1. Are they all the same?????

2. TECHNICAL SCHOOL (aka Community Colleges) Small in size Offer Certificate and Diploma programs of study (a few months to two years) in technical and career areas Sometimes offer Associates Degree programs (2 years with core academic subjects) Less expensive than colleges Close to “home” – no living on campus

3. TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM OF GEORGIA www.tcsg.edu for more information www.tcsg.edu 26 Technical Schools across Georgia (see handout) Training for hundreds of jobs leading to Certificates and/or Diplomas Most of the tuition is paid for by HOPE Grant Any high school graduate can get the HOPE Grant – no matter what your GPA is!

4. COLLEGE Usually four years of study leading to a Bachelors Degree First two years include core academic areas and the last two years are focused on your MAJOR program area Can be public (State funded) or private HOPE Scholarship is available to high school graduates with an ACADEMIC GPA of 3.0+ Usually four years of study leading to a Bachelors Degree First two years include core academic areas and the last two years are focused on your MAJOR program area Can be public (State funded) or private HOPE Scholarship is available to high school graduates with an ACADEMIC GPA of 3.0+

5. 12 Public colleges across Georgia (see handout www.usg.edu) Housing is usually available if you wish to live on campus 12 Public colleges across Georgia (see handout www.usg.edu) Housing is usually available if you wish to live on campus COLLEGE

6. UNIVERSITY Very large – contains several “colleges” or “schools” on campus within the University Each college at the university offers degrees in several major areas of study See example of UGA with 17 schools and colleges Very large – contains several “colleges” or “schools” on campus within the University Each college at the university offers degrees in several major areas of study See example of UGA with 17 schools and colleges

8. Both undergraduate (Bachelors) degrees AND graduate degrees (Masters and Doctorates) in several major areas of study HOPE Scholarship is available to high school students with academic GPA of 3.0+ ONLY FOR BACHELOR DEGREE programs Can be public (state-funded) or private See handout & www.usg.edu for public universitieswww.usg.edu Both undergraduate (Bachelors) degrees AND graduate degrees (Masters and Doctorates) in several major areas of study HOPE Scholarship is available to high school students with academic GPA of 3.0+ ONLY FOR BACHELOR DEGREE programs Can be public (state-funded) or private See handout & www.usg.edu for public universitieswww.usg.edu UNIVERSITY

9. A University can be categorized as a: State University (12 in GA) Regional University (2 in GA) Research University (4 in GA) Research Universities conduct research in many areas that benefit the nation Thousands of students attend a university Class sizes are sometimes 100+ students A University can be categorized as a: State University (12 in GA) Regional University (2 in GA) Research University (4 in GA) Research Universities conduct research in many areas that benefit the nation Thousands of students attend a university Class sizes are sometimes 100+ students UNIVERSITY

10. INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS Independent schools offer programs focused on specific areas (ITT, DeVry, Art Institutes, etc.) Usually VERY expensive Frequently guarantee jobs after graduation HOPE Grant/Scholarship are NOT available to students attending these schools Independent schools offer programs focused on specific areas (ITT, DeVry, Art Institutes, etc.) Usually VERY expensive Frequently guarantee jobs after graduation HOPE Grant/Scholarship are NOT available to students attending these schools

11. Which one is for YOU??? Talk to family, friends and teachers Consider your GPA Think about what you want to study and how long you want to go to school Narrow your list to 3 or 4 schools by end of your Junior year Junior English classes will complete this task using GCIS. SEE YOUR COUNSELOR for help Talk to family, friends and teachers Consider your GPA Think about what you want to study and how long you want to go to school Narrow your list to 3 or 4 schools by end of your Junior year Junior English classes will complete this task using GCIS. SEE YOUR COUNSELOR for help