Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
Post secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a state of Minnesota program that allows Minnesota high school students in grades 11 and 12 to enroll, full time or part time, in Saint Mary’s courses and receive high school and college credit at the same time. All tuition and book charges are covered by the program, so no fees are passed along to the students – except for transportation and any additional costs the student chooses to incur as a PSEO student (such as school supplies, meal plans, commuter parking passes, and housing – should the student decide to reside on campus).
There is no state mandate as to the number of students who can attend universities under the PSEO program each year; however, Saint Mary’s University limits the number of PSEO students to 25 – 30 per year, with priority being given to students who intend to enroll full time at Saint Mary’s University for the completion of their college education. Limiting the number of PSEO students helps Saint Mary’s to better serve that population of students, as every effort is made to ensure that PSEO students can enroll in courses they need for high school graduation. (However, because course "guarantees" cannot be made, some courses may actually need to be taken through the corresponding high school.)
By law, it is the responsibility of the school district, to inform students of the PSEO program. In return, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the school district of his/her intent to enroll in courses at SMU. In order to inform the state of Minnesota that a student is actually attending Saint Mary’s University, students are required to submit the State of Minnesota PSEO form to the Admission Office before the University’s academic year begins. Prior to submission, this form must be completed by the student and the student’s high school.
Saint Mary’s University sets a deadline of January 31st for application to the PSEO program for the upcoming academic year. Because our spots fill up so quickly; now is the time to begin thinking about your application for next year’s PSEO program at SMU!
(Please Note: Should any PSEO positions become available for second semester, we will offer those spots to students on our waiting list. In order to be a member of our waiting list to receive consideration for second term PSEO status, your application file needs to be complete by November 1st of the current academic year!)
Click on the links below for more specific information about the PSEO program at Saint Mary’s University
SMU Admission requirements for PSEO
How to begin the PSEO process
Frequently asked questions about PSEO
Apply online
Download State of Minnesota PSEO form (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Link to State of Minnesota PSEO website
SMU Admission Requirements for PESO
Admission standards for PSEO students are set by each university, and vary from college to college. Therefore, Saint Mary’s University considers PSEO applicants who…
- are high school juniors and seniors
- have at least a 3.0 high school G.P.A.
- have submitted the Saint Mary’s application form and personal essay
- have submitted a copy of their most recent high school transcripts
- have submitted a copy of their most recent standardized test scores (8th or 10th grade state, PLAN, ACT, SAT… - if available)
- have submitted the State of Minnesota PSEO form
- have submitted all (above listed) required materials by January 31st
Return to top
How to begin the PSEO process
- Students need a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and be a junior or
senior at the time they would attend.
- Students get a SMU application form from their high school guidance
counselor or can apply online at www.smumn.edu . The completed Saint
Mary’s University application form (with written essay attached)
needs to be submitted by January 31st.
- The student’s high school transcripts need to be sent by January 31st.
- The student’s ACT (or any other formal testing) scores need to be sent with the high school transcripts by January 31st.
- The State of MN PSEO Form, which can be obtained from the high school, needs to be completed and sent (with the transcripts and test scores) by January 31st.
* Any application file not complete by the January 31st deadline will automatically be put on our waiting list.
* Once we receive the above-mentioned materials, the application file will be complete; and the following process begins….
- We process the application forms; and if the student meets our initial criteria, we send them a letter that tells them to set up an interview by the second week of February with our Director for Admission. (Students interested in Residential PESO need to express their interest at the time of their initial interview, as they will also need to interview with the Director for Housing. Only students in their senior year of high school are allowed to be SMU residential students. If accepted, these students are financially responsible for room and board.)
- We make all PSEO decisions by the end of February and accept no more than 25 - 30 students (which includes the number of students returning to Saint Mary’s for their senior year of PSEO). All interviewed applicants for PSEO will receive official notification by the middle of March.
Return to top
Frequently asked questions about PSEO
Q: What is the deadline to apply to SMU’s PSEO program?
A: January 31st of each year for the upcoming year’s program.
Q: What if I apply for the PSEO program after Saint Mary’s application
deadline has passed?
A: Any application for PSEO received after the January 31st
deadline will automatically be put on the waiting list. Should any further positions become available, we will contact students on the waiting list.
Q: Can PSEO students live on campus?
A: Yes, we allow students in the senior year of high school to be residential PSEO students. Students interested in Residential PESO need to express their interest at the time of their initial interview, as they will also need to interview with the Director for Housing. If accepted, these students are financially responsible for room and board.
Q: What are the admission requirements for PSEO students?
A: Students interested in the PSEO program must be in their junior or senior year of high school, have a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), complete the SMU admission application form (with personal essay attached), complete that State of Minnesota PSEO form, and submit their most recent high school transcripts and test scores – by the January 31st deadline. Students that fit our initial criteria will be invited in for a personal interview. PSEO decisions are made based on the student’s academic profile in core coursework and the personal interview results.
Q: What if I haven’t taken the ACT or SAT yet?
A: ACT & SAT scores will be taken into consideration if
available, but are not required for PSEO admission. However, we do ask that students submit the results of their most recent formal testing - 8th or 10th grade state, PLAN, Iowa Basics (if not the ACT & SAT).
Q: Are there any course restrictions for PSEO students?
A: PSEO students are able to take any course that is available to our SMU freshman, as long as the prerequisite for the course is met. However, specific courses may have special fees attached that are the responsibility of the student. In the case of Music courses, the program will cover the cost of music "classes"; however, the SMU PSEO program will not cover the cost of private music "lessons".
Furthermore, PSEO students will want to ensure that the courses chosen actually meet grad standards for high school graduation; and we leave THAT responsibility up to the PSEO students. So, we encourage students to discuss this information with their high school counselor right now, so they know what courses will be needed (to fulfill high school graduation requirements). In addition, course selection can sometimes be limited, as PSEO students register last - after our regular student population. So, if we can't get a PSEO student into a course needed for high school graduation, we encourage the student to take that course from their high school, and fill their SMU schedule with other courses that do fulfill requirements.
Q: Will I be treated differently because I am a PSEO student?
A: In short, no. We consider you to be no different than any other new student to campus. As SMU students, you are held to the same academic and disciplinary standards as the rest of our students. Therefore, you are entitled to the same privileges as our SMU students, except that you cannot participate in NCAA sports (as a high school student). All other campus activities, program, and clubs are available to you. So, no one will know that you are a PSEO student, unless you decide to tell them.
Q: Are there any fees that I will have to pay as a PSEO student?
A : * The money to fund the program comes from the state of Minnesota, to the school district, and on to SMU. So, all tuition and book charges are covered by the program. Therefore, no fees are passed along to the students – except for transportation and any additional costs the student chooses to incur as a PSEO student (such as school supplies, meal plans, commuter parking passes, and housing – should the student decide to reside on campus).
Return to top
|
