About Georgia Institute of Technology
Location: Atlanta, GA
Undergraduate Population: 20,592
Most Popular Majors: Industrial Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics
Demographics:
Asian/Asian American 36.4%
White 33.3%
Latinx 8.3%
Black/African American 8.1%
Multiracial 4.6%
Native American less than 1%
History:
The idea of a technology school in Georgia was introduced in 1865 as a way to improve technology in the South to compete with the North’s industrialization. After committees were formed to research technology-forward schools like MIT and the Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science (now Worcester Polytechnic Institute), on October 13, 1885, Georgia Governor Henry D. McDaniel signed the bill to create and fund the new school.
The Georgia School of Technology opened in the fall of 1888 with two buildings—one building (which is present day Tech Tower, an administrative headquarters) had classrooms, while the other had boiler and engine rooms where students worked and produced goods for sale. Georgia Tech’s Evening School of Commerce began holding classes in 1912, and the first female students were admitted in 1917. In 1931, the Board of Regents transferred control of the Evening School of Commerce to the University of Georgia and moved the civil and electrical engineering courses at UGA to Georgia Tech, Georgia Tech then replaced the commerce school with what later became the College of Business.
Female students were admitted to the regular classes starting in 1952, and by 1968 women could enroll at all programs at Georgia Tech. In 1959, the student body voted for students of all races to be admitted to the university and 1965 saw the university’s first African American graduate. Today, Georgia Tech offers 39 majors and 71 minors through six undergraduate colleges.
Notable Georgia Tech alumni include President Jimmy Carter, WWE wrestler Roman Reigns, computer programmer Alexandra Elbakyan, NBA star Chris Bosh, and biochemist Kary Mullis.
Traditions:
- The words and music for Georgia Tech’s “Ramblin’ Wreck” fight song were inspired by an old folk ballad, “The Sons of the Gamboliers.” The name Ramblin’ Wreck gained widespread acceptance in the 1920s, when graduates began building makeshift mechanical buggies to improve a poor transportation system in South America.
- The mascot of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Buzz, is a big part of campus life. Buzz gets Tech fans cheering at nearly all intercollegiate sporting events.
- Georgia Tech hosts Focus, a program for raising graduate education awareness, designed to attract underrepresented minority students and encourage them to pursue graduate degrees at Georgia Tech.
Noteworthy Features:
- Georgia Tech offers majors and minors through the following schools: College of Computing, College of Design, College of Engineering, College of Sciences, the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, and the Scheller College of Business.
- Regardless of major, students must complete credit hours in social sciences, science, English and humanities, math, U.S. or Georgia history, U.S. and global perspectives, and wellness.
- The Capstone Design is a program many Georgia Tech students partake in. The annual Capstone Design Expo showcases Georgia Tech’s graduating seniors as they present their innovative projects designed and built during the Capstone Design.
Admissions Profile
Average GPA: 4.14
Test Scores (mid-50% range): 1370-1530 SAT/30-34 ACT
Admit Rate: 14.1%
Test-optional? No
Offers Early Admissions? Yes—Early Action I and II
Supplemental Essays
Babson College’s Required Essay Prompts:
Why do you want to study your chosen major, and why do you want to study that major at Georgia Tech? (300 words)
This is a combined “why major” and “why school” essay. To make sure your essay aligns with the school’s offerings, log on to Georgia Tech’s website. Take some time to look at the major you’re interested in, and then write a response that shows what you love about not just that particular subject, but with the unique ways you can explore it at Georgia Tech. Use the 300 words to let the school know how you’ve explored your interest in the field so far—and how you hope to continue pursuing it at Georgia Tech specifically. During school research, take note on any specific professor whose research stands out to you, any special program within the field you can participate in, and Georgia Tech-specific resources you can take advantage of. Then, write your response highlighting how you specifically could benefit from these opportunities at Tech.
For more tips on common supplemental essay prompts, see our blog post here.
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