Generally, your entrance exam score must be five years old or less, if you are applying for the MS or MBA programs (see question #1 above). More information about the GRE is available at www.ets.org. Information about the GMAT is available through www.mba.com.

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To qualify for the Certificate, you must already have a masters degree in a business related field, a CPA, or a JD. Certificate students take the same PFP classes as the masters degree students, so formal admission is required. The Certificate itself is non-degree, and is awarded by the Department of Risk Management and Insurance, as opposed to the College. The Certificate does satisfy the education requirement for the CFP© certification.

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The admissions process typically takes a couple of months to complete. The Robinson College of Business (RCB) admissions office posts application deadlines, typically several months before a particular semester begins. The reality is they operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, and they get a large number of applications. If you want to start sooner, rather than later, the best advice is to get a complete application package in as soon as you can.

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Yes. Admission is based on prior academic performance, entrance exam score, and professional experience. The average GMAT of those accepted into the RCB is above 600 (between the 60th and 70th percentile). We have had individuals that applied to the program that did not get accepted. Admission is not under the control of Professor Ciccotello or Professor Elger. Control of the admissions process rests with the Office of Graduate Admissions and Student Services, (404) 651-1913.

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What do the PFP programs cost (2009-2010 academic year)?

These amounts are per semester (12 or more credit hours):

Item	In-State Students	Out-of-State Students
Tuition	$4,056	$14,232
Student-Fees	$714	$714
Books (approximately)	$670	$670
Total	$5,440	$15,616

Office of Student Accounts
	Visit the Office of Student Accounts for additional information.

If you are applying, it is a good time to investigate the scholarships/ fellowships offered by the Department of Risk Management and Insurance.

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Yes. A number of courses in the program are offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer. It is therefore possible to start in any of those semesters.

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Courses meet one night a week, either 4:30-7:15PM or 7:30-9:45PM during the Fall and Spring, for 15 weeks. During Summer, courses meet at approximately the same times, but twice a week for 7 weeks. Courses are held either at the Downtown Campus or at the Alpharetta Campus on Old Milton Parkway.

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None of the PFP classes themselves are virtual, and none are likely to be in the near future. If you take the MBA-PFP, however, almost all of the MBA core courses are available on-line. This would mean than about half of the MBA-PFP program is available on-line.

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It varies. Many of our students have full-time jobs, but some do not. The average course load is two classes per semester. Three or more classes in one semester would be a very heavy load for an employed student. The average program completion time for the MS-PFP or MBA-PFP is about two to two and one half years. You can go faster or slower, however. The Masters program could be completed in a calendar year, for example, with proper planning and at a full time (12-15 hours a semester) pace. You can also take up to five years to complete a Masters program. The Certificate takes most students between 12 and 18 months to finish.

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There are a couple of key scheduling sequences and course offering details. One is the ACC4510, PFP 8460, and PFP 8520 sequence. If you have to take personal income tax (ACC4510), take it early. It is a prerequisite for estate planning (PFP 8460), which in turn is a prerequisite for the advanced (capstone) class (PFP 8520).

 

The second is the MBA 8135, FIN 8000, FIN 8240 sequence. Our Finance department is very particular about pre-requisite enforcement. Get started on this sequence early. The third is the capstone course issue (PFP 8520). It should be as near to the end of the program as possible because it is a comprehensive review and mock CFP© certification exam class. The capstone class is offered in the Spring only (Downtown Campus). If you plan to be in the program until the following Spring, wait and take it then. If you will be graduating in Fall of the same year, take it in that year's Spring. Also, be aware that some of the other required courses are not offered every semester. You can check GO SOLAR for schedules.

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The RCB has an outstanding placement office, and the PFP program itself is very active in interface with local employers. In addition, we maintain contacts with the Georgia Chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). We are also actively working on internship placements. Among the full-time placements we have had for PFP graduates are the AXA Corporate Training Center, Brightworth, Homrich & Berg, Creative Financial (Synovus), Anthony Smith Advisors, and Ayco. Students are encouraged to share their full-time employment/internship interests and goals with the faculty as soon as they enter the program. Visit the Careers in PFP area of this web site.

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