Guidelines for Selecting Your Courses
- MyBSU. Log into your MyBSU account. Get comfortable using the Office 365-Email and E-services platform, as these tools will be essential in your university journey.
- Counselor Consultation. Arrange a meeting with your high school counselor to discuss your high school graduation requirements. Identify potential courses at Bemidji State University (BSU) that align with these requirements.
- Course Selection Preparation. Come prepared to the meeting with your counselor with a list of the courses you wish to take, along with their corresponding six-digit course ID. Starting with general courses such as English Composition, Intro to Psychology or Cellular Principles is advised.
Balancing High School and College
By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision about which courses to take and how to effectively balance your workload between high school and university studies.
- High School Graduation Requirements. Your chosen courses should ideally satisfy both your high school graduation needs and your interests.
- High School Class Schedule. Be sure to cross-check your high school and BSU schedules to prevent any overlap.
- Commitments. Keep your commitments outside of academics in mind. These may include clubs, sports, jobs and family obligations.
- Course Load. Be mindful of your course load. The maximum you can take is 16 credits. Plan to spend approximately 2 hours working/studying per credit.
- Course Level and Prerequisites. Prioritize 1000 and 2000 level courses first. They are typically designed for beginners. Note that some courses might require you to complete certain other courses before you can take them.
- Calendar Differences. Remember, the BSU academic calendar may not be exactly the same as your high school calendar. The school year might start at different times, for example. Be prepared to manage these differences.
Course Registration Timeline
| Task | Fall Semester Start | Spring Semester Start |
|---|---|---|
| Review Class Schedule | Early March | Early October |
| Meet with Advisor | March/April | October/November |
| Registration Opens | Early April | Early November |
In early March or October, book a registration advising appointment at the Advising Success Center. When you’re setting up the meeting online, pick ‘PSEO Academic Advising.’
- During this time, talk to your high school counselor. Find out what classes you still need to take to graduate from high school. You can use the PSEO program to complete these.
- Start making a rough plan of your schedule on the Schedule Planning Form (.pdf). You can do this by logging into MyBSU and E-services. Look for “Courses and Registration” and “Search for a Course” to see what classes you can take next semester. If you need help doing this, watch the video below.
In April or November, go to your meeting with the Advising Success Center. Make sure you’re ready! Once you know what classes you’re going to take and have signed up for them, send your high school counselor your schedule.
Review the video below in full. This is very important — speed it up so I sound like a chipmunk if you must — but make sure you understand all the info and follow along with the PSEO & Registration Preparation (.pdf).
Before Your First Semester
- PSEO Student and Parent Agreement. Read and sign this required agreement form.
- Sexual Violence Prevention Training. Complete this mandatory training module in D2L, which becomes available approximately 2 weeks before classes start.
- Immunization Documentation. Submit the BSU Immunization Form before your first semester.
- Authorization to Release Information (Optional). If you wish to give your parents access to your student accounts at BSU, submit the Authorization to Release Information to the Records Office. Remember, as a registered college student, you are legally the ONLY person with default access to your accounts, regardless of your age.
Essential Student Information and Tasks
- BSU Student Email: Be sure to check your BSU student email multiple times a week for important updates.
- Student ID Card. Collect your student ID card on your first day on campus at the Hobson Memorial Union Desk.
Staying on Track
- Academic Performance. To maintain PSEO eligibility, you must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. This will be evaluated each semester.
- Class Difficulties. If you are struggling with any classes, request a meeting with your professor right away to address your concerns and explore opportunities for improvement.
- High School Counselor Consultations. Regularly connect with your high school counselor to make sure you’re on track to graduate high school.
- Notice of Student Registration. Complete the Notice of Student Registration (NOSR) form (.pdf) every semester and return it to the PSEO Coordinator in Admissions.
- Campus Resources. Campus amenities like computer labs (with black and white printing), Wellness Center, Advising Success Center, Career Services, Accommodations and dining halls are accessible to you. If you’d like to purchase Beaver Bucks, you can do so via e-services under the “Housing and Dining” tab.
- Textbooks. You can find your required textbooks listed in E-services under the BSU Bookstore Booklist. We recommend ordering them online 1-2 weeks before the start of classes for pickup at the bookstore. Remember to return your textbooks at the end of each semester, otherwise a hold will be applied to your account and you will be charged full price for the books.
- End-of-Semester Transcripts. Once your final grades are posted, a transcript will be sent by BSU to your high school. This enables you to earn high school credits for your PSEO work. Note that any unpaid bills or outstanding textbooks will prevent your transcript from being dispatched.
- Course Withdrawal. You have the first week of classes to add or drop courses without receiving a withdrawal (W) on your transcript. Take this seriously, as a W can affect your college course completion rate, possibly leading to academic suspension and affecting your acceptance into other colleges. Try to avoid habitual course withdrawals. If you are having difficulties in a class, we encourage you to work directly with your professors.
- Failing Courses. A failing grade (F) may impact your high school graduation and your college GPA.
Helpful Communication Guidelines
We expect to hear directly from students if they have questions. Although parents can be a great support system, it is essential for students to take the lead.
- If you are struggling, reach out early! We are here to assist you but won’t know you need help unless you inform us. Self-advocacy is crucial in college.
- Use your BSU student email for all official communications. We will rarely send any information to your personal email. All announcements and faculty communication will be sent to your BSU email. Consider using the Outlook App on your phone for easy access.
- Practice professional writing and communication skills in every interaction during your college journey.
- Use your BSU email (firstname.lastname@live.bemidjistate.edu) for all communications.
- Create an informative subject line, but keep it short. Think to yourself: if I, or the recipient, need to search for this email in the future, what would we look for?
- Start your email with a greeting, e.g., “Hello, Kim!”
- Be clear and concise in your message, providing necessary details and requests. Don’t assume the recipient knows your status as a PSEO student or the context of your email. Proper grammar and punctuation are essential.
- Set up an automated email signature with your full name, and include your phone number if appropriate.
Phone/Voicemail
When leaving a voicemail, introduce yourself using your full name, clearly explain your need and leave a call back number.