Understanding the New York regents examinations

W'sup, peeps? I'm an out of state student but really interested in applying to NY colleges. I've heard from some friends about these New York regents examinations. What are they really about and how important are they for NY college admissions?

Hello there! The New York State Regents Examinations, also known as "the Regents," are standardized tests in New York for high school students. They're administered and prepared by the New York State Education Department to measure achievement in various high school-level subjects.

In order to graduate high school in New York State, students generally must pass at least four Regents Exams, including one in math, one in science, and two in social studies (usually Global History and Geography and U.S. History and Government). They also need to score at least 65 on each exam. Some choose to take more than the required amount based on their academic goals.

If you're from out-of-state and interested in New York colleges, the Regents shouldn't affect your application process directly since these examinations are a requirement for NY high school students. However, colleges may look at Regents scores as part of an applicant's overall academic achievement if the student is from New York.

For out-of-state students, your state's graduation requirements, your transcript, standardized test scores (if not applying to test-blind schools), AP Courses and/or dual enrollment courses, extracurricular involvements, and essays will hold more weight. It's indeed important to demonstrate rigorous coursework, solid accomplishments, and sincere interest in your chosen field or overall studies. Good luck with your college applications!