1120 Freshman Applicants - Bachelor’s Level

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Definition

Those applicants who have never enrolled in a regionally-accredited college or university (unless jointly enrolled while completing high school) are freshman applicants.

Freshman Deadlines

An application for admission and the nonrefundable application fee must be submitted or postmarked by the established deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to apply online https://admissions.gsu.edu/bachelors-degree/apply/high-school/?applicantspecialty=freshman-applicants Complete credentials must be received before a decision can be made. All required credentials should be submitted to the Office of Admissions no later than fifteen business days following the submission date of the application for admission.

Fall Semester Applicants Only

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers three deadlines for Fall application to the University:

Early Action Application November 15 (notification by December 15) 

Note: All deadlines are subject to change. 

First-time applicants applying for fall semester entry will be considered for admission beginning in September and decisions for early action applicants will be released starting in late January. It is recommended that applicants apply as early as possible to be considered for admission, university housing, scholarship funding and need-based financial aid.

Honors and Scholarship Consideration Deadline

If you wish to be considered for the Georgia State Honors College and/or for a Georgia State University scholarship be sure to submit your completed application by early action deadline November 15 and related documents by December 1. Only applicants with completed admission files, including submission of all required admission documents and fee will be considered for possible scholarships.

Regular Decision Application Deadline

Freshmen applicants choosing this plan must submit their application no later than April 1 of their senior year.  Primary consideration under the Regular Decision plan will also be focused on demonstrated academic achievement (grades in Required High School Curriculum courses, rigor of curriculum, and performance on the SAT or ACT with writing assessment), with secondary consideration given to a combination of the following factors: intellectual pursuits, creative endeavors, and intercultural experiences; public service, co-curricular activities, community involvement, leadership, and family commitments; and integrity and personal maturity.

Spring and Summer Deadlines

An application for admission and the nonrefundable application fee must be submitted or postmarked by the established deadlines. Complete credentials must be received before a decision can be made. All required credentials should be submitted to the Office of Admissions no later than fifteen business days following the submission date of the application for admission. Applications are processed in the order in which they are complete and ready for a decision.

Note: All deadlines are subject to change.

Minimum Freshman Admission Requirements

Admission to Georgia State University is a selective process and meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance. All of the following minimum requirements must be met in order for an applicant to receive consideration as a freshman:

• Be a graduate of and have completed the 17 Required High School Curriculum requirements for the University System of Georgia from a high school accredited by a regional accrediting association (such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools), a high school accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission, or a public high school regulated by a school system and state Department of Education. A Certificate of Attendance does not qualify an applicant for admission consideration.
• Have completed the University System of Georgia Board of Regents’ Required High School Curriculum. Seventeen curriculum course units required as follows:
  1. English (4 units): emphasis in grammar and usage; literature (American, English, and World); and advanced composition skills.
  2. Mathematics (4 units): algebra I, algebra II, geometry, and one additional mathematics course with these units as prerequisites.
  3. Science (4 units): at least one laboratory course from the life sciences and one laboratory course from the physical sciences. (Applicants graduating in 2012 or later must have 4 units.)
  4. Social Science (3 units): at least one course focusing on United States studies and one course focusing on world studies.
  5. Foreign language (2 units in the same language): emphasis in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
• Based on University System of Georgia guidelines, first-year applicants may be admitted without test scores for spring, summer and fall 2024.  
• Admissions will be determined in one of two ways: 

        1. Freshman index: The freshman index is a formula based on your GPA and submitted test scores. Have a minimum 2.75 high school grade point average calculated on the 17 courses listed above. 

         Submit electronic SAT scores (including the writing section) with a minimum combined score of 980 (evidence-based reading and writing + mathematics) with at least 480 evidence-based reading and writing and 440           mathematics or electronic ACT scores (including the Writing Test) with a minimum composite score of 19 with at least 17 English or 17 reading and 17 mathematics. 

         Have a freshman index (FI) of 2500 or higher. The FI is based on a combination of SAT/ACT scores and high school grade point average (HSGPA) in college preparatory courses only. 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. In calculating the HSGPA for FI purposes, the                   applicant’s transcript is calculated upon only 17 of the required high school curriculum taken such as English, mathematics, science, social studies, and foreign language. 

         2. Test-optional: For applicants with a 3.4 GPA or higher (recalculated based on the 17 units of the Required High School Curriculum), we will not require test scores for an admissions decision. 
         Applicants with a GPA below 3.4 are encouraged to submit test scores. Applicants without test scores and a GPA below a 3.4, may be placed into our Summer Success Academy or Panther Excellence program or                 admitted to our Perimeter College (which offers associate-level degrees). Perimeter College students can transition to the Atlanta campus for a bachelor’s program once they have obtained a 2.0 Perimeter College               GPA and 30 or more credit hours. 
 

• Permanent residents, educated in the United States, whose native language is not English are encouraged to take the TOEFL. If the TOEFL is not taken, applicants from local areas will be required to take the Georgia State Test of English Proficiency (GSTEP) to determine appropriate admission.

RHSC-Deficient Freshman

Applicants admitted with RHSC deficiencies must complete the RHSC requirements by taking the Georgia State courses in the sciences, social sciences or foreign languages (depending on the area of their RHSC deficiencies). These courses will be selected by the University Advisement Center. Credits earned in courses taken to meet RHSC deficiencies do count towards graduation requirements. Students must earn a grade of C or better in those courses they take to meet RHSC deficiencies. Students must complete all RHSC-required courses either prior to enrollment or before they earn 30 hours at the University. Otherwise, they may not register for any courses except RHSC courses until all RHSC requirements are complete.

Home-Schooled Students

Applicants for freshman admission who have been home-schooled or graduated from non-accredited high schools may be considered for admission by meeting one of the following two criteria:

Option One: Curriculum Packet

Applicants who wish to apply for admission under the portfolio review option must:

1. Demonstrate a combined SAT test score (or an ACT equivalent) that is at or exceeds the average SAT for those enrolled as first time freshmen for the previous fall term. The current score is 1230 (SAT) or 23 (ACT).
2. Submit electronic SAT scores of at least 480 evidence-based reading and writing and 440 mathematics or electronic ACT scores (including the Writing Test) of at least 17 English and 17 mathematics.
3. Submit a curriculum packet that demonstrates satisfactory completion of the 17 Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) required for admission to a University System of Georgia research institution. This packet must include the following information for each RHSC course:
   • Course title;
   • Course description;
   • List of course learning materials, including textbooks and software;
   • Course credit;
   • Year completed;
   • Grade earned; and,
   • Source (public school, private school, correspondence program, or home generated curriculum)

Georgia State University reserves the right to request any further information that it feels necessary to evaluate the completion of the RHSC requirements.

Option Two: SAT Subject Test Admission (if taken before SAT Subject Tests were discontinued)

Applicants who wish to apply for admission under the SAT Subject Test option must:

1. Submit electronic SAT scores (including the writing section) with a minimum combined score of 980 with at least 480 evidence-based reading and writing and 440 mathematics or electronic ACT scores (including the Writing Test) with a minimum composite score of 19 with at least 17 English and 17 mathematics.
2. Submit acceptable scores on six SAT Subject Tests and demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language at the level of two years of high school study. Minimum acceptable scores on the prescribed SAT Subject Tests are:
   • 520 on the English Writing test (now a required part of the SAT or ACT)
   • 530 on the Literature test
   • 500 on the Mathematics Level 1 test or a score of 570 on the Mathematics Level 2 test
   • 520 on the Biology test
   • 540 on the Chemistry test or 590 on the Physics test
   • 560 on the U.S. History test, and
   • 540 on the World History test

The appropriate level of competency in a foreign language will be evaluated by the Georgia State University Department of World Languages and Cultures, using methods including both oral and written components.