Atlanta — November 18, 2011

For many high school seniors across Georgia, the application and financial aid process can be overwhelming and deterring. Georgia Apply to College Month, held during November, is full of events specifically designed to to assist high school seniors with the college application process and to make them aware of the many college-related resources that are available. Via www.GACollege411.org students have a one-stop-shop to apply to colleges throughout the state of Georgia.

Georgia Apply to College Month events have been underway at nearly 200 participating Georgia high schools across the state. Open to all seniors at those schools, the program has a special focus on providing assistance students who are the first from their family to attend college as well as those that find the application process confusing.

“As an increased focus has been placed on college completion, it is also important for us to give students all the necessary tools to succeed. That starts with the college application and financial aid process,” University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby said. “Apply to College Month is an excellent opportunity for high school seniors to receive one-on-one attention to educate them about the materials available to help them successfully transfer from high school to the post secondary option of his or her choice.”

GACollege411is an online resource that helps students and their families select a college, to apply for admission and to plan how to finance higher education. The GAcollege411 Web site offers access to information about colleges, universities, and technical colleges throughout Georgia. Volunteers from participating agencies/organizations, Georgia colleges and universities, and the community have been on hand at participating high schools to assist students as they complete their applications.

The program has grown from its first year of one week in November and eight participating high schools to almost 200 high schools in its fifth year. The program will potentially reach almost 43,000 high-school seniors.

In 2010, more than 24,000 Georgia high school seniors attended a Georgia Apply to College events at participating schools. Approximately 350 college and community volunteers assisted students with completing applications for admission. Nearly 6,000 college applications were submitted online via GACollege411.org from participating schools during last year’s program.

Georgia Apply to College Month is sponsored by Communities in Schools of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Foundation of Independent Colleges, the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia (USG), and is endorsed by the Georgia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Education through the College Access Challenge Grant.

Editor’s Note: A list of the participating high schools can be found at: http://www.usg.edu/apply-to-college/

The opinions and positions expressed in this press release are the authors’ and do not necessarily represent the opinions and positions of the U.S. Department of Education. Any references within the document to specific education products are illustrative and do not imply endorsement of these products to the exclusion of other products that are not referenced.

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