UGeorgia application help-URGENT!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Georgia
1

<p>Hello everyone, </p>

<p>I really need some advice on whether to apply early decision or regular decision for University of Georgia. </p>

<p>Should I apply early decision? I REALLY want to get in, but I don't want to run the risk of getting rejected if they solely look at hard facts like GPA, ACT, and class rank, which are the "weaker" parts of my application. I don't know how competitive Georgia has gotten... However, I think if applying early decision secures my chances and tells the university how badly I want to attend, I will for sure do that. I was browsing their website, and it said in last year's (accepted, obviously) class, almost 75% applied early decision. Does this mean they give a better chance to those who show interest early on in the applications process? Their rankings as far as average ACT score, etc. have gone up in the last few years, so I am so unsure of what to do! Please help me out; Georgia is currently my #1 choice!</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6 uw, 3.87 w</p>

<p>ACT: 26 (retaking for a 28)</p>

<p>AP/HONORS: world studies, english 9, american studies history, american studies literature, british literature, expository writing, AP US history, AP english literature, AP economics micro, Spanish 4 </p>

<p>Class rank: top 25%, highly competitive public high school</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: Marching Band, Color Guard, Part time job as a high-end florist, Yearbook page editor, Clarinet, Piano, tons of babysitting, National Honors Society, NHS tutor, volunteer work at nursing home/church</p>

<p>Prospective major: Landscape Architecture</p>

<p>2 excellent recommendations from AP/honors classes teachers who adore me, plus my guidance counselor's recommendation, </p>

<p>EXCELLENT essay.</p>

<p>Should I apply early decision?</p>

<p>Thanks, and if you give me some, ANY input, even at my chances, I will return the favor!</p>

2

<p>U Georgia does not have Early Decision. They have Early Action. The Early Action deadline is October 15. Some students will get in, some will be rejected, and some will be deferred.</p>

<p>Here is their criteria in making admission decisions:</p>

<p>"First-year applicants for Summer or Fall semester for whom UGA is a top choice have the option of submitting a completed application by October 15 of their senior year and receiving an admission decision by December 15. Primary consideration under the Early Action plan will be focused on demonstrated academic achievement: grades in core academic courses through the junior year, rigor of curriculum and performance on the SAT I or ACT."</p>

<p>Here is their class profile:</p>

<p>Undergraduate Enrollment: 25,335
First-Year Enrollment: 4,830 </p>

<p>2008 Applications
Applications Received: 17,334
Applicants Accepted: 9,626
New First-Year Students Enrolled: 4,830 </p>

<p>High School Core Grade Point Average
Middle 50% of All Enrolled First-Year Students: 3.63-4.0
Overall Average of All Enrolled First-Year Students: 3.83
Middle 50% of All Enrolled Honors Students: 3.99-4.18
Middle 50% of All Scholarship Students: 4.00-4.17 </p>

<p>SAT and ACT
SAT-1 Middle 50% of All Enrolled First-Year Students: 1150-1310
Overall SAT-1 Average of All Enrolled First-Year Students: 1253
ACT Middle 50% of All Enrolled First-Year Students: 25-29
Overall ACT Average for All Enrolled First-Year Students: 27<br>
SAT-1 Middle 50% of All Enrolled Honors Students: 1420-1490<br>
ACT Middle 50% of All Enrolled Honors Students: 31-33
SAT-1 Middle 50% of All Enrolled Scholarship Students: 1390-1490<br>
ACT Middle 50% of All Enrolled Scholarship Students: 30-33 </p>

<p>Honors and Scholarships<br>
First-Year Students in the Honors Program: Almost 10%<br>
First-Year Students Offered a UGA Academic Scholarship: 9%</p>

3

<p>It is possible for EA applicants to be deferred, and I highly doubt that you would be outright rejected.</p>

<p>If you don't mind writing the essays or the agony of waiting longer, regular decision would almost guarantee admission and it might save you some of the agony of being deferred.</p>

<p>A school like UGA is not really interested in how interested you are. Applying EA won't increase your chances of getting in and doesn't necessarily indicate that you are more interested than a RD applicant. For example, I applied EA last year even though it was highly unlikely I would attend.</p>

<p>So applying RD is probably the right move if you want to ENSURE admission.</p>

<p>Anyway, good luck. UGA is a great school. I attend LSU (better scholarship was the deciding factor for me) and we aspire to be UGA in terms of academic reputation.</p>

4

<p>I say apply early action. I'm sure there are people in your situation, but the facts are: applying earlier improve your chances of getting accepted. If you wait, you will be in a, most likely, more competitive group as all the students would have had the advantages you are allowing yourself. </p>

<p>Applying early can't hurt, and as SaveOnUndergrad said, you won't be flat out rejected. I say go for it...but that's me. Good luck! I hope you get in either way!</p>

5

<p>"If you wait, you will be in a, most likely, more competitive group as all the students would have had the advantages you are allowing yourself."</p>

<p>I see what you're saying, but also consider that most of the highly competitive applicants would have been accepted already. The RD pool will not have as high of stats as the EA.</p>

<p>Anyway if the OP's EC's/Recs are as impressive as she (I'm assuming) believes then it won't matter how competitive the RD round is because you can't do much more than she has in those regards. </p>

<p>But I agree with going for the EA as long as a deferral doesn't deflate her. It could be a tough couple of months.</p>

6

<p>I've thought through it and I think I'm going to wait for RD. I will send out my application RIGHT away as soon as the EA term ends so that I will be within the first crowd of RD applicants. I'm pretty sure after the EA ends, its all rolling admissions.</p>

<p>Thanks so, so much for the input, everyone! any other advice is welcome and greatly appreciated.</p>

7

<p>I don't believe UGA does rolling admissions ever. After EA, it's RD, and you'll have to wait until April 1st for the decision.</p>

8

<p>UGA does not have rolling admissions decisions. They have 3 dates to release decisions; mid-Dec. for EA, late Feb. for deferred (with updated academic info) or RD applicants that meet EA criteria, and late March for all final decisions. In addition, there is no admission advantage to applying early in the process or by the deadline, as I have been told a number of people have already applied RD (the app has allowed for RD since it opened in August). As well, contrary to what has already been said, applying EA does not increase your chances for admission. UGA holds a large number of acceptances for later in the process due to not knowing what the entire applicant pool will be like until Feb. and March.</p>

9

<p>UGA does not have rolling admissions decisions. They have 3 dates to release decisions; mid-Dec. for EA, late Feb. for deferred (with updated academic info) or RD applicants that meet EA criteria, and late March for all final decisions. In addition, there is no admission advantage to applying early in the process or by the deadline, as a number of people have already applied RD (the app has allowed for RD since it opened in August). As well, contrary to what has already been said, applying EA does not increase your chances for admission. UGA holds a large number of acceptances for later in the process due to not knowing what the entire applicant pool will be like until Feb. and March. See UGA</a> Undergraduate Admissions - Top Ten UGA Admissions Urban Legends for more details on myths and reality about UGA admissions.</p>

10

<p>thanks, I appreciate the information. do you think I can get in?</p>

11

<p>I could not say if you would be admitted EA, as the process does not measure against a set criteria, but is a review of you in comparison with the other EA applicants. You have a strong GPA, a slightly less than UGA average ACT, and a schedule that is strong by heavily weighted towards the humanities. I think you have a strong chance overall, but you would probably be on the low side of the bubble for EA. IF Deferred/RD, you would seem to be very competitive.</p>

12

<p>Im applying RD, I've decided.</p>

13

<p>Thanks so much for the input!</p>

14

<p>OH MY GOD! I just did the little acceptance chances thing on mychances.net AND IT SAID I HAD LIKE A 35% CHANCE OF GETTING IN?!?!?!?!? how can that be?!?!?! did georgia all of a sudden get insanely selective?!? why would it tell me that!?!? all the other admissions predictions sites said i had a decent chance of getting in!! and i havent known georgia to deny a lot of students with pretty good gpas and act's, etc!!! ahhhh i'm totally freaking out!!!!!!!!!</p>

15

<p>madeline, you still can improve all of your marks, and get in on RD. If you apply EA you will get rejected, because, not only this year is more competitive than prior, but kids who would have applied to more prestigious schools such as Emory, will not be able to due to the high tuition. As RD approaches, your app will include essays and EC to consider, a more personal and broad approach. Good luck to you</p>

16

<p>Why would you put your faith in a predictive web site that does not have overall holistic data, only uses some academic information that is self-reported, and can not know what the future applicant pool will be like? My best suggestion is to apply to the schools that you feel are right for you, research what the actual colleges state about admissions, and then be patient. Letting web sites (even this one) that have no ties to the colleges drive your decisions and thoughts is not the best method for this process. Relax, be patient, and make a solid plan of action for applying to 3 to 5 colleges that meet your needs as a student and a person.</p>

17

<p>thanks for your input! I would like to know (if anyone can tell me) how selective georgia has become? I guess my impression has been that it used to be known as kind of a big, raucous party school, and over the last 5 years or so has become more selective, but it seems like just this and last year it has bordered on being highly selective. Would a student with my qualifications be considered an "average" applicant, or would I be on the lower end of the scale (for regular decisions)? I am just so confused, because people keep telling me that they have heard of or known people with much lower rankings who have gotten accepted, no problem. And I look on websites with statistics, and most of the applicants who reported acceptance to UGa on these college databases had similar or sometimes lower marks than I. AHH i am starting to really stress!</p>

18

<p>I hate to say it, but UGA has definitely in my eyes started to become more selective. To put light on a more positive note, never trust a website that tells you of 'chances' you'll have of going to a certain school. a) that only depresses you and b) keeps you from doing well on the things that matter that might have an effect on how your admissions turn out.</p>

<p>I wouldn't write down all the ECs...only the ones you are passionate about (think about a resume if you will. You only put down the information that you contributed the most to, the ones that you stayed active with, or else it seems like you're just trying to feed the receiving person with crap to shove down their throat).</p>

<p>To look on a bright side, my GPA was...a 3.7 I assume during HS. I had a 1310 composite SAT score with two ECs that I stayed with for 3 years (Math Club/Team and Academic Decathlon). I wrote what I thought to be stellar essays, had my guidance counselor proof-read it as well as some of my friends (now that I think about, not that great of an idea, but still, lol).</p>

19

<p>alright...thanks so so much. I think I just need to take a deep breath, get my act's up, do the best I can, and hope for the best. :) thank you thank you.</p>