College Planning Checklists for Every Grade

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Find Your Future - In State

  University System of Georgia Colleges and Universities

  Technical College System of Georgia Institutions

Keep track of your HOPE Scholarship GPA with the tools on this site.

GaFutures HOPE GPA

All students are encouraged to create a GAFutures account to obtain tons of post-secondary resources. 

**Students will need their social security number to access their HOPE GPA.

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) College Options

Inclusive Post Secondary Education [IPSE]

Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) Programs

Transitional planning for college can begin as early as possible during the student high school years.

With inclusive programs, referred to as Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE), students with I/DD can now realize their dream of continuing their studies in a university or college setting with their peers.

The Include College campaign wants to spread the word about the possibilities now open to students with I/DD in Georgia. Take a look at the following links to find out what parents need to know, firsthand stories from students and parents, and a roadmap to success at including college in your plans. Information about each school's program is offered below to help you understand your college options.

What is Honor's College or Program? 

PrepScholar states that an" honors college is a program that exceptional high school students can apply to and enroll in while completing a traditional bachelor’s degree". 

Honors college is another on-campus school that forms part of the university’s educational system. Honor programs or Honor Colleges are essentially a Scholars academic extension of the academia campus experience.  

While every honors college is different, many honors colleges offer enrolled students perks. Here are some unique opportunities that you can find at honors colleges and programs across the nation: 

• Courses with more rigorous and/or specialized curriculum that are exclusively open to honors college students

• Smaller class sizes that can be conducted seminar-style, allowing students to interact more meaningfully

• A smaller faculty-to-student ratio, giving students the opportunity to interact more frequently with professors and advisors

• Housing and/or housing amenities that are reserved for honors students, giving honors students the opportunity to form a close-knit community

• Priority registration, giving honors students a wider range of course options and the opportunity to curate a semester schedule that suits their needs

Having a high GPA and great test scores to qualify for admission will typcial afford students to qualify. Most honors programs have minimum score and GPA requirements that you must meet in order for your application to be considered. 

Example: UGA Morehead's Honor Program & Georgia State's Honor Program

UGA 

Georgia State 

                                                                        3.91* HIGH SCHOOL GPA *WEIGHTED,

                                                                        CORE 1380 SAT (COMBINED)

                                                                        31 ACT (COMPOSITE)

Honors College vs. Honors Program 

Honors colleges function as discrete schools within the larger university system, and honors programs aren’t separated into individual colleges within the university. 

Lastly, there are SCHOLARSHIPS, stipends and study aboard opportunities offered to students that get accepted into Honor Colleges & Programs

PrepScholar Blog

There are tons of colleges & universities that offer full ride scholarships, however any student looking to apply has to be open to applying to schools outside of your potential college list. These scholarships will normally be available during 1st semester of your senior year & "Early Application" college admission timeframe. 

Full Ride Scholarships

Early vs. Regular Application Decision

First Generation College Students

List of HBCUs These institutions are 2-year or 4-year programs, and either public or private. 

HBCUs are Historically Black Colleges that were created to support students of color & minority. HBCUs are a source of accomplishment and great pride for the African American community as well as the entire nation.

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines an HBCU as: “…any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary [of Education] to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.” HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents. These institutions train young people who go on to serve domestically and internationally in the professions as entrepreneurs and in the public and private sectors. ED.gov/HBCU

The Black Common Application is available to students with a majority interested in applying to HBCU colleges & universities at a set one-time cost. 

Paying for College

Tuition Assistance for DREAMERS

LAA College Bound Resources SCHOLARSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR LATINO STUDENTS. 

Freedom University

Golden Door Scholars: Partner Colleges

Guide for College - Undocumented Students

Have you considered colleges & universities with Guaranteed Admissions Programs? Do you know what Guaranteed Admissions Programs mean for you? 

Guaranteed Admissions Programs allow a student to apply once and not an additional time after freshman year to get into a particular program later. 

Guaranteed Admissions Programs mean a student meeting a certain GPA & testing criteria will be given an automatic admission into a specific program.  

Engineering, Nursing, Law & Medical are just a few programs that students could be provided a Guaranteed Admissions Programs.

Want to be a pilot?

Delta Propel is a great option  with colleges & universities as partner schools.

Propel Delta College Path

Is a degree program you’d like to pursue not available in your state? Is out-of state tuition a barrier to a major offered at a college in another state? 

You’re in the right place. For more than 35 years, SREB’s Academic Common Market has enabled students to pursue out-of-state college degrees at in-state tuition rates, through agreements among the states and colleges and universities.

With the SREB Academic Common Market search, get results from more than 1,900 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in 15 states. 

What career path will you take?

Career Assessment 

Career Clusters Activity

Students are also encouraged to sit for the ASVAB Exam Test, which is a Career Exploration Test that will assist them in finding out the career field they are stronger suited in.

This exam/test is used by the military but it DOES NOT REQUIRE enlisting in any military branch to sit to take the exam. 

How Out-Of-State Students Can Get In-State Tuition

Colleges & Universities extending Test Optional (ACT/SAT can be waived)

for Class of 2023: 

With the possibility of testing limitations (SAT/ACT), please research your potential college and university choices to see if they offer TEST OPTIONAL admission! Test Optional is when SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission. Test Optional Colleges 2021-2023

The Board of Regents for The University System of Georgia: Chancellor, Sonny Perdue has announced that ALL UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SYSTEM SCHOOLS, with the exception of Georgia Tech and University of Georgia, will be TEST OPTIONAL again this year. A GPA requirement will be posted on the college or university website required to take advantage of this option.

Example: Georgia College State University is test optional for students with a 3.2 GPA or higher on the Georgia Required High School curriculum.

For more information, see University System of Georgia

*This might not be applicable to scholarships that require test scores

High School to College Timeline

Education Planner

College Green Light

College Navigator Research Tool Narrow down your college options and review numerous opportunities. 

College Scorecard

Gwinnett County Library College Resources

Khan Academy Applying to College Unit

Best Colleges & Universities in Georgia

Best Ranked Schools by Subject

Embark Georgia

Fair Opportunity Project "We've created the highest-quality college application and financial aid guides and resource tools that we send to every public high school in America--for free. We're getting students from every background and zip code a fair opportunity."