Admissions

Application Deadlines and Admissions Decisions

Application deadlines are posted on the Admissions web page. Students are encouraged to apply early to ensure that their application file is complete by the deadline. Students can check the Admissions web page for any updated requirements that may supersede this academic catalog. Final admission decisions will not be issued until all required documentation has been submitted, reviewed and approved by the Admissions Office. Notification of admissions decisions will be made in writing and mailed to the student’s permanent address. A final admissions decision is required before students can enroll in classes.

Admissions Categories

The information contained in the following table will be used to determine the appropriate admissions category and the documents required for admission and/or enrollment. Prospective students who have questions about the requirements for admissions are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions.

*All applicants who are accepted for admission or readmission to ABAC and who seek to be classified as in-state for tuition purposes, will be required to provide verification of lawful presence in both the State of Georgia and the United States.

Homeschool Students: The requirements only apply to Homeschool students who have never attended college or who have fewer than 30 transferable semester hours.

Notes Relevant To Required Documents

Section 1 - Online Application

The required online application for admission to ABAC is available at www.GAfutures.org

Re-admit and transient students may submit application that is available by clicking here: Re-admit and Transient Application.

Section 2 - Non-Refundable Application Fee

Students applying for admission to ABAC shall pay a $20 non-refundable application fee with the exception of those participating in the Dual Enrollment program and readmits who previously paid the application fee.

If you have an ACT, NACAC, or SAT Fee Waiver, please email to admissions@abac.edu.

Section 3 - Certificate of Immunization

Per policy of the Board of Regents, University System of Georgia, a written record of immunization must be submitted by all applicants prior to registering for classes. Click here to access the form:  ABAC Immunization Form. You may submit this form, or a copy of your Georgia Grits Record to (229) 391-5031.  For questions regarding Immunizations, please call the Health Center at (229) 391-5030.

Section 4 - Verification of Lawful Presence and Eligibility for In-state Tuition

In accordance with Board of Regents Policies 4.1.6 and 4.3.4, all applicants who are accepted for admission or readmission to ABAC and who seek to be classified as in-state for tuition purposes, will be required to provide validation of residency and lawful presence in both the State of Georgia and the United States.

Means of providing verification of lawful presence are the following:

1. A current ID or driver’s license issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008

2. A certified U.S. birth certificate showing that the student was born in the U.S. or a U.S. territory. Please note that http://www.vitalchek.com provides instructions for ordering a certified U.S. birth certificate.

3. A U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (DS-1350) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)

4. A current U.S. Passport

5. A current valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form I-151 or I-551)

Students who receive Federal financial aid will have satisfied the requirement.

ABAC is required to verify the lawful presence of incoming students who have not provided one of the above documents and who seek to be classified for in-state tuition, using one of the following methods:

1. Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program if student does not have a current F visa.

2. SEVIS for non-citizens possessing an F visa.

Applicants who are not United States citizens and not permanent residents and seek to be classified for in-state tuition must provide a current copy of their visa and I-94. If they have a current Employment Authorization Card, it should be included with the visa and I-94.

Section 5 - Partial High School Transcripts

Students who are required to submit high school transcripts (see Table 1, previously) shall request that their high school send an official partial, or incomplete, high school transcript at the time of their application. These transcripts are used to determine whether the student has completed the USG’s Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) and to determine whether the student will be required to take pre-collegiate coursework while at ABAC. Final admissions decisions cannot be made based on partial or incomplete high school transcripts. (See Section 7.) Students cannot enroll in classes until a final admissions decision is made.

Section 6 - Official SAT or ACT Test Scores

Official SAT/ACT scores are required for freshmen who have graduated, or would have graduated, from high school within the last five (5) years.

Section 7 - Final, Official High School Transcripts

All high school graduates, either first-time freshmen or those transferring from another college or university who have completed fewer than 30 semester credit hours, must provide an official, final high school transcript. A final admission decision cannot be made until the final transcript is submitted and reviewed. Furthermore, students will not be permitted to enroll in classes until final, official transcripts are received and reviewed.

Section 8 - Official College Transcripts

The following persons shall request that official college or university transcripts be sent to ABAC:

1. Applicants who have attended a college or university prior to seeking admission to ABAC, or

2. Applicants who participated in dual enrollment at a college, technical college, or university other than ABAC while in high school, or

3. Applicants seeking readmission to ABAC who have attended another college or university since attending ABAC.

Section 9 - Official GED Scores

Applicants who have a GED shall submit official GED scores to ABAC prior to admission.

Section 10 - Placement Test Scores

Placement scores are optional for students who do not meet English 1101 and Math 1001/1111 placement based on regular admissions requirements.  Test scores older than 3 years will not be accepted.

Section 11 - Transient Permission Form

Applicants wishing to attend ABAC as a transient student must obtain a transient permission letter from their home institution giving them permission to attend ABAC or showing that they are in good academic standing with their home institution.

Admissions Criteria, Standards, And Provisions

Freshmen

1. Freshmen who graduated or will graduate from high school within the last five (5) years and have never attended college, or have fewer than 30 transferable semester hours.

   • Required High School Curriculum

     • Completion of the USG’s Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) requirements and graduation from a high school accredited by a regional accrediting association (such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) or the Georgia Accrediting Commission or from a public school regulated by a school system and state department of education are required.

     • Students who graduate from high school in 2012 or later must present credits for 17 specified units. Please visit the University System of Georgia’s site https://www.usg.edu/assets/student_affairs/documents/Staying_on_Course.pdf for more information on Required High School Curriculum.

   • GPA

     • Calculation of the High School GPA (HS GPA) for the purpose of the Freshmen Index (FI) is computed by an “admissions HS GPA” using the “HOPE” method without “weighting.” This method includes all attempts on academic courses with no weighting for AP or IB courses. Students with an “admissions HS GPA” of less than a 2.0 will not be admitted.

   • SAT/ACT Scores

     • Students must satisfy the minimum SAT score of 380 on Evidence Based Reading and Writing and 360 on the Math section or ACT 12 English or 12 Reading, and ACT Math of 14.

   • Freshmen Index

     • The Freshmen Index considers students’ performance in high school as well as their performance on the SAT or ACT. To be admitted, students must have a Freshmen Index of at least 1830, calculated as:
       FI = 500 x (HSGPA) + 1.06 x (SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section score + SAT Math section score) - 74
       FI = 500 X (HS GPA) + (ACT Composite x 42) + 88

2. Freshmen with a high school diploma who graduated from HS more than five (5) years ago and have never attended college, or have fewer than 30 transferable semester hours.

   • GPA

     • An official final high school transcript from an accredited or approved high school or copy of high school diploma.

3. Freshmen with GED who would have graduated from high school within the last five (5) years and have never attended college, or have fewer than 30 transferable hours.

   • GED

     • Students must submit official GED scores

     • Students must submit official high school transcript up to the term last attended

   • SAT/ACT Scores

     • Students must satisfy the minimum SAT score of 380 on Evidence Based Reading and Writing and 360 on the Math section or ACT 12 English or 12 Reading, and ACT Math of 14.

4. Freshmen with GED who would have graduated from high school more than five (5) years ago and have never attended college, or have fewer than 30 transferable semester hours.

   • GED

     • Students must submit official GED scores.

Homeschool Students

• Transcripts

  • Official transcripts from any conventional public/private high school and colleges attended

• SAT/ACT Scores

  • Students must satisfy the minimum SAT score of 380 on Evidence Based Reading and Writing and 360 on the Math section or ACT 12 English or 12 Reading, and ACT Math of 14.

• Copy of Declaration of Intent to Home School as filed with the local Board of Education submitted via: Declaration of Intent

• Completed Home School Preparatory Credit Evaluation Form and Supplemental Documentation and signed certification form submitted via: Home School Credit Evaluation Form                

• Letter from primary teacher certifying completion of high school and date of high school graduation submitted via: Certifying Letter 

• For further information, see: https://www.abac.edu/admissions/prospective-students-2/#Homeschooled

Transfer Students

(having 30 or more transferable semester hours)

• Students seeking to attend ABAC must be eligible to continue at or return to their previous institution with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Re-admit Students

• Students seeking to be re-admitted to ABAC must be in good standing at ABAC. If students seeking readmission have attended other colleges or universities since attending ABAC, they must be eligible to continue at or return to their previous institution(s).

International Students

• Transcripts

  • Students must submit an official English translation with their secondary school transcripts and be among the upper level in academic achievement with high grades in school subjects.

• SAT/ACT Scores

  • Students must meet the minimum SAT score of 380 on Evidence Based Reading and Writing and 360 on the Math section or ACT 12 English or 12 Reading, and ACT Math of 14.

  • Students whose native tongue is not English can satisfy proficiency in English with a 480 SAT Reading or 17 ACT English.

• TOEFL

  • Students whose native tongue is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Test scores will be used in placement of students and a minimum score of 523 on the paper TOEFL, 193 on the computer TOEFL, or 69 on the Internet TOEFL is required.

• Financial Support

  • Students must demonstrate financial independence or sponsorship by completing the Certificate of Financial Support located at https://dynamicforms.ngwebsolutions.com/Submit/Form/Start/5e8b7208-833b-4184-a3bf-920fd64a720d, and submitting bank statements for the past six months.

Dual Enrollment Students

• ABAC provides academically-talented high school students opportunities to enroll in college-level coursework during their Junior and Senior Years of High School.

• To participate, students must demonstrate that they are on-track to complete the USG’s Required High School Curriculum (RHSC) and that the applicant is on track to graduate from a public school regulated by a school system and state department of education or a school accredited by one of the following approved accrediting bodies:

  • A regional accrediting association such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

  • The Georgia Accrediting Commission

  • Georgia Private School Accrediting Council

• Students attending non-accredited homeschool programs or non-accredited high schools may also be eligible to participate if they meet all general admission requirements for Dual Enrollment and have validated they are on-track for completing the USG’s RHSC according to the policies and procedures of the institution to which they are applying. 

• Official High School Transcript

  • Students must have at least a minimum 3.0 High School Grade Point Average (HSGPA) as calculated by the institution for admission purposes and exempt Learning Support requirements.  

• Scores

  • Students may submit ACCUPLACER scores for Dual Enrollment admission.  The student must meet the minimum scores in the following areas:

    • Reading: 237

    • Math: 266

    • WritePlacer: 4

Post-Baccalaureate Students

• Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution will be allowed to take courses with no limitation on the number of hours of undergraduate credit, with or without the intention of earning a degree from ABAC.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

• Applicants who have not already earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution may enroll as a non-degree student for a maximum of 12 semester credit hours, including institutional credit. Students may not enroll in any course for which there is a Learning Support prerequisite unless they have been screened for and have exempted the relevant Learning Support course(s). Students who have earned the baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution may enroll as non-degree students in courses with no limitation on the number of hours of undergraduate credit.

Transient Students

• Students currently enrolled at another college or university may wish to attend ABAC for a limited time and then return to their home institution. A transient student enrolled at ABAC is limited to three consecutive terms. Transient students should request that a copy of the ABAC transcript be sent to the home institution after grades are posted at the end of the term.

Students 62 Years Old, or Older

• Pursuant to the provisions of the Georgia Constitution, the University System established the following rules with respect to enrollment of persons 62 years of age or older. Enrollment criteria:

  • Must be a resident of Georgia, 62 years of age or older at the time of registration, and present a birth certificate or other comparable written documentation of age to enable the institution to determine eligibility.

  • Enroll as a regular or auditing student in courses offered for resident credit on a “space available” basis without payment of fees, except for supplies, laboratory or shop fees.

  • Satisfy all System and institution admission requirements; however, institutions may exercise discretion in exceptional cases where circumstances indicate that certain requirements such as high school graduation and minimum test scores are inappropriate. In those instances involving discretionary admission, institutions will provide diagnostic methods to determine whether participation in Learning Support will be required prior to enrollment in regular credit courses. Reasonable prerequisites may be required in certain courses.

  • Have all usual student and institutional records maintained.

  • Satisfy all System, institution, and legislated degree requirements, if they are degree-seeking students.

Admission to Audit Classes

• Persons wishing to attend regular college classes without credit may apply for admission as auditors. Applicants must meet either freshman or transfer admission requirements. Fees are the same as for credit-earning students. Students interested in auditing a class must indicate to the instructor their intention to do so during the first five days of the term.