Admissions Procedures

If you know which program you are interested in, you may schedule a pre-advisement with one of our counselors to ensure you are on the right track for submitting an application. Our counselors can help you with a credit evaluation as well as advise you how to strengthen your application. With the exception of the Norton College of Medicine, pre-advisements can be in person (on campus) or conducted over the phone. Pre-advisements are not required to apply to SUNY Upstate Medical University.

• For programs within The College of Graduate Studies, please email biosci@upstate.edu to set up a pre-advisement.
• For programs within The College of Health Professions and The College of Nursing, you can either call 315-464-4570 or email admiss@upstate.edu to schedule a pre-advisement (please indicate your program of interest in the subject of your email).
• For The Norton College of Medicine, students may attend a Medical College Information Session which is held on the First Tuesday of every month at 11:00 am in Room 1213 Weiskotten Hall. Students can register on-lineor call the admissions office at 315-464-4570 to register.

SUNY Upstate Medical University offers a variety of degree programs across all four of our colleges. Each program has different application requirements. The application requirements can be found:

College of Graduate Studies

College of Health Professions

Cardiovascular Perfusion, MS

Medical Biotechnology, BS

Medical Imaging Sciences, BS/BPS

Medical Technology, BS

Medical Technology, MS

Physician Assistant, MS

Physical Therapy, DPT

Radiation Therapy, BS/BPS

Respiratory Care, BS

Norton College of Medicine

MD Degree Program (Regular Admission)

Early Assurance Program (EAP) for College Sophomores

Early Decision (ED) Program

MD/PhD Program

Rural Medical Scholars Program

MPH Degree Program

College of Nursing

Bachelor of Science

Master of Science

Post Masters Certificate

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Several of our programs have early admissions options. Please visit our Early Admissions Program website for more information on specific programs and application procedures. site://www.upstate.edu/prospective/basics/early-admiss/index.php

All of our programs require the submissions of a SUNY Upstate Medical University application. For some programs, this is the only application required; for others, this is considered a secondary application. Please see the “Submitting an Application” tab above for program specific application procedures.

Letters of recommendation are required for all of our programs. The number of letters required depends on the program you are applying to. Some programs will require letters of recommendation to be submitted directly through a centralized CAS application, and others will require letters of recommendation to be sent directly our Admissions Office. Please see the application procedures applicable to the program to which you are applying to ensure you are meeting the requirements.

Letters typically come from college faculty, academic advisors, employers, or health professionals who supervised or worked with you. We strongly recommend, but do not require, at least one letter of recommendation to be from a college professor, who can comment on your academic ability. Letters should be sent to Admissions directly from the letter writer and should be on letterhead. We will also accept e-mailed letters of recommendation but only if it comes from a professional or college e-mail address. Personal references will not be considered.;

Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from every college attended or every college they have received credit from. Depending on the program, transcripts may need to be submitted directly through a centralized CAS application while others will require transcripts to be sent directly our Admissions Office. Please see the application procedures applicable to the program to which you are applying to ensure you are meeting the requirements.

Missing information emails will be sent every two weeks to let students know what is needed to complete their application. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they provide the Admissions Office with the necessary materials to complete the application.

Once an application is complete, students will receive an email letting them know that their application is complete and will be reviewed by the admissions committee. When the review is complete, applicants will be notified by email as to the status of their application. Applicants are reviewed on a rolling basis in the order in which their applications are completed.

Most of our programs require an admissions interview. If applicable to the program you have applied to, and if you were selected for an interview, an email will be sent prompting you to schedule an interview date via an online portal.

Though the interview day looks different depending on the program, each of our applicants will have an opportunity to meet with faculty and explore the campus. Often times, applicants also have the opportunity to interact with current students during their interview.

Following the interview, applications are sent to admissions committee for final review. The admissions committees are comprised of faculty and SUNY Upstate Medical University Administrators. The admissions committees are looking for well-rounded students with strong academic records and test scores, personal statements, extracurricular activities, good clinical, volunteer, and shadowing experiences, along with other attributes that define a strong candidate. As part of a holistic review process, all aspects of an application, as well as interview interactions, are taken into consideration in the admissions decision.

Students will typically be notified of the committee's decision within 3-6 weeks of their interview date. One of the following decisions will be made for each interviewed applicant:

1. Accept:

Students will receive an email and/or a phone call that they have been accepted. Official acceptance letters and other relevant information will be mailed out. Once students have paid their deposit, they will receive an email with information on how to log onto MyUpstate.

1. Alternate List:

Students placed on the alternate list may be called at any time, up to and including the day of registration. The admissions office does not release information regarding individual placement on the alternate list.

1. Deny:

Students who are not accepted by the admissions committee will receive an email and may contact the admissions office for post-advisement.  We will use this time to discuss opportunities for students to strengthen their applications for reapplication.

Once you have been admitted and paid a deposit, you will have access to your financial aid award, health clearance forms, orientation materials, registration and housing information and any other applicable information through MyUpstate.