- Why should I be a Compact Scholar at SDSU?
- Who is eligible to be a SDSU Compact Scholar?
- How do I apply for the program?
- What happens after I am admitted?
- What are the benefits of being in the Compact Scholars Program?
- Who is eligible to receive the Compact Scholars Scholarship?
- If I am offered a Compact Scholarship, does that mean I have to be in the Compact Scholars Program?
- How will this award work with other financial aid?
- If I don’t qualify for the Compact Scholarship, does that mean I can’t be in the Compact Scholars Program?
- Are there additional requirements that must be met after the being admitted in the program?
- Are there other ways I can satisfy the ELM/EPT requirements other than by taking the tests?
- What happens if I take the ELM and don’t achieve a score of 50, and I have not satisfied the requirement via the other options?
- What happens if I take the EPT and don’t achieve a score of 151, and I have not satisfied the requirement via the other options?
- What happens if I don’t satisfy the ELM and/or the EPT requirement by the time of graduation from high school in June?
- If I didn’t pass the ELM and/or EPT why can’t I take care of my remediation needs in the summer before I enter college in the fall and still enroll as a Compact Scholar?
- What do I have to do once I’m in the Compact Scholars Program?
- Does the Compact Scholars Program work well with other activities like varsity athletics, Greek life, Associated Students, and other campus programs like EOP, the Faculty Student Mentoring Program, University Honors Programs etc.?
- How many students were in the Compact Scholars Program for the fall 2006?
Why should I be a Compact Scholar at SDSU?
- The Compact Scholars Program offers qualified students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience at SDSU in the personal and enriching atmosphere of a smaller cohort of students who share a common experience and make up a unique community on a campus of over 30,000 undergraduate students.
- You will receive guidance and assistance in navigating the corridor to graduation.
- The CSP introduces you to the diverse experiences of college life, including the possibilities of the academic and extracurricular activities
- It will also offer you sustained support to ensure that you maximize the benefits offered through the various SDSU resources and opportunities.
Who is eligible to be a SDSU Compact Scholar?
Only graduates from the Compact for Success program in the Sweetwater Union High School District who have satisfactorily met the following benchmarks are eligible:
- Maintained continuous enrollment in the SUHSD since the 7th, 8th, or 9th grade.
- Attained a CSU GPA of 3.0 or higher by time of application and maintained this GPA through senior year.
- Completed all CSU A-G course requirements
- Satisfied the ELM (Entry Level Math Placement) requirement. Student must attain a minimum score of 50 and cannot be in need of remediation.
- Satisfied the EPT (English Placement Test) requirement. Student score a minimum of 151 and cannot be in need of remediation.
- Have taken the SAT or ACT test.
How do I apply for the program?
Apply for admission to SDSU electronically at www.csumentor.edu. You do not have to submit a separate application to be considered for the Compact Scholars Program.
What happens after I am admitted?
There are 3 steps that take place before you are fully admitted into the Compact Scholars Program.
- Letters offering provisional admission for the Compact Scholars Program will be mailed in June to students who appear to be on track to clearing the benchmark requirements.
- Completion of the Compact for Success benchmarks must take place before you can join the Compact Scholars Program (see Question 2).
- Final verification will occur in the summer following your senior year after you submit your final high school transcripts which will determine your eligibility for the program.
What are the benefits of being in the Compact Scholars Program?
Students in the Compact Scholars Program will benefit from:
- Compact Scholars Scholarship for students with demonstrated financial need.
- Community service opportunities.
- Academic and social activities especially offered to students in the program.
- Monthly updates on SDSU and community events.
- CSP student organization, Scholars for Success, in order to network and meet other Compact Scholars which share your experience.
- Great way to make your college experience at SDSU most memorable.
Who is eligible to receive the Compact Scholars Scholarship?
To be considered for the Compact Scholars Scholarship you will need to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).The FAFSA is available on the Web in Steps to Financial Aid www.sdsu.edu/financialaid. The scholarship is renewable up to four years of continuous enrollment at SDSU. Scholarship amounts will vary based on student’s financial need as demonstrated from year to year upon completion of the FAFSA. The FAFSA must be submitted no later than March 2nd in the student’s senior year of high school.
If I am offered a Compact Scholarship, does that mean I have to be in the Compact Scholars Program?
Yes, you must commit to the CSP program to qualify for the scholarship. The donors have generously allocated the fund for this scholarship with the expectation that you would commit to guidelines established to ensure the successful attainment of your degree at SDSU.
How will this award work with other financial aid?
The program staff will work closely with other scholarship and award grantors so as to provide the maximum financial benefit for each eligible student. This scholarship program provides financial assistance for up to four (4) years to aid students with the costs of tuition and mandatory fees for an education at San Diego State University.
If I don’t qualify for the Compact Scholarship, does that mean I can’t be in the Compact Scholars Program?
You are still considered a Compact Scholar and are eligible to receive the same services offered SDSU Compact Scholars even if you did not qualify for the scholarship award. The CSP is not only about financial assistance, it is about academic and personal assistance to support you in college.
Are there additional requirements that must be met after the being admitted in the program?
Yes. Students participating in the Compact Scholars Program must meet the following requirements while attending SDSU:
- Student must sign an agreement that they are committed to the activities and events sponsored by CSP.
- Students must make steady progress to degree (approx. complete 30 units each academic year).
(may include summer enrollment).
Are there other ways I can satisfy the ELM/EPT requirements other than by taking the tests?
Yes. There are a variety of ways to satisfy the ELM/EPT requirements. Your first attempt to clear the requirements should be in the spring of your junior year of high school via the EAP. For more information of EAP, please visit the EAP website: dus.sdsu.edu/crp/eap.html. For assistance with EAP-related questions, please contact SDSU EAP Coordinator, Rosie Villafana-Hatcher at (619)594-0657, or rvillafa@mail.sdsu.edu. To learn how you may satisfy the ELM requirement, please refer to the SDSU Test Office Website page: http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/testofc/writingreqs_freshment.htm
What happens if I take the ELM and don’t achieve a score of 50, and I have not satisfied the requirement via the other options?
You are not proficient in math and therefore are not eligible to be a Compact Scholar. However, you can attempt to take the ELM more than once, as long as you don’t wait until the final test date offered in May. We advise you NOT TO WAIT until the last test date in the event you do not pass the exam the first time you take it. Taking the test a second time may allow you to clear the requirement in time to still be eligible for the Compact Scholars Program.
What happens if I take the EPT and don’t achieve a score of 151, and I have not satisfied the requirement via the other options?
You are not proficient in English and therefore are not eligible to be a Compact Scholar. Additionally you will have to take a remedial class in the fall semester of your first year at SDSU. The EPT can only be taken one time.
What happens if I don’t satisfy the ELM and/or the EPT requirement by the time of graduation from high school in June?
You will have to enroll in remedial classes in the fall. Regrettably, failure to satisfy either one of these requirements makes you ineligible to become a Compact Scholar because you have not met the Compact for Success benchmark which states you must satisfy BOTH the ELM and EPT requirements. The good news is your offer of admission to SDSU is not rescinded as long as you’ve taken both tests by the month of May, and have made the attempt to pass them. You may still enroll at SDSU in the fall.
If I didn’t pass the ELM and/or EPT why can’t I take care of my remediation needs in the summer before I enter college in the fall and still enroll as a Compact Scholar?
If you decide to take a class at a community college in the summer before your freshmen year to clear your remediation needs, your final transcript from the community college will not be available for review by SDSU Enrollment Services until AFTER you have registered for your fall classes. You will not be able to enroll in college-level English and/or Math classes because you will not have proof at the time of registration that you have cleared the requirement. Instead if you find yourself in this situation and want to take some units in the summer, the university advises students to take a course that satisfies one of the GE requirements. For specific academic advising on which courses might be appropriate for you, please contact the Office of Academic Advising at (619) 594-6668, or via email at admissions@sdsu.edu.
What do I have to do once I’m in the Compact Scholars Program?
Once a member in the CSP, you are expected to participate in the opportunities that we offer, from enrolling in the LINCs and/or the Compact University Seminar as a freshmen, to attending social/cultural events to more spontaneous spur-of-the-moment events that we notify students of by email. You will soon discover that the more involved you are, the more likely you are to enjoy college and reach your graduation goal.
Does the Compact Scholars Program work well with other activities like varsity athletics, Greek life, Associated Students, and other campus programs like EOP, the Faculty Student Mentoring Program, University Honors Programs etc.?
Yes. CSP students are encourage to be involved in in-class and out-of-class activities and to follow a demanding schedule that allows them to experience the depth of opportunities available to them; however, students must be flexible, accommodating, and use time-management strategies to successfully balance competing schedules and demands. While the CSP Director can support you to reach your academic goals, it is ultimately your job to manage multiple responsibilities.
How many students are in the Compact Scholars Program for the fall 2006?
SDSU welcomed its first cohort of Compact Scholars in fall 2006. A total of 203 students from the Sweetwater Union High School District who enrolled at SDSU cleared the Compact for Success benchmarks. In 2007, 192 Compact Scholars enrolled.