Office of Admissions Schenectady County Community College 78 Washington Avenue Schenectady, NY  12305 Telephone: (518) 381-1366

For information on the SCCC Free Application for Admissions, click here.

Full Opportunity - Open Admissions

Schenectady County Community College participates in the Full Opportunity Program of the State University of New York. Under this plan, SCCC guarantees open admission to all applicants who reside in Schenectady County who graduated from high school with a local or regents diploma within the prior year, and to applicants who were released from active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States within the prior year. Additionally, the College admits previous high school graduates and residents of other counties who can profit from its programs and services, to the limits of the College's capacity, and subject to compliance with any deadlines or requirements established by the College in its admissions procedures. Applicants who do not hold a high school or equivalency diploma and who are 18 years of age or older may also enroll if, in the judgment of this College, they have a reasonable chance of succeeding in the college curriculum they have chosen. Applicants who are enrolled in high school as juniors should refer to the Early Admission Program information.

The College admits students with a wide variety of academic backgrounds. Through testing, counseling, placement in courses, tutoring services, developmental courses in reading and writing, and developmental laboratories in mathematics, the College seeks to evaluate each student as an individual and to provide appropriate courses and services. It does not claim to guarantee academic success. It can only provide the full opportunity for academic success. Furthermore, admission under the Full Opportunity Program does not guarantee students that they will be able to complete the curriculum to which they applied in two years of full-time study. Applicants entering in the spring or summer semesters and those needing to complete prerequisite courses may require five or more semesters to complete degree requirements.

Most new students must take the ASSET placement test, administered by the Department of Developmental Studies. For information about this test, click here: ASSET Test Information.

Admission Requirements

Schenectady County Community College emphasizes flexibility and opportunity in it Full Opportunity admissions policy. Because the college accepts not only students of demonstrated ability, but also those of less developed talent, individuals who feel that they can profit from college level instruction are invited to apply for admission.

Applicants for a degree or certificate program must possess either a local or Regent's high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED or its equivalent) or be accepted under the College's 24 Credit Hour Program as explained below. An I.E.P. diploma is not a recognized diploma. An official high school transcript is required for all applicants who graduated secondary school within the United States or its territories. Similarly, a student holding a GED will be required to submit the transcript of scores and/or the GED diploma.

Students who graduated from secondary school outside of the United States are required to arrange for an official transcript to be sent directly from the granting institution to SCCC. Alternatively, the College will also accept an official evaluation of secondary school transcripts by the World Education Services (WES) in arriving at an admissions decision. Visit www.wes.org for more information.

In accordance with the policy set forth by the State University of New York (SUNY), students who are home-schooled must satisfy one of the following to be eligible for consideration for admission into SCCC:

1. The student must have a passing score on the state high school equivalency diploma (GED) test. (Only students who have reached the maximum compulsory age of school attendance are eligible to take this test.)



2. The student must provide a letter from the superintendent of the school district in which the student resides, attesting to the student's completion of home instruction meeting the requirements of Section 100.10 of the regulations of the Commissioner of Education (or equivalent for students who reside outside of New York state.)



3. If a student is 18 years of age or older, he or she may be eligible to be matriculated under the College's 24 Credit Hour Program as explained below.

A diploma issued by a correspondence school that is not accredited or registered in its home state is not acceptable as the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma.

Applicants who have studied at other colleges prior to matriculating at Schenectady County Community College will need to submit an official transcript from each of the educational institutions previously attended in order for transfer credit to be evaluated. Detailed information regarding applicable transfer credit and residence requirements is addressed in the section on Certificate of Residence.

Applicants for a degree or certificate who are at least 18 years of age, but who have not graduated from high school, or who do not have a General Equivalency Diploma, may be admitted as matriculated students pursuing a degree under the College's 24 Credit Hour Program. Admission to this program will be based on the results of a standardized examination and an assessment of the student's "ability to benefit" by the Office of Admissions. Upon completion of a specific distribution of 24 credit hours as specified by the New York State Department of Education, the student must apply for the General Equivalency Diploma through the Office of Academic Services. This procedure must be completed if students are to be eligible to receive an Associate's degree from Schenectady County Community College.

Admission Procedures

Students are encouraged to apply to SCCC by using the College's Free Application of Admission. The application can be obtained for the Admissions Office (518-381-1366) or the College Web site (www.sunysccc.edu). The Web site also includes a free, easy-to-use on-line application form.

Students may also use the SUNY Application for Admission. Instructions for its completion are provided in the SUNY Application Viewbook, which is available from any New York state high school guidance office or on campus in the Office of Admissions, Elston Hall, Room 221.

All applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, beginning in the fall preceding the year they wish to attend SCCC. Applicants without a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) should contact the Office of Admissions for an individual appointment to discuss special directions on the processing of their applications. Applications are evaluated upon the receipt of all required before a decision can be reached, the applicant will be notified.

Admission of Ex-Offenders/Disciplinary Dismissals

The College admissions application requires applicants to answer the questions: "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" and "Have you ever been expelled and/or dismissed from another college or university for disciplinary reasons?" An applicant who answers "yes" will need to submit additional information. The College reserves the ultimate decision on acceptance or rejection of any application. Applicants should also be aware that an individual with a felony conviction may not be able to obtain licensure in certain professions.

High School Articulation

High School Course Preparation

For a student enrolled full time to complete the requirements of a degree program in four semesters, it is essential that the student be adequately prepared in the stated course prerequisites. The College provides opportunities for students who may need to obtain necessary prerequisites. The need of such course prerequisites may, however, require a student to complete additional credit hours and/or semesters to complete the specified degree program requirements.

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)

SCCC participates in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). New students will be screened by the offices of Admission and Financial Aid for eligibility. For more information on EOP, click here: EOP

Immunizations

For information on the required immunizations for students, click here: Immunizations