SUNY College at Potsdam (SUNYCP, SUNY-Potsdam) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

SUNY College at Potsdam is a liberal arts college that takes a holistic approach to teaching beginning with their admissions process. The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs and provides many opportunities for students to further enrich their educations. Situated on 240 beautiful acres, the school features two libraries, two fitness centers, six different performing arts halls and an art gallery.

There’s on-campus housing as well as numerous student clubs and organizations. SUNY College at Potsdam has an active Greek life and because of its location near both the St. James River and the Adirondack Mountains, opportunities for outdoor recreation abound.

Videos

Information Summary

Ranks 106th in New York and 1101st overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	79.0
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$24,914
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	14 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	75% / 25%
Enrollment Total (all students)	3,521

Academics

SUNY College at Potsdam offers more than 50 undergraduate majors as well as nearly 20 graduate programs with several specializations offered within many of the programs. In addition to standard degree paths, the college offers several different educational enrichment opportunities for students who seek to enhance the scope and quality of their educational experience. Some of these include an exemplary Honors Program, the opportunity to study abroad, internships, learning communities, and student fellowships. Students can also design their own degree via the Student-Initiated Inderdepartmental Major program.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in numerous research projects or pursue a dual-degree program that is coordinated between SUNY College at Potsdam and other SUNY institutions. Additionally, the college recognizes that many people would like to pursue advanced education but cannot do so because of other life obligations. To serve the needs of these students, SUNY College at Potsdam provides a distance learning program as well as hybrid courses that combine online study with some classroom meeting time.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Gallery

Admissions

SUNY College at Potsdam utilizes a holistic approach to admission. In searching for students who will be successful at the college, they take into consideration the student’s GPA, the difficulty of classes taken, recommendations, the student essay, resume and student interviews. Because SUNY College at Potsdam doesn’t believe that standardized test scores necessarily indicate success, the school has adopted a test-optional policy and moved away from evaluating students based solely on test scores and GPA’s.

Freshmen undergraduate students will be required to submit all of the information described above. SUNY College at Potsdam has a rolling admissions process and will accept qualified students right up until the day before classes start but in order to allow time for financial aid packets to be developed and admissions packets to be evaluated, students should apply as early as possible.

SUNY College at Potsdam’s graduate admissions process is much the same. Students are evaluated based on personal skills and talent as well as undergraduate grades. Each applicant must submit the application and fee, proof of a bachelor’s degree, a letter of intent and official transcripts from all schools attended. Different programs may have different requirements though so students should work closely with the school to ensure that all required documents are submitted. The graduate programs have a rolling admission policy as well so there are no deadlines.

Financial Aid

SUNY College at Potsdam offers financial aid in several different forms including merit-based and need-based scholarships, state and federal grants, federally-subsidized loans and work-study programs. There is aid available for both undergraduate and graduate students so students that wish to apply for aid should begin the process by completing the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) that’s available online starting in January. Financial information for both the student and family is required in order to complete the application so students should have that readily available prior to starting the application.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 3511th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in New York.

Athletics

The Potsdam Bears are an NCAA Division III athletics organization that offers several intercollegiate sports including men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer and swimming & diving. Men may also choose to participate in golf while women have the additional options of equestrian sports, softball and volleyball. The school’s colors are maroon and gray.

For students that would like to participate in sports but may not want to dedicate the time to varsity-level competition, SUNY College at Potsdam also offers intramural sports. The college also has two excellent fitness centers that have extended open hours so that students may work out before class or late at night should they choose to.

Additional School Information

The State University of New York was established in 1948 and is a network of 64 unique colleges and universities throughout the state of New York that include all types of schools, from small community colleges to one of the top veterinary schools in the country. The schools are spread throughout the state so that nearly every New York resident is within commuting distance to one and many of the schools offer educational and degree cooperation with one another. Combined, SUNY offers more than 7000 degrees and certificate programs. Many of the schools have top-notch research facilities and the system attracts expert faculty from a variety of fields. SUNY is committed to providing the highest quality education at affordable prices to students both in-state and from the rest of the country and around the world.

Bibliography

Potsdam The State University of New York. The State University of New York at Potsdam. 2011. Web. 12 Sept 2011.

SUNY The State University of New York. The State University of New York. 2011. Web. 12 Sept 2011.

SUNY College at Potsdam