Once you are enrolled at Georgia State, the One Stop Shop is your first stop — and possibly your only stop — for any questions or problems you may have regarding financial aid, registration, or student accounts The One Stop Shop is staffed with experts from these various offices who can quickly assess your problem or situation and either help you on the spot or refer you to the appropriate resource for more information or processing.
Please apply online at http://www.gsu.edu/admissions. If you are unable to pay online, then you may download the printable application, bring it to the University Cashiers’ window (bottom floor of Sparks Hall, end of the hallway near the library plaza) to pay in person. Submit the application with your receipt to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 200 Sparks Hall.
Please visit http://www.gsu.edu/housing for full details. You may visit the University Housing Office at 250 Student Center or call 404-413-1800 or e-mail housing@gsu.edu.
Please visit the PantherCard Office (part of Auxiliary & Support Services) on the second floor of the University Center (downstairs from the University Bookstore).
Panther Access to Web Services. PAWS incorporates the GoSOLAR system. Use PAWS to view your academic records, register for classes, view the status of your financial aid and your student account, and to request a certificate of enrollment verification or transcripts. Please visit http://paws.gsu.edu to log in.
Please contact the Information Systems & Technology (IS&T) Help Desk by phone at 404-413-HELP (404-413-4357) or by e-mail at help@gsu.edu. You can find more information and monitor the status of any help request tickets you submit at www.gsu.edu/help.
You can reach the Immunization Office at 404-413-1940 or on the first floor of the University Commons student housing complex. You may fax any needed documents to 404-413-1955. Forms and more detailed information are available at www.gsu.edu/health.
Final transcript holds generally take effect after the end of registration for your first semester at Georgia State. You can reach the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 404-413-2500 or 200 Sparks Hall or admissions@gsu.edu. To pay a balance on PAWS, first check to be sure which semester’s account has a balance by visiting the “Student Accounts” menu under the “One Stop Shop” tab and then selecting “Student Account History.” Be sure to check the Total Charges amount against the Total Payments amount for each semester to verify the Term Balances. To make a payment, select “Pay Tuition and Fees” and then follow the instructions. There is no extra charge for online check payment. There is a processing fee for credit card payments. Please note that Georgia State does not accept Visa but does accept MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, with a $2.75 credit card processing fee. To pay in person, please visit the University Cashier’s window on the bottom floor of Sparks Hall at the end of the hallway near the library plaza. Please note that the cashiers can accept payments by cash, check or money order only.
If you have questions regarding your Student Account, then please contact the One Stop Shop. If you have paid all balances due and have a hold persisting more than two business days, then you may contact the One Stop Shop at 404-413-2600, 227/228 Sparks Hall, or onestopshop@gsu.edu.
Desire2Learn is the system most commonly used to provide online course content. Desire2Learn has replaced the uLearn/WebCT Vista system. To log in, visit http://www.gsu.edu/ and click on the Desire2Learn/D2L button at the top of the page. Use the same log-in information as you do for PAWS. If you have problems accessing Desire2Learn please contact the IS&T Help Desk at 404-413-4357.
Your GPA is simply your total quality points divided by the number of credit hours for which you have letter grades. Please visit the advisement site for an online GPA calculator or download this GPA worksheet in Excel format.
To apply for most types of financial aid complete the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. This form is also available at each high school guidance office or any post-secondary institution's financial aid office. The FAFSA cannot be completed until January 1 prior to the upcoming academic year (for example, the earliest you can submit this form for the 2013-2014 academic year is January 1, 2013).
To apply for the HOPE scholarship, complete the Georgia College 411 application (GSFAPPS) online at http://www.gacollege411.org/.
To apply for other GSU scholarships, please visit http://gsu.edu/scholarships. The Scholarship Resource Center is located in 251 Sparks Hall, in the Student Advisement Center. You may e-mail an Office of Undergraduate Studies scholarship specialist at scholarships@gsu.edu to make an appointment.
To check your financial aid status in PAWS, first click the One Stop Shop tab, then visit the Financial Aid menu, select Eligibility, and then select Student Requirements and choose the appropriate academic year. This screen will let you know what applications and forms have been received and what other documents are still needed. If your file is selected for verification, in most cases you may print the required form directly from that screen.
Once your file has been completed, you can check the status of your financial aid award offer under the Financial Aid menu by selecting Award Information and then Award by Term.
Most institutions establish a financial aid application priority date. Applying for aid by this date usually assures that you will receive the best package of aid available at that institution. At Georgia State, these are the priority deadlines:
Fall — April 1
Spring — October 1
Summer — March 1
Please note that these deadlines are to have a complete file at Georgia State, not simply to submit the FAFSA. To meet these deadlines it is best to submit the FAFSA six to eight (6 – 8) weeks ahead of the deadline and then monitor your financial aid status in PAWS closely. Please visit the Financial Aid site for more details.
Please allow four to six (4 – 6) weeks for verification documents such as Quality Assurance Verification Worksheets and tax returns to be reviewed.
Please allow up to four (4) weeks for a loan application (such as a student Loan Change Form or a parent PLUS Loan Signature Page) to be processed.
Please allow four to six (4 – 6) weeks processing for a HOPE application (once we have received all required documents) to be reviewed.
Once your file has been completed, you can check the status of financial aid award offer in PAWS under the Financial Aid menu by selecting Award Information and then Award by Term.
Visit the Financial Aid site for details for details on maintaining financial aid and requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Go to the One Stop Shop tab, select Financial Aid, select Award Information Menu, select Award by Aid Year, select the aid year, and then click on the Accept Award Offer tab for instructions.
You must accept your Work-Study award offer in PAWS in the same manner you would accept a student loan. Go to the One Stop Shop tab, select Financial Aid, select Award Information Menu, select Award by Aid Year, select the aid year, and then click on the Accept Award Offer tab for instructions.
After accepting the Work-Study award offer in PAWS, an information packet will be emailed to your Georgia State e-mail address. Please note that work-study differs from other financial aid in that it does not post as a payment to your student account. You must work to receive a biweekly paycheck.
To find the available positions, you must have an active Panther Career Net account through University Career Services.
Upon being hired for a position, your supervisor will complete a Personnel Action Form (PAF) [available in Word or PDF] and send it to the Office of Student Financial Aid, which will verify your award status and then send the PAF to Human Resources for processing.
A quick and easy way to complete your FAFSA, the IRS Data Retrieval tool will allow students, and parents of dependent students, who have already filed tax returns and who complete their FAFSA on the Web to securely transfer their income and tax data from the IRS to their FAFSA.
As you complete your FAFSA online, you will be asked a series of questions regarding your tax filing status. If you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool you will enter your PIN and click Link to IRS. Your FAFSA information will be saved and you’ll be linked to the IRS website. On the IRS website simply enter the required information to validate your identity. Your tax return information will be displayed and you will be given the option to transfer your tax information into your FAFSA. Once the transfer has been completed you will be taken back to FAFSA on the Web to finalize your FAFSA.
Students and parents of dependent students can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if you
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is designed to provide quick and efficient completion of your FAFSA. You will be able to import tax return data directly into your FAFSA with just a few clicks of your mouse. In most cases, applicants who use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool will not have to supply the Financial Aid office with Tax Return Transcripts from the IRS thereby decreasing the amount of time necessary to process your financial aid award.
The school code to use when submitting your FAFSA is 001574.
The verification process requires that students submit documentation such as IRS tax transcripts and Verification worksheets to be compared to information from the student’s application. You must request a tax return transcript from the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-908-9946 or www.irs.gov. Other documentation may be required, including but not limited to documentation of federal benefits received or of child support paid ,may also be requested as it applies to the information on the application.
Your financial aid eligibility will be determined by subtracting your family's ability to pay for your educational expenses for the year (as measured by the FAFSA) from your estimated total costs for the year (including tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation and miscellaneous/personal expenses). Financial aid eligibility is usually expressed as follows:
Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution = Financial Need
When you submit the FAFSA, you will automatically be considered for all types of need-based aid offered by Georgia State. One or more types of aid are usually awarded in combination to make up your financial aid package. If you receive a scholarship from your academic department or from an outside agency, these funds must be included in your total financial aid package. When combined, all sources of aid must not exceed your cost of attendance.
Eligibility for financial aid is based on federal estimates of your family's ability to contribute to your educational costs. You must reapply for aid each year by submitting a FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA. As your/your parent's information changes each year, your family's expected contribution may change. Thus, your award may change each year for one or more of the following reasons:
YES! You must reapply for financial aid each year by completing the Renewal FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Georgia State does not mail Renewal FAFSAs, nor do we know who receives them. It is your responsibility to remember to reapply for aid each year.
Financial aid is awarded by the Office of Financial Aid, but is disbursed by the Office of Student Accounts. Financial aid funds will not be disbursed until the second week of classes each semester/term. Any aid you are awarded must first be used to offset any charges you owe for the semester, and any amount you receive in excess of your charges will be refunded to you. Most financial aid is disbursed electronically by crediting funds to your billing account in the Student Account’s Office. Once your university charges have been paid in full, any additional money will be refunded to you by check or you may elect to have your refund deposited into your personal checking account by direct deposit.
After you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the federal processor will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR). If they have a valid e-mail address on file for you, they will send you an e-mail, within 3 to 5 days, with instructions on how to access an online copy of your SAR. Check to make sure Georgia State is one of the institutions listed (001574). If so, Georgia State should receive an electronic record of your FAFSA within days of your receipt of the SAR. Questions about FAFSA processing can be directed to the Federal Student Aid Information Center (1-800-4-FED-AID).
Check your Student Aid Report (SAR) carefully for any incorrect information. If you need to make a correction to your FAFSA, click Make FAFSA Corrections. You must enter your PIN to correct your FAFSA. Once your correction is submitted and you receive a confirmation number, the correction will be processed in 3-5 days. If everything is correct on your FAFSA, keep the SAR for your own records.
This means the Georgia State Financial Aid must verify the information on your SAR by collecting tax returns and other documents to confirm the accuracy of the information you submitted. Georgia State will contact you to tell you the documents you need to provide. You should submit all requested materials promptly to avoid delays in processing your application.
Being considered an independent student is not merely a matter of being responsible for your own educational expenses. You must be able to answer YES to at least one of the following questions to be declared an independent student for the purposes of the FAFSA:
Both of these can be completed online. You will need your FAFSA PIN to sign the MPN. Please refer to the following links for detailed information.
Yes, you may accept or reject all or part of your financial aid award. If you reject aid, however, please understand that you will not be awarded other aid to replace the funds you have rejected.
The Georgia State Office of Financial Aid each year establishes a packaging policy that seeks to assure that all students who apply by the priority filing date receive consideration for need-based scholarships and grants. To provide an equitable distribution of the limited scholarship and grant funds available, the Office generally sets a cap on the amount of such funding a student may receive. If you receive an outside scholarship, or a scholarship from another department within the University, those funds must be considered a part of your total aid package. Depending upon the amount of scholarship assistance you receive, it is possible that your need-based scholarship/grant package from the Office of Financial Aid may have to be reduced and some of your funds given to another needy student.
You are responsible for repaying the principal balance of your student loans after you have completed your degree or cease to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (half-time enrollment for most undergraduates is defined as 6 credit hours per semester). Most federal loans allow you a six-month grace period after you cease enrollment on at least a half-time basis before you have to begin repayment. Perkins Loans have a nine-month grace period before you have to begin repayment. Your lender will notify you when repayment is scheduled to begin. Be sure you keep your lender informed of any change in your permanent address so you will not miss this important communication.
A Subsidized Stafford Loan is a federal loan awarded to students who demonstrate financial need as a result of filing the FAFSA. Maximum amounts available per student are set by the federal government and are based on the student's grade level classification at the institution. The government pays the interest on the Subsidized Stafford loan while the student is in school, and the student begins repaying the principal of the loan six (6) months after graduation or ceasing at least half-time enrollment. The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is identical to the Subsidized Stafford in terms of annual maximum amounts, interest rates and application process. The only difference is that interest on the Unsubsidized Stafford is not paid by the government while the student is enrolled. The student has the choice to either make interest payments while enrolled or defer the interest until repayment of the principal begins.
When you complete a FAFSA, you are automatically considered for a Pell Grant. If you meet eligibility guidelines as established by the federal government, a Pell Grant will be included as part of your total need-based aid package.
Eligible students may continue to receive the HOPE Scholarship if they have a 3.00 or better HOPE GPA at the end of the semesters in which they attempt their 30/60/90th credit hours. In addition, there is an End-of-Spring Semester Checkpoint for all HOPE Scholarship recipients. You must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the end of each Spring term in order to continue eligibility, except for Freshman recipients who enrolled in fewer than 12 hours for each of their first three terms.
First, please log in to PAWS, click on the “One Stop Shop” tab, select “Student Records” under the “GoSOLAR” menu, and then select “View Academic Evaluation.” Then, click on “Generate New Evaluation.”
If you have under 42 total earned hours or have not declared a major, then your advisement is through the Student Advisement Center, 255 Sparks Hall. You can e-mail them at sacadvise@gsu.edu or call 404-413-2300.
If you have at least 42 earned hours, then your advisement is through the Office of Academic Assistance in your college. Please visit www.gsu.edu/advisement for more information.
Refer to the online Semester Calendars on the Registrar's site for registration dates, semester starting and ending dates, midpoints, and important academic event dates.
To obtain step-by-step instructions on how to add/drop/withdraw courses, read the Registration Guide.
Students who are eligible to register will be given a registration time-ticket assignment. Approximately one week before registration begins students can find their registration time-ticket assignments by accessing PAWS. A student’s time-ticket assignment is valid beginning at the student’s assigned time and continues through the last day of late registration.
Time-tickets are assigned with priority to students scheduled to graduate for the upcoming registration term and then to continuing students according to the total credit hours earned. Therefore, time ticket assignments cannot be changed. Once a student is allowed access, the student can adjust his or her schedule on a first-come, first-served basis during the remaining registration period. Many classes fill up quickly. It is to the student’s advantage to attempt to register as soon as he or she is allowed access to the registration system.
Students who are admitted to Georgia State with freshman level class standing (under 30 accepted transfer credits) are required to attend Incept orientation. A first semester freshman will be given a registration time-ticket assignment once he/she signs-up for an Incept orientation conference. For Incept dates and detailed information, visit http://www.gsu.edu/incept.
Georgia State University students may enroll in courses offered by member institutions of the Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education (ARCHE) under a cross registration agreement. Students who wish to cross register must meet all eligibility requirements under the ARCH agreement and the University. Courses taken through cross registration count as residence credit and grades are included in the Georgia State grade point average. Students may learn more about cross registration or obtain an ARCHE Cross Registration Application on the Registrar's site.
Students are not allowed to register for courses if they have a financial hold, immunization requirement hold, emergency contact hold, or an academic standing or requirement that prevents registration. Students must satisfy all financial obligations and fulfill all academic requirements before registration is permitted.
All course requirements and restrictions can be found in the University’s online catalogs. If you feel that you have met the requirements listed for a specific course, but you are still prevented from adding the course to your registration schedule, check the Status column on your PAWS’ Add/ Drop/ Withdraw registration page and refer to the chart below:
Common Registration Errors:
During the registration (add/drop) period, a student may drop a course. When a course is dropped, no grade is recorded and no record of the student’s enrollment in the class appears on the student’s transcript. The Registration (add/drop) period ends at 5 p.m. on the first Friday of the term.
After registration period ends, a student may “withdraw” from a course when he/she decides to stop attending. Withdrawing from a course prior to the midpoint of the term makes the student eligible for a grade of W (Note: Undergraduate students will receive a grade of W if they have not exceeded their limit of withdrawals and a grade of WF if they have). This grade is reflected on the student’s official record. After the midpoint of the term, withdrawals are not allowed. The Registration (add/drop) and Withdrawal periods are indicated on the online Semester Calendars.
There is limit on withdrawals for undergraduate degree-seeking students. Undergraduate students are allowed to withdraw with a grade of W a maximum of six times in their undergraduate careers at Georgia State. There is no withdrawal limit for graduate and non-degree seeking students (i.e., post-baccalaureate and transients). Visit the Registrar's site for more information regarding withdrawals.
To obtain step-by-step instructions on how to withdraw a course, visit the Registrar's site.
Enrollment verifications can be obtained and printed from the National Student Clearinghouse via PAWS on or after the 15th business day after the start of classes each semester. Processing of manual enrollment verification requests takes up to seven business days. Certificates of enrollment verification will not be provided for students who have outstanding financial obligations to the university.
Transcripts can be ordered via PAWS and can be picked up in 292 Kell Hall in three to five business days with a photo ID. If an attachment is required with the transcript, then the request must be made in person at the One Stop Shop and processing can take up to seven business days. Students may receive up to five free transcripts lifetime; after the fifth one, the cost is $10 each. Transcripts will not be provided for students who have outstanding financial obligations to the university.
Third parties must send in a written request with the student’s signed release. The third party can mail the request, along with $10 check or money order and the student’s signed Consent to Release Records to Third Parties form [PDF] to the Office of the Registrar, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 4017, Atlanta, GA 30302.
We are contracted with the National Student Clearinghouse for all third party inquiries. Please visit their website or call them directly at 703-742-4200.
For security and legal purposes, a legal document, such as a drivers’ license, social security card, marriage license, divorce decree, adoption papers, certificate of name change at naturalization, or other court order indicating change of name, must be presented with the official change of name, marital status, and/or social security number form. Visit the Office of the Registrar's website for the more information or download the Change of Name, Marital Status and/or Social Security Number request form [PDF].
You will need to bring your original social security card to the One Stop Shop in room 227 Sparks Hall.
You will need to contact the professor of the class in question. For additional information please visit the Grading section of the Registrar's website.
If you need to include an attachment enclosed, please mail or fax the request with the attachment that needs to be mailed with the transcript. They can be sent together. Please be sure to provide the following information: date of birth, student ID, any and all former names, signature and delivery address. Please mail or fax to:
Office of Registrar
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 4017
Atlanta, GA 30302-4017
Fax: 404-413-2220
*Important: A student who has discharged all obligations to Georgia State University is entitled to receive, upon request, a copy of his or her official transcript. A student is entitled to five (5) free lifetime transcripts. Once a student has exhausted the five (5) free transcripts, Georgia State University will charge a $10.00 processing fee for each transcript processed thereafter.
You can come by the One Stop Shop with a written request detailing the course descriptions you need. You will need to provide the course names and numbers and the terms in which each course was taken. You can also mail or fax this information.
Office of Registrar
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 4017
Atlanta, GA 30302-4017
Fax: 404-413-2220
You must talk to your instructor to request an extension. Your instructor can request an extension on your behalf through the chairperson of the specific department.
AP scores/credit are not typically posted on GSU transcripts, but you may make a special request. If you are in the Atlanta area, come by the One Stop Shop at 227 Sparks Hall to make the request in writing. If you are not able to come into the One Stop Shop, you can mail or fax a written request to our office. Please be sure to provide the following information: date of birth, student ID, any and all former names, signature and delivery address. You will also need to state in your request that AP scores/credit need to be included. Please mail or fax this information to the address detailed below.
Office of Registrar
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 4017
Atlanta, GA 30302-4017
Fax: 404-413-2220
We are not able to generate an official transcript until you have earned credit here at Georgia State University. If you need an official document to submit to your new institution you may request an enrollment verification showing your schedule of classes. Come by the One Stop Shop at 227 Sparks Hall for assistance.
The amount you pay is based on several factors — your residency status (tuition classification), your degree program, the number of semester hours for which you are enrolled, and any financial aid you may receive. You can view and print your student account information in PAWS.
For tuition and fee rates, please visit the Student Accounts website.
Ideally, you should be prepared to pay at the same time you register for classes. Otherwise, your payment must be received in the Office of Student Accounts by the fee payment deadline of the semester in which you register. Failure to pay tuition and fees by the deadline could result in both financial and academic consequences.
Please view the Semester Calendars for specific dates.
You can pay your student account balance online via PantherPay with a electronic check (web check) or credit card. This is the fastest way to make a payment. Payments may also be mailed to Georgia State University, Office of Student Accounts, and P.O. Box 4029, Atlanta, GA 30302-4029. Please mail payment at least seven days prior to the payment due date. More detail is available on the Student Accounts website.
Log into PAWS, go to the One Stop Shop tab, go to the Student Accounts menu, and then select Student Account History.
Bring your sponsor’s letter of authorization/voucher to the Office of Student Accounts, room 100 Sparks Hall. More information is available on the Student Accounts website.
Georgia State University offers the service of delivering refunds more quickly by direct deposit to a checking or savings account. Direct deposit is free. An e-mail notification is sent to the student’s Georgia State issued e-mail address each time a direct deposit is made to the student’s checking or savings account. To sign up for direct deposit, simply log in to PAWS and to go to the One Stop Shop tab and then to GoSOLAR block, select the Student Accounts Menu and select Enroll/Change Direct Deposit.
Students who do not sign up for direct deposit will receive refunds by check and will be mailed to the address on the student’s PAWS account. Students are responsible for ensuring their address is current. Receiving a refund by check generally takes longer than direct deposit; therefore students are encouraged to use the direct deposit option.
Please visit the Student Accounts menu on PAWS and select the last link: Enroll/Change Direct Deposit.
Please refer to the Refund Status option in the Student Accounts menu of your PAWS account. Any recent refund issued to a student will be reflected here. Any refunds in progress will not be visible until the process is complete.
As an eligible educational institution, Georgia State University is required to file a Form 1098-T for students who are enrolled in degree-seeking programs. Following is a brief explanation of the fields on the form.
The University cannot provide tax advice concerning income taxes or the applicability of TRA97 to individual situations. Please contact a tax professional or the IRS for any tax questions. For more information, please visit the IRS Web site at: www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040.
If you are eligible to receive a 1098-T, it will be made available in PAWS. You access it online at https://paws.gsu.edu
You must resolve your issue with your loan. Contact the One Stop Shop at 404-413-2600 or for more information.
A bad debt write-off is a past due balance with the University. You may make payment to your account in Sparks Hall at the cashier’s office, or mail your payment directly to the Office of Student Accounts. Only certified funds (e.g. cash, money order, or certified check) are accepted to remove a hold.
If your employer will reimburse you for your classes, you must pay your outstanding balance by the fee payment deadline and then work directly with your employer to receive reimbursement. Georgia State University does not allow you to defer your payment in an employer reimbursement situation.