Frequently Asked Questions:

Have a question? You'll most likely find it here!

What is CUNY?

The City University of New York (CUNY) is a system of public two-year, four-year, and graduate school programs in New York City. There are colleges in all five boroughs offering Associate's and Bachelor's degrees in a variety of programs.

... and more!

What is SUNY?

The State University of New York (SUNY) is a publicly funded system of 64 unique two-year, four-year, and graduate school programs in New York State. Scroll down to review the admissions profiles for general admission, EOP admission, and a list of community college programs.

You can also go directly to the SUNY website for more information.

What is FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an essential part of the college process. The form opens in October of your senior year and is the first step to getting access to financial aid. Completing the FAFSA determines your eligibility for grants, loans, and some scholarships.

Students will need to work closely with their parent(s)' or guardian(s)' to complete this form. All of the staff in the college office are happy to help you every step of the way - set up a time to sit down with us and we'll fill out the forms together.

www.fafsa.ed.gov/

What is TAP?

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. Depending on the academic year in which you begin study, an annual TAP award can be up to $5,165. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back.

Students will NEED to work closely with their parent(s)' or guardian(s)' to complete this form. You must complete FAFSA before completing TAP!

www.tap.hesc.ny.gov/totw/

What does B.A./ B.S / A.S. / B.F.A / A.A mean?

These are all abbreviations for degrees. Some colleges have specific degrees for specific majors and concentrations. Here is a list of degrees and their abbreviations.

Associates = 2 year Bachelors = 4 year Masters = 2-4 years Doctorate= 3-6 years

What are opportunity programs?

Opportunity programs are programs at colleges and universities in New York state that identify students who show strong potential but who might not quite meet a school's usual admissions standards. The program will review your academic performance and your family's financial situation to determine your eligibility. Students admitted to a college through an opportunity program will have access to additional support services (free tutoring, free counseling, an additional orientation, etc.) as well some possible additional financial support. Opportunity programs have slightly different names depending on which college system you are looking at. Scroll down to see what opportunity programs are called and the eligibility requirements for CUNY, SUNY, and private colleges.

CUNY - 2 year - College Discovery / S.E.E.K

SUNY - EOP

NYS Private Schools - HEOP

How many colleges can my child apply to?

On average, students apply to 15-18 colleges. These include the following

CUNY - 6 schools

SUNY - 4-7 schools

Private - 8-12 schools

The number of colleges students apply to solely depend on their

academic record and personal preferences

Which colleges should my student apply to?

Before you can decide which colleges to apply to, brainstorm a list of preferences. Consider the following:

Do you want a big or small school?
Would you like to live in a big city, a college town, in a warm climate, etc.?
What’s important to you: student-faculty ratio, quality of the faculty, reputation, happiness of the students, school spirit and good sports teams, etc.?
Do you want to attend a school close to home?

Once you’ve got a general list going, start looking for colleges that meet your criteria.

What SAT/ACT score is "passing"?

First, there is no "passing" score on the SAT/ACT. The SAT is scored from 800-1600, and the ACT is scored from 1-36.

Second, The answer to this question depends on the schools that you’re applying to. If, for instance, you want to go to an Ivy League school, you’ll need to aim for an SAT score in the 1470-1600 range, or an ACT score in the 31-35 range.

Of course, many schools are much less selective. The best plan is to research the average test scores of admitted students at the schools you’re interested in. Which of your schools has the highest average? Aim for a score slightly above that number.

Do I have to choose a major going into college?

Usually, no. You’ll spend the first two years of your college career taking mostly General Education courses. It’s typically not until junior year that you begin your “major” coursework.

Some schools require you to declare a major during the application process. In most cases, you’re allowed to change this major once you arrive on campus if desired. And many students change their major multiple times. For example, a great or terrible internship experience in a certain field can change whether you want to pursue a certain major.

For this reason, it’s often a good idea to hold off on choosing your major. As you take General Education courses, you’ll get a feel for what interests you and what classes you excel in.

How can I make my application "stand out"?

As cliché as it may sound, the best way to make your application stand out is to be yourself. Write in your authentic voice, tell the truth, and talk about what genuinely matters to you.

While many applicants are concerned with impressing admissions officers, you should be concerned with helping admissions officers get to know you. If your application is truly a reflection of you and “sounds” like a real person, it will stand out.

What should I do if I’m rejected from my dream school?

Getting rejected from your dream school stings. There’s no way around this fact. But luckily, if you follow the rest of our advice, you’ll have some really solid backup plans.

Give yourself time to process the rejection. Talk it over with friends or family members, treat yourself to something that always cheers you up, or even cry if you feel the need. (No judgment here.)

But don’t wallow. Once you’ve given yourself time to process, turn your attention to your other options. You applied to those other schools for a reason. Think about the benefits of the other schools, the opportunities they offer, what you liked about the campus or city, etc. Look through the course catalog and read up on all the interesting classes or talk to current students to find out why they love the school so much. Then start getting excited about your new opportunity!

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