Freshmen Scholars Program

The SUNY Potsdam Freshman Scholars Program is designed to provide support to our high achieving students.  This program will be available to entering freshman students and applies only to students applying for fall admission.

The selection committee will consider SAT and/or ACT test scores, GPA, essay, and a history of participation and leadership in extracurricular activities and community service. NCAA Division III regulations prohibit the consideration of high school athletic ability, athletic participation, athletic leadership or athletic performance in awarding scholarships.

Am I eligible? 

  • Freshman applicants must have a minimum high school GPA of 90 or minimum SAT score of 1100 (Critical Reading and Math) or minimum ACT score of 24.  The value of each award begins at $1000 annually.
  • The SUNY Potsdam Freshman Scholarship is renewable for three subsequent years by maintaining a minimum of a 3.25 cumulative GPA. 

What do I need?

  • You must be accepted to SUNY Potsdam as a matriculated undergraduate student, with plans to enroll full time for the following fall.
  • A scholarship application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the year you are entering SUNY Potsdam are required.
  • You will need to ask for one recommendation from a teacher, your guidance counselor or administrator. 

What about the application?

  • Download/Print the scholarship application (PDF format) and recommendation form and submit it to our office.
  • Submit your application online. If your answers do not fit in the application's fields, you may edit your text or submit a paper application (above).

What about the FAFSA?

  • You can file your FAFSA any time after January 1 for the following school year.  Just go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and follow the directions.   Your scholarship application will not be complete without your FAFSA!

When is the application due?

  • Your completed application, FAFSA and recommendation should be on file with us by February 15.  Applications after this date will be reviewed if funding allows.

The Mt. Emmons Scholarship may not be used in conjunction with the SUNY Potsdam Freshman Scholarship.

Individual scholarship and financial assistance amounts may not exceed total cost of attendance for any student.