How to Get Into Georgia Tech? 5 Strategies for a Winning Application
Do you want to study at the Georgia Institute of Technology?
Most commonly known as Georgia Tech, this reputable school is a public research university and institute of technology based in Atlanta, GA. It's also part of the University System of Georgia and offers satellite campuses in Savannah, GA; Athlone, Ireland; Metz, France; Shenzhen, China; and Singapore.
As you might have already noticed through your college research, Georgia Tech is a competitive school. In fact, Georgia Tech’s acceptance rate is a mere 23.4%, meaning admissions are highly competitive.
So how can you increase your chances of being accepted to Georgia Tech? Of course, students must meet certain requirements to be considered for top-rated schools.
But here are some tips to consider as you prepare your application--or even as you begin your high school career.
1. Start Early
The best way to elevate your chances of getting into your dream school is to start thinking about requirements early. By knowing what your dream school requires, you can set yourself up for success at the beginning of high school.
If you are a freshman or sophomore in high school, this means focusing on your grades, activities, and study habits so you can earn a high GPA and get ready for tests like the ACT and SAT. This also means exploring your interests, challenging yourself, and delving into new experiences.
2. Join a High School Honor Society
Another great strategy to prepare early for an outstanding college application is to join a high school honor society like NSHSS. Honor societies will provide you with tips, tools, and opportunities for study abroad programs, scholarships, and service projects throughout high school that will highlight your talents in a college application later.
Even if you are a high school junior or senior, you can use the tools available through a high school honor society to apply for scholarships, learn tips for how to write an application essay, and discover ways to contribute to your community or even study abroad.
3. Showcase Your Passions
If you are a high school junior or senior, you might not have time to add more activities to your resume or raise your GPA before applying to Georgia Tech. In that case, your best bet is to clearly showcase your passions on your application.
Though Georgia Tech does not necessarily look for certain majors over others, Georgia Tech admissions officers do look to see that your application information aligns with the major you hope to pursue.
Demonstrating that you have pursued a certain passion will show Georgia Tech that you are committed, driven, and focused as a student and will continue to display these positive qualities while at Georgia Tech.
Though you cannot change what you have accomplished in high school, you can work to showcase your interests by demonstrating how your extracurricular activities, course electives, and volunteer experiences have led you to pursue a specific area of study. Think of your application as one cohesive narrative that tells Georgia Tech why you are a great candidate.
4. Score High on the SAT/ACT
Though this might seem like an obvious strategy, getting a high score on standardized tests is crucial to being admitted to a school like Georgia Tech, especially if your GPA is not as high as you might have hoped. Georgia Tech’s average SAT and ACT scores are 1295 and 32, so when admissions officers look at applications, they expect to see those scores before accepting students.
Of course, more goes into the selection process than just test scores, but if you have the opportunity to retake either test, try to get your scores as high as possible before submitting your application to Georgia Tech.
5. Write an Essay Unique to You
The most important of any application tips and advice is to write a personal statement that showcases your unique experiences, interests, personality, and potential. When considering prompt questions for personal statements, take time to think through the answers and brainstorm your ideas before writing your essay.
What has made your experience unique so far? What are you passionate about inside and outside of the classroom? How will Georgia Tech help you reach your goals? What makes you the person you are today? How do you see yourself contributing to Georgia Tech’s campus?
All these questions are important to consider as you write an essay tailored to your goal of getting into Georgia Tech. Also remember to add specificity to your essay, as the details will better showcase who you are as a student.
How to Get Into Georgia Tech & Other Top Dream Schools?
To learn more about how to get into Georgia Tech or other top dream schools you’re applying to, you can read the book College Admission: How to Get Into Your Dream School by James W. Lewis. In the book, you will find information about choosing the right college, application tips, applying for scholarships, and securing financial aid, as well as successful student essays and advice for parents.
No matter what, though, remember that Georgia Tech is a highly competitive school. What you have control over is your application, not Georgia Tech’s final decision. So make sure your application highlights the very best aspects of who you are and shows Georgia Tech what an asset you would be to its campus and community.
After you have submitted your application, take a breath. Know that whatever happens, you will end up at the college or university meant for you. Keep studying, contributing to your community, and honing your interests and passions. And good luck!