The HOPE Guide
• Do I have to be admitted to GCSU before I apply for the HOPE Scholarship?
• Do I have to complete an application to receive my HOPE Scholarship every year?
• I am considered out-of-state for tuition purposes. Will I ever qualify for the HOPE Scholarship?
• What does my HOPE Scholarship pay for?
• Does my HOPE Scholarship pay for classes that I am auditing?
• Does HOPE Scholarship pay for Summer classes?
• I am a freshman, how do I qualify to receive the HOPE Scholarship?
• How many hours do I have to enroll in order to receive my HOPE Scholarship each semester?
• What are HOPE Attempted hours and why is it important for me to understand this?
• When will my GPA be checked in order to continue receiving the HOPE Scholarship?
• Is my HOPE GPA the same as my GCSU Cumulative GPA?
• How long can I receive my HOPE Scholarship?
• What is HOPE Paid-Hours limit?
• I am going to take a course (s) as a Transient student. Can I receive my HOPE Scholarship?
• Do my transfer or transient hours count in my HOPE Scholarship eligibility?
• If I drop a class how will it affect my HOPE Scholarship?
• I do not have HOPE Scholarship now. When can I get it?
• Can I file an appeal to receive my HOPE Scholarship if I do not qualify?
Do I have to be admitted to GCSU before I apply for the HOPE Scholarship?
No. Prospective students may complete either the GSFApps or the FAFSA after January 1st each year prior to completing the application process for admission. However, we will not actually evaluate your application or HOPE Scholarship eligibility until you are admitted to GCSU. (top)
Do I have to complete an application to receive my HOPE Scholarship every year?
This depends on the application you choose to complete. If you are ONLY interested in receiving the HOPE Scholarship you may complete the GSFApps at www.GACollege411.org . This is a one-time application so there is no need to reapply each year.
If you are interested in other types of financial aid (i.e., PELL Grant and Stafford Loans) in addition to the HOPE Scholarship, you must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.FAFSA.ed.gov after January 1st each year for the upcoming academic year which begins each Fall semester. Remember that the FAFSA application process must be completed no later than July 1st each year in order to have funds available by the Fall semester payment deadline which is typically in early August.
You may complete both applications and we actually encourage you to do this. This will allow us to have your HOPE Scholarship available immediately after the Spring semester ends even if you have not completed your FAFSA to apply for other types of federal aid programs. (top)
I am considered out-of-state for tuition purposes. Will I ever qualify for the HOPE Scholarship?
Generally, you must meet the requirements of the GCSU Admissions Office to be a Georgia resident for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes of the semester you would like to receive the HOPE Scholarship. In addition, if you graduated from high school on or after July 1, 2008, you must have been a resident of Georgia at the time of your high school graduation. If you did not meet this requirement, your time limit is 24 consecutive months instead of 12 month requirement. Our office can help you to calculate the term you may be considered to receive the HOPE Scholarship. (top)
What does my HOPE Scholarship pay for?
HOPE Scholarship pays for all tuition charges and a portion of the mandatory student fees at GCSU. It also includes up to a $150 book allowance for each semester of eligibility. However, HOPE Scholarship does not pay for any housing or meal plan charges. (top)
Does my HOPE Scholarship pay for classes that I am auditing?
No. HOPE Scholarship does not pay for audit classes nor do the hours count in any of the HOPE calculations to determine your eligibility. (top)
Does HOPE Scholarship pay for Summer classes?
Yes as long as you have maintained your HOPE eligibility. However, you will need to complete a short Summer application in MyCats after you register for Summer classes which are typically in March and April. The summer term consists of Maymester, Summer I and Summer II sessions. (top)
I am a freshman, how do I qualify to receive the HOPE Scholarship?
The GCSU Financial Aid Office does not determine your HOPE GPA or eligibility; the HOPE office does. Your high school guidance counselor sends your final high school transcript information to The Georgia Student Finance Commission, also known as the HOPE Office. They review your transcript data and determine if you have the required 3.0 GPA (un-weighted) for all academic classes. Once our office has your application on file, we will retrieve your HOPE GPA information from the HOPE Office. (top)
How many hours do I have to enroll in order to receive my HOPE Scholarship each semester?
There is no minimum numbers of hours required to receive the HOPE Scholarship at GCSU since we are a public university. HOPE Scholarship covers your tuition and a portion of your mandatory fees based on your actual charges for the number of hours you enroll each term. Your HOPE Book allowance will be $150 each term you enroll 6 or more hours and $75 each term you enroll 5 or less hours. (top)
What are HOPE Attempted hours and why is it important for me to understand this?
Attempted hours include all classes taken after high school graduation. All withdrawals, dropped classes, non-credit courses and transfer courses are counted in attempted hours. This is Important to understand because attempted hours are used to determine when you will have your HOPE GPA checked at your "Tier Checkpoints" as well as the maximum time limit to receive your HOPE Scholarship. Your attempted hours for HOPE Scholarship purposes can very easily be different from what you may see on your MyCats account. The official record of your attempted hours as well as other HOPE Scholarship calculations will ONLY appear on your on-line Financial Aid Award notification (Bobcat DEN – Detailed Eligibility Notification) within MyCats. This link appears on the Financial Aid menu on the Student tab. (top)
When will my GPA be checked in order to continue receiving the HOPE Scholarship?
All students have two (2) different types of "checkpoints". The first is called the "Spring Checkpoint". At the end of EVERY Spring semester, you must have a minimum of a 3.0 HOPE GPA in order to continue to receive the scholarship for the next semester. The second type is your "Tier Checkpoint". These tiers are reached when you have ATTEMPTED 30, 60 and 90 hours. It is important that you understand the hours that included in the definition of "attempted hours". At the end of the semester that you reach a "Tier Checkpoint", your HOPE GPA must be at least a 3.0 in order to renew your scholarship. If you do not maintain the minimum GPA requirement, you will not be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship until you reach the next "Tier Checkpoint". If you do not have the minimum GPA required at your "90-hour Tier Checkpoint", you will no longer qualify for HOPE Scholarship. (top)
Is my HOPE GPA the same as my GCSU Cumulative GPA?
These GPAs could be the same or could be different. Your HOPE GPA will count all grades for courses taken after high school graduation. This includes both grades when retaking a course, grades for non-credit coursework and all transfer grades (even if courses are not accepted at GCSU or paid for by HOPE).
Grades that are not counted in your HOPE GPA are S (Satisfactory), U (Unsatisfactory), IP (In Progress), or W (Withdrawn). Also, grades for courses taken prior to high school graduation such as joint enrollment, CLEP or AP credit are not counted. If you receive an "I" (Incomplete) in a course, this is temporary. Initially, the "I" will not be counted in your HOPE GPA calculation; however, when a grade is assigned, your HOPE GPA will be re-calculated and your eligibility will be retroactive according to the outcome. (top)
How long can I receive my HOPE Scholarship?
HOPE will pay up to a total of 127 attempted or paid hours towards your first undergraduate degree. All hours for which you received payments from Accel (Accel pays for college classes taken while enrolled in high school), HOPE Grant (Summer 2003 forward), and HOPE Scholarship are included in calculating the total Combined Paid hours. Once you reach the 127 attempted hour limit, the 127 combined paid hour limit, or receive your first undergraduate degree, you will be ineligible to receive further HOPE Scholarship payments. If you are under 127 attempted hours before the beginning of a term, HOPE Scholarship will pay for all hours that term even if it exceeds 127 hours. (top)
What is HOPE Paid-Hours limit?
In addition to the attempted hour limit, there is also a Paid-Hour limit to receive your HOPE Scholarship. All hours that you received payment from your HOPE Scholarship, as well as any hours that you may have been paid from the Accel or HOPE Grant (Summer 2003 and forward) programs, are included in calculating your total combined Paid-Hours. You are eligible for a combined payment for a maximum of 127 semester hours. Once you reach either the "attempted hours" OR "paid hours" maximum, you will no longer be eligible to receive your HOPE Scholarship.
Accel pays for college classes taken while enrolled in high school. HOPE Grant is a program that pays for courses taken in non-degree programs (certificate and diploma programs). (top)
I am going to take a course (s) as a Transient student. Can I receive my HOPE Scholarship?
Yes, if you are HOPE eligible, we will notify the HOPE office that you are attending another institution so that host institution (the institution where you are taking courses) can award HOPE. If grades for the current term need to be reviewed in order to confirm your HOPE eligibility, we will notify you by email that your eligibility needs further review. In this case, you may need to pay all costs at the host institution and receive your HOPE Scholarship as a reimbursement once your eligibility has been determined. (top)
Do my transfer or transient hours count in my HOPE Scholarship eligibility?
Yes. Your transfer or transient institution will need to send GCSU an official transcript. HOPE attempted hours include all regular coursework attempted after high school graduation, all attempted transfer coursework, withdrawals, and courses dropped after drop/add period ends. Courses taken as a transient student will be transferred back to GCSU upon completion and these course grades and hours will be used in your HOPE GPA and hours calculations.
If I drop a class how will it affect my HOPE Scholarship?
Withdrawing from a class affects your HOPE Scholarship "Attempted" and "Paid" hours, but it depends on when you withdraw. If you withdraw from a class before the end of the Drop/Add period (the first 5 days of class), it does not affect your HOPE attempted or paid hours, and the HOPE funds are simply taken off your account. If you withdraw from a class after the Drop/Add period, those hours are counted as HOPE attempted and paid hours, but you do not have to "pay back" any of your HOPE funds. If you withdraw from ALL of your classes any time after classes begin, the hours are counted as attempted and paid hours, but you do not have to "pay back" HOPE funds. (top)
If I drop a class how will it affect my HOPE Scholarship?
Withdrawing from a class affects your HOPE Scholarship "Attempted" and "Paid" hours, but it depends on when you withdraw. If you withdraw from a class before the end of the Drop/Add period (the first 5 days of class), it does not affect your HOPE attempted or paid hours, and the HOPE funds are simply taken off your account. If you withdraw from a class after the Drop/Add period, those hours are counted as HOPE attempted and paid hours, but you do not have to "pay back" any of your HOPE funds. If you withdraw from ALL of your classes any time after classes begin, the hours are counted as attempted and paid hours, but you do not have to "pay back" HOPE funds. (top)
I do not have HOPE Scholarship now. When can I get it?
If you did not graduate from an eligible Georgia High School as a "HOPE Scholar", you may be evaluated by the GCSU Financial Aid Office once you have attempted 30 semester hours. This is called your "30-hour Tier Checkpoint". If you do not meet the minimum requirements at 30 attempted hours, you may be re-evaluated at 60 and 90 attempted hours. Make sure you understand what hours are counted in your HOPE attempted hours. (top)
Can I file an appeal to receive my HOPE Scholarship if I do not qualify?
Yes. All appeals or exceptions must be submitted in writing to Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), the state agency that administers the HOPE Scholarship program. GSFC must receive your appeal within 45 days of your denial from Georgia College. Address this appeal to:
Program Administration
Georgia Student Finance Commission
2082 East Exchange Place
Tucker, GA 30084
(top)
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact our office at (478) 445-5149 or financialaid@gcsu.edu
