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Information for Guidance Counselors


Information for Guidance Counselors/College Advisors

Welcome!

  • Over the past decade the reputation of SUNY New Paltz has solidified both regionally and nationally.
  • Publications such as US News & World Report (America’s Best Colleges), Newsweek/Kaplan (America’s Hottest Small State School); Kiplinger’s Finance Magazine (Nation’s Top 100 Best Values in Public Higher Education), The Princeton Review (Best Northeastern Colleges) and many others have recognized the outstanding educational experience and opportunities afforded to students at SUNY New Paltz.

Who will succeed at New Paltz?

  • A student, who has a traditional college preparatory program, including a solid and substantially challenging senior year, will be able to meet the expectations of our faculty. Our General Education requires a strong grasp of mathematics, laboratory science, and foreign language, in addition to equally strong competencies in English (composition) and social studies.
  • A student who is seeking a challenge and then actively pursuing it.  More than 75% of our freshmen bring with them substantial AP, IB or college coursework. This is a great boost - our faculty do expect our students to be ready to run the minute they arrive on campus. 
  • A student who is looking for more than just the usual; who is looking to have an enhanced undergraduate education that will take him/her in a variety of directions and opportunities now and after graduation.  A student who isn’t afraid to tackle another major, mentored research, an internship, international study, community service…all during the same college career. 
  • This is the mark of a SUNY New Paltz student.

What We Use to Assist Making a Decision

  • The quality of the high school program taken from 9th to 12th grades.
  • The level in achievement in that program of study
  • The results of either the SAT or ACT.
  • A personal essay.
  • At least one academic teacher/counselor recommendation.

The quality of the high school program is paramount.

We expect our applicants to take the traditional college preparatory program with substantial work in each of the five “core” subjects:

  • 4 units of English
  • 4 units of social studies/history
  • 3-4 units of college preparatory mathematics (algebra I, geometry, algebra II/trigonometry)
  • 3-4 units of science (minimum of 2 years of a laboratory science)
  • 2-4 units of a language other than English

The above core courses need to be at the Regents level (NYS), college preparatory level – or higher.

Thelevel of achievement is important. 

  • Our review of the student’s academic progress is by each academic year. 
  • This allows us to see particular academic strengths and weaknesses as well as trends in achievement.

The SAT or ACT is required.

  • Either test is acceptable.  
  • We use only the SAT Critical Reading and Mathematics scores in the admission decision.
  • We use the best ACT composite score.
  • We do use either the SAT Writing or the ACT Writing score for appropriate placement in Freshman Composition.

Submitting the SAT/ACT scores.

  • The SAT or ACT score reports can be sent directly to New Paltz either by paper or electronically.
  • The score report can also be part of the official high school transcript.
  • Score reports marked “Student Copy,” even if signed by a school official, are not acceptable.

We require a personal essay from each student.

  • This essay, of at least 250 words, follows the same format as the essay required when a student uses the Common Application.
  • This essay is forwarded directly to the New Paltz Office of Undergraduate Admission.

We require a letter of recommendation from a teacher/guidance counselor. 

  • This is forwarded directly to the New Paltz Office of Undergraduate Admission.
  • Be sure that the student’s full name and the name of the high school are on this letter.

Additional Information

  • Please be sure that additional materials are received with the application, transcript, test scores, essay and recommendation in order for them to be considered in the admission decision process.
  • Additional material should be sent directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.
  • If we request missing or additional information, we send the request directly to the student.  We believe it is the student’s responsibility to follow through.

To Apply*

OR

* Use only one of the above application types*

Please send the student’s transcript, test scores, personal essay and letter of recommendation directly (mail, fax, email) to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Contact us

We are busy but we promise we’ll get back to you within 48 hours.

  • Call: (845) 257-3200, menu option #3
  • Email:  admissions@newpaltz.edu
  • Write:
    Office of Undergraduate Admission
    SUNY New Paltz
    100 Hawk Drive
    New Paltz, NY 125621-2499

For best results, be sure to have the proper spelling of the applicant’s name and date of birth when contacting us.

What the Class of 2013 looks like.

  • Applications - 15,240
  • Accepts - 5,160 (34%)
  • Enrolled - 1,096
  • High School Average of Accepts - 91.0
  • Combined SAT of Accepts - 1170
  • Combined ACT of Accepts - 26