“Responsiveness to the community’s needs, academic rigor, relationships with top recruiters, and dedication to excellence are among the qualities necessary for a business school to be considered one of the best. Every two years, BusinessWeek consults students, recruiters, and academic research to determine which business schools fit the bill. Here’s this year’s look at the best U.S. full-time MBA programs.”
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/11/1112_best_business_schools/index.htm?chan=rss_topSlideShows_ssi_5

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/strategy-t.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/article/what-college-aid-officers-wont-tell-you/276393/

http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/features/the-a-college-applicant-391836.html

Similarly, this next article also addresses the importance of selecting what (and how many) activities you choose to participate in while in high school.  You may be surprised to learn what they have to say!

http://www.examiner.com/x-766-College-Admissions-Examiner~y2009m1d27-Do-only-wellrounded-students-get-into-college

Youth with intellectual disabilities have not had many chances to go to college. This is changing as individuals across the country begin to create opportunities for these youth to reap the benefits of postsecondary education. This website will provide information and links to anyone interested in finding out more about the possibilities.   Pages are provided for students, families, and educators.  If you or your child suffers from a disability, you can find answers to many of your questions on this site. 

The admitted student profile for the current freshman class is as follows:
Middle 50% Core GPA (only the academics) – 3.68-4.01
Middle 50% SAT (CR + M, no writing) – 1190-1360
Middle 50% ACT – 26 – 31
Last year, the middle 50% of students had taken 3-7 AP/IB courses.

These numbers continue to rise each year and the importance of taking rigorous courses continues to be a large factor in the admission process, not just at UGA, but schools all across GA and the US.

One thing that our rep. told our kids is that they calculate the GPA entirely through the junior year.  Once first semester of senior year is complete, you need to send new grades and an updated transcript, however, they will not recalculate the GPA they have on file.  These new grades are still looked at, but this just emphasizes once again how important those freshman-junior year grades are.

For students interested in taking the SAT and/or ACT once more before submitting their applications to UGA for early action, the deadline for SAT will be Nov. 1 (a little later than in previous years) and October 25 for the ACT.  However, you must have noted that the scores be sent at time of SAT/ACT registration.  If you wait for them to come back and then request that they be sent, it will be too late.  You can still go back into your account and add UGA as a college to receive your scores if you did not list them at time of registration.

Lastly, (and this is probably the biggest announcement), UGA will now be considering the Writing portions of both the SAT and ACT for this year’s applications.  For the previous years, they have been requiring a writing portion to be submitted, but this is the first year they are actually using it for their admissions decisions.  What this means is that if you have taken the ACT without the writing portion (because writing is optional) and you are wanting to use your ACT scores (because they’re the higher scores), then you will need to take it again and include the writing portion.  SAT has the writing portion built in and it is not optional, so that score will already be there.  UGA will NOT take the writing portion from the SAT and mix it with the ACT to make up for the missing ACT writing score.  Last year’s admitted Writing score for the SAT was a 625.  UGA does not know what this year’s score will be, but this may give you an idea of what they are probably going to be looking for.

To apply to UGA, visit www.admissions.uga.edu

9/8 - A – Co

9/9 – Cr – Ha

9/10 – He – Mc

9/11 – Me – Sa

9/12 – Sc – Z

After the meeting, we ask that you fill out a survey to let us know how we did, what we could do better, and what information you still need.

We look forward to meeting with you!  Bring all your questions and we’ll help you navigate this rewarding, but potentially confusing process.

The first is a podcast.  Before I tell you the podcast that I just love, I need to make sure you know what a podcast is.  A podcast is basically a downloadable radio-type program that you can listen to about a particular topic on your computer, IPod, or MP3 player.  I bet you didn’t know that there were literally hundreds of thousands (maybe more) of podcasts floating around the web??  Anyone who has an internet connection, a microphone, and something to say (whether informative, irrelevant, silly, or extremely important) can make one.  They are called “podcasts” as a combination of the words “IPod” and “broadcast.”  However, you do not need an IPod to listen to a podcast – your computer will do just fine.  I, personally, like to download them to my own IPod and listen to them if I happen to be somewhere and need to kill a little time or am driving somewhere in my car.  I’ve found lots of other relevant “education-type” podcasts, too - SAT Prep, college admissions, AP prep materials, grammer tips, foreign language tutorials, history lessons, etc.  There are podcasts that cover things like cooking lessons, skateboarding tips, new music, knitting news, YouTube videos, worldwide news, audiobooks, politics, sitcoms, and more.  If there’s something you’re interested in, there’s probably a podcast for that.

How do you find podcasts?  If you have ITunes, this is an easy way to search for and download podcasts and get continuous updates.  You can download ITunes for free at www.itunes.com and, again, you don’t need an IPod to have this program.  If you are totally confused, just come see me – I’ll give you a first-rate lesson on podcasts.  I personally have many.

Now, the particular podcast I am referring to is called the Financial Aid Podcast, and  you can just go to  http://www.financialaidpodcast.com/ to download each episode.  It is sponsored by the Student Loan Network, a provider of loans and other financial services.  The host is Christopher Penn, the CTO of this particular company.  On this 15-minute daily broadcast (didja know that there was that much information about financial aid??), he gives a multitude of information about financial aid news, scholarship updates, FAFSA tips, answers to listener questions, and, oh, so much more.  Just today (Tax day) he gave tips on filing your income taxes, an update on a new funding policy at Yale for their medical school, a scholarship update, and gave a tip on how to use Google to search for specific types of scholarships.  He even advertised that Dunkin Donuts is giving away a free donut with a coffee purchase today!  (Wish I had known that this morning on the way to work!  But, I digress).  On Fridays, he offers his Friday Freebies.  Lots, lots, lots of financial aid information.  And he does this, yes, every day.  He’s a financial aid freak.

The second resource is an electronic book written by the same above-named Christopher Penn.  You can find it at http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/ebook/ and download it PDF style.  In this book, he shares his “secret” methods of searching for scholarships.  He also discusses the FAFSA, loans, financial aid offices, avoiding scams, etc, etc., etc.  I, personally, would love to put a copy into everyone of my juniors’ and seniors’ hands but I’m not sure that we have the monetary resources to print and give out that much paper. 

The website that the book is found on is also a scholarship search site, http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/ (the same link w/ ebook removed…).  You can register for a financial aid newsletter and get even more info. 

Now, please realize that this company is out there to ultimately make money through their loan services and this is one of their avenues for getting their name out, but they do so by offering these awesome free resources.  Take advantage and get yourself some financial aid (and let me know what you think!!!)

March 28, 2008

Applications increased again this year, the third year of record number of applications.  The Office of Admissions has continued its commitment to provide a full and equitable review of all applicants and to make the best possible admission decisions for the University and for the students. The Faculty Admissions Committee continues to assist the Office with developing processes and reviewing files.

Each year, the quality of the high school students applying for the 4800 places in UGA’s first-year summer and fall class increases and to accommodate this, the size of the first-year class has increased 50% since 1995.  With increasing numbers of students accepting our offer of admission and UGA having reached its capacity to serve our 34,000 students, we must limit the number of offers of admission to ensure that no more than our class target enrolls this year.

Yet, there are no easy admission decisions; almost all first-year applicants predict an ability to do C work or better at UGA.  Since the odds of being offered admission are driven by how strong a student looks relative to the rest of the applicant pool, first-year applicants are competing against one another for admission to UGA, with the majority of the offers of admission being extended to the students with the strongest academic records. For over 80% of the students offered admission this year, it will be their demonstrated academic performance which drove the decision.

UGA’s First-Year Admissions Process

In short, this is how the process works: Every applicant to the first-year class receives a complete and thorough academic review.  Emphasis is placed on the rigor of the academic curriculum attempted by the student, the grades earned in core courses, and the results of standardized testing.  While most families believe it was the student’s test scores that kept the student from being admitted, it is usually the choice of courses a student takes or the grades made in those courses which are the deciding factors.  The Faculty of UGA has stated that the most important factor they seek in new students is intellectual curiosity.  This is often indicated by the student’s choice of coursework in high school, relative to what is available in that student’s academic environment.  Files are also carefully evaluated for any behavior problems or disciplinary issues.  Based on this initial review alone, many “academically superior” applicants received an offer of admission.

Using this academic review, other students are not competitive for admission.  Before many “non-competitive” students were denied, however, their files received another review to confirm there were neither errors in processing the file nor extenuating circumstances to explain any academic or personal difficulties.

Thousands of students fall in the “academically competitive ” range.  Unfortunately, UGA cannot accommodate all of these students. Since students present very similar academic profiles, UGA’s Faculty Admissions Committee determined that there should be a supplemental review of these “academically competitive” students to consider additional factors such as intellectual curiosity, creativity, commitment to citizenship, integrity, respect for cultural differences, and personal maturity.  The Application for First-Year Admission solicits information in each of these areas, provides additional opportunities for students to express themselves in writing, and requires a recommendation from an academic subject teacher.  The application uses four short answer questions to allow us to ‘hear’ the students’ voice. Additionally, we require that students submit standardized scores with a controlled writing sample from the SAT or ACT.

Early Action

The non-binding Early Action program continues to be popular with students: almost 11,000 first-year applications were submitted to UGA by the Early Action deadline of October 15.  Unlike some selective colleges that use the early admission programs to fill their freshman classes, at UGA, it was not any easier to gain or to be denied admission under the Early Action plan as opposed to Regular Decision, which had a January 15 deadline.  In fact, students admitted as Early Action candidates in December are projected to account for less than 66% of the students being offered admission .  Early Action applicants received decisions mid-December.  As is the case nationally, the Early Action applicants to UGA were very strong academically and approximately 6100 were admitted.  Less than 500 of the Early Action students were denied admission and the remaining Early Action files were deferred to Regular Decision.

Regular Decision

The Regular Decision pool was made up of students who were deferred from the Early Action pool and those who chose to wait to apply for Regular Decision.  Deferred and Regular applicants needed to complete the full application (Only Part I was required for Early Action, while both Parts I and II were required for Regular Decision review), and submit a recommendation from a teacher in addition to their test scores, transcripts and school evaluation.  While Early Action has been very popular, many students applied between December 1 and January 15 and represent a more typical mix of students who apply to UGA.  The 17,600 total applications received this year represent anxious students and families.  The total applicant pool for 2008 was academically very strong with the average student presenting a 3.6 GPA and SAT scores exceeding 1200.  Most of the applicants were enrolled in many honors and Advanced Placement classes.

Following the January 15 deadline for applications and completion of Early Action deferred applications, the Admissions Office once again completed academic reviews of all files. Again, the files were sorted into the “academically superior”, “academically competitive” and “non-competitive” categories. Students identified as academically superior were offered admission in late February.  The staff in Admissions spent February and the month of March reviewing over 6000 files of the students who are “competitive” and making final decisions. These reviews consider much more than just the primary academic performance of the student, as they took into consideration the secondary characteristics valued by the faculty such as creativity, leadership, and service.  The review process was race and gender neutral and did not consider a student’s legacy to UGA.

The final letters notifying students that they have been offered admission or denied will be sent by April 1.  Students may receive their decision in the mail or they may choose to learn of their admission decision via our popular, password-protected Web Status Check (www.admissions.uga.edu ). Prior to learning their admission fate, students will be encouraged to review this information in private or with their family.  In order to protect students’ privacy, no admission decisions will be released over the telephone.  We also encourage families who learn of the final decision electronically to wait to call the Office of Admissions after they receive their full packet of information in the mail.

Results

While the University will be able to offer admission to about 9300 students this year, with 17,600 applicants, many strong applicants will have to seek other college options.  Of the over 8000 students not admitted , UGA will offer some of them the opportunity to keep their options open by taking a place on a waiting list.  Students offered the waiting list will not be notified of a final decision until sometime in late May or June after we have confirmed the acceptance rate of the students already offered admission.  The attached FAQ is being made available to students not admitted to help explain the constraints of our competitive pool of applicants.

The students offered admission are academically strong having completed very rigorous academic curriculums with an average grade point average of an A- and have test scores that place them in the top 15% of test-takers nationally.  They predict to complete their first year with a ‘B+’ average. They are students who will provide leadership, creativity and service to the campus.

Waiting List

Students offered the waiting list are considered academically competitive, but our space constraints keep us from offering them a place in the first-year class at this time. Students offered the Waiting List who choose to accept a place on it can do so at www.admissions.uga.edu/waitlist.  The Waiting List URL www.admissions.uga.edu/waitlist_faq.html is being sent to between 1300-1400 students being offered the waiting list and provides more information on time frames and actions that the student should take.

What’s Next?

All admitted students who choose to join UGA’s Class of 2012 will be required to reserve their space by May 1, 2008 with a non-refundable commitment deposit of $200.  In May,following receipt of a commitment deposit, students will receive an invitation to New Student Orientation.  Admitted students are encouraged to visit a Web site set up for new students at www.admissions.uga.edu/newdawgsand, since First-Year students are required to live on campus, to go online to www.uga.edu/housing to complete the housing form.

We are also interested in how much money you have received for college.  If you have won a scholarship, bring that award letter as well and we’ll keep track on the map as well.  In the past, we’ve announced the grand total at graduation which is always a very impressive number. 

Make sure your accomplishments are counted and bring any of the above info to your counselor.  You do know who your counselor is, right??  Right??!!