Academic and Student Life Orientation for New Students
New Spartan Days for 2024 will be held June 18, 21, 24, 25, 27, and 28.
New Spartan Day — YCP's Summer Orientation program — marks a major step in which you officially move past high school and begin your journey as a York College student. You'll learn about your course curriculum, work with a professional advisor to build your fall class schedule, and explore the support resources and opportunities available to you as a first-year student.
Families will also have the opportunity to attend sessions presented by campus experts. During these sessions, staff and administrators will answer questions and provide information about the York College experience.
All deposited students will receive an email from the Admissions Office with information about registration, required placement exams, and more.
Placement Assessments
You may be required to take a Math and/or World Language Placement Assessment before registering for fall semester classes. Please review all communications from the Admissions Office carefully for information about your individual requirements.
York College offers several math courses tailored to prepare you for the quantitative activities you will pursue in your major. The mathematics placement assessments are designed to help determine which math course is right for you. Students must complete the placement assessments before they can schedule classes, so please take the assessments before you arrive for your New Spartan Day.
Which assessment do I take?
All majors (including Undeclared) will take the Algebra Assessment. However, you only need to take the Calculus Assessment if you are currently declared or interested in declaring one of the following majors:
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Cannabis Chemistry
- Forensic Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Cybersecurity Management
- Engineering Management
- Medical Humanities
- Health Sciences
- Premedical Sciences
- Writing (Technical Communication)
- Mathematics
- Mid-Level Education - Mathematics
- Secondary Education Biology
- Secondary Education General Science
- Secondary Education Mathematics
What to Expect from the Math Assessment
Each assessment has 33 questions, and you will have 180 minutes to complete each test. If needed, you may take an assessment a total of two (2) times. A calculator may be used during the assessment.
If you are interrupted or lose internet service, you'll be able to resume where you left off as long as you log back into the assessment within the same day.
How can I take the assessment?
- Go to the Stemify website to take the exam. Click on YCP.
- Enter your MyYCP username and password.
- The menu located in the upper left corner of your screen will provide you access to the Learning Library (available for you to review many relevant math concepts that will help you to be successful) and the Placement Tests.
I don't have a math-related major / I took AP-level math in high school. Should I still take the assessment?
Yes, all new YCP students need to have a math assessment score on their student record.
What if I need help?
For technical support (e.g., trouble accessing the test, problems during the test), please reach out to support@stemify.ai
For advising-related questions, please contact the Academic Advising Center at 717.815.1531 or academicadvising@ycp.edu.
Students taking any beginning world language course at York College should have no background in that language, or — in the case of French, German, and Spanish — should take the placement test:
- If you have studied ANY French, German, or Spanish; OR
- Speak any of those languages at home; OR
- Learned one of those languages during a stay abroad.
It is crucial, regardless of your major, that you take a world language placement test to ensure you are placed at the course level giving you the greatest chance of success. Please take the exam before you arrive for your New Spartan Day even if you do not have immediate plans to enroll in a French, German, or Spanish course. We require students to take the placement test now because many students end up changing their major or minor throughout their college career.
How can I take the exam?
- Access the placement exam site.
- As prompted, create an account for this site by providing your name, YCP email address (not your personal email address), YCP ID number, and a new password for this website.
- Complete a short survey.
- Try the practice question. Once you submit your response, the real exam begins.
What to Expect with Your Language Placement Assessment
The testing process takes 20 minutes on average but can run shorter or longer. The exam should be taken in one sitting, so please set aside a block of 30 minutes for its completion. For your own benefit, you should not consult materials or other people to help with the exam. You want a true measure of your skills and needs!
Please take the exam only once. If you are interrupted, you may continue where you left off by accessing the login page the same way you did when you started the test session. Be sure to enter your name and ID Number exactly the same way as you did when you started the exam. Click on "resume," and you will be able to continue the exam.
Once you finish, you will receive the corresponding world language course level. Your score will also be sent to the Registrar, your academic advisor, and the faculty teaching the language in which you took the exam. This will be your world language level regardless of when you take the world language at York College. Therefore, it is to your advantage to enroll in world language courses before too much time has gone by to keep your knowledge fresh!
I didn't take a foreign language in high school / I took an AP Language course. Should I still take the assessment?
Yes, we would still expect you to take the assessment.
How can I get credit for taking a language course at York College?
If you take a world language course at York that is below a course level you have previously taken, or below the level of your placement score, you will not receive credit for the course. (Exceptions with regard to placement based on test score can be made on an individual basis prior to taking a language course at the College.) In short, to get course credit you need to take a more rigorous course at York College than you have already achieved or than your skills indicate.
Which majors require foreign language study?
Foreign language study is required of all students majoring in:
- Literary and Textual Studies (English)
- Intelligence Analysis
- International Relations
- Philosophy
- Writing
- Secondary Education - English.
Does York College offer study abroad opportunities?
Regardless of whether you take a foreign language course or not, you can improve your language skills with study abroad! We offer mini-mester and full-semester opportunities in dozens of countries for truly life-changing experiences.
What if I have questions about the assessment?
Please contact:
Kia Kuresman, M.Ed.
Director of Academic Advising
kkuresma@ycp.edu
717.815.1503
New Spartan Day Schedule
The full schedule of the New Spartan Day agenda will be available in the YCP App (App Store / Google Play). An abbreviated schedule can be viewed here.
| Time | Session | Attendees |
|---|---|---|
| 9 - 9:45 a.m. | Welcome Activities | Students and Families |
| 9:45 - 10:25 a.m. | Spartan Welcome | Students and Families |
| 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Gen Next | Students and Families |
| 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Lunch | Students and Families |
| 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (optional) | Student Accessibility Services | Students and Families |
| 12:30 - 3:45 p.m. | Choice of Information Sessions | Families |
| 12:30 - 1 p.m. | Meet the Spartans | Students |
| 1:15 p.m. | Academic Advising | Students |
| 3:45 - 5 p.m.* | President's Reception and Closing Activities | Students and Families |
*As students complete their advising session and have their schedules signed off on by a professional advisor, families and guests are welcome to explore the President's Reception at their leisure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Registration for New Spartan Days opens on May 1, and all incoming first-year students must register for one New Spartan Day.
You do not, however, need to register for Fall Orientation. Just show up in August, and we will be ready for you!
No. Only students are required to attend the course registration/advising session. Students will also complete additional sessions during the New Spartan Day experience.
However, we will host sessions for family members as a part of New Spartan Days to assist in their transition to our community. You may bring up to two guests.
No, we have you covered!
You may want to bring your own notebook and pen.
Yes, with the assistance of our professional staff and student peer advisors, you will get to choose your own schedule!
Every major, including Undeclared students, has a suggested course sequence to follow. Our trained advisors will guide you as you make the appropriate class choices for your first semester.
Yes, you will get a full course schedule!
It is possible that some courses, such as those in the First Year Seminar, may be full — so you may not always get your first choice. There is a course sequence recommended to follow for all majors, but you will have great choices regardless of which orientation date you choose!
What's Next?
Fall Orientation is the next step of your orientation program.
All first-year students will arrive the week (Thursday) before the start of classes in August. Residential students get to move into their rooms — with loads of help from our orientation move-in team! — and both residential and commuter students get an action-packed weekend to kick off their collegiate careers.
You will experience an uplifting welcoming ceremony, connect with your new classmates, and meet faculty and advisors in your intended major. You will also get to meet with your First Year Seminar professors and peer mentor.
Fall Orientation and the supportive Orientation staff will help you feel at home as you transition into life as a YCP student. This will be a weekend you won't forget!
Student Activities and Orientation Staff
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