How To Get Into Georgia Tech

Students going to Georgia Tech after high school putting graduation hats in the air
May 4, 2023
Contents

”Rohan

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 05/04/23

Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech for short, is a public research university and technology institution in Atlanta, Georgia.

Georgia Tech is ranked as the 44th best national university by US News and World Report. The school is extremely well known for its technology and engineering related majors and programs. Here are some more rankings for Georgia Tech:

  • Fourth in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs 
  • 15th in Top Public Schools
  • First in Best Industrial/Manufacturing Programs
  • First in Best Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Programs 
  • Third in Best Management Information Systems Program
  • Fifth in Best Computer Science Programs
  • Fifth in Best Co-ops/Internships 

Does all of this sound intriguing to you? Then you’re in luck! This article will go through the application requirements of Georgia Tech, so you can have a good idea of how to get into Georgia Tech. Let’s get into it.

Georgia Tech Admissions Requirements

Applying to Georgia Tech is a process that requires lots of care and preparation. All applicants must apply for the Common Application and submit all documents required by the school after the Common Application is finished. Below are all things mandatory for applying to Georgia Tech:

  • High school transcripts (containing courses taken and GPA)
  • Personal essay
  • Standardized test score
  • Contribution to the community
  • Language Proficiency requirements (if applicable)

Let’s take a deeper dive into each of these requirements. 

Georgia Tech GPA Requirements

All applicants must submit their high school transcripts  containing all their courses taken during high school, including their grades and overall GPA. To be eligible to apply, applicants must complete the following minimum academic courses by the time of graduation:

  • English: 4 Units
  • Math: 4 Units
  • Science: 4 Units
  • Social Science: 3 Units
  • Foreign Language (including sign language) or Computer Science: 2 Units

Georgia Tech judges GPA on a 100-point scale but will also consider a 4.0 GPA, both unweighted and weighted. Georgia Tech will recalculate a weighted 4.0 GPA if no GPA is available.

Admissions done by first-year applicants don’t have any minimum GPA requirements. This means that as long as the applicant has a high enough GPA that makes them eligible for high school graduation, they can apply based on their  judgment and interests.

Georgia Tech SAT/ACT Requirements

Georgia Tech requires all first-year applicants to submit at least one official score for SAT or ACT. Georgia Tech does not have a preference for which test scores are submitted, but they require at least one of the tests to be submitted.

When reviewing applicants, SAT and ACT scores are evaluated based on the highest score for each section of the respective test for all test scores the applicant has reported during the application. Like with GPA, Georgia Tech has no minimum SAT or ACT scores requirements, but you should aim for as high of a score as possible to compete with the large number of applicants each year. Successful applicants usually have an average SAT score ranging from 1370-1530.

Contribution to the Community

There will be a section of the application where Georgia Tech asks you to share information about your involvement with your community. The “community” here can include your school, friends, family, or any other types of groups, such as clubs or teams. 

Your contribution to your community shows what you are like from a non-academic perspective. It tells Georgia Tech the following: 

  • Your non-academic interests and passion
  • How do you spend and manage time outside of your academic duties
  • How do you handle responsibilities 
  • How you contribute to the community
  • Your non-academic experiences, skills, and knowledge 

Think about this: what do you do to contribute to the groups you belong to or participate in? To help you further, ask yourself the following questions: 

  • What do you care about, both for yourself and other members of your community? 
  • If you’ve voluntarily joined a community, why? 
  • When you’re in a community, what activities do you find meaningful?

When discussing activities and experiences, don’t just say what it is. Include details that help paint a clearer picture. 

Language Proficiency Requirements

Applicants who are non-native English speakers are given the option to participate in a third-party, unscripted interview. This interview allows you to demonstrate your English language and communication proficiency and to describe yourself academically and personally. 

If you are an international applicant, then demonstrating English proficiency is mandatory. You must do so via University System approved methods, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and the Duolingo English Test. And, of course, if you’re taking a standardized test, you must submit the official score report. 

International non-native English speakers can also take the above-mentioned interview to help demonstrate language and communication capabilities. However, the interview is a complement, not a substitute, for the required USG English Proficiency demonstrations.

Georgia Tech Essays 

Georgia Tech requires all applicants to write two essays for their current applications: the Common Application personal essay and the Georgia Tech short answer question. Both  essay topics will be given prompts, and students must provide their well-thought-out responses as content. 

The Georgia Tech short answer question, has a maximum response length of 300 words.

For the Common Application Personal Essay, applicants must choose one of seven given essay prompts provided by Common Application. On the other hand, the Georgia Tech short answer question has the following prompt: Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? 

These essays aim to assess your writing ability and communication skills and, much more importantly, to learn more about you as an individual

Make sure you do some good, long self-reflection on what you want the universities to know about you, especially your experiences, skills, personality, interests, passions, and goals (both long-term and short-term).

Georgia Tech Acceptance Rate

How hard is it to get into Georgia Tech? Georgia Tech has an acceptance rate of 16%, making it an extremely selective school with a competitive admission process. After all, Georgia Tech is one of the world’s best research institutions for technology fields.

Georgia Tech Application Process & Deadlines

First-year students must apply to Georgia Tech using the Common Application, which will open on August 1st, before the applicant’s senior year. Georgia Tech has three academic plans: Early 1 (early action for Georgia students), Early 2 (early action for non-Georgia students), and Regular Application.

Below is a table for the deadlines and decision release dates for all three application options:

Application Plan 2023 Application Deadline Document Submission Deadline Test Score Self-Report Deadline Decision Release Date
Early Action
(in-state students)
October 17th October 24th November 20th December 9th
Early Action 2
(Out-of-State Students)
November 1st November 15th January 15th January 27th
Regular Decision January 4th February 1st February 1st In-State: March 3rd
Out-of-State: Late March

Source: Georgia Tech

“Georgia student” is defined as residents of Georgia (regardless of where they currently live) or students officially attending a high school in Georgia. This means you are not a Georgia resident (such as being international) and do not attend a Georgian high school.

All deadlines are 11:59 p.m. on the above dates in your time zone. For example, a student who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, must submit their application by 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Because Georgia Tech requires you to submit your application through the Common Application, there is a separate deadline for submitting all the required documents and self-reporting scores. The documents that you must submit can be found in your admission portal.

What Is Georgia Tech Looking For? 

While not as tough as Ivy League schools, Georgia Tech has a highly competitive admissions process. Each applicant is evaluated holistically, taking a wide range of factors into account, such as: 

  • Extracurricular activities
  • Leadership experience
  • Academic excellence 
  • Demonstrated interest in the university

Furthermore, Georgia Tech has the following mission statement: “The Georgia Institute of Technology is a leading research university committed to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology.” Thus, applicants who fit  this mission statement are particularly attractive to the admission committee. 

Georgia Tech looks for a few specific things in an applicant.

Contribution to the Community

As mentioned before, Georgia Tech is very interested in hearing what each applicant brings to their community, to the point that they have dedicated an entire application section to it. When it comes to contributing to a community, some of the most valued traits and attitudes include the following:

  • Commitment
  • Self-motivation
  • Personal responsibility
  • Compassion for others
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Entrepreneurism
  • Intellectual curiosity

So, when you fill out your application, think about your activities and experiences that demonstrate the above traits or any other traits that showcase a sense of contribution to the community you belong to.

Willingness To Face Challenges

Georgia Tech prefers students with intellectual and academic curiosity and a will to face challenges. Therefore, you are at an advantage if you can succeed in the more advanced and rigorous academic curriculum and programs your high school offers. These include but are not limited to the following: 

Essentially, anything that shows you can  take the challenge and the drive to do well in those tough scenarios will help you!  

Sense of Identity and Self-Reflection

Georgia Tech is looking for more than just competent learners. They review applicants by inspecting how they are as an overall person. Thus, you must know how to describe yourself to the admission committee. The better you do this, the more likely Georgia Tech will consider you a fit. 

This aspect is reflected in your essays. Essays are about yourself, so you will struggle in this section if you don’t write a strong essay. When writing essays, make sure you showcase the following in your writing:

  • Authenticity and truthfulness
  • Self-awareness
  • Thoughtfulness
  • Ability to articulate in a clear and concise manner
  • Leadership
  • Motivation to advance technology for the betterment of society
  • Focus on a central topic or idea

Of course, your essay is not the only place to demonstrate your sense of self, but writing a strong essay is the most crucial step in doing well.

Tips for Getting Into Georgia Tech

Do you want to know how you can get into Georgia Tech? Here are a few things you can do to help increase your chances.

Participate in Extracurricular Activities

One of the best ways to display your values and how you contribute to the community is through extracurricular activities. These are everything you do outside of the classroom and are often detached from your academic duties given to you (which means they are more about your  interests). 

Thus, when you select your extracurricular activities, choose based on what you care about and reflect on your involvement. Will the extracurricular activity demonstrate commitment? Or responsibilities? Or leadership? As mentioned before, don’t just mention what you did. Give details and paint a picture.

And, of course, do what is necessary. Make sure you select three to five extracurricular activities to focus on. Quality matters more than quantity. 

Be Academically Prepared

A big part of the admission process comes from academic requirements, so make sure your academic performance is not just excellent but consistently so. Do well in courses, and make sure you do particularly well in courses related to your major. This is especially important if you plan to apply to any technology-related programs.

You must also be wise in your course selection. Make sure you choose courses  demonstrating knowledge and skills related to your program. Additionally, If the school offers it, you should enroll in courses as advanced as your capabilities allow. As for standardized tests, start preparing as early as possible. 

Doing academically well in school may ensure you get admitted into Georgia Tech. When it comes to competitive universities, there is no such thing as a GPA or a score that is too high. 

Submit Recommendation Letters

While optional, recommendation letters are an effective method to improve your chances. Recommendation letters are documents  by third parties that offer more background information about an applicant. And the main purpose is to persuade the admission committee why an applicant is worthy of admission.

You should request recommendation letters from teachers, counselors, or other academic professionals who know you well as a student and a person. A maximum of two recommendation letters are permitted.

FAQs: Getting Into Georgia Tech

If you have any unanswered questions on how to get into Georgia Tech, these frequently asked questions will help you!

1. How Hard Is It To Get Into Georgia Tech?

Georgia Tech has a low acceptance rate of just 18%. Applicants are evaluated through a holistic process that considers many different factors. Thus, getting admitted to Georgia Tech is quite a challenge.

2. What Is the Average GPA for Georgia Tech?

The average admitted Georgia Tech freshman has a high school GPA of 3.8 on a 4.0 scale.

3. What Is the Average SAT and ACT Score for Georgia Tech?

The median SAT score of admitted Georgia Tech first-year students is between 1370 and 1530 out of 1600. Meanwhile, the median ACT score of admitted Georgia Tech first-year students lands between 31 and 35 out of 36.

4. Is Georgia Tech an Elite College?

Georgia Tech is considered to be an elite engineering and technology school, as well as one of the top public institutions in the nation

5. How Can I Increase My Chances of Getting Into Georgia Tech?

You must demonstrate consistent and wide-ranged academic excellence, a strong will to contribute to the community, motivation, leadership, and interest in the school.

Final Thoughts

Georgia Institute of Technology is among the best places to learn technological engineering programs worldwide. Of course, the admission process is a massive mountain to climb, as they have rigorous requirements inside and outside academics. However, with hard work and dedication, you can get through it. 

You must consistently possess and showcase drive, dedication, commitment, leadership, and courage to face challenges, whether in or out of the classroom. 

It sounds back-breaking, but if you have what it takes, you will be heavily rewarded with one of the best post-graduate technology and engineering education in the nation and possibly the world.

Good luck!

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Georgia Tech Admissions RequirementsGeorgia Tech Acceptance RateGeorgia Tech Application Process & DeadlinesGeorgia Tech EssaysWhat Is Georgia Tech Looking For?Tips for Getting Into Georgia TechFAQs: Getting Into Georgia Tech

”Rohan

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 05/04/23

Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech for short, is a public research university and technology institution in Atlanta, Georgia.

Georgia Tech is ranked as the 44th best national university by US News and World Report. The school is extremely well known for its technology and engineering related majors and programs. Here are some more rankings for Georgia Tech:

Does all of this sound intriguing to you? Then you’re in luck! This article will go through the application requirements of Georgia Tech, so you can have a good idea of how to get into Georgia Tech. Let’s get into it.

Book a Free 30 min Call

Georgia Tech Admissions Requirements

Applying to Georgia Tech is a process that requires lots of care and preparation. All applicants must apply for the Common Application and submit all documents required by the school after the Common Application is finished. Below are all things mandatory for applying to Georgia Tech:

Let’s take a deeper dive into each of these requirements. 

Georgia Tech GPA Requirements

All applicants must submit their high school transcripts  containing all their courses taken during high school, including their grades and overall GPA. To be eligible to apply, applicants must complete the following minimum academic courses by the time of graduation:

Georgia Tech judges GPA on a 100-point scale but will also consider a 4.0 GPA, both unweighted and weighted. Georgia Tech will recalculate a weighted 4.0 GPA if no GPA is available.

Admissions done by first-year applicants don’t have any minimum GPA requirements. This means that as long as the applicant has a high enough GPA that makes them eligible for high school graduation, they can apply based on their  judgment and interests.

Georgia Tech SAT/ACT Requirements

Georgia Tech requires all first-year applicants to submit at least one official score for SAT or ACT. Georgia Tech does not have a preference for which test scores are submitted, but they require at least one of the tests to be submitted.

When reviewing applicants, SAT and ACT scores are evaluated based on the highest score for each section of the respective test for all test scores the applicant has reported during the application. Like with GPA, Georgia Tech has no minimum SAT or ACT scores requirements, but you should aim for as high of a score as possible to compete with the large number of applicants each year. Successful applicants usually have an average SAT score ranging from 1370-1530.

Contribution to the Community

There will be a section of the application where Georgia Tech asks you to share information about your involvement with your community. The “community” here can include your school, friends, family, or any other types of groups, such as clubs or teams. 

Your contribution to your community shows what you are like from a non-academic perspective. It tells Georgia Tech the following: 

Think about this: what do you do to contribute to the groups you belong to or participate in? To help you further, ask yourself the following questions: 

When discussing activities and experiences, don’t just say what it is. Include details that help paint a clearer picture. 

Language Proficiency Requirements

Applicants who are non-native English speakers are given the option to participate in a third-party, unscripted interview. This interview allows you to demonstrate your English language and communication proficiency and to describe yourself academically and personally. 

If you are an international applicant, then demonstrating English proficiency is mandatory. You must do so via University System approved methods, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and the Duolingo English Test. And, of course, if you’re taking a standardized test, you must submit the official score report. 

International non-native English speakers can also take the above-mentioned interview to help demonstrate language and communication capabilities. However, the interview is a complement, not a substitute, for the required USG English Proficiency demonstrations.

Georgia Tech Essays 

Georgia Tech requires all applicants to write two essays for their current applications: the Common Application personal essay and the Georgia Tech short answer question. Both  essay topics will be given prompts, and students must provide their well-thought-out responses as content. 

The Georgia Tech short answer question, has a maximum response length of 300 words.

For the Common Application Personal Essay, applicants must choose one of seven given essay prompts provided by Common Application. On the other hand, the Georgia Tech short answer question has the following prompt: Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? 

These essays aim to assess your writing ability and communication skills and, much more importantly, to learn more about you as an individual

Make sure you do some good, long self-reflection on what you want the universities to know about you, especially your experiences, skills, personality, interests, passions, and goals (both long-term and short-term).

Georgia Tech Acceptance Rate

How hard is it to get into Georgia Tech? Georgia Tech has an acceptance rate of 16%, making it an extremely selective school with a competitive admission process. After all, Georgia Tech is one of the world’s best research institutions for technology fields.

Georgia Tech Application Process & Deadlines

First-year students must apply to Georgia Tech using the Common Application, which will open on August 1st, before the applicant’s senior year. Georgia Tech has three academic plans: Early 1 (early action for Georgia students), Early 2 (early action for non-Georgia students), and Regular Application.

Below is a table for the deadlines and decision release dates for all three application options:

Application Plan 2023 Application Deadline Document Submission Deadline Test Score Self-Report Deadline Decision Release Date
Early Action
(in-state students)
October 17th October 24th November 20th December 9th
Early Action 2
(Out-of-State Students)
November 1st November 15th January 15th January 27th
Regular Decision January 4th February 1st February 1st In-State: March 3rd
Out-of-State: Late March

Source: Georgia Tech

“Georgia student” is defined as residents of Georgia (regardless of where they currently live) or students officially attending a high school in Georgia. This means you are not a Georgia resident (such as being international) and do not attend a Georgian high school.

All deadlines are 11:59 p.m. on the above dates in your time zone. For example, a student who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, must submit their application by 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Because Georgia Tech requires you to submit your application through the Common Application, there is a separate deadline for submitting all the required documents and self-reporting scores. The documents that you must submit can be found in your admission portal.

What Is Georgia Tech Looking For? 

While not as tough as Ivy League schools, Georgia Tech has a highly competitive admissions process. Each applicant is evaluated holistically, taking a wide range of factors into account, such as: 

Furthermore, Georgia Tech has the following mission statement: “The Georgia Institute of Technology is a leading research university committed to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology.” Thus, applicants who fit  this mission statement are particularly attractive to the admission committee. 

Georgia Tech looks for a few specific things in an applicant.

Contribution to the Community

As mentioned before, Georgia Tech is very interested in hearing what each applicant brings to their community, to the point that they have dedicated an entire application section to it. When it comes to contributing to a community, some of the most valued traits and attitudes include the following:

So, when you fill out your application, think about your activities and experiences that demonstrate the above traits or any other traits that showcase a sense of contribution to the community you belong to.

Willingness To Face Challenges

Georgia Tech prefers students with intellectual and academic curiosity and a will to face challenges. Therefore, you are at an advantage if you can succeed in the more advanced and rigorous academic curriculum and programs your high school offers. These include but are not limited to the following: 

Essentially, anything that shows you can  take the challenge and the drive to do well in those tough scenarios will help you!  

Sense of Identity and Self-Reflection

Georgia Tech is looking for more than just competent learners. They review applicants by inspecting how they are as an overall person. Thus, you must know how to describe yourself to the admission committee. The better you do this, the more likely Georgia Tech will consider you a fit. 

This aspect is reflected in your essays. Essays are about yourself, so you will struggle in this section if you don’t write a strong essay. When writing essays, make sure you showcase the following in your writing:

Of course, your essay is not the only place to demonstrate your sense of self, but writing a strong essay is the most crucial step in doing well.

Tips for Getting Into Georgia Tech

Do you want to know how you can get into Georgia Tech? Here are a few things you can do to help increase your chances.

Participate in Extracurricular Activities

One of the best ways to display your values and how you contribute to the community is through extracurricular activities. These are everything you do outside of the classroom and are often detached from your academic duties given to you (which means they are more about your  interests). 

Thus, when you select your extracurricular activities, choose based on what you care about and reflect on your involvement. Will the extracurricular activity demonstrate commitment? Or responsibilities? Or leadership? As mentioned before, don’t just mention what you did. Give details and paint a picture.

And, of course, do what is necessary. Make sure you select three to five extracurricular activities to focus on. Quality matters more than quantity. 

Be Academically Prepared

A big part of the admission process comes from academic requirements, so make sure your academic performance is not just excellent but consistently so. Do well in courses, and make sure you do particularly well in courses related to your major. This is especially important if you plan to apply to any technology-related programs.

You must also be wise in your course selection. Make sure you choose courses  demonstrating knowledge and skills related to your program. Additionally, If the school offers it, you should enroll in courses as advanced as your capabilities allow. As for standardized tests, start preparing as early as possible. 

Doing academically well in school may ensure you get admitted into Georgia Tech. When it comes to competitive universities, there is no such thing as a GPA or a score that is too high. 

Submit Recommendation Letters

While optional, recommendation letters are an effective method to improve your chances. Recommendation letters are documents  by third parties that offer more background information about an applicant. And the main purpose is to persuade the admission committee why an applicant is worthy of admission.

You should request recommendation letters from teachers, counselors, or other academic professionals who know you well as a student and a person. A maximum of two recommendation letters are permitted.

FAQs: Getting Into Georgia Tech

If you have any unanswered questions on how to get into Georgia Tech, these frequently asked questions will help you!

1. How Hard Is It To Get Into Georgia Tech?

Georgia Tech has a low acceptance rate of just 18%. Applicants are evaluated through a holistic process that considers many different factors. Thus, getting admitted to Georgia Tech is quite a challenge.

2. What Is the Average GPA for Georgia Tech?

The average admitted Georgia Tech freshman has a high school GPA of 3.8 on a 4.0 scale.

3. What Is the Average SAT and ACT Score for Georgia Tech?

The median SAT score of admitted Georgia Tech first-year students is between 1370 and 1530 out of 1600. Meanwhile, the median ACT score of admitted Georgia Tech first-year students lands between 31 and 35 out of 36.

4. Is Georgia Tech an Elite College?

Georgia Tech is considered to be an elite engineering and technology school, as well as one of the top public institutions in the nation

5. How Can I Increase My Chances of Getting Into Georgia Tech?

You must demonstrate consistent and wide-ranged academic excellence, a strong will to contribute to the community, motivation, leadership, and interest in the school.

Final Thoughts

Georgia Institute of Technology is among the best places to learn technological engineering programs worldwide. Of course, the admission process is a massive mountain to climb, as they have rigorous requirements inside and outside academics. However, with hard work and dedication, you can get through it. 

You must consistently possess and showcase drive, dedication, commitment, leadership, and courage to face challenges, whether in or out of the classroom. 

It sounds back-breaking, but if you have what it takes, you will be heavily rewarded with one of the best post-graduate technology and engineering education in the nation and possibly the world.

Good luck!

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