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QUESTION
What are the admissions policies for CUNY's 2-year colleges for students with GPAs below 69, and how does it differ for those with GPAs of 70 or above?
0:50:51
ยท
6 min
Students with a GPA of 69 or below are guaranteed admission into one of seven City University of New York (CUNY) 2-year colleges, while those with a GPA of 70 or above are guaranteed admission into CUNY's 4-year colleges, with certain conditions.
- Students with GPAs of 69 or below are guaranteed admission into one of CUNY's 2-year colleges following high school graduation.
- For students with GPAs of 70 or above, while there's guaranteed admission, specific program or college preferences may result in them being offered an alternative choice within CUNY.
- The policy aims at providing a pathway to higher education for all students, ensuring a place within the CUNY system, regardless of GPA.
- This initiative is part of efforts to make higher education more accessible and support students through their college decision process.
- Feedback on the clarity of the admissions policy, particularly in admission letters, highlights an area for improvement in communication.
Eric Dinowitz
0:50:51
And then it's automatic acceptance into the 2 year colleges?
Reine Sarmiento
0:50:58
Yes.
Eric Dinowitz
0:50:59
Okay.
0:51:00
All of them?
Reine Sarmiento
0:51:01
At anyone they choose to apply to, they have 7 choices.
Eric Dinowitz
0:51:05
So if I'm if I'm a student with a 69 or below GPA.
0:51:10
I get admission for fall 2024 to 1 of 7 2 year colleges.
0:51:15
Correct.
0:51:15
Only the 2 year colleges here on the letter.
0:51:18
Right?
Reine Sarmiento
0:51:19
Yes.
0:51:19
Yes.
0:51:20
So they successfully complete high school.
0:51:22
They can be automatically admitted to any of the 7 community colleges.
Eric Dinowitz
0:51:26
And it's the same for 5 or 70 or above.
0:51:29
And is it not the same for 70 or above?
Reine Sarmiento
0:51:32
So the 70 above and and for some of our programs, there are limited seating for freshmen.
0:51:40
But what we do do in those cases is for students who didn't get their first choice.
0:51:47
We route them to their second choice and work with them so that they do have the opportunity to pursue a bachelor's degree at Acuity College.
Eric Dinowitz
0:52:00
Sorry.
0:52:00
Let me Do we have 69 or below?
0:52:03
They have guaranteed admission to a community college, but 7 year above, they don't have guaranteed admission to it.
Reine Sarmiento
0:52:09
They're guaranteed admission into a a senior college?
Eric Dinowitz
0:52:13
A senior college?
Reine Sarmiento
0:52:13
Yes.
0:52:14
That that the 2 the two letters, let me back up.
0:52:18
The community college is a guaranteed acceptance upon completion of a high school diploma.
0:52:24
The second one same applies, and they will have an opportunity to apply to any one of those colleges and will have a seat at Acunee College.
0:52:35
I wanna preface this by saying that there are some colleges whose freshman applicants, ForEx, seed what they're capable of holding on their campus.
0:52:46
So we do that's why the language is you could apply to 1 of the senior colleges and that there is a home for every student at CUNY.
Eric Dinowitz
0:52:57
But they have guaranteed admission to the 4 year colleges?
Reine Sarmiento
0:53:00
They do.
Eric Dinowitz
0:53:02
K.
0:53:02
I'm I'm reading it, and I well, college is a very stressful time.
0:53:07
I was very fortunate in high school to have great college counselors, and it was still stressful.
0:53:13
And then I get imagine I get this letter, very excited to open that with the chancellor, and then I read Your hard work means that a 4 year college may be a strong fit for you and we encourage you to apply to a bachelor's program Additionally, Kyunu is thrilled to offer you admission to fall 2224 to 1 of the 7 2 year colleges listed on the next page, just submit an application, and I'm reading the 70 or above it.
0:53:41
It just I'm confused because it sounds like what you're telling me about guaranteed admission is great and it just sounds like it doesn't match the letter that students are are, you know, around the city received.
0:53:54
Am I read am I reading wrong?
Reine Sarmiento
0:53:56
So so the there's a couple of intents in that intentions with the letter.
0:54:03
Right?
0:54:03
One of them is to be able to know that they can attend a CUNY college.
0:54:07
Right?
0:54:08
It would be irresponsible for us to be able to say they could be accepted at Baruque with an average of 70.
0:54:15
And so that's not what it says in the language.
0:54:18
Right?
0:54:18
So what we want to be able to say is you have a home at a CUNY institution whether it be an undergrad college of of in which they they can qualify for or upon successful completion of a high school diploma, they could be accepted to the community college.
Eric Dinowitz
0:54:39
Sorry.
0:54:40
So they do or don't get automatic acceptance to a 4 year institution.
Reine Sarmiento
0:54:45
They do.
0:54:46
Because when they apply, if they don't get into their first choice, because we're not in a position of overextending the campuses with their freshman at their freshman applicants.
Eric Dinowitz
0:54:58
Sure.
Reine Sarmiento
0:54:58
They're on the other institutions.
0:55:01
Yeah.
Eric Dinowitz
0:55:01
I'm not asking about a specific 4 year.
0:55:03
I have a number listed here on on on the letter.
0:55:07
I'm just I'm just trying to figure out what it must be like for a kid who, you know, if you're telling me today, You can get into a 4 year.
0:55:15
We can't guarantee which one, but you have a a place at a 4 year college and the letter doesn't say that it says you should apply.
0:55:22
And there's a place for you to 2 year college.
0:55:24
And it's I'm trying to figure out what, you know, this should be the clearest thing of all.
0:55:30
We should be able to get all information from this letter, and it's I'm confused by even asking someone, like, really in charge of this stuff.
Reine Sarmiento
0:55:38
Well, I think it's important feedback I think it's important important feedback that you're giving, but it also underscores all the supports that the NYCPS and K-sixteen are doing in support of that.
0:55:52
Right?
0:55:52
So it starts the conversation, and we're jointly holding a lot of events to be able to help students with their application and their financial aid.
0:56:01
Many students will never receive a letter like this at all.
0:56:05
And so to be able to have them know that it's a possibility at CUNY and that they could apply early will allow us to be able to outline some of the programs that they could have to to graduate and go on to the workforce.
Melanie Mac
0:56:20
We appreciate the feedback for sure.
0:56:22
I I you know, I think we present all of this humbly.
0:56:25
We think that the success that we saw in October was huge, and it's very heartening.
0:56:30
And we also know that when it comes to the very stressful decision making that comes with, like, what what am I doing after high school?
0:56:38
That there is art and science, and there's large scale messaging, and then there's, you know, very, very personalized you know, decision making that have financial decision making, career, you know, decisions that, you know, that kind of supports that students will be looking for in the campus they ultimately attend.
0:56:58
And so I think that there is a balance in how we share very affirming messages.
0:57:04
We take all of the feedback on what version 2 will look like, but we're excited with the initial, you know, boost that we saw in student and and family interest.
0:57:14
Based on the the which which we largely attribute to the letters.
Eric Dinowitz
0:57:18
I wanna turn it over to chair Joseph for questioning.
Rita Joseph
0:57:22
Thank you, Cheah Denowitz.