SUNY New Paltz campus

New Paltz -- The State University of New York at New Paltz has been chosen as the "Hottest Small State School" in the nation by the 2008 Kaplan/Newsweek "How to Get into College" Guide. 

As one of the "25 Hottest Schools in America," SUNY New Paltz has been recognized for its academic excellence and its unique appeal to students seeking entry into the top schools in the country. One of the contributing factors to the college's selection was based on admission statistics.

L. David Eaton, vice president of enrollment management at SUNY New Paltz, said he is not surprised, noting that New Paltz has experienced a 40 percent spike in freshman applications since 2000.

For the 17th consecutive year, New Paltz has led SUNY colleges with the highest number of overall applications, which has allowed the college to be more selective in its admissions process. This fall, the college accepted 32 percent of its first-year applicants and 36 percent of its transfer applicants.