Second Start Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Academic Advising

Will academic advising be required for Second Start students?

Yes, Second Start Students will be assigned a Second Start Advisor.

How often and when will Second Start students be required to meet with their Second Start Advisor?

Students are required to meet with their Second Start Advisor once each semester until program completion.

Financial Aid

Are Second Start students required to complete and submit a new FAFSA for their returning term of entry to receive financial aid?

Yes, to be considered for federal, state, and institutional financial aid program eligibility, Second Start students must complete and submit a FAFSA for the term they plan to return. Keep in mind that to be considered for priority eligibility the application must be submitted no later than March 2nd.

What if the returning student does not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) upon return to the institution?

All financial aid students must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements established at each campus. There is no renewal provision for this requirement. Therefore, all previous courses will be considered when determining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) including GPA, progress toward degree completion (PACE), and Maximum Timeframe. CSU Second Start students may elect to submit a SAP appeal at the respective CSU campus to which they are returning. A SAP appeal must be approved to reestablish eligibility for financial aid. For more information about the SAP appeal process, students may contact the SSU Financial Aid Office at their respective campus.

What if the returning student has run out of financial aid or is ineligible?

Returning students must go through the same federal or state-mandated financial aid processes as other students, including eligibility requirements. Students who are no longer eligible for federal or state sources of financial aid may still be eligible for certain institution-based scholarships and grants. Please reach out to the SSU Financial Aid Office.

Re-Admission Process

How should Second Start students re-apply to the university?

At the beginning, Second Start students must first meet with the Second Start Program Coordinator before reapplying to SSU through Cal State Apply.

Will Second Start students be guaranteed the same major that they were in when they left?

No; however, students should check with the < Second Start Program Coordinator before applying because some majors may be restricted/impacted. In addition, students should be aware that they may have to take additional classes upon switching to a major for which they have not completed prerequisites. To be clear, they are not required to return to the same major from which they started.

Will Second Start students who have been gone 3+ years, but have taken courses elsewhere be eligible for this program?

No, students who enroll at another college or university after leaving the CSU are, by definition, Returning Transfers and would go through that admissions process (including Reinstatement if they left the CSU in poor academic standing). Consequently, they are not eligible for the Second Start Program, unless the student's community college GPA is below a 2.00.

Can Second Start students enroll at a different CSU other than the one in which they were originally enrolled?

No, in order to take advantage of the benefits of the Second Start Program, students must return to their original institution.

Student Records and Registration

Will Second Start students be given priority registration?

Yes.