SUNY Next Steps: The Supplemental Application

So, you’ve submitted your SUNY initial application on ApplySUNY–congratulations! Mr. Frick will send your recommendations and your official transcript, but there are two next steps that you must take:

1. Filling out the supplemental application (either the SUNY supplement form or individual campus form)

2. Filling out the SUNY Online Academic Record (SOAR), which is how SUNY will see your GPA and SAT scores

There will be a post about SOAR later this week, but read on for step-by-step guide to filling out the SUNY supplemental form. Please note: Some campuses, like Geneseo, FIT, SUNY Maritime, and others have their own individual supplements to fill out.  If you are applying to any of these schools, you will see the link in your ApplySUNY home screen.

Remember: Mr. Frick is going to do a demo for the SUNY Online Academic Record portion of this later.  Worry about Supplemental Application part for now!

The first thing you are asked to do is provide your 12th grade courses.  Because there isn’t an option for each semester, please list Mr. Malizio’s Globalization course as “Globalization Portfolio/Philosophy” and Ms. Rodriguez’s course as “US Government/Economics.” If you are taking AP English, Calculus, or US History, please indicate as much in the drop-down box to the right.  Otherwise, choose “Regular/Standard”! And don’t forget to include Gym!

Next, you have the opportunity to list any honors or awards you have received.  This can be anything from a departmental award at MVA (“Best History Student” and so on!) or awards you’ve received in your extracurricular activities, such as in sports. Don’t be shy–this is your time to brag about how much of a rock star you are!

Next, you have a chance to input all of your extracurricular activities.  Remember: an extracurricular activity does NOT have to be something you do at the school–it can be anything you do outside of school hours that’s not homework or Facebook! If you’ve had to go home and take care of your little brother or cousin, that’s an activity! If you play sports, that’s an activity! If you go to a program like Double Discovery, OppNet, Henry Street, or another, that’s an activity! And if you were president or an officer, leader, organizer of any sort, mention that as well!

Next up is your work experience.  Many of you have not had the opportunity to work much, but at the very least, you can list your Service Learning as work experience (and essentially these were unpaid internships). Your “Title” can be flexible; many of you did work where you were an assistant of some sort.  Also: If you’ve gotten paid for doing anything–babysitting, helping out in the family business, whatever–that was a JOB.  List that noise!

Next up is test scores and when you will take the SAT/ACT. You will be putting this information into the SUNY Online Academic Record, so this portion is a bit redundant, but you have to do it. Please put scores in for all tests and all test dates, regardless!

This next category is called “Other,” and it’s where you have a chance to explain your grades.  This is an opportunity to be constructive about why your grades or test scores aren’t quite what you want them to be; this might be because of a situation in your home life, because of illness, or even because of lack of time management skills. You don’t have to say anything, but if you feel like you should, this is your chance!

Finally, there is your personal essay. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART! There are four individual prompts, as well as one that says “Topic of Your Choice”–which is an easy invite to copy/paste an essay you already have written.  If that essay AMAZING, then go ahead! But if it still needs polishing, please create a Google Doc and share with Mr. Frick to see if it works.  Otherwise, answer one of the four questions!

FINALLY, you can review everything and submit! Your SUNY schools–aside from those that have their own forms–will be able to download your supplemental application, and then you’re good to go!

If you have questions, email Mr. Frick! And don’t be afraid to use Google Docs for help with editing essays!