Your Complete Guide to Getting In & Getting Started
Step-by-step instructions for applying, navigating GA Futures, removing holds, registering for classes, and getting your textbooks — all in one place.
What You Need Before Starting
Have completed 10th grade and have a minimum 3.0 GPA (as recalculated by GSU). If your GPA is 3.4 or higher, test scores are optional for any campus. See all details in the admission requirements section below, and make sure you qualify for the funding eligibility requirements.
Full Process Overview
Associate vs. Bachelor's Path
Access to 5 Perimeter campuses — Clarkston, Dunwoody, Decatur, Alpharetta, Newton — plus the main Atlanta campus downtown (6 total). More professor variety, more schedule flexibility. Recommended for most students.
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.
Admission Requirements
- → Minimum 3.0 high school GPA, as recalculated by GSU
- → On track for Required High School Curriculum
- → Minimum First-Year Index (FYI) of 2600 — a combined score GSU calculates from your GPA and SAT/ACT. Roughly: (GPA × 500) + SAT score
- → GPA 3.4 or higher is test-optional. If below 3.4, test scores are required: SAT/PSAT (580 EBRW & 560 Math) or ACT/PreACT (23 English/Reading & 23 Math)
- → Minimum 3.0 high school GPA, as recalculated by GSU
- → On track for Required High School Curriculum
- → Rising junior or senior at eligible school
- → GPA 3.2 or higher is test-optional. If below 3.2: SAT/PSAT 530 EBRW & 530 Math · ACT/PreACT 20 English/Reading & 21 Math · ACCUPLACER 237 Reading, 4 WritePlacer, 258 QAS
Learn more at success.students.gsu.edu →
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.
GA Futures covers:
- ✓ Tuition for approved core courses (English, math, science, social science, foreign language) and CTE courses
- ✓ Mandatory fees required for enrollment (e.g. technology, activity fees)
- ✓ Required textbooks for approved courses
You may personally pay:
- ✗ Course-related fees (lab fees, art supplies, music fees, etc.)
- ✗ Non-mandatory fees (parking, meal plans, etc.)
- ✗ Unapproved courses not in the Dual Enrollment Course Directory
- ✗ Repeated or withdrawn courses (2 withdrawals may result in loss of funding)
- ✗ Transportation to campus
For more specific information visit GAfutures.org.
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.
- ✗ No Federal Aid: Students cannot receive Pell Grants or federal loans for Dual Enrollment courses — you are not yet in a matriculated, degree-seeking program.
- ✗ Not Counted on FAFSA: High school students in dual enrollment cannot be listed as college students on a parent's FAFSA, as they are not considered "regular students."
Dual Enrollment Funding Eligibility
- ✓ Must be enrolled in and physically attending an eligible Georgia public, private, or home study high school
- ✓ Effective Summer 2026: Must meet U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements — supporting documentation may be required
- ✓ Effective Summer 2026: Must meet the postsecondary institution's Georgia Residency requirements — supporting documentation may be required
- ✓ Must be approved by your participating high school or home study program to participate
- ✓ Student and parent/guardian must complete the Student Participation Agreement (SPA) prior to participating
You cannot receive funding to repeat or retake a course you have already taken.
Withdrawing from a Dual Enrollment course two (2) times makes you permanently ineligible for future GA Futures funding. Think carefully before dropping.
Apply to GSU
If you choose Associate (Perimeter), you can pick from 5 Perimeter campuses (Clarkston, Dunwoody, Decatur, Alpharetta, Newton), giving you access to a wider range of professors and schedules. The Atlanta (Bachelor's) campus limits you to Atlanta professors only — some of whom can be stricter. Either is a valid choice, but Perimeter offers more flexibility.
GA Futures
Note: It must be at least 30 days since you last sent a transcript to the same school.
If you don't have a Social Security Number, the GA Futures transcript method won't work for you. Instead: (1) ask your high school counselor to send the transcript directly to GSU, and (2) contact Lauren Coughlin at GSU directly (see Contacts tab). She is the DE advisor who can also arrange your transcript.
Students who do not meet GA Futures funding requirements will be required to Self Pay for courses.
If you do meet GA Futures funding requirements but are still being required to Self Pay, this may indicate you need to correct your residency status on your admission application — email residency@gsu.edu to resolve this.
After Acceptance
Post-Acceptance Checklist
Forgot your ID? → webservices.gsu.edu/lookup or check your acceptance email from dualenrollment@gsu.edu
GPA is 3.1 or higher → iCollege Math Placement (recommended — free & instant)
Log in to icollege.gsu.edu and find the "Math Placement" course — it's already assigned to you. The exam is 60 minutes, 16–20 questions, requires Lockdown Browser + webcam, and can only be taken once. Your score determines your starting math class (see placement table below). Don't overthink it — it just tests basic math for the level you're placed at.
GPA is below 3.1 → ACCUPLACER Math Placement
The initial test is free if taken in-person. Register at Registerblast (same process for both campuses) — Panther ID required:
• Perimeter: registerblast.com/clarkston-tc
• Atlanta: registerblast.com/gsu
Box 1: "ACCUPLACER Math Placement for Admitted Students" → Box 2: "1. Math Placement (Initial Test)" → pick date/time. You can test at either campus — results go to your home campus automatically.
Prefer online? Use Meazure Learning — Box 1: "ACCUPLACER — Take Exams Virtually with Meazure Learning (ONLINE)" → Box 2: "ACCUPLACER Math Placement for Admitted Students" → "Initial Test". Note: online incurs a proctoring fee. Confirmation comes from NoReply@accuplacer.info — check spam. If you need to retest, you must use the ACCUPLACER (iCollege is one-time only).
iCollege Math Placement — Score & Course Table
Your score on the iCollege exam determines which math course you can enroll in. Find your GPA row, then your score range.
| HS GPA | ICM Level | Score 0–59 | Score 60–79 | Score 80–100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <3.1 | N/A — use ACCUPLACER | — | — | — |
| 3.1–3.29 | ICM 1 | MATH 1001 or MATH 1401 | MATH 1111 & MATH 0999 | MATH 1111 |
| 3.30–3.49 | ICM 2 | MATH 1111 & MATH 0999 | MATH 1111 | MATH 1113 |
| 3.50–4.30 | ICM 3 | MATH 1111 | MATH 1113 | MATH 2211 or MATH 2201 |
Important Deadlines
These are written deadlines, but GSU can still process a late application — you just won't be a first priority. In personal experience, if everything is submitted together shortly after the deadline, you can still be cleared for classes. That said, apply early and get everything moving as soon as you can to avoid any last-minute stress.
Make sure your GSU application, GA Futures funding application, and all supporting materials — including your high school counselor and parent's parts — are fully completed and submitted for holds to be lifted.
Classes begin: Aug 24 (Full Semester) — ensure your counselor and college have approved your courses before then.
Make sure your GSU application, GA Futures funding application, and all supporting materials — including your high school counselor and parent's parts — are fully completed and submitted for holds to be lifted.
Classes begin: Jan 11 (Full Semester, through May 4) — ensure your counselor and college have approved your courses before then.
Make sure your GSU application, GA Futures funding application, and all supporting materials — including your high school counselor and parent's parts — are fully completed and submitted for holds to be lifted.
Classes begin: May 10 (3-Week, through Jun 4) · Jun 7 (7-Week, through Aug 2) — ensure your counselor and college have approved your courses before then.
Note: accelerated 3-week courses (May) occasionally appear during registration but are not recommended for dual enrollment students due to the intense pace. The standard 7-week summer session begins in June.
Processing Time Windows
- → Transcript processing via GA Futures takes 5–7 business days after your counselor submits it
- → Campus ID can take up to 7 days to generate after acceptance
- → Orientation invite arrives 3–4 days after acceptance email
- → Dual Enrollment 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
Looking for important dates throughout the semester — add/drop deadlines, holidays, final exams, or future semester schedules? The GSU Registrar's semester calendar has it all.
registrar.gsu.edu — Semester Calendars & Exam Schedules →
Holds & How to Remove Them
Check PAWS → Registration Menu → Prepare for Registration to see your active holds.
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
- → 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 — or contact any of the Dual Enrollment Advisors in the Contacts page for a better chance of getting through quickly.
Citizenship Verification Hold
- → 2-year green card: Submit to admissions@gsu.edu
- → 10-year green card: Submit to admresidency@gsu.edu
- → Submit documents in-person or via the document upload section of your Admission Portal — allow 5–7 business days for processing and/or hold removal
- → Note Lawful Presence documents can only be submitted after you have received an official offer of admission from GSU
- → Main office: 404-413-2500 — they can also reach an admissions counselor to process your document
- → More info: Lawful presence verification guide · Residency knowledgebase
Immigration Complications
Immigration Hold — International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
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.
Email: isss@gsu.edu (general) · issspc@gsu.edu (Perimeter campuses)
Website: isss.gsu.edu
555 N Indian Creek Dr, Clarkston GA 30021 · CN Building, 2nd floor, Room #2230
Phone: 678-891-3235
In-person advising: Mon / Wed / Fri · 1–4 PM (check in via virtual queue QR code on arrival)
Georgia State University ISSS, 25 Auburn Ave NE, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-413-2070
Mon–Fri · 8:30 AM–5:15 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.
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 again → select your current term.
Dual Enrollment students may enroll in in-person, hybrid, or fully online coursework. Online sections (OA and Os) are a valid and popular option — they fill quickly, so register early.
See the full step-by-step guide for adding courses in PAWS →
English 1101 · Math 1111 (Algebra) or 1113 (Precalc) or 2211 (Calc 1) based on placement · Psychology 1101, POLS 1101, or Perspectives 2001/2002/2003. Your high school may tell you which college courses replace specific high school requirements — speak with your counselor to see which courses are the best fit for you.
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 Dual Enrollment 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 or first name. Think of it like comparing hotel stars — the higher rated, the better. Register as early as possible — high-rated professors fill immediately, especially online sections. If you're a Perimeter student, try adding your campus name after "GSU" (e.g. "Georgia State University Perimeter") to find campus-specific reviews.
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
To: 1019mgr@follett.com
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 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.
Other Subjects
Look for an email in Outlook titled "Your Materials Have Arrived". It contains a code you input into Brytewave to access your textbook for free.
College Learning Curve
No teacher is tracking you. No reminder if you miss an assignment. Academic dishonesty can follow you for life. Read this before your first day.
- 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
- 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 see what each component is worth — assignments, quizzes, attendance, participation, and exams all vary by class
- → 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.