Pre Professional Programs (P3)
Cornell's Pre Professional Programs (P3) was established in 2012 and merges together the New York State's Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) and the Cornell Professional Opportunity Program (CPOP).
New York State established CSTEP for its residents in 1986 with the purpose of increasing the number of economically disadvantaged students and others who are pursuing professional licensure and careers in mathematics, science, technology and health-related fields. Cornell University founded one of the initial CSTEP programs in 1986. Currently, 77 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 New York.
In 2012, Cornell brought CSTEP and CPOP together under one umbrella, the Pre Professional Programs, or P3.