Earlier this week, I attended an info session at the SUNY office on 42nd street hosted by SUNY Potsdam. We have had a few ElRo students enroll at Potsdam in the past, but this was a wonderful re-introduction to the campus and offerings.
Let me start by saying that absolute best part of SUNY Potsdam: it is testing optional. Only one other 4-year school in the SUNY system (SUNY Delhi) can say the same. That means Potsdam understands that for some students, their academics are a better representation of their potential than their test scores. I'm eager for the day that more SUNY schools follow suit.
Despite being about 6.5 hours away, 40% of students are from New York City. A common criticism I've heard of schools upstate is how the campus culture is so different from what city kids are used to. Here, while the location is certainly not in a large city, at least your fellow classmates are likely to be able to relate to the adjustment required to small town life. Potsdam is also located near SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence University, and Clarkson so there are about 12,000 college age students in the immediate area. (There is also a cross registration agreement where students can take courses at these other campuses, all included as part of their Potsdam tuition).
Academically, some signature programs at Potsdam include: the Crane school of Music (audition required), theater and studio art, and the school of professional studies which includes both education and business.
The average GPA of an admitted student is an 88, but students with stronger numbers are offered scholarships. Considering the full price is only about $20,000 per year, this makes Potsdam one of the most generous and affordable campuses in the state for ElRo students. For students who do submit testing, the merit scholarship range starts at 24 ACT/1100 SAT. Again, we are talking about a very very high probability of merit aid for ElRo students.
Potsdam isn't just an awesome fit for top students. They also have fantastic options for students that might need additional support to be successful in college. They offer both a traditional EOP program and a Bridges program (without the same household income requirements) to allow for a pathway to college for students who might otherwise have a hard time finding a good fit.
I was pleased with all that we got to hear at the information session and if just made me more eager to make a trip up North. Thank you Potsdam!
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