Joint Enrollment
Early Admission of High School Students
Postsecondary Options
 


The University System of Georgia recognizes the need to provide academically talented high school students with opportunities for acceleration of their formal academic programs. This recognition has led to the development of two organized programs: (1) a joint enrollment program in which the student, while continuing his/her enrollment in high school as a junior or senior, enrolls in courses for college credit; and (2) an early admission program in which the student enrolls as a full-time college student following completion of the junior year in high school. Public high school students, classified as juniors or seniors, who are at least 16 years of age and who meet the eligibility criteria may choose to participate in the Post Secondary Options program which pays for tuition during the academic school year (excluding summer terms). The minimum admission standards for both the joint enrollment and early admission programs have been developed to allow certain advanced students to receive both high school and college credit for some courses.

Admission Standards

  1. Minimum SAT score of 970, combined Verbal and Mathematics sections, or an ACT composite score of 21;

  2. Minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0 in academic subjects;

  3. Exemption of LS requirements for early admission;

  4. Written recommendation from the high school principal or counselor;

  5. Written consent of parent or guardian (if the student is a minor);

  6. Completion of the University System of Georgia CPC requirements with the following exceptions:

  1. Students with SAT I Verbal scores of at least 530 (or ACT English scores of at least 24) who have not completed the final unit of high school English and/or social studies may be permitted to fulfill these high school requirements with the appropriate college courses taken through the joint enrollment or early admissions program.

  2. Students with SAT I Mathematics scores of at least 530 or ACT Mathematics scores of at least 22 who have not completed the final unit of mathematics may be permitted to fulfill those high school requirements with the appropriate college courses taken through the joint enrollment or early admissions program. Students should be aware that, while College Algebra, Math Modeling, or Statistics may be taken through PSO, these courses will not apply toward a college degree in science, engineering, computer science, and many other fields. High school advanced algebra/trig taken in high school should provide better preparation for majors requiring calculus and should be taken no later than the 11th grade.

  3. With the exception of the final units of high school English, social studies and/or mathematics taken by students with qualifying SAT or ACT scores, a college course may not be used to fulfill the University System of Georgia’s CPC requirements. Students who have not completed the 13 CPC requirements beyond these three exceptions may be admitted through the joint enrollment program if they are enrolled in the necessary high school courses and are scheduled to complete the requirements by the end of the senior year.

  4. Students who do not necessarily meet all of the above criteria but who demonstrate very high academic abilities through their SAT performance may be permitted to enroll in college courses at the discretion of the institution. Institutions may set additional requirements but may permit students with scores of at least:

  • 700 on the SAT I Mathematics test to enroll in college courses that require advanced mathematical ability;

  • 700 of the SAT I Verbal test to enroll in college courses that require advanced verbal ability; and

  • In addition, students with extremely high combined SAT I scores may be admitted through the provision for Outstanding Students as described above.