Announced on Feb. 15, Cal State University San Marcos (CSUSM) expanded guaranteed admission to five more school districts including Bonsall Unified School District, Hemet Unified School District, Guajome Schools, San Dieguito Unified School District and Poway Unified School District. Guaranteed admission is given to students within these school districts who meet specific requirements determined by CSUSM.

“I think guaranteed admission greatly benefits students, especially since CSUSM is impacted freshman year for [class of 2023 and 2024], making it more difficult to be accepted without guaranteed admission. Also, when students are guaranteed admission they are more likely to apply and see themselves at a 4-year institution. It also benefits CSUSM because it builds their clout in the community and beyond,” said Sari Delagneau, Careers in Education teacher.
Guaranteed admission is also given to those who meet requirements within “The Alliance”, a group of school districts that have had guaranteed admission in CSUSM since 2013. San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD) is included in “The Alliance.” The group was initially made to improve “college attendance and graduation rates for all learners in CSUSM’s footprint,” according to CSUSM.

“I probably got in with the guaranteed admission to CSUSM… by taking advantage of the guaranteed admission and attending CSUSM, you can be supported in so many ways by the resources and networks that CSUSM provides its students,” said Natalie Nosco, MHHS alumni and a current CSUSM student.

CSUSM being nearby Mission Hills is an appealing factor to apply to CSUSM for some students–along with the financial benefits of staying local along and the resources CSUSM gives their students, the Cal State can be enticing for current Mission Hills students.

“I think especially if they’re local students in San Diego County, the proximity of Cal State San Marcos, especially for our students here in our district, I think it’s wonderful, you know? Especially because housing and tuition and out-of-state costs and all that is going up, and so if they can save money by living at home and transportation costs are not as much, then I think it’s wonderful for students to have that proximity,” said Marissa Sanchez, a Future Center staff member.

The expansion of guaranteed admission comes with benefits to students and CSUSM, as well as potential cons.
“For administrators, this is highly beneficial as it allows for more social mobility… however by expanding ourselves we also limit ourselves. The students refer to this school as a commuter school and with that expansion we will receive more people who come to class without ever getting involved… we gain a new flow of students, but at what cost?” said Marbella Ramirez, former The Silvertip Managing Editor and current Cougar Chronicle Editor in Chief.
Expansion of guaranteed admission has been signed into a memorandum of understanding on March 1. Information about the guaranteed admission requirements can be found on CSUSM’s website. Assistance for college admissions can be found at the Counseling Center and Future Center on campus, along with their respective webpages.