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Potluck picnics, multi-cultural dance night, volunteering at feed my starving children, trips to Noodles and Company, student group fundraising, and physics study groups: these are the types of ideas that get tossed around and ignited in the world of the PSEO Student Association. I am the Vice President of this official student group at the University of Minnesota, and it has been a tremendous experience thus far.
How did this come into the picture for me? Well, as you may know, I haven’t had a “typical” high school experience. Let’s start out with Spring, 2011. I had my junior and senior years planned with a variety of IB/AP classes and the IB diploma… but when March came around, I decided to apply to the University of Minnesota’s PSEO program that the state of Minnesota offers. I received my acceptance in May and decided to roll with it. I honestly have no idea why; I didn’t know one person that had done it, or that also applied, but I’m unbelievably ecstatic that I did. After my decision, I applied and was welcomed onto the PSEOSA board in the beginning of the summer. We worked throughout July, August, and the rest of the school year to discuss, plan, organize, promote, and facilitate various social and academic events for 600+ PSEO students at the University of Minnesota. Our group’s main goal is to bring the PSEO community together by providing events and academic aid to help adjust to college life and make lasting connections.
I was elected Vice President of the board in early April, 2011. The remaining members for the 2012-13 school year worked to make PSEOSA an official student group by creating a constitution, filling out paperwork, and attending new student group meetings/officer training. During the summer we spoke at orientations for newly accepted students and evaluated many applications for incoming board members. We have been expanding the group exceptionally through developing improved methods by looking at what did and didn’t go well for various events, brainstorming ways to enhance our future activities, and engaging contrasting groups of students.
The board is composed of twelve to fifteen PSEO students, and overseen by an adviser. During our weekly meetings, we discuss possible events based off of what has been successful in the past, what we think other students might like to participate in, and what we would be interested in conducting and planning ourselves. We aim to have two-three events per month for the entire semester. We have parties for the beginning and end of the year, as well as for some holidays such as Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and Saint Patrick’s Day. PSEOSA works to promote and bring light to activities already happening on campus, and to incorporate students into the college life by planning for events such as UMN sporting events, or the homecoming parade and concert. We also have more casual events such as going out to Tea Garden, or just getting some lunch. Aside from social events, we have specific study groups (calculus, chemistry, etcetera) and study lounges, which involve reserving rooms on campus just for PSEO students to come and hang out, converse, eat lunch, and study. Other than events, we collect student reviews of courses that PSEO students have taken to give an idea to other students what the course was like, what the homework load was, what the grade was compiled of, and what they can expect overall. We also serve as leaders for the PSEO community and try to answer any questions that students might have. New aspects of PSEOSA are always being brought up and included in our planning.
When we decide on an event idea, we look at the date possibilities, taking into account the varying student schedules, and how close the event would be to midterms/finals week. At the beginning of the semester, we send out a “when2meet” survey to all of the PSEO students to figure out the best time to have events depending on the day of the week. After deciding on a date and time, we have to figure out every detail of the event. If it’s a lunch event, it takes less planning; we just have to decide on a restaurant, date, time, advertisements, and sometimes reserve seating. If it’s a party, there are always tons of things to plan out and prepare, including food, drinks, supplies, decorations, games, activities, music, and much more. We advertise primarily on Facebook through the PSEOSA page, as well as sending out e-mails to each and every PSEO student.
Leadership has certainly stemmed from this experience. Not only that, but also cooperating well within an established group. The board combines people from all over Minnesota (Prior Lake, Woodbury, Chanhassen, Blaine, etcetera), as well as people of various cultures and beliefs. I have enhanced my advertising and problem-solving skills, and figured out how to come up with imaginative activities that actually interest other students. PSEOSA has multiplied my connections; leadership, cooperation, and social abilities; professional and public speaking skills; and planning and organizing in terms of time, logic, finance, creativity, and realistic capabilities.
At the end of the school year when us seniors graduate, I will have been on the board for two years, and the Vice President for one. If I do end up staying at the University of Minnesota, I will still help out the new board members with student orientation speaking and events. PSEOSA has not necessarily shaped what I want to study, but has taught me skills that can certainly be used in whichever field I choose, and for other clubs and activities I will be participating in during the future.
PSEO: A Brief Background
In 1985, The Minnesota Legislature created this program in order to promote rigorous courses and to improve the transition for students from high school to college. In 2011, almost 25,000 high school students earned college credit from the thirty-one college and university options. Research has shown that this program has enhanced education and benefited high school students nationally, and in Minnesota. When compared with students who didn’t choose to participate in the program, PSEO students have higher rates of enrolling in a post-secondary institution after high school graduation, lower rates of required remediation, and higher rates of earning college degrees.
Students have the ability to take courses on a college or university campus, online, or sometimes at their high school through concurrent enrollment courses. In order to participate, there are eligibility requirements such as meeting the prerequisites for the course, being in the top third of their class or score at or above the 70th percentile on the ACT/SAT (for juniors) or being in the top half and score at or above the 50th percentile on the ACT/SAT (for seniors). Under some circumstances, 9th and 10th graders can be admitted to the program. The colleges and universities also have an application process, some more intense than others. The University of Minnesota PSEO application was similar to a real college application and looked primarily at GPA, successful completion of rigorous courses, and writing samples.
Students are still required to complete high school requirements while in this program. If all requirements aren’t successfully completed, the student may not be able to graduate with their class. The grades earned in this program will be on the student’s high school and college transcript. The tuition, fees, and books for PSEO students are paid by the Minnesota Department of Education, but things like meal plans are not. There are other states that have programs like PSEO, such as Running Start in Washington, or the dual enrollment program in Florida.
The U of M admits about 500 students each year, serving a total of 600. To learn specifically about PSEO at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, check out this website: http://www.cce.umn.edu/Post-Secondary-Enrollment-Options/
Fun Question of the Month: Who is your favorite celebrity? My favorite celebrity would have to be Betty White or Melissa McCarthy. They are both SO FUNNY!
I also really like Anna Kendrick, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Segel, Johnny Depp, Emma Stone, Will Smith, Ellen DeGeneres, Zooey Deschanel, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, and Matt Damon… can you tell that I have a difficult time making up my mind?
