- Counselor nominations are no longer the starting point for GSSE applications.
- Beginning October 1, 2025, students will start their applications in the Governor’s School Unified Application, alongside all other Governor’s School programs.
- A Counselor Information and Verification Form—containing the same details as the former nomination form—will now be requested after a student submits their application.
- Completed student applications must be submitted through our online system by December 5, 2025.
- Teacher Letters of Recommendation and Counselor Information and Verification Forms will be accepted through December 19, 2025.
Please contact prep@utk.edu if you have questions.
High School Counselor Distribution List:
- Create a slate.org account to get our communication emails regarding our program application updates and deadlines!
Student Prerequisites:
- Possess excellent academic records and be able to demonstrate advanced critical thinking and analysis.
- Must have completed at least one year of high school level laboratory science and one year of Algebra.
- Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Must be a rising Tennessee high school junior or senior (current sophomore or junior).
Students interested in applying will now begin with the Unified Application. By selecting their intent to apply to the Governor’s School for the Sciences and Engineering (GSSE), they will then receive instructions on how to complete the GSSE-specific application.
Click here to access the TN Governor’s School Unified Application
After completing Step 1 of the Unified Application, students will receive an email with instructions to complete the GSSE application. Students will be required to provide:
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Two teacher recommendations
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Science, Math, or STEM Teachers are preferred
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We recommend students identify and notify teachers early to allow time for completion.
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School Counselor information
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Counselors will receive the Counselor Verification and Information Form once the student submits their application.
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Student personal information
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Parent/Legal Guardian contact information
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Responses to two short essay prompts
- GSSE class preferences. More information on GSSE Academic Curriculum here
Each applicant must designate two teachers to provide confidential recommendations for their GSSE application. This step may be completed at any time after the student begins their application—the full application does not need to be submitted before teachers complete their forms.
NEW THIS YEAR: Instead of beginning the application with a Counselor Nomination, students will now identify their school counselor within the application itself. After the student submits their completed application, the counselor will automatically receive an email prompting them to complete the Counselor Information and Verification Form.
Counselors will have until December 19, 2025, to submit this form. However, students are strongly encouraged to complete and submit their applications as early as possible to ensure their counselors have ample time to respond.
The counselor, student, and parent/legal guardian will all receive email confirmation when the above steps are complete and the student’s application has been received and processed. Contact prep@utk.edu with any questions.