PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION THEN SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE TO BEGIN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

THE POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS PROGRAM

AT

COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

www.cscc.edu

The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Program at Columbus State Community College has been established to allow qualified high school students to take courses for:

(Option A) college credit only (student and family pay all tuition, fees, and for books)

(Option B) both high school credit and college credit (school pays all tuition, fees, and for books)

The PSEO Program has been designed to provide an opportunity for qualified high school students who are Ohio residents to experience more advanced academic work through regular college courses that contribute to the broad academic preparation of the student.  Participation in the PSEO Program is not intended to replace or substitute coursework available at the high school, but rather to enhance the educational opportunities available to students while in high school.  The high school will decide which classes will meet the student’s high school graduation requirements.

Amended Substitute House Bill 282 states, "A student may not enroll in any specific college course through the program if the student has taken high school courses in the same subject area as that college course and has failed to attain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent, in such completed high school courses."

PRELIMINARY QUALIFICATIONS for ALL PSEO Applicants

                  1. Have a Social Security Number (required to access and complete the online applications)

                     2. Have a high school transcript (from the sponsoring high school)

                  3. Have either a minimum high school grade point average or one standardized test score (listed below)

                      by the PSEO application deadline for the selected quarter.

                  4. Have a 3.0 cumulative GPA in a high school subject area before student can take those classes at CSCC.

                  5. Juniors and Seniors - Have passed the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT).

                  6. Freshmen and Sophomores - Complete a 300 word essay (topic sent upon receipt of application),

                      and must complete an entrance interview. In addition, the high school guidance counselor must submit

                      a letter of recommendation addressing the maturity level of the applicant, what subject area(s) the

                      applicant intends to pursue, what college preparation the applicant has completed, and when the

                      applicant plans to take the Ohio Graduation Test. (The essay, interview and recommendation letters will be used as a

                      determinant for admission to PSEO.) These applicants are limited to one class per quarter.

PSEO ADMISSION PROCESS

For a student to be accepted into the PSEO program ALL of the following steps must be completed. The student will NOT receive an official PSEO acceptance letter from the PSEO Advisor until steps 1-4 (listed below) are completed (steps 1-5 for Private/Non-public applicants).

Step One.  Complete the online Columbus State Community College application: (www.cscc.edu)

Step Two.  Complete the online or paper Post Secondary Enrollment application (www.cscc.edu/USE)

Step Three.  Take the COMPASS Test. Applicants who meet PSEO program preliminary qualifications will receive notification to take the COMPASS placement test.  (For Practice tests and hours visit the website at www.cscc.edu/sstc/compass.htm)

Applicants must complete all three parts of Columbus State's placement test (math, reading, and language skills) in order to be

considered for the PSEO Program.

Step Four.  Attend a MANDATORY PSEO Orientation (www.cscc.edu/USE, click on Reserve my PSEO Orientation Seat).

Step Five (Private/Non-public applicants only). Submit a funding approval letter from the State Department of Education.

The applicant and the high school counselor or principal will be notified of the applicant’s admission status to the PSEO Program only after STEPS 1-4 are COMPLETED (STEPS 1-5 for Private/Non-public applicants). For an applicant to be accepted into the PSEO program ALL of the steps must be completed. The applicant will NOT receive an official PSEO acceptance letter from the PSEO Advisor until steps 1-4 are completed (steps 1-5 for Private/Non-public applicants).

NOTE: Applicants who meet the PSEO preliminary criteria will be notified by mail and/or email to proceed with the PSEO process. For admittance into the PSEO Program, the applicant must obtain specific results on the COMPASS placement test. Applicants who do not obtain these results or meet any of the PSEO requirements will be encouraged to enroll in (an) appropriate class(es) in their high school or “Self-Pay**” for all fees and books at Columbus State Community College. Applicants who do not meet the COMPASS placement test criteria may also:

1. RETEST once on any or all parts of the test to see if they can achieve the required score. (There is a $20.00 fee for retesting in the Testing Center).  For more information: www.cscc.edu/sstc/compass.htm

2. Enroll during any quarter prior to participation in the PSEO Program in order to complete coursework in the area of deficiency, if the applicant placed into English 100, DEV 044, and /or Math 102.  The applicant must achieve a grade of C or better in any of these courses and attend a MANDATORY PSEO Orientation (www.cscc.edu/USE, click on Reserve my PSEO Orientation seat) in order to be accepted into the PSEO Program. A new PSEO application must be submitted for the appropriate quarter. “SELF-PAY” Students** will be responsible for all fees including books and supplies.

3. Choose to be admitted to CSCC as a PSEO student with the following limitations: If the applicant does not meet the minimum in Mathematics, s/he may be admitted to PSEO and not take any classes that have Mathematics as a prerequisite. Conversely, if the applicant does not meet the minimum in Writing, s/he may not take any classes that have English as a prerequisite. All applicants must place out of Developmental Reading Courses.

**For Self-Pay information and forms visit our website:  www.cscc.edu/USE, click on 'Selfpay High School Student'.

The MANDATORY deadlines for receipt of the PSEO application and high school transcript are listed below.

DEADLINES are firmly upheld.

PSEO APPLICATION DEADLINES (Public/Charter schools)

Autumn Quarter 2010- August 12, 2010*

(strongly recommended by June 7, 2010)

                  Winter Quarter 2011- October 6, 2010*

                     Spring Quarter 2011- January 12, 2011*

PSEO APPLICATION DEADLINES (Private/Non-public schools)

(due to State of Ohio Department of Education funding for private/non-public PSEO applicants, it is strongly recommended that all application material be submitted by May 4, 2010)

Autumn Quarter 2010- June 4, 2010* (recommended May 4, 2010)

Winter Quarter 2011- June 4, 2010* (recommended May 4, 2010)

Spring Quarter 2011- June 4, 2010* (recommended May 4, 2010)

*The PSEO application with a current high school transcript must be in our office and meet the preliminary qualifications by the deadline date.

Please click here for Frequently Asked PSEO Questions.

Ready to complete the application(s)? If so, you will need to have your Social Security Number (or your Cougar ID# if you have completed a Columbus State Community College application for admission). You will be completing a PSEO application and an online Columbus State Community College application for admission. (If you have already completed the online Columbus State Community College application for admission, you will not be asked to complete it again.)

Click here to complete a PSEO online application

OR

Click here to print a paper PSEO application

(print all six (6) pages, follow the instructions listed at the top of the application)

 Home Schooled Students           PSEO Student Guide            Selfpay High School Students           USE Homepage        CSCC Homepage