New Students
If you’re planning to enroll as a Columbus Promise Scholar at Columbus State, there’s a lot you can do ahead of time, so you’re ready to make the most of your six tuition-free semesters. Here are next steps and engagement opportunities to get you on your way!
Pre-enrollment Steps
Get ready for your first semester by completing the outlined steps in the PDF below!
COLUMBUS PROMISE NEW STUDENT CHECKLIST (PDF)
Advising & Registration: Quick Start Guide
- Check Your Acceptance Letter: Read through your letter carefully and make sure to follow all the next steps listed inside. Your acceptance letter tells you exactly how to get started at Columbus State.
- Complete Your Workday Tasks: Log in to Workday and look for the Inbox icon (it looks like a little envelope or
mail tray). Click through these notifications to clear out your required onboarding
tasks.
- Tip: On a computer, this icon is in the top right corner. On a phone, look for the same envelope icon at the bottom of your screen.
- Sign Up for Course Registration: Find your "Course Registration Workshop" task in Workday and select an event date. Attending this event connects you with the Promise team, who will walk you through picking and registering for your classes.
Transition to College
- Check out Columbus State’s career and academic pathways, transfer programs, and co-curricular opportunities, such as experiential learning and the Honors Program.
- Students can also learn about program options, degree requirements, and transfer and career opportunities by exploring the course catalog.
- Looking to learn more about a certain major, opportunities in career fields, and college support resources? Our Program Spotlight can help! Join us and learn more!
- Explore potential career pathways with Career Coach, an online tool provided by our Career Services team. Get started with Career Coach.
- Incoming students can also contact Mark Straughter, Career Coach, to discuss their career assessment results and receive personalized, one-on-one career counseling. The Career Coach can help students explore majors and potential careers, and connect with paid internships, job shadowing and work-study programs.
- Graduating seniors who have completed their Columbus Promise application will be invited to return to Columbus State campus for an in-depth look at the Columbus Promise program and next steps for enrolling in the Autumn semester.
- Complete a required course before your first semester even starts! COLS 1101 (College Success Skills) is a 1-credit-hour course emphasizing skills and resources students use to meet their personal, academic, and career goals. Columbus Promise students can take the course two weeks before the start of Autumn semester to get comfortable with the online tools they’ll be using as a student and make connections with Columbus Promise staff and students. Pre-term COLS is offered at no additional cost and will be covered as part of the Autumn 2025 Columbus Promise financial aid package.