Freshman Application Process at SUNY Plattsburgh

Enroll at SUNY Plattsburgh in 8 Easy Steps

Step 1: Visit Our Campus (optional)

Don't let hearsay decide where you go to college. Visit our campus, experience the sights and sounds of Plattsburgh, and determine if we're the right fit for you.

To schedule an appointment, call the Admissions office at (888) 673-0012 or (518) 564-2040.

Tours are available during the academic year and in the summer. You can also schedule an interview with an Admissions Advisor as well as a departmental visit.

Learn more about Admissions Visitation Events at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Step 2: Apply for Admission

Apply Online
Freshmen have two options to apply online - The State University of New York (SUNY) Application or the Common Application. Both applications are viewed equally by the admissions committee. Please be sure to complete only one of the two applications.

• Common Application
  • Students who apply through the Common Application will need to do the following:
    • Complete the Common Application
    • Complete the Plattsburgh-specific supplement
    • Pay the $50.00 application fee
    • Send an official high school transcript or submit a SOAR
    • Send SAT/ACT scores
  • Please note: An essay and a letter of recommendation are required for admission. Completion of the Common Application will provide SUNY Plattsburgh with the personal essay. In addition, an e-mail will be sent automatically requesting the letter of recommendation from a teacher/counselor.
• SUNY Application
  • Students who apply through the SUNY Application will need to do the following:
    • Complete the SUNY Application
    • Complete the SUNY Supplemental for Freshmen
    • Pay the $50.00 application fee
    • Send an official high school transcript or submit a SOAR
    • Send SAT/ACT Scores
  • Please note: An essay and a letter of recommendation are required for admission. The SUNY Supplemental for Freshmen will provide the admissions committee with your essay and your counselor name/e-mail. We will then send an e-mail to your counselor acknowledging the receipt of your application and asking them to submit a letter of recommendation, if they are planning to do so.

Apply by Mail
While we strongly encourage you to apply online, you can also submit a paper application. To download a paper Common Application, please go to www.commonapp.org. The completed Common Application can be forwarded to:

Admissions
SUNY Plattsburgh
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901

If you are completing a Common Application paper application, please be sure to include a $50.00 check payable to SUNY Plattsburgh Admissions Office to cover the application fee.

To request a paper SUNY Application, please call (800) 342-3811. Once completed, you should forward the application to:

SUNY Application Processing Center
State University Plaza
Albany NY, 12246-0001

Step 3: Check Application Status

After you have applied for admission, you can check the status of your application to find out your decision and any items needed complete your application.

Step 4: Apply For Financial Aid

Visit our Financial Aid Office for more information.

Step 5: Receive Notice of the Application Decision

• Fall Admission: Acceptance packets are mailed beginning January 15 and continue on a rolling basis until admission closes (usually in mid-summer).
• Spring Admission: Acceptance packets are mailed beginning November 1 and continue on a rolling basis until admission closes in early or mid-January.

Step 6: Pay Your Deposit

If you are accepted and decide to enroll at SUNY Plattsburgh, you'll need to pay a $250 deposit as a token of good faith.

Your deposit must be paid by:

• May 1 (for Fall)
• December 1 (for Spring), or
• within 30 days after your acceptance if you are accepted after those dates.

Once we have received your deposit, we will send you important information on housing, orientation, and registration.

You can pay your deposit online  by logging in to your MyPlattsburgh account.  Please read our Deposit Refund Policy.

Step 7: Pre-Register

Once you've been accepted and have paid your deposit, the chairperson of your department will pre-register you into your first-semester courses.

The chairperson notifies our Registrar of the courses that you should have during your first semester. When you meet with the chairperson at Orientation and Registration, you will have the opportunity to make desired adjustments.

Not sure who your chairperson is? If you don't know or have forgotten, our academic program websites provide up-to-date information on departmental chairs and other program contact information.

Pre-Registration Schedule:

• Fall applicants: Pre-registration starts in early July and continues through the summer
• Spring applicants: Pre-registration occurs in early January 

Step 8: Attend Orientation and Registration

We hold these programs in the summer during the last week of June through the third week of July. For students enrolling in the spring, the program is in mid-January.

You will be invited one month in advance of the program's start.