How to Apply
Online Application
The online application will be available on the COSMOS Statewide website February 1 - March 15. NOTE: all supporting application materials such as transcripts, test scores, financial assistance application, $30 application fee, and teach recommendations MUST be received in our office or postmarked no later than March 15.
Eligibility
Students admitted to COSMOS are selected by the faculty from each cluster. While there is no explicit standards that must be met for admission, faculty consider the whole application and weigh it against others who have applied to the same cluster. Criteria considered are:
Prerequisites
Clusters which require prerequisites must be met. If these have not been met the application will be forwarded to the applicants 2nd and/or 3rd choice cluster.
Grades
While overall GPA is consider an applicant's success in high-level math and science courses, such as Honors and AP, is weighed more heavily. The average unweighted 2008 applicant GPA was a 3.70.
Short answer response
When applying you will be prompted to respond to a question for each cluster to which you apply. Responses therefore should be concise and tailored to each cluster topic. Faculty take this opportunity to learn what motivates you to apply to their cluster and what you expect to get out of it.
Teacher Recommendations
Each applicant must secure two recommendations from a mathematics and/or science teacher. Give your teachers sufficient time and confirm that they received and/or completed the online Recommendation Request Form. Some emails get lost in Junk Mail. You will submit your teachers' email addresses when completing your application.
Student Activities
Extra-curricular activities related to math and science, such as participation in science fairs, Math Olympiad or other science programs are considered.
Application Tips
- Start your application early!
- Apply to only one campus. Consider your choice of campus carefully.
- Identify a 2nd and 3rd choice cluster.
- Confirm you've met your cluster’s prerequisites BEFORE submitting your application.
- Give thoughtful consideration to your short-answer responses. You are strongly encouraged to type it in Word, use spell check, and copy and paste it in to the online application.
- Sell yourself throughout your entire application!
- Call the campus you are applying to if you have questions.
- Make sure you have a valid e-mail address before beginning. You will need it for the online application process.
- Save your application as you work through it online so you do not lose data.
- Remember to finish your application in its entirety and to submit it before the deadline. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.
- Check your application status BEFORE the deadline to make sure that we have received all of your materials.
- Contact your teachers to request recommendations as early as possible. Check back with them periodically to make sure they complete your request before the deadline.
- Be aware of the application deadline!
Modified 2009-03-19T20:00:00Z