Apply to ESF
First-Year Admission
High school seniors may apply for admission under one of the three pathways available — your level of interest in ESF and the quality of your academic performance in high school will determine which pathway is most appropriate for you.
Application deadline is Nov. 15
If ESF is your top choice, you can reduce the time to receive your admission decision by applying Early Action. Early Action plans are nonbinding; you will receive an early response to your application, but you do not have to commit to enroll until May 1. The Early Action application deadline in Nov. 15.
Application deadline is Jan. 15
Most high school students apply to ESF under Regular First-Year Admission. The Admissions
Committee begins review of the application only after all supporting materials are
received, so submit all required items as soon as possible after applying. The recommended
application filing date for Regular First-Year Admission is Jan. 15 — applications
received after this date will be considered on a space-available basis.
Application deadline is Jan. 15
Under our Guaranteed Transfer (GT) option, high school seniors may apply for admission
for future transfer to ESF in either their sophomore or junior years. GT applicants
are those who wish to spend a portion of their first two years of college at another
institution, perhaps to become better prepared academically for the ESF program they
wish to enter.
ESF has agreements with Cooperative Colleges in New York and surrounding states that identify equivalent courses for ESF lower division degree requirements and designate advisors at each campus to assist in course selection and scheduling. ESF Admissions staff members also advise students preparing to transfer, and they regularly visit Cooperative College campuses.
On your application, choose the upcoming fall semester of entry, and then email esfinfo@esf.edu expressing your interest in GT Admission and your expected future semester of entry. Successful applicants must present a strong high school academic background, including at least three years each of college preparatory mathematics and science. The recommended application filing date for Guarantee Transfer is Jan. 15.
Students admitted through the GT program must satisfactorily complete coursework equivalent to the requirements for their intended ESF program of study with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.80 (A=4.000). Courses completed with less than a ‘C’ grade will not transfer for credit and may impact the student’s status under the GT option. GT students are encouraged to enroll at one of the Cooperative Colleges — you may attend a non-participating college, but you should consult the ESF Admissions Office for advising on course scheduling.
Please pay close attention to application codes and deadlines for Guaranteed Transfer.
Please note: You must use the SUNY application if you have earned or will earn an A.A. or A.S. at a SUNY or CUNY college and you wish to receive the SUNY transfer application fee waiver, or you are applying for the “3+3” Doctor of Physical Therapy program with Upstate Medical University.
SUNY has temporarily suspended SAT and ACT testing requirements for admission to bachelor’s degree-granting campuses. You can now choose to have your scores considered at each SUNY college to which you apply.
Applicants should present strong high school academic credentials. A college preparatory curriculum is expected — three units/years each of college preparatory mathematics and science are required, four years are highly recommended.
Art, architectural, or technical drawing courses are highly recommended for applicants to Landscape Architecture.
Advanced coursework at the honors or college level is highly recommended.
In addition, first-year applicants are encouraged to participate in an Information Session to improve their understanding of the College and its academic programs.
All transfer credit will remain tentative until official, final college transcripts and score reports for college level examinations (AP, CLEP, IB, etc.) are received and reviewed by Office of Undergraduate Admissions staff under the direction of the faculty. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that official, final transcripts or score reports are received by the College.
From Accredited Colleges and Universities
Course work appropriate to the ESF curriculum can be transferred to the College, but grades and grade points cannot be transferred. Courses to be transferred to meet graduation requirements for any curriculum must be acceptable in content, and credit will be awarded only for those completed with a grade of C or higher (a C- is not acceptable). Only coursework completed at institutions that are fully accredited by one of six regional accrediting agencies will be considered for possible transfer credit toward ESF degree requirements. These agencies are the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Advanced Placement and Other College Level Examinations
The College will consider for advanced standing credit the results of examinations from standardized testing agencies such as the College Entrance Examination Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) or the College Level Examination Programs (CLEP) as well as the Higher Level Exams of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Find information on AP, IB, and CLEP score requirements for transfer of credit click here.
Appeal Process
Transfer students who are completing or have completed an associate degree program at a SUNY campus and who do not agree with their preliminary transfer credit evaluation should first contact the ESF Office of Admissions to request a further review of potential transfer credit. The student’s academic record and the preliminary transfer credit evaluation will be reviewed, in consultation with the Academic Department if appropriate, to determine whether additional transfer credit is applicable to degree requirements. If the student does not agree with the review of the transfer credit evaluation by the Office of Admissions they then have the option of appealing the evaluation with the ESF Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies.
Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at esfinfo@esf.edu or (315) 470-6600 for further information on transfer credit policies and evaluations.
High school students who will complete graduation requirements (or equivalent) prior to the graduation of their class may apply for Early Admission. The application process and criteria for Regular First-Year consideration apply to Early Admission candidates. Early Admission candidates are also required to submit mid-year grades for their junior year and meet with the Director of Admissions, to assess their maturity and preparedness for college life, before their application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Alternative online meeting options may be available.
Students accepted to SUNY ESF who wish to defer their enrollment for one or two semesters beyond their original entry date must make this request in writing directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Those students will receive written notification if their request has been approved.
Students who wish to return to the College after a leave of absence (medical or military), change in educational plan, or academic and/or disciplinary dismissal, may apply for readmission through the Office of Student Affairs. Contact Student Support to obtain information or to schedule an appointment with the Senior Counselor.