The following is an excerpt from the 2004 -2005 HOPE Scholarship Manual Published by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC)

1.
 An eligible student may receive a HOPE Grant for all course work required by the institution for a program of study leading to a certificate or diploma, including remedial studies or learning support course work. However, recipients are limited by the number of credit hours for which they can receive HOPE Grant payment. Effective Fall term 2004, all credit hours for which students received HOPE Grant payment for the Summer term of 2003 and beyond, must be included in the total number of allowable hours of HOPE Grant payment, referred to in these Regulations as the “Paid-Hours” limit (See “Definitions”). As an exception, hours for which students received HOPE Grant payment prior to their high school graduation and before fall term 2004 are not counted as Paid-Hours. The Paid-Hours limit for the HOPE Grant is 95 quarter hours or 63 semester hours of HOPE Grant payment, except for students enrolled in specific programs of study designed to require more than 95 quarter or 63 semester hours of coursework for graduation. Such students are eligible for HOPE Grant payment for a maximum of 130 quarter hours or 86 semester hours, or the number of hours for which the program of study is designed, whichever is less. In addition, no student can receive more than a cumulative total of 190 quarter or 127 semester hours of HOPE Grant plus Accel plus HOPE Scholarship payment, except for students enrolled in specific programs of study designed to require more than 190 quarter or 127 semester hours of coursework for graduation. Such students are eligible for HOPE Scholarship payment for a maximum of 225 quarter or 150 semester hours, or the number of hours for which the program of study is designed for graduation, whichever is less.
 
2. Recipients of the HOPE Grant are not limited by the number of certificate or diploma programs of study for which they can receive payment, but are limited by the allowable number of Paid-Hours.
 
3. HOPE funds cannot be applied to course work exempted by examination.
 
4. Recipients of the HOPE Grant are eligible for payment for the full number of hours enrolled during the school term he or she reaches the HOPE Grant Paid-Hours limit.

Attention Dual Enrolled High School Students: Effective July 1, 2008, credit hours taken for which HOPE Grant payment is received WILL NOT count as Paid Hours. Thus, dual enrollment credit hours will not count against the student’s limit of 95 Hope Grant Paid Hours.

Complete the GSFAPPS: HOPE APPLICATION at
http://www.GAcollege411.org

 Create a GACollege411 Account: Click on “Create an Account” (Top, left)

Screen 1 of 3:
Set up your profile by typing your name, date of birth (use slashes) & email address (Note: If you do not have an email address, one will be assigned to you; just click the box provided.)

• Set up your username & password—use something that you can remember. Don't forget that college officials will also see your username.

• Enter a password hint question and answer

Screen 2 of 3:
• Complete the mailing address, phone, etc.

• Select current grade level

Screen 3 of 3:
• Click on “My 411”

• Click on “My Profile” (Some fields will be pre-populated)

• Even though your mailing address was collected when the account was created, the permanent address must now be completed in the profile. (PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO PUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY # IN YOUR PROFILE)

• Save —YOUR PROFILE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED

• Click here — To return to GACollege411

Completing a GSFAPPS Application:
Click on the tab labeled "Applications & Transcripts"

• Click on the link “GSFAPPS”

When you get to the question about whether you are independent or dependent, use these guidelines.


Independent—
Over age 24, married or have children —do not fill out parent's information.

Dependent—
under age 24, not married or have no children — fill out parent's information.

• Welcome Screen —PLEASE READ
Click Apply Now to apply online (at bottom)

• Click "SUBMIT NEW APPLICATION"

Note:In order to select any program, first click on the program name you want to apply for. This will open an informational box containing the program requirements. At the bottom of the dialogue box, click —Apply for this program—Click Select

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Most information is pre—filled, complete this section. If you make a mistake in any field other than your social security number or birth date field, go back and make any necessary corrections. You will be prompted to do a final review of your information before submitting.

Click Continue

Summary Information

•Edit if necessary and then Submit

• ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE:

PLEASE READ THE CERTIFICATION CAREFULLY, ENTER YOUR 411 PASSWORD, CLICK SUBMIT, AND PRINT A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS

Forget Your password in GACollege411?

If you forget your password, call the Technical Support line at 1-800-468-6927.

Need an EMail Address

An email address is necessary. If you do not have an email address, click the box on screen 1 of the create an account process and GAcollege411 will assign you one.