College of San Mateo (CSM)

1700 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA

About
College of San Mateo, located in San Mateo, California, was founded in 1922 and is part of the San Mateo Community College District. The school is in the Bay Area of California, between San Jose and San Francisco and is part of the California Community College System, which is comprised of 122 colleges throughout the state. CSM serves over 10,000 students annually through a large number of programs and services available on campus. The school has grown considerably in terms of enrollment and size over the years to better accommodate the community, and assist in its academic and professional development.

Academics
College of San Mateo offers a variety of programs that allow for academic growth or professional career development. Academic transfer programs give students the opportunity to take on a curriculum that completes the first two years of a four year program locally and at low cost, followed by the application to bachelor degree granting institutions in order to continue one's education. Transfer to public California institutions is facilitated by agreements in place that guarantee admission if certain requirements are met. Individuals interested in transfer to private or out of state schools should meet with a counselor to discuss transfer and curriculum options.

Career training programs provide students with an education in a given field or industry with the intention of assisting them in entering the workforce as a qualified professional for the purpose of long term employment. Students will participate in a traditional and practical courses as needed by the program, with practical courses providing training and development in a controlled environment under the supervision of professionals. These programs take between one and two years to complete, and result in an associate degree or certificate which demonstrates competency.

Programs offered include:

• Bookkeeping
• Communications
• Computer Science
• Liberal Arts
• Nursing

Admissions and Financial Aid
The College of San Mateo admits any interested individuals as long as they are a high school graduate or at least eighteen years of age. Students wishing to enroll must complete the application for admissions, pay all fees, supply transcripts and test scores if available, and may be required to take a placement exam prior to registration. Students are also encouraged to participate in new student orientation and to meet with a counselor to discuss program enrollment and curriculum prior to the selection of courses.

Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships and is awarded based on need. Students in need of financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information provided by which will be used by the school's financial aid department to determine the extent of a given student's need and their aid program eligibility when constructing his or her financial aid packet. Aid must be applied for prior to each academic year and it is recommended that the application be completed in a timely fashion.