Georgia’s HOPE SCHOLARSHIP and HOPE GRANT Planning ahead to help

Georgia’s HOPE SCHOLARSHIP and HOPE GRANT Planning ahead to help pay for College! By Lue Healy

Georgia HOPE Program is Funded by the Georgia Lottery! HOW CAN HOPE FUNDS HELP ME GO TO COLLEGE? Getting the HOPE Scholarship is HUGE

There are two different HOPE Programs The HOPE Scholarship The HOPE Grant

What Costs Will I have in College? How can HOPE Help? HOPE CAN HOPE HELP WITH THESE COSTS: Tuition – the cost of attending class! Cost is 3000-8000 per year at public schools in GA. Hope will pay 80-85% of this year’s tuition costs. Since there will be tuition increases next year , you will probably receive LESS 85% of next year’s tuition– in future years the amount paid will depend on lottery receipts. CANNOT HELP WITH THESE COSTS: Room – the cost of a place to live (expensive!) Books (about 500 per semester) Fees – these may run 800-900 per semester Board – the cost of food Spending money Transportation expenses Tutoring help

Is the HOPE Scholarship and Grant going to change this year? The HOPE Scholarship and Grant programs changed as of March 2011 While HOPE used to pay for all tuition for eligible students, it pays only about 80-85 % this year. Lots of changes have occurred in the HOPE Programs! Few (just Zell Miller) students will get all their tuition paid! The bottom line is: College May Cost More Next Fall!

THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP Can be used at Technical Colleges, 2 year colleges or 4 year colleges! Must be used in the state of Georgia! HOPE cannot be taken out of state! Must be earned Covers around 80-85% of the tuition cost based on the 2013-14 fiscal year tuition cost. HOPE is now tied to lottery revenue receipts and the percentage of tuition that HOPE pays is expected to decrease!

How do I earn the HOPE Scholarship? You must graduate from high school with a 3.0 GPA in your academic subjects – only Math, Science, Social studies, English and Foreign Language classes count in this calculation

Go Figure! Who Calculates my HOPE GPA? While your counselor can look at your numbers with you, only the GEORGIA STUDENT FINANCE COMMISSION can calculate HOPE. You are able to check this preliminary calculation on your GaCollege411 account. This is a preliminary HOPE Calculation. Your FINAL HOPE GPA is not determined until after you graduate so all your academic grades count! Go to www.gacollege411.org

Example of HOPE Scholarship Calculation Remember you get these points for academic subjects (Courses that begin with 23, 26, 27, 40, 45 and 60 on your transcript) 90-100 A 4 points 80-89 B 3 Points 70-79 C 2 points Below 70 F 0 points

Example A 4 B 3 C 2 B 3 C 2 14 / 5 2.8 HOPE Even though this student has an 87 academic GPA, he will not be HOPE Eligible! Government Math II Chemistry Spanish II English 99 89 79 89 79

What if I took an Honors Class? If you took an honors class, we added 5 points to your SEHS GPA. You will not lose this five points when we calculate class rank, honor graduate, etc. You will lose these five points when HOPE is calculated by the state. For example, Honors Bio Grade on transcript 92 (A) Hope calculation is 92-5 87 B (You will have a 3.0 for this class for HOPE calculation)

What if I took an AP Class? If you took an AP class, we added 5 points! For Hope Calculation, you will lose those five points. Example: AP Bio Grade on transcript 92 (A) Hope will subtract 5 points 92- 5 87 (B) or 3.0 For AP Classes: You will get a .5 added back by GSFC 3.0 .5 3.5 used in calculation for this AP class

When I average my academic classes, I am VERY close (2.9 or above) to having the HOPE Scholarship! Is there anything I can do now to help it? Maybe. Work very hard on your academic classes this semester and make A’s to boost your academic GPA! HOPE DOES NOT ROUND UP! A 2.999999 is not good for HOPE!

What about Georgia Public Colleges? How much tuition will the HOPE Scholarship cover? The HOPE Scholarship covers about 85% of the current cost of tuition at Georgia’s PUBLIC Colleges. This will change from year to year! . For example, if the tuition is 10,000 this year, HOPE is paying about 8500. If tuition increases next year, HOPE will probably pay a lesser percentage of the year’s tuition. So you would be responsible for the additional money. The HOPE amount will be adjusted each year dependent on lottery revenues.

I want to attend a Private College in Georgia and I am eligible for the HOPE Scholarship will it cover my tuition? NO At eligible private schools (check this out for your particular school) you will receive approximately 3600 through the HOPE Scholarship and Tuition Equalization portions of the HOPE Program. For example, Tuition at many GA private schools is now 35,000 per year. You would still owe about 32,400 per year after HOPE pays.

The NEW Zell Miller Scholarship Will pay the full cost of tuition for: Valedictorian and the Salutatorian of each Georgia high school . It will also pay for students who graduate with both a 3.7 HOPE GPA and have a 1200 verbal and math combined score on the SAT (at one administration) or a 26 composite on the ACT (these must be earned BEFORE graduation). The Zell Miller Scholarship will be renewable for the recipients who maintain a 3.3 GPA in college.

Help! I can already tell that I am NOT going to be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship! Is there any HOPE for me getting money for college without the HOPE Scholarship?

ABSOLUTELY! There is HOPE without the HOPE Scholarship!

While many students don’t finish high school eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, Most of you are eligible for the HOPE GRANT!

The HOPE GRANT Does not require a specific GPA – it does require a high school diploma or GED You can receive the HOPE Grant to attend Georgia public TECHNICAL COLLEGES! You cannot receive the HOPE Grant to attend 2 year and 4 year colleges HOPE Grant will cover about 85% of this current year’s tuition at technical schools. If the tuition increases next fall, your costs will be higher.

How can I become eligible for the HOPE Grant for technical school? Graduate from high school with a general education diploma (not individualized or Certificate of Performance) or get a GED. Remember no specific GPA is required to begin technical school with the HOPE Grant. You must keep a 3.0 in technical school to keep the HOPE Grant after the first year. Apply for the HOPE Grant on GACollege411.org

How do I apply for the HOPE Scholarship or HOPE Grant? Beginning this next summer (2013), the only way to apply for the HOPE Scholarship or HOPE Grant is to FILE FAFSA (www.fafsa.gov) If you are a male and 18 years old, you must apply for the Selective Service and print out your selective service number. List your college choices on the FAFSA when you file. Otherwise, the right school may not receive your information.

Review of Major Changes to the HOPE Program HOPE will no longer pay full tuition for most students (unless you are eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship.)

HOPE Changes: If you graduate HOPE eligible, HOPE will pay a certain percentage of this year’s tuition. (Current year about 85%) If tuition rises next year, the amount you will be paying will be even more! HOPE awards each year are now tied to the Georgia Lottery revenues. HOPE no longer covers any books or fees!

HOPE CHANGES . HOPE will no longer pay for remedial courses at the 2 year or 4 year colleges. If you have less than a 430 in Verbal and a 400 in math on the SAT, or below English 17 and Math 17 on the ACT, or below minimum admissions scores on the COMPASS test, you will have to pay for the remedial classes you will be required to take.

Hope Changes HOPE will continue to cover the cost of remedial classes at the technical colleges.

ON TIME FOR HOPE HOPE FUNDS ONLY 127 semester hours of credit. HOPE eligibility expires 7 years after graduating from high school. If you lose HOPE during college, you can only regain it ONE time

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP RIGOR REQUIREMENTS New academic requirements are included in HOPE Legislation. Students graduating on or after May 1, 2015 must meet these academic requirements to qualify for HOPE!

Class of 2015 (and later) graduates must Receive Credit in the following types of courses: 1) Advanced placement courses in core subjects 2) Courses taken at a University System of Georgia college 3) Advanced science – chemistry, physics, etc. 4) Advanced Math such as Calculus 5) Advanced foreign language courses Here is a link to the courses that qualify for courses of rigor in the state of GA http://www.gsfc.org/main/publishing/pdf/ 2012/Course List.pdf

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP RIGOR REQUIREMENTS Graduating on or after: Number of Rigorous courses required May 1, 2015 May 1, 2016 May 1, 2017 2 3 4

Quiz: Question 1 I am a student with a 3.3. GPA on my transcript but I have a 2.987 HOPE GPA in my academic subjects. Can I attend a 2-year college like East Georgia or Middle Georgia using the HOPE Scholarship?

Quiz Answer 1! NO! You must have a 3.0 GPA in academic subjects to receive the HOPE Scholarship! You could go to the technical school using the HOPE Grant, however.

Quiz Question 2 I want to go to the University of South Carolina at Bluffton. Can I use the HOPE Scholarship there?

Quiz Question 2: Answer No! Effingham residents can receive In-state tuition at USCB but this tuition is far higher than Georgia tuition. The HOPE Scholarship cannot be taken out of state!

Quiz Question 3 I want to go to Ogeechee Tech. My HOPE GPA is a 2.1. How can I get my tuition paid?

Quiz Answer 3 Apply for the HOPE GRANT It will fund the large majority of your first year’s tuition at a technical college regardless of your high school GPA

Quiz Question 4? I want to go to Mercer or Savannah College of Art and Design but they are pricey! They are in GA - Will the HOPE Scholarship pay all my tuition at these schools?

Answer Quiz Question 4: No! These are not public schools! They are private schools. This fall, the HOPE Scholarship will only pay approximately 3600 per year at a private school.

Quiz Question 5: I’ve been accepted at Armstrong, but I am not eligible for the HOPE Scholarship. How can I earn it? Answer: Go to Armstrong, Pay your own tuition for your first year. Earn 30 semester hours credit with a 3.0 GPA and you will be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship!

I Don’t have the grades for the HOPE Scholarship Question 6: Would it be a good idea to Start at a technical college on the HOPE Grant, earn good grades and then transfer to a two year or four year college?

Possible Transfer of credits Some students feel that they want to start college at a technical school on the HOPE Grant and then transfer to 2 and 4 year colleges. Think about this carefully because Some academic classes will transfer from a technical college to a 2 or 4 year college. Check out the “transfer credits” portion of the college website where you want to transfer to be sure! MANY CLASSES WILL NOT TRANSFER BETWEEN TECHNICAL AND 2 and 4 year colleges. No credits will transfer from Ogeechee Tech to a 2 or 4 year college – not yet accredited A few academic classes will transfer from Sav Tech to a two or four year college. Credits transfer well in Georgia between four year colleges and between two and four year colleges.

Question 7: I have earned a 420 Verbal and a 680 math on the SAT. I have a 3.6 HOPE GPA and a 1100 on the Math and Verbal SAT combined, so I am good for the HOPE Scholarship, right?

NO, not really! Since you received a score of less than 430 on the Verbal SAT: You will not be able to enter a 4 year college. You will need to take remedial classes! The HOPE Scholarship will NOT pay for these remedial classes at 2 year and 4 year colleges. The HOPE Grant will pay for these at technical schools.

Question 8: If I earn the HOPE Scholarship, will it automatically be awarded to me?

YOU will NOT receive the HOPE Scholarship or the HOPE Grant unless you FILE FAFSA No !

Remember . You have to file FAFSA to get the HOPE Scholarship or Grant because you are proving “lawful presence” BUT HOPE is not based on your parent’s income!

Even if I get HOPE, how will I pay for the rest of my college tuition and other expenses? LOANS BY filing FAFSA after January 1st, you may be eligible for some federal aid Scholarships Grants the college gives you Your own earnings Parental funds LOANS

The Changes to HOPE make it more important than ever to file FAFSA! Filing FAFSA is FREE – never pay for filing! File at www.fafsa.ed.gov never use other sites! HOPE Scholarship and Grant are dependent on your filing FAFSA! Many federal grants including the Pell Grant are awarded on the basis of filing FAFSA Work study jobs are awarded on basis of FAFSA information Low interest subsidized loans are also based on FAFSA info.

HOPE is a promise to help with your education! You are lucky to live in Georgia where there is still HOPE!