Georgia has the right idea...

MommyToAshley wrote: Georgia has merit based scholarships for ALL high school students that maintain a "B" average. Remember when I said I think all people should have equal access to education and it should not be based on race or income. I think they have the answer. Here's a little excerpt from an article I was reading:

Seemingly overnight, one of the South's largest public universities has become enormously competitive. The principal reason is a free tuition program used by almost every freshman at the university and paid for by proceeds from the Georgia lottery. Known as the Hope Scholarship, it pays for all tuition and fees at any state college or university for Georgia residents with at least a B average. Since it was enacted in 1993, it has proved a powerful financial incentive for the state's top students to bypass universities like Duke, Vanderbilt and North Carolina and remain in the state.

The average SAT score for incoming freshmen has increased to 1203 this year from 1086 in 1993, compared with the national average of 1019 now. For the first time, Georgia ranks in the top 20 public universities on lists like those compiled by U.S. News & World Report, equivalent to schools like Ohio State and Purdue.

.... A new study by two University of Georgia economists found that the Hope program had increased enrollment by 10 percent at four-year public schools in the state, and by 20 percent at private schools, where the scholarship subsidizes students' tuition.

Since the Hope program began, the average SAT scores of college freshmen remaining in the state has increased by nearly 10 percent, putting Georgia freshmen at the same level as the national average for the first time beginning in 1998. The number of the brightest students staying in the state — those with SAT scores of at least 1500 out of a possible 1600 — has increased to 76 percent from 23 percent in 1993.


Just curious, does anyone here live in Georgia? What do you think of the HOPE Scholarships? This seems to fill the void for financial assistance for the middle class that fall between the cracks -- those that don't qualify for public assistance and yet don't make enough to easily afford college tuition. Georgia also still provides pell grants to the low income, in fact, students can receive both the pell grant and the Hope scholarship.

It's funny, just the other night DH and I were discussing possibly moving out of state... Georgia wasn't on our list, but is sounding pretty good to me now.

mckayleesmom replied: I think it sounds like a great reward for students that try hard to get some help in furthering their education.

BecauseIsaidSo replied: My son received the HOPE scholarship. He had it all 4 years~~YEEHAW! He also received some smaller scholarships to go with the HOPE! He is now in graduate school out of state and was able to receive IN STATE TUITION which was a blessing. Just to walk into another college out of state would be 10,000 on top of the tuition! We were blessed that he received IN STATE status!!

lisar replied: I think its a great idea. I believe that scholorships should not be based on anything but your grades. And its sad to know that there are places that base it on that. However I think this is a great idea.

Kaitlin'smom replied: that does sound good, maybe I should tell DH to look for a job there. I am guessing at some point we might have to look for him out of state if he cant find anything here. However I wont make any big moves like that with out getting alot more info on the state, like quirky laws and such but anythign is an option.

My2Beauties replied: They do this in Kentucky, it's called a KEES Scholarship, they don't give as much it sounds like. I got a KEES Scholarship my freshman year, it didn't cover my entire tuition though.

BecauseIsaidSo replied: The GEORGIA HOPE SCHOLARSHIP is only $3,000 a year.

Kaitlin'smom replied: thats not much really but at least its something to work for.

I started a college saving account for Kaitlin when she was a baby, it dont got much in it right now but its a good start for her.

My2Beauties replied:
It's not even that much in Kentucky I don't think, even the highest amount you can get. This was back in 1999 though when I graduated, I'll have to look it up now. Heck, it may not even be around anymore as much as Kentucky has cut back on postsecondary education

lisar replied:
Its better than nothing like alot of kids have

jcc64 replied: Don't forget that $3000 goes a long way at a public university, unlike private schools which typically cost between 30 and 40K.
Scholarships to keep the best and brightest "in state" are not new--my brother, who was #3 in his hs graduating class of 350 in 1985, received a full scholarship providing he attend any school in our home state of NJ. He went to Princeton on a free ride, courtesy of Steve Wynn, the Vegas and Atlantic City casino owner. There are lots of scholarships and incentives for bright kids, many many more than athletic scholarships. I'm sure Ashley will be one of those kids, Dee Dee.
We're doing the whole college thing with my oldest who is a junior. He will absolutely be attending a SUNY school--there is no way we could afford the tuition for a private university unless they throw massive amounts of aid our way.

Mommy2Isabella replied: We have the Hope scholarship here, it isn't a lot of money. It will cover a tech school but thats it. Like we have Trident Technical college it would cover tuition there but thats it.

It is based on your grades and I think financial need. I don't remember, I know I couldn't get it because my parents made to much money.

MommyToAshley replied: As far as I know, they don't offer anything like the here. There are academic scholarships for the few top people with honors. My neice is going to end up being either the valedictorian or salutatorian for her graduating class this year. She's already taking some courses at the college in her senior year in HS, but to my knowledge she is not getting a free ride anywhere.

The thing that I think is great about this scholarship is that it is available to ANYONE and EVERYONE that maintains a "B" average. It may only be $3,000 but apparently it covers the cost of tuition to the public college with is ranked in the top 20 in the nation. I guess my point is that it is not going to just the top select few students, and anyone can carry a "B" average if they do their homework and study. Your IQ doesn't have to be off the charts, you just have to be diligent about your work. I wouldn't accept anything less from Ashley anyways -- not because I think she is smarter than anyone else, but because her school work will be a priority.

I would never move to a state based solely on this reason, but I do plan to write our representative and ask why we don't have such a program. And, it would be something to consider if we do move.