Frequently Asked Questions

If you have been admitted to CUNY but not yet registered for courses for Fall 2013, ask your college advisor about CUNY Start or contact CUNY Start directly.

Full-time day program: 25 hours per week, Mondays through Fridays, 9am – 3pm

To enroll, contact:

Part-time program: 12 hours per week in the afternoon or evening

To enroll, contact:

College-bound high school and GED graduates who have been admitted to CUNY and taken the CUNY Assessment Tests (but have not yet registered for classes). CUNY Start students have all demonstrated need for skills development in reading/writing and/or in math.

For the full-time program, CUNY tests have indicated need for remediation in both math and writing

For the part-time program, CUNY tests have indicated need for remediation in either math or writing

College-level study is demanding and some students benefit from extra preparation before starting college-level work. College transition programs provide a good bridge to college credit courses.

As a prospective college student you will need to take the CUNY Assessment Tests. These tests tell you how ready you are for college-level reading/writing and math. If your test scores indicate you need to improve your skills, consider CUNY Start.

Passing scores on the CUNY Assessment Tests indicate that you have strong academic skills. If your scores show that you need to develop your reading, writing or math skills, CUNY provides ways to help you. These include college remedial classes and college transition programs such as CUNY Start.

Both the college's remedial courses and CUNY Start build the skills needed for college-level study. The advantage of CUNY Start is that study is intensive — 12 or 25/hrs a week — and is designed for high school and GED graduates, adults who have been out of school, and anyone who wants to make a strong start in college. Further, CUNY Start students save their financial aid for credit courses. Students who take several college remedial courses and use their financial aid to pay for them may run out of financial aid before completing their degrees.

You will begin your CUNY college courses the next semester. As a result of college transition, you are likely to reduce the time you spend in college remedial courses and to make a stronger transition to college credit courses. You will start credit courses better prepared to succeed and graduate.

CUNY Start students attend orientations to CUNY college departments and visit classes. They use campus resources such as academic and career counseling services, libraries and athletic facilities.

College transition students do not use financial aid for the CUNY Start programs and instead save their financial aid for credit courses. Students who take several college remedial courses and use their financial aid to pay for them may run out of financial aid before completing their degree. College transition study is affordable — students pay only $75 for a term of CUNY Start, which includes textbooks.

College transition is a special effort by CUNY to help make the dream of a CUNY degree feasible for high school and GED graduates, waitlisted students, and anyone who wishes to make a strong start in college.