College Ready Summer Programs for Incoming First-Years

San Diego State University's college readiness programs, Freshmen Academic Success Track (FAST) and CSU Early Start, are designed to develop readiness for college-level English and mathematics in the summer prior to enrolling at a California State University (CSU). Students who will be attending SDSU in the fall are required to complete the FAST program if their academic qualifications require placement in a written communication course with academic support and/or placement in a mathematics course with academic support. Students who will be attending another CSU campus and are required to complete the CSU Early Start Program, may complete the program on campus at SDSU. College readiness programs are offered at SDSU from early July to mid-August; students should make their summer plans accordingly.

Details and Requirements

The structure of FAST and the Early Start programs vary slightly depending on your location and the campus where you'll enroll this fall. Choose the situation that applies to you to get more information.
  • Completed the Intent to Enroll process at SDSU
  • Graduating from a high school within SDSU's local admission area*

FAST for Local* Students

  • Completed the Intent to Enroll process at SDSU
  • Graduating from a high school outside SDSU's local admission area*

FAST for Nonlocal* Students

  • Completed the Intent to Enroll process at another CSU
  • Chose to attend Early Start at SDSU before enrolling at the destination campus

CSU Early Start

Program Exemptions

First-year students who are exempt from FAST are:

  • First-year students who are nonresidents of California
  • First-year students who are international students

*You are in SDSU's local admissions area if you graduated from a high school in San Diego County located south of state route 56 and extending eastward. However, if you graduated from an Imperial County high school, you will attend the FAST program at SDSU's Imperial Valley Campus—for details, contact Dr. Henry Villegas, Dean of Students for SDSU-Imperial Valley, at [email protected].