Online Application FAQs

Application Timeline Questions

When is the application deadline?
When will my application be processed?
When will my application be received by my college(s)?
When will I receive a decision?

Technical Questions

How do I save my application? Can I start an application but complete it at a later date? Will my information still be there?
How do I print my application?
Error message: System Unavailable
A red error message appears at the top of the application.
How do I know my application was submitted successfully?
I need to complete a graduate application but I only see undergraduate applications on the site.
I can't find my high school or transfer college using the wizards.
No Curriculums are listed in the drop down box.
I can't select an entry term for 2009.

Information Revision Questions

How do I fix a typo?
How do I change my entry date?
How do I delete a college?
How do I add a college?
How do I withdraw my application?

Additional Documentation Questions

Is a Supplemental Application required?
Is an essay required?
Are recommendation letters required?
Are official score reports required?
Are TOEFL score reports required?
Are high school transcripts required?
If I was home-schooled or have my GED, how can I send transcripts?
If I graduated from high school a long time ago, must I send transcripts?
Where do I send my transcripts?
Where do I send my additional documentation?

Application Fee Questions

How much is it?
Do I have to pay it?
How do I pay it?
I already paid it.
Who should I contact if I have questions about the charges to my credit card?

Forms Questions

Where can I download a paper application?
Where can I download a School Counselor Form?
Where can I download the FSA-2, FSA-3 and FSA-4?
Where can I download a Fee Waiver Request form?

When is the application deadline?

While there is no formal application deadline for freshman applicants, we recommend you apply by December 1 to maximize your chances for financial aid, campus housing and consideration for your major of choice. Please note, some colleges have specific application deadline dates for certain programs of study. In addition, some colleges offer Early Decision or Early Action programs to fall freshmen. Applicants to an Early Decision program should apply by November 1st. Applicants to an Early Action program should apply by November 15th.

When will my application be processed?

Applications are processed in the order in which they are received at the Application Services Center. Processing times can vary depending on volume and time of year.

When will my application be received by my college(s)?

Electronic transmissions of applicant data are sent from the Application Services Center to SUNY colleges three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings, with the exception of holidays). Hard copy admissions documents are mailed to the colleges every business day and generally take 3-5 days to be delivered. You can expect an acknowledgement letter from the college within a couple of weeks or less.

When will campuses notify me of the admission decision?

Many campuses respond to regular decision freshman applicants on a rolling basis, meaning when your application becomes complete, it will be reviewed and a decision will be made and communicated to the applicant. A few campuses have a set mailing date when most admission decisions are sent to the applicants. Transfer applicants are generally reviewed on a rolling basis. Check with the campus(es) to which you apply for specific information regarding the decision making process.

How do I save my application? Can I start an application but complete it at a later date? Will my information still be there?

Each page of the application is saved when you leave that page, click "Save and Continue" button. If you logoff applySUNY, you can return and your application will still be there.

Be sure to write down your email address and your applySUNY password. You will need to enter that information exactly the same way each time you access your application.

How do I print my application?

If you would like to print a copy of your application for your records, you may click on "Print My Application" on the menu to the left. You may also use your browser's print command (File, Print) and print each page of the application.

Error message: System Unavailable

The system is down temporarily for maintenance. Please try to apply at a later time.

A red error message appears at the top of the application.

The red text at the top of the page indicates that there were errors or omissions on that page of your application. If you don't have all the information for that page at hand or otherwise cannot complete the page, you can skip to another page by clicking one of the pages on the menu to the left. You will have to complete that page when you return to it.

How do I know my application was submitted successfully?

If you have completed all of the required fields, you will be directed to make arrangements for payment of your application fee. You will know your application has been submitted for processing when you reach the page that reads, "You're finished!" Two business days after submitting your application, you may confirm its receipt at the Application Status Checking System. You may also contact the Recruitment Response Center with questions regarding your application status.

I need to complete a graduate application but I only see undergraduate applications on the site.

You will have to contact the campus graduate admissions office directly. Information regarding graduate program offerings can be found, by clicking here.

I can't find my high school or transfer college using the wizards.

Try searching using just the state and first character of the city in which your school is located. If your school does not appear in the list, click the "click here" link to enter your school information without using the wizard. If you continue to have difficulty, please contact the Recruitment Response Center.

No Curriculums are listed in the drop down box.

The curriculums that appear in the dropdown box are based upon your student type, your entry date and the campus to which you are applying. First, check to make sure you have answered the questions regarding Freshman/Transfer status and EOP on the "Preliminary Questions" page. Next, make sure you have selected a Campus and Semester on the "My Campus Selections" page. If any of this information is missing, the Curriculum Drop Down box will be empty.

I can't select an entry term for 2009.

Entry terms for 2009 will not be listed in the entry term drop down box if you are using an application saved for the prior academic year. Look toward the left of your application screen. There should be a section on the left in light-blue, and the first thing in that section says "WORK WITH MY SAVED APPLICATIONS." Beneath that, it should say "FOR YEAR 2009." Check to make sure that this says "2009." If it says "2008" instead, then you must convert your 2008 application to a 2009 application. Click "Convert to a 2009 application" on the menu to the left.

How do I fix a typo?

To correct an error once your application has been submitted, you must contact the Recruitment Response Center.

How do I change my entry date?

To change an entry date once your application has been processed and sent to your college(s), you must contact that college's admissions office. The college will advise you if a new entry date can be accommodated.

How do I delete a college?

You are encouraged to carefully research your college selections prior to application. A campus choice may be deleted from an application any time prior to submission. After an application has been submitted, you may request to have your application withdrawn by contacting the college's admissions office, however, you will still be responsible for paying the fee to process that application.

How do I add a college?

Once your application has been submitted, you can add a college selection by returning to applySUNY. Login in using your email address and password. Then click on "Send My Application to Additional Campuses" on the menu to the left. You may also add a campus selection by contacting the Recruitment Response Center. You will be responsible for an additional application fee for each college added.

How do I withdraw my application?

If you wish to withdraw your application for admission, you should contact the college's admissions office directly and notify them of your decision to withdraw. However, you will still be responsible for paying the fee to process that application.

Is a Supplemental Application required?

The following campuses use supplemental applications as part of their admission process: Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo State, University at Buffalo, Cortland, Environmental Science and Forestry, FIT, Fredonia, Geneseo, Maritime, New Paltz, NYS Ceramics at AU, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Purchase, Stony Brook, Stony Brook Southampton, SUNYIT, and Upstate Medical University.

Many campuses provide their supplemental applications online. Click here for more details.

Is an essay required?

Individual colleges may require essays. Essay questions may be included in the supplemental applications and/or will be sent to you directly from the colleges that require them.

Are recommendation letters required?

Many colleges are interested in recommendations or other supporting credentials. Applicants may include such materials if they wish.

Are official test scores required?

Binghamton University and the University at Buffalo require that SAT or ACT scores be sent directly by the testing agency. The remaining campuses will accept SAT or ACT scores from your official secondary school transcripts.

Are TOEFL score reports required?

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required by certain colleges. Please contact the college's admissions office directly with questions.

Are high school transcripts required?

High school transcripts are required for all first-time freshman students. In addition, transfer students who have earned less than the equivalent of one full year of study (generally 24-30 credit hours) are required to submit transcripts from their former high school.

If I was home-schooled or have my GED, how can I send transcripts?

While transcripts are not required, home-schooled students should submit a letter from the superintendent of their school district confirming that all high school graduation requirements of the district have been met through home-schooling.

Applicants who have received a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), should send a score report (not a diploma) in place of a high school transcript.

If I graduated from high school a long time ago, must I send transcripts?

In most cases, a high school transcript is requested if you been out of high school less than 10 years and you are applying as a freshman to a two-year or four-year college or you are applying as a transfer with less than one full year of college study. Some colleges, however, may request a high school transcript regardless of time since graduation.

Where do I send my transcripts?

Please have your transcripts forwarded directly to each campus to which you apply.

Where do I send my additional documentation?

The School Counselor form should be forwarded to the Application Services Center at:

Application Services Center
The State University of New York
P.O. Box 22007
Albany, NY 12201-2007

All other documentation should be sent directly to the campuses to which you apply.

How much is it?

The non-refundable application fee is $40 for each college choice. In addition, applicants to the College of Arts at Purchase College may apply to more than one program of study, but must pay a separate $40 fee for each curriculum choice.

Do I have to pay it?

The application fee is for processing services; it is non-refundable and independent of an admission decision or a decision to withdraw or decline an offer of acceptance. When you submit an application, you assume responsibility for prompt payment of all fees due. Your application will not be processed until full payment or authorized fee waiver is received.

Students facing significant financial hardship and freshman and transfer applicants to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) may request their application fees be waived by having their school or transfer counselor complete and submit a Fee Waiver Request Form. If you are ineligible, or if your college choice does not offer EOP, you will be billed for the fee.

The State University waives the $40 application fee for up to four college choices from a SUNY or CUNY two-year college, who apply directly to State University four-year colleges for baccalaureate programs. If you are a transfer student seeking the fee waiver, you must complete the required questions on the "My Transfer Colleges" page.

If you are transferring to the last years of a cooperative program, such as a 2+3 program in engineering, you may also have your fee waived.

Students who are eligible for a fee waiver should select "Fee Waiver " as their payment method. If you request a waiver and are found ineligible you will be required to submit payment before your application will be processed.

How do I pay it?

Applicants may pay using the following payment methods:

Credit or Debit Card (Visa or Mastercard only). Applicants can submit their credit or debit card payments online. Selecting this payment method allows your application to be processed immediately.

Electronic Check. Applicants can submit their bank routing and checking account information online. Selecting this payment method allows your application to be processed immediately.

Mail-In Payment. If you choose to mail in a check, money order or credit card information, you will be prompted to print an invoice at the end of the application. Your application will not be processed or forwarded to your campus choices until payment in full is received by the Application Services Center. Fees can be remitted in a single check or money order made payable to "SUNY ASC" in the amount of the total processing fee(s) due. International applicants must pay in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. Mail payment to:

The State University of New York
Application Services Center
P.O. Box 22007
Albany, New York 12201-2007

(Returned checks will be subject to an additional processing fee of $20.00.)

All appeals for refunds must be put in writing to the Director of the Application Services Center.

I already paid it.

If you are billed for the application processing fee in error, contact the Recruitment Response Center.

Who should I contact if I have questions about the charges to my credit card?

Direct all questions regarding charges to your credit card to the Recruitment Response Center.

Where can I download a paper application?

Download a paper application from our website.

Where can I download a school counselor form?

Download the School Counselor form from our website.

Where can I download the FSA-2, FSA-3 and FSA-4?

Download International Student Forms from our website.

Where can I download a Fee Waiver Request form?

Download Fee Waiver Request Form.