Summer of Success Program FAQs

The Summer of Success Program is a rigorous five-week academic initiative designed to assist new students in preparing for success in college-level, degree-credit courses. SOS students also receive supplemental academic support (e.g., individual and group tutoring from faculty and peer tutors).

Conditional admission allows a select group of students that did not meet the university’s admission requirements to attend TSU as part of the Summer of Success Program. Students who successfully complete the Summer of Success Program by earning a minimum grade of “C” in all courses will gain admission for the upcoming fall semester.

July 11 through August 11, 2022.

The program is being planned to be residential for 2022. Students will be required to reside on campus to participate in the program. If changes due to the pandemic require the program to be offered through a virtual program, participates will be notified.

Students that have applied for general admission to Texas Southern University, but did not meet the minimum requirements for unconditional admission are selected for participation in the Summer of Success Program. Students who are selected to participate in the program will be notified by the SOS Committee.

The essay question is how the SOS program can help you for success in college. The essay response should be between 250-500 words and is provided on the Program Interest Form, which will be emailed to students who are eligible for participation in the SOS Program.

The SOS Committee may require students to participate in a virtual interview as part of the selection process. After submitting the SOS Program Interest Form, the SOS Committee will contact students by email to schedule an interview through Zoom. Students who are selected for a virtual interview must complete the interview to participate in the SOS Program.

Conditionally admitted students who do not participate in the Summer of Success Program will not receive admission as first-time freshmen into Texas Southern University. Non-accepted students may apply for transfer admission for a future semester.

$1,000 (includes tuition, housing & meal plan, books & program supplies).

Payments can be made online by clicking here.

Yes, students may make payments towards the $1,000 program fee. The initial $300 payment of the program fee must be paid by June 1, 2022 to participate in the program.

Yes, students may complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA (current year FAFSA) application to determine if they are eligible to receive the Pell Grant to help pay for the $1,000 program fee. Student loans and other types of financial aid are not available for the SOS Program.

Students who are offered an opportunity to participate in the SOS Program can complete the SOS Program Interest Form.

The courses offered during the SOS Program include Speech Communication (COMM 135), Contemporary Social Issues (SOC 158), Fine Art in Daily Living (MUSI 239), and Introduction to the Earth (GEOL 141). The University will enroll you in two of these courses based on your intended major, along with a Career Exploration (SOC 101) seminar course.

Students participating in the Summer of Success Program have the option (but are not required) to take the TSI Assessment exam (for 2022 only). TSI exemption criteria are available at http://www.tsu.edu/about/administration/institutional-effectiveness/pdf/tsi-exemptions.pdf.

No. TSU offers the TSI Assessment Exam through the University Testing Center but the exam is offered at most community colleges in Texas. Please contact the University Testing Center by email at testing@tsu.edu for information on registering to take the TSI exam at TSU or for instructions on how to take the exam at a local community college. The TSI Exam website is http://www.tsu.edu/admissions/testing-center/tsi-assessment/index.html.

Yes, the University Testing Center is open to providing the TSI Assessment. To register to take the TSI Assessment at TSU, please visit the University Testing Center website.

SOS participants who take the TSI exam through the TSU University Testing Center are not be required to pay the assessment fee. If students take the exam at another institution, that institution may require them to pay their fee for the TSI Assessment exam.

Additional information for the SOS Program is available online at www.tsu.edu/summer, or by email at sos@tsu.edu.