/Admissions
Undergraduate Admissions

Current Applicants

Check Your Application Status

For both fall and spring applicants, starting at the end of August, we will send an email with first-time login details to access the StartSBU Portal . If you recently submitted an application to Stony Brook University, please allow time for it to be sent to our university and processed. Once we *receive* applications from SUNY, Common, and Coalition Application platforms, it can take anywhere from 5 to 7 business days from the time an application is submitted for your portal login to be generated.

Once you receive our application confirmation email, it will then be roughly 2 to 3 business days for your portal to be generated.

For applicants in the StartSBU Portal, you'll be able to:

  • Monitor your application status and view your decision
  • Confirm receipt of items
  • Upload supplemental application documents, including essays and resumes
  • Apply for Honors and Scholars programs

First Years: Admission Decision Notification Schedule

FALL: By April 1

Early Action Applicants on December XX and January XX. All students who applied and were complete by the deadline are guaranteed a decision as part of the January date. Regular Decision applicants will hear on February XX and March XX.

Please keep in mind that decisions may include; admit, deny, defer to regular decision, waitlist, or conditional admission via one of our pathway programs.

SPRING: Beginning Mid-November

Transfer: Admission Decision Notification Schedule

Fall Applications: We will begin releasing decisions in mid-February.

Spring: We will begin releasing decisions in November

It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure that all credentials are received by the posted application deadline. Application deadlines are completion deadlines which means all materials must be received by that deadline to be considered on time.

StartSBU Portal FAQS

If you have already logged in successfully before but simply cannot find the link to return to the StartSBU Portal:

Direct Link: You can access the portal via the link to the StartSBU Portal .

Important Note: If you have never logged in before, this link will not work until you receive your official "StartSBU Portal Login" email containing your temporary credentials.

While previous steps mentioned a few business days for specific emails, this clarifies the total lead time.

  • The "Two-Week" Rule: It can take up to two weeks from the moment you hit "submit" on the Common App or SUNY App for the portal to be generated . This accounts for the time those external platforms take to process and transmit your data to Stony Brook.

You will first receive your application confirmation, then it takes 2 to 3 business days from that confirmation email for the system to fully process your application from the Common App or the SUNY Application and generate your StartSBU Portal.

Check Spams: Often, your StartSBU Portal has already been generated, but the email is sitting in a junk or spam folder.

  • The Wait Period: You must wait an additional 2 to 3 business days for the login credentials to be sent.
  • When to Reach Out: Do not contact the office until FULL 4 business days have passed since your confirmation email. They cannot manually generate your login information early.
  • Contact: If it has been more than 4 business days, email enroll@stonybrook.edu .
  1. Submit App
  2. Wait up to 2 weeks
  3. Receive Login
  4. Upload Docs
  5. Receive Decision

2. "Forgot Username/Password" is Broken

If the automated password reset system is failing or not functioning:

  • Action Required: Send an email to enroll@stonybrook.edu .
  • What to Include: Your full name and any relevant application identifiers (like an ID number). Detail the specific error so the office can manually reset your information.

3. First-Time Login Issues

If you are struggling to gain access for the first time:

  • Check Your Source: Ensure you are using the credentials supplied to you in the "StartSBU Portal Login" email.
  • Returning Applicants: If you applied in a previous cycle, your password might still be the one you used previously. If that doesn't work, try the "forgot password" link first.
  • Escalation: If you still cannot log in after trying the above, email enroll@stonybrook.edu for further assistance in a password reset.

Portal Functionality by Student Phase

The StartSBU Portal evolves as you move through the application and admission process to your first day of class:

As an Applicant

  • Document Submission: Upload necessary files required to complete your application.
  • Honors Programs: Apply to specific honors programs (if eligible based on your student/term type).

As an Admitted Student

  • Decision Notifications: Once a decision is made, you will receive an email, and the official letter will be rendered inside the portal.
  • Next Steps: If accepted, the portal will update with specific instructions and "next steps" for admitted students.

As a Matriculated Student

  • Enrollment: After you pay your admission deposit and secure your spot, you become a "matriculated" or incoming student.
  • Orientation & Transition: The StartSBU Portal then transitions into a guide for next steps for incoming students steps, helping you navigate the enrollment process including course registration and advising, orientation and welcoming you to campus.