This week about 120,000 seniors at public and private high schools will receive a personalized letter from Gov. Brian Kemp congratulating them for earning the grades to attend college in Georgia. 

The letter, part of the new Georgia Match direct admissions program, lists all 22 schools within the Technical College System of Georgia, as well as the public four-year colleges within the University System of Georgia that are “holding a spot” for 12^th graders to attend in the fall of 2024, based on their GPA through 11^th grade. 

The letter urges students to “claim your spot” at up to three colleges on their provisional college admission list during November, when it will be free to apply at most schools.

Students and families can find comprehensive information about the Georgia Match program on the Georgia Futures website, the main portal for applying to college and for post-secondary financial aid in Georgia.

Here are some important things to know before applying: 

If a college or university is listed in my letter, am I guaranteed to be admitted to that school?

No. It means that as of the end of 11^th grade your HOPE GPA — based on your performance in core academic courses, i.e., in English, math, science, social studies and foreign languages — met the minimum grade-point average required for admission to that school. You’ll have to keep up your grades in these core academic courses and complete other required courses as a senior to remain eligible. Many Georgia colleges have a minimum 2.0 GPA requirement, and some more selective schools require a GPA of 3.0 to 3.4.

You will also need to apply to the individual colleges and universities you’re interested in, which you can do through the Georgia Match website. 

Why don’t I see the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech or Georgia College & State University on my list?

Those three state universities use a more selective and holistic admissions review process, including looking at your GPA, standardized test scores, high school activities and written essays. They are not participating in Georgia Match. You can review their admission requirements and apply on their websites.

Will taking the SAT or ACT improve my chances of admission to a Georgia college or university?

It might. Some Georgia colleges are test-optional and will admit students solely on the basis of a GPA of 3.0 or higher. But many encourage students with a GPA below 3.2 to submit SAT or ACT scores to give admissions staff another way to evaluate your academic performance in high school and potential to do well in college. 

If you’re hoping to qualify for a Zell Miller scholarship, which covers 100% of tuition, you must submit a standardized test score. The HOPE Scholarship, which also currently covers 100% of tuition, does not have a test requirement, except for home-schooled students and those with a high school diploma equivalent. 

This document lists the minimum academic requirements of all 26 state colleges and universities. Considered together, these requirements are known as the “freshman index.” 

The letter recommends applying to colleges in November, when applications will be free, but some schools have later deadlines. Will applying early make it more likely that I’ll get into my target schools?

Applying in November will save you $30 or more on each application. Some Georgia colleges have rolling admissions and will notify you within a month or so if you’ve been accepted. Other colleges might not let you know for several months. But getting your applications done early will give you time to focus on other things, such as which colleges offer courses and majors that match your career interests, the cost of tuition and housing, and financial aid options, including the HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships, and 15 other state-funded financial aid programs.

What if I want to apply to more than three colleges or universities, or to schools not listed on my Georgia Match letter?

You can apply to as many colleges, universities and technical schools as you think are a good fit for you. Choosing up to three schools on your Georgia Match list using the “claim my spot” feature will trigger some special treatment: The admissions staff at those schools will reach out to you with information on their application and admissions process, including financial aid and scholarship options particular to that school. If you continue to meet the admissions criteria at one or all three of those match schools your senior year, you can count on getting accepted.

All 22 technical colleges in Georgia are listed on my letter. What does it take to get into those schools? What kind of financial assistance is available?

Most technical colleges in Georgia require a high school diploma or its equivalent, and many also do not have a minimum GPA requirement. Depending on the school and course of study, technical school tuition is funded by the state HOPE Grant or the HOPE Career Grant, which covers 100% of tuition in 18 high-demand career fields, including nursing, computer programming, aviation technology, manufacturing, and film and tv production. To keep either HOPE award, a student must maintain at least a 2.0 HOPE GPA in college.

You can learn about other state and federal assistance available on the Georgia Futures website. Application fees for all technical schools are waived for those who apply through the Georgia Match portal.

Related stories:

HOPE Scholarship vs. Zell Miller Scholarship: Key differences

With HOPE fully funded, how can Georgia students maximize their state scholarship options?

HOPE scholarships may be fully funded for a year, but what happens next?

Have questions, comments or tips? Contact Jill Jordan Sieder on X @journalistajill or at [email protected].

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Header photo: Georgia high school seniors are receiving letters this week signed by Gov. Brian Kemp letting them know which state colleges, universities and technical schools they are eligible to attend through a new direct admissions program. (Credit: FatCamera)

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