HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
AUGUST 1
Fall 2020 Application Opens
NOVEMBER 15
Priority Consideration for Scholarships & the Honors College
Steps to Apply
If you’re a senior in high school or if you graduated from high school within the last two years, you’ll apply to begin your bachelor’s degree program using the Common Application.
Note: If you graduated high school at least 5 years ago and have not attended college, you are considered a non-traditional applicant. View our requirements for non-traditional applicants.
You will need to pay a $60 nonrefundable application fee when you submit your application. You can use a credit card or authorize a draft from a checking account.
Application Fee Waivers
Freshman applicants may provide an approved application fee waiver from ACT, College Board or the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
To submit an ACT waiver, speak with your high school counselor. To submit a College Board or NACAC waiver, upload a scan through your admissions Status Check or mail the original document to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Sparks Hall, Suite 200
P.O. Box 4009
Atlanta, GA 30302-4009
Note: If you submit a fee waiver, we will not review your application until we receive your complete and approved fee waiver documentation.
Ask your high school counselor to submit your transcript electronically through the Common Application or GAfutures.org. Schools may also send them to us electronically at electronictranscript@gsu.edu or mail them to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 4009
Atlanta, GA 30302-4009
Tips
- After you graduate, your high school needs to send us your final, official transcript as well.
- We calculate your high school grade point average (GPA) based on your core academic classes only.
You have the option to invite counselors and teachers to submit letters of recommendation on your behalf.
- After adding Georgia State to “My Colleges,” select the “My Colleges” tab.
- Click “Recommenders and FERPA” under “Georgia State University.”
- If you’ve filled out your high school information in the “Education” section of the Common Application, you’ll be able to click the “Invite Counselor” link near the bottom of the “Recommenders and FERPA” page under the “Recommenders for Georgia State University” section.
Note: You are allowed to request recommendations from one counselor and two teachers, but you are not required to submit any letters of recommendation to be considered for admission.
Want to know where you stand? Log in to the Status Check to track your progress online and ensure you meet deadlines and other requirements.
If your application has been admitted, review our Accepted Student Next Steps.
Deadlines & Guidelines
FALL SEMESTER
Admissions Application Opens: August 1
Honors and Scholarship Priority Consideration Deadline: November 15
Notification: By December 15Final Application Deadline: April 1
Official Transcripts and Test Scores Submission Deadline: June 1
SPRING SEMESTER
Early Application Deadline: October 1
Regular Application Deadline: December 1SUMMER SEMESTER
Early Application Deadline: February 1
Regular Application Deadline: April 1
Deadlines are subject to change.
Who is considered a freshman?
If you have never been enrolled in a regionally accredited college or university, or if you attended a college or university only as a dual enrollment student while in high school, you are considered a freshman.
How will you evaluate my application?
We’ll calculate your admissibility using two factors: your high school grade point average (GPA) for your Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) and your official test scores for the SAT, ACT or both.
- Freshman applicants must submit scores for either the SAT or ACT. If you’ve taken both tests, you may submit both scores.
- You must submit your test scores electronically through the appropriate testing agency. We will not review any application based on test scores received on a high school transcript, nor will we consider paper rush reports.
- Applicants must meet the minimum Board of Regents criteria to apply to a research institution: SAT scores of at least 480 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) and 440 (Math) or ACT scores of at least 17 (English) and 17 (Math).
- The SAT was redesigned in March 2016. To learn more about the new test and how to convert old scores to the new format, visit College Board.
- Georgia State requires completion of the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) course units:
| SUBJECT: | UNITS: | COURSES: |
| ENGLISH | 4 | Any 4 English or language arts. |
| MATH | 4 | Algebra I, algebra II, geometry and 1 higher-level math. |
| NATURAL SCIENCE | 4 | 1 life science/lab, 1 physical science/lab and 2 science electives. |
| SOCIAL SCIENCE | 3 | 1 U.S. history, 1 world history and 1 social science elective. |
| FOREIGN LANGUAGE | 2 | Both units must be the same language. American Sign Language is acceptable. |
How do I compare with the average admissible freshman at Georgia State?
The average ranges for admissible freshmen are as follows:
| High School core GPA | 3.3 – 3.8 |
| SAT (combined) | 1070 – 1260 |
| ACT (composite) | 21 – 28 |
Based on the middle 50% of the Fall 2019 admitted class
Students attending a home-school program approved by any of these accreditation agencies should apply like traditional high school applicants.
- Georgia (or any other state’s) Accrediting Commission
- Georgia Private School Accrediting Commission
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Northwest Accreditation Commission
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
If you were educated at a non-accredited high school or through a home-school program that hasn’t been approved by Georgia State, you’re considered a home-school applicant. Home-school applicants must also be able to demonstrate completion of the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) requirements as mandated by the Board of Regents:
| SUBJECT: | UNITS: | COURSES: |
| ENGLISH | 4 | Any 4 English or language arts. |
| MATH | 4 | Algebra I, algebra II, geometry and 1 higher-level math. |
| NATURAL SCIENCE | 4 | 1 life science/lab, 1 physical science/lab and 2 science electives. |
| SOCIAL SCIENCE | 3 | 1 U.S. history, 1 world history and 1 social science elective. |
| FOREIGN LANGUAGE | 2 | Both units must be the same language. American Sign Language is acceptable. |
If you’re a home-school applicant who will not receive a diploma from an organization on our list of approved home-school programs, you can satisfy our RHSC requirement in one of two ways.
1. Portfolio Option
You can demonstrate RHSC competence by submitting a portfolio detailing your years of high school study if you meet the following criteria:
- SAT score of at least 1230 (critical reading and math) or an ACT score of at least 23 (composite)
- Board of Regents’ minimum criteria for each section:
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of at least 480 and SAT Math score of at least 440
- ACT English or Reading score of at least 17 and ACT Math score of at least 17
- SAT and ACT test scores must be submitted electronically directly from the testing organization.
- To satisfy the RHSC requirement, your portfolio must include the following information:
- A transcript listing subjects studied by year
- Titles of textbooks and other classroom resources
- Assignment descriptions and examples of coursework, tests and assignments
- Outline of themes covered in courses
Mail your portfolio before August 1 to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Sparks Hall, Suite 200
33 Gilmer St. SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
2. SAT II Subject Test Option You may demonstrate RHSC competence by submitting SAT II Subject Test scores if you meet the following criteria: SAT score of at least 980 (Evidence-based Reading and Math) or an ACT score of at least 19 (composite). Our minimum acceptable scores on the SAT Subject Tests are as follows:
- English Writing: 520
- Literature: 530
- Math Level 1C: 500 OR Math Level 2C: 570
- Biology: 520
- Chemistry: 540 OR Physics: 590
- U.S. History: 560
- World History: 540
Letter of completion. A letter from the primary teacher or program administrator certifying completion of high school and date of high school graduation.
Document Upload System. Applicants may upload many documents required for admission, except for official transcripts, test scores, or birth certificates.
Panther Predictor
Students who wish to enter Georgia State University directly from high school will be admitted based upon the following four factors: SAT/ACT composite score, high school grade-point average, freshman index (FI), and number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas. The FI is based on a combination of SAT/ACT scores and high school grade-point average in college preparatory courses only.
This tool will help you determine the probability of freshman admission in advance of applying. The system will calculate your data and report an “unofficial admission decision” for first time freshmen only.
This tool uses the SAT two-digit test scoring structure (10-40) adopted in March 2016. If your test date was before March 2016, you will need to convert your scores to the new scoring structure. The College Board concordance provides conversion charts and other resources to see how your old scores compare to the new scores.
Note: International students should refer to the international admissions page for more information.
The SAT FI formula is: SAT FI= (500x HSGPA) + 1.06 x (SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + SAT Math) – 74
The ACT FI formula is: ACT FI= (500 x HSGPA) + (ACT composite x 42) + 88
Please note: admission requirements may vary from year to year, and the requirements mentioned here are the minimum values and do not guarantee an admission to Georgia State or a scholarship.
