College Search: Visits, Research, Events

What should you consider when you build your list?

Back-Up, Match, and Reach Schools

A good piece of advice is to design a list with back-up, match, and reach schools? A back-up school is a school where your academic course load, grades and college standardized test scores are at the top end of the accepted student's profile or a school that accepts most students who apply. A match school is a school where your academic and extracurricular profile falls into the middle to top range of accepted student profiles. This is a school where you fit the profile and have a good chance of being accepted. A reach school is a school that is extremely competitive like an Ivy league school or a school where your academic and extra-curricular profile is below or at the low-end of the accepted student profiles.

Determine What is Important to You

What is important to you? Small class sizes? Big football? A specific major? Staying close to home? Moving somewhere new? A big or small school? Cost of your education? Study abroad programs? Help in finding a job for after graduation?

The ACT offers great information on creating a list and choosing candidate schools that would be a good fit for you.

Article on Finding the Best Schools for You

Student Canvas

Innovation Academy keeps all students updated through their student canvas platform. Here they will be able to find valuable college resources to help them along the way.

GAFutures.org is a Must-Visit Website for all GA Students

GAFutures.org is a website hosted by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC). All Georgia students should create an account on GAFutures to research colleges, scholarships, HOPE, financial aid, and more. These are a few helpful links.

College Search on GAFutures.org

Use GAFutures to research college options.

Georgia Match

Georgia Match is a new program introduced in 2023 that is designed to match Georgia graduates to a Georgia school based on HOPE GPA. GAFutures.org tells you all you need to know about the Georgia Match initiative.

Create a GAFutures.org Account

(or Recover a Forgotten Username/Password)

If you want to check your HOPE GPA, apply to Georgia schools through GAFutures, or apply for Dual Enrollment, you will need a GAFutures account. To create an account, go the GAFutures.org website and click on the Create an Account button. There will also be options for forgotten passwords and usernames of you already have an account that you don't remember your credentials for.

About College Visits at IA

Every fall, admissions counselors from colleges and universities across the country come to IA to talk about their school. Take advantage of finding out more about these schools without having to leave Innovation Academy's campus. Admissions counselors share the scoop on campus life, tips for applying, and anything else you want to ask about. College information sessions are open to students in grades 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. 

Sign up for College visits at IA. Appointments are OPEN!

It's easy to find a schedule of schools and to register to attend.

1. Check your Student Canvas for updated information and to register. .
2. Remember to get your teacher's permission to attend the session if you will be missing their class.
3. Reach out to Ms. McKenzie with questions.

Below are the scheduled colleges visiting IA this year. Use the link to sign up for the sessions you are interested in. Check back frequently as we are continuously adding schools to our schedule.  

Take a Campus Tour

Once you've started focusing in on some schools that you are interested, plan a trip or more to go onto a school's campus and take a tour. You'll need to sign up for a tour ahead of time. These can get full so plan ahead. Schools often offer sessions from specific departments and majors that you can also sign up for. Long weekends and spring break of your junior year are great times to plan for a trip. 

Taking a Tour While IA is in Session

Sometimes, it doesn't work out to take a tour while you are on break. You can still take a tour on campus. You must complete a Pre-Approved Absence Form and have it signed by school administration. 

College Events Around Town

Community organizations and colleges themselves often host college fairs and information sessions. These can be in person events in the metro Atlanta area or virtual sessions. Clusters of schools with similar profiles or geographical locations often travel together to different cities to host information sessions. Ivy league schools are less likely to attend each local high school, instead they will pick one or two locations in town and invite the entire student community to attend. Registration is usually required. 

Search your targeted schools' websites for information on how to visit or whether they have information sessions in the Atlanta area.

If we hear about an information session, we will post it.

PROBE Fair

Many organizations host college fairs, but PROBE is an organization that usually hosts several in our area every year. Check out the PROBE website for information about PROBE and a schedule of local fairs.

Events To Check Out

Peach State Tour

Join Augusta University, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia this fall (August 27-September 26) for the Peach State Tour! Please click on the link below to register and find out more information. Peach State Tour information sessions will be offered in-person and via Zoom Webinars.

Students - Peach State Tour

If you would like help with your college search and college application process, you can schedule an appointment with our College and Career Advisor, Mrs. McKenzie. Click here to book an appointment.

This April, we asked seniors about their experiences applying to colleges and getting in. Watch their advice!

• Senior Panel 1
• Senior Panel 2
• Senior profile sheets