Pre-Admissions Series Program (PAS)
For Students Entering 9th and 10th Grade
How Do Students Apply?
Students can apply to the PAS in their 8th or 9th grade year.
To apply for the 2020-2021 school year, students should complete a PAS Application and return it to their school counselor by January 14, 2020.
Admission is highly competitive. Test scores, teacher recommendations, and course grades are used to determine which students will be invited to participate in the PAS during their 9th and 10th grade years.
Designated PAS 9th and 10th grade students will take prerequisite courses offered in their high schools and will participate in a variety of activities that will acquaint them with the GSST.
If students and their parents decide that the GSST is a good match for their interests, they will submit a formal online application to the GSST in their 10th grade year.
*Please note that acceptance into the PAS does not guarantee acceptance into the GSST, but active participation in PAS will be considered in the final GSST selection process.
PAS Events for the 2019-2020 School Year:
Wednesday, September 25, 2019 (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM)All events will be held at Thomas Nelson Community College – Dr. Mary T. Christian Auditorium (Templin Hall, 99 Thomas Nelson Drive, Hampton).
What is the Pre-Admissions Series Program (PAS)?
The Pre-Admissions Series Program is a program for high-achieving 9th and 10th grade students who are seriously considering attending the Governor’s School for Science and Technology for their 11th and 12th grades.
The PAS series is comprised of informational sessions, which taken together, will provide guidance to prospective GSST parents and students on how students can prepare themselves in 9th and 10th grade to gain acceptance and achieve success at both GSST and a competitive college.
This PAS program aims to educate those students and their parents about:
- The program model of the Governor’s School for Science and Technology (GSST).
- The features of each of the three academic strands.
- The course pre-requisites necessary for acceptance into each strand.
- How students can develop their talents in the classroom and beyond.
- How students can maximize their success in competitive college admissions.
Pre-Admission Series (PAS) Goals
- Inform parents and students about GSST program, strands, and prerequisites so that students won’t miss the opportunity to participate in the GSST due to avoidable mistakes.
- Provide critical information on preparing for competitive college admissions when it is needed, including:
- Course selection
- Participation in extracurricular activities in school, the community, and beyond
- Participation in competitions and summer programs
- Planning and preparation for standardized testing: i.e. taking practice PSAT in 10th grade, taking SAT Subject tests in 10th grade if appropriate, doing PSAT and SAT preparation the summer before 11th grade, trying the ACT, etc.
- Establishing relationships with faculty and counselor
- Beginning the college search and campus visits
In summary, in order to make the most of their opportunities in high school, college, and beyond, parents and students need information targeted to the needs of gifted students beginning in middle school.
Dr. Ellen Fithian, an independent educational consultant with Hampton Roads Educational Consulting, LLC, is a featured speaker for the Pre-admissions series. Dr. Fithian earned a Ph.D. in gifted education at the College of William and Mary and served as the Director of Precollegiate Learner Programs at the Center for Gifted Education. As a graduate student, she also completed a semester-long internship in the William and Mary admissions office. She founded Hampton Roads Educational Consulting, LLC in 2004, and has provided college planning services to numerous local families. Her educational and professional background, along with her personal experience as the mother of four former GSST students, make her uniquely qualified to speak about the challenges facing gifted high school students and their parents in today’s competitive academic environment.