New York State established the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) for its residents in 1986 with the purpose of increasing participation of under-represented groups and/or low-income students pursuing professional licensure (e.g.: medicine, law, social work, interior design) and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and health-related fields. Cornell University founded one of the initial CSTEP programs in 1986. Currently, 47 CSTEP programs exist throughout the state.

In 2008, Cornell established the Cornell Professional Opportunity Program (CPOP) aimed to mirror CSTEP and extend the benefits of CSTEP to our students whose permanent residence is outside of NYS. 

CSTEP and CPOP merged in 2012 to create Cornell’s Pre Professional Programs, more commonly known as P3.

1986: New York State establishes the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) focused on increasing participation of underrepresented groups and/or low-income students in pursuit of careers in STEM and/or fields requiring licensure (e.g., medicine and law). Cornell University opens its first CSTEP program.

2008: Cornell University launches CPOP, a mirror program of CSTEP, for out-of-state students.

2012: Cornell’s CPOP and CSTEP merge into one program, the Pre Professional Programs (P3), housed under the division of Undergraduate Education in the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives.