FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS

Start your college experience on a campus without boundaries in downtown Atlanta, where opportunities to jump-start your career are just blocks away.

Admission for High School Students

If you’re a senior in high school or if you graduated from high school within the last five years, you’ll apply to begin your bachelor’s degree program using the Common Application.

Note: If you graduated high school at least five years ago and have not attended college, you are considered a nontraditional applicant. View our requirements for nontraditional applicants.

Admission Process and Steps to Apply

Complete the Georgia State Application for Admission accompanied by a $60 nonrefundable fee.

Application Fee Waivers

First-year 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

Ask your high school counselor to submit your transcript electronically through the Common Application or GA Futures. Schools may also send them to us electronically at [email protected] or mail them to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Sparks Hall, Suite 200
P.O. Box 4009
Atlanta, GA 30302-4009

Schools can also send transcripts through our approved transcript companies such as Parchment, Escrip-safe, National Student Clearinghouse, Credential Solutions or Joint Services Transcript.

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.

• 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.

• SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of at least 480 and SAT Math score of at least 440**
  OR
• ACT English or Reading score of at least 17 and ACT Math score of at least 17**

* Some merit scholarships may still require test scores.

Check Your Status. 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.

Deadlines for High School Students

Deadlines are subject to change. We cannot guarantee a decision for applications and documents received past the listed deadlines.

SPRING SEMESTER

SUMMER SEMESTER

Early Application Deadline:
Feb. 1 Final Application Deadline:
April 1 Final Document Deadline:
May 1

FALL SEMESTER

Admissions Application Opens:
Aug. 1 Honors and Scholarship Priority Consideration Deadline:
Nov. 15
Notification by Dec.15 Final Application Deadline:
May 1 Official Transcripts and Test Scores Submission Deadline:
June 1

General Admissions Information

• Requirements
• Home-School Applicants
• Do I Qualify?
• Application Tips
• Letter of Recommendation

Requirements

Requirements

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 first-year student.

Georgia State requires completion of the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) course units:

Georgia State is test-optional through Summer 2025. Applicants with a recalculated high school GPA of 3.4 or higher do not need to submit test scores. Applicants with a 3.4 or less should provide test scores that meet either of the following criteria:

• 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*

*Meeting the minimum score criteria does not guarantee admission.

How do I compare with the average admissible first-year student at Georgia State?
The average ranges for admissible first-year students are as follows:**

**Based on the middle 50% of the fall 2021 admitted class

Home-School Applicants

Home-School Applicants

Applicants may upload most documents required for admission, except for official transcripts, test scores or birth certificates.

School Accreditation

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:

Letter of Completion

This is a letter from the primary teacher or program administrator certifying completion of high school and date of high school graduation.

Portfolio

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
  • A transcript listing courses are taken by the year
  • Course title
  • Course description
  • List of course learning materials, including textbooks and software
  • Course credit
  • Year completed
  • Grade earned
  • Source (public school, private school, correspondence program, or home-generated curriculum)

  Mail your portfolio before June 1 to:
  Office of Undergraduate Admissions
  Sparks Hall, Suite 200
  33 Gilmer St. SE
  Atlanta, GA 30303

  Do I Qualify?

  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 (GPA), first-year 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 GPA in college preparatory courses only.

  This tool will help you determine the probability of first-year admission in advance of applying. The system will calculate your data and report an “unofficial admission decision” for first-time first-year students 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:
  SAT FI= (500x HSGPA) + 1.06 x (SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + SAT Math) – 74

  The ACT FI formula:
  ACT FI= (500 x HSGPA) + (ACT composite x 42) + 88

  Note: Admission requirements may vary from year to year, and the requirements mentioned here are the minimum values and do not guarantee admission to Georgia State or a scholarship.

  Application Tips

  Application Tips

  Applying to Georgia State has never been easier, and this page walks you through two of the optional elements of our application: the essay and letter of recommendation.

  You do not have to submit your letter of recommendation at the same time you submit your application. You may submit your application and essay* first and then your letter of recommendation once it is complete.

  Note: *If you’re applying through the nontraditional student application, you can attach an optional essay (in Word or PDF format) in an email to [email protected] . Be sure to include your Panther ID number.

  Topics and Tips for the Optional Essay

  This essay is a window into who you are, your passions and your potential for being a good match at Georgia State. It is a way of getting to know you without actually meeting you. The essay is how you stand out — or how you fall flat.

  It’s not easy to write about yourself. This is likely something you haven’t done in the past. Don’t overthink it. Just write what you feel most comfortable with.

  Here are the essay topics from which to write a 250-650 word essay

  • Some students have a background, identity, interest or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
  • The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you faced a challenge, setback or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
  • Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
  • Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma, or anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could take to identify a solution.
  • Discuss an accomplishment, event or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
  • Describe a topic, idea or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or whom do you turn to when you want to learn more?
  • Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt or one of your own design.

  Do’s and Don’ts of Essay Writing

  Please Do…
  • Spend a few hours brainstorming about what you would like to include in your essay.
  • Try to make your essay as unique and memorable as possible. Think about yourself in relation to the rest of the world, understand how you relate and, particularly, consider what’s special about you.
  • Write your essay in a document editor to revise and edit. Once you have the final draft, you can cut and paste it into your online application.
  • Have someone else proofread your essay to avoid making common grammatical or spelling errors. Have at least three individuals other than family members review your essay and make suggestions for improvement.
  • Last but not least, take a few minutes to read your essay out loud.

  Please Don’t…

  • Submit a last-minute draft. Even the best writers make the simplest mistakes.
  • Use clichés. Clichés say to the Admissions review committee that you did not put much thought into your essay.
  • Write your own question. If a topic required does not apply to you, select one that does.
  • Wait until the last minute to complete your essays. Get started early.
  • Write what you think we want to read. Write what you want to say.
  • Blow off the essay. We wouldn’t ask you to write it if we didn’t find it to be an important way to get to know you and what you have to bring to Georgia State.

  Letter of Recommendation

  Optional Letter of Recommendation

  Who Can Complete Your Letter of Recommendation?

  • High school counselor
  • High school teacher
  • High school coach

  Who Cannot Complete Your Letter of Recommendation?

  • Friends
  • Family members*
  • Employers (current or previous)
  • Pets (real or stuffed)

  Note: *Home-school students may use a parent.

  How Should Your Recommender Submit the Letter of Recommendation?

  You may give the form to your recommender to complete and print out, or you may print it out and provide your recommender with a hard copy. Once completed and signed, the form should be mailed to:

  Office of Undergraduate Admissions
  P.O. Box 4009
  Atlanta, GA 30302-4009

  THE STATEMENT

  The Official Blog of Undergraduate Admissions at Georgia State

  

  READ MORE AT THE STATEMENT

  First-Generation Students

  Check out Georgia State’s Guide for First-Generation Students. The guide brings together a variety of resources to help trailblazing students who will be the first in their families to attend a four-year college or university.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Appeals for Admissions

  The assistant vice president for Undergraduate Admissions, the vice president for Enrollment Management & Student Success and the vice provost are the president’s designees for purposes of hearing Undergraduate Admissions appeals.

  Academic Ineligibility

  Applicants for undergraduate admission who are denied due to academic ineligibility may appeal the denial to the assistant vice president for Undergraduate Admissions within 20 days of the date of the denial letter. The decision of the assistant vice president for Undergraduate Admissions is final. Students can appeal based on the following:

  1. The student has earned higher test scores or raised their GPA and wishes to be reevaluated through submission of updated documents.
  2. The denied applicant has compelling reasons explaining why their academic record or test scores do not meet the standards.

  If you wish to appeal your denial, you must complete the appeal process through submission of the following documents within 20 days of the date of the denial letter:

  • Official Appeal forms [PDF format]
    • Freshman Appeal Form (if applicable)
      or
    • Non-Freshman Appeal Form (if applicable)

    Disciplinary/Criminal History or Falsification of Application

    Applicants for undergraduate admission who are denied for reasons related to disciplinary/criminal history or falsification of application may appeal the denial to the vice president for Enrollment Management & Student Success and the vice provost within 20 days of the date of the denial letter. The decision of the vice president for Enrollment Management & Student Success and the vice provost is final.

    As a permanent resident, how do I provide proof of residency?

    Please submit a copy of the front and back of your Permanent Resident Card to [email protected] .

    Before I apply, how will I know which credits transfer from my previous college?

    If your previous college was in the U.S., please check course-credit equivalencies using our Transfer Credit Predictor at Georgia State Degree Transfer. It is up to each academic department to determine which credits are transferable. Once you are accepted, please contact your assigned academic adviser to see how many and which credits transferred.

    Disciplinary and Academic Standing

    Academic and disciplinary standing are factors taken into consideration for applicants being reviewed for admission. For the purposes of admission, good disciplinary and academic standing means the applicant has no pending disciplinary charges, outstanding disciplinary sanctions, or disciplinary or academic issues that would prevent the applicant from reenrolling at a previously attended high school, college or university. For additional information, see the General Admission Policy in the Georgia State Undergraduate Catalog.

    Does Georgia State consider the writing portion of the SAT or the writing portion of the ACT?

    Georgia State will accept the writing portion of the SAT and ACT if a student sends it with their application. While the writing score is not entered into the admission calculation process, we reserve the right to read and consider the writing sample before rendering a final decision. You may review the first-year index (FI) calculation process for a research university here, and note that the minimum FI listed does not guarantee acceptance.