Georgia's GAcollege411.org Reaches One Year Anniversary

Yesterday, on the one year anniversary of the creation of GAcollege411.org, Governor Sonny Perdue provided an update on the popular "one-stop shop" that helps Georgia students plan, apply and pay for college. The website, administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), receives more than 1,700 extended visits daily, and more than 60,000 individuals have registered for "My 411" accounts.

The website enables students to explore careers, prepare for the SAT and ACT, compare Georgia colleges, apply for admission to college, and research and apply for financial aid.

"GAcollege411 has exceeded my expectations," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "Anyone who is interested in attending college in Georgia can find all the help and information they need on GAcollege411."

Since its initial launch, GAcollege411 has continued to add and expand components. One of the most significant improvements in recent months is the ability to apply online to most Georgia colleges and universities. Today students can apply to 70 postsecondary institutions, and this will increase to nearly 100 institutions by summer 2006.

Other recent enhancements include:

• The High School Planner, which helps students plan ahead, stay on track, and meet deadlines throughout the process of preparing for college;
  
  
• Georgia-specific career and salary information;
  
  
• Expanded test preparation materials for the ASSET and COMPASS tests, used by many two-year colleges and technical colleges in the admissions process;
  
  
• Link to free online SAT preparation for all public high school students in Georgia; and
  
  
• Expanded information and services directed toward the adult learner.

In early 2007 another major component, the Transcript Exchange, will be added to serve two primary purposes:

• Students will be able to electronically transfer their high school transcripts to the colleges to which they are applying; and
  
  
• GSFC will be able to receive transcripts of seniors directly from high schools, in order to calculate grade point averages (GPAs) to determine eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship.

"Beginning next year, GSFC will be responsible for calculating all high school GPAs for HOPE," said Tim Connell, GSFC president. "The Transcript Exchange will enable us to do it effectively and efficiently. The website is revolutionizing that process, and I believe GAcollege411 may well be Georgia's most important higher education initiative since the creation of HOPE."

GAcollege411 is a free service of the state of Georgia provided by GSFC, the University System of Georgia, Department of Technical and Adult Education, Foundation for Independent Colleges and other Georgia partners.