As this school year begins its end, freshmen begin to think about their applications to various University colleges for the upcoming year.

Upon entry in the University, students are placed in colleges based on their intended major. However, for pre-business, pre-journalism and pre-pharmacy majors, students have to wait for entry in to their desired college, while others are already in the correct college and need only to apply to their major.

In order to be accepted into their intended schools, students must apply to Terry College of Business, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and College of Pharmacy only after they’ve completed the necessary prerequisites.

Tyler Andrews, a freshmen pre-Journalism major from Marietta, said he is both scared and excited to begin his application to Grady College.

Majors in pre-business, pre-journalism and pre-pharmacy have to be accepted into their intended school, aside from being accepted into the University. SEAN TAYLOR/Staff

“I’m ready to learn more about my major, but I know getting into Grady is going to really competitive” he said. “I know I need to have better grades and to just work hard.”

Similar to Andrews, many freshmen realize how important academics are to successfully being accepted into University colleges. However, there’s more to an application than just grade point average.

Terry College of Business

Each semester, Terry receives approximately 800 applications and accepts close to 99 percent of students, said Nancy Garrett, the students affairs professional at Terry College of Business.

When applying, students choose a primary major out of eight options: accounting, economics, banking and finance, management, management information systems, marketing, real estate and risk management and insurance — or a co-major of international business.

The most competitive majors in Terry are banking and finance, marketing and accounting, Garrett said.

In order to be accepted into Terry, students are required to take the ETS Proficiency Profile, complete a Statement of Purpose Essay, and have a minimum of a 2.60 grade point average, but the average GPA of accepted students in closer to a 3.20, Garrett said.

However, it isn’t all about academics.

“The academics are important, but the little things can make a difference,” Garrett said. “We want [Terry students] to have good communication skills, to be able to speak well and to have some knowledge of business.”

To better prepare for the application, Garrett said joining a pre-business organization, such as the Cavalier Business Society, which provides pre-business students with direction and clarity through the Terry process, would be a big help.

Also, Garrett said taking advantage of the available resources is the best way to do well and to be a competitive applicant.

“The worst thing [a freshman] can do is to wait too long before asking for help,” she said. “Get to know your professors, approach your advisors, ask questions. Anything that helps you grow is beneficial.”

Unlike other colleges on campus, which have more limited space, Terry grows larger each year.

“We have the ability to grow and to accept more students,” Garrett said. “Right now, we might be easier to get into than [other colleges].”

More information on undergraduate admissions can be found here:http://www.terry.uga.edu/undergraduate/admissions.html

Grady College

Every semester, approximately 350 students apply to the Grady College. Three-hundred and thirty make it in.

“However, [the students] don’t necessarily get into their first choice,” said Diane Miller, the Director of Undergraduate Services of Grady College. “Most students are aware they might not get their first choice, and most people accept what they’re offered.”

The most competitive majors vary over time, but public relations, digital and broadcast journalism and mass media arts usually tend to be at the top of the list, she said.

Miller said each year the major departments can only take a certain number of students because of limited resources – 64 for public relations, 90 for advertising, 38 for digital and broadcast, 60 for mass media arts and 75 for journalism.

On the application, 75 percent of a student’s score is based on his or her grade point average in areas A, C and E in the UGA core curriculum and 25 percent is based on the statement of interest. Although the minimum GPA to be eligible for applying is 2.80, Miller said students need at least a 3.0 Grady GPA to be accepted into any major in Grady, and even higher for the more competitive ones.

When writing a statement of interest, Miller said the admissions board looks for an investment in the major, commitment to working in the field, style of writing and overall a clearly structured piece.

“We’re looking for organization and a good writing style,” she said. “Overall, ‘Is this an effective piece of communication?’”

When preparing to apply, many students hear rumors that might dissuade or discourage them during the application process, Miller said.

“We encourage students to take the Intro to Journalism before they get into Grady, but it isn’t required,” she said. “Also, you don’t need to have Economics to get into Grady, but you do need it to graduate, and you don’t need to finish a foreign language before you get into the college, only if you have other classes that are able to fill up Area C [of the UGA core curriculum].”

To better prepare for the application, Miller said to get involved early in student organizations, such as the publications or show staff, to look for any kind of professional experience and to make academics a priority.

Miller said students are hesitant to apply, even if they meet the requirements, because they think it’s hard to be accepted. Still, Grady isn’t turning down many students each semester.

For more information on undergraduate admissions, contact Beth Rector, the prospective student adviser, or visit http://www.grady.uga.edu/admissions.php?al1=Admissions&page=adm_pregrady.inc.php

College of Pharmacy

Unlike Terry and Grady, the College of Pharmacy accepts students once a year.

Approximately 600 to 700 students apply and 145 students are accepted, said Alan Wolfgang, assistant dean for student affairs of the College of Pharmacy.

To be eligible for application, students must complete the pre-pharmacy course requirements, take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test and have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average.

The application process is composed of two rounds — the academics and the interview.

“The hardest part is getting an interview,” Wolfgang said. “We can’t interview everybody, so getting the interview is just based on GPA and the PCAT scores. Academics are all really important because you need that just to get an interview.”

The College of Pharmacy allows approximately 250 students to interview, Wolfgang said.

Once a student acquires an interview, then the admissions board looks at the overall picture of the student.

“We look at you off the paper,” he said. “Good communication skills, the experience of knowledge of pharmacy, your extra curriculars. We want to know you have [the doctoral side], so we look at community service, leadership positions and clubs you are involved in. It’s not just the academics, we want to explore everything else.”

More information on College of Pharmacy admissions can be found here:http://www.rx.uga.edu/index.php/admissions/professional_program_admissions/