Freshman Introduction

Freshman Applicants

A Freshman is defined as a student who has attempted no college coursework, or whose only college courses were pursued before high school graduation. If you have taken any college course since graduation, you would be considered a transfer student, and should apply as one. Solely having taken AP classes in High School does not qualify you as a transfer student, although you should submit scores/transcripts with your application.

At the College at Oneonta, all applications are individually reviewed. We review over 12,500 applications each year, and our admissions criteria are highly selective.  We assure you, however, that we'll give your application the careful attention it deserves.

An Average Candidate

Admission to the College at Oneonta is highly competitive.  For the fall 2008 freshman class we accepted only 38% of the more than 12,500 students who applied to the College. This year's freshmen include roughly 1,000 students from all corners of New York State and beyond.  Below you will find the class profile for the fall 2008 freshman class:

Grade Point Average: 90.4 Cumulative Average

SAT 1: 1137 (Math & Critical Reading only)

ACT: 25 (Composite)

Freshmen Admission Criteria

For freshman applicants, we've found that the best measure of academic potential is past achievement. We'll look at your high school grades and the courses you've taken. We'll also consider your class rank, trends in your grades, your senior-year course-load, your Regents grades (for New York State applicants), and your standardized test scores. Applicants must be graduates of an accredited secondary school or have evidence of equivalent education.

Official High School Transcript (The following distribution of basic high school courses is preferred)

• 4 Units of English
• 4 Units of History
• 4 Units of Math
• 4 Units of Science
• 3-4 Units of Foreign Language

A challenging college preparatory program in high school is highly desirable. A strong background in the chosen area of study is a consideration as well.  Regents level classes are a minimum requirement, with Advanced Placement and Honors courses carrying the most weight. Students should rank in the top 1/2 of their class. 

SAT/ACT
We use the highest score from either the SAT or ACT-(composite), even if the higher SAT Verbal/Critical Reading and Math results were taken at different times.  If you're planning on retaking either exam, be sure to let us know.  Only the Critical Reading/Verbal and Math portions of your SAT will be used in the decision making process.  The new writing/essay portion will not factor into any decisions. Please submit your official SAT/ACT through the testing agency or high school transcript.

Applying for Freshmen Admission

Educational Opportunity Program