Frequently Asked Questions
CN Courses & Activities
- What do College Now students do?
- How do I find out what courses are available to me?
- Who else will be in my College Now class?
- I go to school all day. When can I fit in College Now classes and events?
- Where do I go for College Now?
- Who teaches College Now classes?
Applying
- Can I be in College Now?
- How do I sign up/get an application for College Now?
- When do I apply?
- When will I hear back from you once I apply?
Getting Credit
- Will I get credit for taking College Now courses? If so, what kind and how much?
- If you offer courses for credit, why would I take a noncredit course?
- I took a couple of College Now classes and earned 6 college credits! Which colleges will accept the credit? How do I transfer it?
- Is there a limit to how many college credits I can earn through College Now?
Why CN?
- I haven't decided whether I'll go to college. Why should I consider College Now?
- I already know that I want to go to college. Why should I consider College Now?
- What if I'm not quite ready for the challenge of college courses?
Cost (the best deal in NYC)
Answers
What do College Now students do?
Ah, the possibilities… Depending on the particular CN partnership and on your own academic qualifications, you might:
- take a college class and transfer the credit for use later (a great way to save money on college tuition, by the way)
- take courses to help you improve your reading, writing, and math so that college classes will be easier once you get there
- attend an event on a college campus so that you can meet students and professors and get a taste of what college life is all about
Often, you'll get a college ID. The ID gives you access to the campus library, gym, and other facilities.
To learn more, go to the Courses & Events section of this website.
How do I find out what courses are available to me?
The answer to this question depends on several factors, including your high school's status as a CN partner school and your own academic qualifications:
If you attend a high school with a College Now partnership, there's an easy way to find available courses: ask your school's CN liaison. In rare instances, you may be able to take a course outside of your school's typical range of College Now offerings.
If you do NOT attend a partner school, you may still be able to find a course:
- Make sure you meet CN's basic requirements for participation.
- If you do, browse our course listings.
- If you find something that interests you, contact CN staff at the college offering the course. They will fill you in on course details and decide whether you can take the course based on seat availability and your qualifications.
Please note: Courses offered outside of a school's CN partnership are usually limited to college-credit courses that meet on a college campus (not at a high school). You must meet all requirements for the course; see enrollment guidelines.
Who else will be in my College Now class?
College Now courses generally fall into two groups:
Most classes are filled with high school students just like you; these are special College Now sections.
Other courses are undergraduate sections. The majority of students in these courses will be regularly enrolled college-aged students.
Some College Now programs specify that you take a College Now section before you enroll in an undergraduate section.
I go to school all day. When can I fit in College Now classes and events?
College Now is for high school students, so our program works with your schedule. Classes and events take place before or after school or, in some cases, on the weekend. Some CN partnerships even offer specialized classes for high school credit that can be part of your regular day. There are also several exciting summer programs.
Where do I go for College Now?
This depends on the particular class or activity. Some courses and events take place on the college campus of your high school's College Now partner. At other times, you won't have to go anywhere; your College Now class will be right at your own school.
Who teaches College Now classes?
Our courses are taught by college teachers from the various CUNY campuses or by high school teachers who are selected by the colleges.
Can I be in College Now?
We've got a whole page on this one! Go to Who Can Participate to see who's eligible.
How do I sign up/get an application for College Now?
There is no centralized application process for College Now. However, you can begin the sign up process online in our Sign Up section. Depending on how you answer the questions there, you will be directed to contact your school's College Now liaison or College Now Central Office staff for further instructions.
Special circumstances:
- CN Summer programs have a separate application process. Check this site in the spring for program details. (Or you can sign up for e-updates to be notified of summer program postings through email.)
- In some cases, you may sign up directly through a college's CN Office. See: How Do I Enroll? on our page about college-credit courses.
When do I apply?
Application deadlines will depend on what type of course or activity you’re hoping to participate in and on the application procedures of the particular College Now program.
As a rule, however, most colleges accept applications for undergraduate sections of college courses the semester before the course starts. Other courses (College Now sections, noncredit, or high school classes) may not require as much lead time.
Tip: Since many programs run year-round, contact CN staff as soon as you’re interested in getting involved.
When will I hear back from you once I apply?
When you hear back dependens on the particular course and program you’ve applied for. Generally, program staff will send you a letter informing you of your status 2 to 4 weeks after you’ve submitted your application. In some instances, you might be told you've been "waitlisted." In that case, you may not hear of your actual acceptance into the course until very close to the start of the semester.
For more specific information, contact your school’s CN liaison or the appropriate campus-based CN staff.
Will I get credit for taking College Now courses? If so, what kind and how much?
Many of our classes are offered for credit, but not all. The number of credits varies depending on the course.
- Some courses are offered for high school credit.
- Some courses are offered for college credit.
- Some workshops or special events do not carry credit.
We have only one hard-and-fast program rule regarding credit: 16 college credits, maximum.
The best way to figure out credit number and type is to ask your teacher or your school's College Now liaison. If you're taking a course for college credit, you can look for the number of credits you'll earn in our online course listings.
If you offer courses for credit, why would I take a noncredit course?
Not every student will automatically meet the eligibility requirements for credit courses. Noncredit courses offer a way around that. Although taking a course for no credit might seem like a waste of time, it may pay off—literally—if it helps you avoid remedial classes when you get to college. (Remedial classes are assigned to first-year students who do not seem ready for college-level work. You don't earn credit towards graduation for remedial classes and you often can't move on to the courses you really want to take until you pass them.)
Believe it or not, even remedial classes cost money—not to mention time!
I took a couple of College Now classes and earned 6 college credits! Which colleges will accept the credit? How do I transfer it?
In most cases, College Now credits transfer directly within the CUNY system. Credits usually transfer to other colleges as well—even to those schools not affiliated with CUNY. You'll have to check with the colleges you are applying to regarding their credit transfer policies.
To prove you earned the credits, you'll need to show an official transcript. You can get your transcript from the college that sponsored your College Now course.
Is there a limit to how many college credits I can earn through College Now?
We realize that college classes are fascinating. We also know that you don't mind saving on your college tuition by banking up all those credits. But, all good things in moderation—you're limited to 16 college credits total.
I haven't decided whether I'll go to college. Why should I consider College Now?
By participating in the program, you can learn more about what to expect from college before you get there. You'll tour a college campus, interact with students and professors, and find support in a community of high school students who are going through the same big life decisions you are. College Now classes should help you do better in high school, too.
I already know that I want to go to college. Why should I consider College Now?
You've already made one important decision, but don't settle for just going to college—set your sights on succeeding in college.
If you qualify, start taking classes for college credit now.
You'll experience the intellectual challenge of college work and get a transcript that will usually allow you to transfer your credits—all without paying costly university tuition. By becoming familiar with the special nature of college study now, your transition to college life should be smoother later.
What if I'm not quite ready for the challenge of college courses?
College Now can lend you the extra support you need to get your reading, writing, math, or science up to speed—for high school graduation and beyond. We think you'll like our approach: our goal is to involve you in hands-on real-life learning.
How much does it all cost?
Participating in College Now costs you absolutely nothing. In fact, with FREE tuition and FREE books, you'll be saving money!
