Student Applications are due November 1, 2024.
Step 1: Determine if you are eligible
- Applicants must reside in Mississippi.
- Applicants must be currently enrolled in either the 10th or 11th grade of an accredited Mississippi secondary school.
- Applicants must have achieved at least one of the performance qualifications.
- Applicants must not have attended a previous session of MGS.
- Applicant must have the ability, maturity, and willingness to handle advanced academic concepts, materials, and activities.
- Applicant must adjust to being away from home for an extended period.
- The applicant must be able to commit to participating fully for the duration of the program (including weekend activities). Please note: MGS will not be able to accommodate special athletic training during the program. This includes but is not limited to, running, weightlifting, etc. Recreation time is available to all scholars throughout the program, but individual training is not allowed.
Step 2: Complete the online application
All sections of the online application are required. JotForm allows you to sign in and save your information and return to the form as you are able.
- Applicant / Scholar information
- Scholar Guardian / Parent Information
- Scholar High School Information
- School Information Release Permission
- Scholar Interest Areas
- Scholar Aptitude Qualifications
- Scholar Resume (Academic, Extracurricular, and Volunteer Experiences)
- Recommendation Letters (Teacher and Community)
- Response to Prompt (Upload)
- Submit Application
Applicants will receive an email confirmation when their completed application has been received.
Application Instructions
The online application is required in order for a student to be considered for admission to Mississippi Governor’s School. It must be completed in its entirety BY THE STUDENT who is applying, and must be digitally signed by the student AND by a parent/guardian.
Qualifications
In order to attend Mississippi Governor’s School, applicants are required to have achieved at least one of the minimum qualifications. You will NOT receive more points based on how many qualifications you meet, so you will select only ONE qualification.
After you have selected a qualification, you will be asked to verify that you meet the qualification. For instance, if you select “ACT score of 25 or higher,” you will need to upload your ACT score sheet. The following list includes acceptable verification materials that can be uploaded:
Gifted eligibility ruling in Mississippi
1. Gifted eligibility statement. If you do not have a copy, your school counselor should be able to provide you with one.
Composite score of 25 or above on the ACT
1. ACT score sheet. This must include your name and composite score.
Selection index of 175 or above on the PSAT
1. PSAT score sheet. This must include your name and your selection index, not just your overall scores.
Score of 1250 or above on the SAT
1. SAT score sheet.
Documentation of academic aptitude at an advanced level
1. Proof of academic award(s) received; or
2. Proof of membership in an academics-related club or organization (Beta Club, National Honor Society, etc.); or
3. A statement from someone with extensive knowledge of your academic capabilities (teacher, club advisor, etc.); or
4. Documentation similar to those listed above
Documentation of creative thinking ability at an advanced level
1. Proof of membership in club or organization that promotes creative thinking (Debate Club, school newspaper, Model UN, etc.); or
2. A statement from someone with extensive knowledge of your creative thinking ability; or
3. Documentation similar to those listed above
Documentation of leadership ability at an advanced level
1. Proof of leadership award(s) received; or
2. Proof of involvement in leadership-based club, organization, etc. (can be school or community-based); or
3. Proof of volunteer work/community service; or
4. Statement from an individual within your school or community with extensive knowledge of your leadership ability; or
5. Documentation similar to those listed above
Documentation of fine and/or performing arts ability at an advanced level
1. Proof of art-related award(s) received; or
2. Proof of involvement in art-related club, organization, etc. (can be school or community-based); or
3. Statement from an individual within your school or community with extensive knowledge of your fine/performing arts ability; or
4. Documentation similar to those listed above
If you are unsure about your qualification verification, please feel free to call us at 662-329-7150 or email mgs@muw.edu.
Experience
Scholar Academic, Extracurricular, and Volunteer Experiences
A resume detailing your experiences is required.
Your resume should list your name at the top and contain a section with each of the following:
- School Organizations and Involvement in Extracurricular Activities
- Community Service and Volunteer Experience
- Work Experience
- Awards and Honors
- Hobbies, Travel, Unique Interests and Abilities
Please limit each section to a maximum of three entry experiences per section.
Please detail dates, responsibilities, and leadership roles within each experience.
While all sections are recommended, they are not all required. (Example: you have not held any jobs in high school.)
Recommendations
This is a critical component of the application. Scholar Recommendation Letters
You MUST provide two recommendation letters to apply for Mississippi Governor’s School.
Recommendation Letter 1) Must be a teacher who has taught you within the past year. *Counselors and/or parents as teachers for homeschooling cannot be used for the teacher recommendation. TIP: Your teacher should speak to your academic abilities, curiosity in learning, project based work, peer relationships, challenges in coursework, judgement, maturity, and leadership in the school/classroom. One of the biggest benefits to MGS is your ability to be around like minded gifted and intellectually curious peers. From your teacher’s perspective, why do you need to attend? Please have your teacher tailor their letter to this MGS opportunity.
Letter 2) Must be a community member. TIP: The community member should be someone who knows your creative, academic, and/or leadership skills. For instance, you could ask your Scout leader or the director of a nonprofit organization where you volunteer, or your church where you serve. The letter should include how they know you and how they think you could thrive in an MGS environment. Please have your Community Member tailor their letter to what qualifies you for the MGS experience.
Response to Prompt (Upload)
Prompt Response (Upload)
*This is a CRITICAL piece of the process. Please submit YOUR OWN quality work. You can respond to this prompt in whatever way you feel most confident (essay, digital graphic, PowerPoint, Canva, video presentation, etc.). There is no required length, but the below prompts must be answered. Short, organized, and concise are recommended. We are looking for writing style, organization, critical thinking, and creativity. This is your chance to show us why you would be perfect for the MGS family of scholars! It must be work of the scholar. Plagiarism and AI is prohibited and will automatically disqualify your application.
Prompt for Summer 2025:The Mississippi Governor’s School is dedicated to fostering academic excellence and leadership among the state’s most promising students. As part of your application, we would like you to reflect on your experiences and aspirations in the context of Mississippi’s rich history and future potential. In your essay or presentation, address the following points:
How will participation in the Governor’s School help you achieve your goals and benefit your community and state? Specifically, what do you hope to gain from this opportunity and experience?
What is a specific element of Mississippi’s history, culture, or community that has impacted you personally?
How has this influence shaped your personal and academic growth?
What is your vision for Mississippi’s future, and how do you hope to contribute?
What unique perspectives or skills will you bring to the Governor’s School?