There’s quite a bit that could cause a prospective student to wonder how to get into UGA. Yes, some say it has quite a reputation as a party school situated in a “classic college town”, but make no mistake—there’s a lot to appreciate about the home of the Bulldogs. Few people know, for example, that it was the first public university in the United States, thus dubbing itself “the birthplace of public higher education.”
If you’re planning to apply, then this guide on the UGA admission requirements will help you understand how to craft a standout UGA application.
How hard is it to get into the University of Georgia?
It is moderately difficult to get accepted to UGA. The grade point average of people who get accepted to UCLA are in the top quarter of their class. People who successfully get into UGA also tend to have notable extracurricular activities and college applications essays.
University of Georgia Acceptance Rate
The University of Georgia acceptance rate is 41%, making it a moderately competitive school. Acceptance rate is generally an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is. To get into a school like UGA, you will need to perform well in most areas of your college application.
University of Georgia Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Transfer Acceptance Rate
UGA’s early action acceptance rate is 41% because it received 21,539 applications and accepted 8,917 students. UGA is a widely popular school to apply to, made clear by its tens of thousands of applicants.
University of Georgia GPA Requirements
The GPA requirements for UGA are around a 4.0. You will need a very high GPA and will likely be graduating in the top ten percent of your class in order to get into UGA. If your GPA is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your standardized tests. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
What GPA is required for UGA?
Applicants’ GPA when applying to UGA should be around a 4.0 to be strong candidates. Having less than this will require compensating by increasing your SAT or ACT score.
UGA Weighted GPA Requirements
| GPA Distribution | Percent Admitted |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 80.10% |
| 3.75-3.99 | 16.46% |
| 3.50-3.74 | 2.60% |
| 3.25-3.49 | 0.32% |
| 3.00-3.24 | 0.18% |
| 2.5-2.99 | 0.27% |
| 2.0-2.49 | 0.05% |
| 1.0-1.99 | 0.02% |
| Below 1.0 | 0% |
UGA Weighted GPA Requirements
UGA considers weighted GPA as one of its most important admissions factors. The median weighted GPA for UGA is a 4.0, with over 80% of admitted students having at least a 4.0, indicating that you will likely have to take higher level classes like AP and IB classes in order to be a competitive candidate for UGA. UGA’s website states that grades that you earn in your high school courses play the most important role in determining your competitiveness for admission to UGA.
To understand how UGA admissions recalculate your high school grades, the process starts with converting each grade earned based on the grading scale used by your high school. UGA uses a standard 4.0 scale and adds one point for each grade earned in an AP or IB course that doesn't already have a weight assigned to it. While UGA does not weigh Honors courses during the GPA recalculation process, the admissions team does evaluate the rigor of your high school curriculum, taking Honors courses into consideration.
University of Georgia SAT Requirements
The recommended SAT requirements for UGA are a 1220 to 1400 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. You will need a very high SAT score in order to get into UGA. If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your other standardized tests or have spectacular extracurricular activities to compensate. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
UGA Average SAT Composite Score: 1325
| SAT Score Distribution | Reading % | Math % |
|---|---|---|
| 700-800 | 30.47% | 31.10% |
| 600-699 | 54.68% | 44.03% |
| 500-599 | 14.17% | 23.11% |
| 400-499 | 0.63% | 1.64% |
| 300-399 | 0.05% | 0.12% |
| 200-299 | 0% | 0% |
What SAT score is required for UGA?
Applicants should score between 1220 to 1400 on their SAT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute ACT score or having an above-average GPA. Either an SAT or ACT score is required for application to this school.
University of Georgia ACT Requirements
The recommended ACT requirements for UGA are a 27-32 composite score combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. You will need a very high ACT score in order to get into UGA. If your ACT is not what you’d hoped by the time you apply, you may have to make it up by getting above-average scores on the SAT and having an above-average grade point average. If your ACT wasn’t as high as you’d like because of difficulties or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
UGA Average ACT: 31
| ACT Score Range | Composite Score % |
|---|---|
| 30-36 | 46.63% |
| 24-29 | 42.03% |
| 18-23 | 10.68% |
| 12-17 | 0.66% |
| 6-11 | 0% |
| Below 6 | 0% |
What ACT score is required for University of Georgia?
Applicants should score between 25 and 31 on their ACT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute SAT score or having an above-average GPA. During the last admissions cycle, Texas A&M had a test-optional policy, meaning students didn’t need to submit standardized test scores to complete their application.
What does University of Georgia look for in students?
The University of Georgia seeks students who will thrive in its academic and social environment. While good grades and test scores are important, the admissions team looks beyond these metrics and focuses on how a student and the school fit together.
To determine fit, the University of Georgia considers factors such as your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership experiences, community service, and personal qualities. They also look for students who are committed to UGA's mission of providing excellence in teaching, research, and service.
To show that you and UGA are a good match, start by researching the university's values and priorities. Explore the school's website, read its mission statement, and learn about its programs and initiatives. Consider how your own interests, goals, and values align with those of the university.
Next, reflect on your own experiences and accomplishments. Think about how you have demonstrated leadership, teamwork, creativity, and resilience. Consider how your involvement in your community or your passion for a particular cause aligns with UGA's commitment to service and making a positive impact.
Ultimately, the key to standing out in the UGA admissions process is to show that you are not only a strong student, but also someone who will contribute to and benefit from the university community. Demonstrate how you will make the most of UGA's resources and opportunities, and how UGA can help you achieve your goals and make a difference in the world.
How else can you demonstrate that you and UGA fit together? Think about your answers to these questions:
How have you worked collaboratively with others in the past, and how can you showcase this to UGA admissions? Collaboration is a key part of the UGA community, so be sure to highlight any experiences you've had working as part of a team.
Where have you taken initiative in your education, and how will you continue to do so at UGA? UGA values students who take ownership of their own learning, so think about how you've pursued academic interests outside of the classroom.
Where have you taken risks and learned resilience? UGA understands that failure is a natural part of life, and wants to see that you can work through challenges and setbacks in a positive way.
How have you explored your creativity, and how will you continue to do so at UGA? UGA values creativity and innovation, so be sure to highlight any experiences you've had in the arts, design, or other creative fields.
How and why do you value community, and how will you contribute to the UGA community? UGA places a strong emphasis on community involvement and service, so consider how you've been involved in your community in the past and how you plan to continue that work at UGA.
Where do you find balance in life, and how will you continue to prioritize your well-being at UGA? UGA recognizes that students need to take care of themselves in order to succeed, so think about how you've balanced academic, personal, and extracurricular commitments in the past.
University of Georgia Application Deadlines
The UGA application deadline for regular decision is January 1. UGA also provides an option for early action. The application deadline for UGA’s early action is October 15. Below is a table showing the deadlines for each of the steps of the UGA’s admissions process.
| Notification Plan | Application Material | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Early Action | Submit Test Scores | October 15 |
| Submit Application and Financial Aid Application | October 15 | |
| Admissions Decisions Released | Early December | |
| Regular Decision | Submit Test Scores | January 1 |
| Submit Application | January 1 | |
| Submit Financial Aid Application (if still pending) | January 1 | |
| Admissions Decisions Released | Mid-March | |
| Submit Application and Financial Aid Application | February 1 | |
| Admissions Decisions Released | March 1 | |
| Regular Decision | Submit Test Scores | February 1 |
| Submit Application | February 1 | |
| Submit Financial Aid Application (if still pending) | February 1 | |
| Admissions Decisions Released | April 10 |
UGA Early Action Policy
UGA's Early Action has an October 15 deadline and offers an expedited application process. Decisions are typically released before December 1, giving admitted students more time to explore UGA before the commitment deadline. Applicants may receive an offer of admission, a deferral of decision, or a denial of admission. Deferred students should consider submitting updated academic information. Both Early Action and Regular Decision are non-binding, allowing applicants to apply to other colleges and submit a commitment deposit by May 1 if admitted.
University of Georgia Supplemental Essay Prompts
To complete UGA’s supplemental essay requirements, applicants must write 1 essay of 200-300 words. The prompt is below:
The college admissions process can create anxiety. In an attempt to make it less stressful, please tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself from your high school years that you have not already shared in your application. (200-300 words)
University of Georgia Essay Tips
This prompt provides you with an opportunity to get creative with your response. It’s intentional, too, in what it seeks: they want to know things about you that don’t come across easily in other parts of your application.
While some may find that intimidating, we’d encourage you to take a deep breath, and focus on these general tips (taken from our UGA supplemental Guide):
Tip #1: Don’t repeat what’s in your personal statement.
Tip #2: Get specific. The more details you give, the more nuanced you’ll seem to your readers.
Tip #3: Use the space they give you. You only have 200-300 words, which isn’t a lot of space, so make use of it as best you can.
Tip #4: Use humor … or don’t. This prompt may make you feel like you have to be funny because it uses the word “amusing.” However, while humor is a great tool to use in some cases, it’s not the only way to answer this question.
Tip #5: Expand on the impact of your topic. Just because this is a seemingly lighthearted question doesn’t mean you can’t talk about meaningful things.
Tip #6: Write it long first, then cut it.
For more insight into these tips for the UGA prompt, be sure to check out our UGA supplemental essay guide.
Special thanks to Nick for writing this blog post.
Nick Muccio
Rather than candy, Nick (he/him) went searching for people’s vacuum cleaners when trick or treating. He’s since found other ways to help people clean, usually involving their essays (though he has great ideas on carpet maintenance, too). He earned a degree in Psychology from Bates College, where he rowed boats and acted in plays. Teaching high schoolers English for seven years taught him about the importance of presence and knitting sweaters. He sweats a lot, usually on purpose, and usually involving running shoes, a bike, or a rock climbing harness. His greatest fear? Heights. His greatest joys? Numerous, though shared laughter is up there.
