Special message regarding ACT/SAT testing and the admissions process for University System of GA schools:
(from Dr. Tristan Denley, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer for USG)
"As you may be aware, due to concern about people congregating in large groups due to COVID-19, the College Board and ACT have suspended all upcoming ACT and SAT testing dates indefinitely.
Since ACT and SAT scores are an integral part of our usual admissions process, without action on our part, this step would prevent thousands of students from completing their admissions application to USG institutions this spring and summer.
To deal with this problem the Chancellor has approved a temporary adjustment to our admissions criteria that allows institutions to approve students for admission if they do not have ACT or SAT scores.
For this approach we have calculated new High school GPA (HSGPA) thresholds to be used as admissions criteria for each sector. These thresholds match the same percentiles on the HSGPA distribution as the traditional places on the Freshman Index distribution that we usually use for admission. Of course, if the student has scores then the institution is free to use them in the established way.
We have also expanded presidential exception percentages to allow some greater flexibility in considering students whose GPA does not fully reflect their record and do not have an opportunity to represent that on the ACT or SAT exam.
This change does not affect Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia since they have already admitted their freshmen classes, and have students on waiting lists.
The full details of the adjustment are contained in the attached document."
What does this mean?
Several seniors do not already have ACT/SAT test scores available for admissions consideration. Additionally, due to cancellations of recent/near-future test dates, those same seniors may not be able to test in time for many GA public 4-year colleges to get their scores. The above message indicates that these colleges will adjust their testing requirements for admission, for students in these circumstances. Your high school GPA takes a higher weight in the admissions consideration than it otherwise would. In other words, if you hadn't tested already, your GPA matters that much more now.
The above message just applies to Georgia's public 4-year colleges. On the other hand, Georgia's technical colleges typically offer another test option directly at the school's campus, and they also typically have more generous admission deadlines. So, they may not announce special allowances at this time because they do not need to.
If you do not have ACT/SAT scores available and were otherwise on track for applying to a private or out-of-state college, contact their admissions department to see if they can work with you. Many systems are making allowances under these unusual circumstances. However, don't expect special allowances if you already/would have missed their admissions deadlines.
To see the allowances that Dalton State College Admissions is making due to current events, visit the special announcement they sent us here.
"As you may be aware, due to concern about people congregating in large groups due to COVID-19, the College Board and ACT have suspended all upcoming ACT and SAT testing dates indefinitely.
Since ACT and SAT scores are an integral part of our usual admissions process, without action on our part, this step would prevent thousands of students from completing their admissions application to USG institutions this spring and summer.
To deal with this problem the Chancellor has approved a temporary adjustment to our admissions criteria that allows institutions to approve students for admission if they do not have ACT or SAT scores.
For this approach we have calculated new High school GPA (HSGPA) thresholds to be used as admissions criteria for each sector. These thresholds match the same percentiles on the HSGPA distribution as the traditional places on the Freshman Index distribution that we usually use for admission. Of course, if the student has scores then the institution is free to use them in the established way.
We have also expanded presidential exception percentages to allow some greater flexibility in considering students whose GPA does not fully reflect their record and do not have an opportunity to represent that on the ACT or SAT exam.
This change does not affect Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia since they have already admitted their freshmen classes, and have students on waiting lists.
The full details of the adjustment are contained in the attached document."
What does this mean?
Several seniors do not already have ACT/SAT test scores available for admissions consideration. Additionally, due to cancellations of recent/near-future test dates, those same seniors may not be able to test in time for many GA public 4-year colleges to get their scores. The above message indicates that these colleges will adjust their testing requirements for admission, for students in these circumstances. Your high school GPA takes a higher weight in the admissions consideration than it otherwise would. In other words, if you hadn't tested already, your GPA matters that much more now.
The above message just applies to Georgia's public 4-year colleges. On the other hand, Georgia's technical colleges typically offer another test option directly at the school's campus, and they also typically have more generous admission deadlines. So, they may not announce special allowances at this time because they do not need to.
If you do not have ACT/SAT scores available and were otherwise on track for applying to a private or out-of-state college, contact their admissions department to see if they can work with you. Many systems are making allowances under these unusual circumstances. However, don't expect special allowances if you already/would have missed their admissions deadlines.
To see the allowances that Dalton State College Admissions is making due to current events, visit the special announcement they sent us here.
Official Updates About ACT/SAT Testing
The best source for official updates regarding ACT and SAT is the test publishers' own websites. For announcements about updates, postponements, and cancellations, visit:
Zell Miller Scholarship requirement adjustment due to COVID-19's impact on ACT/SAT
In light of the pandemic’s impact on ACT/SAT testing dates, you have through December 30, 2020, to post Zell-eligible scores (ACT 26 Composite or SAT 1200 combined in a single test date). If you do so, the state will award you retroactively for Fall 2020 and apply Zell towards Spring 2020, etc. In the meantime, you’d still be eligible for and receive HOPE Scholarship.
Visit GA Futures’ May 4 Class of 2020 FAQs for more information.
Visit GA Futures’ May 4 Class of 2020 FAQs for more information.