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How to Apply for Community College: 9-Step Guide

Did you know that almost half of all undergrads in the U.S. go to community college? In fact, there are 1,100 community colleges nationwide, and they enroll 13 million students!

If you're looking to make that 13 million and one, read on to learn how to apply for community college: from deciding where to apply to enrolling in classes. Before getting the ball rolling, let's review what community colleges offer their students and some good reasons to apply.

What Can Community Colleges Offer to Students?

Most community colleges offer two-year Associate's degree programs in a wide variety of academic and pre-professional fields. A growing number also offer Bachelor's degrees, though most of these programs are relatively new and limited in options.

People who run community colleges know that not every student wants to stop at their Associate's degree; in fact, many students attend community college to earn credits and transfer to a four-year college . To ease this transition, lots of community colleges have "articulation agreements" with their local state school system.

These agreements allow a student to transfer credits smoothly from community college and enter as a junior in a 4-year program. Students can also apply to schools outside of this agreement, but they may need to put a bit more individual effort into making sure their credits will transfer.

This plan, often referred to as a "2 + 2" plan , can have serious financial benefits. Community colleges tend to be more affordable than 4-year institutions, and their flexible class times make it easier for students to work part-time or even full-time jobs.

Most community colleges are open access , meaning that all students can enroll (with the exception of a few programs, like nursing and engineering). Many students appreciate the typically small class sizes and attentive professors, who tend to spend most of their time teaching rather than doing research, as with many of their counterparts at research universities.

While most community colleges are commuter schools without residential facilities, they often offer clubs, sports teams, and support services that allow students to connect with one another and school staff. These benefits form the basis of the main reasons that students apply to community college. Let's break down these reasons in a little more detail.

It's always good to clarify your reasons before taking a big leap.

Why Do Students Choose Community College?

Students apply to community college for a number of reasons. Some high school students choose a dual enrollment track , in which they take community college classes to fulfill high school graduation requirements. Some adult students return to school after working for several years to further their education or pursue a new degree or career change. While students at 4-year colleges tend to be around 18 to 22, the average age of students at community college is a little older at 28.

For the purposes of this guide, let's go over the common reasons that students who are about to or who have recently graduated high school choose community college, starting with those looking for professional training.

To Get an Associate's Degree or Professional License

Community colleges are an ideal option for students who know they want to go into certain professional fields and are seeking the training or credentials to do so. Some of these occupations include nursing, medical assistants, police officers, engineering technicians, and dental hygienists, among many others.

As mentioned above, a few programs, like nursing and electrical engineering, may ask for certain prerequisites from applicants . Usually, these are specific math and science classes in high school and a minimum GPA. Otherwise, the programs are open enrollment.

While some students apply with the goal of an Associate's degree or other certification, others enter community college intending to transfer after a year or more commonly, two years. These next three reasons apply to students looking to transfer and ultimately earn their Bachelor's degree.

Maybe your GPA needs a workout before applying to 4-year colleges.

To Strengthen Their GPA

For students planning to transfer to a 4-year college, attending community college can be a smart and strategic way to strengthen their GPA. Most 4-year colleges require a GPA of at least 2.0 or 2.5 to apply. For students who had lower grades in high school, taking community college classes can be an opportunity to bring up their grades.

They can raise their GPA, earn credits, and transfer to a college to which they may not have been accepted immediately after high school. For students looking to develop their writing and math skills, they can take the time to do so in remedial classes. Any ESL students, furthermore, can hone their language skills in English language classes.

Once students have completed a minimum number of credits (usually two years worth), they typically don't have to send SAT or ACT scores to transfer . This can also help students get into colleges they might not have been able to right after high school.

A couple of years in community college can help students strengthen their academic skills and renew their commitment to further education before transferring to a Bachelor's program.

To Figure Out What They Want to Study

On a similar note, a year or two in community college can be a good way to figure out what exactly you want to study. Rather than jumping into college feeling unsure about their direction, some students take community classes to explore their options. Since community colleges tend to be a lot less financially burdensome, they make this kind of exploration more feasible.

While most community colleges want students to apply to a specific track of study, they do allow you to switch if you want to pursue a different field of study. If you're planning to transfer, you'd just want to work closely with your advisor to ensure that you're earning the right credits for a future Bachelor's degree major.

Community colleges tend to be a lot less expensive than 4-year schools, as any financial advisor/ceramic pig worth his weight in pennies will tell you.

To Minimize the Financial Burden

I've mentioned a few times that community colleges tend to be less expensive than 4-year colleges. Exactly how much less expensive are they?

According to the National Center for Education, the average community college cost for a year (tuition, materials, other fees) was $9,574 in 2013. While this is a significant sum, it's less than half of the average for 4-year schools of $23,872.

In addition to saving money on tuition, community college students are eligible for financial aid , including federal grants, federal loans, state aid, and institutional aid. Plus they may be able to choose evening, weekend, or online classes that allow for a part-time or full-time job.

Students considered "in-state residents" get in-state tuition , which is why most community college students choose schools close to home (along with the convenience of the location). If they transfer to a state school through an articulation agreement, then they further save money with in-state tuition. Ultimately, their diploma comes from the institution from which they graduated, same as any student who attended for four straight years.

Now that we've gone over the main reasons that students attend community college, let's go over how you can apply!

Do as the Atlantic puffins do. Take things one step at a time.

How to Apply For Community College, Step by Step

As discussed above, most community colleges are open enrollment, so they don't require as much documentation as do applications to 4-year schools. Every school I know of lets you apply online. Your first step, though, is deciding where to go.

Step 1: Decide Where to Apply

Since community colleges are open access, you don't have to send applications to a few different safety , target, and reach schools as you would for other colleges. Instead, unless you're applying to an especially selective track, you can figure out where you want to go and just apply there.

If your main concern is staying close to home, as it is for many students who will be commuting, then you may simply choose the school in the most convenient location. Most states have several community colleges; Massachusetts has 15 in 24 locations, New York and Texas have over 30, and California has 113! Chances are, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding local community colleges.

Of course, you also want to make sure that the school has the program(s) you want. Research its website, email the admissions office, go on a tour, and attend information sessions. These should be available throughout the year, and usually, you can sign up through the school's website. Simply go to the website and find the "Visit Us" or "Information Session" page. That way you can make sure you find the best community colleges with the programs and resources you need.

Once you've figured out where to enroll, you can find its online application.

Step 2: Fill Out and Submit Your Online Community College Application

While many 4-year schools use the Common Application or Universal Application, most community colleges have their own online application portals. A few states offer one system for all of their community colleges, such as California with its " CCCApply " site.

Every college designs its own website, but most will have a tab where you can click "Apply." You can see a few examples of the application pages of this northeast community college, Bunker Hill Community College , along with the Community College of Philadelphia and City Colleges of Chicago (note that the Chicago schools have you fill out an initial form and then send you a student ID number to fill out the rest).

While they have some differences in design, most community college applications ask for the same details: your name, address, citizenship, residency, high school, and intended major. Most ask for your overall goal , whether you want to earn an Associate's degree or certificate, acquire personal or professional skills, transfer to a 4-year institution, or enter the workforce.

If you've already taken some college courses, then you may be able to transfer credits. Additionally, these applications ask if you're applying for financial aid. Your last step will be providing your electronic signature and hitting submit.

As for when to apply for community college, most applications are processed within 24 to 48 hours , allowing you to enroll as late as two weeks before the start of classes! I wouldn't recommend leaving your application this last minute, especially if you're applying for financial aid, but it's a nice back up in case some other plans fall through.

As you can see, you typically don't need to write essays, gather recommendations, or send SAT / ACT scores to community colleges . Generally speaking, the only document you need to provide from your high school is your diploma, GED, or transcript.

Step 3: Provide Your High School Diploma, GED, or Transcript

Community colleges want to see proof of past or upcoming high school graduation. If you don't have your diploma from graduation yet or a GED, you should send a copy of your transcript. This will show your expected date of graduation and provide evidence that you're working toward fulfilling your high school requirements.

You can get your transcript from your guidance counseling department. Then you can upload it to your online application, mail, or deliver it to the college in person . If you do have your diploma or GED, you usually don't need to send your transcript, except for the select programs with their own requirements. You can just send one of those documents.

If your school needs your ID, make sure yours has a first name.

Step 4: Provide Proof of State Residency, If Applicable

If you're applying for in-state tuition , then you may need to provide proof of in-state residency. Students who have attended high schools in the same state as the community college for more than a year usually don't need to send any further evidence. Your transcript will show that you lived and attended school in-state.

If you didn't attend high school in the state or the college asks for further documentation, you could send a state driver's license, local bank account, vehicle registration, voter registration, or state or federal income taxes with in-state residential addresses. All of these should be dated at least a year previous.

If you're a dependent, then the document you send should belong to a parent . If you're an independent, then it should belong to you .

If you're not sure what steps you need to take here, you should contact the community college to get their advice. You wouldn't want to miss out on financial aid due to confusion with the application. The community college should contact you if there are any issues, but it's still worthwhile to be proactive and ask them for guidance.

Step 5: Submit Your FAFSA

Another important financial consideration is applying for federal financial aid with the FAFSA . Your timeline for this may actually fall earlier than your application to community college. The FAFSA application opens up on January 1. As the U.S. Department of Education itself suggests, you should submit your FAFSA as early as possible "to ensure that you do not miss out on available aid."

Financial aid is another good reason to plan early for college. The FAFSA will ask you to list the colleges to which you're applying so it can send them your calculated financial need and estimated contribution. If you change your plans, you can sign back in and add a recipient. However, the smoothest plan is to list your community college at the time you apply to FAFSA.

In addition to applying for federal financial aid, you might search for and apply to other external scholarships . There are all sorts of scholarships out there with different requirements, so you might find one that seems made just for you!

The new student orientation will give you a chance to learn about the school, meet new people, and not have to worry about forgetting anybody's name.

Step 6: Attend a New Student Orientation

As mentioned above, it's a good idea to attend a campus tour and an information session before you apply to learn more about your prospective school. Many community colleges also hold orientations for new students. These usually span a day or two and give you information about financial aid, placement testing, student and campus resources and policies, and academic guidance.

They may also have you set up a school account and email address. If your school offers its own online portal, then you'll probably do your class registration and other communication through that.

Step 7: Take Placement Tests in Math and English

One unique requirement of community colleges is their placement tests. After the college processes your application, you'll be invited to take placement tests to determine your level for math and English classes.

While you don't have to take the SAT or ACT to enroll , you may find yourself exempt from these placement tests if you have a minimum SAT or ACT score. These vary from school to school, but tend to be around a 450 on SAT Reading or a 47 on ACT English and Reading combined. For math, schools usually want to see around a 450 on SAT math or a 22 on ACT math.

Placement tests don't affect whether or not you get into community college. Instead, they help to determine what courses you should take in your first semester. It still may be useful to review math and English material before taking them to make sure you don't end up in a class repeating much of what you already learned in high school.

Your advisor's there to help!

Step 8: Meet With Your Advisor

By the time you meet with an advisor, you should be all set with enrollment and placement testing. Your advisor can talk to you about the classes you want to take, as well as give you guidance about requirements and classes that could transfer credits to a 4-year school, if that's in your plans.

You can also ask her about opportunities outside of class, like cultural clubs, sports, language groups, and support services. To make the most of this meeting, make sure to research classes and prepare questions.

Step 9: Register for Classes

Finally, you'll register for your classes! Full-time students usually take about 4 to 5 classes per semester. The first semester for first years tends to be highly structured, so you may not have a lot of choice with these first few classes.

If your registration is delayed, double check that you've paid all your fees and provided all required documentation , like proof of immunization (required for all college students when they start as freshmen - and grad students too, for that matter).

Once you've registered for classes, you're all done with the application process! It's time to settle in and get studying! Now that we've gone over the steps for how to apply for community college, is there anything else you can do to get ready?

To fully prepare, you must cross a mountain range with nothing but a walking stick and a backpack full of books.

How Else Can You Prepare for Community College?

While you can technically apply to community college at the last minute, you'd be much better off planning early, like in the winter or spring of senior year . Spend some time researching local community colleges or out of state schools and their programs. Attend information sessions, go on a tour, and try to speak to current and former students about their experiences.

You should clarify your reasons for attending and overall goals to make sure you're choosing the best classes and earning the credits you need. Part of this research may also involve learning about the community college's articulation agreements with state schools and other 4-year schools to which you might ultimately apply. While you may not be sure exactly what 4-year college you'll eventually transfer to, you can still work closely with your advisor to learn about credit requirements and how and when to apply to Bachelor's programs as a transfer student .

As you attend info sessions and meet with your advisor, make sure to prepare some questions about application requirements, class registration, and/or transfer agreements. By gathering all the information you need, you can make the most of your time at community college to learn, earn credits, and work toward your long-term academic and professional goals.

What's Next?

Are you also considering 4-year colleges in addition to community colleges or just wondering what the application process is like? To learn more about the process, check out this complete guide to applying to a 4-year college.

Are you applying to college, but your GPA is lower than you'd like? Don't be discouraged! Read this guide to learn how to put together a strong college application despite lower than average grades.

Colleges can get expensive, so you want to be on the ball about financial aid. This comprehensive guide goes over everything you need to know about applying for financial aid, step by step .

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Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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SUNY Suffolk County Community College

College essay.

What should I do with my college essay since it is not required for Suffolk? Do you think it could get me any scholarships? I do not want to just throw it out.

I'm sorry, this is a short-answer forum for literature based questions. You might want to used the link to the College Application Essays at the top of the page to see if they have any suggestions.

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How to Write the Community Essay – Guide with Examples (2023-24)

September 6, 2023

Students applying to college this year will inevitably confront the community essay. In fact, most students will end up responding to several community essay prompts for different schools. For this reason, you should know more than simply how to approach the community essay as a genre. Rather, you will want to learn how to decipher the nuances of each particular prompt, in order to adapt your response appropriately. In this article, we’ll show you how to do just that, through several community essay examples. These examples will also demonstrate how to avoid cliché and make the community essay authentically and convincingly your own.

Emphasis on Community

Do keep in mind that inherent in the word “community” is the idea of multiple people. The personal statement already provides you with a chance to tell the college admissions committee about yourself as an individual. The community essay, however, suggests that you depict yourself among others. You can use this opportunity to your advantage by showing off interpersonal skills, for example. Or, perhaps you wish to relate a moment that forged important relationships. This in turn will indicate what kind of connections you’ll make in the classroom with college peers and professors.

Apart from comprising numerous people, a community can appear in many shapes and sizes. It could be as small as a volleyball team, or as large as a diaspora. It could fill a town soup kitchen, or spread across five boroughs. In fact, due to the internet, certain communities today don’t even require a physical place to congregate. Communities can form around a shared identity, shared place, shared hobby, shared ideology, or shared call to action. They can even arise due to a shared yet unforeseen circumstance.

What is the Community Essay All About?             

In a nutshell, the community essay should exhibit three things:

• An aspect of yourself, 2. in the context of a community you belonged to, and 3. how this experience may shape your contribution to the community you’ll join in college.

It may look like a fairly simple equation: 1 + 2 = 3. However, each college will word their community essay prompt differently, so it’s important to look out for additional variables. One college may use the community essay as a way to glimpse your core values. Another may use the essay to understand how you would add to diversity on campus. Some may let you decide in which direction to take it—and there are many ways to go!

To get a better idea of how the prompts differ, let’s take a look at some real community essay prompts from the current admission cycle.

Sample 2023-2024 Community Essay Prompts

1) brown university.

“Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community. (200-250 words)”

A close reading of this prompt shows that Brown puts particular emphasis on place. They do this by using the words “home,” “College Hill,” and “where they came from.” Thus, Brown invites writers to think about community through the prism of place. They also emphasize the idea of personal growth or change, through the words “inspired or challenged you.” Therefore, Brown wishes to see how the place you grew up in has affected you. And, they want to know how you in turn will affect their college community.

“NYU was founded on the belief that a student’s identity should not dictate the ability for them to access higher education. That sense of opportunity for all students, of all backgrounds, remains a part of who we are today and a critical part of what makes us a world-class university. Our community embraces diversity, in all its forms, as a cornerstone of the NYU experience.

We would like to better understand how your experiences would help us to shape and grow our diverse community. Please respond in 250 words or less.”

Here, NYU places an emphasis on students’ “identity,” “backgrounds,” and “diversity,” rather than any physical place. (For some students, place may be tied up in those ideas.) Furthermore, while NYU doesn’t ask specifically how identity has changed the essay writer, they do ask about your “experience.” Take this to mean that you can still recount a specific moment, or several moments, that work to portray your particular background. You should also try to link your story with NYU’s values of inclusivity and opportunity.

3) University of Washington

“Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. (300 words max) Tip: Keep in mind that the UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.”

UW ’s community essay prompt may look the most approachable, for they help define the idea of community. You’ll notice that most of their examples (“families,” “cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood”…) place an emphasis on people. This may clue you in on their desire to see the relationships you’ve made. At the same time, UW uses the words “individual” and “richly diverse.” They, like NYU, wish to see how you fit in and stand out, in order to boost campus diversity.

Writing Your First Community Essay

Begin by picking which community essay you’ll write first. (For practical reasons, you’ll probably want to go with whichever one is due earliest.) Spend time doing a close reading of the prompt, as we’ve done above. Underline key words. Try to interpret exactly what the prompt is asking through these keywords.

Next, brainstorm. I recommend doing this on a blank piece of paper with a pencil. Across the top, make a row of headings. These might be the communities you’re a part of, or the components that make up your identity. Then, jot down descriptive words underneath in each column—whatever comes to you. These words may invoke people and experiences you had with them, feelings, moments of growth, lessons learned, values developed, etc. Now, narrow in on the idea that offers the richest material and that corresponds fully with the prompt.

Lastly, write! You’ll definitely want to describe real moments, in vivid detail. This will keep your essay original, and help you avoid cliché. However, you’ll need to summarize the experience and answer the prompt succinctly, so don’t stray too far into storytelling mode.

How To Adapt Your Community Essay

Once your first essay is complete, you’ll need to adapt it to the other colleges involving community essays on your list. Again, you’ll want to turn to the prompt for a close reading, and recognize what makes this prompt different from the last. For example, let’s say you’ve written your essay for UW about belonging to your swim team, and how the sports dynamics shaped you. Adapting that essay to Brown’s prompt could involve more of a focus on place. You may ask yourself, how was my swim team in Alaska different than the swim teams we competed against in other states?

Once you’ve adapted the content, you’ll also want to adapt the wording to mimic the prompt. For example, let’s say your UW essay states, “Thinking back to my years in the pool…” As you adapt this essay to Brown’s prompt, you may notice that Brown uses the word “reflection.” Therefore, you might change this sentence to “Reflecting back on my years in the pool…” While this change is minute, it cleverly signals to the reader that you’ve paid attention to the prompt, and are giving that school your full attention.

What to Avoid When Writing the Community Essay  

• Avoid cliché. Some students worry that their idea is cliché, or worse, that their background or identity is cliché. However, what makes an essay cliché is not the content, but the way the content is conveyed. This is where your voice and your descriptions become essential.
• Avoid giving too many examples. Stick to one community, and one or two anecdotes arising from that community that allow you to answer the prompt fully.
• Don’t exaggerate or twist facts. Sometimes students feel they must make themselves sound more “diverse” than they feel they are. Luckily, diversity is not a feeling. Likewise, diversity does not simply refer to one’s heritage. If the prompt is asking about your identity or background, you can show the originality of your experiences through your actions and your thinking.

Community Essay Examples and Analysis

Brown university community essay example.

I used to hate the NYC subway. I’ve taken it since I was six, going up and down Manhattan, to and from school. By high school, it was a daily nightmare. Spending so much time underground, underneath fluorescent lighting, squashed inside a rickety, rocking train car among strangers, some of whom wanted to talk about conspiracy theories, others who had bedbugs or B.O., or who manspread across two seats, or bickered—it wore me out. The challenge of going anywhere seemed absurd. I dreaded the claustrophobia and disgruntlement.

Yet the subway also inspired my understanding of community. I will never forget the morning I saw a man, several seats away, slide out of his seat and hit the floor. The thump shocked everyone to attention. What we noticed: he appeared drunk, possibly homeless. I was digesting this when a second man got up and, through a sort of awkward embrace, heaved the first man back into his seat. The rest of us had stuck to subway social codes: don’t step out of line. Yet this second man’s silent actions spoke loudly. They said, “I care.”

That day I realized I belong to a group of strangers. What holds us together is our transience, our vulnerabilities, and a willingness to assist. This community is not perfect but one in motion, a perpetual work-in-progress. Now I make it my aim to hold others up. I plan to contribute to the Brown community by helping fellow students and strangers in moments of precariousness.    

Brown University Community Essay Example Analysis

Here the student finds an original way to write about where they come from. The subway is not their home, yet it remains integral to ideas of belonging. The student shows how a community can be built between strangers, in their responsibility toward each other. The student succeeds at incorporating key words from the prompt (“challenge,” “inspired” “Brown community,” “contribute”) into their community essay.

UW Community Essay Example

I grew up in Hawaii, a world bound by water and rich in diversity. In school we learned that this sacred land was invaded, first by Captain Cook, then by missionaries, whalers, traders, plantation owners, and the U.S. government. My parents became part of this problematic takeover when they moved here in the 90s. The first community we knew was our church congregation. At the beginning of mass, we shook hands with our neighbors. We held hands again when we sang the Lord’s Prayer. I didn’t realize our church wasn’t “normal” until our diocese was informed that we had to stop dancing hula and singing Hawaiian hymns. The order came from the Pope himself.

Eventually, I lost faith in God and organized institutions. I thought the banning of hula—an ancient and pure form of expression—seemed medieval, ignorant, and unfair, given that the Hawaiian religion had already been stamped out. I felt a lack of community and a distrust for any place in which I might find one. As a postcolonial inhabitant, I could never belong to the Hawaiian culture, no matter how much I valued it. Then, I was shocked to learn that Queen Ka’ahumanu herself had eliminated the Kapu system, a strict code of conduct in which women were inferior to men. Next went the Hawaiian religion. Queen Ka’ahumanu burned all the temples before turning to Christianity, hoping this religion would offer better opportunities for her people.

Community Essay (Continued)

I’m not sure what to make of this history. Should I view Queen Ka’ahumanu as a feminist hero, or another failure in her islands’ tragedy? Nothing is black and white about her story, but she did what she thought was beneficial to her people, regardless of tradition. From her story, I’ve learned to accept complexity. I can disagree with institutionalized religion while still believing in my neighbors. I am a product of this place and their presence. At UW, I plan to add to campus diversity through my experience, knowing that diversity comes with contradictions and complications, all of which should be approached with an open and informed mind.

UW Community Essay Example Analysis

This student also manages to weave in words from the prompt (“family,” “community,” “world,” “product of it,” “add to the diversity,” etc.). Moreover, the student picks one of the examples of community mentioned in the prompt, (namely, a religious group,) and deepens their answer by addressing the complexity inherent in the community they’ve been involved in. While the student displays an inner turmoil about their identity and participation, they find a way to show how they’d contribute to an open-minded campus through their values and intellectual rigor.

What’s Next

For more on supplemental essays and essay writing guides, check out the following articles:

• How to Write the Why This Major Essay + Example
• How to Write the Overcoming Challenges Essay + Example
• How to Start a College Essay – 12 Techniques and Tips
• College Essay

Kaylen Baker

With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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5 Tips and Examples for Crafting a Great Hook

Your essay is one of the best tools available for standing out in a crowded field of college applicants (many with academic portfolios similar to yours) when applying to your dream school. A college essay is your opportunity to show admissions committees the person behind the grades, test scores, and resume. To ensure your college essay receives the full attention of admissions committees, you need to lure them in with a great hook—that is, a compelling opening that makes your audience hungry for more.

You need a strong start to capture the attention of the admission committees. When it comes to college essays, first impressions are everything. In fact, there’s no guarantee that anyone is going to read more than your first sentence if you bore them to tears within a few words, which is why it’s essential to craft an effective and engaging hook.

There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for composing an attention-grabbing hook. A well-crafted hook can be anything from an image to an anecdote to an interesting fact while factors like writing style, essay structure, and prompt can all influence what makes for a good hook. That said, memorable hooks share a number of attributes, most notably they draw readers in,  connect with the topic you’re writing about, and leave a lasting impression, often in a creative or unexpected way.

For example, let’s construct a hypothetical essay. Let’s say that after some careful consideration, Jane Doe has decided to write her personal essay about her experience running canine obedience classes. She isn’t quite sure how to start her essay, so she’s practicing with some proven essay hooks. If you’re ready to develop your own hook, check out four of our favorite college essay hook strategies and how they work for Jane below!

College Essay Hook Examples

There are a number of proven strategies that Jane can use to craft a compelling hook. A few tried-and-true hooks include:

1. Open with an Anecdote

People love stories, so it makes sense that telling one is a great way to attract readers. Detailing a relevant anecdote provides context for your essay and can give the reader an idea of what you are up against if you’re overcoming an obstacle or rising to a challenge.

On the day that I told my mother I wanted to start my own canine obedience school, she smiled and muttered something under her breath about the irony of my youthful disobedience and my newfound passion for enforcing rules. What she didn’t know then was that it was not in spite of, but rather because of, my tendency to push the boundaries that I was confident in my ability to succeed.

2. Set the Scene

One fantastic way to get your essay moving and to draw your readers in is to plunge them into the middle of an important scene. Provide readers with descriptive details and dialogue to make them feel like they’re watching a movie from your life and have just tuned in at a critical moment.

I jumped back as the dog lunged for my leg, teeth bared and snarling. “It’s okay, Smokey, it’s okay,” I soothed as I tried to maneuver closer to the post where I had tied his leash. In the back of my head, I heard my brother’s taunts swirling around.

“A dog trainer?” he had scoffed. “What kind of person would hire you as a dog trainer?!”

I pushed the thoughts away and grasped the leash, pulling it tightly to my side as Smokey, surprised by my sudden confidence, fell into stride beside me.

3. Ask a Question

Asking a question at the beginning of your essay can activate your reader’s critical thinking and get them hungry for the answer that you won’t offer until later. Try to come up with a question that’s broad enough that they won’t know the answer right away, but specific enough that it isn’t a generic hook that could work on just any college essay.

How do you respond when you’re faced with a very real physical threat to your safety, yet you literally can’t afford to back down? This is the question I faced on my very first day as a dog trainer.

4. Use a Metaphor or Simile

A metaphor or simile can pull readers in by helping them make connections between seemingly unrelated topics or by encouraging them to think about topics from a different point of view.

Running canine obedience classes is a lot like navigating high school. It’s a dog-eat-dog world with a lot to learn, many personalities to manage, peril around every corner, and everyone anxious to graduate.

Selecting the right hook is a great first step for writing a winning college essay, but the execution is also important.

1. Narrow Down Your Scope

Sometimes the best way to tackle big projects like writing an attention-grabbing hook or captivating college essay is to think small. Narrow down on a specific incident or even a moment that leads into your topic.

It’s my first time teaching a canine obedience class. I’m surrounded by strangers and the dogs are barking so loud I can’t hear myself think, but I have a gnawing feeling that I’m losing control. I put my fingers to my lips and let out the loudest whistle I’m capable of. Suddenly there was silence.

2. Use Adjectives

Adjectives are used to add a description and make your writing clearer and more specific. In other words, they’re the details that make your writing stand out and suck readers in. Jane didn’t simply reward the dog for sitting, she…

It was a battle of wills between me and the eight-month-old Australian Shepherd—defiance was in his sparkling blue eyes, but so was desire for the bit of hot dog hiding in my hand. Reluctantly he sat, earning his treat while I claimed my alpha status.

3. Use Emotion

Use emotion to connect and entice your reader. Emotions make readers feel, pulling them into your essay, and are memorable. You can use them for everything from sharing a fact about yourself to putting the reader in your shoes.

When I was young, I would have been extremely lonely if not for my dog Trevor. I struggled to make friends and Trevor provided companionship, helped me overcome my shyness (he was a great icebreaker), and is responsible for shaping who I am today. When Trevor passed away in high school, I set out to train canine obedience and help dogs become the best versions of themselves—just like what Trevor did for me.

4. Short and Sweet

Admissions committees have a lot of essays to read, so the quicker you get to the point and capture their attention, the better.

Mere moments into my dream job, someone had already peed on the floor and another had bitten a person. Welcome to the life of a dog trainer.

5. Just Start Writing

Sometimes the hook of your college essay isn’t clear. Rather than getting hung up, start developing your essay and see if it adds clarity as to how to best implement a hook. Some students even find that it’s easiest to write a hook last, after writing the body of the personal statement.

Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay Hook

Wondering if you created an effective hook? It’s difficult to evaluate your own writing, especially a line or two you read and reworked numerous times. CollegeVine can help. Through our free Peer Essay Review tool , you can get a free review of your hook, and overall essay, from another student. Then you can pay it forward and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, do community colleges require essays for admissions.

Hi everyone, I'm considering applying to a community college and I'm curious if they typically require essays as part of their admissions process. Do they have the same requirements as four-year colleges or is it different? Thanks for any information!

Hi there! It's great that you're considering community college as an option. In general, community colleges have a much simpler admissions process compared to four-year colleges. Most of them operate on an open admissions policy, meaning that as long as you have a high school diploma or GED, you're likely to be accepted.

While some community colleges might require an essay or personal statement, it's not as common as with four-year colleges. It's always a good idea to check the specific requirements of the community college you're interested in attending to make sure you have everything in order.

Additionally, community colleges often have placement tests for English and math classes, which can help determine the right level for you to start. So, even if there's no essay requirement for admissions, you might need to brush up on your writing skills for these tests. Good luck with your applications, and I hope you find the right fit for your educational journey!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Community College Essay

Community college essay generator.

Picture this situation: You are a fresh graduate from high school. You prefer to take the time off before going to university, but you also need to get a job to support yourself. Knowing the fact that if you are planning to apply for a job, you would need experience, and a degree. But you prefer to take the time off first. This can be a conflict since you are torn between wanting to take the time off and looking for a job that pays for you to support yourself. What should be the best option for you at this point? Some would tell you to immediately go to university and get a four year degree and work from there.

Others may say, why not go to community college? Where you can get a two year degree compared to a four year degree. If you prefer to continue from there, you can proceed to university after a while. To the people who do prefer to attend community college go ahead. Do it. But just like any other university or college, there are some requirements that you have to meet to get in. One requirement they may ask of you is an essay . An application essay. If you think writing a community college essay is difficult, don’t worry, this article has you covered.

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What Is a Community College Essay?

A community college essay is a kind of application essay that you write in order to apply for a spot in a community college. This kind of essay is basically like any kind of application essay that an applicant would want to write to get accepted in a school, a university or for this case a college. The community college essay consists of the introduction, the body and the conclusion. What you write in your essay would mostly fall on the basics. Who you are , why did you choose this college, what program are you planning on taking, the reason why and some skills you may want to learn while going through college.

These are basically the most common information that you are going to be adding when writing that essay. In addition to that, a community college essay also helps the college committee get a glimpse of who you are as a person. The purpose of a community college essay is for the committee to get to know the applicant. To see if this applicant fits the requirements they are giving out to anyone who may want to attend the school. As well as it is common knowledge for anyone who wishes to apply to a college or university that they must undergo a college application essay.

How to Write a Community College Essay?

Are you up for the challenge of writing a good community college essay? I know a lot of people say that writing essays is difficult. Writing a community college application essay is more difficult because you don’t know where to begin. Let me tell you that it is not as difficult as others may perceive it to be. Here are some tips to help you. Check them out now.

1. Begin With an Anecdote or a Question

What better way to start your essay than to add an anecdote or a question. This is used to draw your readers in to reading your essay. If you plan to use an anecdote, find an appropriate anecdote that would also match your essay. Avoid using anecdotes that may end up as a misunderstanding. The same goes for the question you are planning on using.

2. Tell Them Who You Are and the Name of the Program

Introducing yourself in your essay is one of the main things that goes on with the community college essay. Tell them your name, and the program you plan on taking up and why. This gives them a chance to get to know you in a level that makes them curious. However, when you do introduce yourself in the essay, make it unique and not generic. Because even in essays, people have ways of knowing the vibe they may get from you.

3. Make It as Personal as You Can

A continuation of the second tip, when you introduce yourself or when you continue writing your essay, make sure to make it as personal as you can. This means that you avoid writing a generic essay that may sound like you simply copied something down. To make your essay stand out, make it personal. Show your readers or the audience who you are when writing. Talk to them through your words. Show them the side of you that you rarely show. Not only will this make your essay stand out, it would also be easy for the committee to see that this person writing is a real person. That this is their life and their dreams of entering community college.

4. Explain Your Reason for Wanting the Program

Just as you continue on writing this essay, you should also add to the point of explaining why you want to apply for the program. Give your reasons, and as much as possible, be honest. The committee would understand perfectly for you choosing the program you want to graduate from. As long as you understand and did your research before accepting to take the program. This also shows that you are aware and willing to know more about the program before applying for college.

5. Rewrite Your Essay if Necessary

Just like writing any kind of essay, you must always proofread before sending. This is a helpful tool to help you recheck. To see if there is anything you may have missed, grammar errors that need to be fixed and spelling that need to be redone. Once you are sure, you may go ahead and pass the essay.

What is a community college essay?

A community college essay is a kind of essay that is used in a way to apply for a program in college. It gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself and show the committee of the school that you are interested in being a student there.

How long is an application essay?

Around 500 to 700 words, and a whole page essay is the best option when writing your essay. Not too short nor too lengthy.

What should not be written in an essay?

Avoid writing a generic type of essay. Committees of the college often encourage applicants to write a genuine essay rather than a generic essay. This is easier for them to get to know you if you write it on a personal level.

Now that you know what a community college essay is and how it is written, do you think it is still as difficult as others would say? If you still think it is, the best advice is to practice. Practicing how to write an application essay would not only be useful for you in the end, but it is also a good way to appreciate a good application essay for college.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Explain why community colleges are a valuable option for higher education in your Community College Essay.

Discuss the diverse opportunities available at community colleges and how they can benefit students in your Community College Essay.

How To Tackle The Weirdest Supplemental Essay Prompts For This Application Cycle

Writing the college essay

How do you write a letter to a friend that shows you’re a good candidate for the University of Pennsylvania? What reading list will help the Columbia University admissions committee understand your interdisciplinary interests? How can you convey your desire to attend Yale by inventing a course description for a topic you’re interested in studying?

These are the challenges students must overcome when writing their supplemental essays . Supplemental essays are a critical component of college applications—like the personal statement, they provide students with the opportunity to showcase their authentic voice and perspective beyond the quantitative elements of their applications. However, unlike the personal essay, supplemental essays allow colleges to read students’ responses to targeted prompts and evaluate their candidacy for their specific institution. For this reason, supplemental essay prompts are often abstract, requiring students to get creative, read between the lines, and ditch the traditional essay-writing format when crafting their responses.

While many schools simply want to know “why do you want to attend our school?” others break the mold, inviting students to think outside of the box and answer prompts that are original, head-scratching, or downright weird. This year, the following five colleges pushed students to get creative—if you’re struggling to rise to the challenge, here are some tips for tackling their unique prompts:

University of Chicago

Prompt: We’re all familiar with green-eyed envy or feeling blue, but what about being “caught purple-handed”? Or “tickled orange”? Give an old color-infused expression a new hue and tell us what it represents. – Inspired by Ramsey Bottorff, Class of 2026

What Makes it Unique: No discussion of unique supplemental essay prompts would be complete without mentioning the University of Chicago, a school notorious for its puzzling and original prompts (perhaps the most well-known of these has been the recurring prompt “Find x”). This prompt challenges you to invent a new color-based expression, encouraging both linguistic creativity and a deep dive into the emotional or cultural connotations of color. It’s a prompt that allows you to play with language, think abstractly, and show off your ability to forge connections between concepts that aren’t typically linked—all qualities that likewise demonstrate your preparedness for UChicago’s unique academic environment.

How to Answer it: While it may be easy to get distracted by the open-ended nature of the prompt, remember that both the substance and structure of your response should give some insight into your personality, perspective, and characteristics. With this in mind, begin by considering the emotions, experiences, or ideas that most resonate with you. Then, use your imagination to consider how a specific color could represent that feeling or concept. Remember that the prompt is ultimately an opportunity to showcase your creativity and original way of looking at the world, so your explanation does not need to be unnecessarily deep or complex—if you have a playful personality, convey your playfulness in your response; if you are known for your sarcasm, consider how you can weave in your biting wit; if you are an amateur poet, consider how you might take inspiration from poetry as you write, or offer a response in the form of a poem.

The goal is to take a familiar concept and turn it into something new and meaningful through a creative lens. Use this essay to showcase your ability to think inventively and to draw surprising connections between language and life.

Harvard University

Prompt: Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.

What Makes it Unique: This prompt is unique in both form and substance—first, you only have 150 words to write about all 3 things. Consider using a form other than a traditional essay or short answer response, such as a bullet list or short letter. Additionally, note that the things your roommate might like to learn about you do not necessarily overlap with the things you would traditionally share with an admissions committee. The aim of the prompt is to get to know your quirks and foibles—who are you as a person and a friend? What distinguishes you outside of academics and accolades?

How to Answer it: First and foremost, feel free to get creative with your response to this prompt. While you are producing a supplemental essay and thus a professional piece of writing, the prompt invites you to share more personal qualities, and you should aim to demonstrate your unique characteristics in your own voice. Consider things such as: How would your friends describe you? What funny stories do your parents and siblings share that encapsulate your personality? Or, consider what someone might want to know about living with you: do you snore? Do you have a collection of vintage posters? Are you particularly fastidious? While these may seem like trivial things to mention, the true creativity is in how you connect these qualities to deeper truths about yourself—perhaps your sleepwalking is consistent with your reputation for being the first to raise your hand in class or speak up about a cause you’re passionate about. Perhaps your living conditions are a metaphor for how your brain works—though it looks like a mess to everyone else, you have a place for everything and know exactly where to find it. Whatever qualities you choose, embrace the opportunity to think outside of the box and showcase something that admissions officers won’t learn about anywhere else on your application.

University of Pennsylvania

Prompt: Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge.

What Makes it Unique: Breaking from the traditional essay format, this supplement invites you to write directly to a third party in the form of a 150-200 word long letter. The challenge in answering this distinct prompt is to remember that your letter should say as much about you, your unique qualities and what you value as it does about the recipient—all while not seeming overly boastful or contrived.

How to Answer it: As you select a recipient, consider the relationships that have been most formative in your high school experience—writing to someone who has played a large part in your story will allow the admissions committee some insight into your development and the meaningful relationships that guided you on your journey. Once you’ve identified the person, craft a thank-you note that is specific and heartfelt—unlike other essays, this prompt invites you to be sentimental and emotional, as long as doing so would authentically convey your feelings of gratitude. Describe the impact they’ve had on you, what you’ve learned from them, and how their influence has shaped your path. For example, if you’re thanking a teacher, don’t just say they helped you become a better student—explain how their encouragement gave you the confidence to pursue your passions. Keep the tone sincere and personal, avoid clichés and focus on the unique role this person has played in your life.

University of Notre Dame

Prompt: What compliment are you most proud of receiving, and why does it mean so much to you?

What Makes it Unique: This prompt is unique in that it invites students to share something about themselves by reflecting on someone else’s words in 50-100 words.

How to Answer it: The key to answering this prompt is to avoid focusing too much on the complement itself and instead focus on your response to receiving it and why it was so important to you. Note that this prompt is not an opportunity to brag about your achievements, but instead to showcase what truly matters to you. Select a compliment that truly speaks to who you are and what you value. It could be related to your character, work ethic, kindness, creativity, or any other quality that you hold in high regard. The compliment doesn’t have to be grand or come from someone with authority—it could be something small but significant that left a lasting impression on you, or it could have particular meaning for you because it came from someone you didn’t expect it to come from. Be brief in setting the stage and explaining the context of the compliment—what is most important is your reflection on its significance and how it shaped your understanding of yourself.

Stanford University

Prompt: List five things that are important to you.

What Makes it Unique: This prompt’s simplicity is what makes it so challenging. Stanford asks for a list, not an essay, which means you have very limited space (50 words) to convey something meaningful about yourself. Additionally, the prompt does not specify what these “things” must be—they could be a physical item, an idea, a concept, or even a pastime. Whatever you choose, these five items should add depth to your identity, values, and priorities.

How to Answer it: Start by brainstorming what matters most to you—these could be values, activities, people, places, or even abstract concepts. The key is to choose items or concepts that, when considered together, provide a comprehensive snapshot of who you are. For example, you might select something tangible and specific such as “an antique telescope gifted by my grandfather” alongside something conceptual such as “the willingness to admit when you’re wrong.” The beauty of this prompt is that it doesn’t require complex sentences or elaborate explanations—just a clear and honest reflection of what you hold dear. Be thoughtful in your selections, and use this prompt to showcase your creativity and core values.

While the supplemental essays should convey something meaningful about you, your values, and your unique qualifications for the university to which you are applying, the best essays are those that are playful, original, and unexpected. By starting early and taking the time to draft and revise their ideas, students can showcase their authentic personalities and distinguish themselves from other applicants through their supplemental essays.

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Want to write a college essay that sets you apart? Three tips to give you a head start

1. Keep it real. It’s normal to want to make a good impression on the school of your choice, but it’s also important to show who you really are. So just be yourself! Compelling stories might not be perfectly linear or have a happy ending, and that’s OK. It’s best to be authentic instead of telling schools what you think they want to hear.

2. Be reflective . Think about how you’ve changed during high school. How have you grown and improved? What makes you feel ready for college, and how do you hope to contribute to the campus community and society at large?

3. Look to the future. Consider your reasons for attending college. What do you hope to gain from your education? What about college excites you the most, and what would you like to do after you graduate? Answering these questions will not only give colleges insight into the kind of student you’ll be, but it will also give you the personal insight you’ll need to choose the school that’s right for you.

Have questions about college prep? We're here to help.

Written by CU Boulder Office of Admissions

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As a student or prospective student at CU Boulder, you have a right to certain information pertaining to financial aid programs, the Clery Act, crime and safety, graduation rates, athletics and other general information such as the costs associated with attending CU Boulder. To view this information visit  colorado.edu/your-right-know .

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Tuition and Fees | 2024-2025

• Home Admissions Tuition and Fees

Tuition and Residency

The College charges full-time tuition to students who take 12 or more credits per semester. Students who take fewer than 12 credits are charged on a per credit basis.

The College has two tuition rates: resident tuition, charged to Suffolk County residents and non-resident tuition, charged to all non-Suffolk County residents. Non-resident tuition is currently double the resident tuition rate. To qualify for resident tuition, a student must have legal domicile of one year in New York State and six months in Suffolk County. The legal residency of unmarried students under the age 21 is that of their parents. Suffolk County permanent residents with valid Permanent Resident Cards (“green cards”) are charged resident tuition as long as they meet the residency requirements indicated above.

New York State residents who live in other counties may be eligible for the resident tuition rate. To qualify, they must submit a Certificate of Residence from their home county prior to registration. Applications are available at the college’s business office and online via  MySCCC . Students must file their applications with their home county’s Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer no more than two months before the start date of the semester (no later than 30 days after the start of classes for some counties). A Certificate of Residence is valid for no more than one year and must be renewed every year. The Certificate of Residence must be returned to the College in person or by mail to any campus business/cashier’s office, or to the College’s Office of Business and Financial Services, Room 232, NFL Building, Ammerman Campus, 533 College Road, Selden, NY 11784 or by fax to 631-451-4444.

Non-Suffolk residents who do not comply with the Certificate of Residence requirement and non-Suffolk residents in the United States on a student visa who are ineligible for the Certificate of Residence are responsible for the full non-resident tuition.

For terms that begin after July 1, 2017, under the GI Bill ® , a veteran who enrolls at the College within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more will pay resident tuition. There are no longer any residency requirements, or non-resident tuition charges for veterans or their eligible dependents using the covered GI Bill ® programs. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill .

Miscellaneous Fees

Full-time students, 12 credits or more per semester.

Tuition and fees are subject to change pending final action on the College budget.

Tuition, Residents $2,915 per semester

For tuition purposes, Residents are defined as students who have one year's legal residency in New York State and six months in Suffolk County. The legal residency of unmarried students under 21 is that of their parents. Students who are New York State residents in a county other than Suffolk may have the non-resident tuition rate waived by submitting a Certificate of Residency from their home county prior to registration.

Tuition, Non-Residents $5,830 per semester

For tuition purposes, Non-Residents are defined as non-New York State residents, or New York State residents who have not resided in Suffolk County for six months. Note that New York State residents of other counties may have the non-resident tuition rate waived by submitting a Certificate of Residency from their home county prior to registration.

Tuition Deposit $110  

The Tuition Deposit is a non-refundable payment that is applied to tuition and required from students who are admitted to seat-restricted programs at the College. The deposit will be applied to the payment of tuition in the first semester that the student registers following the payment of the deposit. If the student does not register and attend classes within one year of paying the deposit, the deposit will be forfeited.

Tuition Payment Plan Enrollment Fee $55

Enrolling in a tuition payment plan (TPP) allows you to pay your tuition balance over time with affordable monthly payment. This fee is non-refundable.

Administrative Collection Fee $100  

Covers a portion of the administrative costs of reinstating student accounts deemed uncollectible.

Application Processing Fee $45  

The Processing Fee is a non-refundable fee that supports the cost of admission processing for full-time and part-time students.

Applied Music Fee $495 per semester

The Applied Music Fee supports supplies and equipment associated with Music program.

Challenge Examination Fee $110 per course

College-level examination program (clep) fee $44  , college-level examination program (clep) late fee $25  , culinary arts program fee $75 per credit.

The Culinary Arts Program Fee is a non-refundable fee for instructional materials provided to students in culinary arts classes with lab-based activities. Applicable courses will be indicated in the current college catalog.

Equestrian Fee $275 per semester

Students enrolled in equestrian courses pay the Equestrian Fee to cover the cost of materials and supplies used in that course.

Failure to obtain College ID card $30

Health & wellness fee $25 per semester.

The Health and Wellness fee provides students with access to resources such as health services, mental health counseling, health clubs and wellness programming. It is non-refundable on or after the first day of the session.

Laboratory/Equipment/Special Program Fee $85 per course

The Laboratory/Equipment/Special Program Fee partially provides for the extra costs of special supplies, equipment and services associated with certain courses. Course sections as outlined in the Class Schedule Search are marked to show what fees are applicable for a particular section.

Late Payment Fee $35  

The Late Payment Fee is a non-refundable fee that is charged for payments received after the payment due date.

Late Registration Fee $35 per semester

Students who initiate their registration one week prior to the first day of a session (Day, Evening, Saturday/Sunday) are charged this fee. It is not charged to registered students who change an existing course schedule.

Liability Insurance Fee $55 per course

The Liability Insurance Fee is required of students in certain courses in nursing, health careers, cooperative educational programs, internships, and other experiential courses and is non-refundable on or after the first day of the session. Course sections as outlined in the Class Schedule Search are marked to show what fees are applicable for a particular section.

Littering College Campus $55

Meal plan $100 per semester.

Students registered for nine or more credits in a semester on the Ammerman and/or Michael J. Grant Campuses will be enrolled in the College’s Meal Plan. A declining balance of $100 is available to be used at campus food service locations and vending machines. Students who drop below 9 credits after the second week of class will continue to be enrolled in the meal plan for the remainder of the semester. The meal plan is non-refundable on or after the first day of the semester.

Music Performance Lab Fee $40 per course

The Music Performance Lab Fee partially provides for the extra costs of special supplies, equipment and services associated with certain courses. Course sections as outlined in the Class Schedule Search are marked to show what fees are applicable for a particular section.

Physical Education Fee $85 per course

The Physical Education Service Fee partially provides for the extra costs of special supplies, equipment and services associated with certain courses. Course sections as outlined in the Class Schedule Search are marked to show what fees are applicable for a particular section.

Prior Learning Assessment: Basic Fee for Portfolio Evaluation $110  

The Prior Learning Assessment Fee is a non-refundable fee that is charged to cover the cost of evaluating a learning portfolio for possible college credit.

Prior Learning Assessment: Supplementary Fee 1/3 tuition  

If college credit is granted, an additional Supplementary Fee that equals one-third the tuition of the credits granted is charged.

Records Maintenance Fee $5 per credit

The Records Maintenance Fee is a non-refundable fee that provides for the cost of managing and maintaining all student records. This fee is assessed on a per semester basis to students taking courses at the Ammerman, Eastern, and Grant campuses. Maximum $60 per semester.

Replacement of Lost ID Card Fee $15  

The Replacement of Lost ID Card Fee is charged to replace an ID card that is lost or misplaced.

Returned Check/CC Dispute Fee $35 each

The Returned Check Fee is a non-refundable fee that provides for the collection and processing of checks that bounce (i.e., are returned unpaid by banks).

Smoking Policy Violation $25  

Student activity fee $10 per credit.

The Student Activity Fee provides for social, cultural, athletic, and related activities for full and part-time students and is non-refundable on or after the first day of the session. Maximum $105 per semester.

Technology Fee $240 per semester

The Technology Fee is a dedicated fee charged to students taking credit courses offered by the College. The fee is committed to fund technology and equipment; it is non-refundable on or after the first day of the session.

Transcript Fee $20  

The Transcript Fee is charged for each academic transcript provided.

Vehicle Registration Fee $20 per semester

The Vehicle Registration Fee is charged for the fall, spring and summer semesters. The fee is non-refundable on or after the first day of the session, and partly supports automobile registration, security, and plant maintenance activities. A separate parking sticker and fee are required for each car parked on campus.

Replacement of Lost Parking Sticker Fee $15  

The Replacement of Lost Parking Sticker Fee is charged to replace a parking sticker that is lost or misplaced.

Traffic Fines

Traffic Fines will be charged to individuals who violate the College vehicle use and parking rules. Violators may be ticketed and assessed parking and other traffic fines.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Non-credit Tuition

Rn nursing fee $2,500  .

This fee is non-refundable and is not to exceed the amount noted. Nursing students will be provided access to the associate degree nursing program Assessment Technologies Institute Essentials Supreme Bundle Package that provides students with comprehensive assessment driven learning resources, standardized testing and licensure examination preparation. Additionally, students will be provided a clinical skills practice kit and an official Suffolk County Community College nursing program clinical uniform.

PN Nursing Fee $2,250  

This fee is non-refundable and is not to exceed the amount noted. Nursing students will be provided access to the practical nursing program Assessment Technologies Institute Essentials Supreme Bundle Package that provides students with comprehensive assessment driven learning resources, standardized testing and licensure examination preparation. Additionally, students will be provided with a clinical skills practice kit and an official Suffolk County Community College nursing program clinical uniform and skills lab classroom scrubs.

Vet Tech Program Fee $1,100  

The Veterinary Technologist program fee is non-refundable and due upon entry to the program. Not to exceed the amount specified. This covers 2 vaccinations.

Part-Time Students

Fewer than 12 credits per semester, tuition, residents $243 per credit, tuition, non-residents $486 per semester, college-level examination program (clep) fee $45  , health & wellness fee $10 per semester, late registration fee $25 per semester, technology fee (fall, summer, spring) $125 per semester, technology fee (winter) $100 per semester, fees, fines, and charges, bookstore charges.

Students who authorize the College to set aside funds to pay for materials purchased from the College bookstore vendor, whether authorized by third party payees or as set-asides from their financial assistance and/or scholarship funds, may see these Bookstore Charges on their billing statements from the College.

Child Care Tuition and Fees

Students who authorize the College to set aside funds to cover Child Care Tuition and Fees, whether authorized by third party payees or as set-asides from their financial assistance and/or scholarship funds, may see these charges on their billing statements from the College.

Corporate Training-Program Charges

Corporations, organizations, and other entities that contract for the services and instructional programs of the College Corporate Training Center pay Corporate Training-Program Charges to recover the cost of program-related expenses, instructional materials, curriculum development, and other costs associated with the center's operation.

Emergency Student Loan Charges

Students who receive emergency student loans that need to be paid back to the College will see these Emergency Student Loan Charges included on their billing statements from the College.

Library Fines

Students and others who return books and other instructional materials late to the lending services at the College, including its libraries and audio-visual services, pay Library Fines or lost-item replacement charges. Lost-item replacement charges will be refunded if the items are returned within one year.

Non-Credit Tuition and Fee Charges

Students, individuals and organizations that enroll members or employees in non-credit programs of the College are charged Non-Credit Tuition and Fees to recover cost of the programs they take.

Sports Center Membership Fees

Students, College staff, faculty, senior citizens, police officers and recruits, high school students, family groups, Suffolk County residents, and residents of other counties who renew their membership at the College Health Club may receive bills for Sports Center Membership Fees from the College.

Sports and Convention Center Charges

Companies and other parties who contract for the use of the trade show facilities at the Suffolk Federal Credit Union Arena must pay an initial installment for their use of the facility. Subsequently, they will be billed for any additional amounts due to reflect their final Sports and Convention Center Charges.

Third-Party Charges

The College may make provisions for students to take its courses in certain situations where other entities (e.g., governmental agencies, financial aid or scholarship programs, other private or non-profit groups, etc.) commit to paying all or part of their tuition and fees. The College bills such firms for the amounts due. However, in some instances, third party payment is contingent on the student completing the course, or is limited to certain pre-authorized and or set amounts, or may vary (for whatever reason) from the amount initially anticipated. When this occurs, the student is liable for the unpaid amount and will be billed accordingly by the College. These Third-Party Charges, like all other liabilities to the College, must be paid in full upon notice by the College.

Campus Offices

Central admissions.

[email protected]

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

[email protected]

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Summer hours vary. Please call the Admissions Office.

[email protected]

  Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

[email protected]

  Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

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6 reasons to choose a small college like esf.

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The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is one of the smallest colleges within SUNY’s network of 64 campuses in New York State.  

Some students go into their college search knowing they want a small college experience; for others, it might not click until they visit to realize that a small campus is a great fit.  

What’s the big deal about a small college campus like SUNY ESF? Here are six reasons why our students say they love our tight-knit campus vibe: 

• Small class sizes   ESF has a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, so professors will get to know you by name – not as just a face or a number – and you’ll get to know your classmates. Small classes enable students to receive individualized attention and personalized feedback; at a STEM college like ESF, this can help drive student success. And with fewer people in a class, there’s more opportunity to participate in meaningful ways. At ESF, we’re committed to providing an Exceptional Student Focus!
• More opportunities A smaller campus with fewer students can mean more opportunities for you to get involved or jump into a student leadership role. For example, at ESF, the Mighty Oak Student Assembly (MOSA) is the undergraduate student body's representative voice and student government. Students can get involved by attending meetings, serving on a committee, or running for office. Undergraduate students can also have opportunities to assist with research projects and work closely with faculty, which might not be options at a larger college. 
• Personalized experience Smaller colleges like ESF can offer more flexibility in combining minors or concentrations that complement your major of study. Also, ESF’s services like career counseling, academic advising, and tutoring can be more tailored to your personal needs to help you achieve your specific goals.
• Accessible professors     ESF is a doctoral degree-granting (Ph.D.) institution, which means you will have access to faculty renowned in their fields who push the boundaries of knowledge and research in their academic specialties. In addition, you’ll have access to graduate students who are incredibly knowledgeable and active in student classes, labs, and studios. “ESF students come with a passion that they have in their heart. What we do at ESF is empower them and give them the tools they need to be successful.” – Dr. Obste Therasme, Assistant Professor, Department of Sustainable Resources Management
• Niche focus   Because of ESF’s small size, we’re able to maintain a sharp focus on our favorite subject: the environment. We offer degree programs in eight academic department s and they each have an environmental tie. Our niche emphasis on STEM and the environment are what set ESF apart.  
• Sense of community There’s something to be said about knowing your classmates by name or recognizing them from one of your classes. ESF’s community is tight – beginning at Orientation, where students get to know each other through fun activities and events. When ESF’s famous Earth Week comes around in April, you will experience the student body coming together for their shared commitment to the environment and determination to find solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental issues. 

Want to see if a small college campus is right for you?  

Schedule a visit to see ESF for yourself >