David Graves in Blog



Freshman Applications

During UGA’s Admission Decisions that go out in November and February, the initial focus is on the three academic criteria: the student’s grades in core academic courses, the rigor of a student’s course selection as compared to what is offered in the school/community, and the student’s best combination of scores on the SAT or ACT (we do not cross scores between the SAT and ACT though). UGA does not have a minimum GPA, SAT or ACT, as we are looking at a combination of all of the academic factors. We are expanding the holistic review within the Early Action process, so you will see more decisions in the future that include both an academic and holistic review (see below).

During the March decisions, the initial focus is also on academics, but a majority of the files will be based on the entire application, with a focus on the core academic areas mentioned above, and in addition we will be looking at a student’s intellectual and creative pursuits, an understanding and respect for others, their significant commitment to citizenship through public service, school activities, community involvement, leadership, and family, their ability to communicate through the short essays and other writing sections, evidence of integrity and personal maturity, recommendations from counselors and teachers, and any other information in the file. In other words, we look at everything in the file.

For more details on the required materials for First-Year applicants and the deadlines for these materials, see the UGA Admissions Deadlines page.

Transfer Applications

When UGA reviews a file for transfer admission, we are focusing on two areas for the most part; How many hours of transfer work has been completed and is on a transcript, and what is the GPA that UGA calculates for the transfer work. All grades/hours that will be reviewed must be on a transcript by the application deadline. Advanced placement (AP/IB) credit listed as specific courses with specific hours and college course titles and course numbers on a college transcript may be transferable. UGA requires official transcripts from all colleges attended, even if the work is from dual enrollment courses, transient work at another college, etc.

Transfer deadlines are for both the application and for all college transcripts. UGA will only review academic work that is completed and sent to our office by the deadline. For example, Fall transfer applicants have a deadline of 4/1, so we can only review work completed and into our office by 4/1. We cannot use work from a Spring term where classes are in progress and will be completed after the deadline. 

Sophomore Transfer Applicants

  • Have 30-59 semester hours of transferable credit by the application deadline
  • Have completed at least one year of college by the term of intended enrollment
  • Must have a 3.30 or higher transfer GPA to be considered for admission, though there is no minimum GPA that guarantees admission.

Junior/Senior Transfer Applicants

  • Have 60 or more hours of transferable credit by the application deadline
  • Have completed at least one year of college by the term of intended enrollment
  • Must have a 3.00 or higher transfer GPA to be considered for admission, though there is no minimum GPA that guarantees admission.