Admissions

The University of Georgia has been getting tougher and tougher to get into, so my greatest advice is to focus on SAT and ACT scores, take AP/IB classes, load up on extracurricular activities, and have a 3.3 or higher GPA. When I was applying to Georgia I did not apply early because I was afraid I would not get in. Therefore, I waited and wrote the four essays required during regular enrollment. If you are scared like me or think that you may not get in, either take the chance and apply early, or do like I did and wait for the regular deadline and write awesome essays. Also, for your recommendations pick people who truly impacted your life or have seen you excel in not only academics but also outside of school. I had my favorite AP teacher, my cheerleading coach, and my bible study leader write me recommendations so they got an idea of every side of who I was.

-Be on the lookout for FREE T-SHIRTS!
Athletic events and campus organizations often involve free T-shirts. They’re always pretty appealing and you can pick your size in most situations. It’s an easy way to get free clothing and maybe become interested in something new.

-Pay attention for emails on season tickets for athletics
The window to purchase student season ticket packages for athletic functions is usually only a couple of days, but for the discount price and entertainment value, you can’t forget to act on these emails.

-Find where you classes are on campus before they officially start.
It might take a couple of weeks to get used to such a large campus, so know where you are going beforehand. If you’re trying to choose between multiple routes to get from one class to another, don’t worry. Your teachers are usually gracious about being late the first few classes.

-Move outside of your bubble
Every introduction or greeting might open a life-changing opportunity for you, so don’t let it pass.

-Use your peers’ grade and professor ratings with caution.
What your peers think can often be a great resource, be sure they can justify theirs opinions. Sometimes, only negative people to like to complain tell the world how they feel.

-Don't be scared starting college!
It is natural to be a little nervous when starting college. However, you are not alone. 4,000 other freshmen are just as nervous as you, so relax and be yourself.

-If you're wanting to get in-

Apply early! If you are admitted through early admission you will probably get the housing you want, and the application isn't as much work. Take as many AP/Honors classes as you can handle. Try your best in them, but don't stress about not having a GPA of 4.0 or above. Same goes with the ACT and SAT. Try to do really good and take them multiple times if you can. UGA wants to see that you are challenging yourself. Get involved with stuff going on at your high school and outside school, especially with leadership positions. UGA is interested in that kind of stuff too.

-Once you are here-

GET INVOLVED! As I've said, there really is something for everyone and so many ways to make good friends. When you are involved in something, the school seems a lot smaller and the more people you know, the smaller it gets. Don't be intimidated by the size.

Find out where your classes are before the first day. Life is a lot easier that way. Learning your way around isn't that bad. Get a bus map and learn those routes too. It takes a little more work, but the buses are free and convenient when you have a class that is far out of the way. Don't be afraid to ask an upperclassman. I've done it several times before and trust me, you will survive.

Don't forget to study! Definitely take advantage of all UGA has to offer because campus life is great and Athens is an amazing city, but academics are important too. Cramming the night before an exam is not going to cut it like it did in high school. You will probably have some weed out classes that will challenge you big time, but if you work hard enough you can do well.

Move out of your comfort zone and don't be worried about starting college! Use every opportunity to meet new people, including in your classes and on your hall. Sit with someone sitting by themselves in the dining hall and you could for real make a new friend. It's normal to be a little bit nervous about starting college [tho...

I would study in high school and take as many difficult and time-consuming classes as possible. I never had to study much in high school, but I had to learn how to quickly. Even if some classes do not require attendance, you will fall behind quick. In some lectures, every lecture is important to attend. Because of the intensity of courses, you do not want to fall behind. Make sure you get ahead if you can, and I would but a planner. I did not think I needed one, but I realized that there was no way to remember everything I needed to. Planners are given to students for free with school information located inside of them. Save money and talk to other students with the major you are looking into to help you figure out what you need to do before you get there. PLAN AHEAD!! Trust me, you will save time and a lot of worrying and stress.

When choosing classes and teachers, I would suggest using ratemyprofessor.com or ugakey.com. The latter is specific to UGA and lists all the GPAs from the years they have taught. If you want student opinions, ratemyprofessor is up to date and honest.
During the first week of classes, grab a bus map from any bus and learn the routes, keep it with you all the time. The bus system is a free and easy way to get around, use them.
Most importantly, get involved! You don't have to go greek in order to meet a lot of people, but it is definitely one option to get involved and gain a tight knit set of group inside this large school. It can feel overwhelming sometimes. There are also many volunteer and community organizations with information meetings all the time.

Take SAT and ACT. SAT measures how you think and ACT measures what you know. So if you do well on tests you can study for, take the ACT, and if you just test well, take the SAT, but UGA accepts both, so you should take both and see where you're best.
Take honors and AP classes if you can handle them. If you can't, DON'T (there's nothing worse than killing your GPA for nothing). UGA has gotten more and more competitive over the years, so if you get denied but are still stuck on it, make plans to transfer in. MANY people transfer into UGA after their first 30 hours of school and admissions requirements are less intense for transfers.

I would recommend taking AP classes in high school to help prepare you for college. Be prepared to do multiple hours of homework a day. Definitely go to the football games in the fall, you won't miss out!

IF IT DOES NOT APPLY TO YOUR MAJOR TO NOT TAKE!!! For example if science is not your major and you don't have to take a science don't! If you do don't feel you have to take the most difficult science class to prove something, just take ecology and get it over with. Also do your homework research your professors on the uga key and rate your professor, there's no need to take a class with a professor thats just going to aggravate you. You will also need to learn the bus schedule it'll make getting around so much easier and quicker especially in august when its WAY TOO HOT to walk anywhere. For those who are concerned about keeping HOPE, I would suggest taking the easiest load of classes you know you can get As in your first semester. Its better to start off with that 4.0 so even if you screw up you'll still be good. There are some classes that are easy A's like ECHD and while they may not do anything for your major they rarely take up any of your free time outside of class. Oh and don't go out and buy your books as soon as school starts because some professors will tell you you can a get a cheaper version or that you don't even need the book for class. One more thing Do not deprive yourself of sleep during finals I've seen people pass out on the floor in the dining halls because they've pushed them selves too hard. A good nights sleep will help you better than eight hours of studying with no break.

Apply Early! UGA has an excellent early admission program, with many incentives, such as earlier housing selection, it is a definite plus. Maintain a good GPA! Although UGA will tell you a GPA isn't everything, and it isn't, it will help out tremendously, especially if you lack in other important areas like test scores or extracurriculars. AP classes are worth it! The more AP classes you take, and pass the AP test for, the more hours you will come into UGA with, which allows you more room for things like a minor or double major; but DON'T take more than you can handle because that will compromise your GPA.

Enjoy yourself. A lot of people say college is the best 4 (maybe 5+) years of your life. That's a HORRIBLE way of looking at it. If this is all you have to look forward to then you're already setting yourself up for disappointment once you graduate. Enjoy the next few years, but know that this is only preparing you for better things out there. Soak it all up, sleep is overrated (sometimes) and make as many friends as possible, both with fellow students and professors. You'll find out how great it is to be a Georgia Bulldog both in college and out. #GoDawgs