Getting Started at Georgia State

1. Accessing and Using GoSOLAR
   As a new student, you will soon realize that much of the information you need to manage your enrollment here at Georgia State is a mouse click away! GoSOLAR or Georgia State Online Access to Records, enables all students to complete such functions as registering for classes (add/drop/or withdraw), viewing academic records, viewing grades, requesting transcripts and enrollment verifications, viewing personal information, viewing and accepting financial aid, and viewing and paying tuition and fees. Your student identification number and pin code are needed to log on.
   For more information, visit GoSOLAR. 
2. Georgia State Student E-mail Account
   According to University policy, Georgia State may send official correspondence to your University e-mail address. You are responsible for accessing and reading this e-mail. Your e-mail account becomes available when you are admitted to the University and remains open as long as you are eligible to register for classes.
   
   If you have not established your University e-mail account or would like more information, visit  Student Computing Services. 
3. Financial Aid
   There are many ways to pay for college, depending on your academic situation. Financial Aid is available to students classified as degree seeking (certificate programs are not eligible). Some financial aid is based on merit, some on need. Loans require repayment, while grants don’t have to be repaid. Federal Pell Grant, HOPE, Institutional Matching Grant and most state program funds are limited to students pursuing a first bachelor’s degree.
   
   If you are seeking financial aid, you should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Entering freshmen should complete it as soon as possible after January 1 of your senior year in high school. Applications are processed and results are sent to the institutions listed on the FAFSA.
   
   After submitting an application, a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be mailed in about two to three weeks. The SAR is the FAFSA results. Be sure to read it immediately and follow any directions. The schools you list on the FAFSA will also receive results. Electronic filing of the FAFSA can result in a seven-day processing period.
4. Auxiliary and Support Services
   PantherCard 
   Your PantherCard is your official Georgia State University identification card. PantherCards are important in that besides using it to identify yourself as a student, it is your library card, an access card to facilities such as the Recreation Center and the Library, and it can be used as a debit card for PantherCash and PantherMeals.
   
   There is no initial charge to have your PantherCard made. Replacement cards can be made at a charge of $10. To obtain your PantherCard, please visit the PantherCard Office in Suite 200 of the University Bookstore Building. For more information, visit auxiliary services.
   
   Georgia State has several meal plan options that offer great food, value, flexibility and convenience in choice. For information regarding PantherDining, visit the PantherDining website. 
   
   PantherCash
   Upon signing up for PantherCash, your PantherCard can be used as a debit card that can be used at various university locations. PantherCash account holders are eligible for certain discounts at participating retailers and service providers.
   
   Both PantherCash and PantherMeals accounts can be opened at the PantherCard Office using cash, check, MasterCard, Visa or American Express. For more information, please visit the PantherCash website.
   
   Parking and Transportation
   Georgia State University offers three traveling options to and from campus: driving to campus and parking on-site, driving to an off-site parking area, and discounted monthly MARTA cards. Shuttle buses are also available to transport students from off-campus parking to the campus at no charge.
   
   In order to be able to park on campus and at University-controlled off-campus lots, you must pre-register your vehicle to receive your parking permit, which must be displayed at all times. To register your vehicle or for more information on parking, visit the Parking and Transporation website.
   
   Panther Express Shuttle
   The University provides shuttle service to and from various locations on campus. For detailed information about shuttle service, go to the Panther Express website.
   
   University Bookstore
   The University Bookstore, located on the third floor of the University Bookstore Building, has a wide selection of new and used textbooks, as well as school supplies, snacks, computers and software, and officially licensed Georgia State apparel and gifts. At the end of each semester, you can also sell your used books back to the bookstore and receive 50 percent of the current new book price if the book has a “Guaranteed Buyback” sticker.
   
   Why wait in line at the bookstore when you can go online and purchase your books from the comfort of your home? Go to www.efollet.com and click on ”books.” For more information on the University Bookstore, visit the University Bookstore website.
5. University Housing
   Students who wish to have an on campus living-learning experience can choose between The University Commons, University Lofts, Freshmen Hall, Piedmont North, or Greek Village.
   
   By living in the residence halls, you have an exciting opportunity to grow and find meaning through friendships, exploration of ideas, involvement in the residential community and the University as a whole.  Living on campus allows you to be part of a wide range of residence hall activities designed to contribute to a fantastic living experience, one that will complement your academic pursuits. When you live on campus, you live where the action is, and all campus facilities are within easy access.
   
   For more information on University Housing, visit the housing website.
6. Off-Campus Housing
   Students who choose to live off campus may have questions about housing availability in the Atlanta area. The Office of the Dean of Students provides and maintains an off-campus housing website which lists available housing opportunities such as: apartments for rent, rooms in private homes, roommate/ apartment sharing, short-term leasing, and apartment or house hunting resources.
   
   The University does not approve, inspect, or assume responsibility for those facilities listed. Students are strongly encouraged to visit potential residences prior to making lease or rental arrangements.
   
   For more information, visit the dean of students website. To access the off- campus housing website, visit Off-campus Housing.
7. Involvement Opportunities
   By getting involved, you can make a difference at Georgia State and prepare yourself for long-term success. Participation in activities beyond the classroom will help you succeed in college and get the most out of your experience. You will make new friends and find other students who share your interests. When you get involved in out-of-class activities, you will: 

• be more satisfied with your overall college experience, social life, living environment, and academic major
• be more likely to graduate
• learn leadership skills such as teamwork, decision making, and planning which will help you in both your career and community involvement 
• develop closer connections with faculty and reinforce your academic learning

Being involved in college is key to being successful in the workforce after college. Campus involvement means that you will have experiences and examples to share with prospective employers about your talents and skills. You will have a network of friends to use as a resource for future job opportunities and you will have more confidence for taking risks.
Other reasons to get involved:

• develop new friendships
• develop mentoring relationships with faculty and staff 
• complement and reinforce classroom learning
• learn self-discipline, initiative, self-direction and responsibility

The Office of Student Activities is the center of student life and involvement, engaging Georgia State University students in co-curricular experiences by providing programs, services and leadership opportunities that complement the academic experience through out-of-class learning. Student Activities is committed to involving students in activities that promote personal and academic excellence, community building, and social and civic responsibility.

For more information on getting involved on campus and with student organizations, visit Student Activities.

Academic Success Tips  Most new students feel anxious about their transition to college. Adjusting to the academic rigors of college is a very important concern. The following tips will help you prepare for the differences between high school and college:

Top Ten Tips for Academic Success

• Don’t procrastinate.
• Manage time wisely — don’t cram for tests. 
• Form study groups.
• Sit near the front of the class. 
• Get to know your professor. 
• Actively participate in class discussions. 
• Read chapters and complete assignments before class.
• Follow your course syllabus. 
• Attend class regularly and be on time. 
• Meet with your academic advisor.

No More Study Halls...
and other differences between high school and college: 

• High school education is more textbook focused. 
• High school education emphasizes the acquisition of facts. 
• High school teachers generally do not have office hours.
• High school students have much less personal freedom.
• College classes are larger, longer and do not meet every day. 
• College tests are less frequent. • Students write more in college. 
• There is less monitoring of student progress in college.
• There is less control of student behavior in college. 
• There are more curricular choices in college. 
• College professors and students have more academic freedom.
• College faculty are more likely to create original knowledge and research. 
• College students have a greater quantity of work. 
•  College students often live away from home.

From: Your College experience, second edition, Gardner and Jewler, page TM 4.1.