PSEO FAQs

Before you start the application process, talk with your parents and high school counselor about whether PSEO could be a good fit for you. It takes motivation and dedication to be successful in college, so when making this decision make sure you’ve considered the following:

• Am I ready for college-level courses?
• Can I handle a faster learning pace?
• Have I shown that I am responsible and independent by attending classes and completing assignments on my own?
• Will I miss not being as involved at my high school?
• Will I be able to arrange my schedule so I can get to classes at SCTCC and my high school (if doing part-time PSEO)?

These are just a few things to think about when considering becoming a PSEO student. The PSEO program can be a wonderful option for many high school students, but it can also be challenging.

Soon-to-be high school juniors and seniors must take the Next Generation Accuplacer assessment (unless exempt) to determine whether they are eligible for PSEO. The results from the Accuplacer assessment are the determining factor for a student’s eligibility to enroll in college-level courses at SCTCC that are paid for by the PSEO program.

Note: The MINIMUM Next Gen Accuplacer Reading score to be eligible for PSEO is 237. The preferred Reading score is 250+ as this allows students to take more general liberal arts education courses.

• A student who begins the PSEO program in 12th grade is eligible to participate in the program for one academic year. Students that graduate mid-year are eligible to participate in PSEO for the remainder of the school year.
• A student who starts at the beginning of 11th grade is eligible to participate for two academic years. Juniors can also start the program mid-year.

You cannot be enrolled full-time at your high school to be eligible for the PSEO funding. You need to give up at least one course at your high school.

Please submit the following (via mail OR e-mail):

• Complete online application at Admissions
• A current high school transcript
• ACT, SAT or MCA scores (if available)
• Records of immunizations (alternative and home-schooled students only)
• A Minnesota Department of Education PSEO Notice of Student Registration Form (NOSR form). Parts 1 and 2 of the form must be completed and signed. NOSR form in multiple formats
• Transcripts of previously completed college-level coursework (College in the Schools, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, PSEO at another institution, etc.)

The admissions process to PSEO involves three steps:

1. Submit the application materials and meet eligibility requirements
2. Complete Accuplacer assessment/placement testing (if necessary)
3. Attend a PSEO Advising & Registration session

For each step, a certain requirement must be met before moving to the next step. Therefore, applicants are only notified of the next step when the previous requirement has been met. The Admissions Office will send letters and checklists with information on how to complete each step. You should complete each step as soon as possible after receiving a letter.

Each year, the application deadline for the Fall semester is June 1st. The application deadline for spring semester is November 1st.

No, PSEO students are not charged an application fee. Applying to SCTCC is free for everyone.

Yes, you can reapply for a future semester. You would need to resubmit all of the application materials. The results of the SCTCC placement tests are the determining factor for a student’s eligibility to enroll in college-level courses at SCTCC paid for by the PSEO program. Our testing policy allows a student to take each section of the placement tests (Reading & Math) two times in a 12-month period.

No, once you’ve been accepted into the program, you do not need to reapply each semester. Students entering the PSEO program at the start of 10th grade are eligible for 6 semesters. Students entering at the start of 11th grade are eligible to participate for 4 semesters. Students entering the program at the start of 12th grade are eligible to participate for 2 semesters. Once admitted to the program, a student can take a semester off and does not need to reapply. You must submit a new MN Department of Education Notice of Student Registration form every semester prior to registering for classes through the PSEO program for the next semester. Your PSEO status will end with your high school graduation date. PSEO participants who want to continue taking classes at SCTCC after they graduate from high school do NOT need to apply for regular admission at SCTCC. Please stop by the Admissions office to fill out a Program Status Change Form a couple of months prior to high school graduation. 

You should notify the college as soon as possible if you have been accepted to the program but will not be attending. If you have not registered for classes, your application will be canceled and you can reapply for a future semester. If you have already registered for classes you need to drop or withdraw from your classes at the college and return any textbooks immediately (Failing to drop your courses will result in F grades posted to your college transcript). Also, inform your high school counselor of any change in plans.

The Next Generation Accuplacer assessment measures reading and mathematics skills and is used to assist students with the selection of appropriate courses to help ensure a student’s academic success. A PSEO applicant must demonstrate college-level reading skills, at a minimum, to be eligible to register for any courses as a PSEO student. SCTCC placement tests are not timed and provide immediate results that predict college readiness.

Each section of the Accuplacer assessment (reading and math) can be taken two times in a 12-month period (including placement testing completed at other Minnesota State colleges and universities). You must wait 12 months from the last testing date to retake any section of the placement test.

Ideally, we like PSEO students to demonstrate college-level skills in all sections of the placement test. A PSEO applicant must demonstrate college-level Reading skills, at a minimum, to be eligible to register for any courses as a PSEO student.

Reading Exemptions Scores (you must meet one of the following scores to be exempt from the Accuplacer):

• ACT subscore of 21 or above
• SAT Critical Reading score of 550
• MCA Reading score of 1047 or above

Math Exemptions Scores (you must meet one of the following scores to be exempt from the Accuplacer):

• ACT subscore of 22 or above
• SAT Math score of 530 and above
• MCA Math score of 1155 and above

PSEO applicants will receive a checklist and letter with instructions on how to access the online reservation site to set up a time to take the Accuplacer assessment and which tests are needed if the applicant has submitted other scores for possible waivers.

Several resources are available to assist students in preparing for the Accuplacer assessment!

Visit the Accuplacer College Board website for “Free Sample Questions” and a “Free Accuplacer Practice App” for the CLASSIC version of the Accuplacer tests. Accuplacer provides free practice questions as well as a web-based study app that features practice tests in each test subject. The web-based study app works on most devices with internet access.

• It will help you become familiar with the content and format of the Accuplacer test questions. 
• Sample tests are similar to the real thing, so you will know ahead what your experience will be like during your assessment.  
• “Learn as you go” tests provide you with an explanation of the correct or incorrect responses. 
• You can save your work at any time, and come back when it is convenient for you.
• You can review your score history to see what you’re already doing well and what skills you should focus on improving.

On your web browser, go to google.com and type in “Accuplacer Practice” in the search box. Several good sites from this search include: 

• studyguidezone.com
• testprepreview.com
• math.com

No, PSEO students do not pay any fees for the placement tests. If students would like to retest, there is a $10 retest fee.

For purposes of determining PSEO eligibility, a student must give up at least one class at the high school to be eligible for PSEO at the college. Students cannot be enrolled full time at the high school and also be eligible for PSEO.

Yes, a student in the PSEO program may enroll as a full-time student at the college. Full time = 12 credits (four classes at three credits each)

PSEO students can take up to 18 credits (more upon approval from PSEO Advisor). For most students, particularly 11th graders, we recommend starting the program on a part-time basis.

The MN Department of Education does not fund the PSEO program during the summer. However, students already enrolled in the PSEO program can continue courses during the summer semester as long as:

• They were previously enrolled in the fall or spring semester
• They’re still eligible for the PSEO program
• They haven’t received a high school diploma yet

The student is responsible for all tuition, fees, and books if they chose to enroll in summer classes.

Yes, college courses will most likely be more difficult than high school courses. There is a lot more responsibility placed on the student. For every hour in class, a student should plan on two hours of homework outside of class.

Our general Liberal Education courses fall under the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum “Goal Areas”. These are the more popular course options for PSEO students as they include, English, Math, Sciences, Arts & Humanities, and other courses that students need to graduate from high school.

Career and Technical Education courses are those that are geared toward specific technical areas. These courses may include Accounting, Computer Programming, Nursing Assistant, Welding, etc. PSEO students can take these CTE courses as long as they meet the requirements.

PSEO students are not eligible to take developmental education or remedial courses (numbered below 1000).

Yes, PSEO students can take online courses and courses offered in the evening and on weekends.

Yes, many students attend classes at their high school and SCTCC. The number of college credits that equal high school credits depend on your high school’s grading system terms and graduation requirements. You will need to work with your high school counselor to be sure you do not exceed full-time status with a combination of high school and college courses.

All new PSEO students will attend an Advising and Registration session at SCTCC to register for courses for the first time. Before attending this session, we strongly encourage you to work closely with your high school counselor regarding course selection to be sure the courses meet your high school graduation requirements.
After completing the first semester, students must continue to meet with both the high school counselor and the PSEO advisor for additional course selection and registration.

If a student wants to register for more than 18 credits in one semester, they will need the PSEO Advisor’s approval & signature.

Before dropping or withdrawing from a course it is important to understand how these decisions will affect your academic standing at the college as well as the graduation requirements at your high school. You should work closely with your high school counselor and the PSEO Advisor before deciding to drop or withdraw from a course.

Each semester there are established deadlines for dropping or withdrawing from courses. As a PSEO student, you get 10 full days to try out your courses before deciding if you would like to drop. This means the course will NOT be on your academic record. If you decide to make a change in your course schedule, you are responsible for dropping or withdrawing from your course with the college by the established deadline.

You will not be charged for a course you drop, withdraw from, or fail.

You are expected to attend your classes, even if your high school is not in session. Most instructors have their own attendance policy. If you need to miss class, you should talk to each of your instructors.

Yes, PSEO students are required to purchase a parking permit before picking up their textbooks ( the week before classes start). The parking fee is $3.50/credit taken that semester (example: 10 credits = $35). You must first register your vehicle here. Once your vehicle is registered, you can pick up your permit at the Financial Services desk. If you are not driving to campus, you will need to get a parking waiver, also found at Financial Services.

Required textbooks and supplies are paid for by the PSEO program. Your textbooks are the property of SCTCC. All textbooks and supplies must be returned to the college at the end of each semester by the last day of finals. If you do not return the textbooks you will be billed.
All bills must be paid in full before you can register in a future semester or have a transcript released to another institution. Optional textbooks are not covered by the PSEO program.

You will always pick up your books in person, 1 week prior to the start of the semester. Only you, the student, can pick up your books because you will be asked to sign a textbook agreement form. You will first need to bring the following to the Admissions desk:

• A copy of your class schedule
• your receipt from your parking permit

You will then sign our textbook agreement form before heading to the bookstore to pick up your books. When you pick up your books you will receive important information about the textbook return policy. This will include when and how to return your books if you change your classes and when to return your books at the end of the semester. Students who drop or withdraw from a course must immediately return textbooks and supplies to the bookstore.

Reimbursement may be available for required books and supplies not available through the SCTCC bookstore. Please contact the PSEO Advisor with questions about reimbursement. Sales tax and textbook shipping costs (if applicable) are not reimbursable. Students must keep their original receipts and turn them into the PSEO Advisor. Your reimbursement check will be sent within two weeks.

Students will have to return all supplies after the semester if they choose to be reimbursed.

The cost for all course tuition, fees, and required textbooks are covered under the PSEO program. It also covers consumable supplies that are required specifically for a class, such as art supplies, film, etc.

The program does NOT cover general school supplies such as notebooks, pens, pencils, calculators, etc.

You must submit a new Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) PSEO Program Notice of Student Registration form each semester prior to registering for classes under the PSEO program for payment of the tuition, fees, textbooks, and supplies.

At the end of each semester, SCTCC will forward your college transcript to your high school guidance office. You’ll also be able to view your grades online through eServices.

You will not be charged if you fail a course BUT…
PSEO students are expected to meet the same standards for satisfactory academic progress as non-PSEO students.

You’d need to maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete 66.66% of your credits. Students who fall below these requirements will not be allowed to participate in the PSEO program the following semester. Remember, the grades you earn will be permanently posted on your college transcript.

You can only retake a course with the PSEO program paying for it as long as you are still eligible for the program and you have not been awarded prior college credit for the course. If you received a grade of “D” or higher, you cannot retake the course.

Unfortunately, transportation costs to and from the college are not covered by the PSEO program and are the student’s responsibility. However, some PSEO students may be eligible for assistance with transportation costs. To be eligible, a student’s family must be under the federal poverty guidelines. Students who qualify should work with their school district on the reimbursement process. More information is available at the MN Dept. of Education website.

Please feel free to explore our Accessibility Services webpage for more information. 

Also, you can schedule an appointment with Accessibility Services to discuss creating an Accommodations Plan by calling (320) 308-5064 or emailing acc@sctcc.edu.

Absolutely! PSEO students are encouraged to get involved in the student clubs and organizations and attend the different events offered on campus.

You will be expected to attend all of your classes, even on days when the college is in session and your high school may not be in session. For example, your high school spring break may occur at a different time than SCTCC’s spring break. Attendance rules are set by each instructor and vary from class to class. If you know you are going to miss class, you should always make arrangements BEFORE with each of your college instructors.