technology
• SUNY Binghamton University
• SUNY Buffalo State
• SUNY Cobleskill
• SUNY College at Brockport
• SUNY College at Geneseo
• SUNY College at Old Westbury
• SUNY College at Oneonta
• SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry
• SUNY College of Technology at Canton
• SUNY Cortland
• SUNY Farmingdale State College
• SUNY Fredonia
• SUNY Maritime College
• SUNY Morrisville State College
• SUNY New Paltz
• SUNY Oswego
• SUNY Plattsburgh
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute
• SUNY Potsdam
• SUNY Stony Brook University
• SUNY University at Buffalo
• SUNY University at Albany

When Is the SUNY Application Due?

Now that you know which application you'll be filling out, it's time to get into logistics.

The applySUNY application is available online and in a paper version. Electronic applications are generally faster and easier for both students and colleges, but if you have limited internet access or other concerns, it's totally fine to submit a paper application instead. Regardless of which one you choose, be sure that you include all required material!

The SUNY system is somewhat atypical in that there is no official deadline for general applications; they're accepted on a rolling basis as long as a program has openings . However, applications will close as soon as a program is full, so the sooner you can apply, the better. It's always wise to double-check the website of the campus you're applying to see if they have more specific deadlines. And though there is no official deadline, SUNY still recommends that you get your application in by December 1 .

For students applying Early Decision , application dates vary. Early Decision students applying to the NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred University or Maritime have a deadline of November 1, while students applying to Geneseo and ESF have a deadline of November 15. Keep in mind that you can only apply Early Decision to one SUNY school, so choose wisely. If you're accepted Early Decision, you have to make a tuition deposit by January 15 and withdraw your application from all other universities.

For Early Action , a non-binding early application, students hoping to attend Binghamton should apply by November 1. Oswego and Albany hopefuls should apply by December 1. All other Early Action applications must be received by November 15. For all Early Action students, the deadline to finalize their enrollment decision is May 1.

Good grades will make your application a slam dunk.

What Test Scores and GPA Do You Need for SUNY Schools?

The variety of schools within the SUNY system means that there's no hard and fast GPA and test scores guidelines for the entire system. Aim high and work hard to get the best score possible, but if you're looking to flesh out your college list with some SUNY schools, these are the average test scores and GPAs of accepted students :

What Should You Know About SUNY Essays?

Both the applySUNY application and the Common Application use the same prompts . You have seven choices, with just one required essay of 250 to 650 words.

However, some colleges require or accept a supplemental essay for freshmen and transfer students. Unless otherwise stated, the colleges listed below may require or recommend the following supplemental prompt as part of the applySUNY supplement:

Please provide additional information (up to 250 words) that will help us better understand your academic performance. You may also use this space to explain any chronological gaps in your academic history (e.g. a period of time after high school graduation before applying to college).

Always double-check with each individual school to be sure of their requirements. Additional information may be required after submitting your essay, so check in regularly to be sure you don't miss it.

Schools That Require or Recommend Supplemental Essays for Freshmen

Many of the SUNY schools require that you submit a supplemental essay with your application packet. We've listed those schools below and linked to supplement forms (if the supplement isn't available through the Common App or ApplySUNY).

Schools That Require or Recommend Additional Essays for Transfer Students

Some schools require different supplemental essays for transfer students. We've listed those below.

How to Answer the SUNY Essay Prompts

Since most of SUNY's required essays are the same as the Common Application, you can follow all the best practices for writing impressive Common App essays . However, there are some additional things to keep in mind when you're answering the prompts specifically for SUNY.

Don't answer the same prompt twice, unless you have a radically different answer the second time. Really put the effort in to ensure that your essays stand out from one another. Remember: admissions counselors want to learn about you and your future goals.

Second, tie your SUNY essay into SUNY itself. Your Common Application essays can be more general because they'll be sent to every school that you apply to, but your college-specific essays should be tied to the college your applying to.

To do this, consider making a visit to campus or browsing their course catalog and club lists. You want SUNY to know that you're not applying just because of proximity or reputation —you want to go to a SUNY school because it matters to you, not because you've heard its good.

Third, be sure that your essay is personal and unique. You may share some features with other students, including your good grades and extracurriculars, but no student is exactly the same as you. Your essay should reflect that! A good SUNY essay will be so unique that nobody else could possibly have written the same thing.

Our last tip is to dig deep into what makes you you as you write your essay. Don't just present yourself as a collection of grades and time invested in extracurriculars. What does your time spent in cooking club say about you? Is it that you love creating delicious foods that feed your hungry friends? Is it that you understand the reward of simmering something all day to bring out its innate flavors? Is it the thrill of perfecting a recipe you invented yourself?

The more specific and personal your essays are, the better off you'll be. Fill them with context and personality and you'll be on the way to a successful SUNY application.

What Does SUNY Look for in Students?

Your essay is just one part of your SUNY application. SUNY is looking for a comprehensive picture of your strengths as a student, so keep all these things in mind as you're working on your application:

Strong Academics

Grades are extremely important to a successful college application. Use the table above to find out the average admitted GPA for the schools you're applying to in order to figure out if your grades are on target. If not, start working now to improve your grades . A guide like this one can help you start making an academic plan to get your application into shape, no matter where you're at in your education

You could have the best grades in the world, but if you don't demonstrate any interest or passion for the things you do, you're not likely to be a successful college student. That doesn't mean you have to be in love with every subject, but rather that your application shows that you have interests and pursuits that you're passionate about. Let your application, and especially your essays, show that you're a person with varied passions and interests.

You can even use a " spike" approach to your application , which showcases that you're not only a good student, but that you have a particular passion that you're dedicated to honing at your chosen school. Say you're very into journalism—if you weight your application with English courses, journalism courses, time spent working on your school newspaper, and maybe even a few published works outside of school, you're showing SUNY that you're serious about what you do and that you're ready to put in the work to pursue it.

Investment in activities is great, but leadership is even better. Colleges like SUNY want to see that you're serious about your commitments, and a leadership position shows that you're confident and capable of inspiring others. If you've acted as a team captain, an editor, a group leader, or any other position of authority related to your field, it's worth including in your application and essay.

Leadership positions not only demonstrate your passion, but also your trustworthiness and ability to inspire. These are important features on a college campus, where you'll be participating in campus culture, not just being an individual in a sea of unfamiliar faces. Show that you can lead others and you'll show SUNY that you're a good person to have on campus.

Students can easily get hung up on diversity, which is often used to mean difference in race, gender, sexuality, or socioeconomic status. But even if those things don't apply to you—or if they don't feel like they're relevant to your experience—that doesn't mean that you're not a good fit.

The word "diversity" can also be applied to diversity of experience and thought. Think about your upbringing and how it's set you apart from others. Things like the size of your hometown, the number of siblings you have, or where you live can impact your thinking and experiences, too. Don't be afraid to include how your environment has shaped the person you are, including how you relate to others.

Understanding of Mission and Goals

One of the strongest ways to connect with the school you're applying to is to understand what they want to accomplish as a college. Consult their mission statement and academic goals, and even read a little deeper into the essay prompts to understand exactly what they're looking for.

Though individual SUNY schools may have their own mission statements, you can learn a lot about the system by consulting the general SUNY mission .

For example, SUNY uses words like "diversity," "access," and "traditional and non-traditional students," throughout. From that, we can deduce that SUNY is interested in providing opportunities and education to all kinds of students, not just those who are wealthy, privileged, or from the state of New York.

Keep this in mind as you're working on your application. How can you align yourself with these values, or the other values expressed in SUNY's mission statement? Do these ideas apply to you? If not, how can you demonstrate that you're committed to helping maintain and grow that mission?

Make a list, check it twice.

SUNY Application Checklist

Applying to SUNY—let alone applying to multiple schools at once—requires a lot of forms, essays, and documents coming together. If you're struggling to stay on top of everything you need to do to apply, this checklist will help get you started.

#1: Decide Which Schools You're Applying To

Make a list of schools you'll be applying to and the deadlines for each to help keep you on track.

#2: Pay the Application Fee or Request a Waiver

SUNY has a $50 application fee . If you qualify, get the fee waiver ahead of time and get it filled out so you're ready to submit it with your application

#3: Collect Letters of Recommendation

If you're submitting letters of recommendation, they should be ready to go along with your application. Ask your teachers, counselors, coaches, and so on early to be sure that you get a letter that's of good quality and that's ready on time .

#4: Complete the SUNY Application

Depending on which SUNY school you're applying to and whether or not you'll be applying Early Decision or Early Action, you may or may not have a deadline. Research your school early so you can keep track of when you need to apply! Also keep in mind it's still best to get your application in as soon as possible.

#5: Submit Supplemental Portfolio and Essays

Some SUNY schools require or allow supplemental portfolios or other materials. If you'll be submitting them, they should already be ready to go by the time you submit your application. SUNY will give you the due dates for any supplemental materials when you complete your application.

#6: Retrieve School Counselor Forms

SUNY requires a special form from your school counselor . Your counselor is responsible for submitting this form, but be sure to give them plenty of time to do so.

#7: Submit International Student Forms

If you're an international student, determine which forms you need in advance so you have plenty of time to fill them out and turn them in.

#8: Submit Academic Record

SUNY requests transcripts from freshmen and transfer applicants. You can request that your school send them electronically or by mail , but be sure you ask for them to be sent as soon as possible to ensure they arrive on time.

#9: Submit FAFSA

Submit your FAFSA application by June 30 —but keep in mind that the earlier you submit, the better!

SUNY Application Tips

This is a lot of information, but don't panic. There are some simple things to keep in mind as you're working on your SUNY application. Following these steps will help you be stress-free as you're applying.

You're guaranteed to get stressed if you're trying to cram the entire college application process into just one month. Start early.

The best time to start thinking about college applications is freshman year. The second best time is right now. No matter where you're at, take a moment to draft a concrete plan to follow, including deadlines, and stick to it.

The earlier you get started, the better. Don't wait until deadlines are already looming—give yourself lots of time and avoid stressing.

Focus on Either the SAT or ACT

Is the ACT or SAT more important? That depends on a few different factors.

But as you're getting ready to apply for colleges, don't worry too much about excelling on both . Pick one or the other to be your focus, and hone your score on that test.

Don't try to divide your attention. As long as your chosen school accepts the test you choose, it doesn't matter which test you take. Do your best on one of them and you'll be good to go.

Strive for Depth Over Breadth in Extracurriculars

You don't need a thousand extracurriculars to impress SUNY. You don't even need ten extracurriculars. What you need is depth , meaning that you've spent time cultivating an interest in something rather than doing a whole bunch of activities for the sole purpose of fleshing out your application.

Having a variety is good, but not if you've only spent a minimum amount of time on them. Chase your passions and dive deep into them rather than dipping your toes into a whole bunch of fields.

It's better to have a couple of strong interests than tons of shallow ones. If you have time, try out lots of things, but don't waste time you could spend on your passions doing soccer, baseball, piano lessons, volunteer work, tutoring, acrobatics, beekeeping, woodworking, photography, journalism, and Mathletes if only one or two of them are at all interesting to you.

Seek Strong Letters of Recommendation

Many SUNY schools allow or require letters of recommendation, but not all letters are created equal. You should be asking people in positions of authority who know you and your academic strengths to write your letters. Ask early, and don't be offended if you get a "no" in response—it could be that the person you ask already has quite a few letters to write.

Give the person you ask as much information as possible about where you're applying and what programs you're applying to; that will help them write an even better letter. Also, don't forget to say thank you—though teachers expect to write letters of recommendation, you should always express gratitude for them going above and beyond their job duties.

Keep Your Momentum Up Senior Year

Once your application is in and your transcripts are submitted, it might be tempting to take a little break from your hard work and start slacking off in school. Don't do it!

Some schools require a mid-year report, which could hurt your chances. You've worked hard to get where you are, so keep up that positive momentum to carry you forward into college and beyond!

What's Next?

Knowing what a college admissions committee is and what it does can help you write an even better application.

There's lots of advice out there about how to write an impressive college application. But what really looks good on your app ?

Understanding the college application process can ease some of the stress of applying to colleges. This guide covers everything you need to know about applying !

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Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Essay Prompts and Tips

• Cracking Med School Admissions

Beginning in the 2016-2017 admissions cycle, SUNY Upstate Medical University began to have essay for its secondary application. Since then, the SUNY Upstate secondary has gotten longer!  This is a long and tough secondary to do well, so  start early . We would definitely recommend pre-writing you SUNY Upstate secondaries!

It is very important to tailor your answers towards SUNY Upstate by convincing the admissions committee that you have substantial, quality clinical experiences and academic strength. Get our tips on how to answer SUNY Upstate secondary essays below ! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if you want to work Dr. Mediratta and Dr. Rizal through our secondary essay editing packages . 

• Personally Tailored Essays
• Edits by Stanford & Harvard-trained Doctors
• We study your application strengths to see what unique attributes we’ll bring to the medical school

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

• If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June, please indicate your plans for the upcoming academic year. (1,800 characters max)
• Which medical specialty are you thinking about pursuing at this point? (1,800 characters max)
• We understand that the COVID-19 crisis in Spring 2020 disrupted many aspects of our lives. Please share if you had any curricular impacts during this time, for example, change to pass/fail courses or to online coursework or if you anticipate any deficiencies in experiences as a result of COVID-19. (1,800 characters max)
• Are there any areas of weakness in your application that you would like to clarify for the Admissions Committee? If yes, please describe.  (1,800 characters max)
• Upstate Medical University is strongly committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for the patients we serve and all who work at, study at, or visit our campus. As a potential partner in this effort, please describe your commitment to eliminating health inequities, discrimination, or other forms of social injustice. (500 words max)

Tips to Answer SUNY Upstate Medical University Secondary Application Essays

SUNY Upstate Secondaries Pre-Writing Guidance:  The SUNY Upstate Medical University secondary application essay questions don’t change year to year. Therefore, we would strongly encourage you to pre-write these using the previous years’ prompts. Because this is a state school, we think you should try to submit this by late July of the application cycle

• Download our  Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples  to get all our tips about secondary application essays.

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Tip #1:  SUNY Upstate Medical School cares about your commitment to upstate New York. Please state your experiences and connections to Upstate New York throughout your USNY Upstate secondaries. If you do not have any ties to Upstate New York, then discuss your experiences in New York state, the Northeastern United States, and rural health.

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Tip #2: If you have taken a gap year or will take a gap year, then you must answer question #1. Many students write a scant amount about what they have been doing in their gap years. We advise our mentees through our  medical school secondary essay edits to take advantage of the word space.

Here are aspects you should highlight in the gap year essay:

• Clinical experiences you are pursuing. This is very important. Add any insights and reflections, tying it to what you want to do as in your future medical career.
• Any volunteer work, patient care, travel, or community service in Upstate New York. If you are not in Upstate New York, and discuss your ties to New York or rural populations.
• Include a patient story and what you learned.
• If space, you can include a story about an individual you helped in your community service activities. 

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Tip #3: Because the SUNY Upstate Medical University secondary application specifically asks about deficiencies and disruptions during COVID-19, you should not mention what activities you did during the pandemic. 

Topics our students have discussed include:

• Difficulties and disruptions in academic coursework, including transitioning to a home situation
• Taking care of family members who were sick
• Planned clinical, research, volunteering, and other activities that could not occur because of COVID-19
• Responsibilities of taking care of younger siblings

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Tip #4: To answer the SUNY Upstate secondary application question, “ As a potential partner in this effort, please describe your commitment to eliminating health inequities, discrimination, or other forms of social injustice ” discuss how you have already tried to decrease social injustices  and how you plan to tackle these issues in medical school & beyond. 

• Tell stories. This is one of our two biggest pieces of advice we tell medical school applicants throughout the entire application cycle. 

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Tip #5: To answer the SUNY Upstate secondary application question, “ Upstate Medical University is strongly committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for the patients we serve and all who work at, study at, or visit our campus. In 500 words or less, please answer the following question: As a potential partner in this effort, please describe your commitment to eliminating health inequities, discrimination, or other forms of social injustice ” 

• Write existing stories and experiences in both clinical and non-clinical settings where you have been committed to eliminating health inequities. 
• Link this to rural health inequities if you can, because SUNY Upstate serves a large number or rural patients. 
• We have several curated informational and opinion articles about healthcare disparities & other healthcare current events:  Top 10 Current Events You Need To Know For Your Medical Interview  

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Tip #6: Definitely say “yes” to the primary care question if you are considering it. Remember that primary care does not mean only family medicine or internal medicine. Primary care also encompasses pediatrics, emergency medicine, and OB/GYN.

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Tip #7: Start early  and  get our help . The SUNY Upstate secondary not only has several essay, but the essays overall also have large word limits. Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below. Need editing help on your secondary? Dr. Mediratta and Dr. Rizal can personally help you through our secondary essay packages . 

[ Read more:  Medical Schools in New York: How to Get Accepted & School Profiles ]

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Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

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Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

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Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

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SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

• We understand that the COVID-19 crisis in Spring 2020 disrupted many aspects of our lives. Please share if you had any curricular impacts during this time, for example, change to pass/fail courses or to online coursework or if you anticipate any deficiencies in experiences as a result of COVID-19.  (1,800 characters max)
• You might consider yourself disadvantaged if you grew up in an area that was medically or underserved or had insufficient access to educational opportunities. Do you consider yourself within this description? If you answer Yes please explain your particular circumstances regarding why you consider yourself a disadvantaged applicant. (1,800 characters max)
• If you are interested in Primary Care, are you interested in receiving more information about potential scholarship opportunities?  (Yes/Now)

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

Suny upstate secondary application questions: 2020 - 2021.

• We understand that the COVID-19 crisis in Spring 2020 disrupted many aspects of our lives. Please share if you had any curricular impacts during this time, for example, change to pass/fail courses or to online coursework or if you anticipate any deficiencies in experiences as a result of COVID-19. (No character limit)
• Are there any areas of weakness in your application that you would like to clarify for the Admissions Committee? If yes, please describe. (No character limit)

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

• Has anyone in your family graduated from the College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University? (1,500 characters max)
• Please indicate the last MCAT exam you have taken and/or are you planning to take any upcoming MCAT exams and if so, when? Please remember that the deadline for completing your application is December 1. (1,500 characters max)
• Have you completed your baccalaureate degree? If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June, please indicate your plans for the upcoming academic year. If you haven’t completed your baccalaureate degree yet, will you be doing so this academic year? (1,500 characters max)
• Which medical specialty are you thinking about pursuing at this point? (1,500 characters max)

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

• Please indicate the last MCAT exam you have taken and/or are you planning to take any upcoming MCAT exams and if so, when? Please remember that the deadline for completing your application is December. (1,500 characters max)
• Have you completed your baccalaureate degree? If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June, please indicate your plans for the upcoming academic year. (1,500 characters max)
• If you haven’t completed your baccalaureate degree yet, will you be doing so this academic year? (1,500 characters max)

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018

• Are there any areas of weakness in your application that you would like to clarify for the Admissions Committee? Yes or No? If yes, please describe. (1,800 characters max)

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017

Suny upstate medical university secondary application – regular md prompts, suny upstate medical university secondary application – rural medicine prompts.

• Why do you consider yourself suited to rural medical practice? (No character limit stated)
• If you have lived in a rural community, please describe it and indicate how long you have lived there. (No character limit stated)
• Describe your understanding of an issue or challenge facing rural communities now or in the future. (No character limit stated)
• Describe any relevant medical encounters that either you or your family has experienced. How has this influenced your desire to practice rural medicine? (No character limit stated)
• What are your future career goals? (No character limit stated)

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016

There were no essay prompts in the secondary application for the 2015-2016 cycle.

SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Questions: 2014 – 2015

There were no essay prompts in the secondary application for the 2014-2015 cycle.

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SUNY Application Tips: How to Apply, Deadlines, and More

When Is the SUNY Application Due?

The SUNY application deadline varies depending on the school and program you are applying to. Generally, the deadline for fall admission is around February 1st, but it's best to check with the specific SUNY school you're interested in to confirm the exact deadline. Some schools also offer rolling admissions, which means they accept applications until all spots are filled. It's important to submit your application as early as possible to increase your chances of admission and eligibility for scholarships and financial aid.

What Test Scores and GPA Do You Need for SUNY Schools?

SUNY schools have different admission requirements for test scores and GPA, depending on the individual college or university within the system. Generally, most SUNY schools require a high school GPA of at least 80 (on a 100-point scale) and SAT scores of at least 1000 (combined score of math and reading/writing) or ACT scores of at least 21. However, some of the more competitive SUNY schools may require higher GPAs and test scores. It's important to check the specific admission requirements for the SUNY schools you are interested in applying to.

What Should You Know About SUNY Essays?

The SUNY application requires a personal essay that provides insight into who you are as a student and person. The essay prompts vary depending on which SUNY school you are applying to, so it is important to review the specific requirements for each school. Generally, the essay is an opportunity to showcase your writing skills, demonstrate your motivation for attending the school, and highlight any experiences or achievements that make you a strong candidate. It is important to follow the instructions carefully, stay within the word limit, and proofread your essay before submitting it.

Schools That Require or Recommend Supplemental Essays for Freshmen

Here is a list of SUNY schools that require or recommend supplemental essays for freshmen:

1. Binghamton University - Requires the Common Application essay and a separate "Why Us" essay.

2. Purchase College - Requires a personal essay as well as a portfolio or audition depending on the major.

3. Stony Brook University - Recommends a supplemental essay on the Common Application.

4. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry - Requires an essay or personal statement.

5. SUNY Geneseo - Requires a supplemental essay on the Common Application.

6. SUNY Maritime College - Requires an essay or personal statement.

7. SUNY New Paltz - Recommends a supplemental essay on the Common Application.

8. SUNY Oswego - Recommends a supplemental essay on the Common Application.

9. SUNY Plattsburgh - Requires a supplemental essay on the Common Application.

10. SUNY Polytechnic Institute - Requires a supplemental essay on the Common Application. 

Note that requirements and recommendations may change, so it's always best to check with each individual school's website for the most up-to-date information.

Schools That Require or Recommend Additional Essays for Transfer Students

Here are some SUNY schools that require or recommend additional essays for transfer students:

1. Binghamton University: Requires a personal statement and a supplemental essay.

2. University at Buffalo: Requires a personal statement.

3. Stony Brook University: Requires a personal statement.

4. Purchase College: Requires a personal statement.

5. SUNY Geneseo: Requires a personal statement and an essay on a specified topic.

6. SUNY New Paltz: Requires a personal statement and an essay on a specified topic.

7. SUNY Oneonta: Recommends a personal statement and an essay on a specified topic.

Note that the requirements may vary depending on the program or major you are applying to. It's important to check the specific application requirements for each school you are interested in.

How to Answer the SUNY Essay Prompts

To answer SUNY essay prompts effectively, follow these tips:

1. Understand the Prompt: Carefully read and understand the prompt before beginning to write. Note the question being asked, the tone, and the context. Understand the purpose of the prompt and the audience you are writing for.

2. Brainstorm Ideas: Think about what you want to communicate in your essay. Brainstorm ideas and jot them down. Select the ideas that align with the prompt and support your overall theme.

3. Develop a Thesis: Once you have an idea, develop a thesis statement that explains your perspective on the topic. Ensure that your thesis is clear, concise, and answers the prompt question.

4. Create an Outline: After developing your thesis statement, create an outline to organize your thoughts and ideas. This will help you to write a well-structured essay that is easy to understand.

5. Write Your Essay: Use your outline to write your essay. Start with a strong introduction, followed by the body paragraphs, and end with a conclusion. Ensure that your essay is well-organized, flows well, and is easy to read.

6. Edit and Proofread: After writing, edit and proofread your essay for grammar and spelling errors, typos, and punctuation mistakes. Get feedback from others and make necessary revisions.

7. Submit Your Essay: Once you are satisfied with your essay, submit it before the deadline.

Remember to be honest, authentic, and unique when answering the SUNY essay prompts. Show the admissions committee who you are and what you can contribute to the campus community.

What Does SUNY Look for in Students?

SUNY looks for a variety of qualities in students, including strong academic performance, leadership skills, extracurricular involvement, community service, and personal qualities such as character and resilience. Admissions committees also consider factors such as the rigor of a student's high school curriculum, letters of recommendation, and test scores. SUNY schools are looking for well-rounded students who will contribute to the campus community and succeed academically. It's important to demonstrate a strong commitment to your academic and personal goals in your application materials.

SUNY Application Checklist

Here is a general SUNY application checklist:

1. Personal Information: Make sure you have all your personal information handy, such as your full name, address, phone number, email, and Social Security number.

2. Academic Record: You'll need to provide your high school transcript or GED, as well as transcripts from any colleges or universities you have attended. You should also have a record of any standardized test scores you've taken, such as the SAT or ACT.

3. Application Fee: Be prepared to pay the application fee, which is currently $50 for undergraduate programs. Some schools may waive the fee for certain students, so be sure to check if you qualify for a waiver.

4. Essays: If you are applying to a school that requires essays, make sure you have thoroughly read and understand the prompts. Write clear and concise essays that highlight your strengths and demonstrate your interest in the school.

5. Letters of Recommendation: Some SUNY schools require letters of recommendation, so make sure to gather them from teachers, counselors, or other individuals who can speak to your academic abilities and personal qualities.

6. Extracurricular Activities: Make a list of your extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, volunteer work, or other hobbies. This can help you in writing your essays and demonstrate your interests and passions.

7. Deadlines: Be aware of the application deadlines for the schools you are applying to. Some SUNY schools have rolling admissions, while others have specific deadlines.

8. Double-Check: Before submitting your application, double-check all your information to ensure accuracy and completeness.

9 SUNY Application Tips

Here are some tips for the SUNY application process:

1. Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to gather all necessary information and complete the application. Don't wait until the last minute, as you may encounter unexpected problems.

2. Read the instructions carefully: Make sure you understand what is required of you before you begin the application process.

3. Know the deadlines: Check the application deadlines for the SUNY schools you are interested in and make sure to submit your application and required materials before the deadline.

4. Keep track of your application status: After submitting your application, check your application status regularly to ensure that all required documents have been received.

5. Personalize your essay: When writing your essay, make sure to personalize it and make it specific to each school you are applying to. Use specific examples that relate to your experiences and goals.

6. Ask for help: If you have questions or need assistance with the application process, don't hesitate to reach out to the SUNY admissions office or your high school guidance counselor.

7. Proofread your application: Before submitting your application, make sure to carefully proofread all materials, including your essay, to ensure that there are no errors or typos.

8. Be honest and authentic: SUNY values authenticity in its applicants. Be honest in your application and show your genuine interests, passions, and experiences.

9. Follow up: If you have not heard back from a school after submitting your application, don't be afraid to follow up with the admissions office to ensure that your application is being reviewed.

In conclusion, applying to SUNY schools requires careful planning and attention to detail. It is important to keep track of application deadlines, GPA and test score requirements, and any supplemental essays that may be required. By following the tips and checklist provided, prospective students can improve their chances of being accepted into the SUNY school of their choice.

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SUNY Upstate School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts

These are the secondary application essay prompts for State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate School of Medicine. To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page .

about State University of New York Upstate School of Medicine

Secondary Deadline : December 1, 2024 Secondary Fee : $110 FAP Waiver : Yes CASPer Required : No Screens Applications : Yes Accepts Application Updates : Yes

1. If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June, please provide a brief statement indicating your plans for the upcoming academic year:

2. You might consider yourself disadvantaged if you grew up in an area that was medically or underserved or had insufficient access to educational opportunities. Do you consider yourself within this description? If you answer Yes please explain your particular circumstances regarding why you consider yourself a disadvantaged applicant.

3. If you are interested in Primary Care, are you interested in receiving more information about potential scholarship opportunities?

4. We understand that the COVID-19 crisis disrupted many aspects of our lives. Please share if you had any curricular impacts during this time, for example, change to pass/fail courses or to online coursework or if you anticipate any deficiencies in experiences as a result of COVID-19.

5. Please upload an essay, under 500 words, answering the following question: Upstate Medical University is strongly committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for the patients we serve and all who work at, study at, or visit our campus. As a potential partner in this effort, please describe your commitment to eliminating health inequities, discrimination, or other forms of social injustice. (500 words)

The secondary application essay prompts from this medical school application cycle are the same as above.

Regular admissions prompts (word/character limit not stated)

1. If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June, please indicate your plans for the upcoming academic year.

2. What medical specialty are you thinking about pursuing at this point?

3. Are there any areas of weakness in your application that you would like to clarify for the Admissions Committee?

Rural Medicine prompts (no character limit specified) 1. Why do you consider yourself suited to rural medical practice? 2. If you have lived in a rural community, please describe it and indicate how long you have lived there. 3. Describe your understanding of an issue or challenge facing rural communities now or in the future. 4. Describe any relevant medical encounters that either you or your family has experienced. How has this influenced your desire to practice rural medicine? 5. What are your future career goals?

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on the medical school’s website. Med School Insiders does not guarantee the accuracy of the information on this page.

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How to Apply

How  to  apply.

You can have it all with a high-quality college that's also a great value. Through Free Tuition Plus , a vast majority of incoming students are eligible for all Alfred State tuition costs to be paid.

We don't stop there and that's why we call it PLUS. Be rewarded for your achievements with up to $20,000 in merit scholarships over four years.

US News ranks Alfred State College the #1 SUNY Regional College. Enjoy an affordable and high-quality SUNY education with Free Tuition Plus .

To apply, complete either the SUNY Application or the Common Application online.

See a list of admission requirements .

Applicants are encouraged to submit any supplemental materials (i.e., personal statement/essay, letters of recommendation, resume, etc.) they would like to provide for the application review process.

Students who would like to be considered for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) should check the appropriate box on their application.

For further instructions, see our Web pages for Home-Schooled Students , Transfer Students , International Students , Online Students , Adult Students , or Past Students Seeking Re-Admission .

Track Your Application

• Once your application is received in the Admissions Office, information will be sent which allows you to access your student portal. The status of your application can be tracked through this portal.
• Contact the Admissions Office if you have decision/status questions.

Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities should contact the Admissions office to inquire about special accommodations to assist them with the application process paperwork.

About the Application Process

Each application is reviewed individually by an Admissions Counselor . Alfred State offers rolling admission, which means students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Admission decisions are based on a holistic review of your background. We look at your high school average as well as your performance in required high school subjects. A personal interview, letters of recommendation, and a review of your high school and community activities and work experience are also used in the decision-making process. See a complete list of admission requirements .

Consistent with college policy, any deliberate falsification or omission of data on any admissions documents may result in denial of admission, revocation of acceptance decision, or administrative dismissal from the college.

We understand that the college search and application process generate many questions on the part of prospective students and their families. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or requests for additional information or if you would like some assistance with the application process.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

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Extracurriculars.

How to Write the SUNY ESF Supplemental Essay 2020-2021

Originally part of Syracuse University, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), is considered the pioneer college in America devoted to the study of fields related to natural resources and the environment.

The college takes pride in its dedication to improving the world through understanding of the environment and has produced countless alumni who have significantly shaped the field of environmental sciences. Students of SUNY ESF, affectionately referred to as Stumpies, are encouraged to integrate real hands-on work along with their academic studies through the college’s research centers and many affiliated natural parks.

Though the school is focused on environmental discovery, it is closely affiliated with nearby Syracuse University, so students can also broaden their experience by taking classes or getting a joint degree at the sister school.

With an acceptance rate of 61% , SUNY ESF is somewhat selective. Students can apply either via the SUNY-specific portal, or through the Common Application, but all applicants must submit the SUNY ESF supplement via the school website. You’ll be invited to do so once your main application is complete.

CollegeVine is here to give you some tips on how to stand out from other applicants with a great application essay. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the prompts for this application cycle! Want to know your chances at SUNY ESF? Calculate your chances for free right now.

The ESF Admissions Committee would like to understand your interest in the college and our programs of study. Please explain why you have chosen the SUNY-ESF majors you selected in the Academic section of this screen and how each would fulfill your educational and career goals? If you are a freshman applicant who has selected ‘Undeclared’ as one of your choices, please tell us which majors you are considering and how they will fulfill your educational and career goals. (250-500 words)

The trick with this question is to recognize that there are two questions being asked here. First is why you want to go to SUNY ESF in particular, and the second is why you want to study the specific major that you chose. To have the strongest possible answer, you must respond to both in your essay.

This prompt is the standard “Why this college?” essay , so prior to answering this you should do some research on the school and pinpoint specific programs or resources that stand out to you. Make sure that anything you mention can be backed up by the other parts of your application. 

For example, if you enjoy working with local volunteer organizations, then you could mention how SUNY ESF’s emphasis on integrating students’ studies with real-life experiences is great because almost all the student organizations on campus dedicate part of their mission to giving back to the community.

If having a personalized undergraduate research opportunity is important to you, then you can also write about how the Upper Division Honors Program will aid you in conducting intensive research under the guidance of an esteemed faculty member. In this program, the topic of the research is intentionally left open so that the students themselves can do something that they are passionate about.

The same idea goes for when you are answering why you are interested in a specific major. As a result of SUNY ESF having such specified programs of study, it’s a great idea to look into the course requirements for each degree and see which faculty are teaching said classes.

This will not only help you solidify your own reasons for the major, but can also provide examples for why you think your selection is a good fit. Remember to be specific in your response; don’t simply state that you want to study conservation biology or environmental biology. Instead, mention the specific courses that stand out to you, such as “Ecology of Adirondack Fishes” (maybe you’re interested an avid fisher and passionate about ecology!). 

This is also the place to include what your vision for post-graduation looks like. Have you always envisioned yourself designing a new form of green energy? Maybe you’re more interested in the policy side and hope to establish new environmental protection laws. If so, mention it; after all, the prompt also wants you to talk about how your education will play into your future goals.

While you may not have a specific career in mind, you can still talk about the increasing importance of understanding the environment and how the relationship between humans and the rest of the Earth is deeply intertwined. It’s okay to be more general here, as the admissions team understands that four years is a long time away and that your interests can and will change throughout college.

We hope that this guide has been helpful for you, and we wish you the best of luck in your writing process!

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Application Essays for Masters and Doctoral Degree Programs

Criteria for admission in graduate application essays.

You must write and submit the required essays. The application review committee weighs the quality of your essays very heavily in their decision about whether you will be admitted to the program. The criteria considered in their review include:

• whether the program is appropriate, given your interests, needs and background;
• whether your basic writing skills (grammar, spelling, sentence structure, etc.) are sufficient for graduate-level study;
• whether you are able to write a coherent, well organized essay in a style appropriate for graduate-level work in your academic field.

The assigned essays must be original to this application and responsive to the specific questions (they are not intended to be writing samples drawn from previous undergraduate or professional writing assignments). The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the creation or substantial editing of admissions essays is discouraged. If you use any material from other sources/authors, you must include appropriate academic documentation and citation.

Business, Management, and Leadership

Mba in management.

In an essay of approximately 600 words, describe your interest in Empire State University’s MBA program. Include your short-term and long-term post-MBA professional goals and how the MBA program will help you to achieve those goals.

MBA in Healthcare Leadership

In an essay of approximately 600 words, integrate a self-assessment of your readiness to meet the rigors of the graduate-level healthcare courses with your short-term and long-term goals. Explain how the M.B.A. in healthcare leadership will help you achieve these goals. In addition, indicate how your experience and skills would help you be successful in this program.

M.S. in Finance

In an essay of approximately 600 words, describe your motivation for applying to the Master of Science in Finance at Empire State University. Include your short-term and long-term professional goals and how the MS in Finance will help you to achieve those goals. In addition, indicate how your experience and skills would help you be successful in this program.

M.S. in Applied Analytics

In an essay of approximately 600 words, describe your motivation for applying to the Master of Science in Applied Analytics (APAN) at Empire State University. Include your short-term and long-term professional goals and how the APAN will help you to achieve those goals. In addition, indicate how your experience and skills would help you be successful in this program.

M.S. in Marketing Analytics

In an essay of approximately 600 words, describe your motivation for applying to the Master of Science in Marketing Analytics (MKAN) at Empire State University. Include your short-term and long-term professional goals and how the MKAN will help you to achieve those goals. In addition, indicate how your experience and skills would help you be successful in this program.

M.S. in Healthcare Analytics

In an essay of approximately 600 words, describe your motivation for applying to the Master of Science in Healthcare Analytics (HCAN) at Empire State University. Include your short-term and long-term professional goals and how the HCAN will help you to achieve those goals. In addition, indicate how your experience and skills would help you be successful in this program.

Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Change

In an essay of approximately 600 words, describe your interest in SUNY Empire State University’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Change. Include your short-term and long-term professional goals and how the Ed.D. will help you to achieve those goals.

Essay #2 Ed.D. Program Research Essay Guidelines

The purpose of this essay is mainly for us to learn about your research background and the topics you may be interested in researching. We do not expect you to be experts in research, or lock in yourselves into a specific topic for your dissertation at this stage.

There are many different ways to write a research essay, and you are free to submit the research essay in any format you like. The following guidelines provide one way of structuring your research essay, and indicate the content we would normally expect to see. There is no fixed word limit, but we would usually expect around 1500-2000 words.

• A proper working title for your essay.
• Why do you want to research this topic? What are the research questions you are considering? Why is this topic important? What is the context of your proposed study? How will you be able to contribute to the development of policy/practice through researching this topic?

Literature review

• You need to show that you are familiar with relevant literature (academic books/journal articles) in this area. How will your research relate to existing research in this area?

List of references

• References of the work you cited in your research essay.

M.A. in Adult Education

The M.A. in Adult Education is specifically designed for those already working, or aspire to work in the full range of settings in which learning in adulthood takes place: the private or public sector workplace, organizational and community life, formal education, higher education, social justice, literacy, human resource development, health care, etc. In an essay of approximately 600-800 words, explain: First, what is your current or aspirational area of work, and what is the basis of your commitments to the field in general and your own work in particular? Second, what is your general area of interest? This is your chance for you to describe how the MA in Adult Education can help you meet your goals. If you have ideas about a capstone project for your program, what might be the general area?

To close your essay, choose a quote that resonates with you related to adult education. This can be from any setting where adult education, training and development take place. Discuss how the quote resonates with your goals and the purpose of adult education.

M.A. in Educational Technology and Learning Design (ETLD)

In a coherent and well-organized essay of approximately 400-600 words (typed, double-spaced), provide a statement of why you want to pursue this degree, indicating your specific goals for the program, academic and/or professional preparation, and your preliminary ideas for a capstone project.  In this essay also discuss an example of how you have used technology and or digital tools for teaching or learning in your work or personal life. If it is accessible, include a link to a small sample of work using a technology or digital tool.  If it is not accessible you can use screenshots or just describe it in a couple of paragraphs.  Describe the intended purpose of the example and include thoughts on what you would change or do differently to improve it. The faculty are interested in seeing an applicant’s capability and potential, and they understand the possible range of experiences and proficiencies that individuals may bring to the program from interested novice to more expert. 

Examples of possible digital examples to describe include, but are not limited to: illustrations of teaching/training aids such as PowerPoints; training manuals or other aids; videos; google classroom;  blogs; websites; portfolios; podcasts; networking pages; photo pages;  customized form/template/brochure;  flowchart/mind map/wireframe; 3D objects; digital games applications or any example you would like to share to indicate your interest in learning more about educational technology and learning design. 

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Subjects

Thinking clearly about issues and expressing these thoughts in writing are important aspects of graduate study at Empire State University. So that we can learn more about your interest in becoming a teacher, we would like you to discuss the following question in a coherent, well-organized essay of 600-800 words, typewritten, double-spaced pages.

What is your motivation to become a middle or high school teacher (or agricultural education teacher*) and what do you think will make you a successful student in this program?

Your essay might include some of the following points:

• Your interest in changing careers and pursuing a teaching certificate;
• Your understanding of the challenges of teaching;
• Any expertise you have acquired on the job that might transfer to a teaching situation;
• Any experiences that have helped you develop your insights and expertise in working with middle and/or adolescent youth; and
• The personal attributes and characteristics which enable teachers to work effectively with students between the ages of 12 and 17. * *If applying for agricultural education please address working with students in grades P-12.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Special Education, Adolescent Education (initial certification)

In a 600-800 word essay (typed and double-spaced), respond to both questions.

Discuss your position on the inclusion of special needs students in general education classrooms and how you would respond to a situation in which parents of some of your students are complaining that a student with a disability is holding back the learning and progress of the rest of the class?

M.Ed. in Special Education (additional certification)

Two essays required.

Please respond to Question 1 and choose either Question 2 or 3. The essay should be 600-800 words per question (in one document), double-spaced and appropriate use of APA 6th edition formatting.

• What teaching experiences led you to decide to seek specific training and expertise in special education? And,
• As a general education teacher, in what ways have you collaborated with special education teachers and/or other service providers to address the learning needs of exceptional students in your classroom? OR
• Describe your experience working with English Language Learners, gifted, or special needs students in your classroom and the types of instructional strategies you employ to support their learning.

M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction

In a 600-800 word essay (typed, double-spaced), explain why you are interested in the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and how you will contribute to the learning among your peers in the program. What do you hope to achieve as a result of earning this degree?

M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis

In a 1000-1200-word essay (typed, double-spaced), please address the following:

• Why are you interested in the field of applied behavior analysis? 
• Why are you interested in the M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis program at Empire State University?
• Why are you interested in attending a program that emphasizes compassionate, affirming practices for those we support?
• What are your professional goals upon completing this degree?

M.A. in Higher Education

In essay form of 500-700 words, tell us why you chose to pursue a master's degree in higher education. Choose one or two of the themes below to illustrate your interest.

• Describe aspects of your journey, passions, and areas of interest within the field, and how they have developed. Share your goals and aspirations for yourself and supporting students in higher education.
• Describe an educator or writer you admire and how they inspire you.
• Indicate aspects of higher education that you believe need to be improved.
• If you have considered a culminating project interest area, what area would they be in?

Graduate Liberal Arts and Science

M.s. in cybersecurity.

In an essay of approximately 600 words, describe your motivation for applying to the Master of Science in Cybersecurity at SUNY Empire. Include your short-term and long-term professional goals and how the M.S. in Cybersecurity will help you to achieve those goals. In addition, indicate how your experience and skills would help you be successful in this program.

M.S. in Information Technology

In an essay of approximately 600 words, describe your motivation for applying to the Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) at SUNY Empire. Include your short-term and long-term professional goals and how the MSIT will help you to achieve those goals. In addition, indicate how your experience and skills would help you be successful in this program.

M.A. in Liberal Studies (MALS)

The M.A. in liberal studies is specially designed for those who wish to explore a particular question, theme, problem or issue from multiple points of view. Unlike a vocationally focused degree or a degree in a single discipline, it allows you to explore the various ways in which your area of interest can be approached and analyzed.

For example, a narrowly defined vocational degree in health care management might look at health care from the legal, administrative and financial framework alone. An interdisciplinary master's degree in liberal studies, on the other hand, would understand health care as an arena for contending social interest and political ideologies and view health as a cultural preoccupation, a theme of literature and a spiritual and philosophical concern.

Similarly, a typical professionally-oriented master's degree in education might focus on applied teaching methods in a particular discipline, age group or student population. Thus, the focus might be on "teaching science in elementary school," for example or on "teaching developmentally challenged adults." An interdisciplinary master's degree in liberal studies requires a different approach, one that views teaching within a broad framework of history and social relationships and might explore the meaning of such concepts as childhood, pedagogy, normalcy and difference and encourages students to think broadly about their interests and to explore them from a variety of perspectives and viewpoints.

With these examples in mind, tell us about your area of interest in the following essays:

In a 700-1000 word essay, explain what question, theme, problem or issue do you wish to explore? How have you come to have this interest? What has shaped your curiosity? How do you see using the breadth and freedom of interdisciplinary study to organize your studies to achieve your goals for your master's degree?

According to the following quotes, our minds and our bodies, our attitudes and dreams, are molded by experience and by the cultures in which we live. Those cultures strongly influence not only what we know about also what we value and, indeed, who we are. We invite you to use one of these quotes as a basis for your essay.

As you craft your essay, you should keep a number of points in mind:

• Your essay should be approximately 700-1000 words.
• In writing your essay, you may draw on your professional knowledge, your reading, and /or your general understanding of culture and society.
• You will not be judged for your opinion. You will be evaluated for the ways in which you construct and sustain a coherent, well-organized argument.
• Avoid cliches and meaningless generalizations. Be specific and thoughtful.
• If you use secondary sources in your essay, use standard bibliographical forms.

The body – what we eat, how we dress, the daily rituals through which we attend to the body – is a medium of culture. In no case is this more strikingly true than in that of anorexia nervosa and bulimia, barely known a century ago, yet reaching epidemic proportions today. Far from being the result of a superficial fashion phenomena, these disorders reflect and call our attention to some of the central ills of our culture.

-Susan Bordo, Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture and the Body

We lived in the country where roads were not paved. Every day it seemed we complained about the long walk to the little white wood frame schoolhouse and our father told us again and again about the many miles he had walked to attend school. Generations of black people have known what it means to see education as the practice of freedom. Growing up in a community where I would be sent here and there to read the bible to Miss Zulu because she does not know how, to read this and that, a letter, words on a detergent box – to read – to write for others. How could I not understand the need for literacy? How could I not long to know? And how could I forget that fundamentally the purpose of my knowing was so I could serve those who did not know, so that I could learn and teach my own – education as the practice of freedom.

-bell hooks, Talking Back

The various disciplines that make up the arts and sciences are the cultural frames in terms of which attitudes are formed and lives conducted. The interpretive study of culture represents an attempt to come to terms with the diversity of the ways human beings construct their lives in the act of leading them.

-Clifford Geertz, Local Knowledge

M.A. in Public History

Essay #1 In an essay of approximately 600 words; describe your motivation for applying to the Master of Arts in Public History (MAPH). Include your background in public history and your goals for your work in the program.

Essay #2 In an essay of approximately 600 words, please respond to this prompt.

In recent years, monuments and memorials to the past have come under increased scrutiny.  Increasingly people are calling for the removal of memorials that they find offensive from Theodore Roosevelt's statue in front of the New York Natural History Museum to the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol England to the statue of General Lee in Richmond Virginia. As a public historian, how would you approach the issue of representation and commemoration in our public spaces?  What would you propose for these controversies and why?  How and what should we commemorate in the future?

M.A. in Social and Public Policy

Explain how the graduate program – with specific reference to its policy emphasis and your chosen area of study – will help you achieve your purposes for pursuing a master's degree. Please include any other information about your needs and goals that might give us insight as to why our program will serve you well. The essay should be approximately 600 words, typed, double-spaced.

M.A. in Work and Labor Policy

Explain how the graduate program-with specific reference to its policy emphasis and your chosen area of study will help you achieve your purposes for pursuing a master's degree. Please include any other information about your needs and goals that might give us insight as to why our program will serve you well. The essay should be approximately 600 words, typed, and double-spaced.

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M.s. in nursing administration or m.s. in nursing education.

M.S. in Nursing (Education and Administration) Admission Essay - The MS in Nursing degree prepares graduates to advance nursing practice and education in a complex and evolving healthcare environment. Please address your personal and professional goals. In addition, provide examples of how you have exemplified professionalism as a registered nurse in at least four of the following domains, delineated by the AACN Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education(2021):

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American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021).  The essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing education.

Your essay should be a minimum of 500 words. Feel free in this essay to write in a personal, informal voice.

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2021-2022 SUNY Upstate

• Thread starter wysdoc
• Start date Mar 28, 2021

Plain-spoken Texan

• Mar 28, 2021

SUNY - Upstate Medical University College of Medicine Interview Feedback

MedHokage99

• Jul 9, 2021

Anyone received a secondary? Verified 6/25, still waiting.  

dreamingabouta528

Medical student.

CLuo99 said: Anyone received a secondary? Verified 6/25, still waiting. Click to expand...

Buschlite30

Full member, cobramaster90.

• Jul 14, 2021

secondary received Instate  

+1 IS  

SedationHoliday

any idea if they send these in batches, I've got nothing and I'm EDP. You'd think they'd hit me first  

Neuro_firefighter

Received secondary OOS  

Russell1202 said: Received secondary OOS Click to expand...

received secondary, IS  

Morningnight

nidgehog said: +1, Canadian Click to expand...

Morningnight said: +2 secondary received OOS Click to expand...

Watson343 said: what are the prompts? Click to expand...

• If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June, please indicate your plans for the upcoming academic year (1800 character limit)
• Which medical specialty are you thinking about pursuing at this point? (1800 character limit.)
• We understand that the COVID-19 crisis in Spring 2020 disrupted many aspects of our lives. Please share if you had any curricular impacts during this time, for example, change to pass/fail courses or to online coursework or if you anticipate any deficiencies in experiences as a result of COVID-19. (1800 character limit)
• Are there any areas of weakness in your application that you would like to clarify for the Admissions Committee? If yes, please describe. (1800 character limit)
• Upstate Medical University is strongly committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for the patients we serve and all who work at, study at, or visit our campus. As a potential partner in this effort, please describe your commitment to eliminating health inequities, discrimination, or other forms of social injustice. (500 words)
• Jul 15, 2021

+1 IS EDP  

+1 IS regular (last night around 10)  

NachmoCheese

No secondary yet, IS, shiver me timbers I'm tremblin in me knickers where is this secondary...  

treehuggingorange said: y'all this secondary portal is ANCIENT. It's the worst one I've seen yet. I feel like it's from the last century lol. Click to expand...

can we just add all the bio/chem/biochem courses we took under course requirements or just add enough to meet their requirements?  

Morningnight said: Do you see the application status page after you submit? O O F Click to expand...

nidgehog said: I submitted and I got nothing after LOL. I went back to the portal and found my status in the "Processed Applications" menu. But it says I'm incomplete even though I have all my LORs, CASPer, etc... weird. Anyone else in the same boat? Click to expand...

Morningnight said: I think they manually enter those. I submitted yesterday, and it was incomplete on everything. Now it says "PDF Load (Insert)" under the Note for each of the items, and it has a date under received. However, nothing under the status column. Click to expand...

nidgehog said: Huh, interesting. It may be manual yeah! It now says "PDF Load (Insert)" but only for LORs. Does it say that for all of your things? Click to expand...

Morningnight said: Yes, all of mine now! It was only LORs when I initially submitted. Click to expand...

• Jul 16, 2021

NachmoCheese said: No secondary yet, IS, shiver me timbers I'm tremblin in me knickers where is this secondary... Click to expand...

anybody know whats up with that "august MCAT" question? Like, I've taken the MCAT, who cares what month I took it in. Am I missing something here?  

opticallyactive

• Jul 20, 2021

Anybody's casper not showing up yet?  

opticallyactive said: Anybody's casper not showing up yet? Click to expand...

Still haven't received a secondary despite being verified since day 1...  

TheIndianMamba

After submitting my secondary, my application preference says "not entered." Did I miss something or are other people seeing this too?  

TheIndianMamba said: After submitting my secondary, my application preference says "not entered." Did I miss something or are other people seeing this too? Click to expand...

radsboi said: Still haven't received a secondary despite being verified since day 1... Click to expand...

• Jul 21, 2021

Can you apply for the Rural track and regular or one or the other?  

Question says "If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June, please indicate your plans for the upcoming academic year" so do they not want to know what I'll be doing in my gap year if I graduated this year???  

Brownboi said: Question says "If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June, please indicate your plans for the upcoming academic year" so do they not want to know what I'll be doing in my gap year if I graduated this year??? Click to expand...

snakemuffin

Okay this is a stupid question, but for 'select term' when submitting, what do I put? Spring, Summer or Fall? Not sure what theyre referring to.  

pre-doo-med

jgordo30 said: Okay this is a stupid question, but for 'select term' when submitting, what do I put? Spring, Summer or Fall? Not sure what theyre referring to. Click to expand...

• Jul 22, 2021

is anyone else still waiting for a secondary?  

premed-int'l

premedddie said: is anyone else still waiting for a secondary? Click to expand...

premedddie said: Did anyone receive a confirmation that you submitted the secondary besides the payment email? When i go back to the portal, it doesn't even show my app under the "processed applications" title on the same page, i only have the fall 2021 app i did last year. (im a reapp!) Click to expand...

mhopefula said: I got an email the day after saying it was received Click to expand...

noodlechicken1

• Jul 24, 2021

Any other applicants from the Syracuse area?  

GrainofSalt

• Jul 25, 2021

Hey everyone, just wanna confirm that when you click complete on the application portal, your application under "processed application" simply disappears, even after you received emails stating that you paid the fee and submitted the secondary, right?  

• Jul 26, 2021

I submitted my secondary and got the confirmation email that it was sent. Is there a way to verify everything was received and my application is ready for review?  

pre-doo-med said: Anyone else have this? View attachment 341046 Click to expand...

"Upstate Medical University is strongly committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for the patients we serve and all who work at, study at, or visit our campus. As a potential partner in this effort, please describe your commitment to eliminating health inequities, discrimination, or other forms of social injustice." Did you guys treat part of this like a why us or just answer your commitments to diversity etc?  

• Jul 27, 2021

Brownboi said: "Upstate Medical University is strongly committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for the patients we serve and all who work at, study at, or visit our campus. As a potential partner in this effort, please describe your commitment to eliminating health inequities, discrimination, or other forms of social injustice." Did you guys treat part of this like a why us or just answer your commitments to diversity etc? Click to expand...

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SUNY Stony Brook University 2022-23 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Oct 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

SUNY Stony Brook University 2022-23 Application Essay Question Explanation

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Activity

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (250 words)

What?! Stony Brook has a supplemental essay? If you didn’t see this essay lurking in the Common App the first time around, don’t sweat it. The good news is this prompt is as classic as eggnog in December, and we know you can hit the essay out of the park. Start by jotting down a few activities in which you’ve participated or jobs you’ve held. The trickiest part is selecting the activity you want to talk about. So, we return to our favorite mantra: tell admissions something they couldn’t learn elsewhere . If you wrote your Common App essay about your tenure as captain of the lacrosse team, focus on a different (ideally non-athletic) activity that shows a different side of who you are for this prompt.

This can be a great opportunity to highlight your leadership skills and any accolades you may have received as a result of participating in a particular activity. Did you win a community service award? Now is a great time to elaborate on your work. No matter what you choose, it should probably be something you’ve been involved in for a minute, so you can demonstrate your commitment and the impact that you have had on others.

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The 2021-22 Common Application Essay Prompts

Tips and Guidance for the 7 Essay Options on the New Common Application

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For the 2021-22 application cycle, the Common Application  essay prompts remain unchanged from the 2020-21 cycle with the exception of an all new option #4. As in the past, with the inclusion of the popular "Topic of Your Choice" option, you have the opportunity to write about anything you want to share with the folks in the admissions office.

The current prompts are the result of much discussion and debate from the member institutions who use the Common Application. The essay length limit stands at 650 words (the minimum is 250 words), and students will need to choose from the seven options below. The essay prompts are designed to encourage reflection and introspection. The best essays focus on self-analysis, rather than spending a disproportionate amount of time merely describing a place or event. Analysis, not description, will reveal the critical thinking skills that are the hallmark of a promising college student. If your essay doesn't include some self-analysis, you haven't fully succeeded in responding to the prompt.

According to the folks at the Common Application , in the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Option #7 (topic of your choice) was the most popular and was used by 24.1% of applicants. The second most popular was Option #5 (discuss an accomplishment) with 23.7% of applicants. In third place was Option #2 on a setback or failure. 21.1% of applicants chose that option.

From the Admissions Desk

"While the transcript and grades will always be the most important piece in the review of an application, essays can help a student stand out. The stories and information shared in an essay are what the Admissions Officer will use to advocate for the student in the admissions committee."

–Valerie Marchand Welsh Director of College Counseling, The Baldwin School Former Associate Dean of Admissions, University of Pennsylvania

Always keep in mind why colleges are asking for an essay: they want to get to know you better. Nearly all selective colleges and universities (as well as many that aren't overly selective) have holistic admissions, and they consider many factors in addition to numerical measures such as grades and standardized test scores. Your essay is an important tool for presenting something you find important that may not come across elsewhere in your application. Make sure your essay presents you as the type of person a college will want to invite to join their community.

Below are the seven options with some general tips for each:

Option #1  

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

"Identity" is at the heart of this prompt. What is it that makes you you? The prompt gives you a lot of latitude for answering the question since you can write a story about your "background, identity, interest, or talent." Your "background" can be a broad environmental factor that contributed to your development such as growing up in a military family, living in an interesting place, or dealing with an unusual family situation. You could write about an event or series of events that had a profound impact on your identity. Your "interest" or "talent" could be a passion that has driven you to become the person you are today. However you approach the prompt, make sure you are inward looking and explain how and why  the story you tell is so meaningful. 

• See more Tips and Strategies for Essay Option #1
• Sample essay for option #1: "Handiwork" by Vanessa
• Sample essay for option #1: "My Dads" by Charlie
• Sample essay for option #1: "Give Goth a Chance"
• Sample essay for option #1: "Wallflower"

Option #2  

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

This prompt may seem to go against everything that you've learned on your path to college. It's far more comfortable in an application to celebrate successes and accomplishments than it is to discuss setbacks and failure. At the same time, you'll impress the college admissions folks greatly if you can show your ability to learn from your failures and mistakes. Be sure to devote significant space to the second half of the question—how did you learn and grow from the experience? Introspection and honesty are key with this prompt.

• See more Tips and Strategies for Essay Option #2
• Sample essay for option #2: "Striking Out" by Richard
• Sample essay for option #2: "Student Teacher" by Max

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Keep in mind how open-ended this prompt truly is. The "belief or idea" you explore could be your own, someone else's, or that of a group. The best essays will be honest as they explore the difficulty of working against the status quo or a firmly held belief. The answer to the final question about the "outcome" of your challenge need not be a success story. Sometimes in retrospection, we discover that the cost of an action was perhaps too great. However you approach this prompt, your essay needs to reveal one of your core personal values. If the belief you challenged doesn't give the admissions folks a window into your personality, then you haven't succeeded with this prompt.

• See more Tips and Strategies for Essay Option #3
• Sample essay for option #3: "Gym Class Hero" by Jennifer

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Here, again, the Common Application gives you a lot of options for approaching the question since it is entirely up to you to decide what the "something" and "someone" will be. This prompt was added to the Common Application in the 2021-22 admissions cycle in part because it gives students the opportunity to write something heartfelt and uplifting after all the challenges of the previous year. The best essays for this prompt show that you are a generous person who recognizes the contributions others have made to your personal journey. Unlike many essays that are all about "me, me, me," this essay shows your ability to appreciate others. This type of generosity is an important character trait that schools look for when inviting people to join their campus communities.

• See more Tips and Strategies for Essay Option #4

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

This question was reworded in 2017-18 admissions cycle, and the current language is a huge improvement. The prompt use to talk about transitioning from childhood to adulthood, but the new language about a "period of personal growth" is a much better articulation of how we actually learn and mature (no single event makes us adults). Maturity comes as the result of a long train of events and accomplishments (and failures). This prompt is an excellent choice if you want to explore a single event or achievement that marked a clear milestone in your personal development. Be careful to avoid the "hero" essay—admissions offices are often overrun with essays about the season-winning touchdown or brilliant performance in the school play (see the list of bad essay topics for more about this issue). These can certainly be fine topics for an essay, but make sure your essay is analyzing your personal growth process, not bragging about an accomplishment.

• See more Tips and Strategies for Essay Option #5
• Sample essay for option #5: "Buck Up" by Jill

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

This option was entirely new in 2017, and it's a wonderfully broad prompt. In essence, it's asking you to identify and discuss something that enthralls you. The question gives you an opportunity to identify something that kicks your brain into high gear, reflect on why it is so stimulating, and reveal your process for digging deeper into something that you are passionate about. Note that the central words here—"topic, idea, or concept"—all have rather academic connotations. While you may lose track of time when running or playing football, sports are probably not the best choice for this particular question.

• See more Tips and Strategies for Essay Option #6

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The popular "topic of your choice" option had been removed from the Common Application between 2013 and 2016, but it returned again with the 2017-18 admissions cycle. Use this option if you have a story to share that doesn't quite fit into any of the options above. However, the first six topics are extremely broad with a lot of flexibility, so make sure your topic really can't be identified with one of them. Also, don't equate "topic of your choice" with a license to write a comedy routine or poem (you can submit such things via the "Additional Info" option). Essays written for this prompt still need to have substance and tell your reader something about you. Cleverness is fine, but don't be clever at the expense of meaningful content.

• See more Tips and Strategies for Essay Option #7
• Sample essay for option #7: "My Hero Harpo" by Alexis
• Sample essay for option #7: "Grandpa's Rubik's Cube"

Final Thoughts

Whichever prompt you chose, make sure you are looking inward. What do you value? What has made you grow as a person? What makes you the unique individual the admissions folks will want to invite to join their campus community? The best essays spend significant time with self-analysis rather than merely describing a place or event.

The folks at The Common Application have cast a wide net with these questions, and nearly anything you want to write about could fit under at least one of the options. If your essay could fit under more than one option, it really doesn't matter which one you choose. Many admissions officers, in fact, don't even look at which prompt you chose—they just want to see that you have written a good essay.

• Common Application Essay Option 4—Gratitude
• Tips for the Pre-2013 Personal Essay Options on the Common Application
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	Aug 24, 2024   2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog     2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] The admission policy embodies a commitment to the principles of inclusiveness and diversity. The College does not consider just one academic criterion for admission. The policy allows the College to consider a wide range of academic achievements that may demonstrate an individual’s ability to succeed at the College. Applicants who do not meet the standard admission criteria may apply or be considered for special admission programs, such as the Educational Opportunity Program. Several departments including programs in the School of Education and the School of Business may have additional internal admission criteria that must be fulfilled prior to advancing to upper level courses within the department. Other departments have a minimum grade point average for continuation within the major. These departments and requirements are listed under the admission requirements section of the catalog or are described in the academic program section of the Catalog. Admission and Application Procedures Admission to the College is granted during the fall and spring semesters. Students who are accepted early for the fall semester may begin attending classes during the summer session. An applicant who is admitted may attend classes during the day or evening.  All documentation required for the admission process is described below. After careful review of an application, Enrollment Services Advisors may need further information to make a determination about a candidate’s admission. In these cases, the Office of Enrollment Services may request that applicants submit additional information, such as letters of recommendation, senior year high school grades or an updated college transcript. A personal interview may also be requested. The review of an applicant’s eligibility for admission cannot be conducted until all the appropriate documents have been received. To inquire about the status of an application and its documentation, applicants should access the College’s website at and click on the link at the top right side of the homepage. Inaccurate or misleading information, submission of false records or omission of previous college attendance constitutes grounds for denial of admission. Students who have clear career objectives should indicate the major that is desired on the application. This will enable the College to direct new students to the appropriate department for advisement. Students who are undecided about their major field of interest should apply as a Liberal Studies major. Students must declare a major upon admission in order to obtain federal financial aid. Furthermore, failure to declare a major prior to earning 42 credits will also result in loss of eligibility for state financial aid (TAP/Excelsior). State University of New York policy prohibits SUNY Old Westbury from inquiring on its admissions applications about an applicant’s prior criminal history. After acceptance, the College shall inquire if the student has previously been convicted of a felony if such individual seeks campus housing or participation in clinical or field experiences, internships or study abroad programs. The information required to be disclosed under SUNY policy regarding such felony convictions shall be reviewed by a standing campus committee consistent with the legal standards articulated in New York State Corrections Law. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the dean’s office of the respective school that houses their intended academic program. Applicants who do not meet the criteria for one program are not advised to apply for a different program to gain admission to the College. Eligibility based on coursework taken at Old Westbury for a different major may not be sufficient for admission to the original intended major. Applicants are advised to speak with an Admission Advisor before considering such action. An official declaration of major (see the   section in this catalog), separate from the application, is required for majors within the School of Business. The indication of a School of Business major on the admission application does not guarantee admission to the School of Business. Applicants have the right to appeal an admission decision by submitting a letter to the Office of Enrollment Services, explaining the exceptional circumstances that occurred and describing actions taken that demonstrate a readiness to be academically successful at the College. Once information is obtained, a decision will be made by an Admission’s Committee. Be advised that an appeal does not automatically result in an admission offer and the applicant denied to the College cannot file any other type of application for admission during the same semester All applicants must pay a non-refundable $50 application fee and file either the Common Application or SUNY Application. The application fee is waived for transfer students who have received an associate’s degree from a State University of New York Community College or a City University of New York Community College and apply directly to a SUNY college. Freshman applicants who qualify for the SUNY Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) are also eligible for an application fee waiver. Details about the waivers are described on both applications. Undergraduate Applications for Degree Status (Matriculated) All undergraduate applicants to the College at Old Westbury must file a State University of New York (SUNY) Admission Application or the Common Application. Students may file these applications on-line at or . First Year Student Admission All students must submit a high school transcript and proof of high school graduation. High school students graduating with an IEP diploma (Individualized Education Program) must also receive a NYS General Education diploma as proof of NYS high school graduation If students are graduating from high school during the same year that they enroll in college, a final high school transcript that reflects an actual date of graduation (not an anticipated date of graduation) or a copy of their high school diploma must also be submitted prior to the first day of classes. Additionally, a personal essay and one letter of reference are required for admission to the College. Applicants receiving an Equivalency Diploma by passing the NYS GED exam must obtain a composite score of 3000. As of January 2014 applicants who have taken the new Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) exam must contact the Office of Enrollment Services at (516) 876-3200 for admission information. First time to college applicants are also required to submit SAT scores directly from the College Board. Applicants who wish to be granted college credit for college course work completed while enrolled in high school, must forward an official college transcript reflecting the grade and amount of credits. Advanced Placement courses (AP), International GCSE A Levels or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit may be granted upon receipt of an official A Level, AP, or IB score report from the College Board, the high school, or appropriate Examination Board. First Time to College Admission Requirements (Freshman) Admission to the College is based on an applicant’s academic achievement in high school. Newly admitted freshman students accepted to the College in the Fall of 2019 had a median high school average of 86 and a median combined SAT score of 1,040. Admission is currently based on the total score of the Critical Reading and Mathematics portion of the SAT exam. Applicants taking the GED must have a minimum score of 3000 and must also meet the standardized test score requirements (minimum combined SAT score of 1,040 or Composite ACT score of 22). Note SUNY Old Westbury will temporarily Test Optional for the Spring 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022 semesters for all programs except the 3+4 BS/DO Program. Additionally, the College reviews a student’s academic and extracurricular activities. Applicants are required to describe these accomplishments in the , section of the SUNY application, or on the Common Application. Applicants documents that are intended to be used for admission to SUNY Old Westbury that are not included on the SUNY application or Common Application (except international documents) must be mailed directly to SUNY Old Westbury, Admission Processing, 1060 Broadway, Albany, New York 12204-2755. Any changes to the College’s admission policy made after the printing of this catalog, will appear on the Admission pages of the College’s website at . High school graduates are also encouraged to take a strong Regents or college preparatory program and pass the Regents exams in the following disciplines: Applications are also required to submit two (2) letters of recommendation and an essay. Applicants requesting an admission’s decision appeal should send their request in writing to the Office of Enrollment Services and explain the reasons for the request. An Enrollment Service’s Admission Committee will conduct a more extensive review of the application based on the applicant’s special circumstances, the overall high school average (year to year progress), combined SAT scores, number and level of academically challenging courses, overall senior-year grades, the quality of the written essay (Supplemental Application or Autobiography) and a personal interview. The Admission’s Committee will then make a recommendation based on all available information and inform the applicant, in writing, of the decision. High school students may obtain college credit for participating in the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program with a minimum AP exam score of 3. Students following an IB high school program may also obtain college credits based upon scores received on the final exams (not coursework). For further college credit information, please contact the Transfer Services Office. Applicants who are Permanent Residents or U.S. citizens and have completed their education outside the U.S. may need an evaluation of their education documents from Education Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE), or World Education Services. Applicants educated outside the USA should contact Enrollment Services to confirm the required documentation for their application. (See the credential evaluation information under the section of this catalog). In addition, all freshman applicants who are Permanent Residents must also submit an SAT score report for admission to the College. The IELTS or TOEFL exam is not required for Permanent Residents or US citizens educated in the USA. A select group of incoming full-time freshmen are invited each year to participate as Honors College students. Admission to the Honors College at SUNY Old Westbury is based on past academic performance and the promise of an equally impressive record at our college. We value the continued pursuit of excellence and we believe that these students do as well. Eligibility for the college will be based on a variety of factors, but important selection criteria will include a review of high school average (approximately 90 or higher) and SAT scores (approximately a score of 1150 or higher). The College has a joint degree program with NYIT’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. The program enables Old Westbury students to accelerate their Bachelors’ degree and be admitted to the College of Osteopathic Medicine upon completion of the program requirements at the end of the third year at Old Westbury. Admission to this program requires high levels of academic achievement in high school; very strong SAT scores (parts I and/or II), or strong AP scores. Students are also required to achieve above the norm in the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) that is taken during their junior year in college. For more information about admission to this program contact the Office of Enrollment Services at (516) 876-3200. High school students who apply for Early Action must submit their SUNY application or Common Application and documentation by November 1st for fall admission. Old Westbury will notify candidates of their admission by December 15th. All Early Action applicants who are accepted are required to make their tuition deposit by May 1st. Transfer Student Admission Transfer students may file the SUNY Application or Common Application. These applications can be obtained online at or . All applicants and transfer application documents (except international documents) should be sent directly to SUNY Old Westbury, Admission Processing, 1060 Broadway, Albany, New York 12204-2755. Transfer Application Documents Official college transcripts from each institution attended must be submitted separately. Transcripts that reflect transfer credits from a different institution are not sufficient for completing your admission. Documents from institutions outside the United States (i.e. Non-American colleges) must be evaluated by a NACES member organization, (See the of this catalog). The Office of Enrollment Services may be able to evaluate the overseas transcripts for admission purposes. However, to obtain transfer credits, an original copy of the international documents (transcripts or evaluations) must be sent to the Office of Enrollment Services for admission consideration. Transfer applicants who have earned fewer than 24 college credits, must meet the entrance requirements listed under freshman admission in addition to meeting the requirements for transfer applicants. All transfer applicants with fewer than 24 college credits must submit a high school transcript or GED and an SAT score for admission. All transfer students must also submit proof of high school graduation by submitting an official final high school transcript even if the student has obtained an Associate degree. Students will not be allowed to enroll until this proof is submitted and Financial Aid cannot be awarded until the admission requirement is met. Most programs at the College require a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00. Programs within the School of Arts & Sciences, School of Business and the School of Education currently require higher minimum grade point averages. The specific admission requirements for these programs are as follows: All applicants must have been in good academic standing at the previous college of attendance to be considered for admission. Applicants who have been academically dismissed, suspended or have a block on their record for financial reasons, are not eligible to apply for admission until these conditions have been removed. An official declaration of major (see the   section in this catalog), separate from the application, is required for majors within the School of Business. Any changes to the College’s admission policy made after the printing of this catalog, will appear on the admission pages of the College’s website at . The School of Education also requires an additional internal application process for students who are about to register for upper-division courses. Applicants are encouraged to contact the School of Education to inquire about the course curriculum for certification requirements for teaching within New York State. Transfer students must submit official transcripts for review before any transfer credit can be granted. Once these are received, individual courses are evaluated for equivalency by the Transfer Services Office. Notification of course equivalencies is sent to the student as quickly as possible. Transfer students must be accepted early in the admission cycle to ensure that these reviews are completed prior to advisement and registration. For additional information about transfer credit policies, see the section of the catalog International Student Admission International Student Admission The international student population is an integral part of the community at Old Westbury. The College is interested in providing a climate in which international students’ needs are met. The diverse nature of our student population provides a welcoming environment for international students to learn about the complex nature of the American culture. International students also have the opportunity to participate in many different cultural experiences within the College. A copy of the International Students Frequently Asked Questions can be downloaded by visiting the International Student section of the website at . International applicants who are educated outside the United States and are applying for a foreign student visa (F-1) must file the SUNY Application or Common Application. Students who have received all their secondary education outside of the USA and are US Permanent Residents or US Citizens should contact Enrollment Services for clarification on the requirements for admission. (See  or procedures.) ). There are additional forms that must be submitted before the admission process is completed. It is recommended that applications for the fall semester be completed by and by for the spring semester. Applications received after this recommended deadline will be processed on a space-available basis. This timeframe allows most applicants sufficient time to request a student visa (F-1) from the appropriate consulate office within their country. After the applicant is accepted, the I-20 form is created and sent to the applicant. The I-20 is required for requesting the student visa (F-1). Please contact the Office of Enrollment Services at (516) 876-3200 to obtain the specific forms for international applicants. Admission to the College is based on a student’s successful completion of secondary school and on their academic achievement. Evaluations conducted by NACES member organizations are designed to equate the level of education in foreign countries to the level of education within the U.S. International freshman applicants should have an equivalent secondary school average of an 80 (US average) or above. In addition, all international freshman applicants whose native language is other than English must demonstrate English proficiency as explained in the section of this catalog. Admission as a transfer student is based on the academic achievement within the post-secondary institution. Most programs at the College require a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00. Programs within the School of Arts & Sciences, School of Business and the School of Education currently require higher minimum grade point averages. The basic academic admission requirements for these program are as follows: An official declaration of major (see the   section in this catalog), separate from the application, is required for majors within the School of Business. The School of Business requires all students to file an on-line “Declaration of Major” Form with the Office of the Registrar prior to enrolling in upper division courses. The School of Education also has several requirements that must be met prior to entering into the upper level Education courses. Students should contact the School of Education for specific information about these additional requirements Any changes to the College’s admission policy made after the printing of this catalog, will appear on the admission pages of the College’s website at . International transfer applicants whose native language is other than English must demonstrate English proficiency for admission to the college as explained in the section of this catalog. Special Admission Programs for Degree Status (Matriculated) EOP is designed to provide educational opportunities for academically and economically disadvantaged students. This program provides additional academic and administrative support to assist EOP students with their academic success at the College. All applicants to EOP must submit the same documentation as other applicants to the College. This is identified in the Application Processing section of the catalog. Additionally, applicants for EOP must also submit proof of financial eligibility to qualify for EOP admission. The Office of Enrollment Services, the Office of Financial Aid and the EOP Office jointly determine eligibility. Individual grants are determined by the Office of Financial Aid and vary based on need. To be eligible for admission to the Educational Opportunity Program you must be: In selecting students for the program, priority is given to applicants from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. For further information about eligibility, visit the SUNY website at  Interested applicants must file the SUNY Application for Admission as mentioned in the section of the catalog and must specify an interest in EOP on the SUNY application where it applies. Specific information about the EOP program may also be found in the EOP section of this catalog. Students who have received a baccalaureate degree and wish to pursue a second degree may do so by applying to the College as Degree (Matriculated) students. The College’s transfer admission requirements must be met. Department degree requirements and college residency requirements for each degree must also be met. General Education requirements are usually satisfied if a student has earned the first degree at another SUNY institution. General Education requirements are evaluated on an individual basis for any first degrees from non-SUNY institutions. Second degree students must earn a minimum of 40 credits hours* of which a minimum of 30 must be taken in a field that is significantly different in academic content from the first baccalaureate degree. A “significant difference” normally will be interpreted as meaning “in a different discipline or subject matter area.” The College does not make a distinction between daytime and evening students, curricula or faculty. Applicants interested in applying as matriculated students must follow the procedures mentioned in the previous section (see or ). Students should read the Evening Students Statement for each academic department to determine the feasibility of pursuing a degree as an evening student. Students may attend classes on a full-time or part-time basis during the day or evening (after 6:00 PM). Please note that non-matriculated students may take a maximum of 32 credits at Old Westbury but are not eligible for financial aid. Students who wish to pursue study beyond 32 credits must apply for matriculation and meet the appropriate academic requirements for admission. The Air Force ROTC Program (AFROTC) enables students at SUNY College at Old Westbury to participate in Air Force ROTC at Manhattan College. It allows the Air Force, indirectly through Manhattan College, the host institution, to reimburse SUNY College at Old Westbury for tuition and scholarship fees of contracted ROTC students who participate in this AFROTC program. For additional information, contact (718) 862-7201. The Army ROTC Program is available in participation with Hofstra University. This program qualifies students for appointment as an officer of the United States Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard. Students have the option of enrolling in two- or four-year programs and may qualify for scholarships based on merit. For additional information, contact (516) 463-5648. Requirements for Enrollment Upon Admission As a fundamental part of the College’s requirements, proficiency in Mathematics and English Composition is required of all students. New students will be advised and placed into a Mathematics course and an English course unless an appropriate college level course or standardized examination score is deemed equivalent. The College does not administer placement exams for new students in English or Mathematics. Students that have coursework taken at an accredited US college or have taken an advanced level examination (ex: AP, IB, etc.) must make sure that the transcripts or official examination scores are submitted to the Office of the Registrar before attending the New Student Orientation Program or registering for classes. See the   section in this Catalog for further information about these proficiencies. All students born after January 1, 1957, who plan to register for at least six semester hours will be required to provide adequate proof of immunization against measles, mumps and rubella in accordance with standards approved by the New York State Department of Health. Students must also show proof of meningococcal meningitis immunization or sign a statement of declination. Proof of immunity to measles is defined as two doses of live measles vaccine on or after the first birthday and at least 28 days apart (preferably three months), physician documented history of disease, or serologic evidence of immunity. Proof of the mumps vaccination is defined as one dose of live mumps vaccine on or after the first birthday, a physician-documented history of disease or a serologic evidence of immunity. Records should include the date the vaccine was administered, the type, the manufacturer and lot number of the vaccine, and the signature of persons administering the vaccine stamped with their address and title. All documentation should be submitted to the College’s Office of Student Health Services prior to registration. Please note: international students must submit proof of immunization at the time of application in order for an I-20 form to be issued. Although students enrolled for fewer than six semester credit/hours are exempt from these requirements, immunization is strongly encouraged by public health officials. Students taking college courses that are offered at other locations are not exempt from this regulation. In the event of an outbreak, the College may be required to exclude all susceptible students from attendance until danger of transmission has passed or until the required documentation is submitted. This exclusion will affect those who have medical, religious, or temporary exemptions. To confirm your acceptance to the College and to reserve a room in the Residence Halls, a tuition and housing deposit is required by May 1st (fall semester) or November 1st (spring semester). Please note that housing deposits and applications received after this date are processed on a space available basis. Refer to the   section of the catalog for detailed information. Students who wish to continue their education and enrich their lives by taking credit-bearing courses or students who wish to maintain their matriculated status at their home institution, may attend the College as non-matriculated students. Non-matriculated students can earn a maximum of 32 credits. While the College’s placement exam is not a requirement, students are expected to meet all course prerequisites. Students who wish to pursue study beyond 32 credits must apply to the College as a matriculated student and meet the appropriate academic requirements for admission. Generally, students who participate in non-matriculated programs are not eligible for financial aid, except for programs that have parent college participation agreements. (See section.). Applicants who wish to apply for financial aid for part-time study must be admitted to the college as a degree or matriculated student (see section on Freshman or Transfer Admission). Non-matriculated students register two weeks prior to the start of the term and must submit immunization documents if registering for more than one course per semester. High school juniors and seniors may enroll in a maximum of 8 credits per semester while they are still in high school. To qualify for this program, high school students must have achieved junior status or higher in high school (completed at least two years of high school) and must have a cumulative high school average of an 80. Students interested in this program must submit a copy of their high school transcript along with a SUNY Old Westbury High School Enrichment Application to the Office of Enrollment Services. Students may earn a maximum of 32 credits as a non-matriculated student. Students are not eligible for financial aid while attending the college under this program. High school graduates and college students who have not earned a baccalaureate degree may wish to continue their education as non-matriculated Life Long Learners. Individuals wishing to apply on this basis must submit a copy of their high school diploma, or a copy of their college transcript reflecting good academic standing, from the most recent college attended. Life Long Learner applications are available in the Office of Enrollment Services. Please note that non-matriculated students are not eligible for financial aid. Non-matriculated students may take a maximum of 32 credits. Students who wish to pursue study beyond 32 credits must apply for matriculation and meet the appropriate academic requirements for admission. Students who currently hold a baccalaureate degree may apply to the College as a non-matriculated student through the Non-degree program. Individuals who wish to apply for this program must submit a copy of their college degree and file a Non-Degree Application at the Office of Enrollment Services. Please note that non-matriculated students are not eligible for financial aid. Non-matriculated students may take a maximum of 32 credits. Students who wish to pursue study beyond 32 credits must apply for matriculation and meet the appropriate academic requirements for admission. Visiting Student Program SUNY Old Westbury participates in the Visiting Student Program for colleges and universities in the State of New York. A student attending a college or university in New York State is eligible to study at another participating institution within the state for one semester or one year, while still maintaining matriculated status at the parent institution. Visiting students must pay tuition and fees to SUNY Old Westbury for the semester or year of enrollment. Students applying for financial aid must apply at the parent institution. The appropriate financial aid awards will be credited to the participating college on behalf of the visiting student. To register at Old Westbury as a Visiting Student, the applicant must: Visiting students must register during the appropriate scheduled time that is reflected in the class schedule. The summer session is a convenient way to take college courses near your home in just a few short weeks. The College usually offers a variety of summer sessions during the summer months of May, June, July, and August. Admission is on a non-matriculated basis. However, current matriculated Old Westbury students may register for summer classes. Current Old Westbury students who need to use Financial Aid for the summer sessions should meet with a Financial Aid Advisor in advance to secure their aid of the entire academic year (including the summer session). Interested high school and college students may take summer session classes at the College by filing a Quick Admit form online at . Students enrolling in more than one class during the summer must meet New York State Immunization requirements before the first day of classes. For detailed information and the schedule of classes, visit the College’s website at . Registration information is made available during the spring semester. Audit Opportunities The “Over 60” Program (OSP) permits persons 60 years of age and over to observe (audit) courses on a space available, instructor permission basis without the payment of tuition. Participating observers will not receive academic credit for courses attended. Course observers/auditors with an auditor ID card are permitted the use the Library and the Clark Center (gym). The OSP program is a privilege and may be revoked by the college at anytime. How to Enroll in the OSP Program: to choose a course. Graduates of the SUNY Old Westbury may observe (audit) courses with permission of the instructor without payment of tuition and fees. Permission to audit courses should be arranged directly with the instructor prior to the first day of classes. Interested alumni/alumnae should obtain a copy of the class schedule on the website at or through the Office of the Registrar. When a student’s tuition charge is supported by the Department of Veterans Affair’s Educational Benefit, the tuition charge may be deferred if the student files a request for deferral and submits supporting documents to the Campus Veterans Certifying Officer, who is located in the Office of the Registrar. To apply for the Department of Veterans Affair’s Educational Benefit, the student must complete or provide proof of the following: Note: Graduates of the State University of New York at Old Westbury who are members of the Old Westbury Alumni Association may also observe (audit) courses with permission of the instructor without payment of tuition and fees. Permission to audit courses should be arranged directly with the instructor prior to the first day of classes. The Alumni Association ID card will enable all Alumni Association members to use the College’s facilities. Interested alumni should obtain a copy of the class schedule on the website at www.oldwestbury.edu or through the Office of the Registrar. Presently enrolled non-matriculated students may apply for matriculation for the following semester of attendance. Applications filed during the fall semester will be considered for spring admission and applications filed in the spring will be considered for fall admission. A student status cannot be changed during the current semester. Students who wish to file for financial aid should apply to the College as a matriculated student. Applicants for matriculation must meet the admission criteria at the time the application is submitted (see  or and section of the catalog). Applicants must also meet the College’s lower-division mastery requirements. All college credit course work will be evaluated for completion of degree requirements. Interested students are encouraged to make an appointment with an Admissions Counselor for specific information, requirements and procedures. Applicants denied admission to the College as a degree or matriculated student cannot apply as a non-degree/non-matriculated student during the same semester. Readmission Students who have previously attended Old Westbury and wish to return after an absence of one or more semesters (including academically dismissed students) must file an Application for Readmission at the Office of Enrollment Services at least one month prior to the beginning of the semester. If readmitted, students who have been away from the College for five years or less will be subject to the college catalog requirements that were in effect when initially admitted. If readmitted, students absent for more than five years will be subject to all requirements in the college catalog that is in effect at the time of readmission. If readmitted, students with outstanding financial obligations to the institution will not be permitted to register unless all obligations have been satisfied. If readmitted, students who had been academically dismissed must be approved for reinstatement by the Academic Standing Committee. Congratulations SUNY Delhi Class of 2024! Commencement Ceremony Details Test Optional Information EOP & C-PASS Students Readmission International Students Starting August 1, 2020 first-year/first-time students may officially apply to SUNY Delhi without submitting SAT or ACT scores. What is the process? Students applying to all bachelor's degree programs and our associate degree program in Veterinary Science Technology will be asked a test optional question on the SUNY or Common Application. If an applicant selects that they do not want to use their SAT/ACT scores as part of the admissions process, we will not utilize the scores for admission purposes. Important: All other associate degree programs do not require SAT/ACT scores and the question will not be asked on the application. If I submit SAT/ACT test scores and select to be test optional, how will the scores be utilized? The scores will be utilized only for merit scholarship consideration. If I do not submit SAT/ACT test scores, how will you review my application? SUNY Delhi has always reviewed all admission materials submitted to see the whole picture of an applicant. Our primary goal in reviewing your application is to prepare you for college success. We look at an applicant’s course selection, trends in final grades, school/community involvement, etc. Remember, SUNY Delhi has always been optional for requiring letters of recommendation and a college essay. Can I qualify for a merit scholarship without submitting an SAT/ACT score? Yes! Our criteria for merit scholarships has been updated on our scholarship website . What do I need to submit to apply to SUNY Delhi? Apply to SUNY Delhi using the SUNY or Common Application Official High School Transcript Letters of Recommendation College Essay/Personal Statement Official SAT/ACT Scores (SAT Report Code: 2525 / ACT Report Code: 2916) Official College Transcripts Advanced Placement (AP) Transcript Meet the Admissions Staff Accepted Students Admissions Forms Veteran Admission Contact Info P: 607-746-4550 F: 607-746-4104 E: [email protected] 474 IMAGES How to format a college application essay Fillable Online sunyit A4 Application How To Stand Out on SUNY Upstate Secondary Application Essays How to Apply to College Using the SUNY App Fillable Online SUNY Application Tips: How to Apply, Deadlines, and 2022: SUNY Launches Two-Week No-Fee Application Period To Expand COMMENTS Apply to SUNY Apply to multiple SUNY campuses and submit any additional required documents all in one place. See the full list of SUNY campuses that accept the applySUNY application. 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Write, Review and Revise your essay. SUNY Application Tips: How to Apply, Deadlines, and More The article provides a comprehensive guide on how to apply to SUNY schools, including application deadlines, test score and GPA requirements, and tips for answering the essay prompts. It also lists the SUNY schools that require or recommend supplemental essays for both freshmen and transfer students. SUNY Upstate School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts These are the secondary application prompts for State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate School of Medicine for the currently application cycle. To view the previous year's secondary essay prompts, scroll down. State University of New York Downstate Secondary Application Full, updated list of the State University of New York Downstate secondary essay prompts and helpful tips on how to answer secondary essays. How to Apply Apply Now. To apply, complete either the SUNY Application or the Common Application online. See a list of admission requirements. Applicants are encouraged to submit any supplemental materials (i.e., personal statement/essay, letters of recommendation, resume, etc.) they would like to provide for the application review process. Applying to SUNY Colleges The Colleges listed on the left will require an essay as part of their "Supplemental" part of the application. The need for the essay won't show until you add a campus requiring an essay. How to Write the SUNY ESF Supplemental Essay 2020-2021 How to Write the SUNY ESF Supplemental Essay 2020-2021 Originally part of Syracuse University, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), is considered the pioneer college in America devoted to the study of fields related to natural resources and the environment. Application Essays for Graduate Degrees Criteria for Admission in Graduate Application Essays. You must write and submit the required essays. The application review committee weighs the quality of your essays very heavily in their decision about whether you will be admitted to the program. The criteria considered in their review include: whether you are able to write a coherent, well ... Educational Opportunity Program Complete the regular SUNY Application, Common Application or Campus Application and check "yes" to indicate your interest in applying for the Educational Opportunity Program. 2021-2022 SUNY Upstate Mar 28, 2021. #1. Thank you to @Morningnight for sharing this year's questions! 2021-2022 SUNY Upstate Secondary Essay Prompts: 1. If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June, please indicate your plans for the upcoming academic year (1800 character limit) 2. Which medical specialty are you thinking about pursuing at this ... SUNY Stony Brook University 2022-23 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide Learn about the 2022-23 SUNY Stony Brook University Supplemental Essay Prompt and get started on drafting a killer college admissions essay! Application Deadlines Carefully review the dates below to ensure that all requested materials are received by the FIT Admissions office by the posted deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to allow enough time to complete FIT's Admissions requirements by applying as soon as the SUNY application becomes available. 2021-22 Common Application Essay Prompts: Tips, Samples Use our tips and strategies for thinking about each of the seven personal essay options on the 2021-22 Common Application. Admissions Information All applicants must pay a non-refundable $50 application fee and file either the Common Application or SUNY Application. The application fee is waived for transfer students who have received an associate's degree from a State University of New York Community College or a City University of New York Community College and apply directly to a ... PDF 1 Suny Supplemental Application for Freshman Students 1 SUNY SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION FOR FRESHMAN STUDENTS. The information you provide here will be used in the review of your application. It is to your advantage to provide as much information as possible. Type or print your answers. Mail a copy of the completed form to the Admissions Office at each campus to which you have applied. Test Optional Information Students applying to all bachelor's degree programs and our associate degree program in Veterinary Science Technology will be asked a test optional question on the SUNY or Common Application. If an applicant selects that they do not want to use their SAT/ACT scores as part of the admissions process, we will not utilize the scores for admission ... essay homework paper phd project resume review speech study