Beginning Freshman
A freshman applicant is one who has not previously attended a regionally accredited college or university and/or has not yet graduated from high school. Freshman admission is based on standardized test scores, such as the SAT or ACT, high school grade point average (HSGPA) in college preparatory subjects, College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC)/Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) courses only, and Freshman Index (FI).
Students must have completed CPC/RHSC requirements as outlined in the second item in the following list.
1. High school graduation with a college preparatory/required high school curriculum diploma is required for admission as a beginning freshman. Both completion of the University System's College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC)/Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) and graduation must be from a high school accredited by (a) a regional accrediting association such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), (b) The Georgia Accrediting Commission, (c) Georgia Private School Accrediting Council, or (d) a public school regulated by a school system and state department of education. A student applying while in high school should have a transcript of work through the junior year sent to the Admissions Office at the time of application.
2. The University System of Georgia requires completion of a College Preparatory Curriculum/Required High School Curriculum for admission. Freshmen and transfer freshmen applicants must complete the following coursework to be admitted to the University:
Course (Units) |
Instructional Emphasis |
English (4) |
-Grammar and usage |
|
-Literature (American & World) |
|
-Advanced composition skills |
Science (4)* |
-Physical Science |
|
-At least two laboratory courses from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics |
Mathematics (4) |
-Including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and a higher math that has Geometry/Algebra II as a prerequisite |
Social Science (3) |
-American History |
|
-World History |
|
-Economics and Government, or appropriate substitution |
Foreign Language (2) |
-Two skill-building courses of the same language emphasizing speaking, listening, reading, and writing. |
*Students graduating earlier than 2012 only need 3 units of science. For more details regarding the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC), visit: http://www.westga.edu/rhsc
3. Each freshman applicant must submit scores earned on the SAT or ACT. Information regarding these tests may be obtained from any high school guidance office or any institution in the University System of Georgia. A freshman applicant cannot be accepted until the scores are received.
4. Minimum SAT/ACT score requirements for freshman or transfer freshman admission are:
SAT Critical Reading-430 and SAT Math-410; ACT English-17, and ACT Math-17.
It is the policy of the Office of Admissions to take a student's best Critical Reading/English and best math score should the student take the SAT or ACT more than once; however, SAT scores and ACT scores cannot be "mixed" in determining admission eligibility.
5. In addition to the minimum test score requirement, a minimum Freshman Index of 2050 is required for any level of freshman or transfer freshman admission.
6. A high school senior who is earning college credit in a joint enrollment program while completing the senior year should apply to West Georgia as a beginning freshman but should indicate enrollment in a joint enrollment program on the application for admission. West Georgia will grant transfer credit for this work under the following conditions: (1) Work must be earned through an accredited college. (2) Individual courses must meet the normal guidelines for acceptability (see Transfer Student section).
