The Truth About PSEO

March 24, 2009 • written by Grace Hakari

Some of you may be wondering “What’s PSEO?”, and I’m here to give you the straight facts.  Post-Secondary Enrollment Options, or PSEO for short, is a state-run program that allows high school juniors and seniors to take classes for college credit. 

Most schools allow dual-enrollment.   This means that you can get credit for the courses at your high school and at the college or university of your choice. The best part is that as long as your college classes aren’t remedial, they are absolutely FREE. That’s right, free college! How cool is that?!

There are four different options for taking PSEO, as described by the Minnesota Department of Education.  The most common route is attending classes on a college campus taught by a college instructor. 

It is also offered when taught on a high school campus by a qualified high school instructor, college instructor in person, or via ITV.  You also get to choose whether or not you would like to take all of your classes through/ at the college, or try part-time and take a few classes at your high school, too.

When asked about PSEO, particularly why or why not they are doing PSEO, students at Park gave a variety of answers.  One student, Elizabeth Graves, a senior, made a very good point about the negatives of PSEO.  “It’s really important to finish high school and not just rush into college.” 

Kelby Land, a junior enrolled in PSEO, had this to say, “I’m not really into high school life.”  Jessica DePuydt, senior, is “doing a different thing”. 

Chances are that most students have not even heard of PSEO.  Maia Corporaal, a senior, said “If I had gotten the chance I probably would have [taken PSEO].”

 Kyle Dahlquist, junior, had to be reminded what PSEO was before replying “I’ve just never really been exposed to it, I guess I never really knew I had that option.” 

“I’m not smart enough,” claims Megan Stedt, junior, and Nick Bonneson, sophomore.

Admittedly, PSEO is not for everyone, but you never know until you try.  After all, you–yes, you!– could be one of those students who graduate high school and jump right into your junior year of college that fall!

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