PSEO/COLLEGE/CAREER
College Bound in Spring of 2024 or Fall of 2025?
1.Apply to the University/College of your choice:
Fill out the required application materials
Applications are typically located under the admissions section on the website of the university or college you want to attend
Communicate with your MNCS Advisor and the College and Career Readiness Team so MNCS can send your transcripts and any other needed documents to the university/college you applied to
2.Fill out your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Information about filling out the FAFSA FAFSA
PSEO: Post-Secondary Enrollment Options
Planning to do PSEO Next Year? Or are you just curious what PSEO is all about and how it works at MNCS?
Check out these resources and contact Nichole Kotasek (the PSEO Coordinator) if you have any questions.
MNCS Information Sessions:
Parent/Guardian virtual information session - Session dates will be posted in February 2025 for students interested in PSEO during the 2025-2026 school year
MNCS PSEO Informational Meeting Slides
MNCS PSEO Guidelines explains the steps needed to participate in PSEO
PSEO NOSR 2024-2025 (notice of Student Registration) Form --REQUIRED
The PSEO NOSR is required in addition to the student’s individual application to the college of their choice - note that colleges/universities set their own deadlines.
The PSEO NOSR must be completed and submitted to the MNCS PSEO Coordinator every semester you attend PSEO
The PSEO NOSR is due by October 30, 2024 (for spring 2025 semester) and/or by May 30, 2025 (for fall 2025 semester) to the MNCS PSEO Coordinator: Nichole Kotasek --> (keep in mind some institutions need your form and application earlier)
PSEO Information from MDE: Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college nonsectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online.
Each participating college or university sets its own admissions requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th graders are eligible to enroll in PSEO on a more limited basis (see note below). Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. If a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, she/he may continue to participate in PSEO on a term by term basis.
By March 1 of each year, or three weeks prior to the date a student registers for courses for the following school year (whichever is earlier), schools must provide PSEO information to all students in grades 8-11 and their families. To assist the district in planning, a student must inform the district by May 30 of each year of their intent to enroll in postsecondary courses during the following school year.
There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course; however, students may incur fees for equipment that becomes their property when the course or program is completed, textbooks that are not returned to the postsecondary institution according to their policies, or for tuition costs if they do not notify the district by May 30 and the district does not waive this date requirement.
Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. For more information on these funds, access the PSEO Mileage Reimbursement Program Instructions.
Enrolling in a PSEO course does not prohibit a student from participating in activities sponsored by the high school.
School districts must allow a PSEO student reasonable access to the high school building, computers and/or other technology resources during regular school hours to participate in PSEO courses, whether on-line or on campus.
Each year, districts must publish their grade-weighting policy on their website, including a list of courses for which students can earn weighted grades.
All courses taken through the PSEO program must meet graduation requirements. Districts must transcript credits earned in PSEO by a ratio prescribed in statute. Districts have the authority to decide which subject area and standards the PSEO course meets. If there is a dispute between the district and the student regarding the number of credits granted for a particular course, the student may appeal the board's decision to the commissioner. The commissioner's decision regarding the number of credits will be final.
Postsecondary institutions are required to allow PSEO students to enroll in online courses consistent with the institution’s policy regarding postsecondary student enrollment in online courses.
Tenth-grade students may initially enroll in one Career and Technical Education (CTE) PSEO course if they receive a reading proficiency score of “meets” or “exceeds” on the 8th grade MCA. If 10th graders taking a CTE PSEO course earn at least a grade C in that class, they may take additional postsecondary courses. If the student did not take the MCA in 8th-grade, another reading assessment accepted by the enrolling postsecondary institution can be substituted. For students with disabilities, there is an alternative option to demonstrate reading proficiency.
For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.
Career Information from the South-Central MN Workforce Center: The Career Corner Newsletters are a great way to learn about many different types of careers. Check out careers and educational opportunities available. Read about skills learned in school that help prepare students for the workforce. Watch a short video about Vocational Rehabilitation Services and how they help students with disabilities plan the journey from school to what comes next.
Check Out These Career Corner Newsletters!
Some Useful Websites for College and Career Planning
www.commonapp.org/ – Common App – many post-secondary institutions use this for all incoming applications
www.actstudent.org/ – Online registration for the ACT; lists of test dates and centers in the US plus tips on how to prepare for the test.
www.collegeboard.com – SAT test dates, test questions, and SAT question of the day. College searches, online college applications, and some useful information to read before visiting a college
www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org/– Link to college search and scholarship info on the College Board website
www.khanacademy.com – ACT and SAT Prep available
www.fafsa.ed.gov/ – Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid electronically.
www.princetonreview.com – Information on colleges, careers, college entrance testing, scholarships & financial aid.
www.ohe.state.mn.us/ – MN Office of Higher Education – many great resources for planning for post-secondary – including both choosing and paying for school
– CareerWise – Career exploration, planning your education or training, and labor market information. This site will help you match your interests to careers and give you descriptions of many careers.
www.scholarships.com/ – College contact information, links to free scholarship searches, etc.
www.studentaid.gov – Department of Education: Student Financial Assistance.
www.fastweb.com – Free scholarship search. Database of scholarships, grants, fellowships, and loans.
www.finaid.org/ – A complete page of links to information about financial aid on the Internet. You can complete a questionnaire to arrive at your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), get loan and scholarship information, and more.
www.myfuture.com – Information on the GI Bill, College Fund, CCAF, ROTC, Service Academies, and other military opportunities.
www.collegeanswer.com – Pointers on the entire “Go-to-College” process from preparation to getting loans; contains more than 2.8 million scholarships worth more than $16 billion.