From now until October 15, one of the most common questions for the admission office will be "Should I apply for Early Action (EA) or Regular Decision (RD)"? There is the perceived notion that one option is better than the other (NOT TRUE!). If a student applies EA and is deferred, they will be shifted to the next stage of review and will be looked at the same way as an RD applicant. If a student applies RD and meets the EA criteria for admission, they will receive an acceptance in late February. In reality, the only person that can answer the question of how they should apply is the student who is applying.
First, the EA Vs. RD difference is really about timing. If a student submits an application for EA, they will know something by at least mid-December. This "something" could be an acceptance, a denial, or a deferral (which means we want more information before we can make a decision). Early Action accepts are applicants that are extremely strong academically, and that our office determines we would admit without even reviewing the non-academic information. EA denials are students that we determine we would not admit for EA or RD based upon the information we have at that time. Deferred applicants are seen as very competitive academically, and we want to review the file after we have receive more detailed information about the student. RD applicants who apply will receive a decision in late February (if they meet EA requirements), or they will hear in late March, when all RD or deferred EA applicants will know final decisions.
Here are my two suggestions when looking at EA vs RD: First, look at the First-Year Profile for previous years, and determine where the applicant would fall within grades, curriculum and test scores. Since Early Action (EA) admitted students are at the top end of the group, if an applicant is not in the mid-50% or higher in at least two of the areas (and the third area is not WAY below the mid-range), they should rethink applying EA. Secondly, the applicant should ask if they would like to have first semester grades or SAT/ACT scores from after October 15 in their file before a decision is made. If you want UGA admissions to see more about you, apply RD.
And for those of you who apply EA just because you do not have to complete the part II essays of the application, even though you are not near the mid ranges in the profile, I would suggest you think again. Give yourself time to get your application together, and do not rush to complete it by the deadline just because you "knew" you would be deferred but did not want to do part II of the application yet. This is like pushing off writing a 10 page report until the last day, and wondering why it did not turn out as well as you thought it would.
So if you are looking for someone to tell you whether to apply EA or RD, look in the mirror, because you are the person that knows your situation best, so you are the one that needs to make this call.
This is actually a question, I applied to UGA through early action, and i chose to start in the Fall of 2012. I want to change my starting date to summer 2012. is that possible? if so, how do i do it?
ReplyDeleteFirst, why do you now want to change to summer? If it is due to a desire to study in the summer, email us at admproc@uga.edu and request a change. If it is because you heard the rumor that it is easier to get in for summer (a common myth), do not change, as this is not true. If you are interested in the Freshman College program, they will alert us if you are admitted to that program in late Spring, and we would then change you, so you do not need to do it now.
ReplyDeleteShould I retake the ACT or SAT in Jan or Feb to try to improve my score if I applied ED and was deferred?
ReplyDeleteIf you get denied for early action can you still do Regular decision?
ReplyDeleteAnon: If you are denied Early Action, you are denied overall, and the next step would be to attend another college and look at transferring to UGA after at least a year elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI'm an upcoming first generation college student so this whole process has been unclear to me. I was advised to apply early and receive a deferral to which I am given a second consideration, however, I have been denied and both my GPA and SAT scores have gotten higher to which I have matched to others that have received a deferral. Is there anyway UGA can take my situation into account and offer me a deferral?
DeleteUnfortunately, a denial decision is final, and so you now need to move on to your plan B option. Since there are no official grades out yet for Fall term, your GPA would not have changed at this time, and as stated both on this blog and on our application, an Early Action denial is a final decision. I am sorry that you did not get good advice, but at this point in time (after EA decisions are out), we are not able to undo this decision.
DeleteDoes the UGAID mean acceptance? What does the sentence means "YOU ARE BEING CONSIDERED AS A FRESHMAN STUDENT....?
ReplyDeleteWhen you myStatus page says you have been admitted, then you have been admitted. The UGAID does not mean that you have been admitted. You are being considered as a freshman student means that we are reviewing you as a freshman application (as opposed to a transfer student, a former, a transient, etc.). Try not to over-think things.
DeleteHi! I was just wondering if there were minimum SAT scores required for people applying to UGA. I know on the UGA website it said that the only minimum SAT scores were those required of the University System of Georgia (CR - 430 and M - 400), but on the Collegeboard website, it is stated that the minimums are 560 for CR and 570 for M. Could you please verify which are correct? It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI work for UGA Admissions (and helped to create and update the website), so I would say that my office is in the best position to give information about our office. The only requirements we have at UGA for the SAT and ACT tests are the minimums set by the University System of GA. Most likely, the College Board (and other publications/websites) are giving out the bottom of the mid-50% as the minimum, or people are misunderstanding it. But I always suggest you trust what the colleges give you concerning their minimums.
DeleteOkay, thank you very much again!
DeleteI know its rather late, but I reviewed my application again and realized that I had only set the time I worked for two months, when in reality I've been working from august to the present. Is there anything I can do to make this correction? If it helps my chances at all, I'd like too. I worked around 30 hours a week since the beginning of the school year.
ReplyDeleteI believe I put it down like that because I was officially employed there at that time, receiving pay check. Now my boss just pays me cash for the work I do at the gym, cleaning and training. However, I still pull about 30 hours a week, Monday-Saturday, 5 hours a day.
ReplyDeleteAt this point in time, it is too late to add anything to a freshman application.
DeleteI am applying for admission for Fall 2012. At the time of applying, I have 3 semesters of college with 40 hrs credit. Am I transfering in under the sophmore or jr/sr requirements (60 credit hrs)
ReplyDeleteIf you have 40 semester hours of work that we can evaluate, then you are applying as a sophomore (30-59 sem hours), and need to have a 3.20 for consideration.
DeleteI was wondering whether or not to apply early next year or regular. My sat is 1750, which is within yalls 50% mean, and I will finish high school with 9 aps classes and 10 honors, which is above yalls 50% mean, however my overall gpa is just a 3.234, with a positive trend. Should I even bother with early?
ReplyDeleteHere is the last line of the page above; "So if you are looking for someone to tell you whether to apply EA or RD, look in the mirror, because you are the person that knows your situation best, so you are the one that needs to make this call." In other words, only you can say if you should apply EA or RD, as the only difference is the timeline and what you can get in by the deadline (later test scores, etc.).
DeleteNow if I look at the mid-ranges from last year (not this year mind you), I see that you are at the very bottom of the mid-50% in the SAT, and you are well below the mid-range of the GPA we calculate. Your rigor seems very strong, but we are looking at all three things in our academic review, so...
Again, you have to make the call.
I am a junior in high school and I am readying myself for Early Action admission at UGA. I go to a small, rural community high school and they only offer three AP classes (completed) by the admission deadline. I have taken and am taken every honors, pre-AP and AP class offered at my school, though the number of AP courses in the middle 50% does not equal six. But since I'm taking the hardest classes offered and still maintain a 3.9, is that what UGA is really looking at?
ReplyDeleteAlso, My SAT was an 1890, 1240 verbal and math
DeleteWhen we are looking at the rigor of a student's curriculum, we are looking at what the student will take over the four years of high school, and what is offered at the high school (and at times in the community if their is a local college where students dual enroll). So we are not looking at whether you have 6 AP classes, or 1 or 15, but at what you will take within the context of what is offered. I hope this helps.
DeleteBesides grades, curriculum and test scores, do you also consider extra-curricular involvement when making EA decisions? Thank you in advance for your time.
DeleteNo, EA decisions are based on grades, rigor of a student's curriculum and test scores.
DeleteI'm a junior in a rural high school not far from Athens. I have been told by a teacher (one that has a tendency to tell far-fetched tales) that a certain percentage of applications from surrounding rural counties must be accepted. I just wanted to ask if this was true so as to either confirm or dismiss this "fact" my teacher keeps insisting on.
ReplyDeleteHi! I want to apply to UGA for the Spring Semester 2013. I have completed my CIE O level exams and my SAT. When I went to a student counselor he said that my O level grades and my SAT scores are enough for college. So, I needed to know if UGA accepts Freshmen Applicants based on their O level grades and SAT scores?
ReplyDeleteYes, we can can review your file based on this information, but we also need all of the other documents that are required for our freshman applicants, so we will need a recommendation from your counselor and a teacher, a transcript, etc.
DeleteHello, yes I am a Junior going to be a Senior in August 2012. I live in Jackson County, GA. I have just completed 5 AP classes by the end of Junior year, and will have completed a total of 9 AP classes by the end of Senior yr., and my school offers a total of 12 AP Classes. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA and I am currently Valedictorian of my class, but will most likely end up Salutatorian. I have taken the SATs once in March and received a 1800, CR and Math: 1210. I will be taking the SAT again in June. After reviewing this, should I apply for ED, because I do not want to apply if I will be deferred. Thank you SOOOO much! Please reply! IMMA A GUY
ReplyDeleteFirst, you seem like you have prepared yourself very well for the college admission process, and congratulations on being the valedictorian/salutatorian! As you can see from this page, I cannot guess about any student's chances of admission, and I do not tell students if they should apply EA or RD. You have to do what you feel fits best, although I would suggest reading the third paragraph again, as it looks like you exceed the average in two of the three academic areas I talk about. As well, please review my posts about deferral, as it is not a bad word.
DeleteHi. What is the earliest date to start the application process for EA? Is there a date the application process opens?
ReplyDeleteThe freshman application opens up in mid August.
DeleteI have a 3.3 gpa after my junior year and I have taken 3 ap classes. My grades went down after my 9th grade year but family issues started to arise and I had some problems focusing throughout my 10th and 11th grade year. I take my SAT and ACT around October. I plan on doing very well on them. I just need some advice on what I should do to make my application extremely acceptable.
ReplyDeleteI would first recommend reading the blog post on the File Review Process ( http://ugaadmissions.blogspot.com/p/file-review-process.html ) to review how we look at first year applicants as well as the First Year Profile ( https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/first-year-class-profile.html ) to see what our average applicant looked like last year. You can also attend one of our First Year Information Sessions to learn about the First Year process and meet with one of our admissions counselors or call to discuss this and ask any specific questions you may have.
DeleteDoes UGA consider senior semester as one of the factors for admission for freshmen admission? Can I put down my extracurricular from my senior year to my admission application?
ReplyDeleteWe will consider your senior year in the application process.
DeleteI have a 4.29 GPA weighted and unweighted it is a 4.0. I am involved in 3 clubs and 1 sport. I have taken 2 AP classes, many honors classes and I am signed up for 2 more for my senior year. The only problem I have is my SAT/ACT scores. I have taken 3 SAT's and 1 ACT. My highest score on the SAT is a 1580 and a 21 on the ACT. I was wondering if it is recommnded that I take the October 6 SAT. If so, I would sign up for an SAT class to hopefully increase my scores. If it is recommended that I take the October SAT, will the EA be able to receive my scores in time? Is there a recommended SAT/ACT scores that UGA admission is looking for?
ReplyDeleteI also have a 1050 combined verbal/math score on the SAT. I am in the top 5% in my class and received the Georgia Merit Award. I am not sure if my SAT scores will hold me back from being accepted. The SAT website says the Oct 6 SAT scores will not be released till October 25 so I do not know whether to take the SAT because I really want to apply EA.
DeleteWe will super score for both the SAT and ACT, so students may take these exams multiple times and submit all of your scores to UGA. For early action, we will only be able to accept scores that occur by the application deadline. We do not have minimums, however you may view our first year profile on our website (www.admissions.uga.edu)
DeleteHello,
DeleteIf I am applying to the program as Early Action and want to submit my SAT/ACT scores after October 25th, will my application be considered as Early Action?
I assume that by the Oct 25 date, you are talking about when the Oct 6 SAT scores will be available. If you request the Oct 6 scores to be sent to UGA prior to actually taking the test (remember, we use the best scores, so there is no reason not to have all scores sent to us), then we can use them. Do not wait until after you obtain these scores to send them to UGA, as it will most likely be too late for EA. As for the ACT scores, go ahead and have them sent, as it takes longer to get these to UGA.
DeleteHello
ReplyDeleteI am set to take the sat october 6th. should i apply with the early admission or regular admission?
We are able to accept test scores from test dates that occur by the application deadline. To ensure that we receive these scores in time, be sure to designate UGA as an automatic recipient for your scores when registering for the exam. We would be able to accept the October 6 SAT for either decision plan, as long as you designate UGA to receive your scores automatically.
DeleteI am a rising Senior and I am trying to decide if I should apply ED. My GPA is 3.53 (lower than the middle 50%), but my SAT score is 2040. I have taken 4 AP courses so far and will end up with 8 AP courses total along with 12 honors courses by the end of my senior year.
ReplyDeleteWill my GPA hurt my chances? I do have several extra curricular activities including clubs, leadership and volunteering. I do not want to be denied in ED due to my GPA. What are the chances of my GPA hurting my chances?Appreciate your help.
We are not able to guess about an admissions decision. I would look at the middle 50% profile from last year ( https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/first-year-class-profile.html ) and determine where you would fall within grades, curriculum and test scores. Since Early Action admitted students are at the top end of the group, if you are not in the mid-50% or higher in at least two of the areas, you may want to rethink applying EA.
DeleteThanks. I am above the 50% for SAT. Where do I find information about the curriculum rigor? I couldn't find any information at the website you provided.
DeleteThis blog post has the profile for students admitted for 2012, which includes the average number of AP/IB courses http://ugaadmissions.blogspot.com/2012/04/2012-admitted-freshman-statistics.html .
DeleteI am about to start high school as a senior, after takeing all of last year of to become the sole care taker of my disabled mother and my 5 way younger siblings.(last year would have been my senior year had I went) I plan on donig early graduation this year and starting at UGA (if i get in) in january but i don't know how to go about applying, can you tell me what I need to do?
ReplyDeleteFirst, I suggest talking to your HS counselor about college options, and about your academics as compared to UGA, sending in the transcript and school evaluation, etc. Then, know that our spring deadline for all things is Sept. 1, so we need you to apply, have all materials, and official test scores sent to us by that date. The application should be back up soon, so you would then go to it and submit it before the deadline.
DeleteIs there any way that I can send in my application without my act and sat test scores and get those sent in later? Because I was unable to take the act and sat before and the earliest test dates for those tests are sep,8 for the act and oct,6 for the sat.
DeleteI am sorry, but the deadline for Spring is September 1, and so we cannot use SAT or ACT scores taken after that date. You may want to consider another college at first, and then transfer into UGA at a later time.
DeleteOk thank you for your help. Guess i'll give that a try or take a shot at summer admission.
DeleteI suggest talking to your HS counselor and determining some good college options, and then moving forward.
DeleteHello. I am applying Early Action for Fall 2013, but I noticed that on the application it is requiring that I complete essays. I don't really mind doing these, but I thought that Early Action applications didn't require them. I have selected "Early Action" on the application already. If you could clarify for me whether these essays are required, and if they are not required, how to make sure my application shows that, it would be most appreciated. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThe 2013 freshman application is not up yet, but I expect it will be available within the week. When you pull it up, you will see that when you select Early Action, the essay questions will vanish, as EA does not need the essays. Be patient, though, as the application is not up yet.
DeleteOh! Thanks :)
DeleteHello! I am currently planning to apply for either EA or RD of Fall of 2013, but I haven't exactly decided on which yet. I am currently in 4 AP classes as well as Advanced Calculus II; my GPA is about a 3.8, my SAT is a 2120, and my ACT is 31. So should I apply for Early Action?
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, if I want to try to go for the Honors Program and also be considered for merit scholarships, do I have to apply for RD (and submit my application during the EA deadline, if that's possible) or would just applying for EA is fine?
Adding to my comment above earlier, if I am lacking in leadership in school, does it contradict my acceptance into UGA?
DeleteYou need to decide about EA vs RD, and we have given you some guidelines to look at on this page (but we cannot decide for you). You can apply either way and be considered for Honors and merit based scholarships, but you need to follow the dates listed on the deadlines page
DeleteAs for leadership, it is not required for admission consideration, but it is one of the many factors we do look at in our review process.
DeleteI am going to apply for Fall 2013 either EA or RD but my question is one that you may or may not be able to answer. My father is an active duty U.S. Marine and when I graduate I will have the HOPE Scholarship as well as 18 months of his post 9/11 GI Bill. This will pay $17,000 or so per year in tuition. My question is if I have the Hope and the GI Bill will one cancel out the other or how will that work?
ReplyDeleteThis question is too complicated for our office to be able to answer. I would recommend contacting the Financial Aid office at each of the institutions that you are planning on applying to. You may find information for our Financial Aid office here http://osfa.uga.edu/index.html .
DeleteIf I was denied for Early Admission, can I still apply to UGA for Regular Decision? Also is there another type of application besides EA and RD? I really want to go to UGA but I am not sure I'm good enough.
ReplyDeleteThe only two options are EA and RD, and it is not easier or harder to be admitted either way, it is just a different timeframe. If a student is denied during the EA process, that is it, as the decision is final. If you are worried, I suggest you apply RD.
DeleteFor Honors and Award section in the application, can I put certificates and awards I received from school like Outstanding Student in Human Geography class, Student with GPA between 3.99-3.5, and Perfect Attendance?
ReplyDeleteFor organization section, can I put clubs or organization from church?
Yes and yes. We are thrilled to see students that are active both in and outside of school, and we want to see these things.
DeleteCan I put down certificates I received in church like Confirmation?
ReplyDeleteAm I allowed to put awards I received from sports under the Honors and Awards section? Or is there a different section where I can put that?
ReplyDeleteReview the application for instructions, but yes, sports honors can be put here, but it should be for honors and awards that are given, not just basic acknowledgements.
Deleteif i apply EA and get declined does that mean that I no longer can apply RD?
ReplyDeleteThat is correct, a denial decision in EA is final.
DeleteI'd really like to apply EA. I have a 3.84 as we speak and I'm fairly involved in extracurricular activities, unfortunately my SAT/ACT scores don't fall in the Mid50% range. They're much lower, but I'm not a great test taker. Will that hinder my acceptance or will my academic performance speak for itself?
ReplyDeleteWe cannot guess about the chances of an applicant, but the SAT/ACT scores do play a part in the EA process, as we are looking at academic core grades, the rigor of a student's schedule, and the test scores. Since it is not easier or harder to be admitted EA vs RD, you might want to look at RD if you are worried.
DeleteWhich is true, however, I'm worried about the competition that I may face say if I was to wait until RD. The applicants applying as of now are I'm sure much lower than in January.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between applying EA vs RD is about when a student might hear a decision, not who we would admit. Look at the Timelines page and re-review this page, and you will see that you do not have a better or worse chance of admission in either path, only a different deadline and timeline.
DeleteDo the FALL classes for ED and RD start at the same date? if so, isn't it better to do RD?
ReplyDeleteAre you asking about classes at UGA? All students admitted to the fall term would start classes at UGA at the same time. I would suggest reading this post regarding the choice of EA vs. RD, http://ugaadmissions.blogspot.com/p/early-action-vs-reg-decision.html .
DeleteHow exactly does the automatic acceptance of Valedictorians and Salutatorians come into play? Is it at time of application that a student must be Top 2, at time of decision, or at time of graduation?
ReplyDeleteThe top two graduates from every SACS-accredited Georgia high school are guaranteed admission to UGA. Approximately 5% of the entering first-year students were valedictorians or salutatorians. These individuals must have completed the admissions application process by the deadline. The high school identifies the Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
DeleteHi, I'm currently a UGA student and I have a question on how I got accepted. The requirement is to have 30 credit hours by the application deadline but I had only finish one semester course work (fall) by then and was working on my spring classes. After I finished my spring, I immediately sent in another transcript and I got accepted. I was wondering how did this happen?
ReplyDeleteI could not guess about your situation and be accurate, but I can guess. I have no idea if you had AP work that transferred in, had an unusual situation, etc. My best guess might be that at limited times (and I stress limited), we have worked with transfer students who had a very strong first term, and generally were in an academic program that was in low demand where a department requested an extension for these students, where we then were able to take in the spring work for review process. This is not the norm, but has occasionally happened, so consider yourself lucky.
DeleteHi, I'm currently a high school senior with a very high GPA and will finish my senior year by having a total of seven AP's. However, my SAT and ACT scores are lower than the 50% range for UGA admissions. I decided to do regular admissions so that I can take the SAT over again and hopefully score higher. I'm quite worried though that because I'm not doing early admissions, my chances of getting in would be lower since UGA has a limit of how many freshman can come in. Does UGA select an equal amount of kids in early admissions and regular admissions?
ReplyDeletePlease review this page again, as we state that the only difference between EA and RD is the timing of things, not in a decision. We make EA decisions with the concept that we need to make sure to hold a large number of decisions for later in the year for deferred EA and RD applicants.
DeleteMy college counselor is suggesting that I submit essays and recommendation letters with my EA application even though they are not required. Will the essays and letters be considered, or will this be a waste of time?
ReplyDeleteYou are not able to submit the essays if you are applying Early Action. These are not available unless you apply Regular Decision or if you are deferred. You can submit a teacher recommendation and we will add it to your file, however this will not be considered for Early Action. Please refer to the above post regarding what is considered for Early Action (versus Regular Decision).
DeleteAre letters of referral Required for Early Action? If so, what is the process for submitting them?
ReplyDeleteA counselor/high school evaluation is required for Early Action. This can be submitted online by your counselor. When you complete the application, you will have the opportunity to submit your counselor's email address. This will let the counselor know this form is needed and provide a link to complete the form online.
DeleteDoes my official transcript have to come from my high school, or may I send that in myself?
ReplyDeleteAs long as your transcript remains sealed in the original envelope, you may send this in yourself. If you are a Georgia resident, you can also send a transcript electronically through GAcollege411.org. Transcripts submitted electronically are received and matched with a student's file more quickly.
DeleteI am trying to get my counselor evaluation form turned in, but I can't get a straightforward answer from my school on whose e-mail address to enter on application. Will my application still be considered if something out of my control is not turned in?
ReplyDeleteThe counselor/high school evaluation is required for all first year applicants. While the electronic form is better in that it is received faster and matched with an applicant's file more quickly, we will also accept the printable PDF version of the form. This can be found under "Apply to UGA" and "Printable Forms" from the Admissions website.
Deletedo u know how to send SAT scores from previous tests and the one I will take in this OCT in time for EA?
ReplyDeleteI suggest you contact the College Board, as they will give you direction on this. In addition, you might want to speak with your HS Counselor.
ReplyDeleteI am about to finish the EA Application form, yet I am hesitant about sending it. The reason I am nervous is that my ACT/SAT is not as high as I would like, and being so, I signed up to retake the two respective tests later this semester (in case I am not accepted EA). If I am differed through EA will UGA look at my new scores for RA? Or will I have wasted money and time on retaking the ACT/SAT?
ReplyDeleteIf a student is deferred, they will need to submit part II of the application ( the essays), a teacher rec, possibly first semester grades if desired, and any updated SAT/ACT scores. We will look at all new information as long as it is here by the deadline. Your status would show as deferred EA, not RD, and your application would then go through the more detailed file reading process, where we look at all the information in your file in great detail.
Deletei still cannot seem to decide if i should apply EA or RD...I currently have a GPA of 3.6 and SAT super score of 1830. Will I get denied or possibly deferred? Or should I just wait until RD, and raise my GPA and SAT scores?
ReplyDeleteAs we state at the end of the first paragraph of this page, only you can make this decision. Our office does not guess about an admission decision, so I suggest you re-review this page.
DeleteWill UGA accept my score for the Oct. 27 ACT if i'm planning on applying early?
ReplyDeleteWe are not able to use the late October ACT for EA. We can use the October SAT, as it is given prior to the EA deadline, and the score results will be in 3 weeks after the exam date. The ACT scores for the October test will not be in on time unfortunately.
DeleteI filled out an application and paid the fee, but it doesn't say if its EA or not. I want it to be regular decision so I can send my new ACT score and semester grade. Is there any way I can do that?
ReplyDeleteYou would have had to choose either Early Action or Regular Decision when you started the application. If you did not have to submit essays, then you applied EA. If you need this changed please email your information to admproc@uga.edu .
DeleteI have a question. I already submitted EA application and asked Collegeboard to send my Past SAT scores and the upcoming one in OCT 6. I did not put in my application that i was taking OCT SAT because it said not to put any future SAT. However my counselor told me i needed to put that i was going to take OCT SAT so UGA would wait for it. Is she right? and if she should i contact UGA admissions office?
ReplyDeleteYour counselor is incorrect, as we do not need you to tell us about future test dates. When any new scores come into our office, we match it with your file, and then update your overall academic information.
Delete*and if she is right should i contact UGA admissions office?
ReplyDeleteI am a senior who is trying to decide between EA or RD. Currently I have a 4.0 GPA but my SAT scores are not in the Mid-50% range. (1720) I will take the October 6 SAT, but I dont know if my scores will be back in time. The only factor that is keeping me from applying EA is the SAT score issue, so is it possible for the October 6 SAT scores to be back in time for the EA deadline?
ReplyDeleteYes, we can use the Oct. 6 SAT (good luck with it on Saturday), as long as you requested the scores to be sent to UGA when you signed up for the exam. If you wait until after you receive the scores to send them, there is a chance we will not have them in time for EA.
DeleteThanks so much! I have been stressing about whether or not to apply EA or wait, but this definitely helps!
DeleteIf I know I am probably going to get deferred, should i just apply regular?
ReplyDeleteAlso, does the admission office look at your current grades?
DeleteIf you feel like you will be deferred, why apply EA (based on your judgement, not mine)? Applying RD will give you more time to complete the app, to get in fall grades, new scores, etc. your choice, but the only difference in the two is what we have in hand when we look at file, and a decision timeline.
DeleteIf I apply EA do I need a letter of recommendation from my counselor.
ReplyDeleteA high school evaluation is required for Early Action. This form includes space for the counselor to write a recommendation.
DeleteWhen I sent My SAT scores to UGA i chose send Scores when available option.(this option sends my SAT score from OCT and my past ones after the OCT.6 SAT) But my SAT oct 6 scores are not available for another 17 days. I know UGA accepts OCT score but i chose the option to send all my scores with OCT 6. Will UGA accept the scores.
ReplyDeleteAs long as you designated UGA as a school to receive your scores automatically, we should receive them in time for early action.
DeleteFrom what you've written in this post and in your many patient answers I'm still having trouble thinking of any common scenarios where a student would actually benefit from waiting to apply RD. You state "EA denials are students that we determine we would not admit for EA or RD based upon the information we have at that time." It seems that if UGA is in your future at all, at worst your EA application will be deferred, then you'll have a chance to submit the additional material and be in the same spot as an RD applicant. Deferral isn't rejection and isn't held against you later. If you're clearly destined for rejection in March it's probably a good thing to learn that in December anyway. Is it an oversimplification to advise students that if none of the three EA measures (grades, scores, rigor) are likely to improve between Oct. 15 and Jan. 15, and your application is ready, then there's little to gain from waiting? It's still scary but it won't be any less so in January.
ReplyDeleteI understand your ideas, but I respectfully disagree. First, some students are not ready to apply by 10/15, and rush the application. Second, some students o have strong first semester senior grades, as well as strong later test scores, and might want to wait for us to look at their file initially until we have updated items. In addition, while many applicants think they will be fine with a deferred decision (and it is not a negative decision), some students have a real tough reaction to being deferred. We have about 1,000 deferred applicants each year who do not complete part II, so as you can see, it does impact some applicants. Some students should take their time submitting a Regular Decision application, and get us first sem grades and updated test scores.
DeleteYes, these are the caveats that I included in my second-to-last sentence, though perhaps I shouldn't have suggested they were uncommon. I do think it's helpful for students to have a limited number of specific questions on which to focus their thinking - Would I like more time to get my app ready? Am I planning more testing beyond October 15? Do I expect my current semester grades to meaningfully improve my academic GPA? That's pretty much it, right?
DeleteMaybe also "Will I freak out if I get deferred?" Your point about the psychological impact of deferrals is interesting and points to a basic misunderstanding by applicants of what they mean. Perhaps a good subject for additional blogging? It could also be possible that some of these students received favorable EA decisions from other schools and were comfortable with dropping their UGA plans.
Please tell me if I'm still misinterpreting your discussion of this issue because I'm really looking for clarity. In particular, the sentence I quoted from your post is useful in that it seems to say that EA denials are not made because of the lack of Part II material. Otherwise you'd defer them and take a look at their Part II, right? Denials are cases where weaknesses in grades, scores, and rigor can't be overcome by great essays, teacher recs, etc. The guidance I'm getting from your statement is that if a student is asking "I might be borderline. Am I at a greater risk of denial by applying EA since the Part II materials aren't considered?" then the answer is "No. If you're deferred you'll get a chance to submit Part II and get the same shot at admission as the RD applicants. If you're denied then Part II wouldn't have prevented that. If you're accepted, great job!"
Now if the student really is borderline and not just having normal self-doubt then they'd be well advised to carefully consider their answers to the three questions in my first paragraph. But these are the three questions that our EA vs. RD discussion should focus on, right?
I do think that these questions, which I think I covered in this page, are the main keys to this decision, although not the only ones. As for deferral, we have actually posted several posts about it and what it means, but that does not always change the attitude of a student being deferred. We hear from a number of very unhappy deferred students/parents each year.
DeleteStudents denied EA, if there is no serious change in their future academic information, will have the same decision if they apply RD. But by 10/15, many students do not know if they will have a change in their academic information. But as for your last paragraph, I think that a review of these questions, along with comparing a student's academic standing against the previous year's mid-ranges, are the things that a student should look at.
I am going to apply RD for Fall 2013. Is there an advantage to sending my application in early? I was advised to submit it in the next 2 weeks, but I wouldn't be able to report my first semester grades (which are strong) as a senior if I do that. I was also told the later you wait to apply RD, the less chance you have of acceptance. Is their any validity to that advice? Thank you for your help!
ReplyDeleteAs long as you apply and submit all required material by the application deadline, it does not matter when you apply. We do not advise waiting until the last minute to apply, but you are not more likely to be admitted simply by submitting your application now rather than later.
DeleteI recently took the SAT for the second time and the score won't be released until the 25th of October. I believe that I will score higher on this SAT than my prior. I am in the IB program and within the top 10% of a class of over 500. My SAT score however was only an 1130. I want to apply ED but don't want to be denied because of my 1130 score not being competitive enough. Would I have a good chance of being accepted with ED? Or should I wait until the 25th to start applying if I get a better SAT score?
ReplyDeleteYou sound like a strong applicant in many ways, but we cannot guess about a decision plan for you, so you need to review this page again, speak with your counselor, and then move forward with a decision plan. Sorry!
DeleteIs Early Action non-binding for UGA?
ReplyDeleteUGA Early Action is non-binding.
DeleteHi! I just applied as an EA applicant to UGA. I finished my documentation and payed (through check) by last Thursday. However, when I log on to my "MyStatus" page, it reads that my counselor hasn't submitted anything (which he said, he already has) and also indicates that I haven't payed yet (which I have). So, I was wondering, should I be worried or is it due to the time taken to process the students' files? Let me know, please. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIf you submitted your application last Thursday, we have only had just over one business day to match material to your application. It can take up to 5 to 10 business days for us to be able to receive and match material with an applicant's file. Our deadlines are postmark deadlines. As long as material is submitted by the application deadline, it will be considered for Early Action.
DeleteI have sent my SAT scores, but Collegeboard tells me that it may take up to a week or two for it to be processed and sent. The deadline for the application is due today, and I have already submitted my application and sent my transcript/SAT scores. If the SAT scores arrive much later than today, will my application still be reviewed as an early application?
ReplyDeleteIf you have already requested that your scores to sent to UGA, we should receive them in time for Early Action.
DeleteMy guidance counselor hasn't responded to me yet about my question on whether she has sent the evaluation report yet. If she hasn't sent it by today, will I have to do regular decision?
ReplyDeleteWe will leave the online high school evaluation open for counselors for at least a week following the Early Action deadline.
DeleteWill I get rejected because I scored a 1410 on my SAT, but I have a rigorous class schedule?
ReplyDeleteWe do not have a minimum SAT or ACT (except for the floor set by the state of SATCR 430/SATM 400 or ACTC 17), but you would want to look at how you have done in the classroom and compare this to the average GPA of last year's accepted students, as it is not just about rigor, but about all academic areas (grades, rigor and test scores), and many times about the entire student.
DeleteHello there. I have 2.75 GPA for my junior year, currently a 3.46 since I'm a senior already. I earned my spot in my school's Honor Roll and Citizenship List. I'm currently in Leadership, JV Soccer, College Ambassadors, and the H.O.P.E Club, which gives back to the community which includes food drives, blood donations, etc.
ReplyDeleteI've been involved with many extracurricular activities since 9th grade, from Photography, Cosmetology, Tennis, and more. I also help out at home from tutoring my siblings to take care of them, cleaning the house, cooking for them, etc.
I scored a 1150 on my first SAT (370 for Reading, 330 for Math, and a 450 for Writing), then a 1330 on my second try (480 for Reading, 410 on Math, and 440 for Writing). On the ACT, I scored a 17. I signed up for the December SAT Subject tests, which are Spanish, Biology, and U.S History. These are my strongest subjects, however, do you think they will be ready in time for UGA's RD?
I have taken AP English, and I'm currently taking AP Spanish and AP Government. I plan to take more AP courses next semester.
I currently live in California and due to financial issues, my family and I are moving to Georgia, which in why I plan to apply to UGA. I am honestly afraid to apply to UGA because I feel like my coursework and extracurricular activities aren't good enough as compared to other applicants. I am also concerned whether I'll be considered a out-of-state applicant, even though I'll be living in Georgia after graduation?
I went through a really rough time when I was younger, but I was wondering if a personal statement(s) are needed for RD? Are personal experiences factored into the application process? Is a teacher evaluation only allowed for EA or for RD too? Thank you.
We cannot guess about the chances of an applicant being admitted. We are going to look at academic core grades, the rigor of a student's schedule, and the test scores. For Regular Decision we are also going to look at leadership and activities, honors and awards, recommendations and essays. We do not require personal statements, however there is an area where you can include special circumstances.
DeleteResidency is determined once a student submits an application. In general, you (or your parent/guardian if you are a dependent) would have to establish domicile residency in the state of Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes. For can read more about the residency policy online here http://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section4/C329/ .
I have a question.
ReplyDeleteI recently just called the Admissions office and they told me that they will not accept the ACT scores in December. I just applied for Regular Decision, and I am about to take the SAT/ACT in December to have a higher score. Will I be able to submit my scores to UGA?
We will accept the December ACT for Regular Decision as long as you designate UGA as a school to automatically receive your scores.
DeleteHello. I'm an International applicant for the UGA MPA program for Spring 2013. I applied, and after satisfying all the necessary requirements, I got a message from the University stating that I was not recommended to the university at this time. Can you explain what is meant by that? Is there any way to prove that my sponsor is capable of paying my fees? Because I just have a feeling that may be it, seeing as I erroneously clicked the option for interest in a graduate assistantship.
ReplyDeleteMPA is not an undergraduate program. You would need to speak directly with the MPA program or Graduate Admissions.
DeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteDo you consider Weighted GPA or Unweighted GPA more?
I have a very strong Weighted GPA of 4.71, but a Core GPA of 3.53
Obviously you can't tell me if I would get in, which is okay, I was just curious if Weighted GPA would be a factor in my admission.
Acutally I believe I calculated my Core GPA wrong...
Deletebut regardless, is Weighted GPA a factor?
When you self-report your grades, you are self-reporting individual course grades, not a GPA. We then recalculate a GPA based on your core work, and adding .5 to a grade if it is an AP or IB grade. So we look at our own form of a weighted GPA, not what is done by your school.
DeleteHello, I am a parent of a HS senior who has applied (from Texas) thru EA process. Question: if the applicant is DEFERRED, do they submit more materials, ie essays? Personal statements? If the answer is yes, can you provide a link to those additional materials that will be requested.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am angling at is: Might an applicant who is iffy for EA acceptance have additional materials ready ahead of time to submit promptly, if needed.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Deferred applicants need to submit part II (4 short essays of 200 words or so each), which can be found at https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/2013-application-essay-questions.html, and part II will be available on the myStatus page for deferred students so it can go straight into their folder. There is also a place for any updated information since the student submitted their EA application. Lastly, we ask for one teacher recommendation, and many EA students already sent this in. Hope this helps!
DeleteDoes Uga accept January 26 SAT scored for Regular Decision? I checked on this website and it says it does, but when I called the admissions office, a representative said they do not.
ReplyDeleteWe will accept the January SAT for Regular Decision as long as you designate UGA as a school to automatically receive your scores.
DeleteIt says it right here:
ReplyDeleteWill UGA accept January SAT scores if I choose to retake the SAT?
UGA will accept January 2013 SAT scores for review in the Deferred or Regular Decision process. Students must list UGA as a recipient of the score when registering for the test.
Yes, we will accept it, and it also says this on the introduction pages to the application. Sorry if you received incorrect information.
DeleteHello - I did not apply EA (although my app was submitted prior to the deadline), but RD instead. In retrospect, it was an error in judgement on my part. I subsequently also met all criteria for applying for the Foundation Fellowship and Bernard Ramsey Honors Scholarship and did so well prior to the Nov. 1 deadline. However, based on my request for RD, did I jeopardize my chance to be considered for the FF/BRHS programs since they conduct interviews soon after the RD decisions are announced? Thank you in advance for your reply.
ReplyDeleteStudents can apply either EA or RD and apply for the Foundation Fellowship/Bernard Ramsey Scholarship as long as the admissions application is submitted by the scholarship deadline.
DeleteHello, im a highschool senior and I have do have a low gpa.. but I know I can make a high score on the SAT & ACT. I love UGA and its surroundings, and I feel like thats the college I want to go to but do I stand a chance? Will my essay and recommendation make a difference towards my chances of getting in even with my low gpa?
ReplyDeleteWe cannot guess about your chances, but I will say that the academic item we look at first is how you have done in your HS courses, and the challenge of those courses. While other things can impact a decision, you have put yourself in a hole if you have bad grades.
Deletehello, I already submitted an application for regular decision Dec.15 deadline, but my teacher has not submitted her recommendation letter and the high school evaluation yet. I was wondering, can they still submit it in within this week.
ReplyDeleteAll deadlines are postmark deadlines. Because the 15th was a Saturday, the priority deadline will be today, December 17.
DeleteAlso, it is okay to make a small mistake on optional biography section? I made a mistake like I put English as my native language instead of Vietnamese even though I did speak English I was young
ReplyDeleteIf you would like this updated on your application, you can email your changes to admproc@uga.edu .
DeleteIs it close to impossoble to get into uga with a 3.2 gpa and decent test scores (meaning between 1500-1600)?
ReplyDeleteAnd also only 3 AP classes
DeleteWe cannot guess about the chances of an applicant being admitted. We are going to look at academic core grades, the rigor of a student's schedule, and the test scores. For Regular Decision we are also going to look at leadership and activities, honors and awards, recommendations and essays. You can view our profile to see what half of the students admitted last year looked like for GPA and test scores, https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/first-year-class-profile.html .
DeleteIs there any way I can fix my application essay?
ReplyDeleteYou can email updates/changes to admproc@uga.edu . Be sure to include your full name and date of birth so that we will be able to match it with your file.
DeleteMy son's gpa was recalculated at 3.6 for EA (with 4 APs) and he was deferred. His ACT and SAT scores were 28 and 1270. His fall semester was a 4.0 with 2 AP classes. Will his gpa be recalculated again during the next phase of review? If his gpa increases to the EA level,do acceptance notices go out prior to April? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWe will not recalculate the GPA, however we will add updated transcripts to the file so that the counselors reading the file will be able to see first semester grades. Students who meet EA criteria will find out in late February
DeleteIs there any way I can get updates of my application status sent to my phone? For instance, a simple "The decisions are in."
ReplyDeleteWe cannot directly send updates to your phone, however you can view your status check with the Admissions App if you have an iPhone, https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/admissions-iphone-app.html .
DeleteUnfortunately, I do not have an iPhone to take advantage of that :(! Could you tell me if you all are close to finishing the review of Regular decision apps? Are decisions expected to be out in the next week or so?
DeleteWe do not have a date for when RD decisions will be available. Once we have a date, we will post an update on the blog.
DeleteIf my GPA is not as great but I have a great SAT/ACT score and participated in some extra-curriculum, will I be denied? and for extra-curriculum can it be outside of school also?
ReplyDeleteWe cannot predict a student's chances of being admitted as there are many factors that we are looking at in the admissions review, and GPA is just one of those. I would suggest looking at the profile for the middle 50% of students enrolled last year, online here https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/first-year-class-profile.html . I would also suggest looking here to see what we are looking at for First Year applicants,
Deletehttps://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/first-year-admission-criteria.html .
If I am the valedictorian of my school, am I guaranteed admission into UGA? Because I read on the uga website that the valedictorians and salutatorians of SACS accredited schools are guaranteed admission so I was wondering if this was true. Because my rigor, my GPA, and my grades are all good. Just my SAT scores are not that attractive.
ReplyDeleteThe top two graduates from every SACS-accredited Georgia high school are guaranteed admission to UGA.
DeleteI am planning to apply early in October this year but the thing is that I am also taking my SAT in October and I doubt that my scores will be in by the 15th of October. So what should I do?
ReplyDelete