Frequently Asked Questions
for Visiting Students

• What plans may I exchange to Stony Brook on?


• What about financial aid?


• What about my coursework at Stony Brook?


• What about limitations of classes?


• Do I need a certain grade point average?


• Can I be a late placement at Stony Brook?


• Does Stony Brook accept Study Abroad/Canadian Partners/International Students for NSE?
  
• When will I receive information about housing, registration, enrollment, etc.?


• May I bring my car to Stony Brook? What is transportation like?


• When should I plan on arriving?


• When will I be notified of my housing assignment and/or my bill?
• Are there student discount airfares available?

Q: What plans may I exchange to Stony Brook on?
A: Stony Brook is open on Plan A, which means we will accept all NSE applicants who will pay our in state tuition and fees.

Stony Brook is uneven on Plan B, which means we will accept slightly more NSE applicants who want to pay their home school tuition and fees than we place wanting to pay Stony Brook's tuition and fees. It is more difficult to be placed at Stony Brook on Plan B.

Stony Brook will normally close on Plan B after the first choice placement day at the conference. There normally will be no late placements on Plan B. If you don't understand what this means, check with your coordinator!
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Q: What about financial aid?
A: You should check with your home school to find out if you should apply on the FAFSA to Stony Brook or if your home school will be handling your financial aid. You will not be eligible for any New York State aid; however, any federal programs for which you are eligible will be granted. It may be the case that you will not be eligible for college work study at Stony Brook while on Exchange. It has been my experience that any NSE student who wants to work is able to get a job on or off campus easily and quickly!

We have a financial aid counselor who is a liaison for NSE students and she will answer all your questions.
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Q: What about my coursework at Stony Brook?
A: You need to check with your coordinator to find out how your Stony Brook credits will be handled. Each school is different.

At the completion of your exchange a final official transcript will be sent gratis from Stony Brook to the office at your home institution that is specified by your coordinator. This may be the coordinator's office, admissions, registrar, records, transfer office, etc. It all depends on your school.
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Q: What about limitations of classes?
A: Please take note of the limitations and closed classes/programs that Stony Brook lists in the NSE brochure. Closed classes are predominantly in the professional programs and College of Engineering. These are highly selective programs with very structured class sequences. Visiting students such as NSE do not have the opportunity to participate in them.
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Q: Do I need a certain grade point average?
A: In order to go on exchange you will need to adhere to your home campus requirements.

If your home campus does not require a higher g.p.a., you must maintain a grade point average of 2.0 to continue on a year-long exchange at Stony Brook.
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Q: Can I be a late placement at Stony Brook?
A: Stony Brook will remain open on Plan A for late placement until May 1 for the following fall semester.

Normally, there are no late placements on Plan B.
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Q: Does Stony Brook accept Study Abroad/Canadian Partners/International Students for NSE?
A: Currently, Stony Brook does not participate in Study Abroad, Canadian Partners, or the exchange of International students on NSE. You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
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Q: When will I receive information about housing, registration, enrollment, etc.?
A: After the Stony Brook coordinator receives your acceptance of placement, a package of material will be sent to you when the next semester's class schedule booklet becomes available. It will include housing information and application, non-matriculated enrollment form, and all the information you need to create a viable schedule for the first semester of your placement.

Spring placement students will receive an acknowledgement of the acceptance of placement, but won't receive any additional materials until mid-November, when spring class schedule information is available.

Make sure you read all the material sent to you and return everything in a timely fashion. It will improve your chances of getting your first choice classes. The housing deadline is June 30, unless otherwise specified in the material you are sent.

The coordinator will register you for classes; you will not register yourself.
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Q: May I bring my car to Stony Brook? What is transportation like?
A: You certainly may bring your car and register it on campus, either as a resident student or a commuter, if you choose to live off campus.

Stony Brook is 60 miles (about 1.5 to 2 hours drive or train ride from Manhattan). Public bus transportation is not terrific. However, local public bus transport is available to nearby shopping centers and towns. Additionally, the free Stony Brook University bus system is comprehensive and covers all of campus and the nearest major shopping mall and town. Of course, if you're used to driving everywhere, then you'll miss your car!

We have a Long Island Rail Road train station right on campus. You can hop the train and find yourself at Penn Station at 34th Street (where Madison Square Garden is) in Manhattan in a short time! Very convenient!

Our closest airport is MacArthur Airport in Islip (pronounced "ice-lip") about 20 minutes drive. This is certainly the most convenient airport. The other two are Kennedy and LaGuardia. You'd have to count on 2 hours travel (considering traffic) to Stony Brook.
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Q: When should I plan on arriving?
A: Your packet of materials (both for fall and spring NSE exchange) will include the dates of arrival and when your mandatory NSE orientation will be held. The orientation is usually one or two days before classes start each semester. You get a chance to meet the other NSE students and have most of your questions answered. Social plans for the semester are also discussed at this time.
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Q: When will I be notified of my housing assignment and/or my bill?
A: You should be hearing from our campus residences department sometime in July regarding your housing assignment.

Our first bills go out sometime in mid-July. If you are on Plan A you will be responsible for in-state tuition and fees and room and board, if you are living on campus. If you are on Plan B, you will be responsible for room and board, if you are living on campus.
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Q: Are there student discount airfares available?
A: Here are a few websites that might be useful when you are searching for lower airfare rates for your trip to your host campus.