Admissions

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions serves as the primary campus contact for all prospective degree students seeking information concerning enrollment procedures or regarding opportunities for prospective students at SUNY Oswego. Students may contact the office at:

OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS
229 Sheldon Hall
SUNY Oswego
Oswego, NY 13126-3599

315.312.2250
Fax 315.312.2250
admiss@oswego.edu
www.oswego.edu/admissions

Admission to Oswego is based upon the applicant’s academic and personal qualifications and is made without regard to sex, race, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical disability. Oswego seeks men and women of ability and promise who have the capacity for intellectual growth and the motivation to achieve.

Admission as Freshmen

Applicants for admission as freshmen must meet the following minimum requirements:www.oswego.edu/apply

1. Have a high school diploma awarded upon completion of an accredited high school course of study, or have a high school equivalency diploma. A minimum combination of six or seven units of college preparatory mathematics and science as well as the study of a foreign language is recommended.
2. One or more units of Technology Education are recommended for applicants to programs in the Technology Education Department.
3. Submission of the SAT of the College Entrance Examination Board or the ACT of the American College Testing Program. Students who completed high school at least three years prior to the date of their application are exempt from the SAT/ACT requirement. The Committee on Admissions considers the highest SAT Critical Reading and the highest Math score (the Writing component is not considered) as well as the highest ACT Composite score.

The most important criteria for admission to the freshman class is the secondary school record (pattern of coursework, high school grade point average, rank in class) with standardized test scores considered (SAT or ACT) only in combination with the school record.

Recognizing that some students acquire excellence outside formal academic experience, Oswego is prepared to admit a percentage of the freshman class using a combination of traditional and nontraditional academic criteria. To be admitted under this supplementary category, students must demonstrate outstanding capabilities in one of the following categories: leadership, specialization in an academic area, creative expression and performing arts, athletic ability. Students may also be considered on the basis of altered-career orientation and/or unusual circumstances interfering with past performance. Evidence must be submitted for evaluation for admission in this nontraditional category. Examples of such evidence include recommendations; auditions; portfolios; interviews; essays and other information.

An examination of the profile of the 2008 entering freshman class gives a picture of the academic achievement of students enrolled at Oswego. The middle 50% of students enrolling as freshmen at Oswego had grades of 84 - 91 (2.9 to 3.6 on 4.0 scale) and the mean GPA was 89 (3.4). The middle 50% of students enrolling as freshmen had standardized test results as follows: SAT 1020 - 1180 (Critical Reading and Math; Writing is excluded) and ACT Composite 21 - 26. The mean SAT for Critical Reading and Math was 1100 and the mean ACT Composite was 24. Approximately 52% of the freshmen applicants were accepted for admission.

Application Procedures for Freshmen

SUNY Oswego accepts either the Common Application or the SUNY Application, either of which may be found by from www.oswego.edu/apply. Students are strongly encouraged to apply electronically, although paper applications for admission may be obtained from high schools and guidance offices or by writing to the Oswego Office of Admissions.

Priority dates for submitting an application for admission are January 15 for the fall semester and November 15 for the spring semester. Applications received after these dates will be considered on a space available basis.

Early Decision Option for Freshmen

Students who decide that Oswego is their first-choice college may choose to apply for early decision. Early decision candidates may apply to other colleges. However, if admitted to Oswego under early decision, applicants must agree to attend Oswego and withdraw all other applications. Applicants for early decision must have the following information on file in the Oswego Office of Admissions no later than November 15:

1. A Common Application or a SUNY Application;
2. An official high school transcript;
3. Official results of either the SAT or ACT; test score results are acceptable if placed on the official high school transcript;
4. A completed Oswego Supplement (available online at www.oswego.edu/apply).

Early decision candidates will be advised of admission status by December 15. If accepted, candidates will be expected to submit deposits for tuition and housing by January 15 for the following fall term.

Some early decision candidates will be notified, however, that they will be considered for regular admission after January 1.

Notification of Admission for Freshman

Notification of decisions on completed freshman applications for the fall semester will be mailed after January 1, and will continue on a rolling basis; candidates for the spring semester will be notified after October 15.

In order to confirm attendance at the College, admitted students are required to submit a tuition deposit of $100 (plus $100 for housing, if applicable) which must be received by the College by May 1, or thirty days after acceptance, whichever is later. Deposits for the spring semester are due thirty days after acceptance to the college. These deposits are applied against fall or spring semester charges. The tuition deposit of $100 and the housing deposit of $100, if applicable, are refundable until May 1. After May 1, the tuition deposit is nonrefundable. The $100 housing deposit is refundable in accordance with the College’s refund policy. Deposits for the spring term are refundable until thirty days after acceptance. 

Transfer Student Admission

Applicants who have previously registered for more than 12 credit hours at another college or university, following graduation from high school, are considered transfer students. In addition to completing the State University of New York Application for Admission Form, transfer students must also submit an official transcript from each college or university previously attended. Transfer students who have completed fewer than 30 credit hours at the time of their application must also submit an official transcript from their high school.

Transfer applicants for the fall semester who have a completed application on file in the Office of Admissions by March 1 will be given priority for admission. Applicants for the spring semester who file by November 1 will be given priority for admission. While applications submitted after these dates will be considered if space remains available, it is to the applicant’s advantage to complete the application well before these dates. Transfer applicants who have completed an Associate’s degree from a SUNY college are given priority for admission. The cumulative grade point average earned on previous college work is the primary criterion used in admitting transfer students.

A profile of the 2008 entering transfer class indicates students generally had a cumulative GPA of approximately 2.5 or higher and the mean GPA was 3.0. Transfer students seeking admission to the School of Education programs must have a minimum 2.50 GPA.

Transfer candidates are notified of admission decisions as their applications are completed.

Policy for Evaluation of Transfer Credits

For all transfer students, equivalency credit for course work in the major department shall be determined by the major department no later than the beginning of their second semester. All course work completed with a passing grade from regionally accredited institutions will transfer to Oswego. Courses completed at another institution transfer only as credits.

Acceptance of transfer credits from non accredited institutions is tentative until successful completion of one full-time semester at Oswego, after which equivalency credits will be determined by the Registrar upon consultation with the major department.

Some training courses provided by the Armed Forces may be the equivalent of college courses and transfer credit may be obtained by presenting an official military transcript to evaluate the credits to the Office of Admissions. A guide provided by the American Council on Education is used to determine what credit might be granted. Blanket credit is not granted for military service. Credit will be granted for all courses sponsored by the United States Armed Forces Institute which are on the college level and which are completed with a satisfactory end-of-course examination.

Requirement Guidelines for Transfer Students

Transfer students must consult with their major department’s chairperson or advisement coordinator to determine the remaining requirements of the major field and the general graduation requirements of Oswego.

Students who transfer to Oswego must complete the following graduation requirements:

1. Complete a minimum of thirty credit hours at Oswego.
2. Complete all of the requirements of the major department and the College.
3. Earn a minimum of one-half of the major and concentration requirements at Oswego.
4. Complete a minimum of 60 credit hours from an accredited four year institution, 30 of which must be earned at Oswego.

Please note that simply compiling credits will not assure candidates of meeting bachelor’s degree requirements. Students should be certain that they are aware of their graduation requirements. They should consult this College Catalog and be sure to meet with their academic advisor during the scheduled advisement period for transfer students.

Two year college transfer students should recognize that since they are required to complete 60 credit hours (30 at Oswego) from a four year institution, a maximum of 62 credit hours of two year college transfer credit may be applied toward the Oswego bachelor’s degree.

Four year college transfer students, since they must complete 30 credit hours at Oswego, may apply up to 92 credit hours of transfer credit toward the Oswego bachelor’s degree.

www.oswego.edu/academics/international

Oswego welcomes students from other countries who qualify for any of the programs offered. Admission procedures for international students are handled on an individual basis. International students desiring admission should visit the Office of International Education and Programs web page for more detailed information and the necessary application forms. International students who do not speak English as their native language must present the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination or International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Oswego offers a program of deferred admissions. Under this procedure students, once admitted, may request that their admission to this College be deferred up to one year. Students, both freshman and transfer, are guaranteed a place for the future term and are free to pursue a period of work, service, or travel before formally enrolling at the College. During this period students are assured that their future enrollment at the College is secure provided their academic status has not changed.

www.oswego.edu/eop

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Oswego is designed to serve students who are both educationally and economically disadvantaged. The ultimate goal of the EOP program is to make higher education possible for students who lack the credentials for traditional college admission, but have the potential for academic success. Detailed eligibility and application information for the EOP program is available from the student’s school guidance office or the Office of Admissions at Oswego.

EOP at Oswego is structured to offer every student a range of exciting opportunities as well as all the assistance students may need in the pursuit of their academic goals. EOP is part of the Office of Learning Services (OLS), which is responsible for offering out-of-class academic services to all Oswego students.

Services provided by OLS to EOP students include, but are not limited to, special developmental course work; a pre-freshman student conference; academic planning counseling services; a ROBOTICS challenge program; free tutoring in any course and assistance in improving writing skills through the OLS Writing Center, free participation in a variety of workshops and lectures, in addition to reduced cost of enrollment in courses for preparation to tests required for admission to graduate and professional schools (GRE, LSAT, GMAT, etc.). A twenty station computer lab is available only for students participating in OLS, insuring that the equipment is available when the students need it. Specific financial aid programs are available to assist EOP students.

Oswego welcomes and encourages non-degree students to enroll in appropriate classes on a space-available basis. Enrollment in a course or series of courses does not imply acceptance or continued access to a department or program in the future. Advisement for non-degree students regarding available courses may be obtained through Continuing Education, COMPASS, the Student Advisement Center, or the Office of Admissions. Vocational Technical non-degree students will be advised by and complete admissions material in that department. Note that mail-in registration will require the designation of alternative choices. The Registrar’s Office will limit the number of credit hours which a non-degree student may take to twenty-two credits; any additional credits require acceptance as a matriculated student or approval by the Office of Admissions.

Oswego offers college courses for superior high school students. High school junior or senior students may enroll in College courses during the academic year concurrently with their high school enrollment or during the summer sessions between the junior and senior years of high school. In exceptional cases, students are permitted to enroll in college courses with still less pre-college work than noted above.

To be approved, high school students must have an outstanding high school record and must have the recommendation of their high school principal or guidance counselor. Further information may be obtained from the Office of Admissions.

www.oswego.edu/admissions/visit

Prospective students and their parents are strongly encouraged to visit the campus and discuss college plans with an admissions counselor. The Office of Admissions is open for appointments from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Monday through Friday. Tours of the campus are also available on a regular schedule during the academic year. In addition, Admissions group information programs are held on a regular schedule during the fall and spring semesters. Interested students and parents should contact the Office of Admissions well in advance for an appointment. A schedule of visitation opportunities is available on the web site and visits may be scheduled directly online.