<p>JWT-
Take a look at how many students have received $$ from the Hope scholarship since its inception in 1993 <a href=“http://www.gsfc.org/main/ga411info/hope_facts.html?CFID=25316503&CFTOKEN=35475a4789dd6864-53AF2BCE-AEF0-4A34-FD8484ECF026E982[/url]”>http://www.gsfc.org/main/ga411info/hope_facts.html?CFID=25316503&CFTOKEN=35475a4789dd6864-53AF2BCE-AEF0-4A34-FD8484ECF026E982</a> In the first few years, they had an income restriction on it, so the bright but wealthier students didn’t qualify. They changed that after the first few years (I forget exactly when) but this whole scholarship program has had a HUGELY positive effect on UGA and GA Tech. Many of Ga’s best and brightest are choosing to stay in state, and the competition and admissions stats have been steadily rising. I don’t know if the NRC rankings were off or not, but I do know that the State of GA university system has had an incredible shot in the arm with the Hope scholarship. We now look at out of state public and private colleges in comparison to the education our s’s can get for the $$ at the in-state schools. And mind you, I went to grad school at U of Fla-- UGA’s huge arch rival–so to even consider letting my guys go to GA is a big , BIG compliment to the school. When I was in grad school, UGA was a bit of a joke academically. Times have changed. UGA’s honors program is excellent.</p>