Georgia Southwestern State University - College Spotlight

Georgia Southwestern State University

GSW is located in one of the original top 10 cities in the state - Americus, Georgia.  It is rich in culture and history with approximately 400 acres of campus space, including an 18 hole golf course owned by the University. Americus is approximately 2.5 hours away from Johns Creek.  It is a small university with close to 3000 students.  If you are looking for a small environment, this may be the right place for you.  The student to faculty ratio is 17:1 and the average class size is 22.  There are full range of bachelor's degree programs and they are committed to shaping future leaders.  Americus is home to President Carter.  He and his wife have invested a lot of money and time to this institution. A little known fact: Habitat for Humanity was also founded in Americus.   Though it may not be on your radar there are many excellent programs to learn about.  Go visit and discover this gem! 

Highlights

• The Business program is the largest major on their campus with Education majors a close second.

• The Nursing School is fantastic and has a pass rate on the NCLEX above the national average.  The NCLEX is the National Nursing Exam that students must pass in order to be licensed.  They have a Guaranteed Acceptance Program for students to apply to during their senior year of high school and if admitted are guaranteed a spot in the nursing program as long as they maintain a 3.2 college GPA.  This is a great opportunity because nursing programs in the state of Georgia are highly competitive and often many students do not get admitted.

• The Art School is home to the ONLY hot glass studio in the University System of Georgia.

• The freshman class is only 481 students.  

• 85% of students receive financial aid.

• 69% of freshmen receive HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships. 

• It is one of the most affordable college options in Georgia.  

Admission Requirements

1. Completed application with the $25.00 non-refundable application fee.
2. Official copy of your high school transcript showing academic achievement in grades 9-11
3. Official test score results of either the SAT or ACT.
4. If admitted, the following requirements will need to be satisfied prior to enrollment:
   Official final high school transcript showing date of graduation.Completed health history and immunization forms. Submit a $45 acceptance deposit
   
   Applicants are evaluated on their academic performance in their high school CPC courses, SAT or ACT test scores, and the potential for completing the requirements for the desired degree. Georgia Southwestern's freshmen class averages in the range 985 - 1000 SAT in Math and Critical Reading and a 21 Composite on the ACT. The average GPA is 3.00 - 3.15. The University System of Georgia requires a minimum of SAT of 400 Math and 430 Critical Reading and a minimum ACT of 17 Math and 17 English for 4-year universities. Students who have taken the "new" SAT, March 2016 and forward, must meet the equivalent to the above requirements using the USG Concordance Tables. According to those tables, students would need a 24 on the "New SAT Reading Test" and a 440 on the "New Math Section" to be considered for admission to Georgia Southwestern.

Georgia Gwinnett College - College Spotlight

Georgia Gwinnett College

Located less than 20 miles from CHS in Lawrenceville is an often overlooked 4 year college. Home to more than 12,000 students, Georgia Gwinnett strives to be a public college with a private college experience. Once on campus, students are given a faculty advisor they will meet with at least once a semester, and they will receive the personal cell phone number for their professors and the College President. Class sizes are small: average is 21 students, and no class has more than 40 students. This means the classes you have here at Chattahoochee are most likely larger than the ones you would have if you attend Georgia Gwinnett.

Highlights

•       GGC is the #1 Most Ethnically Diverse Southern Regional College for the past 3 years
•       GGC’s Tuition is capped at $1921.95 a semester, which is why GGC is ranked #2 for Lowest Graduate Debt for a Southern Regional College
•       GGC is a member of the NAIA and are champions in Baseball, Men’s & Women’s Tennis, and Men’s Soccer
•       GGC has 15 different majors with 38 different concentrations including Criminal Justice, Education, Information Technology & Nursing. You could also pursue a certificate in Latin American Studies
•       GGC has over 100 organizations for ways students can get involved, whether it is a service organization, intermural sport, theater, or student government.
•       GGC’s apartment style resident halls will make students want to live on campus (although it is not a requirement for Freshmen who live within 30 miles of campus).

Admissions requirements

·       High School GPA of 2.0

·       SAT:  Reading 24; Math 440 (taken after March 2016) OR

·       ACT: 17 English & 17 Math OR

·       Accuplacer- taken at Georgia Gwinnett College

·       Students are not required to take 2 years of the same World Language in high school for Admissions

It’s not too late to apply! Application deadline for Fall 2017 is May 1, so submit yours today!

Gwinnett Technical College - College Spotlight

Gwinnett Technical College

If you think that Gwinnett Tech doesn’t have anything to offer you, think again. There are two campuses, the main branch in Lawrenceville and the new Alpharetta campus, located across the street from Avalon. Gwinnett Tech educates over 10,000 students through their 150 degree, diploma, and certificate programs. Most programs can be completed in 2 years, and with tuition at only $89 per credit hour and fee, this is an extremely affordable opportunity just down the road from Chattahoochee. They have a 99.3% job placement rate within 6 months of graduation, and Gwinnett Tech helps their students find internships and practicums while they are in college.

Highlights

• The HOPE Grant will cover a portion (about 87%) of tuition for students pursuing a diploma or certificate programs with no minimum high school GPA. For more information on the HOPE Grant, click here.
• There are more than 35 transfer articulation agreements with 4-year colleges for students wanting to continue their education beyond Gwinnett Tech. For more information, please visit Gwinnett Tech’s Articulation Agreement page here.
• Additionally, there are 27 individual courses taught at Gwinnett Tech that schools within the University System of Georgia will automatically accept from schools within the Technical College System of Georgia.  For a list of these courses, click here. 

·       Programs at the Alpharetta campus

o   Accounting

o   Business Management

o   Computer Programming

o   Criminal Justice

o   Cybersecurity

o   Data Center Specialist

o   Early Childhood Education

o   Game Development

o   General Education

o   Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management

o   Logistics

o   Marketing Management

o   Networking Specialist

o   Patient Care Assistant

o   Website Design/Development

Admission

•       Complete the essay-free application and pay the $25 fee
•       Submit official records including high school transcript and test scores

o   Gwinnett Tech accepts the SAT, ACT, and ACCUPLACER (can be taken at Gwinnett Tech)

Meet additional requirements for your program area, if any

Application deadline for Fall 2017: June 30, 2017

See Gwinnett Tech in Action

·       The Lawrenceville Campus will be hosting an event called “Science Works” on Thursday, March 30, 2017, from 4-8 p.m. You can see every program in action, explore interactive projects, and check out everything Gwinnett Tech has to offer you. Register here.

·       Call 678-226-6751 to schedule an on-campus visit

Hooch Madness is Here!

You may have noticed the giant map of colleges in the main hallway and are wondering what that is all about.  This is a showcase of all the colleges & universities the faculty and staff of CHS has attended.  Over 30 states and 11 countries spanning 5 continents are represented on the board – make sure to check it out and see some of the options you may have for the future!  The Counseling Office is so excited to announce the 3^rd annual Hooch Madness program March 20^th – 31^st! For the next two weeks, we will be hosting a variety of events promoting college awareness.  Be on the lookout for college spotlights on the Counseling blog, teacher questions of the day, and Twitter Challenges (#CHSHoochMadness), as well as the events featured below.

• Advisement door decoration contest:  Winners will be decided on Friday, March 30^th, and the Advisements selected will receive a pizza party when we return from Spring Break!  Get creative!  The theme is “college” so it doesn’t have to be limited to one specific school.
• Move on When Ready Support Day:  March 20 in G125.  If you need help with any part of the Move on When Ready process, please drop in to see a Counselor during your Advisement.
• Instant Decision Days: Seniors, if you still need to figure out where you will be attending school in the Fall, we have some great options for you!  Gwinnett Tech will be here on March 23^rd, Georgia Gwinnett College on March 27^th, and Valdosta State on March 28^th.  Come sit down with a representative and receive an admissions decision on the spot! Space is limited, so sign up for an appointment in the Counseling Office.
• “I’m Accepted. Now What?”:  This event is for Seniors who have been accepted to Kennesaw (on March 21^st) or Georgia College (on March 23^rd) to find out what next steps they need to take.  You can ask questions about orientation, housing, financial aid, and more!  If you haven’t been accepted but have started your application, you can also submit any of your missing documents at this time.  Sign up on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/chattahoochee-counseling-department-11137741233
• Financial Aid Workshop for Juniors:  Wanting to get a jump start on scholarships and financial aid?  Sign up for the workshop on March 28^th in G125 during 4B and 5A.  Space is limited, so be sure to sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/chattahoochee-counseling-department-11137741233
• Spring College Fair:  March 24^th in the gym during all Advisement periods.  Over 40 colleges will be represented including Albany State, Embry-Riddle, Georgia Southern, Miami, Ole Miss, Toccoa Falls, and more! See the flyer below for the complete list.
  
• College Gear Fridays:  Join in on the fun & show your support for your favorite college by wearing college gear on March 24^th & 30^th!

FAFSA Friday!

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opened on October 1, 2016 for current seniors who plan to enroll in college for Fall 2017.  We hosted a Financial Aid Information night at the end of January.  If you missed it, here is the link to that blog post:  Click here for the Financial Aid Information Night Blog Post

However, today, the counselors visited with Gwinnett Technical College at the Alpharetta location.  If you haven't checked out this gem of a school, you should.  They have great programs for all types of students.  Get all the scoop at the Gwinnett Technical College Website

While we were there, they told us about this AMAZING opportunity for students.  They are hosting an event called FAFSA FRIDAY!!  It will be held on March 24 from 12 - 3pm.  ANY current senior or senior parent is welcome to attend.  You do not have to be a student at Gwinnett Tech OR even plan on enrolling there next year to come to this event.  It is open to anyone!!  This is where you cheer that someone who actually knows the in's and out's of Financial Aid is willing to help you! They have this fabulous Financial Aid Specialist, Atua Emu, who is willing to help you complete your FAFSA.  Do you have questions?  You should attend this event.  It is a drop in event, but you need to come prepared with all of the documents.  Don't delay!  One caveat....March 24 is a Friday, so if you plan to miss school to attend this event, make sure you submit your documentation for a pre-approved absence in advance, or be prepared for an unexcused absence.  If you have questions about this particular event, please call them directly.

Fall Forward!

This is an awesome speech from Denzel Washington about opportunities that come from failure. Learning comes from failure.  Choose to fall forward.  Take risks.  It's excellent. He says, "you will suck at something." How true.  But, you'll never know how to overcome obstacles until you choose to stick with it.  Don't quit.  Don't give up.  You are worth it!