Early Start information for Counselors
Please review this information with your high school juniors interested in applying for SF State!
- What is the Early Start Program (ESP)?
- When to take the placement tests?
- How to satisfy the Early Start requirement at SF State?
- How does Early Start affect my registration for Fall 2013?
- How to satisfy the Early Start requirement at another institution?
- How much does Early Start cost?
- Advice to tell your student
SF State and the Early Start Program (ESP)
The CSU’s Early Start initiative requires first-time freshmen who receive certain scores on the Entry Level Math test (ELM) to take a Summer 2013 remedial math class. Additionally, students earning an English Placement Test (EPT) score below 138 must take an SF State online English class which includes a directed self placement into their Fall English composition.
Students will be notified throughout the process of application, admission, and registration if they must satisfy this requirement.
Tip: SF State will communicate via email with your student so they need to check email frequently.
When does SF State require students to take required placement tests?
Because of Early Start, students should test early and SF State recommends the February or March test dates.
If Required, How Can SF State Students Satisfy the Early Start requirement?
Early Start at SF State:
English - Students planning to attend SF State must take an online English course called ESE 99.
Math - met by taking either a 1-unit online class or a 3-unit Beginning Algebra (MATH 60) or Intermediate Algebra course (MATH 70).
How will these classes affect class registration for Fall 2013?
Passing
MATH 60 or 70 in Summer 2013 means students may move upward to the next
level of courses. Students thus will accelerate remediation by 1
semester.
Passing ESM 40 with a 75% grade means that students should re-test on ELM in summer to attempt to pass out of remediation.
Early Start at other CSU's
Course registration links and information will be available on this site in Spring 2013.
- Summer Early Start math courses (including some online sessions) will be offered at all CSU campuses. Please note: only math can be taken elsewhere.
- All students must do the English course ESE 99 with SF State. There are both online sections as well as in class sections taught at SF State.
- Students may also enroll for in an approved Community College math course. Students must enroll on their own. SF State does not organize community college registration for math classes.
If students do not take their summer Early Start class(es), they may not register for any classes at freshman orientation nor enroll for Fall 2013 at SF State! Students face disenrollment from Fall 2013 classes if they do not complete Early Start.
How much will Early Start courses cost?
Early Start fee is $184 for each 1-unit course.
3-unit remedial math courses at SF State and elsewhere will cost substantially more.
California residents who apply for financial aid and have an Estimated
Family Contribution of $5,000 or less will be eligible for a partial or full fee
waiver, depending on the class(es) they choose to take.
SF State's Advice to Future Students:
- If the Early Assessment test (EAP) was taken in junior year, help your students access scores online at EAP Test Results online.
- Students whose EAP results indicate they are conditionally ready in math but did not register for a 12th grade math course should enroll in and pass the e-learning course ALEKS during spring or take the ELM test before the May deadline.
- Take the ELM/EPT early (February or March 2013, (preferred)!
- Study test prep materials available to help students maximize scores. (Note: Students can ONLY take the EPT once and the ELM twice.)
- Prepare for and take the ACT or SAT to qualify for an exemption. ACT and SAT tests must be taken no later than December for admission purposes, but may be re-taken for Early Start and exemption purposes.
- Students planning their senior class schedules should plan to take a math course in their senior year. Senior year math is especially essential for anyone interested in science based and technical majors (computer science, engineering, nursing, etc.).
