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The Next Four Years

Michelle Balaun — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 17:10:15 +0000

Are you Bulldog ready?

So, you have a student ready to spend the next four years as a Georgia Bulldog? Well, put your seatbelt on because you are getting ready to experience all that a top 10 American university can offer.

Being the birthplace of higher education, the University of Georgia has a long history of founding accomplishments. It is the state of Georgia’s flagship institution. UGA is in the top three producers of Rhodes scholars and has produced many famous athletes as well as scientists and other leaders. HaveUHeard that UGA is number one in total products reaching the market? They have scores of patents that their students and professors have created.

UGA is located in the town of Athens, which is about an hour northeast of Atlanta. It is a college town, bearing all things UGA and known for its antebellum architecture. It’s Victorian-era downtown is filled with art galleries, shops, nightclubs, and award-winning restaurants, pleasant and perfect to spend the next four years. Athens has a thriving music scene and is the starting place of R.E.M and the B-52’s. Being so close to the bustling city of Atlanta, students attending UGA have the luxury of going to school in a quaint small town, and can also enjoy the culture, sports, and events that a major city can offer.

The University of Georgia has over 37,000 students with campuses in 5 Georgia locations, Washington DC, England, and Italy. It consists of 17 colleges with 25 Baccalaureate degrees in more than 143 fields. You probably already know Georgia’s amazing NCAA Division 1 football record, but UGA also has 21 Varsity athletic teams. The Georgia Bulldogs are a force in college athletics. The most famous bulldog around resides in Athens and is the school’s mascot. Affectionately he is known as Uga, and you will see him around all UGA events and activities in Athens. Getting your picture taken with Uga is a rite of passage when you are a part of the University of Georgia, so make sure you check that box in the next four years.

Don’t forget to grab your spot to watch the Dawg Walk before home football games. The Redcoat Marching Band leads the cheering of the fans as the team walks into Sanford Stadium. Get ready, and Go Dawgs!

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Advice I’d Give To My Freshman Self

Michelle Balaun — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 20:18:16 +0000

Advice Every Freshman Should Know

A little advice goes a long way. Being a freshman in college is a new experience unlike any other you have ever known. For starters, you have been thrown into a dorm room that is probably no bigger than 15 feet by 15 feet and sharing every little crevice with either a friend or stranger. You are also more than likely trying to figure out what to eat in the dining hall, how the UGA bus system works, and also where you are going to fit in at this huge university. As overwhelming as a campus of almost 40,000 students can be, it is easier than expected to find your place, your people, and your passion here. The advice I believe every freshman should be aware of before stepping foot on campus is as follows:

Go to any and every event that interests you. Attending one event does not mean committing to be a member, so try out a few places and then see which one suits you best.
Strive for the best grades possible and commit to earning them, usually, freshman year is full of core classes, and A’s in these will boost your GPA later on.
Make friends everywhere… in the dining hall, in classes, in your dorms. Most of the students in your classes are also going to be a freshman looking for friends, so introduce yourself. I met one of my best friends by saying “Hey! Want to go get coffee after class and do our homework?”
Set rules with your roommate and stick to them. Uncommunicated expectations will cause the biggest fights, so just go ahead and get those ground rules out of the way in the beginning, you’ll thank me later.
Call and text your family. They miss you tons, I’m sure, and would love to hear about the classes you’re taking, friends you’re making, and fun you’re having.
Go to sporting events! Every sporting event at UGA is free to students except for football games, so use that to your advantage and go support the Dawgs.
Utilize the amazing amenities available to students: tutoring, career advice, office hours, counseling, etc. They are in place to enrich your UGA experience, so use them.
Involve yourself with at least one organization or club at UGA. Whether it be a sorority or fraternity, or a campus ministry, or a cultural group, or a club that interests you; put yourself in a position to meet like-minded people and make friends with people who you spend time with.
From enjoying the nightlife, taking advantage of the shopping, eating at the 150+ restaurants, or exploring the outdoor elements (lakes, zoos, and parks) around Athens, go off-campus and enjoy all the different things that Athens and surrounding counties have to offer.
Explore different academic disciplines and find out what interests you. Take new classes, explore new fields, and find out what you want to do and who you want to be. You might end up changing your major and finding your passion all because of one elective you signed up for on a whim, so do it!
Take time for you. Have a movie night alone, treat yourself to a coffee, or go for a run. College is hard and overwhelming, so find time to relax and listen to music and detox from stress, school, and people every once in a while.
Familiarize yourself with the campus. Become aware of good study places, non-crowded bus stops, the different places to eat, and where your classes are. Doing this will make it so much easier to go from one place to the next, grab a quick snack, or sit down and study somewhere quietly.

Have fun!! Be a person who says yes to adventure and doesn’t miss out on the fun things going on around you. I am a fearful person, but for freshman year I chose to adopt the “yes” mentality and I am so thankful for all the memories that came out of me saying yes. And if you want to create a Bucket List, we have the perfect blog to jumpstart it!

Madeleine Morris, UGA Intern

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How to Transition as a Transfer Student

Michelle Balaun — Fri, 15 May 2020 15:01:16 +0000

Transferring to a new college can be both daunting and exciting

Some students transfer after attending a two-year college and some transfer because they recognize that the university they are attending is not for them. I have had many friends who have transferred to UGA, and they definitely worried that they wouldn’t be able to find their place there.

As a transfer student, you often end up behind other students due to credits not transferring to your new school, having new required classes to take unique to this university, or simply because you have later access to registration. Chances are, you also are behind the ball on joining clubs, organizations, and Greek Life, so it is important to immediately try to get involved upon coming to UGA. There is also the possibility that you could be a Spring admit and therefore will not be on campus until January of your Freshman year. While you are not considered a “transfer,” you are still behind and might experience some of the same class credit issues as transfer students.

In order to combat these setbacks, it’s important to take initiative during your first weeks of school and meet with an advisor. Typically you will be sent an email from your advisor with instructions on how to sign up, and all of that information can be found on our Need Advice? Get Some Advising blog. They will help you figure out a way to catch up and get anything you need to have done so that you aren’t blindsided by a class you didn’t know you had to take, a university rule that wasn’t at your old school, and to make sure you are aware of how your previous credits (Dual Enrollment, AP, and other colleges) will transfer.

After meeting with your advisor, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to head over to, or contact, the Office of Student Financial Aid, located right on North Campus. This is where you can get answers to any questions you may have regarding finances and scholarships. They also have specific Transfer Student information available. Some transfer students might have issues with scholarships transferring as well as the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship. This office will help answer any of those types of questions and will also help with any financial questions and concerns you have. It’s definitely a good idea to make sure any financial aid or scholarships you had were properly applied and subsequently transferred to your new school.

Lastly, as a transfer student, it’s important to make friends! Use all the events and activities the school has to find people you love. Take some time to explore the campus and never be afraid to ask other students for help, even if you just got lost on your way to class! Everyone is always happy to help and it will make your transition much smoother than trying to figure out everything on your own.

Getting Involved makes any and every college experience the best it can possibly be, and there are so many different ways to get involved in Athens. The University of Georgia is lucky to have you as a student, regardless of when you choose to become a part of DawgNation and your years in Athens, however long or short they may be, will truly change your life.

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Top Majors to Consider at UGA

Michelle Balaun — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 15:59:38 +0000

So Many Majors To Choose From

The Classic City is the home of the University of Georgia and is, therefore, home to the #16 Public University in the United States of America. The beauty and culture surrounding UGA is not the only thing that draws students to wear red and black; it is also an extremely prestigious and impressive education received while attending. UGA offers 132 distinct undergraduate degrees as well as many different graduate tracks to pursue.

The most popular majors at University of Georgia include:

Psychology
Finance
Biology
Business Administration and Management
Accounting
Marketing/Marketing Management
International Relations and Affairs
Political Science and Government
Social Work
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Communication
Journalism
Education

These, however, are just the most popular, but there is so much more to choose from; 100+ degrees to be more exact. Read more about all the choices. And if there isn’t something there that works for you, it is possible to create one’s own path by combining majors, minors, and certificates. Truly. Sit down with an advisor and create a combination that 100% suits your interests. With all this help and personalization available, it is no surprise that UGA’s freshman retention rate is over 95%.

The top 6 schools at the University of Georgia are:

Majors within these schools are extremely prestigious, difficult to get into, and students that graduate from these programs typically experience great success in the workforce. This is generally the case with all UGA majors, not just the ones listed since UGA has a 95% career outcome rate, which is significantly higher than the national average.

All students are required to meet with their academic advisors to plan out their schedules so that they can achieve the major they desire. Advisors can tell you more about available options and requirements, or programs that are unique to UGA. Regardless of your major, earning a degree from the University of Georgia is impressive enough and you will for sure have success post-graduation, whether it be in the workforce or in grad school.

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Smaller School first, then UGA

Michelle Balaun — Thu, 21 May 2020 16:06:58 +0000

UNG First – Then Transfer to UGA

Some times it makes more sense to first go to a smaller school, for many different reasons, some students prefer to start their college career at a local community college and then transfer to UGA. Smaller environments, smaller class sizes, lower costs, and a more relaxed atmosphere can be beneficial to a student’s successful transition from high school to college.

While the University of North Georgia Oconee does not have a direct feeder program into UGA, it is no secret that many students choose to get their core classes done at UNG Oconee, while living in Athens, and then transferring to UGA for their “major” classes eventually graduating from UGA. Since the requirements to transfer into UGA are easier than the initial acceptance requirements as a freshman, it is sometimes more attainable for students to split their 4 years between a community college and then UGA. By doing the first 2 years at UNG, students become accustomed to college life and Athens, while not actually being at UGA.

UNG as a whole has less “weed out” classes than UGA, so sometimes students benefit by taking the Oconee classes because they are typically less rigorous than the UGA freshmen and sophomore weed outs. If you are a resident of the state of Georgia who qualified for Hope/Zell, this financial aid scholarship can still be applied to classes at UNG, making them cheaper. Per semester fees at UNG are also cheaper than those of UGA, so going to Oconee for your first two years is a great way to be in Athens while also spending less money.

Misconceptions

The one misconception is that going to UNG will guarantee transfer admission into UGA, and that is not the case. No one is guaranteed admission into UGA, whether they are trying to start as a transfer student or trying to begin as a freshman.

Even if you are already a UGA student, taking some classes at UNG over the summer can count towards your credit requirements. Some students prefer to take some of the prerequisite math, science, history, and English classes at UNG if they can’t get into classes during the school year. Just make sure that you meet with your advisors to confirm that all credits count toward UGA graduation requirements or your major requirements. UNG is less than 15 mins from UGA’s campus and therefore, many UNG students live in the same housing as UGA students.

For more helpful tips, check out our Transfer to UGA blog. Not every student takes the direct route to become a Dawg. Spending time at UNG can be a great way to start college to prepare for UGA.

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