UGA early admissions skyrocket

The number of early action applicants to the University of Georgia has reached a record level, and on Friday approximately 7,500 students received the good news that they have been offered admission to the birthplace of public higher education in America.

Nearly 17,000 students applied for early action admission to the Class of 2023, which is a 14 percent increase over last year and a 28 percent increase compared to five years ago. This year early action applications came from nearly all of Georgia’s 159 counties and 3,100 high schools across America.

"UGA is pleased to offer admission to such a talented group of scholars," said Patrick Winter, associate vice president for admissions and enrollmentmanagement. "After months of traveling the state and nation recruiting these students, it is our privilege to welcome them to the University of Georgia."

As in previous years, students who were offered early action admission enrolled in rigorous coursework relative to what is available at their school and also earned outstanding GPAs and SAT or ACT scores.

Students who receive a deferral of decision still have a chance at a UGA education; their applications will be reviewed through the regular decision process, which also considers factors such as extracurricular activities, essays and school recommendations. Winter emphasized that deferred students also can submit senior year grades and SAT or ACT scores that were not submitted previously.

The regular decision application deadline is Jan. 1, and final admissions decisions for deferred early action and regular decision applicants will be released in March 2019.

The record number of early action applications comes at a time when new academic initiatives have elevated student success as well as the university’s reputation as a national leader in public higher education.

UGA is the nation's largest public university to ensure that each of its undergraduate students engages in hands-on learning, and an initiative is underway to promote the greater adoption of active learning strategies that foster critical thinking and teamwork. In addition, the university recently completed the Investing in the Student Experience hiring initiative to reduce class sizes and promote personalized instruction.

The university jumped three spots to No. 13 in the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking of best public national universities, which is the highest U.S. News ranking in UGA’s history. UGA is ranked No. 12 in Kiplinger’s list of best values in public colleges, and the university’s career outcomes rate is at a record 96 percent.

“The rise in the number of early action applicants over the past five years reflects the increasing stature of UGA among public colleges and universities across the nation,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “The university congratulates the students admitted to the Class of 2023 through early action.”