What is the SESP?

History

The Spartan East Side Promise Program (SESP) is San Jose State University's dedicated support service for East Side Union High School District students from the time of college exploration through college graduation. Within Student Outreach and Recruitment (SOAR), the Spartan East Side Promise Program is designed to support East Side Union High School District students and their families.

Established in 2016, the Spartan East Side Promise (SESP) began as a collaboration between San José State University and East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) with the goal of offering guaranteed admission to qualified students who graduate from an SESP eligible high school in the District. Through a variety of interactive programming, the SESP provides a pathway to admission at SJSU by clearly specifying the admission requirements and sharing information about resources for academic success with students and families in the district.

In 2019, the Promise began to expand into a program within SOAR that focuses on helping incoming ESUHSD students transition to SJSU, build connections, and navigate the University. Our Vision is to collaborate with the campus community on interactive, intentional programming to foster academic, personal, and professional development, and a college going mindset, in ESUHSD students.

How it works

1. High school students from an SESP eligible school apply at calstate.edu/apply starting October 1st of Senior Year. Freshman applicants must first meet the CSU eligibility requirements for admission, and apply by the application deadline of December 2, 2024.
   
   
2. Applicants are then reviewed for provisional admission through SJSU's admission selection process, called impaction. Students must meet the eligibility index (EI) score for the major they applied to in order to be offered provisional admission. 
   • If an eligible student does not meet the EI for their intended major, the Spartan East Side Promise guarantees an offer of provisional admission to Undeclared for qualified ESUHSD applicants with a 2.75 GPA or higher ONLY IF:
     • The eligibility index score for their applied major is not met, 
     • A-G courses are completed with a C- or better, AND 
     • All deadlines are met
       Note: The 2.75 GPA is calculated using only 10th - 11th grade A-G high school courses to determine eligibility for provisional admission. Review our impaction page for more information on the eligibility index score formula, and our local preference for Santa Clara County high school graduates.
       
       
3. Students will be notified of their provisional admission offer through their MySJSU account in late February/early March of Senior Year. Students will have until May 1st of Senior Year to complete the Intent to Enroll process. Note: Students must complete admission requirements by their high school graduation, and will be verifed with an evaluation of their final transcripts.
   
   
4. Students will have until May 31st to register for the ESUHSD Spartan Summer Program, designed by our program in partnership with the ESUHSD District and the East Side Education Foundation. This program typically is offered in June prior to incoming students' mandatory Sparta Camp Orientation. Students must attend Orientation to retain their provisional admission offer and register for courses. 
   
   
5. Students will meet academic advisors from their College Student Success Center during the ESUHSD Spartan Summer Program and Sparta Camp Orientation, so that they may learn the process of declaring a major. 

Have questions?

Email SESP Program Lead, Amanda Aldama Fernandes at eastsidepromise@sjsu.edu or schedule a pre-admissions counseling appointment through the below link. 

Schedule a Pre-Admissions Appointment

SESP Eligible High Schools

Interested in a presentation for your classroom?

Email eastsidepromise@sjsu.edu to schedule an admissions/Spartan East Side Promise presentation for your class or organization.