College Planning

How to choose a college? Deciding on the right college is a big decision. It requires careful thought and lots of research. Several factors should be considered when making this decision such as:  Academic Majors  Cost/Financial Aid Availability  Size, Location and Extracurricular activities  Admissions Criteria

Academic Majors  Probably the most important consideration when first researching colleges is what majors/programs are offered at this school (and at what degree level).  Example: Dental Hygienist is an associates degree level program that is offered at many technical schools, it is not offered at UGA or University of North Georgia so if that is what you want to major in you should only look at schools with a Dental Hygiene program such as Athens Tech or Valdosta State.  Tip: On the GACollege411 website use the “Explore Programs and Majors” feature under College planning to match schools and programs.

Academic Majors  What to do if you are undecided on future career plans? Even if you haven’t nailed down exactly what you want to do you probably have an idea or a field of interest. Look for schools that offer several degrees or programs with in that field.  Tip: Use the career interest inventories on GACollege411 or GCIC or sign up to take the ASVAB to help point you in a direction.

Cost/Financial Aid Availability  Paying for college is a big concern and it’s always important to consider the cost of college. Many colleges participate in federal loan programs, offer scholarships based on academic ability or financial need, or offer student employment on campus.  It’s important to compare the cost of colleges vs one another. The general rule of thumb is that you shouldn't borrow more money than you will make in your first year of employment based on your degree.  Each school lists tuition, average debt upon graduation, financial assistance, etc. on the GACollege411 website.

Size and Location  Once you’ve compiled a list of schools that have the academic major you are interested in look at where the school is located and how many students attend. School University of Georgia Albany State University Georgia State University Abraham Baldwin College Georgia Southern University Enrollment (appr) 34,0004,00032,1683,30020,000 Location in or near a small/mediu m city (pop. 75, ,000) in or near a major city (pop. 300,000 or more) in or near a small town (pop. 5, ,000) in or near a large town (pop. 25, ,000)

Extracurricular Activities  Colleges offer many opportunities for students to be involved on campus through intramural sports, clubs, performance groups, cultural organizations, charitable organizations, Greek life, study abroad.  Just like being involved in extracurriculars is important in high school, this involvement is equally important in college and can help you build a network of friends/acquaintances that will make college life more fun and can assist in future employment opportunities.

Admissions Criteria  Once you’ve narrowed your list of schools down to 5-10 possibilities take a look at the admissions criteria and compare yourself to those numbers.  Example: *These are averages, some schools do have minimums that must be met, other factors may be considered such as audition, artist portfolio, and interview/essay, etc. SchoolUniversity of GeorgiaAlbany State University Georgia State University Abraham Baldwin College Georgia Southern University AVG High School GPA Testing Requirements Average SAT 616 critical reading, 623 Math, 1239 combined. ACT 29 English, 27 Math, 28 composite Average SAT 460 critical reading, 449 Math, 909 combined. ACT 18 English, 18 Math, 18 composite Average SAT 550 critical reading, 543 Math, 1095 combined. ACT 23 English, 23 Math, 23 composite SAT required of some, ACT required of some. Averages not published. Average SAT 557 critical reading, 556 Math, 1113 combined. ACT 23 English, 23 Math, 24 composite

Timeline  If you’re interested in schools that require either an SAT or ACT score you should plan to take both or one of these in the spring of your Junior year and again in the fall of your senior year. Some schools do not require the SAT or ACT and instead have their own placement tests such as the ASSET or COMPASS, these are usually given on campus at the school—so pay close attention when doing your research.  By the end of 11 th grade you should have 3-5 schools that you are interested in applying to your senior year and you should have visited campuses or be making plans to visit over the summer. (You’re allowed 2 visits your junior year during the school day that can be coded for an excused absence, pre-approval forms are available with your counselor).