Clayton State University Office of Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Admissions

Q: Where is Clayton State located?
A:  Clayton State is located in Morrow, GA about 20 minutes south of Atlanta. Take exit 233 off of I-75 or exit 5 off of I-675 and follow the signs. Once on the campus, follow the signs directing you to the admissions office. We are located in the lower level of the Student Center, in room 150.

Q: Do you have campus tours?
A: Yes, we do offer student led campus tours. Schedule a tour of our campus today!

Q: What are the application deadlines?
A: Fall - Priority deadline - February 15th and Final deadline - July 15th, Spring Priority deadline - September 1st and Final deadline - December 1st , Summer - Priority deadline February 1st and Final deadline -April 1st .

Q: Do you prefer that I apply online or with a paper application?
A: We prefer that you submit an on-line application. In fact, if you apply online by the priority deadline the application fee is only $15.00 (Apply Online). Otherwise, if you submit a paper application the fee is $40.00. Students submitting an application past the priority deadline online will have to pay $40.00.

Q: Does Clayton State have an undecided category, if I am not sure what I want to declare as my major?
A: At CSU, you should choose our Integrated Studies option. The Integrative studies program allows students to create an individualized curriculum composed of courses and experiences which meet their individual career needs. This approach is different from many traditional, discipline-based baccalaureate programs which are designed in part to prepare students for advanced work in a specific academic discipline--a major in history or biology, for example. This flexibility enables students to develop academic plans that meet the ever-changing requirements of the world of work, but it also requires careful planning.

Q: What do I need to submit to complete my admissions application?
A: All applicants must complete an application for admission and submit a $40 application fee, and immunization form filled out by your doctor or health department. The supporting documents you will need depend upon your student type:

Q: I plan on completing a vocational diploma. Will this credential help me gain admission to Clayton State?
A: Students with a vocational diploma may be eligible for entry into some certificate programs. You will need to speak with an admissions counselor about your options (Schedule an appointment with an admission counselor), or contact the College of Professional Studies.

Q: What are the immunization requirements?
A: In order to satisfy the immunization requirements mandated by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, students will need the following:

  • Students 18 years of age or under: 2 MMRs, Tetanus/Diphtheria (TD/DTP) within the last 10 years, 2 Varicella (or history of chicken pox) and the three dose series of Hepatitis B.
  • Students over the age of 18: 2 MMRs, Tetanus/Diphtheria (TD/DTP) within the last 10 years and 2 Varicella (or history of chicken pox).
  • Students born before 1957: Tetanus/Diphtheria (TD/DTP) within the last 10 years and 2 Varicella (or history of chicken pox).

Q: How do I complete the immunization form?
A: A Physician, qualified medical provider or Health Department official will need to complete/transfer your immunization record onto CSU immunization form. If you do not have a medical provider, the Nurse Managed Clinic provides immunization services at a fee.

Q: What if I just accidentally marked myself as a nonresident on my application, can that be resolved without filling out the petition?

A: Yes. Please provide the Office of Admissions a copy of your Georgia driver’s license.

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Financial Aid

Q: How do I apply for financial aid?
A: You should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as soon as possible after January 1. FAFSA on the Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov is the best way to apply. However, you may also apply by completing a paper FAFSA. You will need to reapply for financial aid every academic year. Clayton State University’s school code is 008976.

Q: Is it better to complete the FAFSA online?
A: Yes. The web version guides you through the application and assists you in providing the right responses. Consequently, there are little or no errors with this method and therefore, no delays in processing your student aid. This method of applying is faster than submitting the FAFSA by mail. Information on completing your FAFSA online can be found here.

Q: How long does the financial aid process take?
A: Awards are made in the order in which files are completed. The Financial Aid Office has no way of predicting how many people may complete their files in any given week. As a result, no prediction can be made as to how long it will take for you to receive an award once your file is complete. Some students are randomly selected for verification by the Department of Education and will be required to submit other documents (i.e. parent/student tax returns, verification worksheet, etc). The additional time required will also depend on how quickly the additional documents requested are submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

Please keep a copy of any documents that you submit to the Financial Aid Office as copies cannot be provided for you at a later date.

Q; Can I use my W-2 to fill out my FAFSA?
A: No. You should complete your tax forms (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, etc) first and use that information to complete your FAFSA.

Q: How can I get a copy of my federal tax return?
A: If you did not keep a copy of your federal tax returns, instructions on how to obtain a copy from the IRS can be found by clicking here.

Q: Must I be enrolled full-time to receive financial aid?

A: No. HOPE Grant and HOPE Scholarship will pay the tuition regardless of the number of hours a student is enrolled. HOPE will cover $229 of the fee charges. Pell Grant and other federal grants will be prorated according to Department of Education’s calculation if a student is less than full-time. Student loan eligibility mandates that a student be enrolled for at least half-time (6 semester hours). Please note that financial aid will only pay for classes required for your major as identified on the DUCK. Refer to your course outline before you register for classes. When you register for classes, verify that the classes are in your major listed on the DUCK.

Q: Are student loans considered financial aid?
A: Yes, loans are a form of financial aid. You must complete the FAFSA and go through the regular application process. You should indicate on the FAFSA that you are interested in loans. Notification of your eligibility for loans will be on your award letter. You must complete the online loan acceptance form after you are awarded if you decide to accept a loan. However, you must be enrolled in at least 6 hours to be eligible for a student loan.

Q: If I am not living at home with my parents, can I be considered independent?
A: For 2006-2007 (Fall 2006, Spring 2007, and Summer 2007)
For 2006-2007, a student's dependency status is determined by questions #48 - #54 in Step 3 of the 2006-2007 FAFSA Form. It does not matter if you live with your parents, if you claimed yourself on your tax returns, or if you pay your own bills.

You will be considered a dependent of your parents for 2006-2007 if you answer 'no' to all of the questions below:

  • Were you born before January 1, 1983?
  • At the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program?
  • As of today, are you married?
  • Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
  • Do you have dependents (other than children or spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2007?
  • Are (a) both of your parents deceased, or (b) are you (or were you until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
  • Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

Q: How do I check the status of my financial aid online?
A: You can check the status of your financial aid by using the DUCK. Go to http://duck.clayton.edu. Enter the DUCK system via Personal Access.

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Housing

 

Q: Do you provide on campus housing?

A: The Board of Regents recently approved Clayton State to build and open its first residence hall for the fall 2008 semester.  The residence hall will house approximately 450 new first time, full time freshmen.  This state-of-the-art building will feature four bedroom/two bath units with kitchenettes.  In addition, residents will have on-site access to study lounges, wireless high-speed internet, cable television, laundry facilities and a game room.

For transfer students and upperclassmen off-campus housing is available at Clayton Place apartments adjacent to our campus. For more information visit their website at www.theplacetolive.com.

Q: Are freshmen required to live on-campus?  What are the advantages?

A: All beginning first-time, full-time freshmen are required to live on campus during their first year, with some exceptions. Through the years, studies have shown that students who begin their college career in the residence halls have an easier time making the social and academic transition from high school to college. This is because our residence halls provide services, leadership opportunities, and programs specifically designed for undergraduate students.

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Public Safety and Parking

Q: What steps does CSU take to make sure the campus is safe?
A: Our department of public safety is taking a proactive approach to providing for the safety and security of the campus community, the Public Safety Department has developed the Campus Alert/Watch program; information about the crime trends that may pose a threat to the community, general safety and crime prevention techniques are distributed via E-mail, through "Campus Alert" and "Campus Watch" posters to the campus community.

Q: Can freshman have cars on-campus?
A: Any student may have a car on campus, but you must get a permit from the Public Safety Office located on the second floor in the Student Center.

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Academics

Q: Do you have an Honors program?
A: Yes, the University Honors Program accepts first-year students and offers an enriched college experience from the core curriculum through graduation. New students and students with less than 30 hours of college credit are eligible to apply. The minimum admission requirements are a 3.5 high school GPA, an 1100 SAT or 24 ACT Composite score, and a record of involvement in extracurricular activities.
The application for the Honors Program is separate from the application to the University. You must apply for admission to Clayton State University before or at the same time that you apply for the Honors Program.

Q: What can I expect a CSU freshman class to be like?
A: A typical size of a freshmen class will probably remind you a lot of your high school classes. We have very few lecture-style classrooms with hundreds of students. The typical class size is approximately 23. Over 79% percent of our faculty holds a doctorate or terminal degree in their field of study.

Q: What kinds of computing facilities are available? Should I bring my own computer to CSU?
A: Clayton State requires all students to have access to a laptop computer per the ITP guidelines. Please see the ITP choice website for our laptop requirements.

Q: Do you offer graduate degrees?
A: Yes. We now have three first graduate programs. For more please visit the Office of Graduate Studies webpage at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/provost/graduate/

A: Does CSU offer evening, online and weekend classess?
A: Most classes are offered day and evening; however there are on-line and weekend classes. You will need to check the course schedule for a schedule of the classes.

Q: When do classes begin in the fall, spring and summer semesters?
A: The academic calendar is available online.

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