If you’re one of the tens of thousands of graduates of a New York City public school looking for your college of choice, SUNY and the New York City Department of Education are now taking steps to streamline the college application process and make it easier to gain admission to SUNY by eliminating the need for paper transcripts.
We all know that nearly 460,000 students attend a SUNY school in New York. However, did you know that of the more than 80,000 first year undergraduate students admitted to SUNY last year, a whopping 9,400 (12 percent of those) came to SUNY via a New York City High School? And the numbers are rising, as that’s already an 18% increase from 2010 to 2014. But for all of those students, that’s a lot of paperwork and time spent tracking down transcripts and high school records to complete their application.
Currently, when a student applies to one or more SUNY campuses, the student requests that their transcript be shared with each institution by mail or scanned and sent as a PDF file. As an alternative, students can self-report their academic records online, listing each completed course and grade individually. Both processes create a significant workload for students and high school counselors. By allowing the Department of Education to submit student transcripts electronically, the application process will become easier for students, and free up guidance counselors to worry less about paperwork.
“Approximately 10 percent of first-year SUNY students have attended a New York City high school, and today’s agreement is an historic step forward that we hope will attract even more of the city’s talented young students to our colleges and universities,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “This modernized, more effective system will encourage more students to apply to SUNY and make easier for the parents and high school counselors who help them navigate the process. We look forward to collaborating with Chancellor Fariña and the Department of Education on this important initiative.”
For any high school students living in New York City, SUNY has a Welcome Center in Manhattan that is available to help you through your college application journey at any time.
SUNY in NYC
Located on the 18th floor at 33 West 42nd Street (across from Bryant Park) in New York City, the SUNY Welcome Center is a one-stop shop for the many prospective students, family members, and high school counselors in New York City and surrounding communities interested in a SUNY college. Here you can get answers to any questions you may have about finding the right SUNY for you. You can learn about our campuses, get information on financial aid, and even begin your application with an admissions advisor.
The services available at the center are comprehensive. Students can speak to an advisor to find a college fit based on academic interest, geographic interest, or more. Do you have an interest in medical research? Maybe creative arts or working with children as a teacher? Advisors at the SUNY Welcome Center can help you find a curriculum program that fits your interest and a school that would be the right fit for you to pursue those interest towards a college degree.
And once those decisions are made, the advisors can even help with the completion of your SUNY application and obtaining all of the necessary documents required for submitting the application. The center is open Monday-Friday from 8:30-4:30 to help you begin your journey and learn how you can Be Part of Something Bigger at SUNY!
Start your Journey:
