HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally)
HOPE is Georgia's unique program that rewards students' hard work with financial assistance at Georgia Public and Private Colleges and Universities and Technical Colleges.
HOPE Scholarship
To be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship, a student must earn a "B" average in the academic courses and be a legal resident of Georgia. For students earning a College Prep diploma, a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for eligibility. Students earning a Technology/Career Prep diploma must have at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
A student must apply for the HOPE Scholarship. How this is done will depend upon whether the student is applying for other types of financial aid. If the student is applying for the HOPE in addition to other types of state and/or federal aid, the student/parent must complete the FAFSA form after January 1st of the senior year. If the student is ONLY applying for HOPE and no other financial aid, the student may complete the GSF APPS online at www.GACollege411.org.
Once a student earns a HOPE Scholarship, he/she must maintain a "B" average in college course work to remain eligible. The student/parent must also go through the application process each year.
At a Georgia public college or university, the HOPE Scholarship funds cover tuition, mandatory fees, and a small book allowance each semester. At a Georgia private college or university, the HOPE Scholarship will pay $3000 per academic year. This certainly does not cover all the expenses incurred by college students, but it does make college more affordable. At a Georgia technical college, HOPE covers tuition, mandatory fees, and a small book allowance each quarter.
HOPE Grant
Georgia residents who are attending a Georgia public technical institute to earn a certificate or diploma are eligible for the HOPE assistance regardless of grade point average.
Please visit www.GACollege411.org for more information.
Etowah Foundation
The Etowah Foundation manages many different scholarships for Bartow County and Cartersville students. All seniors who have been accepted to a college or university are encouraged to apply for these scholarships by applying to the Etowah Foundation. Most Etowah Foundation scholarships are need-based and require the completion of the FAFSA form. Visit www.etowah.org for more information.
National Merit Scholarships
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships. Students enter the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT in their junior year of high school and by meeting other published requirements. The PSAT is given once a year in October. Juniors must register for the PSAT in the Guidance Office.
The National Achievement Scholarship Program
In the Achievement Program, African-American high school students compete for Achievement Scholarship awards for college undergraduate study. African-American students may request entry to the Achievement Program when they take the PSAT during the junior year of high school. The PSAT is given once a year in October. Juniors must register for the PSAT in the Guidance Office.
