Can I go to college with GED?

“Whether you think you can or if you think you can’t, you’re right.” Many people wrongly think that they will never be accepted into college after passing the GED assessment test.

Is it true? Can you get into GED? Although you can enter college, there are some caveats.

Let’s examine this article’s subject.

Is a GED enough to go to college?

Many students dropout from high school for various reasons. Later, they pass high school equivalent diplomas such as GED. Then, they wonder is it accepted in colleges and job fields? About 80% of colleges accept it in 2022.

Although GED is widely accepted, students should research about the college before admission, especially their admission requirement. Most colleges accept GED graduates but some prefer high school graduates over GED.

In addition, very few colleges do not accept this diploma. Moreover, there is a stereotypical notion that GED graduates do not have as much depth of knowledge as high school graduates.
Since the duration of the exam is short, many think that students take it as a shortcut to admission in colleges. The authorities perceive that GED graduates do not have the same skills as high school students.

But, do not worry. You can easily enter college by entering college admission tests such as the SAT or ACT. You can also prove that you have adequate skills showing that you work as a volunteer in various organizations.

You can also be admitted to any community college. Later, you’ll be able to transfer to colleges or universities. Spending two to three years in a junior college demonstrates that you have sufficient skills and knowledge for college courses.

To get into college, what GED score do you need?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the GED score required for admission into college can vary depending on the school you are applying to. However, a good rule of thumb is to aim for a score of at least 150 on each of the four sections of the GED test. This will put you in a good position to be accepted into most colleges.

Keep in mind that your GED score is just one part of your college application, and there are many other factors that admissions committees will look at when making their decisions. So even if your score is not as high as you would like, don’t give up hope – there’s still a chance you could be accepted into the school of your dreams.

Policy for retaking the GED test

It is fine for being frustrated after failing in GED. But, do not despair. You can take another shot. There is a saying that failure is the key to success. So, do not give up before passing the test.

The now question is how many times you can ask. Most states allow for three attempts without any waiting period. However, the student needs to wait for sixty days after the third attempt.

Some states allow multiple retakes. For instance, Connecticut permits multiple retakes each year. They have to wait for sixty days before each retake. Students have to wait for 30 days before each retake attempts in Nebraska. However, they have to wait for 60 days after the third failed attempt.

Difference between GED and High School Diploma

There are some differences between a GED and a high school diploma. They are as follows:

Financial Aids

Many GED students have the notion that they cannot receive financial aid. It is completely wrong. Many states and universities offer economic support to continue to study GED as well as continue higher study.

For example, New York, Maine, West Virginia, Connecticut, Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Kentucky, Illinois, and Alaska fully sponsor GED costs. Students of some states can complete GED at a low cost. For instance, Arkansas residents can pay 16 US dollars for the test.

Many states also offer scholarships for higher studies. For example, Georgia provides 500 US Dollars to GED graduates. They can use it to get admitted into any Georgia qualified college or university. Meanwhile, University of Arkansas – Pulaski offer scholarships up to 10920 Dollars to cover tuition fee. So, it is clear that you can get economic support to complete GED and continue higher study.

College Requirement

There are some requirements of colleges for admission of GED graduates. Check the requirements of colleges before admission.

Usually, they expect you to have a 165 or higher score. They also ask for your high school transcripts. Additionally, they ask SAT or ACT test scores.

They may also ask you to spend some years in community colleges to become ready for college courses. It helps you to grow essential skills to complete college courses successfully.

Attending GED at Age of 16

A student can attend GED at the age of 16. The parent should sign that the candidate has withdrawn from his school and his age is 16.

Requirements:

• They also have to submit documentation from a high school that he has finished a class
• The student also has to submit proof of identification
• It includes state ID, birth certificate and residency
• If the student is married, he will have to submit a marriage license
• Contact with the testing center to learn more about requirements

List of Colleges Accept GED

Most colleges accept GED graduates. Here are the list of colleges and universities in USA accepted GED:

• Seattle Central 
• San Diego 
• Miami Dade 
• Phoenix 
• Richmond Community College
• Lawson State Community College
• Houston Community College
• Wayne County Community College
• Frederick Community College
• Cleveland Community College
• Nashville State Community College
• City College of Chicago
• Kansas City Kansas Community College
• Middle Georgia Technical College
• Oregon Institute of Technology
• Associate Technical College
• Florida Technical College
• Texas State Technical College
• Ohio Technical College
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology
• Penn State 
• University of Maryland
• Purdue Global
• University of North Texas
• Colorado State 
• University of Oregon
• University of Michigan
• Point Park 
• University of Cincinnati Blue Ash
• University of Cincinnati Clement
• University of Memphis
• University of California
• Columbia
• Harvard 
• New York
• Alabama State

Steps to Apply for College

You can apply for colleges following below steps:

• Submit the application form
• Send required documents after the college requires any document such as various certificates and recommendation letters. Do not forget to write an essay to convince why you are a good candidate
• Start applying for funds and scholarships

Can You Admit Harvard University with GED

Yes, you can get admitted into Harvard University with a GED. But, you have to work harder than a high school graduate. You need to pass two years in a community college. Then, you have to spend four years in any university to complete a Bachelor. Finally, you can get into Harvard.

There are many instances that a student has gotten a chance in Harvard University with a GED.

For example, Juan has quitted high school at an early age. Then, he completed GED and graduated from California Community College. Finally, he has gotten a chance in Harvard University after completing a BSc in Chemical Physics from an average ranked university.

So, if you completed GED, you can go to Harvard University. Do not think that your life is valueless after quitting high school.

Harvard meticulously analyses the profile of each candidate. They also pay attention to the qualities of the students in addition to the score. He should be a good inspiration for society. He also has to demonstrate that he is enthusiastic about his study and wants to do anything for a successful accomplishment.

Harvard also checks the interest of candidates. What students have interest in, what he does for this interest. They also check personal growth of the student. If he fails or succeeds in any activity, what has he learnt? How much does he care about extra curricular activity and society?

They also check personal traits. The candidate should be open minded and intellectual. They also consider character, maturity, leadership skills, energetic, empathetic for others, able to work under pressure and many other characteristics of a candidate.

How to Compare GED Score with GPA?

There is no official measurement system to convert GED score to GPA. However, you can compare your GED score with GPA to get an approximate idea. This comparison and conversion can make your application strong to apply for university or job and compete with high school graduates.

First, average your GED score. Suppose, you have achieved 500 in Math, 600 in Science, 700 in Social Studies and 500 in Reasoning in Language Arts. Divide those numbers by two. You will get the final results of these deductions.

Now, you can check the following chart to compare GED score with GPA.

Conclusion

In the end, I want to say that it is hard to get into college with GED but it is possible. You can enter colleges attending SAT or ACT tests, spend two to three years in community college and apply for your favorite college or university. You can easily get admitted to a college or university.