Stony Brook Builds Support for Out-of-State Freshmen

Out-of-state students who relocate to Stony Brook can join NY Bound, a program that pairs them with faculty and peers.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in College Applications

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a weathered wooden pier stretching into calm water, with mismatched chairs gathered at its end under warm late-afternoon light. — Stony Brook University launched its NY Bound program for nearly 400 out-of-state freshmen this academic year, pairing them with faculty and peers on seven trips across Long Island and New York City. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Stony Brook University launched its NY Bound program for nearly 400 out-of-state freshmen in the 2026-2027 academic year, pairing them with faculty and peers. The program ran seven trips across Long Island and New York City over two months.

Why it matters

Out-of-state students are a minority on many campuses and can find the adjustment to a university far from home difficult, so the program aims to give them a built-in support system. For New York families weighing an out-of-state option, it shows how a school may structure orientation and community-building for students who relocate.

Nearly 400 out-of-state freshmen were enrolled at Stony Brook for the 2026-2027 academic year. Seven NY Bound trips were held over two months, with another New York City trip planned for December.

The players

Stony Brook University

A public research university on Long Island that runs the NY Bound program for its out-of-state freshmen.

Pamela Pfeil

A program planner who helped organize the NY Bound trips for out-of-state students at Stony Brook.

William Martin

A program planner who helped organize the NY Bound trips for out-of-state students at Stony Brook.

Stephanie Dudowitz

A program planner who helped organize the NY Bound trips for out-of-state students at Stony Brook.

The details

The program opened in late August with a welcome dinner at the Student Activities Center. Planners Pamela Pfeil, William Martin, and Stephanie Dudowitz drew on their knowledge of Long Island and New York City to choose the excursions. Destinations included Fire Island, Montauk, the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, the 9/11 Memorial, the New York Hall of Science/Queens Night Market, and an apple orchard in Greenport. The performance of "Wicked" (2003) was the most in-demand outing.

Summer 2026: The program was assembled as a way for students to bond.
Late August 2026: NY Bound kicked off with a welcome dinner at the Student Activities Center.
Over the last two months: Seven trips ran across Long Island and New York City.
December 2026: Another New York City trip is planned for the cohort.
Spring semester: A get-together for NY Bound students is planned.

Education Landscape

Out-of-state students make up a minority of enrollment at many New York public universities, which can shape how they experience campus life. Programs like NY Bound reflect how campuses are responding to that gap through orientation, trips, and peer connection.

If you are an out-of-state applicant considering a New York public university, ask the admissions office what orientation and peer-support programs it offers for students who relocate. Checking early whether a school runs community-building activities can help you plan for the transition.

The takeaway

Out-of-state students can benefit from programs built around connection, so ask schools how they support relocating freshmen. Requesting details on orientation and peer-support offerings from a school's admissions office is a practical first step.