FIRST-YEAR STUDENT | 2.0-2.79 GPA
Earned Admission
We Want You at USU
Not only do we want to welcome you to Utah State, we also want to help you succeed as an Aggie. Please take time to review your next steps which will help qualify you for admission and ensure you’re prepared for academic life at Utah State.
NOTE: Follow the next steps and requirements based on your GPA.
Your Next Steps
- Apply for admission to USU (if you haven't already done so).
- Read the full terms & conditions for the Earned Admission pathway.
- Schedule a meeting to talk with your assigned admissions specialist about the Preparing for College Workshop.
- Complete the Preparing for College Workshop by the deadline for the semester you plan to enroll. The workshop takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
- Create your USU password. Your USU password requires you to know your A-Number and is used to log in to most USU systems.
- Register for workshop.
- Access workshop (after registering).
- Be admitted and become an Aggie. Visit usu.edu/whatsnext for more information about confirming your enrollment, signing an on-campus housing contract, and starting orientation.
Deadlines & Timeline
Start today – While you can complete the Preparing for College Workshop at your own pace, keep the following deadlines in mind to avoid having to adjust your admission term to a later semester.
| Deadlines | Summer | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete USU application and begin Preparing for College Workshop | MAR 15 | JUN 15 | OCT 15 |
| Complete Preparing for College Workshop | MAY 1 | AUG 1 | DEC 1 |
Benefits
- Qualify for Admission — Upon completion of the workshop, you will be admitted in good standing to a four-year program at USU.
- Develop Skills — Identify your own strengths and challenges as it relates to college success.
- Receive Support — You will work with an Aggie Advocate who will help you identify and register for USU classes.
- USU Class Registration — You will be able to complete orientation and register for USU classes on time, with your class (after completing the workshop).
- Student Life — You can sign a contract for on-campus housing after completing the workshop, so you’re ready to live on campus your first semester and experience Aggie life. Make sure to sign up early to get a spot.
- Optional Courses — You also have access to optional study skills, English, and math prep classes to further set you up for success.
Terms and Conditions
Please note that by accepting this Earned Admission pathway you are agreeing to the following:
- I understand that I am admitted to Utah State University only after completing the Preparing for College Workshop by the deadline. Only admitted students can pay the enrollment deposit, sign an on-campus housing contract, begin orientation, and register for classes.
- I understand that I need to enroll in and begin the Preparing for College Workshop by the posted deadline for the semester I wish to enroll.
- I understand that I can work with USU to change my admission offer to the next available semester if needed.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate in the Earned Admission path students must:
- Have a cumulative high school GPA between a 2.0-2.79
- Be a domestic U.S. student (International students are currently not eligible for this path)
- Be an incoming first-year or transfer student with less than 24 post-high school credits
- Have applied for admission to USU within the past year (Apply at applynow.usu.edu)
- Receive a formal offer from the Admissions Office to participate in the Earned Admission path
Contact Information
For more information, please contact the Admission Office at 435-797-1079 or admit@usu.edu.
For detailed information about the Earned Admission pathway, schedule a meeting to talk with your assigned admissions specialist.
Program FAQ
The Earned Admission path is for students with a 2.0-2.79 high school GPA. In addition, students must meet the following eligibility requirements
- Be a Domestic U.S. Student. (International Students are currently not eligible for this path.)
- Be an incoming first-time freshman or a transfer student with less than 24 post high school credits.
- Have applied for Admission to USU within the past year. (Please apply at applynow.usu.edu.)
- Have received a formal offer from the Admissions Office to participate in the Earned Admission path. (While lower high school grades will not disqualify a student from being considered for the Earned Admission path, applicants are still required to demonstrate that they meet all non-academic university admissions requirements such as meeting the university’s English proficiency requirement and demonstrating that they can behaviorally be a good citizen at USU.)
No. There is no cost to take the Preparing for College Workshop.
No credit is given for the Preparing for College Workshop.
No. You will take the Preparing for College Workshop prior to being admitted to Utah State University, so you are not considered to be an enrolled (or matriculated) student while you take this workshop.
No. USU on-campus housing is limited to admitted students. Housing is filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to complete the Preparing for College Workshop as soon as possible.
Since you are not an admitted student at Utah State University until you successfully complete the Preparing for College Workshop and begin your starting semester, you are not able to live in on-campus housing or use various student services that are available to enrolled students while you are taking your Preparing for College Workshop.
If you need a little more time to complete your workshop, you can request to have your admission moved to the following semester.
Yes! You will be admitted in good standing to a four-year program upon completion of the workshop. Once you begin classes you will be like any other student at the university. It is important to note that all students enrolled at USU follow the same “academic standing” policies, which state that if your institutional GPA falls below a 2.0 the university will provide extra support and accountability during subsequent semesters. If your GPA remains below a 2.0, you may ultimately be suspended from the university so you can take time to reassess your educational plans and needs.
The Earned Admission path is for first-year students. It is typically NOT available for transfer students and returning USU students, although exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis as determined by the Admission Committee. Prior approval from the Admissions Office is required of all participants.
After you apply and are offered the Earned Admission pathway, you will be sent an email with the Preparing for College Workshop registration information. Registration for the workshop opens October 2, 2023.
Upon completion of the workshop, you will be admitted in good standing to Utah State University.
Most students can be admitted to their chosen major after completing the Earned Admission path. Some departments such as those within Engineering, Physics, and others have requirements above basic university requirements. For those majors, you will be placed in Undeclared/Exploratory and can work with an advisor to discuss admission requirements and work toward possible admission to your desired major at a later time.
Yes, the Preparing for College Workshop must be completed by the deadline for the semester you plan to enroll at USU. If you are not able to complete the workshop by the completion deadline, you can request to move your admission to the next available term. If you are not able to complete the Preparing for College Workshop by the deadline, you will be dropped from your USU courses.
Contact the Admission Office at 435-797-1079 or admit@usu.edu to request to move your admissions to the next available term.
No. You will receive a USU email account when you register for your first credit-bearing course at USU.
Optional Courses
The Preparing for College Workshop is required, but you will have access to optional study skills, English, and math prep classes through our partnership with Straighterline (a company that provides self-paced online courses).
For questions and help with these Straighterline courses, please email our Straighterline student support team at advisor@usuearnedadmission.com.
You will be introduced to various strategies for learning and other skills that are often overlooked when planning for college. You will conduct self-assessments to become familiar with the styles of learning that best suit you. You will become proficient in time management, listening and reading skills, writing techniques, public speaking, memory abilities, and test-taking strategies. You will also explore the following topics: decision making, choosing a major, problem-solving techniques, diversity issues, technology and computer skills, relationship building, managing your finances, remaining healthy, and designing a career portfolio. All of these skills will provide you with the tools necessary to be successful in today's college environment.
Developmental Writing examines the fundamental process, theories, and methods that enhance a student's overall writing ability, and introduces strategies for writing within multiple disciplines and professions. You will draft and revise sentences, paragraphs, and essays, with the aim of achieving effective college-level writing skills. You will learn how to improve sentence structure and clarity using grammar, punctuation, and word choice. The course introduces proper research techniques, and various writing genres, including narration, as well as exploring the concepts of cause and effect, compare and contrast, definition, and argumentation.
Introductory Algebra guides the student through topics that teach the basics of algebra. Using real-life scenarios, the course puts difficult concepts into understandable terms. After an introductory algebra review, lessons focus on the basic functions of algebra and include math vocabulary and notation, operations with numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, and quadratic equations. Students also learn to read and interpret graphs.