Admission to the Program

Those seeking to enroll in the Achieve Degree are subject to the College’s admission standards, but the program director and Admission staff work closely with each applicant in completing the process. While this program provides significant support services, prospective students should know that this is a challenging course of study whose rigor and intellectual demands are no different than those of any academic program at Sage. The Achieve Degree motto, "Access Your Success" is an accurate summation of the goals of this program. 

WANT TO KNOW IF THE PROGRAM IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

The first course in the program sequence can be taken as a trial course at no cost or obligation. The next eight-week trial course, a Life Lab on "Online Learning & Time Management," will run June 30 - August 22, 2013 and provide students interested in the Achieve Degree with a full trial of the program's learning modalities while completing a 1-credit course required for the bachelor's degree.

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Program Schedule

Cohorts of a maximum of 15 students begin the Achieve Degree program twice a year, in September and January, and proceed year-round with six academic terms of eight weeks each.

  • September 3, 2013 : Cohort Entry
    • Priority application deadline: June 1
      • Applications received after June 1 reviewed on a space-available basis
    • Decisions made by June 8
    • Deposit due by July 15 for prior applicants
      (new applicants must pay deposit upon applying)
  • January 6, 2014 : Program start
    • Priority application deadline: October 1
      • Applications received after October 1 reviewed on a space-available basis
    • Decisions made by November 1
    • Deposits due by December 1

Applicants must submit:

  1. Application - apply online or call (518) 292-8615 or e-mail achieve@sage.edu
  2. Writing sample
    • Flexible format: can be a previously written piece that exemplifies the student’s current writing levels, can be recorded instead of written, can be on a topic of candidate’s choice
  3. High school transcript or GED
  4. If applicable, transcripts from any post-secondary experiences
  5. Reference letter from a high school or post-secondary educator

Suggested additional documentation:

At least one of the following would be helpful:

  1. Most recent IEP (Individualized Education Plan)
  2. Most recent assessment or evaluation from a medical or mental health or educational professional
  3. Any assessment portfolio that has been established demonstrating current levels in any area
  4. Any vocational assessment or plan that has been developed

Required for final admission:

  1. Interview with program director
    • Flexible format: questions can be provided in advance, candidate may have a support person present, interview may be conducted via Skype or phone

*Candidates who do not meet the first screening criteria will be considered individually, on the condition that spaces remain in the cohort after the candidates who passed the first screening criteria are selected. Candidates who do not have a non-IEP high school diploma may be admitted based on a careful analysis of their current abilities through the portfolio method described above. More than one portfolio item might be necessary to make this determination.