Welcome to the University of Georgia and Franklin College of Arts and Sciences! Our team is excited to be a part of your orientation visit this summer. The advising experience is a critical part of the instructional mission of the University of Georgia. Orientation advising appointments provide a crucial opportunity for student learning and for the development of the student/advisor relationship. Please explore the resources below to learn more about the start of your academic advising journey. Check and change your major Explore Franklin College Majors & Minors Orientation Advising: What to expect All incoming First-Year and Transfer students for Summer & Fall 2026 will be advised at their in-person orientation session. Please visit the New Student Orientation site for information about signing up for your orientation session and keep an eye on your inbox for new information. Students will receive an email during their orientation session from SAGE (Starfish Calendar) with the time and location of their advising appointment. This email will go to each student's UGA email account. Prepare for Orientation Advising Submit Your Academic Advising: Step One Form First-Year Student Form Transfer Student Form Placement Testing Overview Students can earn course credit or exemption through UGA placement tests. We strongly urge all incoming students to take the Math placement test regardless of major (see below for more information). Students should take the Foreign Language placement test if they plan to continue the foreign language they took in high school. NOTE: BSCHEM, B.Mus, and BFA majors are not required to complete the Franklin College Foreign Language requirement. All other Franklin majors must complete a foreign language through the third semester. We do not recommend that students take the English Placement exam. ENGL 1101 credit from this exam is rarely awarded, and the Math and Foreign Language exams are more important. UGA will use your highest scores. If you do better on the AP test, we’ll apply your AP scores when we get them. If you do better on the UGA Placement test, we’ll apply those scores, so there’s no risk in taking UGA Placement tests. Please see test recommendations and details below. Further questions about your specific placement testing needs can be directed to askfranklin@uga.edu Placement Testing Recommendations: First-Year Students MATH: All incoming Franklin College majors should take the Math Placement test regardless of major, as it could help any student: Exempt math core/degree requirements Place into a higher level of math Register for a course for which Math is a prerequisite. For information about the Math Placement exam and to register, go to the Testing Services website. For a list of topics covered on the exam, see the department’s preparation page. FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Foreign Language through the third semester is required of most Franklin College majors (students earning BFA, B. Mus or BSCHEM degrees are not required to complete a foreign language). Students should take a Foreign Language Placement exam if they have studied a foreign language within the last year and plan to continue studying that language in college. If a student took a foreign language more than a year ago and wants to continue with it, they should ask their advisor about the best course of action. The test can help any student: Earn credit or exempt courses Place into a higher level of foreign language Possibly exempt the Foreign Language Requirement University Testing Services offers exams in French, German, Hebrew, Italian, and Spanish. For exams in other languages, please see this list of contacts. Your advisor will discuss how to be placed into the correct course if your current foreign language grades are outstanding. Placement Testing Recommendations: Transfer Students MATH: Transfer Students with Math courses that DID NOT transfer as equivalent to UGA courses are strongly recommended to take the Math placement exam. No credit is given for exempted courses, but exemption of MATH 1113 or MATH 1101 may satisfy core and/or degree requirements, or help students register for a course for which Math is a prerequisite. For information about the Math Placement exam and to register, go to the Testing Services website. For a list of topics covered on the exam, see the department’s preparation page. FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Foreign Language through the third semester is required of all most Franklin College majors. (Students earning BFA, B.Mus or BSCHEM degrees are not required to complete a foreign language). Transfer students transferring in foreign language credit that they earned within the last year likely will not need to take a placement exam. If a student took a foreign language more than a year ago and wants to continue with it, they should ask their advisor about the best course of action. Help with Registration After students meet with their advisor at orientation, they can use our Registration Tips & Tricks page for help navigating course registration. Additional Resources and Links UGA Bulletin — Understand degree requirements, compare majors, and learn about classes. Degreeworks — See how courses you have already taken, and/or credit from testing, apply to your degree program. After your advising appointment, click on the plans tab to view the plan your advisor discussed with you. Athena — View your holds. Register for your classes after orientation. Student Advising and Guidance Expert (SAGE) — View your upcoming advising appointments. After advising, view notes and resources from your advisor. Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) — Know your rights, according to federal law. FAQ Can I speak with an advisor or be cleared to register sooner? Advisors are not able to meet with incoming students or clear their registration holds before their in-person orientation session. Who will my advisor be? You will be assigned to an advisor based on your major. To meet with the correct advisor in your area of study, make sure your major is correct. How to check and change your major Unsure which major you want? It is OK to be Unspecified! The Exploratory Center advises Unspecified/Undecided students. Do you have an emergency or unique situation that needs to be addressed before orientation? Please contact our Student Welcome & Success Team at franklinadvising@uga.edu
