|
|
Name: The Advanced Academy of Georgia |
||||
The Advanced Academy is a component of the Honors College of the University of West Georgia (UWG), which is located 50 miles west of Atlanta , Georgia . UWG, a charter member of the University System of Georgia, is a mid-sized institution with more than 10,000 students that offers eleven undergraduate degrees in more than fifty major fields of study and a wide range of graduate programs. |
Tuition for in-state students for the 2007-2008 year is $1,479 per semester (two semesters each academic year). Tuition for out-of-state students is $5,915 per semester; however, there are a limited number of out-of-state tuition waivers for qualified students. Georgia residents are eligible for the HOPE Accel program, which pays tuition and more for students completing high school requirements at the post-secondary level. Other estimated costs each semester include room ($1,310), board ($1,400), mandatory fees ($500), and books (average $350). |
||||
The Advanced Academy is not a high school. Academy students exclusively take regularly-scheduled University classes taught by University professors that earn concurrent high school and university credit, thus allowing students who enter in their junior year to complete four years of education in two. Each Academy student is advised individually, and students may choose from the full range of courses offered at the University. Because of this, Academy students may be placed in classes according to their levels of ability and preparation, academic needs, and goals. For example, some students began their math sequence with Calculus III, a University junior-level course. This arrangement permits greater depth in student coursework and the ability to pursue individual interests and passions. |
Six professional members comprise the staff of The Advanced Academy: the Director, Academy Residential Coordinator (ARC), Two Admissions/Recruitment Specialists, Guidance Counselor, and Counselor. Twelve upper division students live in the Academy residence hall and work as Resident Assistants and mentors. Student to staff ratio in the residence hall is a maximum of 13:1. In addition, all the services and opportunities of the university are available to Advanced Academy students. |
||||
The Young Scholars Institute for rising eighth and ninth grade students offers two weeks of enriched curriculum in math/science and arts/humanities. Students may attend one or the other or both weeks. |
Students participate in a variety of activities that contribute to the unique Academy experience. Every week Academy students and staff gather for Thursday Night Dinners that feature enrichment programs. The residence hall offers regularly scheduled educational and social programs to enhance leadership and personal growth. Students are able to participate in all campus activities with the exception of Greek social organizations and intercollegiate athletics. Advanced Academy and UWG clubs/activities include: chess club, American Medical Student Association, physics club, marching band, symphony and jazz ensembles, the campus art magazine, campus and residence hall newspapers, intramurals (flag football, ultimate Frisbee, softball, and basketball), and student government. |
||||
Advanced Academy students have matriculated in prestigious institutions to complete their undergraduate degrees, including the following: Brown University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Harvard College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, Notre Dame University, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Vanderbilt University, University of Chicago, University of Georgia, University of West Georgia, and Yale. Our students have proceeded to graduate and professional schools and are engaged in the following fields: investment broker, city planning, mathematics professor, corporate managers in Fortune 500 companies, culinary arts, psychology, public health/epidemiology, medicine, medical research, computer technology, education, law, textile design, theater, engineering, and scientific research. |
Minimum eligibility requirements for rising high school juniors or seniors are: 3.50 high school Grade Point Average (on a 4.0 scale); 1150 combined SAT score (critical reading and math sections only), verbal 580/math 530 or ACT composite score 25, English 25/mathematics 22; and a written application that includes short answer questions and teacher recommendations. An on-campus interview culminates the application process after evaluation of the application is complete and it has been determined that minimum requirements have been met. |
||||
The mission of the Advanced Academy of Georgia is to provide an enriched, residential, early-entrance-to-college program for carefully selected, bright, and motivated high school students who are interested in accelerating their academic careers. The Academy seeks to provide opportunities for educational advancement in an environment that also supports students in developing the skills that will help to ensure their success, both in the Academy and as future leaders.
|
The Advanced Academy of Georgia is the brain-child of Dr. Beheruz Sethna, the president of the University of West Georgia (UWG), who had experience with early-entrance programs in two other states prior to accepting stewardship of UWG. He felt the time had come for Georgia to offer an accelerated academic experience for her brightest students who were ready for and who needed greater academic challenge in a residential, university-based program. When opened, the Academy was one of 10 similar programs in the country. Now there are approximately 16 schools that offer some form of early entrance. It is an idea gaining in acceptance and popularity as students and their parents look for challenging alternatives to high school and for a place where no child is left behind due to dearth of opportunity. The Academy's first students enrolled in the university at the start of the 1995-1996 academic year. There were 21 intrepid young scholars who registered for classes that year, and the rest is history. The Academy has continued to grow in both population and stature since that time. Our students have excelled academically and personally, gaining post-Academy entrance to some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country, winning scholarships and academic awards, conducting remarkably sophisticated original research, and enhancing the university's environment by their presence on campus. While the primary motivation at our inception was, and remains, to provide an enhanced academic experience for our students, it would not be possible for our students to be so successful as they are without the stellar residence hall experience that we offer. Beginning in 1997, the Academy began to emphasize the creation of true community among its students. The effort has rewarded us with a truly exceptional living experience for the university's youngest students. All students live in the same hall, male and female students in separate wings, with a live-in staff. Academy policies are in place (e.g. curfew) consistent with the needs of a younger student population.We maintain our original commitment to provide an enriched environment where young people will flourish, learn to seek knowledge for its own sake, participate in leadership and character developing activities, and experience balanced academic and personal growth. |
