High School Scholars (PSEOP)

Are you a high school student interested in jump-starting your college education? Wittenberg provides outstanding opportunities for you to begin taking college courses before you graduate from high school.

The Post-Secondary Enrollment Option Program (PSEOP) allows Ohio’s talented and motivated high school students to earn college credits during their junior and senior years (freshmen and sophomores with exceptional abilities and maturity may be considered as well). The college tuition fees for these courses are paid by the State of Ohio. At Wittenberg, we provide PSEOP through our High School Scholars (HSS) program, which is part of the School of Community Education. The credits may apply as college-only credits or may be used to fulfill high school requirements.

Maximum Use of PSEOP - If you are a public school high school student, PSEOP allows you to earn up to 44 semester credits in two years. (Although PSEOP is open to sophomores and freshmen, Wittenberg considers younger students only in exceptional cases.) To help you make maximum use of PSEOP, Wittenberg suggests the following enrollment schedule:

	Fall Aug. - Dec.	Spring Jan. - May
Freshman Year*	Not Available	1 course (4 credits)
Sophomore Year*	1 Course (4 credits)	1 Course (4 credits)
Junior Year	1 Course (4 credits)	2 Courses (8 credits)
Senior Year	3 or 4 courses (12-16 credits)	3 or 4 courses (12-16 credits)

*Wittenberg accepts freshman and sophomore students to the High School Scholars program only in exceptional cases. First-year students may take courses beginning in the Spring semester.

As a typical High School Scholar student admitted for your junior and senior years, you can earn up to 44 credits plus any summer credits by the time of your high school graduation. In comparison, a typical Wittenberg full-time student completes 32 credits per academic year. With the head start you will have established through HSS, you can complete your BA/BS degree in three years after graduation.

Semester Credits - Wittenberg uses the semester credits (one semester credit = 1.5 quarter credits), and most courses carry 4 credits. Certain courses carry other values. Science labs and foreign language courses, for example, carry 5 credits. This could cause some minor variations to the “maximum use” schedule above. Enrollment for 12 or more credits in a semester constitutes full-time standing. A Wittenberg semester is 16 weeks in length.

Non-public School Students - Non-public school post secondary students are limited in payment by the Ohio Department of Education to 4 semester hours per academic year (one 4-credit Wittenberg course). An additional 4 semester credits may be awarded based on application to the Ohio Department of Education. If non-public students wish to enroll for hours beyond the 4 semester credits, students have the option to pay their own tuition to Wittenberg at $130 per credit under Option A. Note also that there are different guidelines, procedures, and dates for non-public PSEOP students. Contact your high school about the procedures and dates.

Continuing in HSS - In order to continue from one term to the next, or to progress through the maximum pattern, you must earn grades of B or a term GPA of 3.0 or higher in your Wittenberg courses. In order to take more than one course in a semester, you must have successfully completed at least one Wittenberg course. We also expect you to maintain your level of achievement in your high school studies.

PSEOP Options and Cost
PSEOP offers two options, which are available only during the Fall and Spring semesters:

Option A: Enrollment for College Credit Only - Students pay their own tuition at the High School Scholars reduced rate of $130 per credit, plus related fees, books and materials.

Option B: Enrollment for Both College and High School Credit - The State of Ohio covers the cost of your tuition and related fees, and the university provides for your books and other course materials. Wittenberg’s High School Scholars students receive their books and materials on loan for each semester. If you are choosing Option B, be sure to have your guidance counselor’s approval for applying each college course toward a particular high school requirement.

Admissions
Here are the admission requirements for Wittenberg’s High School Scholars program:

Juniors and Seniors

1. Entering or within your Junior or Senior year in an Ohio high school.
2. Current enrollment in a college preparatory program approved by the Ohio Board of Regents.
3. Ranking in the top 10 percent of your class and/or earning a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. We will consider applicants who do not meet these expectations but who provide other evidence of superior ability and/or achievement.
4. Passing of all five parts of the Ohio 9th Grade Proficiency exam or a qualifying exemption.
5. Recommendation by the high school guidance counselor and principal.

Sophomores

1. Meeting of all requirements listed in the first-year section below.
2. Completion of the first year, including at least four college preparatory courses, English, mathematics (algebra or geometry), a natural science and a foreign language.
3. Cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher.

First-Year Students

1. Completion of the 8th Grade.
2. 95th percentile score on the PSAT, SAT or ACT exam.
3. Level 22 score on the Wittenberg Math Placement exam (higher scores required for designated courses in mathematics and related subjects).
4. Passing of all five parts of the Ohio 9th Grade Proficiency exam or a qualifying exemption.
5. Recommendation from your high school guidance counselor or principal that includes a specific assessment of your readiness for college-level work and the college environment.

Transfer Students - PSEOP enrollment at another college or university does not guarantee admission to Wittenberg’s High School Scholars program. You must meet the same requirements as other high school students, and have earned grades of B or higher in the college courses you’ve taken.

Applying - PSEOP requires that you think ahead and act promptly.

1. Notify your guidance counselor or district office by March 30 of your intention to enroll under PSEOP the following Fall. If you are seeking both college and high school credit for your Wittenberg courses, obtain confirmation from the counselor that the particular college courses you are considering will fulfill your high school requirements.

2. Submit the Wittenberg High School Scholars application, including the counselor section, the signatures of both counselor and principal, and a high school transcript with the $30 nonrefundable application fee.

3. Register for courses as soon as possible. A placement test is required for math and foreign language courses. Contact us for information on the placement test.