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Admissions & Records

New & Returning Students

New and returning students who have not taken a class within the San Mateo County Community College District for one or more years must complete the online admission application.

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Step 1A: Create an OpenCCC Account

For students who have never applied to CSM. Complete and then go to Step 1B.

 

Step 1B: Apply to CSM through OpenCCC

For students who have just completed Step 1A OR have previously attended CSM.

 

As part of completing the online admission application students identify an educational goal.

After you submit the online admission application:

  • Print the confirmation page.
  • Check your email (including the spam folder) for important information from CSM Admissions Office regarding your registration.
  • Your email will include your student ID number and the next steps in the registration process.
  • The email usually arrives within 1-2 hours of submitting the application, but may take up to one business day. Please note our Admissions and Records Office Hours of Operation. If you have not received the “Welcome to College of San Mateo” email, it may have gone to your email account’s spam folder. Also, please make sure you fully submitted the application. After you submit the application, you are taken to a confirmation page, which provides a confirmation number. Print the confirmation page for your records. For technical assistance with the online application, please contact OpenCCC at (877) 247-4836 or support@openccc.net.

Your educational goal determines how you proceed after Step 1.

Complete Steps 2-6 if on your admission application you indicated you are taking courses to:

  • Complete an associate degree or certificate program
  • Complete your first two years of university work at CSM and then transfer to a university
  • Are currently undecided and/or considering one of the above goals
  • Applying for financial aid
Or

Go directly to Step 5 if on your admission application you indicated you are taking courses to:

  • Meet personal interests and personal enrichment, or to upgrade job skills
  • Participate in the College Connection High School Concurrent Enrollment Program
  • You are a student at another college or university and taking classes at CSM to meet the requirements of that institution
  • You do not intend to use Counseling Services
You will receive a registration date after your admission application is processed.
Students can complete the college orientation by attending an in-person Welcome Orientation and Assessment Workshop (which covers both enrollment steps 2 and 3). Students can sign up for the workshop by contacting the Welcome Center or through their WebSMART account. The college orientation is also available online through WebSMART.

In order to register for Math, English or ESL courses, all students must complete Math and English or ESL Assessment.

For Math and English Assessment:
Start with the CSM English/Math Placement Request Form

Our placement options are:

  • Option 1: Take the Accuplacer placement test and complete the Guided Self-Assessment process
  • Option 2: Provide a TOEFL/IELTS score
For students who have completed a Math or English course:
If you have already successfully completed English and/or math courses at another college or university within the United States and are planning to enroll in an English or math course (or a course that has an English or math prerequisite), your previous coursework must be approved. Visit collegeofsanmateo.edu/prerequisites for more information on how to complete the Prerequisite Equivalency form.

Meet with a college counselor to review your educational interests and goals. The counselor will create with you a 1 or 2 semester abbreviated Student Educational Plan (SEP) to help you get started for your first semester. Please return within your first semester to complete a comprehensive SEP, which will let you know all of the courses that are needed to meet your goal.

You can make a counseling appointment through your OneLogin portal. Choose Student Success Link! If you have any trouble, please contact Counseling Services for assistance.
  • Register for classes. Instructions on how to register can be found on the Register for Classes web page.
  • Pay for all enrollment fees
  • Print a schedule summary of this transaction
  • You can also order textbooks online in WebSMART under registration
Your my.smccd.edu email account is how the college communicates with all students. All college communications are sent to your my.smccd.edu email address.

Only through your my.smccd.edu email address do you receive important information from your professors and the college. It is essential that you make it a practice to check your my.smccd.edu email regularly.
Final Examinations
December 10-16, 2024
Winter Recess
December 24 - January 1
Spring Classes Begin
January 13, 2025
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