Apply for Residential

Live on campus with people who share your drive to achieve

application timeline graphic

Who Can Apply?

  • Current 10th grade students with at least one parent or legal guardian who is a resident of South Carolina. 
    * Military families with orders to move to South Carolina are also eligible. 

  • Students who will complete Geometry, Algebra I, and Algebra II by the end of spring semester their 10th grade year.

  • Students with 10.5 high school credits by the end of spring semester their 10th grade year.

  • There is no set minimum GPA; however, students with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher will be most competitive.

  • There is no set minimum test score; however, students with a PSAT Math score of 500 or higher and a Reading score of 490 or higher will be most competitive. (Equivalent: ACT Math 19 and ACT English 17)

How Much Does it Cost?

  • It's free to apply to GSSM and there is NO TUITION! We are a South Carolina Public School, so tuition is free and there is no cost to live in our residence halls. This is possible thanks to funding by the State of South Carolina and support from the GSSM Foundation.

  • The admissions process does not include family financial information, so we do not consider a family's finances when making admissions decisions.

  • Our Pledge: No student accepted into the high school program will be prevented from attending due to financial considerations.

  • Need-based financial aid is available for the required meal plan, along with payment plans. Learn more on our Fees & Financial Aid page.

Applying is Easy

Application Opens:  September 15, 2027
Priority Application Deadline:  February 15, 2027

Application Portal

Important Note:
The past two years, spaces for the entering class were filled by students who submitted their application by the priority deadline. Students are strongly encouraged to submit all application materials on or before February 15 to avoid being moved to Rolling Admission*.

* GSSM Rolling Admission

  1. Any application submitted after the Priority Deadline is part of Rolling Admission.

  2. Applications in Rolling Admission are only considered if space is available. 

  3. Decisions for Rolling Admission are not released until mid-May of the application year.

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 that must include the following core courses:
    • Algebra 1
    • Algebra 2
    • Geometry
    • English 1
    • English 2 - NOTE: AP Seminar will count for English 2 if the high school recognizes the course as an English credit (effective Fall 2026 Admission)
    • 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 program 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.

2026-2027 Important Admissions Dates

Residential Program Application Dates*

Application Opens: September 15, 2026

Priority Admissions Deadline: February 15, 2027
Note: Applications submitted after the priority deadline will be considered in Rolling Admissions and only on a space-available basis. 

Math Admissions Test (virtual): February 15, 2027 & February 22, 2027 
A virtual test for priority applicants who do not submit test scores.

Finalist Interview Notification: Friday, March 5, 2027
All priority applicants will be notified whether or not they have been selected to participate in Interview Day.
NOTE: Participation in Interview Day is not a guarantee of admission.

Interview Day: Saturday, March 13, 2027
By invitation only; on the GSSM campus

Decision Day: Friday, April 9, 2027
GSSM releases decisions to students through the application portal.

Decisions Response Deadline: Friday, April 16, 2027
Accepted students accept or decline their offer of admission by this date in the application portal.

New Student Orientation for Enrolling Students: Saturday, May 15, 2027

*Dates were posted in July 2026 and are subject to change. 

Essay Tips

Quick Tips for Writing an Essay:

1. Start now! Working on an essay over time will definitely lower your stress and allow you to really think about what you want to say and how you want to say it.

2. Remember the prompt. This is important, not only as you begin to write, but especially when you review your rough draft. Just because your writing is good doesn’t mean it’s on topic, so reread the prompt regularly to stay on point.

3. Brainstorm relevant experiences, thoughts, and ideas. Make a list of all the things that come to mind after reading the prompt. This list will help you choose the items that best match up with the topic.

4. We want YOU! Your audience wants to know YOU better. They don’t want to hear someone else’s thoughts or ideas, and they certainly don’t want ideas from a machine. So let YOUR experiences and personality be the stars of your essay.

5. Good structure will hold it together. Does the introduction hook us? What’s your main point? Can you elaborate on that point and provide examples as support? Did you tie it all together in your conclusion?

6. Bad first drafts are good! There’s no need for perfection the first time around. Go ahead and write a messy, jumble of thoughts if you want. Getting your thoughts out of your head and into a first draft makes it much easier to organize those thoughts, scratch what doesn’t fit, and add context where necessary.

7. Take a break. No, really! Walking away from your essay is a good way to clear your mind and come back with a fresh perspective so that you can improve upon what you already wrote. This is also why it’s important to start early so that you can take a break.

8. Reread your draft. Now read it out loud. Whether it’s your first draft or third, rereading your essay is crucial. Also, reading aloud can help you hear when a better transition or different punctuation is needed to help your essay flow.

9. You’re done! Almost. It’s time to proofread for mistakes in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

10. The End. Now you just follow the submission directions and you’re all set!

You’ve got this!

Application Checklist

You'll be asked for the following information as part of the application.

  • Online application: student information, parent information, student activities & leadership list, student honors & awards (if any)
  • Three (3) short answer essays: 150 to 300 words each.
  • Two (2) teacher recommendations: from teachers who taught you in spring of 9th grade or in 10th grade.
       -  One (1) STEM Teacher Recommendation (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math)
       -  One (1) Humanities Teacher Recommendation (English, History, Social Science, Foreign Language, etc.)
  • Official PSAT, Pre-ACT, SAT or ACT scores taken since January 2026 are strongly recommended. Students who do not submit test scores will be required to complete a GSSM Math Admissions Test. 
  • School Counselor Form: 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.
  • Official high school transcript (must include): 
    • first semester grades
    • a list of second semester courses
    • class rank (if applicable)
    • Note: An admissions decision cannot be made until the transcript, second semester courses are on file. 
  • If your transcripts are not in English:
    • submit a certified transcript translated into English
    • submit a course-by-course evaluation with GPA from a NACES approved company
      • Credential evaluations are done by NACES approved companies and are not conducted by any member at GSSM.
      • You will need to contact the NACES approved company directly.
Taking courses over the summer?
  • GSSM only awards summer credit for personal finance and any arts courses. Do not register for core classes over the summer. 
  • You must register for summer courses through your current high school, not GSSM.

Completed applications will include the online application and essays, both teacher recommendations, the School Counselor Form, transcript and grades. Students whose applications are complete by February 15 will receive priority for admissions decision notification on April 10.

*Application evaluation 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 2025-2026 Application Cycle. Students may submit PSAT, Pre-ACT, SAT or ACT scores for consideration. Scores taken since January 2026 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.  

  • Last SAT date for us to receive scores by the priority deadline is Dec. 5, 2026. (registration deadline is Nov. 20, 2026)
  • Last ACT date for us to receive scores by the priority deadline is Dec. 12, 2026. (registration deadline is Nov. 6, 2026)

GSSM's School Code is 410997, which can be used to submit official SAT or ACT scores for admission. 

 

Curious about life at GSSM? Learn about your options for campus visits and virtual presentations.

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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 Fionia Washington, VP for Finance & Operations, email fwashington@governors.school and phone 803.383-3906, 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.

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