While this may come as a surprise to many, the law changed in 2011 by the 
Georgia Legislation to give the HOPE scholarship more hoops before any student can cash in. Georgia students are looking ahead to an even greater and more rigorous academic load while preparing for college.
It’s not just the grade point averages anymore. It’s the added requirement of including up to four dual-enrollment, advanced placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or others from a small list of legislatively approved courses by 2017.
Christopher Smith of The Daily Citizen reports,
“Qualifying for the HOPE scholarship is going to become more difficult. Students graduating after May 1, 2015, will be required to take at least two classes from among college dual-enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and advance foreign language classes to specific classes approved by lawmakers (tinyurl.com/GSFClist) if they want to qualify for the scholarship. They must still have the required GPA.
Sophomores who will graduate after May 1, 2016, will be expected to take three advance courses if they want to qualify, while freshmen graduating after May 1, 2017, will have to take four classes.”
Planning for the HOPE scholarship became more calculated and having a plan in place for college just became more critical. Both students and their parents should be looking ahead and preparing for making some more calculated and intentional decisions that could have a surprising and positive impact on the student’s college admission plans.
These new requirements will actually allow more students to be more admissible to a broader selection of colleges. When you apply for college, your academic resume makes a huge difference with regard to attending many colleges and universities. A rigorous high school academic schedule speaks volumes these days!
The Daily Citizen also quotes Jennifer Phinney, director of school support for Dalton Public Schools saying, “regardless of which classes they take, students should “get a plan now” if they’re banking on HOPE scholarship money to help pay for college.
”It’s going to require careful planning,” Phinney said. “If you wait … you’re not setting yourself up for success.”
Capstone Educational Consultants, LLC — Fayette County’s personal and comprehensive college planner can assist in developing an educational action plan that makes sense now, but makes even more sense now for college. Creating a plan during high school, where every decision is intentional and makes the case for college is brilliant.
by Mark Cruver
©2014 Capstone Educational Consultants, LLC
