First-Time College Students

If you have not earned college credits before applying to CSM, you are a new, first-time student.

Enrolling as a first-time student doesn’t require any special steps or information. To be considered a first-time student, you need to have earned a high school diploma or equivalent, such as the General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

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1. Apply for Admission

The first step to becoming a CSM student is to apply for admission.

You’ll need to create an account on our application portal. Fill in the fields with your information.

In the drop-down menu under “Choose the statement that best describes you,” select the option for “I am an undergraduate student, finished with high school.”

Advisors work together to advise students

2. Check College Readiness

A strong start in your first semester builds momentum and confidence. Choose one of the options below to find the courses that fit your knowledge and abilities.

First-time students who graduated high school in the past two years can: provide their high school transcript, submit score reports from the SAT, ACT, GED, or Advanced Placement (AP) standardized tests; or take the CSM Placement Test.
First-time students who received their high school diploma or GED certificate more than two years ago will need to take the CSM Placement Test.

Group of students sit at a table and works together

3. Register for Classes

Once you’re accepted to CSM, register for your classes! We strongly encourage you to meet with an academic advisor before you register, to plan your first semester at CSM and prepare you for the next step on your pathway to possibility.

If you have any questions about registration, check out these helpful registration resources or consider attending one of our Registration Assistance Sessions.

Credit for Prior Learning

You may be able to receive college credit for your past educational or professional experiences!

This can include scores from Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams; career and technical education programs; and more.

To receive credit at CSM, you’ll need to request a transcript evaluation. The process can take four to six weeks, so be sure to request your transcript evaluation as early as possible!

Learn More about Credit for Prior Learning

Next Steps on the Road to Success

Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships

When you enroll at CSM, you’ll gain access to a wealth of financial assistance opportunities to keep college affordable for you. To learn about financial assistance, get more information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), calculate the cost of your CSM education, and much more, visit our Costs and Aid page.

Complete New Student Orientation

Resuming your CSM education is a new and exciting chapter in your life. No matter how long it’s been since you were a CSM student, there’s a lot to learn and you probably have lots of questions. "Hawk: Ready!" New Student Orientation will re-familiarize you with the college and provide you with the information you need to excel as you complete your education.

To get started, click here to log in to your my.CSMD account and be taken to New Student Orientation, or click on New Student Orientation in the Announcements section of my.CSMD.

Make Payment Arrangements

Arrange to pay your semester bill by the payment due date.

You can pay your balance in full or enroll in the CSM Payment Plan to pay your bill in monthly installments—a convenient, interest-free way to budget your expenses. The monthly payment plan isn’t a loan program, so there’s no credit check.

Get Involved at CSM

There are lots of great ways to connect with fellow CSM Hawks who share your interests and get involved with the campus community. Check out the Student Government Association, CSM Athletics, and our many great student clubs and organizations!

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