Admission to Utica College

Utica College is a selective institution that offers excellent academic and co-curricular programs. The College seeks to enroll those students who will benefit from the opportunities and advantages of UC’s distinctly personalized college environment, and who will contribute to the intellectual, social, and cultural diversity of the College community.

Each applicant receives individual consideration. Prospective undergraduate students are required to submit a completed application, high school or college transcripts, a personal essay, an application fee or a request for fee waiver, and a letter of recommendation. SAT I or ACT scores are required only for freshmen applying to the physical therapy program, the occupational therapy program, the nursing program, Joint Health Professions Programs  and the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) . Individual major programs may require additional information. Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the campus for a personal interview with the admissions staff.

Admissions decisions are based on a comprehensive evaluation of submitted criteria: past academic performance including course of study, GPA, rank in class; co-curricular involvement; personal characteristics; writing ability; and the applicant’s potential for academic and personal success at the College. Utica College values diversity on its campus and encourages applications from students of different heritages, beliefs, and backgrounds.

Requests for application materials should be directed to the Office of Admissions, Utica College, 1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY 13502-4892, or by e-mail to admiss@utica.edu. Interviews and campus visits may be scheduled by contacting the office at (315) 792-3006 or at 1-800-782-8884. Appointments are available Monday through Friday throughout the year and selected Saturdays during the school year. More information can be found at www.utica.edu.

Information and applications for graduate study are available from the Office of Graduate Admissions, Utica College, 1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY 13502-4892, by e-mail at gradstudies@utica.edu, or by calling (315) 792-3010.

Admission Requirements

Freshman applicants should complete at least 16 units of secondary school credit and receive a diploma from an accredited secondary school. It is recommended that students follow a college preparatory program that includes at least four units of study in English, three units in social studies, three units in mathematics, three units in science, and two in a foreign language. Applicants submitting a high school equivalency diploma are not required to have completed 16 secondary school units; however, they must have earned equivalency scores that indicate adequate preparation for college-level work.

Gaining admission into, or continuation in, pre‐professional and professional programs requires that students exhibit behavior(s) appropriate to practice in a specific profession. Evidence of moral turpitude, inappropriate behavior, failure to abide by the Student Code of Conduct, failure to abide by the relevant profession’s code of conduct or other acts deemed unbecoming of a profession by the Administration of Utica College will result in denial of entry into a program or denial of continuation in a program. Certain programs may have admissions requirements over and above those for the College. Please see the catalog pages for specific programs for further details.

Admission Process

Utica College conducts a rolling admissions program. The earlier an application is filed, the sooner a decision is made. It is recommended that students apply early in their senior year of high school. Application review begins on November 1 and extends until the class is filled. Individual majors that are especially competitive may be fully enrolled as early as January. The Office of Admissions prefers that applicants for the physical therapy program, the occupational therapy program, Joint Health Professions Programs , the nursing program and academic scholarships complete their applications by January 15. For those applying to the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) , the application deadline is March 1.

Utica College has adopted a test-optional admission policy. Standardized tests accurately measure success in many areas and for many students, however, we recognize that test scores may not reflect all students’ academic achievements and/or talents. The admissions committee will delve even deeper into the applications for students who choose to be considered under the test-optional process. Additional consideration will be given to class rank, leadership, curriculum, a promise of future contribution, and writing ability.

Freshman Admissions Dates and Deadlines Fall 2018 Admission

Admissions Dates and Deadlines for Summer and Fall 2018 - Online/Hybrid Programs

Deferred Admission

Students who wish to take time off before enrolling in college may elect to have their admission deferred for a semester or a year by submitting a written request to the Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions. * A non-refundable enrollment deposit ($300) will be required to hold a place in the subsequent entering class.

*During the interim, a deferred student may not attend any college or university.

Early Admission

Students who demonstrate sufficient academic strength and a readiness to accept the challenges of college-level work following the junior year of high school may apply for admission to Utica College through the Early Admission option. Students admitted through Early Admission will receive a high school diploma after completing the freshman year of full-time study at Utica College.

To apply for Early Admission, students should follow the standard freshman application process. In addition, they must submit letters from their parents and guidance counselor supporting their candidacy, and a reference from the teacher of an academic subject with whom they have studied indicating their readiness for college study. A personal interview on campus is required.

International Student Admissions

Utica College welcomes applications from international students and seeks to enroll those who have demonstrated academic potential in their home countries. International students enhance the cultural richness and diversity of a campus community. Students whose native language is not English are required to submit proof of their proficiency in English. TOEFL (550/79) and IELTS (6.0) scores will be accepted, International students may also be required to take additional English courses (ENG 100  /ENG 101  /ENG 102  ) to prepare them for future writing-intensive courses and assignments at Utica College.  Students who meet all other requirements but have a TOEFL or IELTS score below these minimums will be offered placement in our Intensive English Language Program .

International students may complete the Utica College application or the Common Application. The International Student Certification of Finances Form, along with third-party verification, must accompany the application. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requires this documentation. While an admission decision can be made without this, the I-20 form cannot be issued until this document and third-party verification of funding are received.

Entering students who score satisfactorily on the Advanced Placement tests, the International Baccalaureate examinations, or an equivalent examination may be awarded advanced placement and credit for their academic work.

International transfer students are welcome at Utica College and will receive credit for their past academic work from accredited colleges and universities. Transcripts submitted for consideration of transfer credits must have an official translation into English. We recommend that you submit your transcripts to a recognized professional credential evaluation service.

Non-matriculated Students

Individuals may register for undergraduate classes as non-matriculated for a total of 15 credit hours per term, on a space-available basis, provided their total accrued number of credits does not exceed 30. After this point, students are required to matriculate so that they may be assigned an academic adviser.

Non-matriculated students interested in taking graduate courses are limited to a total of 6 credit hours unless otherwise prescribed by the graduate program. (See graduate catalog for additional requirements.) Students seeking to take additional credit hours may apply for a waiver of this policy by submitting a written request to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Readmission

If a student has been a matriculated student anytime in the past, and has stopped out for at least a semester, and wishes to return they must apply through the Office of the Registrar for readmission. Students who have attended another institution(s) in the interim are required to have a copy of the official transcript(s) sent to the Office of the Registrar. The student can apply for a particular program but may or may not be readmitted to that program.

Applications for Readmission are to be submitted at least 10 business days prior to the beginning of the semester. This process is available in electronic form via the Registrar’s website:

https://www.utica.edu/academic/registrar/readmission.cfm

Students who are readmitted are required to meet the requirements for graduation that are found in the catalog for the term in which the student is readmitted.  Upon readmission, students should consult with their adviser or success coach to determine the requirements for graduation, or run a degree evaluation.

• A student who has earned a bachelor’s degree from UC and now wishes to get a second bachelor’s degree must go through Admissions, be admitted as a second-degree student and be assigned a new cohort.
• A student, who was matriculated into the College, has since gained a bachelor’s degree elsewhere, and now wishes to return to the College for another degree must go through Admissions. This student is being admitted, not readmitted.
• Students who leave due to military duty do NOT have to apply for readmission when they wish to return. They simply notify the Office of the Registrar when they are able to return and they become active students.  In order to take advantage of this, they must provide us a copy of their military orders prior to leaving school.

Applying for readmission into a specific program may result in a review by the program director who may decline to accept the student.

Second chance policy

A student whose attendance at Utica College has been interrupted for an extended period of time (minimum of 5 years) may petition the Office of Student Success to restart his or her college record on the following terms:

• The record of all previous work will continue to appear on the student’s official transcript. 
• Any grade below “C” on the Utica College record will not count as credit or be included when calculating current credit or GPA.
• Students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average in each semester after resuming their study, and failure to do so will result in dismissal from the College.

The Second Chance Policy may be applied only one time per student throughout his or her entire academic career at Utica College.

Special Admission Programs

Gaining admission into, or continuation in, pre‐professional and professional programs requires that students exhibit behavior(s) appropriate to practice in a specific profession. Evidence of moral turpitude, inappropriate behavior, failure to abide by the Student Code of Conduct, failure to abide by the relevant profession’s code of conduct or other acts deemed unbecoming of a profession by the Administration of Utica College may result in denial of entry into a program or denial of continuation in a program.

• Opportunity Programs

Students who are eligible may be admitted to Utica College through the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) , which offers support and assistance to New York State residents who meet certain educational and financial guidelines. (See Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)  in “The Undergraduate Program” section of this catalog.)

The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) is also a New York state-sponsored program that provides support and assistance to New York state residents. Students must be members of CSTEP-targeted student populations (African American, Latino, Native American, or low-income* Caucasian or Asian American) and pursuing degrees in CSTEP-targeted professions (Accounting-CPA, biology/pre-med, math/science teaching, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pre-law, and psychology-child life). The program is open to new as well as continuing students. However, continuing students must have earned the required cumulative grade point average along with other criteria to be eligible for consideration. (See Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program  in “The Undergraduate Program” section of this catalog.)

*As documented by the New York State Education Department’s income guidelines.

• Joint Health Professions Programs

Applicants to the College also may apply for admission to seven-year joint programs the College maintains with several schools in the health professions. These programs lead to both the bachelor and professional degrees.

Further information about these programs can be found under Joint Health Professions Programs  in “The Undergraduate Program” section of this catalog. Specific information about the application process is available from the Office of Admissions.

• Three-Year Study Option

Applicants for all bachelor’s degree programs may qualify for the Three-Year Study Option. Students in this program earn up to 30 hours of credit through the College Level Examination Program, General Exam. This credit applies to the College’s general education requirements.

Information about these examinations can be found under Competency and Experience Credit in “The Undergraduate Program” section of this catalog.

Transfer students who have taken these examinations for credit at other institutions also may qualify. For complete instructions regarding admission to the Three-Year Study Option, write to the Office of Admissions.

• Veterans

Veterans of the Armed Services are encouraged to apply for admission to Utica College. Counselors are available on campus to assist veterans with admission, academic planning, and financing of their education. In many cases, test requirements may be waived and credits for service training and experience may be granted. Opportunities to pursue study on a part-time basis through the Office of Graduate Studies should be investigated, as well as advanced course status in ROTC. Veterans are eligible to receive a monthly training allowance from the Veterans Administration provided they make a timely application to the VA and select an appropriate training program. Deadline dates for the application do not apply to veterans. Address all inquiries to the Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions, Utica College, 1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY 13502-4892.

• Special Students

Students who do not wish to be considered a candidate for a degree may, with permission of the Office of the Registrar, take limited courses in the day program if space is available.

Transfer Student Admissions

Candidates for the baccalaureate degree must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of study at Utica College. A maximum of 90 - 98 credits may be transferred from four-year institutions, and 60 - 64 from two-year institutions, depending on one’s academic major. Transfer students who matriculate with 60 or more credits need to declare a major upon entering Utica College.

Transfer Students with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree:

Transfer students matriculating with an associate’s degree will be exempt from Component One: Foundations of Understanding and Component Two: Understanding from Multiple Perspectives of the Utica College Core Program.  Component Three: Integrated Writing must be completed by taking one 3 credit hour course designated as “writing intensive.”

Transfer Students with 57 or more credits from a 4-year college but without a Bachelor’s Degree:

Transfer students matriculating to a 4-year college but without a Bachelor’s Degree will be exempt from Component One: Foundations of Understanding and Component Two: Understanding from Multiple Perspectives of the Utica College Core Program. Component Three: Integrated Writing must be completed by taking one 3 credit hour course designated as “writing intensive.”

Partial Core Exemption: Component One:

Transfer students matriculating with courses from another institution that transfer into Utica College as required courses that complete Component One: Foundations of Understanding (Written Communication, Oral Communication, Foreign Languages, Quantitative Reasoning, and Computer Use) are exempt from corresponding requirements in Component One of the Utica College Core Program.

Partial Core Exemption: Component Two:

Transfer students matriculating with at least 30 credit hours of courses designated as liberal arts and sciences courses by Utica College and at least two courses in each of the three areas of Component Two: Understanding from Multiple Perspectives, (Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences), including a lab science course, will be exempt from Component Two of the Utica College Core Program. 

Transfer students with at least 30 credit hours designated as liberal arts and sciences courses by Utica College, but fewer than two courses in any of the three areas or lacking a lab science must take additional courses in the area or areas of Component Two: Understanding from Multiple Perspectives, where two courses have not been completed. To complete Component Two of the Utica College Core Program the student must take additional courses to equal two courses in each of the three areas of Component Two (Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences), including a lab science course.

Transfer students with fewer than 30 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences courses must complete all of the requirements for Component Two of the Utica College Core Program.

Partial Core Exemption Component Three:

Integrated Writing: Transfer students matriculating from another institution without an Associate’s degree or with fewer than 57 credit hours from a 4-year college must complete 6 credit hours in courses designated as “writing intensive” to complete Component Three: Integrated Writing of the Utica College Core Program.

(Students seeking an exemption from Written Communication I or Written Communication II should apply to the Basic Studies Committee of the English department in their first semester at Utica College.)

Utica College maintains contractual transfer agreements with a number of community colleges which detail specific transfer policies for students holding associate’s degrees from those institutions and articulation agreements with several junior colleges. More detailed information is available in the Utica College Office of Admissions.