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VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY
What You Want To Know
How do I complete the VSU admissions process?
All applicants must complete an application for admission and submit a $40 application fee. Freshmen must submit an official high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores. Transfer students with less than 30 transferable hours must meet freshmen admission requirements as well as submit all official college transcripts. Transfer students with more than 30 semester hours are only required to submit official transcripts from all colleges attended. While the priority deadline for admission is 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester, you are strongly encouraged to apply early. Campus housing, scholarships and some forms of financial aid are contingent upon your acceptance to the University and do have much earlier deadlines. All students are also required to submit a certification of immunization and report of medical history.
What do I do if I am undecided about my major?
Not knowing what you want to major in right away is nothing to worry about. There are advising and career placement centers on campus to help you choose what’s best for you. You’ll have plenty of time to take some of your basic courses before having to declare a major. The University also offers VSU 1101, a class designed to help you adjust to college life and make the most out of your time at VSU.
What types of financial aid are available at VSU and how do I apply for them?
Types of aid include federal loans and Pell Grants, HOPE scholarships and various VSU scholarships. The first step is to obtain the VSU Office of Financial Aid packet and begin filing required forms as soon as possible. One of the most important forms is the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) which can be completed after Jan. 1 of the year you are planning to enroll. You may pick up this form from your high school guidance counselor. You should also request a scholarship application from the Financial Aid office. By filling out the General Scholarship Application, you will be considered for VSU scholarships. Don’t forget to search for scholarships independent of VSU.
On campus housing, what’s available? How do I apply?
New freshmen are required to live on campus, with limited exemptions that can be found on the Housing website. All accepted students should be aware of housing requirements, opportunities, and deadlines. Limited space is available for transfer students. Once you have been accepted to VSU, a housing application and contract will be sent to you. Housing is awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Roommate and hall preferences are only honored until April 1st, so don’t delay in order to have your pick instead of ours.
VSU will house approximately 2400 students on campus in five traditional residence halls, one suite style hall, and two apartment communities. Traditional residence halls offer double-occupancy rooms opening onto conventional hallways with community bathrooms. Brown, Langdale, Lowndes, Patterson, and Reade are the traditional residence halls. The new Hopper Hall, a suite style facility, offers both private and semi-private occupancy rooms. The two apartment style residence halls are Centennial Hall and Converse Hall. Centennial Hall is a newer community opened in 2005. These apartment communities are available for upper-class students. Brown, Lowndes, and Patterson were renovated in 2004, 2005, and 2006 respectively. There are plans to renovate Reade Hall beginning spring 2009 and Georgia Hall beginning summer 2008 and re-open both facilities in fall 2009 and to renovate every hall within the next few years.
All of the halls are air-conditioned and are already set up for local telephone service, cable television, and the wireless internet, and that even includes the VSU movie channel which broadcasts current movies for students. Some of the residence halls even offer special interest floors such as honors, Air Force ROTC, Emerging Leader Program, Freshman Year Experience, Foreign Languages House, and Outdoor Adventure Learning Community. For more information, please visit the Office of Housing and Residence Life website.
What about the availability of off-campus housing?
Valdosta has plenty of off-campus housing ranging from townhouses to apartments to houses. In addition to local realtors, the Department of Housing and Residence Life keeps a list of off-campus housing including amenities and price ranges.
What steps does VSU take to make sure the campus is safe?
VSU prides itself on having a safe campus for its students. The Department of Public Safety has approximately three certified police officers on duty at just about any time. The department even offers an escort service for students walking around campus, especially at night, and has more than 30 emergency phones located throughout the campus as well as closed circuit cameras which are monitored 24 hours a day. In a preventative effort, classes are conducted, free of charge, on self defense and drug and alcohol awareness. Residence halls are also staffed 24 hours a day and entrance into the halls is limited to residents and their guests. Residence halls are locked 24 hours a day. Your ID card serves as your key to enter your residence hall - another safety feature at VSU.
What happens if I get sick?
The Farber Student Health Center provides health care for students under the supervision of the university physician. Additional staff includes a nurse practitioner, registered nurses, a medical technologist, a pharmacist, and office staff. Although the Health Center is equipped to handle most short-term illnesses, major illnesses and surgical treatment usually require the patient to be returned home or, in the case of emergency, to be taken to South Georgia Medical Center, located a few blocks from the campus. Farber Health’s operating hours are Monday – Thursday: 8am – 6pm, Friday: 8am – 3pm, Saturday & Sunday: Closed. Patients needing x-rays are referred to Radiology Associates of Valdosta or South Georgia medical Center. These and other referrals to private medical personnel are at the student’s expense. The $80 health fee per semester makes the student eligible for unlimited visits to the Health Center during the semester. The University also has licensed professional counselors on campus to assist in any personal, social or educational concerns. Counseling services are free of charge and confidential.
Hungry? Where to eat on campus.
At Valdosta State University we strive to provide our students with choices to meet varying dietary needs, desires, and lifestyles. Partnered with Sodexho, VSU Dining Services is constantly evolving to offer the best food in the most pleasant environment. Students living on campus enjoy Palms Dining Center, where meal plans transform into all-you-care-to-eat experiences. We offer stations that feature classic entrées, delicious hot pizzas, made-to-order deli sandwiches, hot-off-the-grill favorites, soups, salads, desserts, and even an international station where a chef prepares each dish individually! Other great places on campus include Chik-fil-A, VSU Classics, Goldie’s Deli, Blazin’ Burgers, a Smart Market, the Loop Pizza Grill, Einstein Brs. Bagels, Food for Thought, and more. With more than 7 dining locations on campus, restaurants that offer continuous service throughout the day, and menus that are innovative and fresh, it’s always easy for you to eat…where, when, and how you want to.
What about campus transportation? Can freshmen have cars?
Getting around campus will be one of the last things you worry about at VSU. Any student may have a car on campus, but you must get a permit from the Parking and Transportation Department. If you decide to have a car at school, there are about 3,000 parking spaces for students. VSU also has a shuttle bus system that will take you all over the campus from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Friday.
What kinds of computing facilities are available? Should I bring my own computer to VSU?
Students may bring their own computers for their dorm rooms. All of the Residence halls have access to a “wireless” Internet connection. However, if you choose not to bring your own computer there is a computer lab within 100 yards of each residence hall for students to use. VSU, recognized as a technology leader within the University System, has 44 computer labs on campus that are opened for student use and a newly opened 24-hour Internet Café in the Odum Library featuring a Jazzman’s Cafe. E-mail accounts and Internet use are free. You can even register for classes through the Internet.
How do I access my VSU e-mail address?
- Go to Valdosta State’s homepage at www.valdosta.edu.
- Select Registration and Advising from the right panel under Resources.
- Select the pin to password guide link and read the instructions on how to change your password. After reading the instruction click the back button to return to log-in page.
- If you know your student ID number ex. (870-XX-XXXX) choose log-in, your user ID is your student number and your password is your six digit birthday. (You will be prompted to change your password to an 8 digit alpha-numeric password, if you have not already done so.)
- If you do not know your student number, choose VSU ID Lookup in the right panel under Related Resources to obtain it. Click the back button twice to return to log-in page.
- Once you are logged in click Personal Information, and then select View E-mail Addresses. Scroll down to view your email address, your username will be the letters before @valdosta.edu
- Once you have your information click on the Blazenet link to go to the email log-in page and log-in with your username and your initial password (6 digit birthday).
- Problems accessing your account? – Call the HelpDesk @ 229-333-4357.
What can I expect a VSU freshmen class to be like?
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. And graduate assistants won’t be teaching you either. The typical class size is approximately 35. Over 75 percent of our faculty holds a doctorate or terminal degree in their field of study.
What is the city of Valdosta like?
Valdosta is Georgia’s 10th largest city and is continually growing. We’re 15 miles from the Florida border and only four hours away from Atlanta and Orlando. Our warm climate makes for a great location where you can spend tons of time outside and not have to worry about layering the clothes on. Valdosta is the county seat for Lowndes County which has a population of 110,000. Valdosta is a city large enough to offer just about any experience you’d want, yet small enough for people to remember your name. With the beautiful campus covered with palm trees and azaleas, the friendly people of Valdosta and top-quality faculty, Valdosta State University is an ideal place for you to continue your education quest.