Apply for Residential

Live on campus with people who share your drive to achieve

Applying is Easy

Students apply for GSSM's Residential Program in the 10th grade to join the fall of their 11th grade year.

There are no minimum GPA, or standardized test scores, required for admission. The most competitive applications typically demonstrate excellent grades in advanced academic coursework.

Getting started is easy! Here are the steps once you click on Apply Now below:

STEP 1: Sign up using the link below. Choose a username and password; save it and keep in a safe place. 

STEP 2: Log in: The applicant (student) should log in and complete the application for admission. Students will be able to start and return to the application without losing any information by using the same login and password. 

STEP 3: For any changes within the application after submission, and/or any technical assistance, please contact Ms. Ashley Koontz, Enrollment Coordinator, akoontz@governors.school. She will be happy to assist you. 

Apply Now!

Admission Requirements

Applicants must be a current resident of the State of South Carolina at the time of enrollment.

Complete a minimum of 10.5 credits before the end of the school year in which you apply, including 7-8 total hours of coursework in the following areas:

  • 6 credit hours in the following core courses:
    • Algebra 1
    • Algebra 2
    • Geometry
    • English 1
    • English 2
    • One lab science course (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics)
       
  • 1-2 credit hours in one of the following areas:
    • One year of a foreign language 
    • Social studies course
       
  • 2.5-3.5 additional credit hours in the following areas:
    • Any elective course
    • One or two years of the same foreign language
    • Fine arts
    • Computer science
    • Social studies course
    • Second lab science
    • Health
    • Physical education/JROTC 
    • US History
    • Economics
    • US Government

Students who enroll in GSSM's Residential and Accelerate programs join a rich and diverse community of students focused on high achievement in a challenging and supportive environment. Motivation, respect for others, and self-reliance are hallmarks of the maturity required to contribute and excel.

Important Dates for the 2024-25 Admissions Cycle

Residential Program Application Dates*

Open: September 2024

Priority Admissions Deadline: February 15, 2025
Note: Applications received after February 15, 2025, will be considered on a space-available basis.

Finalist Interview Day: Saturday, March 29, 2025
By invitation only; on the GSSM campus

Math Assessment: Week of March 31, 2025 
Date will be assigned; offered online

Decision Day: Friday, April 11, 2025

Decisions Response Deadline: Friday, April 18, 2025

New Student Orientation for Enrolling Students: Saturday, May 17, 2025, on the GSSM campus.

*Dates are subject to change. 

Application Checklist

Application Tip:

The application is comprised of two parts: General Information & Supplemental Essay.

The General Information part of the application must be submitted before accessing the supplemental essay. Submit the general application as soon as possible to access the essay.

You can submit your application before the teacher and school counselor evaluations are completed. After you provide the teacher and school counselor’s contact information in the first part of the application, click submit to access the supplemental essay and checklist. The checklist will enable you to track the progress of your application along with teacher and school counselor evaluation completion.

  1. Online application
  2. Short Answer Essay Question (500-750 words)
  3. Two Teacher Evaluations: One from a STEM (Science, technology, engineering or math) course instructor and one from an English, humanities or social science course instructor
  4. School Counselor documents request form (sent by GSSM's Office of Admissions): high school transcript, 1st-semester report card, and EOCEP scores (courses for which student has received credit to date).
    • End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP): End-of-course tests for gateway courses awarded credit units in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Defined gateway courses currently include Algebra 1, Biology 1, English 2, and United States History and the Constitution, or courses with other names and activity codes in which the academic standards corresponding to these subjects are taught.
    • Any admitted students that take courses over the Summer of 2023 will only receive credit for any art courses taken.
  5. Official high school transcript including first semester grades, list of second semester courses and class rank. Transcripts must contain all hours/credits and grades to be considered for admissions. If your transcripts are not in English, you must submit a certified transcript translated into English.  Applicants with foreign course work must submit a course-by-course evaluation with GPA from a NACES approved company. An admissions decision will not be made until the evaluation and all transcripts are on file. Credential evaluations are done by NACES approved companies and are not conducted by any member at GSSM. In order to get a credential evaluation you will need to contact the NACES approved company directly.
  6. Standardized Tests: Submission of official PSAT, Pre-ACT, SAT or ACT scores taken since January 2024 are strongly recommended. Students who do not submit test scores will be required to complete a GSSM math admissions test. 

*Scoring will take into consideration a student’s status for having completed or currently being enrolled in Algebra II

Standardized Tests

Standardized tests are strongly recommended for the 2024 -2025 Application Cycle. Students may submit PSAT, Pre-ACT, SAT or ACT scores for consideration. Scores taken since January 2024 will be considered. For students who submit standardized test score reports, the admissions committee will consider them when making an admissions decision. Students who do not submit test scores will be required to complete a GSSM math admissions test. Test scores are but one factor reviewed for admission, and will not eliminate a student from further consideration. 

  • Last SAT date to apply for the GSSM Class of 2027 is Dec. 7, 2024 (registration deadline is Nov. 22, 2024)
  • Last ACT date to apply for the GSSM Class of 2027 is Dec. 14, 2024 (registration deadline is Nov. 8, 2024)

GSSM does not require students to take the essay portion for either test. Use GSSM Code 410997 to submit an official score for the SAT. Use GSSM Code 410997 to submit an official score for the ACT.

Tuition-Free

Courses and housing in GSSM's residential program are offered tuition-free thanks to funding by the State of South Carolina and support from the GSSM Foundation.

Families are asked to pay a portion of the direct costs for meals eaten at GSSM through the meal plan fee. Financial assistance for the meal plan, provided by our alumni, staff, and corporate partners via their annual contributions to the Foundation, supports our pledge that no student accepted into the program will be prevented from attending due to financial considerations. We do not ask for a family's financial information in the admissions process and we do not consider it when making admissions decisions.

Some January interim course choices have associated fees to cover course costs, but many are offered without fees. To facilitate broad participation, some travel-based Interim courses may offer financial assistance.

Request More Information

A team member of the Office of Admissions will be in contact with you.

Nondiscrimination Statement

The South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or disability in admission to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities. Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies should be made to Elizabeth Oswald-Sease, VP for Finance & Operations, email eoswaldsease@governors.school and phone 803.402.7556, Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, 401 Railroad Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550, 843-383-3900 ext. 4040. For further information on federal nondiscrimination regulations, including Title IX, contact the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at ocr.dc@ed.gov or call 800-421-3481.

Admissions