In reviewing first-year applicants for admission, the University of Georgia sets no rigid standards for test scores or high school grade point averages that carry over from year to year. Instead, because there are a limited number of spaces available in the first-year class, admission is competitive, and exact standards depend on the number and quality of students who apply each year.
UGA offers three admission notification periods during the year:
- Early Action
- Regular Decision
- Spring Admission
The Primary Factor in Admission Decisions at UGA
2009-2010 Application Postmark Deadlines*
| Early Action | Oct. 15 |
|---|---|
| Regular Decision | Jan. 15 |
| Spring Admission | Sept. 15 |
*Note: If a deadline falls on a Sunday or a federal holiday, the postmark deadline will be extended to the first business day following the published date.
"Demonstrated academic achievement" is the primary factor in first-year admission decisions at the University of Georgia. The academic review of first-year applications centers on three criteria: the student's grade point average (GPA) in core academic courses, the rigor of a student's course selection, and his or her best combination of scores on the SAT I or ACT with Writing. Additionally, all applications are reviewed for conduct issues; recommendations; satisfactory completion of all courses and completion of the required College Preparatory courses.
GPA and rigor of curriculum weigh roughly three-to-two to standardized tests in predicting academic success at UGA. Effectively, this means that a student with a 4.0 GPA in a superior curriculum of Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses might be admitted with an SAT score at or below 1000. Yet, another student with a 3.0 GPA and an SAT score of 1400 might not be admitted, if the student opted for no more than a standard college prep curriculum with few if any Honors, AP or IB courses.
Note: Students who are home educated or attend non-accredited schools should review our Home Education Information page.
Additional Factors in Admission Decisions
UGA Application Hints
The following are suggestions from the UGA Admissions Office concerning the application process, admission essays, and college admissions in general.
UGA's Faculty Admissions Committee has identified a number of additional factors that may be considered in admission decisions or merit scholarship consideration. These include: excellence in academic achievement, intellectual pursuits, and creative endeavors; an understanding of and respect for intellectual, social, and cultural differences; significant commitment to citizenship through public service, school activities, community involvement, leadership, and/or family; evidence of integrity and personal maturity; and the ability to benefit from and contribute to a culturally and intellectually diverse community of scholar-citizens. A more detailed description of the first-year admission process at UGA can be found under First-Year Admission Criteria.
All first-year candidates who are offered admission for Summer or Fall semester must submit a non-refundable $200 commitment deposit no later than May 1 to secure a seat in the first-year class. Commitment deposits will be credited towards students' accounts at the beginning of the Fall semester.
Spring Admission
First-year applicants for Spring semester will be considered on a space-available basis only. Completed applications must be submitted by September 15; decisions will be released by December 1. Primary consideration for Spring Admission will be focused on demonstrated academic achievement: grades in core academic courses, rigor of curriculum and performance on the SAT I or ACT with Writing. At this time, applicants admitted for Spring semester are not required to submit a commitment deposit.
