What You Need Before Starting
Full Process Overview
Apply to GSU as a Dual Enrollment student
Create a GA Futures account and apply for DE funding
Send parent acknowledgment email via GA Futures
Request your high school transcript be sent to GSU
Wait for acceptance, then complete post-acceptance steps
Clear all holds in PAWS, then register for classes
Associate vs. Bachelor's Path
Associate (Perimeter): Access to 5 campuses — Clarkston, Dunwoody, Decatur, Alpharetta, Newton. More professor variety, more schedule flexibility. Recommended for most students.
Bachelor's (Atlanta): Only Atlanta campus professors, can be stricter. Good if Atlanta is convenient. You can transfer from Associate to Atlanta anyway.
You can always finish your last 2 years at Atlanta or any other university after completing the Associate path.
What Does It Cost?
Dual enrollment is free up to 30 credit hours through GA Futures (GSFC). You will see a tuition bill in PAWS — ignore it completely. GA Futures pays it after the semester begins.
You only personally pay:
- Lab fees (science or language classes)
- Math Placement Exam ($28)
No Financial Aid
There is no FAFSA, no financial aid for Dual Enrollment students. When the application asks "Do you plan to apply for financial aid?" — select No.
GA Futures funding is separate from financial aid. It covers tuition automatically as long as you remain eligible.
Important Deadlines
Fall Application Deadline
Both your GSU application AND your GA Futures funding application must be submitted by May 1st. Your high school counselor and parent must also complete their parts before registration holds are lifted.
Spring Application Deadline
Planning to start in January? All materials must be in by November 1st.
Summer Application Deadline
Summer semester closes April 1st.
Processing Time Windows
- Campus ID can take up to 7 days to generate after acceptance
- Orientation invite arrives 3–4 days after acceptance email
- DE funding hold clears in 1–2 business days after high school processes the application
- iStart lawful presence verification: wait 2 business days after submitting
- Immunization portal opens 5–7 days after you register for courses
- Reactivation applications take up to 21 days — going in person may speed this up
- AP score processing: allow several weeks; scores must come from College Board directly
Step 1 — Apply to GSU
Go to admissions.gsu.edu/associate-degree/apply/de-students/ → scroll down → click Apply Now
Direct link: undergradapply.gsu.edu → answer the screening questions → select "Dual Enrollment/Early College" as student type
Register with your email, first name, last name, and birthdate. Create your own account — do not use a family member's email. Applying under someone else's account causes mismatches and delays.
You'll receive a PIN by email from GSU Admissions. Use that PIN to log back in and complete your application.
Application type: Dual Enrollment. Student type: First-year freshman. Choose your campus (Atlanta or Perimeter) and pathway (Associate or Bachelor's).
Critical In the Education section, list every high school course you are currently taking AND every course you plan to take until graduation. For upcoming courses, enter "N/A" under grade. Skipping this delays your entire application.
Add your PSAT or SAT score. Enter the test type, date, and total score. Individual sub-sections can be listed as "NA" if you don't have them.
Important When asked "Do you plan to apply for financial aid?" — select No. There is no financial aid for Dual Enrollment. GA Futures handles funding separately.
Complete and submit the application. You will receive a confirmation email. Save your login credentials and the PIN email.
Step 2 — GA Futures
Create an account at gafutures.org/create-account → click Sign In → create account → select Student
Log in at gafutures.org → click "My Dual Enrollment Profile" (second item on the left sidebar)
Click Apply Now → click "Apply for Dual Enrollment"
Click "Add College(s)" and type in Georgia State University, then add it
Critical Click "Resend Parent Acknowledgment Email" at the bottom and enter your parent/guardian's email address. Your parent must complete this before your high school can approve you. If your parent doesn't have email, they can visit gafutures.org/DEparent to complete it.
Click "My High School Transcript" in the left sidebar → select Georgia State University from the list → fill out your info → click Send
Note: It must be at least 30 days since you last sent a transcript to the same school.
Physically go to your high school dual enrollment advisor and confirm the transcript notification reached them. They handle sending the actual transcript to GSU.
Use the dashboard ("View My Dashboard") to monitor your application status — it shows active/inactive applications in progress.
After Acceptance — What to Do
Post-Acceptance Checklist
Verify GA Futures funding is complete — holds lift once student, parent, AND counselor all finish their parts
Activate your Campus ID: campusid.gsu.edu using your 9-digit Panther ID (at the bottom of your acceptance letter). Can take up to 7 days to generate.
Forgot your ID? → webservices.gsu.edu/lookup or check your acceptance email from dualenrollment@gsu.edu
Download Duo Mobile (green app) and set it up using your CampusID. This must be done before setting up PantherMail.
Activate your PantherMail (Outlook). All important GSU emails — textbooks, announcements, grades — go here. Check it every single day.
Important Complete online orientation — the invite comes to your personal email 3–4 days after acceptance. Do NOT register for orientation through PAWS.
Familiarize yourself with PAWS: paws.gsu.edu — this is where you register for classes, check your schedule, and see holds.
Required for math Schedule your Math Placement Exam ($28). Required to register for ANY math course.
• Perimeter campus: registerblast.com/clarkston-tc
• Atlanta campus: registerblast.com/gsu
Choose "Virtual Exams (online)" → pay fee → take test on icollege.gsu.edu (scroll down on homepage). Grab a calculator — it's timed.
Check PAWS for holds. Each semester you must remove the Emergency Contact Hold (add 2 contacts + yourself) and the Registration Agreement Hold.
If seeking in-state tuition: complete Citizenship Verification / Lawful Presence by uploading documents to the admissions portal. Then email admissions@gsu.edu with your Panther ID.
Submit immunizations (MMR, Tetanus/Diphtheria, Varicella, Hepatitis B) via health.gsu.edu. Portal opens 5–7 days after you register for courses.
Once registered for classes, give a copy of your schedule to your high school counselor. This is required.
Math Placement Score Advice
Your score determines which math you can start with. The guide author recommends:
- Science major? Register for Precalculus (MATH 1113) even if your score lets you skip it — it's a prerequisite for Chemistry.
- No Chemistry in your path? You can go straight to Calculus 1 (MATH 2211).
- Not confident in math? Start with College Algebra (MATH 1111) to build your foundation.
Holds — And How to Remove Them
Emergency Contact Hold
Add a minimum of 2 emergency contacts in PAWS:
- Contact #1 = You. Relationship must be listed as "Reach Me in Emergency"
- Contact #2 = Any relative, friend, or "Other". You must select a Relationship from the dropdown — leaving it blank will not work
- Adding yourself as an additional contact may help clear the hold
- Still having issues? technology.gsu.edu/contact
Dual Enrollment Funding Hold
Your high school counselor must add your approved courses to the GA Futures Funding Application for the current semester. Confirm with your counselor that this is done. Hold clears in 1–2 business days after the high school processes it.
For hold removal assistance: 770-274-5612
Citizenship Verification Hold
- 2-year green card: Email a copy to vbarnes8@gsu.edu
- 10-year green card: Email a copy to admresidency@gsu.edu
- After uploading your document to the admissions portal, email admissions@gsu.edu including your Panther ID in the message
- Main office: 404-413-2500 — they can also reach an admissions counselor to process your document
- More info: admissions.gsu.edu/kb/citizenship-verification
Immigration Hold — ISSS Process
Go to istart.gsu.edu → log in → find the e-form for "completion of lawful presence" → fill it out → for "verification of lawful presence" select OTHER → submit. Wait 2 business days.
In person: 555 N Indian Creek Dr, Clarkston GA 30021 (CN Building, 2nd floor, Room #2230)
Advisor: Deborah Livingston
Phone: 678-891-3235
Email: dlivingston@gsu.edu
Website: isss.gsu.edu
Advising hours (virtual queue): Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 1–4 PM
AP Score Hold
AP scores must be sent directly from your College Board account to GSU (GSU code: 5251). GSU will process them as quickly as possible, but allow several weeks. You cannot manually submit them — College Board must send them officially.
Account Balance "Hold"
You will see a tuition balance in your PAWS dashboard throughout the semester. This is not a real hold blocking registration — GA Futures pays it after GSU invoices them. It clears sometime after the semester midpoint. If you have exhausted your 30-credit-hour funding cap, you must pay the balance yourself by the deadline in PAWS.
Registering for Classes
How to Access Registration
Log in at paws.gsu.edu with your CampusID → click the 3 lines (☰) top left → Registration Menu → Register for Classes → Register for Classes again → select your current term.
How to Search for a Class
- Select Associate degree for Perimeter campuses, Bachelor's for Atlanta
- Enter the subject (e.g., ENGLISH) and course number (e.g., 1101). Leave everything else blank to see all available sections.
- Change "10 per page" to 50 per page at the bottom for much better visibility
- Avoid sections labeled LC, $, or BNC — you cannot register for those as a DE student
- Seating: "1 of 27" = 1 seat remaining. If full, you can join a waitlist (works best for harder upper-level courses, not intro classes)
Key Format Symbols
Before Adding Any Class, Check All of These
To research professors before registering, use ratemyprofessors.com → search "Georgia State University" → look up by last name or first name. Think of it like comparing hotel stars. Register as early as possible — high-rated professors fill immediately, especially online sections.
How to Swap to a Better Professor/Section
In the registration page, click the middle circle icon (Summary) to see your registered classes → find the class you want to drop → click the "None" dropdown → select Web Drop/Delete → click Submit. Then add the new section like normal.
Missed the Registration Window?
If holds weren't removed in time and you missed registration, submit a Reactivation Application through the GSU admissions portal. Your application is valid for 3 terms from your original entry term. Processing takes up to 21 days — going in person may speed this up. After approval, wait ~3 business days, then register in PAWS.
After those 3 terms, you must submit a brand new application and fee. You will not receive a new acceptance letter.
Can't Find Your Courses in iCollege?
Go to icollege.gsu.edu → scroll down on the homepage → click "View All Courses" → manually type the course name → click it → refresh the page. The course should now appear on your homepage.
Still not working? Email help@gsu.edu with your name, Panther ID, a screenshot of your PAWS registration showing the class as "Registered", and a description of the issue. Or submit a help ticket at gsutech.service-now.com/sp. Last resort: call 404-413-4357 (best to call the week before class starts — hold times on day 1 can exceed 20 minutes).
Getting Your Textbooks (Free)
Math Textbooks — Webassign & Cengage
In Outlook, search for an email from Oliver Shannon (soliver24@advising.gsu.edu). The email title: "Dual Enrollment - [Semester] [Year] Textbooks". Open it and download the attached PDF.
Create a Brytewave account at brytewave.redshelf.com. Use your Outlook email as the username. Click "Forgot Password" to set up your password (don't try to create a new account).
Create a Cengage account at cengage.com → click Sign In (top right) → Create Account → select Student. Use temporary access (14-day trial) while waiting for the free code.
Create a Webassign account at webassign.net. Use your Outlook email as the username — it will redirect you to the Cengage login. Once in, click "Open Webassign" to access math assignments.
If the free access code hasn't arrived, email Follett every day until it does: 1019mgr@follett.com. The free code comes from shop@em.efollett.com or 1019mgr@follett.com. Don't panic — your professor can also extend the 14-day trial while you wait.
Sample Email to Send Follett (Copy & Paste)
Subject: Request for WebAssign Access Code
Good morning. My name is [Your Name], and my Panther ID is [Your Panther ID]. I am a dual enrollment student this semester and am reaching out regarding the access code for my Math class on WebAssign.
I have been checking my email daily but I am still waiting to receive the code. Could you please provide me with an update or let me know when I should receive it?
Thank you very much for your assistance and understanding.
Other Subjects — Non-Math Textbooks
Look for an email in your Outlook titled "Your Materials Have Arrived". It contains a code you input into Brytewave to access your textbook for free. In almost all cases, your textbook is delivered this way — just keep checking Outlook daily.
College Learning Curve
Daily Habits
- Log in to icollege.gsu.edu every day without exception
- Check PantherMail (Outlook) daily — not Gmail. All important emails go here.
- Read the syllabus immediately — it tells you everything about grading, attendance, and due dates
- Assignments, quizzes, and discussions are under the Assessments tab in iCollege
Where to Find Things in iCollege
- Syllabus: Content tab → Overview section, Welcome Module, or listed as "Syllabus"
- Assignments: Assessments → Assignments
- Quizzes: Assessments → Quizzes
- Discussions: Assessments → Discussions
- Grades: Grades tab
- Sometimes a discussion is graded — always check the syllabus first
Key Differences from High School
- Professors don't communicate with each other about your attendance — you are fully responsible
- Check the syllabus to find out if attendance is mandatory (usually yes for intro-level courses)
- Each professor uses different assignment platforms — be ready to navigate several tools at once
- Getting caught cheating goes to the Dean of Students and stays on your permanent college record. This can block internships, transfer applications, and grad school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every Contact You'll Need
Lauren Coughlin — GSU Dual Enrollment Advisor
Your main GSU contact for no-SSN transcript issues, holds, and general DE questions.
404-413-2093
lcoughlin5@gsu.edu (the first letter is "L", not capital i)
Danitra — Dual Enrollment Advisor Direct Line
A direct line — completely bypasses the general student queue. Reach out here before calling the main number.
404-413-2016
Anna — Dual Enrollment Advisor Direct Line
Another direct line — avoids the thousands-strong general phone queue entirely.
404-413-2497
GSU DE Department — Holds Removal
770-274-5612
For removing dual enrollment holds. Alternatively, call Danitra (404-413-2016) or Anna (404-413-2497) directly — they are DE advisors and can often help faster than the general line.
Deborah Livingston — ISSS (International / Immigration)
555 N Indian Creek Dr, Clarkston GA 30021 · CN Building, 2nd floor, Room #2230
678-891-3235
dlivingston@gsu.edu
isss.gsu.edu
Advising: Mon / Wed / Fri · 1–4 PM (virtual queue via QR code)
Citizenship Verification
2-year green card → vbarnes8@gsu.edu
10-year green card → admresidency@gsu.edu
After uploading document → email admissions@gsu.edu with your Panther ID
GSU Admissions Office
GSU IT / Tech Support
404-413-4357 · Mon–Fri, 7am–7pm (call the week before classes start — day 1 hold times exceed 20 min)
help@gsu.edu
Submit a help ticket
Follett — Textbook Access Codes
1019mgr@follett.com — email daily if your code hasn't arrived
Codes arrive from: shop@em.efollett.com or 1019mgr@follett.com
Guide Author — Personal Help
This guide was written by a fellow student based on personal experience. Reach out if you're stuck.
hkhancept@gmail.com
404-532-9806 (text only)
Please allow 1–2 business days. If your message gets lost, feel free to send again.