There are two 2025 Application Deadlines.

Summer and Academic Year Deadline May 11, 2025

• First-round decisions
• Academic year program cohorts are determined (and combined, as needed). 
  • For example, if an East Lansing and Online cohort is offered and only one of them meets the enrollment minimum, the other cohort will be cancelled and combined with the other. Remaining apps are only eligible for the cohort that is being offered. 
• If you are applying for a need-based scholarship, you must apply by this deadline.
• Summer decisions are rolling beginning mid-March.
• Academic Year applicants will be notified within 30 days of app deadline.
• Academic Year program locations are determined based on enrollment by this date.
  • (For example: If a program is offering an online and in-person option and one has significantly more completed applications by this deadline, the other location may be canceled due to low enrollment.)

Academic Year Extended Deadline July 11, 2025

• Your program could fill before this deadline.
• Schools close for the summer so your application may not get completed or will have to wait if your teacher is not checking their email regularly.
• Many schools request GATE acceptance before the end of the school year so they can plan for the following year. You will have to work with your school to fit your GATE program into your schedule when school resumes after summer break.
• Remaining financial aid funds may be reduced or depleted.
• Your decision may be delayed.

MSU GATE has the GUPPY program for grades 4 and grades 5-6 (different classes for each grade range). The GUPPY program is a choice of different weekend and one week programs in the summer.

All program applications are completed online. Reference the How to Apply page for an overview of the application process.

$75 nonrefundable application fee for all program applications submitted before March 1.

After March 1, the nonrefundable application fee increases to $100.

You will need to check with your school's business office staff to learn if financial assistance is available.

You can apply for Financial Aid within the GATEway online application system. A copy of your current tax return is also required - see the form for details. Please view the need based scholarship page to see if you qualify for assistance.

The required standardized tests for all programs are the SAT, ACT, or CogAT. The GUPPY program has additional acceptable tests. (Please see the test and score requirements under each program on the GATE website, gifted.msu.edu). An IQ test can also be submitted in place of standardized test scores.

Visit the ACT and SAT Testing page for more information. Visit the CogAT Testing page for more information.

Your other application materials will be reviewed and considered. However, there is no guarantee that you will be accepted into the program without the necessary test scores. Although students may meet the minimum requirements, it does not guarantee acceptance. All applications will go through a holistic review process.

Score reports are sent to families after testing. If you require a duplicate copy of your student's score report, please request it here.

Yes. Any accepted family should disclose an IEP, 504, or other exceptionalities (one or more disabilities as defined by federal or state eligibility criteria. These disabilities may include specific learning disabilities (SpLD), speech and language disorders, emotional/behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, autism spectrum, or other impairments such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)) within 7 days of program acceptance (or within 14 days of recent diagnosis) so that staff can look into appropriate accommodations. This process must be repeated annually for academic year students. 

Please visit this link to request an accommodation review

Accommodations for students with disabilities in GATE programs:

The GATE programs are programs of Michigan State University (MSU) and MSU is subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  This requires the University to provide equal access to its programs and services.  It also requires the University to provide accommodations where reasonable in order to gain equal access to programs and services.  The University is not subject to the Individuals with Disabilities in Education (IDEA) Act. The IDEA Act requires the K-12 school to provide Free and Appropriate Public Education.  This means that K-12 schools are responsible for identifying students who may need services, identifying whatever services will help the student succeed in class and providing those services, including issuing Individual Education Plans (IEP’s).  The difference in laws means accommodations for students with disabilities are handled differently.  When a K-12 student is in a GATE program, they must click the link above to request an accommodation.  GATE administrators will then work with the parent, student and K-12 institution where deemed appropriate and determine if the requested accommodations are reasonable.

38-6005984

MSU GATE tuition is NOT undergraduate level tuition and should not be filed as such. Families will not receive a 1098-T or other tax documentation for GATE tuition costs.

Tuition receipts are sent via email at the time of payment from a third party. Duplicate tuition receipts will not be resent. Parents and guardians are responsible for maintaining the original receipts.

No. We do not complete, sign, or otherwise offer additional documentation about a student's participation. Students will receive any relevant documentation including grade reports (where applicable) upon semester completion. External documents may not be submitted to our office for completion.

No. Applicants need to apply and qualify for subsequent programs. There are several factors that are considered when reviewing applicants. Although students may be accepted one year, the crieria and application requirements may be updated between application seasons and that same student may not be accepted in subsequent years. It is important to make note of test score and other requirements when applying as those can vary from year-to-year and program-to-program.

In rare cases, a former student or family is not a good program fit. Those families will receive information about alternatives and other programming available better suited to their needs.

The information included in your reapply letter is the extent of the information that will be provided. These decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

Semester grades will be sent via email to all school and parent/guardian emails on record at the end of each semester per program. It is highly recommended that you save these copies for future reference. Replacement copies will take up to 30 business days.

Note: Credit is granted at the discretion of all districts and future institutions independently. It is the responsibility of the applicant and their familiy to discuss credits with their home school or higher education institution prior to beginning a GATE program.

No. It is not recommended that your student take district level testing at any point during the program. The pacing and instruction schedule will likely differ substantially from that of your student's home district. However, the GATE office cannot dictate what mastery a district requires in exchange for granting credit. A district exam upon program completion will allow the student to exhibit their mastery level.

Duplicate/replacement grade reports can be requested here and can take up to 30 business days to be processed. Emailed requests will not be fufilled.

Times, locations, and detailed information about drop-off and pick-up policies will be provided to parents and guardians well in advance of the beginning of the program via email. Alternate drop-off or pick-up times are not allowed. It is important that we make sure that every student is accounted for and safe at all times.

NO. It is against university policy for an enrolled student to leave the program early or arrive late for any reason. Courses are also incredibly rigorous, and we do not want any of our students to fall behind or feel left out. Students may only miss class for an emergency that warrants the student leaving for the remainder of the program.

NO. For the safety, security, and privacy of all participants, all GATE programs are closed, meaning that for the duration of the program there are no visits from home or trips home for the weekend.

Programs are full of fun activities, even on the evenings and weekends for residential students! For liability reasons, it is mandatory that students stay on campus for the duration of the program unless an emergency arises that warrants the student leaving for the remainder of the program. Students will be able to text, email, and call their parents and guardians at designated times, usually during evening free time.

Residential staff, also called Lead Supervisors and Resident Advisors (RAs), are trained to keep each student safe. Before the opening of the program, the residential staff receive training on rules, regulations, and safety information related to the students’ welfare. RAs are selected because of their commitment to education and ability to interact well with young people.

The residential staff members live in the residence hall on the same floor as students and are on duty 24 hours a day to ensure that every participant is safe. They are responsible for providing a comfortable and friendly atmosphere in the residence hall.

Male and female students will live in separate hallways in the same residence hall.