FAQ for Scholar Weekends
In an effort to help you learn more about the program and answer the most commonly asked questions, we have compiled the answers below. Should we have missed something, please email us at
The following pages answer these questions:
· What are the hours of the program?
· Where do the students stay?
· How many students stay in a room together?
· Can we choose or request roommates?
· How are roommates chosen?
· Where and when are classes?
· How many classes can they take?
· What do I do if the class I want is full?
· Who is supervising the children during class and the evening?
· What do the students do in the evenings?
· What is the latest we can register?
· How do I qualify for Financial Aid?
· What do students need to bring?
· Is lodging available for parents?
· What is the cancellation policy?
· How can I be sure I am registered?
· What if my student requires a special meal?
· How long is the optional parent session on Saturday?
What are the hours of the program?
Registration occurs from 9:40-10:00 on Saturday in Athens.
Pick up is at 4:00 on Sunday.
For a detailed schedule – please see event page.
Where do the students stay?
All overnight students stay at the Georgia Center Hotel, an on campus hotel, within walking distance from the classes.
Here is the link to the hotel. http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/uga-hotel
How many students stay in a room together?
There are two students to a room, each, of course with their own bed.
Rarely, we have an odd number of students of each gender, in which case, we bring in a rollaway bed and have 3 students to that room.
We ask the hotel to separate the students by gender onto different floors, as well.
Can we choose or request roommates?
No. This program is designed to not only challenge you academically, but give you some experiences you would have in college. Not knowing your roommate is certainly something you might have to face when you go away to school!
How are roommates chosen?
We do our best to place students in rooms with other students in their same grade and with similar interests (same class or similar classes).
Where and when are classes?
Classes take place in Aderhold Hall, a ten minute walk from the Georgia Center Hotel.
Students are in class on Saturday from 10am-6:30pm (with a one hour lunch break), and on Sunday from 9am-3:45pm (with a one hour lunch break).
How many classes can they take?
Students can attend only 1 class each weekend. This is the class that you register for online.
You can, however, sign up for multiple weekends at once, in which case, you will sign up for more than one class.
What do I do if the class I want is full?
You can email us at and request to be put on the waitlist for that class.
The waitlist is on a first come-first serve basis as well. Please be sure to include: Your name and contact information, the class you would like to be in, the class you are currently in (if you signed up for another class), your student’s name, gender and grade.
Who is supervising the children during class and the evening?
We have a highly trained staff that is always supervising the students.
During Scholar Weekends we have two different sets of staff supervising. Resident Counselors (RCs), who check you in at the Georgia Center, are responsible for the students during any time they are not in the classroom – i.e. lunch, evening programs and the hotel. RCs host the hotel orientation meetings for the students, are their point of contact should they need anything, and are responsible for making sure everyone is in their room at night and awake and ready to go in the morning.
During class, the Instructor and their teaching assistant supervise the students.
Both the Teaching Assistants and Resident Counselor staff are comprised of undergraduate UGA students who have been trained by us and have extensive experience working with students. The majority of this staff is upperclassmen education majors here at UGA. It is our hope that by exposing your student to upstanding college students, they are also given the chance through these weekends to ask questions and learn more about college experiences.
What do the students do in the evenings?
The Evening Program begins after dinner around 7:15pm Saturday. The options for the activities change weekend to weekend, however, students are given the opportunity to choose what they would like to participate in. In the past popular options of evening activities have included: walking to get a frozen yogurt or coffee (you must bring your own money for this, if you would like something), capture the flag, trivia, and more.
All students come back to the hotel at 9pm. Day students are then picked up and overnight students pick up their luggage, get their hotel room key, drop off their stuff and go to their Resident Counselor’s room for a meeting.
Then from 9:30 -10:30pm students are allowed to “hang out” in designated areas of the hotel. We provide some board games, there is a “pantry” students can get a snack if they would like to buy one, or they can visit peers in their rooms (unless of the opposite gender).
What is the latest we can register?
Registration closes 15 days before each event. This is a hard date, as the hotel requires to know all those attending.
Classes also fill up on a first come-first serve basis. Once a class is full (18 students) then registration for that class is closed.
How do I qualify for Financial Aid?
We consider those for financial aid with the following qualifications.
Either/ or:
The student participates in the a free or reduced lunch program at school
Or any people living in the student’s main household receives either Social Security payments, SSI payments, Child Support payments, Welfare, TANF or other public assistant payments.
We also consider if there are outstanding circumstances (such as high medical bills, etc).
Please visit the Financial Aid Application to learn more and apply.
What do students need to bring?
Students are asked to bring – pen/pencil, notebook, a change of clothes for Sunday, toiletries, warm coats (if it is cold outside!), umbrella or raincoat – since they will be walking outside to class and to lunch.
Two weeks before the class you should get an email with further details about the weekend (directions, supplies need, etc.). In that is will tell you if there is anything specific to the course that you are signed up for that you need to bring.
We encourage students to PACK LIGHT because they will be responsible for carrying their bags to and from the Georgia Center and class (about a 10 minute walk).
Is lodging available for parents?
We do not coordinate hotels for parents. If parents would like to stay at the Georgia Center, they can make their own reservation for their room. If you choose to do this, you can enroll as a “day student” for the program, if your student would like to stay with you in your room.
What is the cancellation policy?
If you cancel your enrollment at least ten (10) full business days prior to the beginning of the program, you will receive a refund minus a $50 processing fee. After that time, cancellations will result in forfeiture of payment except in cases of illness (with a doctor’s note on letterhead), death of immediate family members or inclement weather, in which case we will refund any uncommitted and recoverable funds. Refunds usually take three weeks to process.
UGA-Duke Tip reserves the right to cancel any event due to low enrollment or circumstances beyond our control. If an event is canceled by us, you will receive a full refund of any monies paid. We are not responsible for costs related to travel to and from the program.
How can I be sure I am registered?
You will get an email confirmation with an order # once you are officially registered.
What if my student requires a special meal?
Please email us at if your student has any food allergies or requirements that must be accommodated.
We will eat lunch in the dining hall of UGA, which offers plenty of variety for all different food allergies and restrictions. Dinner on Saturday is typically Papa Johns pizza. Breakfast at the hotel is a buffet and should have enough options, as well.
How long is the optional parent session on Saturday?
The optional parent session that offers a seminar or lecture on topics for parents of gifted students is scheduled to last 1 hour. Typically the presenters also stay longer to answer any individual questions you may have.