Skip to Main Content
About Academics Admissions Athletics Calendar Give Library News

Freshmen Admissions

Students who have not attended a college, university, or postsecondary institution, are considered freshmen. Freshman applications must be accompanied by the appropriate application fee and your official high school transcript(s). If you received a High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma from NY (also known as TASC), send a copy of your diploma and scores. If you were eligible for HSE Regents exemptions, be sure to submit your high school transcript along with your HSE Diploma. If you received an equivalency diploma outside of NYS, contact the appropriate State Education Department for your record. Visit ged.com to learn more.

SAT and ACT test scores are not required nor considered in application review through the Spring 2027 admission cycle. For more information on the suspension of SAT/ACT test scores, visit the CUNY website.

Admission is based on a variety of factors, and each applicant is considered individually. Freshmen are strongly encouraged to take a college preparatory program in high school that includes courses in English, Mathematics, Laboratory Science, Social Science, Foreign Language, and Fine Arts.

CUNY Proficiency Requirements

The City University of New York (CUNY) requires all students to demonstrate proficiency in English (reading and writing) and math in order to enroll in credit-bearing courses in the associated subject.  Applicants may establish proficiency in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, meeting benchmark scores on the SAT, ACT, and New York State Regents exams. For more information on CUNY's proficiency requirements, visit the CUNY website.

An applicant who fails to meet all of the above criteria may still be considered for admission if she or he shows evidence of strong academic preparation, such as exceeding the minimum requirements in college preparatory classes, or strong performance on other assessments of academic skills, such as Regents examinations. More flexible admission is available through the SEEK Program. See below for information on SEEK requirements.

The Percy E. Sutton Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) Program

Academic Core Building, Room 1C08
718-262-2300
email: seek@york.cuny.edu
webpage: https://www.york.cuny.edu/seek

The SEEK (Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge) Program is a higher education opportunity program offered at each of the senior colleges of CUNY. SEEK was created in 1966 when the New York State Legislature enacted a law that mandated the creation of programs providing access and support for New York City residents and that advanced the cause of equality and educational opportunity at CUNY. Today, the university maintains a commitment to admit students under the provisions of this law.

SEEK is an opportunity program for students who are:

  1. Entering college for the first time

  2. In need of financial assistance

  3. Residents of New York State for at least twelve consecutive months

Students are eligible for ten (10) semesters, plus two (2) summer sessions of financial assistance. Transfer students from College Discovery (CD), Higher Education Opportunity Programs (HEOP) or Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) are admitted in both the fall and spring. Veterans with up to 18 credits earned during or before their military enlistment are also eligible for this program.

The SEEK mission is to increase the level of education, social mobility, and vocational capability in New York City and New York State by providing access to higher education to students who are educationally and economically disadvantaged.

Academic services include selected Pathways courses designated for SEEK students only; SEEK counseling courses; learning skills workshops; one-on-one topic-specific tutoring; and small group tutoring sessions. Counseling services provide academic, career, and personal counseling services through individual or group workshops. All students are assigned a counselor upon entry into the program. Financial Aid services provide students with vital information concerning the timely completion of all necessary financial aid documentation.

These services help students achieve academic success by utilizing dynamic and innovative student-centered approaches to teaching and learning and providing supportive services. The SEEK Program is staffed by dedicated faculty and staff committed to ensuring that students acquire the skills and economic resources needed to graduate from York College. Students in the SEEK Program have successfully met the many challenges of academic rigor with distinction. They have added a positive dimension to York College through their involvement in student organizations and college governance committees and have distinguished themselves with service awards and academic honors.

Students may apply for the SEEK Program by filling out the "SEEK/College Discovery" section of the CUNY Freshmen Application, and by putting York College as their first choice. Incoming students must attend and successfully complete the mandatory Pre-Freshmen Summer Program. Furthermore, all students must be deemed economically eligible for SEEK by the SEEK Financial Coordinator before they are officially accepted into the program.

To be certified and to receive any financial assistance from the program, students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a TAP application. These forms are used to apply for the following types of financial aid:

  1. PELL

  2. SEEK stipends, books, and fees

  3. College Work Study

  4. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants