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3 Tips for Writing Stellar Georgia Tech Essays

College Info , College Essays

Before you envision yourself getting settled in at Georgia Tech, you must get over the hurdle of writing the Georgia Tech essays. The Georgia Tech supplement requires you to write a short essay specifically for Georgia Tech. But what is the essay prompt? And what should you include in your Georgia Tech essay?

Keep reading to learn exactly what the Georgia Tech essay is, what kinds of topics you can write about (and what kinds of topics to avoid), and how to ensure you're submitting a quality essay.

Feature Image: Wally Gobetz /Flickr

What Are the Georgia Tech Supplement Essay Prompts?

The Georgia Tech application includes a total of two essays . For one of these, you'll choose one of the seven Common App prompts to respond to, and the other is specific to Georgia Tech. Here's the Georgia Tech prompt:

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?

How to Write the "Why Georgia Tech?" Essay

This prompt is a version of the "why this college?" prompt . Specifically, this prompt is a "why us?" prompt: It's asking you to elaborate on why this college and the major you've chosen are best suited to you and your aspirations. In other words, what about Georgia Tech and the field of study you want to pursue there will help you achieve your future goals?

To answer this question, you'll need to do some research on Georgia Tech and the academic program you're applying to . The easiest way to do this is to go to the Georgia Tech website to get an overview of what's offered by your program, including the kinds of classes, study abroad options, professors, and internship opportunities.

If possible, I suggest visiting the campus to sit in on classes and meet professors so you can get a clearer feel for the academic program as well as the environment at Georgia Tech as a whole.

In your essay, try to pick a specific characteristic to focus on —don't just say you want to attend Georgia Tech because it's prestigious or well-known. Lots of colleges are!

Next, you'll need to know how your education at Georgia Tech will help you after college . For example, you could write about how you think Georgia Tech's cooperative education program will help you gain relevant professional experience and make connections with like-minded peers.

Regardless of what aspects of Georgia Tech and your major you want to write about, make sure to clearly connect the essay back to you and your own interests and goals .

Here are some possible topics you could use for your "Why Georgia Tech?" essay:

• An anecdote relating some sort of positive personal experience you had at Georgia Tech (such as while on a campus tour)
• A positive interaction you had with someone affiliated with Georgia Tech, such as a current student or professor involved with the major you're applying for
• Your excitement about getting to work with a particular faculty member  and how this opportunity will help you further your career goals
• Your enthusiasm for getting to study in a program, major, or minor that's not usually offered at many schools or that has a unique, interesting angle at Georgia Tech
• A special facility or piece of equipment you're looking forward to being able to work in or with that isn't offered on other campuses or is very rare

Georgia Tech Essay Examples + Analysis

We've written two Georgia Tech essay examples to help give you an idea as to what and how you could write your Why Georgia Tech essay. Additionally, we go over what makes them good essays for a Georgia Tech application.

Georgia Tech Essay Example 1

"Honestly, I can't imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't gone to Georgia Tech."

Katrina was a few years older than me and the sister of my best friend, Troy, who'd given me her email address so I could ask any questions I had about her time at Georgia Tech. This was the last line of her response—and by far the most memorable.

Like Katrina, I can't imagine myself not attending Georgia Tech. As an aspiring environmental engineer, I see Georgia Tech as a gateway to not just learning but also professional success. The flexibility of the major would allow me to focus specifically on my passion for reducing the negative effects of climate change and securing access to clean water. As a senior, I plan to take several hydraulics-focused electives.

In addition, through the InVenture Prize, which I hope to participate in at least twice, I'll be able to utilize the knowledge I've gained through my classes, projects, and fieldwork by translating it into a concrete vision—specifically, an invention that will increase the availability of fresh, healthy water for disadvantaged communities.

After graduation, and as a proud Georgia Tech alumnus (ideally with an InVenture Prize), I plan to implement the skills I've gained through my environmental engineering major in the nonprofit sector.

I haven't met Katrina yet, but I feel as though I know her—perhaps it's that shared sense of joy at having discovered the perfect school for the paths we've chosen.

Here's why this Georgia Tech essay works:

• It's got a creative hook that draws you in. This Georgia Tech essay opens with a quotation that immediately makes it feel as though you're reading a compelling story. It then goes on to connect this hook directly to the narrator who "can't imagine … not attending Georgia Tech," ensuring the focus remains on the applicant and not Katrina.
• It mentions specific features of Georgia Tech. The applicant doesn't just write about how prestigious Georgia Tech is but specifically mentions opportunities she's interested in taking advantage of, such as hydraulics courses and the famous InVenture Prize competition.

The mark of a good college essay is an acceptance letter!

Georgia Tech Essay Example 2

Atlanta has been my home all my life, and I've always known that I want to be one of the people who help make it such a wonderful place to live. My dream is to create my own business that makes it easier for other start-up businesses to get up and running. Georgia Tech is my dream school because I know it will give me the absolute best chance of achieving my goals.

The course catalog for Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business makes it clear that all business students receive a top-notch and comprehensive business education no matter what area they choose to focus on. However, what really interests me is Scheller's emphasis on entrepreneurship. I'm so excited to take advantage of the opportunities the school offers, like LBAT and study abroad programs that focus on starting a new business, the certificate in entrepreneurship, and the Enterprise Innovation Institute where I hope to collaborate with professors, business leaders, and peers to learn how to create and grow and successful business of my own.

Growing up in Atlanta, learned early that it has many resources for people hoping to go into business, and I know Georgia Tech will help me take advantage of them. Under the school's internship program, I hope to work for a start-up company, learning about what makes some new companies thrive while others fail, and getting on-the-ground experience learning what new companies need to do well and avoid common pitfalls. I'll also use Georgia Tech's extensive connections with local business leaders to continue to expand my business acumen outside the classroom.

I have so many ideas for what I want to do with my career, and I can't wait to attend Georgia Tech to learn the skills I need to make these dreams possible.

• It goes in-depth on what Georgia Tech offers. Like the first essay, this one also gets specific on exactly which parts of the school the writer plans to take advantage of the most. From mentioning the course catalog, specific business programs, and the school's connections with the community, it's clear the writer did her research and knows which of Georgia Tech's resources will be of most value to her.
• It has a clear vision of a career path. You don't need to know exactly what you want to do after you graduate college, but having a general idea can really help you show the admissions committee how you're going to take advantage of what Georgia Tech offers. In this case, it's the entrepreneurship and business opportunities at the school, which will help the writer start her own business after graduation.

How to Write a Great Georgia Tech Essay: Three Essential Tips

Now that you know the specifics of the Why Georgia Tech essay prompt, here are three key tips to use while writing your essay.

#1: Be Specific and Concise

The Georgia Tech supplemental essay only gives you room for up to 300 words. That's a pretty short essay! Since you're so limited in terms of length, you'll need to make sure you're using the space you have wisely. Don't write super flowery, verbose descriptions or rely on overly vague examples.

Instead, be as specific as you can be so that you're emphasizing only the most important parts of the story you want to tell. Specificity will make your essay more concise and easier to follow.

#2: Show, Don't Tell

You've probably heard this refrain a million times, but it's especially important for college essays: show your experiences, emotions, and perspectives instead of simply telling them to your readers . Doing this will make your Georgia Tech essays sound vibrant and alive rather than dull and boring.

One of the very best ways to catapult your descriptions to a whole new level and to lend a stronger voice to your writing is to use a variety of literary devices , including flashbacks, anecdotes, imagery, and euphemisms.

#3: Polish and Proofread

Before you submit your Georgia Tech essays, make sure to take some time to read them over, edit them, get feedback, and proofread them.

The best way to do this is to start by writing a rough draft. Once finished, put your essay away for a little while—from a couple of days to a week or so depending on the amount of time you have left before college applications are due —and then take it out again.

As you read your essay, mark any areas that are unclear, awkwardly worded, or irrelevant . You should also proofread your essay for any glaring typos and errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar.

Once you've repeated this process a few times, it's time to get a new set of eyes to look it over for you. Ask someone you trust, such as a teacher, parent, or counselor, to read your essay and offer comments and corrections on it.

Doing all of this will ensure that your essay is completely polished by the time you turn it in to Georgia Tech!

What's Next?

If you're reading this, you're likely not only applying to Georgia Tech. Get more tips with our expert guides to the Stanford essays , the Northwestern essay , and the Harvard essay .

Applying through the Common App? Check out this comprehensive list of schools that accept the Common App , and learn more about how to write the Common App essay .

To learn more about Georgia Tech and how to get in, take a look at its admission requirements page .

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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Georgia Tech Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts and Advice

July 23, 2024

Georgia Tech has always been an excellent university where one could receive a top-notch educational experience. However, it was not always a highly selective institution on the admissions front. In fact, back in the days of the Clinton White House, Georgia Tech accepted over two-thirds of those who applied. In 2024, this is a school that only admits 10% of out-of-state applicants (let that sink in a moment…). It’s fair to say that an applicant to Georgia Tech today is playing a completely different ballgame than applicants in 1995, 2005, or even 2015. Even students with nothing lower than an A- on their transcript and an SAT/ACT score above the 95th percentile still need a compelling application in order to have strong odds of becoming a Yellow Jacket. That brings us to the Georgia Tech supplemental essays…

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into Georgia Tech? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Georgia Tech: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Although it only has one general essay prompt, Georgia Tech’s supplemental section still affords applicants an opportunity to illustrate what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below is Georgia Tech’s supplemental essay for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. The College Transitions team also dishes advice on how to pen a winning essay.

2024-2025 Georgia Tech Essay Question

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 part “Why Us?” and part “Explain Your Major.” Your aim is to seamlessly touch on both topics in a tightly woven 300-word composition. Georgia Tech is very forthcoming in its essay-related advice to applicants. They wisely advise all applicants to demonstrate “authenticity & self-awareness,” “thoughtfulness,” and to “display attention to topic, style, and grammar.”

For the “Explain Your Major” part of the essay, think about what experiences you’ve had—academic or extracurricular, formal or informal—that sparked and/or encouraged your passion or interest. For example, perhaps you had a significant experience within a club, held an internship, attended a summer program, or did a research project on a particular topic in a class at school. Alternatively, perhaps you became fascinated with automotive engineering after helping out at your grandfather’s autobody shop, discovered your affinity for entrepreneurship after starting a small side business, or unearthed a talent for coding via free classes at your local library.

Now, for a deeper dive into the “Why Us” segment, let’s examine the list of common pitfalls followed by a list of characteristics of a winning Georgia Tech supplemental essay:

Common components of a mediocre “Why Georgia Tech?” essay

• Georgia Tech’s engineering/business/computer science program is atop the U.S. News rankings, is prestigious, and has a great reputation.
• Generalities about why Atlanta is an ideal location for your college experience.
• Generalities about why Atlanta is an exciting/cosmopolitan/diverse/culture-filled city.
• Too many generic expressions of feeling (e.g. I know with all my being that Georgia Tech is the school for me…).
• Recycled statements from your other “Why Us?” essays that come across as stale, impersonal, or worst of all–irrelevant/inaccurate.

How to write a needle-moving “Why Georgia Tech?” essay

• Demonstrate how your goals align with the school’s mission statement. “The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.”
• Cite specific academic programs, professors, research opportunities , internship/externship programs, study abroad programs , student-run organizations , etc.
• Demonstrate how will you be an active, contributing member of the academic community at Georgia Tech.
• Show evidence of how your past/current endeavors will carry over onto Georgia Tech’s campus.
• Note how you will take advantage of Georgia Tech’s immense resources both inside and outside of the classroom.
• Lastly, address why Georgia Tech is the perfect fit for you. Also, touch on why you are the perfect fit for Georgia Tech.

Big-picture thoughts on a “Why this Major/College” essay

In any “Why Us?” composition, you need to show that you’ve done your homework on a given school. Yet, you don’t want it to read like a robotic list of items that you Googled ten minutes before writing the essay (even if the timing of the Google search is roughly accurate).

In addition to the pure research element, a lot of the time and skill required in creating a stellar Georgia Tech essay will involve connecting the classes, professors, opportunities, etc. of interest that you have uncovered to your distinct values, talents, aims, proficiencies, and future goals.

How important is the essay at this school?

Eight factors are “very important” to the Georgia Tech evaluation process. The Common App and supplemental essays are among them. Additional factors considered “very important” are: rigor of coursework, GPA, recommendations, extracurricular activities, character/personal qualities, volunteer work, work experience, and the level of the applicant’s demonstrated interest (which a good essay can certainly speak to).

Georgia Tech Admission Essays – Personalized Assistance

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Georgia Tech supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

Looking for additional writing resources? We’ve got you covered:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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Georgia Tech Essay 2022-2023

Georgia tech essay 2022-23, georgia tech essay: quick facts.

• Georgia Tech Acceptance Rate: 18%— U.S. News ranks Georgia Tech as a most selective school.
• 1 ( ~ 300 word) essay
• Georgia Tech Application: Students must submit their Georgia Tech application through the Common Application . Make sure to double check all Georgia Tech application deadline and requirements. 
• Early Action I: October 17th  
• Early Action II: November 1st
• Regular Decision: January 4th
• Georgia Tech Essay Tip: In addition to the Common App essay , there is only one Georgia Tech essay to complete. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to thoughtfully and authentically complete the Georgia Tech essay. 

Does Georgia Institute of Technology have supplemental essays?

Yes. In addition to your Common App Personal Statement, you will craft a why Georgia Tech essay that explains why you want to attend Georgia Tech. However, there aren’t multiple Georgia Tech supplemental essays.

Applicants must only complete one Georgia Tech application essay and the Common App essay .

Since the Georgia Tech acceptance rate is rather low, you should ensure your essay thoroughly explains why Georgia Tech best fits your goals.

While this task may seem daunting, the Georgia Tech application essay is not intended to trip you up. Make sure your Georgia Tech application essay shares new information while also explaining specific reasons why Georgia Tech is the place for you. Emphasize specific details that help the reader understand who you are and why you would fit in at Georgia Tech. Successful Georgia Tech essays will answer the why Georgia Tech essay completely and thoughtfully.

How to Write Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay–Question 1

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at georgia tech (300 max).

The why Georgia Tech essay gives you the chance to state your educational goals within the context of Georgia Tech. Students’ Georgia Tech supplemental essays will resemble those of many colleges. This means that while you won’t be able to reuse your Georgia Tech application essay (after all, that defeats the purpose of the “why school” essay), learning to write a strong response to this prompt might help you in your other applications.

Also, keep in mind that your Georgia Tech application essay should largely look toward your future rather than your past. You can—and should—mention specific ways that your academic interests have developed. However, you should devote most of your Why Georgia Tech essay to why you hope to pursue these interests at Georgia Tech. Below are some ways to ground your why Georgia Tech essay:

Focus on Academic Interests

First, and most importantly, you should consider your academic interests. Remember, this Georgia Tech essay prompt asks both why you want to study your chosen major and why you want to do so at Georgia Tech. Your response to the why Georgia Tech essay should address both of these questions—that is, you should explain the origins and development of your academic passions alongside your interest in Georgia Tech.

Think a bit about your future college major when contemplating the Georgia Tech supplemental essays. Which programs at Georgia Tech most interest you? Maybe some courses excite you because they connect to your professional goals. Perhaps there is a professor whose research lights your intellectual spirit on fire. Look for reasons why Georgia Tech is the perfect place for you, and highlight them in your Georgia Tech application essay. 

Your Georgia Tech application essay should be grounded in what intellectually excites you about college and how Georgia Tech specifically quenches that academic thirst. There aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts; so, make sure that your response to this prompt is unique and passionate about your future academic interests. 

Consider discussing c ommunity

Second, successful Georgia Tech supplemental essays will consider Georgia Tech’s community, particularly in the academic sense. Why does Georgia Tech’s campus culture appeal to you? Why would you thrive in an intellectually engaged community like Georgia Tech? 

For inspiration, you might check out Georgia Tech’s admissions office website as well as their YouTube channel . There, you can see what Georgia Tech wishes to emphasize about itself to prospective students. You can also hear from students past and present about their lives on campus. Incorporating these themes will help you prepare an excellent Why Georgia Tech essay.

Keep in mind that, at the end of the day, the Georgia Tech application essay is a snapshot of your current interests. Since there aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts, students should place special attention on writing strong Georgia Tech supplemental essays. 

Many college students change their major, and the Georgia Tech admissions team understands this. Perhaps your future professors will inspire you to change direction. Or, maybe, an internship or volunteering experience might reveal a new passion. Admissions officers know that your prospective major may shift once you arrive at Georgia Tech. Don’t feel constrained by “choosing” a future major —instead, use the Georgia Tech supplemental essay to reflect on your current interests and illustrate your overall intellect.

Georgia Tech Essay Reflection Questions:

• Does your Georgia Tech application essay provide specific examples that show you have researched why Georgia Tech is a good fit for you?
• Do you avoid extended lists of reasons why you want to attend Georgia Tech and instead focus on one or two specific things?
• Will your Georgia Tech application essay stand out amongst a pool of competitive applicants?

How do I write the Georgia Tech essay?

Writing the Georgia Tech essay can seem challenging at first, especially because you don’t have multiple chances to get the essay right with various Georgia Tech essay prompts. Still, there is a method to the madness. Students should begin these Georgia Tech supplemental essays by brainstorming what about Georgia Tech appeals to you. As you draft responses to the Georgia Tech essay prompts, a structured outline will help focus your thoughts.

Keep in mind that your Why Georgia Tech essay isn’t just about Georgia Tech—it’s about you. Your Why Georgia Tech essay should not only highlight the specific resources and opportunities that draw you to the school; it should also speak to how you hope to develop your interests and passions in college. Georgia Tech supplemental essays should demonstrate that students have thought intentionally about their ideal college environment and how it relates to their goals. In evaluating your Georgia Tech essay, the Georgia Tech admissions team will consider both what sort of student you will be and what you will bring to their college community.

As the Georgia Tech acceptance rate continues declining, admissions officers sift through more and more applications. As there aren’t various Georgia Tech essay prompts, this makes it even more important that your one Georgia Tech essay shines. Your Georgia Tech application essay should capture your accomplishments, your goals, and why Georgia Tech is an ideal next step.

Why School Essay: Three tips for researching Georgia Tech

When writing your why Georgia Tech essay, or any why school essay, you should be as detailed as possible. The biggest mistake students can make when writing Georgia Tech supplemental essays is being too general. Therefore, one of the first steps in writing your why Georgia Tech essay is to do some research on Georgia Tech. You may have some useful information from your college search that led you to complete a Georgia Tech application. For their Georgia Tech supplemental essays, students can use that initial research as a base for the why school essay, especially if a certain academic program initially caught their interest. 

Your why Georgia Tech essay should aim to impress Georgia Tech admissions while still being authentic. Georgia Tech admissions is selective. Your why Georgia Tech essay is only a small portion of your overall Georgia Tech application, albeit a very important portion. Before even beginning your why school essay research, check out our guide on how to get into Georgia Tech. You’ll also want to read all about Georgia Tech admissions to understand the selection process. Without multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts to respond to, you have time to put all of your focus on this why Georgia Tech essay. 

You may already have an idea of a major or program that you want to pursue. That’s great. Students who know their intended major have an easy place to start researching when starting their Georgia Tech essays. However, maybe you’re still choosing a major . That’s no problem. Georgia Tech essays aren’t meant to be a formal declaration of your major. Rather, Georgia Tech admissions just wants to get to know you and your academic interests in relation to Georgia Tech and its programs. 

Three tips to get you started when researching for Georgia Tech essays: 

#1- start with the mission statement.

Georgia Tech admissions wants you to show in this why Georgia Tech essay how your goals align with their values. Georgia Tech states that the institution is “ committed to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology. ” You’ll need to demonstrate, through your chosen major, how you would fulfill that mission. Students who write successful Georgia Tech supplemental essays will keep that mission statement in mind as they research academic programs for the Georgia Tech application essay. 

#2- Find a major

When writing your Georgia Tech essay, search through the majors offered at the university. You’ll likely have an area of interest even if you are still undecided on a major. In order to write impressive Georgia Tech supplemental essays, students should lean into those intellectual interests in order to find a major that they can passionately and authentically write about. Students should use their Georgia Tech essay prompts to reference specific opportunities only offered at Georgia Tech. These could be the research facilities, faculty, or internship opportunities. 

#2- Learn about the campus culture

Georgia Tech admissions wants to see through students’ Georgia Tech supplemental essays how you align with their mission and values. Showing how you would excel on the campus is important. Georgia Tech supplemental essays may reference clubs or organizations that you would get involved in. How would those opportunities add to your intended major?

Take your time

Once you’ve done all the research, focus your attention on answering the prompt in its entirety. There aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts so give yourself all the time it takes to answer exceptionally. Expand on your most relevant research for your why Georgia Tech essay by relating it back to you and your goals. How do the specific values, programs, and campus community relate to you? What will you bring to this academically rigorous program? How will you apply that to your future career? Students should think about all these questions as they write their Georgia Tech supplemental essays. 

It may be helpful to look at what works when writing a why school essay. Many schools require a why school essay. Students responding to the Georgia Tech essay prompts will make their answers specific to Georgia Tech, however, the basic goal and structure of the why school essay will be the same. Check out the why school essay examples for Yale , Northwestern , and NYU to see how to ace the Georgia Tech application essay. 

Is the Georgia Tech essay required?

Yes—all students must complete the supplemental Georgia Tech application essay.

The Georgia Tech admissions team uses a holistic application review process. This means that your how to get into Georgia Tech strategy will require presenting a cohesive application narrative. When reading Georgia Tech supplemental essays, admissions officers want to understand your academic potential as well as who you are as a person. 

In addition to thoughtful Georgia Tech supplemental essays, the Georgia Tech admissions team wants to see demonstrated interest (DI) from you. Demonstrated interest is a tool of measurement that universities use to gauge how enthusiastic students are about attending a particular school. Essentially, if an admissions officer has two similar candidate profiles in front of them—similar test scores , extracurriculars , and achievements—the final decision may come down to which student better demonstrates their interest in attending. In a Forbes article on how best to use DI in your college applications, they highlight the power of the essay. In this case, your Why Georgia Tech essay can be a powerful tool to demonstrate your interest in attending.

Recently, the Georgia Tech acceptance rate has become increasingly competitive. Many students are vying for a spot at this top science , technology, and eng i neering school. Given that there aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts to respond to, make sure to make the most of the 300 word count as you show the Georgia Tech admissions team what makes you unique. Remember, well-written Georgia Tech supplemental essays can make or break your admissions odds.

Is the Georgia Tech essay important?

Students’ Georgia Tech supplemental essays are absolutely important. The Georgia Tech application essay helps readers understand who you are beyond your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars. In fact, Georgia Tech supplemental essays can even provide important context to grades and activities. This can help you stand out to admissions officers.

As you write the why Georgia Tech essay, remember to share both the exciting features of Georgia Tech and how they connect with your own experiences and goals. Georgia Tech admissions are not only looking for your academic credentials in this Georgia Tech application essay—they also want to see who you are and how you can contribute to the campus culture. Given the low Georgia Tech acceptance rate, students want to do all they can to maximize the impact of their Georgia Tech supplemental essays.

What is the Georgia Tech acceptance rate?

As a public institution, Georgia Tech has a commitment to educating Georgians as well as students from all over the country and the globe. This means the Georgia Tech acceptance rate is twofold.

For in-state applicants, the Georgia Tech acceptance rate this past year was 35% . As for non-Georgians, the Georgia Tech acceptance rate was only 13%. Georgia residents may also want to consider applying to Georgia’s HOPE scholarship , as it’s only available to them. It’s a merit-based scholarship largely based on your GPA. 

How to Win a HOPE Scholarship

Whether or not you’re a resident of Georgia, students who make the most of the Georgia Tech application essay, will have a better chance against the low Georgia Tech acceptance rate. Since the competition is so keen, you should give it your all when crafting your Georgia Tech essay. There aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts. That makes it even more important for applicants to write the best Georgia Tech essays possible. It’s your chance to show admissions who you are and why you deserve to be a part of the Georgia Tech community. 

What are the admissions requirements for Georgia Tech?

As a globally recognized research university, Georgia Tech provides excellent educational opportunities to its students. The Georgia Tech acceptance rate has decreased in recent years, and Georgia Tech admissions have become increasingly competitive. Successful applicants will not only have impressive Georgia Tech supplemental essays, but also strong GPAs, standardized test scores, and extracurriculars. 

Considering applying to Georgia Tech? Keep in mind that Georgia Tech admissions exclusively accepts undergraduate applications (including students’ Georgia Tech supplemental essays) via the Common App . 

The Georgia Tech admissions requirements include:

• Strong standardized test scores (SAT/ACT)
• High grades/ GPA
• Evidence of academic rigor in high school courses
• Strong Common App Personal Statement and Georgia Tech application essay
• Evidenced contribution to your community
• Optional recommendation letters from your high school counselor and one teacher in a core academic subject

While many schools have opted to go test-optional , Georgia Tech does require standardized test scores. Be sure to plan early in order to get the strongest score possible. Extracurriculars are another vital piece of your application narrative. Check out tips on crafting the best extracurriculars list possible. 

Acing the Georgia Tech admissions requirements

Want to stand out in Georgia Tech admissions? Make sure to take challenging courses at your high school to demonstrate your academic drive. You should also consider including optional recommendations from your high school counselor and a teacher (ideally from a core academic subject, which generally is a course you need to take to graduate, such as English or math). 

Keep in mind that Georgia Tech admissions officers use a holistic application review process. This review process includes your contributions to your community and, importantly, your personal essays . You will submit all materials for your Georgia Tech application—including your Georgia Tech essay—through the Common App.

You will also submit letters of recommendation from your teachers through the Common App platform. Additionally, the Common App will allow you to address any notable disruptions due to COVID-19, if applicable.

Keep in mind that although the Georgia Tech admissions process considers all aspects of your application, a weak Georgia Tech application essay can prevent you from getting in—even if you have high grades and scores. To maximize your admissions odds, you should put as much thought into your Georgia Tech essay as possible. Well written Georgia Tech supplemental essays will maximize your chances of admissions. 

Five Tips for Writing the Georgia Tech Essay

The why Georgia Tech essay can seem vexing. You don’t have multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts, so you may feel even more pressure to get this one right. How do you craft an answer that reflects both your own interests and specific details about Georgia Tech? 

Five tips for writing the Georgia Tech Essay: 

Start early.

There aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts for applicants to answer. There is only one Georgia Tech application essay (in addition to the Common App personal essay ). However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give your Georgia Tech essay the time and care that it deserves. Successful Georgia Tech essays will take more than a night to complete. Your essay is extremely important when considering how to get into Georgia Tech. You need time to brainstorm, research, draft, edit, and repeat. To stay organized, check out these tips on building your college application timeline . 

Do your research

The key to successful Georgia Tech supplemental essays is being specific. To make your essay count, research how you can explore your interests at Georgia Tech. You might incorporate a quote, a specific course, or a faculty member to boost your essay’s impact.

Connect the dots

In your “Why Georgia Tech” essay, make sure each detail about your interest in Georgia Tech that you include to highlight your interests also gives the reader a sense of your identity. For instance, the courses you mention could link back to ideas you have studied outside the classroom. A professor’s research that excites you could connect to a club you run or a project you did. By building these connections, you can use your Georgia Tech supplemental essay to show both the depth of your intellectual engagement and how you’ll fit in at Georgia Tech.

Be authentic

While understanding what Georgia Tech admissions is looking for in its applicants is important, you don’t want to write a Georgia Tech essay that is just what you think admissions wants to hear. Write about your genuine interest in academic programs at Georgia Tech. And show through your authenticity and passion why you’re a perfect fit for the program. 

Make sure to proofread

Georgia Tech supplemental essays are evaluated not only for content, but also for mechanics and writing style. Make sure that you carefully proofread your final draft of the Georgia Tech essay before submitting. Have someone else read it over for grammatical errors and content. If implementing someone else’s feedback, be sure to maintain your own voice and style. 

Georgia Tech Essay – Final Thoughts

Grades and numbers can only do so much. Your Georgia Tech application essay has the power to illuminate where you have been, where you are, and where you hope to go. Without various Georgia Tech essay prompts to respond to, admissions will be carefully examining each why Georgia Tech essay. Do everything you can to make it stand out. It may be helpful to find inspiration in other successful essay examples .

It is natural to see the low Georgia Tech acceptance rate and wonder how to stand out. Still, keep in mind that the Georgia Tech admissions team uses a holistic review process that extends beyond grades and test scores. This gives you the power to curate a strong Georgia Tech essay—and application—that sheds light on why you’d be a great fit on campus.

Who you are and what matters to you

The Why Georgia Tech essay lets you share both who you are and how your passions align with Georgia Tech’s offerings. Going in with a plan, such as an outline or brainstorming sheet, can help you get off to a strong start. You might also ask another person to proofread your Georgia Tech application essay and offer feedback. 

Remember that outstanding Georgia Tech supplemental essays can lead to an acceptance letter . There aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts, so admissions is looking for excellent responses to this one essay. Keep focused on creating the best Georgia Tech essay possible and hopefully you’ll be looking into Georgia Tech enrollment by spring. Good luck!

This Georgia Tech essay guide was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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How to Write the Georgia Tech Application Essays 2020-2021

Padya Paramita

July 13, 2020

The Georgia Institute of Technology recently made headlines with the announcement that it will no longer accept the Common Application personal statement . They will still use the Common Application system, but will “ will no longer utilize the long essay portion of the Common Application.” Instead, the school has introduced its own essay prompts that students will answer alongside the rest of the Common App sections . While keeping their “why Georgia Tech” essay from last year as it was, the Georgia Tech application essays 2020-2021 have added two new prompts.

Writing essays on top of the “why school” prompt might sound intimidating at first. However, since chances are that you’re also writing a personal statement for other schools on the Common App, you likely already have content that can be repurposed for the Georgia Tech application essays 2020-2021 . The new prompts are somewhat similar to the personal statement questions and ask students to reflect on their character, background, and interests. To guide you through each of the questions, I’ve gone over them in greater detail and added tips on how to make your essay specific to the university, and unique to your application profile.

Prompts for the Georgia Tech Application Essays 2020-2021

Both prompts below are required for all applicants. The school suggests that your answers stay within 50-300 words. Since you don’t have a lot of space, it’s important that you use your words strategically.

Essay Prompt 1

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?

This is an accelerated version of the “why this school” essay, with a more clear focus on your choice of major. Your response shouldn’t revolve around broad categories that make Georgia Tech wonderful - everyone knows it’s a strong STEM college. This essay is not asking you to highlight extracurricular, cultural, or other resources at Georgia Tech; this essay is explicitly asking you to speak in depth about Georgia tech’s academic resources —major, curriculum, classes, professors, and more. When you get start, think about how a Georgia Tech education pertains to your goals, specifically. This means that you have to identify your goals in the first place. Then, whether you are applying for Industrial Design or Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies, demonstrate how Georgia Tech will help you accomplish your specific goals. The key is to connect experiences and aspirations with academic reasons for why  you’ve chosen the school. 

Research is the key to any “why this school” essay. Before you write this response, it’s important to sit down and look through Georgia Tech’s majors and course offerings in great detailOnce you’ve decided which major appeals to you, it’s time to think about your own experiences. How did your love for the field begin? How have you honed your skills in the discipline since then? If you’ve taken any challenging courses or started relevant clubs, how is Georgia Tech the perfect place for you to continue your exploration? No matter which major you’ve chosen, it’s important to show admissions officers why your interest makes sense for you and that your dedication to the field is real. 

Essay Prompt 2  

All applicants must choose one of the two questions below:

Option 1: Georgia Tech is committed to creating solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Tell us how you have improved or hope to improve the human condition in your community.

Competitive schools are looking for students who will graduate from their schools and later go on to change the world for the better. With a STEM-oriented school like Georgia Tech, it is looking for students who will use their skills and ambitions to bring innovative solutions to issues in today’s world. When approaching this essay, you need to identify a community, think of a problem it has faced, and show concrete evidence that you’ve worked on solving this problem. 

Since the prompt hasn’t specified which kind of community, think about a place where you’ve actually made the biggest impact. Think about how to differentiate yourself from other applicants. While you can definitely improve the human condition through service trips abroad, this experience isn’t necessarily unique.. You could write about the smaller circles such as your family, friend group, or neighborhood. You may have helped the community as a whole or you could have helped one or two individuals who belong to it. 

To think about the kinds of contributions to elaborate on, ask yourself the following questions:

• How have you collaborated - or hope to do so - with others in your community?
• What is different in your community as a result of your involvement?
• Have you taken any risks to help others? How have they paid off?
• Have you spearheaded any initiatives towards change?
• Are there any service examples that portray your curiosity and creativity?
• Why do you care about this community? How have you shown it? 

If you choose a larger community - like your whole school or city - make sure your essay still focuses on your own contribution and role. A response to such a prompt needs to follow the classic “show, not tell” advice. Admissions officers won’t be satisfied with just “I helped my family.” You need to dig deeper and convince them through the Georgia Tech application essays 2020-2021 that you are the kind of hardworking and passionate individual who can thrive at Georgia Tech.

Option 2: If you feel that your personal or community background can provide additional insight to your application that we have not already seen elsewhere, please take this opportunity to share that information with us.

This question is very similar to a prompt from the Common App essays and is a very open-ended prompt. You can pretty much go any direction with your essay since it’s asking about your personal background or a community that has shaped you. You could also write about how you hold certain beliefs that have defined the course of your life. You can choose to elaborate on a cultural tradition that you look forward to and how the ways you’ve celebrated it changed with time. You can focus your essay on your career interest - for example, is there a compelling story that changed everything for you and developed your desire to pursue a career in engineering after college? 

The key here is “we have not already seen elsewhere. ” Remember that Georgia Tech will receive the rest of your Common Application. So don’t directly copy/paste words from your activities list or honors section. Make sure your response adds new information about you that isn’t present anywhere else in your profile.

Additional Tips

• Know what the school is looking for: An important part of doing school research includes digging in to find out what the school wants out of these essays. On its website , Georgia Tech adds that it’s wants your responses to achieve the following:
• Demonstrate authenticity & self-awareness
• Demonstrate thoughtfulness
• Display attention to topic, style, and grammar
• Demonstrate a student has thought about why Georgia Tech, specifically, is a fit for them and how their goals align with Georgia Tech’s mission statement: “The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.”

Make sure your answer fits this bill. If you’ve got any doubts, make sure you ask another reader such as a teacher, parent, friend, or college counselor to see if you’re meeting the criteria.

• Use Your Common Application Profile As Inspiration - Chances are, other schools on your list also use the Common Application. You’ve likely already written a personal statement. While you don’t want to repeat yourself, you can likely repurpose your personal statement content to fit Prompt #2. If there’s anything in your Common App essay that you haven’t gotten a chance to express for the Georgia Tech essay, you can use your essay as a base, and cut down words to fit the limit the school has set.
• Cut unnecessary words: It’s obvious that the Georgia Tech College supplemental essays 2020-2021 provide you very little room to write your answers. Between the two essays, you only get around 600 words! It can be tricky to get your point across in so little space. But, you can’t change the limit. So don’t waste your time sulking or complaining about the fact that you’re 300 words over on your essay and start cutting words. Use a thesaurus, ask a teacher or friend for feedback, and read sentences out loud to see if they’d still make sense if you shorten them. 

The Georgia Tech application essays 2020-2021 provide you with the chance to tell the admissions officer who you are. While the first prompt is all about showing that you really have done your research, the optional essays enable you to share more about your background and interests. Both are golden opportunities to solidify your interest in Georgia Tech and convince them how you embody the values they look for in students. So, take advantage of the supplemental essay component. Your knowledge of the school and stories exemplifying Georgia Tech’s ideal characteristics might end up getting you admitted.

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Undergraduate Admission

• Application Review Process
• Academic Preparation
• Course Requirements by Major
• Grade Point Average

Personal Essays

• Contribution to Community
• Major Selection
• Institutional Fit

Two essays of 300 words each (max) are required as part of the transfer application. The purpose of the essays is to assess your writing ability and, more importantly, to learn more about you as an individual. This portion of the application helps us get to know you, assess mutual fit and better understand what you could contribute to Georgia Tech.

Essay Questions

Required Essays

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?

Georgia Tech's Strategic Plan outlines  nine distinct Institute values . Select one and discuss how your past experiences have prepared you to contribute to our community.

What Are We Looking for in Your Essays?

Essays are evaluated for both content and writing/grammatical skills. So, before submitting your application, you should take the time to edit and review your essay thoroughly. The traits of a strong essay include ones that:

Demonstrate authenticity.

Brings you to life on paper.

Are excellent in topic, style, and grammar.

Demonstrate thoughtfulness.

Demonstrate a student has thought about why Georgia Tech, specifically, is a fit for them and how their goals align with  Georgia Tech’s Values . The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.

Our Advice for this Portion of the Application

Get started early. Don’t wait until the last minute to complete your essays!

Write and edit your essay in a document editor. Once you have the final draft, you can cut and paste it into your online application.

Don’t overthink it. It may not be easy to write about yourself, but just write what you feel most comfortable with.

Don’t write what you think we want to read. Write what you want to say!

In the same way you would not copy directly from any other source you may incorporate into the writing process; you should not copy and paste directly out of any AI platform or submit work that you did not originally create. Instead, approach and consider any interaction with an AI tool as a learning experience that may help you generate ideas, provide alternative phrasing options, and organize your thoughts. Ultimately, we want to read and hear your unique and valuable writing style.

Per Georgia state law and Georgia Tech policy , all admission staff are mandatory reporters who are required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect of minors to appropriate authorities. Any statements in written materials, including anywhere in a student’s application or supporting materials, that give admission staff reasonable cause to believe abuse or neglect of someone under the age of 18 may have occurred must be reported to the Georgia Tech Police Department. Learn more about reporting requirements .

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The Admissions Strategist

How to write the georgia tech supplemental essays 2021-2022 (with examples).

Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia Tech is a school well-known for its engineering and computer science programs.

Its admissions rate has decreased over the years, hitting 21% in 2020 as it becomes more selective.

As such, you need a great application to be considered for admission to Georgia Tech.

While your academic success and extracurricular activities are all important aspects of the application process, Georgia Tech takes your essay responses seriously and treats them as “an important way to get to know you, and what you have to bring to Georgia Tech.”

Luckily, you don’t need to be a future English major to create a personal, powerful essay.  

Georgia Tech takes both the Common Application and the Coalition Application.

• On top of the Common or Coalition App general essay , you are expected to write one short answer response.  

In this article, we will guide you through Georgia Tech’s short answer question to give you an idea of how to approach it .

Click above to watch a video on Georgia Tech Supplemental Essays.

General Guidelines: Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay

The essay response is 300 words long, translating to about 2-3 paragraphs in length. However, you need to be economical with your words and make every single one count. That means there is no room for generalities.

• You need to be specific and get straight to the point.
• Every word should contribute to showing your personality, your motivations, your ambitions, or your successes. 

You should also focus on topics that you haven’t covered elsewhere in your application.

Georgia Tech wants the essay to bring out what they can’t already figure out from your transcripts and club participation.

• Georgia Tech wants the essays to bring out what they can’t already figure out from your transcripts and club participation.

Above all else, be authentic. Don’t write what you think the admissions officers want to read. Be honest in your interests and your accomplishments, and show Georgia Tech what you have to offer them.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay – Why This Major at Georgia Tech?

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? (Max. 300 words)”

The wording of this question is a little tricky. At first, it seems like it’s asking why you’ve chosen your desired major. While this is a point you’ll want to make in your essay, you’ll want to keep it brief. The real answer Georgia Tech wants here is why you want to study your major at Georgia Tech.

• It’s more of a “ Why This College ” essay than a “Why This Major” prompt.

However, it’s not just about why you love Georgia Tech. They want to know specifically why you love Georgia Tech’s version of your major program.

If you’re planning to major in Chemistry, did you choose Georgia Tech for their outstanding research opportunities?

• If you’re going for engineering, is the school’s “best of the best” reputation your main selling point?

Think about why your field of study will be special at Georgia Tech, and craft an essay from that.

• Tip: It’s always a good idea to show Georgia Tech that what you’re doing now will carry over to your major program (if you can squeeze it into the 300 word limit).

For example:

• Share a sentence or two about your research project that won the state science fair last spring, and explain how you’re wanting to continue to challenge yourself through similar opportunities.
• Write a little bit about the club you founded in your high school, and share that you want to take that same entrepreneurial spirit and begin your own business someday. Point out how Georgia Tech’s hands-on business program will prepare you for your goals.

You can approach this question in a few different ways:

The first way is to approach this from an academic perspective. Remember, they don’t want you to tell them they’re highly ranked in engineering and computer science – they already know that. They want you to be specific in your desire to earn a certain major from Georgia Tech.

• What pieces of your major program are unique to Georgia Tech?
• How will these qualities benefit you directly?

Look at some of the research happening at Georgia Tech.

For instance, Georgia Tech is currently researching ways to improve worldwide sanitation by reinventing something that is used by every person multiple times per day– the toilet. They are aiming to create a toilet that turns human waste into clean water, specifically for the parts of the world that do not have access to adequate amounts of clean water or sanitation,

• If you’re interested in new technology and how it can make a lasting difference in humanitarian issues around the world, this type of research may be why you’re interested in attending Georgia Tech.

Second, consider looking into faculty members and their research interests.

If their research interests fall in line with what you plan to do, mention them in your essay. You may even want to reach out to the professor, forming a connection that could lead to future opportunities.

• Doing so shows Georgia Tech that you have both initiative and interest in the research that is happening at Georgia Tech, and that you’re committed to learning from GT faculty.

Third, study your major’s plan at Georgia Tech and how it compares to programs at other colleges and universities.

• Are there any classes that are unique to Georgia Tech?
• Will your program have internships or other hands-on experiences?

Figure out what makes your specific program unique at Georgia Tech, and make a list of all the ways these differences will support you throughout your college journey and in your future career.

• After you show why Georgia’s Tech has standout opportunities in your major , make sure to demonstrate your ambitions or post-undergraduate plans.

It’s important to note that you don’t need to know exactly what you want to do with your life after college – you might not know quite yet, and that’s just fine. Even if you do have a solid plan, it’s possible it will change as time goes by.

With that said, you should have a general idea of the field you want to enter.

With that said, you should have a general idea of the field you want to enter and it should be closely related to the major you choose.

• Overall, you must demonstrate that you know about Georgia Tech’s offerings (within your major) and have a vision for taking advantage of them.

Colleges want students who will utilize as many campus resources as possible to build a personalized education, and to become successful professionals.

Thus, be specific about Georgia Tech’s offerings that you want to become a part of.

A few more tips:

• If possible, try scheduling a campus tour and asking questions about the various aspects you’re interested in.
• Look at Georgia Tech’s website and its various faculty directories for current research and campus events.
• For even more inspiration, check college forums, such as College Confidential, to get perspective from current and former students.

Once you’ve got all of your information and inspiration gathered, you’re ready to write.

Why This Major at Georgia Tech Example Essay 1

We’ve provided you GT essay examples throughout this guide. They will help you visualize your essay outline.

Remember, never plagiarize. Colleges, naturally, frown upon this. You should always create your own work.

After my three-hour commute to Rutgers University, my advisors and I would huddle over a whiteboard, brainstorming mathematical models of pricing strategies. I spent the remainder of the day poring over my laptop, coding and debugging Python programs, translating these models into computational simulations. At the end of my two-year research project, I will determine the optimal pricing strategies for wireless service providers and publish a paper in the Gaugers Conference. I intend to continue my passion for research by participating in ongoing projects at Georgia Tech’s Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines. My primary interest is advancing robotically assisted surgery technologies, giving patients access to the best medical minds. By working in the “Medical Robots and Human Augmentation” strategic research area and collaborating with professors like Dr. Jaydev Desai, I aim to provide struggling communities with the resources to utilize sophisticated robotics developments. I wish to further my passion for robotics by leading design teams on the Georgia Tech RoboJackets robotics team. Whether it’s coding an autonomous robot to play soccer or creating powerful mechanisms to break robots, I believe the RoboJackets have a niche for me. My desire to join Georgia Tech was reinforced after speaking with Tomas Osses about the endless possibilities on the RoboJackets. Diving deeper into robotics, I hope to enroll in the intelligence thread of the School of Computing to further my knowledge of autonomous machines and AI. I am eager to enhance my computer science skills as a Yellow Jacket.

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Why this major at georgia tech example essay 2.

I heard my name spoken into the microphone, and my teammates jumped from their seats. We had just taken first place in the New York State Science Fair with our Insulin Resistance research project. Our project had not only won, but it lead to wide open pathways that could someday make a difference in the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes. I want to attend Georgia Tech because I know that the Biomedical Engineering program will provide me with access to similar experiences. Professors like Dr. Hee Cheol Chol (with his scholar status in Pediatric Bioengineering) would give me the tools and knowledge necessary to make a true impact throughout my future career in the medical field. Georgia Tech will give me the specific courses, research opportunities, internships, and expert faculty members that I need to become one of the best in the field. With my passion for science and difference-making, I know that Georgia Tech is the only place that will allow me to reach my full potential.”

Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay #2: From Previous Years

In this section, we’ve added essays from previous years. This should give you context into the quality of essays Georgia Tech is looking for.

Each prompt provides you with an opportunity to showcase an accomplishment or passion outside of an academic context. Because of this, it’s important that you choose the essay that shares your best qualities or achievements.

For both of these essays, you should focus on what makes you a unique asset for the Georgia Tech community. It’s not so much about why you want Georgia Tech, but why Georgia Tech wants you .

• Keep in mind that your accomplishments don’t have to be extraordinary. You don’t have to cure cancer or end world hunger to be considered.
• Small differences you’ve made in a person’s life or steps you’re taking to change the world around you can create just as much of an impact.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Prompt A

Georgia Tech is committed to creating solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Tell us how you have improved or hope to improve the human condition in your community.

This prompt asks what you have done (or what you want to do) to make a difference in your community.

As shown in the question, you can take one of two paths when writing this essay:

• Explain something you’ve already done to make a difference in the lives of the people around you. This can be a large or small task; maybe you’re bilingual and you started an after-school tutoring club to provide direct support to younger kids who are learning English for the first time. Maybe you’ve gotten a group of friends together to make meals for the homeless population in your town.
• If you haven’t had the chance to make a difference directly (or if you’ve got a bursting idea that you dream of bringing to life), pour it out on the page. Write about a problem you’ve witnessed firsthand in your community, and how you want to solve it.

Remember to reflect on the impact this action had (or will have) on the community you live in.

Don’t write about improving life in another country if you don’t live there. This is about fixing the problems that occur on the same streets you grew up on.

• Be sure to share a concrete plan if you’re writing a problem you hope to solve in the future. Be specific and really show how your skills can make a positive impact in your community.
• Keep the description of the issue brief; Georgia Tech wants to know about how you can solve this more than they want to hear about the problem at hand.

When showcasing the skills you used to make a difference, also share what the experience has taught you:

• You learned how much back-end work goes into solving a humanitarian issue.
• You gained leadership skills while providing guidance to a large group of students.
• You found independence and realized your actions can lead to significant change with an intense focus and the correct use of your personal skill set.

While there are a lot of different ways to take this essay, it may not be the ideal essay for every applicant. Make sure your action or plan shows off both your skill and desire to change the world around you.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Prompt B

“If you feel that your personal or community background can provide additional insight to your application that we have not already seen elsewhere, please take this opportunity to share that information with us.”

This is a fairly vague prompt, but it provides you with an excellent opportunity.

It eliminates the problem that arises when applications only show your academic successes, and lets you showcase anything you want the admission team to see.

Maybe you have a health condition that has motivated you to succeed in academics, so you can someday work toward finding a cure. Maybe you’re a LEGO expert and want to turn your design skills into a future engineering career.

• Take the first part of your essay to explain an important piece of who you are that is not shown on your application.
• Make sure this characteristic or experience shows off why Georgia Tech is the perfect school for you (and why you’d be a perfect addition to the GT student body).

Now, how can Georgia Tech benefit from the characteristic or experience that makes you stand out?

• Does Georgia Tech offer study abroad programs in a third-world country you’ve always wanted to make a difference in?
• Are they currently conducting a long term research study in an area that personally relates to your or someone close to you?
• Is there a club or organization that you’d be a perfect fit for? Or one that would give you the tools you need to make an impact in the world around you?

Be specific, and show Georgia Tech something unique about yourself. Show them why you need their school, and why they need you as a student.

Make sure to look through Georgia Tech’s website to see if any of their core values, programs, or opportunities line up with a piece of your life that is not already shown on your application.

Georgia Tech Personal Background Essay Example From Previous Year

I moved to the United States when I was just six years old. I started first grade the following week, without knowing a word of English. I had an ESL teacher to meet with once a day and a computer program to teach me a whole new language. I couldn’t make new friends because I didn’t know how to speak to them. I couldn’t participate in class because I did not understand my teacher. Fast-forward to my Freshman year of High School. I’m now fluent in Spanish and English, and I wake up one morning with an idea that I absolutely need to bring to life. I’ll start a club for students in my local elementary school who are learning English as a second language. Fast-forward to today. For the past three years, my club has met three times per week during lunch and recess. My students have had a safe space to share their challenges (with translator apps, so they do not need to feel alone like I did). They have learned English quickly, they have made friends with each other, and they have triple the amount of English language learning time as was previously available. I know my club has made a difference in their lives, and also in my own. I’ve gained independence and leadership skills, and I now know that I am capable of making a significant impact in the world around me.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay Example From Previous Year

It’s 5:50 a.m. on a Wednesday as I wake up to the shocking blast of the Mission Impossible theme song. It feels like I was up only a few hours ago, slogging through the assignments and projects that are due soon. I hop on the hour-long bus ride and try to get sleep to refresh myself for school. At school, I participate in classes, group projects, and labs, all of which have developed my critical thinking, communication, and collaborative skills. On the ride back home, I socialize with friends about the latest sports news and listen to music. After I arrive home, I play piano and get some physical activity to calm my nerves and collect myself. After an hour of playing piano and exercising, it is off to volunteering at the the Iverness Hospital and then Iverness Orchards. Volunteering has taught me that not everything is about my life. I want to help those who cannot help themselves. After returning home and eating dinner, I clean the dishes and kitchen to alleviate my parents’ stress. Now comes the storm. I embark to complete math, physics, and biology projects and read up on literature and history. It’s 11:00 p.m., and while my parents and sister have gone to sleep, I still have so much to do. After working until 1:15 a.m., I finish my assignments and hit my bed. Today was a short Groundhog Day.

Conclusion: Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay

Georgia Tech’s supplemental essay allows you to demonstrate why Georgia Tech is the perfect school for you and why you’re a student that Georgia Tech needs.

Remember, this short answer essay gives you a chance to communicate with Georgia Tech’s admissions officers in a way that your test scores and transcripts can’t. Use this opportunity to your advantage.

Overall, you will write one, 300-word maximum, supplemental essay to show your interest in a specific major at Georgia Tech.

When you show Georgia Tech who you are and what you have to offer, you’ve got a much greater chance of getting in.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, georgia tech example essays.

Hi all! Struggling with my Georgia Tech essays and could use some inspiration. Can anyone point me towards any example essays that have gotten students admitted? I just need a nudge in the right direction. Thanks!

Hello there! It's nice to see that you're looking for inspiration to write your Georgia Tech essays. While it's understandable that you're seeking example essays, I would caution you against relying too heavily on them, as your essay should be a genuine reflection of your unique thoughts, experiences, and personality. Instead, I suggest approaching the essay with the following strategies to help guide your writing:

1. Brainstorm: Before you start writing, brainstorm ideas that are meaningful to you and relate to the prompt. Think about your experiences, personal growth, and future goals. Jot down important moments in your life that have helped shape who you are or demonstrate a lesson you've learned.

2. Create an Outline: Once you have a few ideas, map out the structure of your essay by creating an outline. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure that you have proper flow and cohesion throughout the piece.

3. Focus on Your Voice: Admissions officers want to hear your unique voice, so make sure to inject your personality into the essay. Be authentic, be candid, and let your true self shine through.

4. Be Relevant: Stay on-topic by directly addressing the prompt, and always try to connect your experiences and ideas to Georgia Tech specifically. Explain how your experiences and aspirations align with the school's values and resources.

5. Revise, Revise, Revise: Once you've written your essay, set it aside for a day or two. Coming back to it with fresh eyes will help you spot errors, inconsistencies, or areas that need improvement. Read it aloud to ensure that it flows naturally, and have someone you trust review it for feedback.

Remember that the goal of the essay is to help the admissions officers understand you better as an individual and how you might be a good fit for the Georgia Tech community. Focus on conveying your unique story in an engaging manner and showing how your experiences and goals align with the school's mission.

As much as I'd like to share specific examples here, doing so would run the risk of undermining the originality and authenticity of your essay. However, there are various resources available online (e.g. CollegeVine, Reddit) that might have examples you can browse for some inspiration. Just make sure to still put your own spin on the essay!

Good luck with writing your essays, and I hope this guidance helps to nudge you in the right direction!

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How to Respond to the 2023-2024 Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay Prompts

Ginny Howey is a former content writer at Scholarships360. Ginny graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2022 with a degree in Media and Journalism (Advertising/PR focus) and minors in Entrepreneurship and Spanish. Ginny’s professional experience includes two summers as a writer intern at global creative consultancy BCG BrightHouse. More recently, Ginny worked as a content marketing intern for Durham-based software engineering bootcamp Momentum, where she gained SEO skills. She has also written freelance articles on emerging tech for A.I. startup Resultid.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. Commonly known as Georgia Tech, this university is  known for its top engineering programs. Georgia Tech has a 16% overall acceptance rate, so you will need to really showcase your strengths in order to stand out amongst so many applicants.

After completing Common Application personal essay , Georgia Tech applicants should turn their attention to supplemental essays. Although many schools have multiple prompts to answer, Georgia Tech asks for just one. 

For some students, this is great news because it’s less writing. On the other hand, it also gives you less space to elaborate on your story. With proper planning, however, you are sure to communicate your personality and goals successfully. 

Let’s take a deep-dive into the Georgia Tech supplemental essays. Read on for tips on how to craft a stand-out response!

Also see:  Scholarhips360’s free scholarship search tool

Georgia Tech supplemental essays: Prompt #1 

“Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? (50-300 words)”

This prompt is a classic “why” question. But unlike some other schools’ questions that reference the whole student experience, you need to drill down on academics here. There are two main pieces, asking: What is your biggest intellectual interest? And why is Georgia Tech the best place to study this topic? 

You should have chosen your major for a reason. Have you always had a knack for a certain subject? Are you fascinated by the developments in a particular field? Do you have a dream career? Think about what draws you to this major and an anecdote that brings this reasoning to life. For example, say your intended major is Building Construction. You could discuss how your biggest role model growing up was your grandfather, a general contractor. A nice hook could be describing your childhood enthralled with exploring his lots in-progress. Or, perhaps you have your sights set on Biomedical Engineering. Your anecdote could be about a revolutionary medical device that emulates the type of innovation you hope to contribute to.

There are all kinds of ways to elaborate, from sharing a personal story to discussing an individual curiosity. Adding in this detail goes a long way in letting your sincerity shine through.  Computer and Information Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering are GT’s most popular majors. Keep in mind there will be heightened pressure to convey your distinction for these study tracks with so many top-notch applicants. 

Also see:  How to write an essay about yourself

Do your GT homework!

Now that you have stated why you selected your particular major, do your research. GT consistently ranks as one of the top technology, science, and business universities. Investigate why that may be. Look into GT’s course catalogs, professors, student research, alumni, special events, and more. Make a list of anything that genuinely excites you. Then, see how you can utilize these intriguing offerings to help accomplish your academic and professional aspirations. The more specific you can be, the better.

Finally, keep GT’s mission in mind. It states: The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. How will you take advantage of GT’s resources to accomplish these noble feats? What new groundbreaking discoveries do you hope to make? What plans do you have for giving back to the community through your major? 

These three components to the prompt should end up telling a cohesive narrative. First, offer a story for why you chose your major. Next, explain why GT is the best choice for pursuing that major and why (with details). And to conclude, how will your studies make a difference? 

Questions to consider: 

• What fuels your intellectual curiosity?  
• How might your major help you achieve your career aspirations?
• Which distinct Georgia Tech resources are you most excited to utilize? 
• How can the field of technology be improved? 

Final thoughts for students

The Georgia Tech admissions committee offers advice for applicants on their website. Beyond making sure you are addressing the prompt content-wise, don’t forget strong writing skills. Be sure you are submitting a well-written, grammatically correct response. Also avoid repetition. In addition, don’t try to write what you think admissions wants to hear; being true to what your passion is will ensure your voice is authentic. Finally, be confident! Conviction in your path to achieve your dreams will signal to GT that you are a great fit. You can ace this essay! 

While you are applying to colleges (and before and after as well!), be sure to apply for all the scholarships you are eligible for!

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Additional resources

As you’re applying to colleges, you have a lot of decisions to make. While you work on your Georgia Tech supplemental essays, check out some of our resources to help guide you through other questions.

• Finding safety, reach, and match schools
• How many schools should I apply to?
• How to complete the Common App activities section
• Asking for letters of recommendation for college

Other colleges to consider

• University of Georgia (Athens, GA)
• Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
• Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC)

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Georgia Tech 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Oct 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 6

Georgia Tech 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: Why

Supplemental Essay Type(s): 1  essay of 300 words

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? (50-300 words)  

Admissions wants to know how you plan on using a Georgia Tech education to accomplish your career goals. Some schools ask students why they want to attend or why they like different offerings, but Georgia Tech isn’t messing around. They’re asking you to specifically speak about academics here, so don’t waste your time researching the dining halls. Why study here? Why study this subject? And finally, why study this subject at Georgia Tech, specifically? Spend some time learning about Georgia Tech’s majors, classes, professors, resources, and alumni network. Pore over the website for the department you’re interested in and soak up information about faculty, research, guest speakers, and special opportunities for undergraduates. Jot down the details that appeal to you and by the end of your research session, you’ll have everything you need to plead your case. Connect the school’s offerings to your personal interests and goals and you will demonstrate your fit and commitment to the school. What career path do you see for yourself? Is Georgia Tech known for producing successful graduates in that department? The more details you can provide, the better.

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The Ultimate Guide to the Georgia Tech Essay Prompts

Whether you’re applying as a transfer or as a freshman applicant, the Georgia Tech essay prompts are the same. The only difference is that the Georgia Tech transfer application has one essay that is unique compared to the original freshman application one.

You may have figured out already that the Georgia Tech essays play a critical role in the admissions process. Here’s what the official website has to say about their holistic admissions process.

“Each year Georgia Tech must make fine distinctions among large numbers of highly qualified applicants. The ability to assess consistently all information presented in the application becomes increasingly important. Therefore, the Office of Undergraduate Admission employs a rigorous review process in order to provide an individualized and holistic evaluation of every application.” Georgia Tech Official Website

Pay attention to the first part of that description. “Each year Georgia Tech must make fine distinctions among large numbers of highly qualified applicants. ” This is critical to your admissions process.

Let’s say you’re applying to Georgia Tech with a 3.8 GPA. Can you get in?

The average student admitted to Georgia Tech has a 3.8 out of a 4.0 GPA scale. With an average acceptance rate of 32% for Georgia applicants and 14% for non-Georgia students , rejection is likely for students even if they have a 3.8 GPA. Hitting the average accepted student GPA means just that: average. If you’re going to secure your acceptance to Georgia Tech, you’ll need strong essays that are not only interesting but help you stand out amongst the rest of the applicants.

Today, we’ll cover how to do just that. Yes, it will take a lot of work. Yes, it can be quite painful doing rewrites over and over just to get it right? Is it worth it? Well, ensuring your hard-earned GPA doesn’t go to waste is quite worth it in our opinion. Yeah, okay. Sunk Cost fallacy aside, no one wants to write a mediocre essay that doesn’t match their high-performance transcript. You’ve gone this far, so you might as well write a strong essay that will maximize every % of the acceptance rate.

With that said, let’s get right to business. This article covers each Georgia Tech essay prompt for both regular and transfer students. It explains how to answer each one as well as strong example essays for you to use as inspiration.

Table of Contents

GT Example Freshman Essay For Prompt 1

Gt example transfer essay for prompt 1, gt example transfer essay for prompt 2, question 1, gt example transfer essay for prompt 2, question 2, gt example transfer essay for prompt 2, question 3, gt example transfer essay for prompt 2, question 4.

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“Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?* (350 words)” Georgia Tech Freshman application essay prompt #1

Students applying for Georgia Tech as a freshman will only have one question to answer. In some ways, this is both a blessing and a curse. The good news is that you won’t need to dedicate too much time writing a million essays. This gives you more time to write essays for other schools, which is important. When you’re applying for competitive schools with low acceptance rates, you want to diversify your applications by “casting a wide net”, maximizing your chances of acceptance into a good school.

Having only one question is also a disadvantage, though. The point of a holistic admissions process is to use the essays as a tool to discriminate which students are the best fit. Without enough essay prompts, the admissions officers looking over your application will not have much to work with. Therefore, it becomes infinitely more important to write something that stands out and demonstrates unique value in just 350 words.

That’s hard. So, how do we do that?

There are many ways of demonstrating value in a short amount of words. Personally, we like to think of scenarios like these along the lines of Roman Laconicisms.

That is, think of your reasons for transferring not in the literal way that you would answer the question. Instead, answer it with a metaphor or a phrase that best encapsulates your experience. Here’s an example:

• Bad: I want to major in computer science at Georgia Tech because I know that the resrouces here will best prepare me for a future in artificial intelligence.
• Good: Georgia Tech is the Sword of Damocles hanging over my head. As someone working to develop a startup in bottom up Artificial Intellignece, the resources Georgia Tech has is exactly what I need to make this succeed. There is a lot to say about this startup; howeer, whether it even has a chance of success depends on my acceptance here.

Notice how the first example can be used to mean practically any other student? Why else would a student want to apply to Georiga Tech? It’s easy: they want to transfer for the right resources to help prepare them for a career in the future. Now, take a look at the second example. The reason the second one works well is that it provides a very strong reason why it is absolutely necessary for the applicant to enter. Because they’ve constructed a whole metaphor and reason why attending is vital, the admissions officers know that they’re serious about their application.

Let’s take a look at how this example would look as a whole essay.

“Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?* (350 words)”

“There’s a checklist for these sort of things. One, investments from well-meaning friends and family; two, investments from venture capitalists; three, a team of workers and collaborators who have the same vision as you; four, the drive to make it work. In some ways, this sounds like the preparation one would make for a highly-advanced AI startup. That’s exactly what I’m doing. Except, I don’t really have the luxuries of fancy VC firms, wealthy friends, and the greatest minds in the world to collaborate with. Instead, I’ve managed to scrap up the meagar funds I could from working at Nest Tea House –a boba store– to build a fund for the coming 12 months. I would use $25,000 working on a shoestring budget and hiring both friends and freelancers abroad to make a bottom up AI software. I would then attempt to sell this software product to businesses in need of an AI-powered contnet marketing bot that works better than the market. In other words: I’ve the Walmart version of a good AI startup project. I do not however believe that all could go well in this startup. It’s not to say I have faith in my product; rather, it is that I can forsee that many obstacles that so often trip up other startups. Working on a shoestring budget has pushed my creativity in finding the right solutions; however, I believe I am limited in my capabilities. I believe being equipped with the right resources is the responsibility of the founder to ensure the success of their project. Thus, I would love to attend Georgia Tech for its resoruces in bottom up AI. To have the resources Georgia Tech offers is the Sword of Damocles hanging over my head: if I could maximize my opportunity here, it would make or break my success as a founder. On that note, the inverse is the same. Should I attend another school, I will still maximize the resources there; however, I would not have had the maximum potential of fulfilling my aspirations that Georgia Tech can offer.” GT Example Freshman Essay for Prompt 1

Georgia Tech Essay Prompts for Transfer Applicants

Disclaimer: The Georgia Tech Official website does not specify that the first essay is mandatory and that you must choose a second essay out of the last four. This may be because the official website was not updated to clarify this detail. So, it can be confusing for some. You MUST answer the first question for your first essay and choose ONE of the FOUR final essays for your second essay.

“Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?* (300 words)” Georgia Tech Transfer essay prompt #1

This transfer question is the same question they ask Freshman applicants.

The one thing we would say about this is that you should not be clueless about what you want to do with your future major and career aspirations. For students to have a good reason for transferring schools, they should know why the school they’re transferring to would be a good place to pursue their careers.

If you’re transferring for no reason other than a new environment, it may not be as strong a reason as someone who absolutely needs to transfer in order to fulfill their particular major.

For students looking to answer the Georgia Tech transfer why us essay question, they’ll need to think about how their future careers are impacted by the transfer admissions decision. They may even consider some of the other external consequences of such an admissions decision. If one were accepted to Georgia Tech as a transfer for computer science, will that help them fulfill some meaningful entrepreneurial desire? Will it help them revolutionize technology to further society? Will it have positive moral results?

Okay, now let’s look at the second Georgia Tech transfer essay. For the second essay, you can choose to answer one of the four prompts below.

“Essay Topic Options (click on one from the options below to select): No essay should exceed 300 words in length. 1. Describe a time when you were able to lead and inspire by example to solve a problem or project. What was the outcome? 2. Georgia Tech is a diverse campus community that seeks to educate and engage students with a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, perspectives, and talents. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity at our institution? 3. Describe a challenge, setback, or failure you have faced and overcome. What did you learn from this experience? 4. Georgia Tech is committed to developing leaders to improve the global human condition. Tell us how you have made a meaningful contribution or transformative change in your community.” Georgia Tech Transfer essay prompt #2

There are unique advantages to each of these essay questions. Answering the first of the four Georgia Tech transfer essay questions gives admissions officers an idea of both your leadership and problem-solving skills; thus, it’s a good question to answer for future founders and startup creators.

The Georgia Tech diversity question is useful for students who want to show how their attendance will be a net positive for the school’s untapped niches. This is good for students who have something special to share with the school that they believe the school may be lacking in.

The “overcoming challenge” question is a good question for practically any aspiring student to answer. It is useful since it shows the problem-solving process the student uses to address situations. However, it is also a great way to show positive character traits such as grit and determination that the university holds valuable.

The fourth question is good for visionary students who already show signs of making a positive contribution to a group or community. It’s also important to answer this question by looking at the metaphysical ways you’ve impacted your community, not just the surface-level ways. Although this question talks about “developing leaders to improve the global human condition”, you don’t need to be a world-changing individual to answer this question!

Let’s take a look at how these tips can be implemented in an example essay.

“Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?* (300 words)”

“Standing in front of me in the museum is an ivory carving of Mary carrying her dead son in her arms like in the famous Pieta. There’s also some old people in the background staring in awe. Some white light carved in too. Some clouds. It doesn’t matter. What matters is the meaning carved into the curved white tusk. A woman brings a child into this world knowing he will be crucified, broken, and betrayed by the very world she released him into. It’s a sacrifice unto the world, and man can only peep about in awe at such sacred magnificence. Is there more to it? Perhaps. Though, I’m not a theologist. I’m just an aspiring entrepreneur and computer scientist who’s an amateur student of religion. This moral virtue –the idea of brining one’s own most precious creation unto the world to be broken down– is the mindset that constitutes the very essense of every entrepreneur. It’s hard. No. It’s painful being someone who creates software with blood sweat and tears only for it never to receive the love that I believe it deserves. I had a hard time In fact, I’ve suffered rejection and a lack of sales in my SaaS startup project many times already. I have a burning passion for computer science and entrepreneurship, but I don’t believe I can continue any furher in my journey without the help of Georgia Tech. At Georgia Tech, I won’t stumble blindly into as many mistakes in my startup. I can make use of resoruces such The Agency club to learn more about how I could implement artificial intelligence into my future plans for software products. The Design Club would also be critical to my future success, especially in developing the proper UX to optimize the sales funnel process in my startups and avoid a high bounce rate. Georgia Tech is crucial to my future endeavors in giving back to the world. I can’t do that without making a big sacrifice. Perhaps with the school’s vast resources and opportunities, my sacrifice won’t be in vain.” Georgia Tech Example Transfer Essay For Prompt 1

1. Describe a time when you were able to lead and inspire by example to solve a problem or project. What was the outcome?

“Passion is tempered with humility.” It’s a principle that sounds cool on paper —perhaps as a knockoff “samurai quote” one would see in a tourist trap in Downtown Los Angeles’s Japan Town. Though, it wasn’t as if our startup didn’t take place in a tourist trap. There were four of us: the artist, who had the skills to weave digital art into life; the coder, the one who prepared the last few months into conceptualizing the backend of mobile apps; the marketer, the loudest —and arguably funniest of all of us— person in the room; and me, the leader. Like the other three, I shared an interest in game development. So, collaborating at a tourist trap boba shop was inevitable. There, I remembered to hearken the knockoff samurai! “passion is tempered with humility.” We had passion, perhaps too much. We were caught in a web of fantastic ideas, all valuable and vying for glory. As a leader, I had to temper this with humility. That means recognizing, as Sophomores in college, we weren’t as smart as we thought and had much to learn. So, I led by example acting out one rule: “I will be a student open to learning.” Throughout our journey, I let go of all attitudes which made up the stereotypical leader. I didn’t command. I didn’t order. I simply let go of control and allowed the petals to fly wheresoever the wind brought them —good grief, how stereotypical could it get? Nonetheless, letting go of pride actually propelled our progress immeasurably. We agreed with one another much better and even completed our app 3/4 of the way —with just a few months left to refurbish it. In essence, I believe acting out humility as a leader helped us lead the charge in unison. “ Georgia Tech Example Transfer Essay For Prompt 2, Question 1

2. Georgia Tech is a diverse campus community that seeks to educate and engage students with a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, perspectives, and talents. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity at our institution?

Entrepreneurship. Self-help. Self-care. In some ways, self-care seems to work in opposition to the former two; or, at least, they seem to be from different worlds. It’s not to say that self-care doesn’t belong in entrepreneurship —it does! Yet, there seemed an invisible wall of incongruency between self-care and self-help with entrepreneurship. Perhaps it is self-help’s grittiness contrasting with self-care’s, well, “gentleness.” As an entrepreneur who created their own AI-based article writing program, I always worked with both. Yet, the people I’ve observed how those fellow entrepreneurs I worked with were always had a bit of harsh severity to their self-help. When it came to having a balanced mindset and healthy relationship with work, that self-help would manifest in a driven attitude meant to “go get it! Yeah! Hustle toward the highest level of relaxedness!” I believe a part of this may be tied to a toxic hustle culture that permeates the world of entrepreneurship. It’s not just amongst my circle, either; I’ve seen this spread into the entrepreneurship circles across many different communities. It’s an insistence that all “big boss men” or “boss babes” have to do everything with an iron fist. Strangely enough, the more experience I’ve had developing my own business selling my SaaS program to small businesses, the more I started to transition from gritty self-help into self-care. I didn’t have to do everything perfectly. At Georgia Tech, I hope to share a more positive mindset with the entrepreneurial community that would help loosen it from extreme severity. Despite pushing 80 hours a week into my startup, I could still write romantic light novels for women. I could still play “Doom Eternal” if I need to take a break. Most of all, as an entrepreneur and aspiring GT student, I can also be human. Georgia Tech Example Transfer Essay For Prompt 2, Question 1

3. Describe a challenge, setback, or failure you have faced and overcome. What did you learn from this experience?

“As someone who was always given the ‘gifted child’ treatment, most teachers and peers expected my greatest challenge to be mountainous tasks: philosophical questions, esoteric knowledge, sophisticated engineering, etc. However, I’ve discovered my mind finds comfort in the complex. That is, I like to distract myself with difficult things and juggle multiple problems because it’s my mind’s safe space. So, what is the true challenge? After meditating on the issue, I’ve discovered my true kryptonite is doing nothing. Since I could remember, my mind always exploded with ideas; it was impossible to keep my mind still as water. Calming down and focusing my mind was impossible. I’ve relied on a ‘gifted child’ brain to get me through school without developing the proper focus and calm of mind needed to perform at upper division work. So, I’ve worked on meditating and calming my mind to train my stillness. “Hey, aren’t you a bit hungry?” “It’s a nice day out, I should go for a run outside.” “It’s a real shame, what’s going on in our modern politics.” “blah, blah, blah.” Over and over agian, I would sit with my thoughts in stillness unable to escape from passing thoughts. That is, until one day, I just let them pass. I let arbitrary thoughts pass through my head for a whole hour. It may be short to some, but for somone like myself who is always thinking, that hour felt like eternity and a half. However, I finally experienced a still mind; it was unlike anything I had ever had. For the first time in my life, my mind was relaxed and could breathe. Finally, I was at peace.” Georgia Tech Example Transfer Essay For Prompt 2, Question 1

4. Georgia Tech is committed to developing leaders to improve the global human condition. Tell us how you have made a meaningful contribution or transformative change in your community.”

“Daa Maa Zoek. Or, to play Mahjong. It’s a game where players gamble with tiles. Though, it’s more than that. The tiles and the chips are secondary. Who truly won the metagame was the person who had the smartest child. Last year, I was the subject of debate. “Christopher now works as a computer science tutor!” Inexorably, I was summoned to elaborate on my work. “I try to help maximize self-esteem by basing off educational research and clinical child development,” to which they replied, “You young people are too easy on kids. It’s better to be stricter, that’s how it is with Asian parenting!” I was recommended Amy Chua’s Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. It was the bible for parenting in our small Asian American community. It was also an opportunity to empathize with the Asian tiger parenting perspective with open eyes. “Her kids went to great schools and became successful!” “Before you go criticizing an entire culture’s parenting style, why don’t you read her book?” “Read a book for once! You’ll learn something!” And read it I did. And learn something I did. Good grief, did I learn something. I have never come across a text more narcissistic and deeply pathological than that book. The statistics are clear: there is no justification for narcissitic filial piety; it’s also an impossibly difficult conversation to ask the parents of my students to rethink their perspective and even culture. But, I did. I spoke of the dangers of tiger parenting to family members, relatives, and the parents of my tutoring firm’s clients for over 3 years. There was less pressure. Grades improved. Students didn’t have panic attacks. Most of all, accepting empirically sound ways of teaching students ensured they were treated as human beings –and not another tile to gamble on. Georgia Tech Example Transfer Essay For Prompt 2, Question 1

If you’re not sure how to write your essays and answer the Georiga Tech essay prompts, don’t be afraid to ask us for help! Consider scheduling a free college admissions essay consultation . We can discuss with you how to best approach the Georgia Tech essay prompts over the phone. We’ll also help you formulate ideas on how to stand out in your essays amongst the rest of the applicants!

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Last minute advice for Georgia Tech & UNC by Novembrr, former Berkeley & UChicago Admissions Reader

With the first application deadline upon us, people are scrambling to finish their apps. If you're applying to UNC and Georgia Tech and struggling to get your app out the door, I'm here to help.

Who am I? I'm a former admissions reader for UChicago and, more recently, Berkeley's Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology program. I run www.HelpWithApps.com , where I help students apply to college. And I jump on Reddit from time to time to share some advice, so check out my past posts for some additional tips on your activities list (which is especially helpful if you're down to the wire on your application and that section is a mess).

Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech has one essay that everyone must answer: "Why do you want to study your chosen major at Georgia Tech, and how do you think Georgia Tech will prepare you to pursue opportunities in that field after graduation?”

This essay is part "Why My Major" and part "Why Georgia Tech", so be sure to address both parts of the prompt. Find evidence for your connection to your major both in and outside of the classroom. Mention a class that you took that sparked your interest, a club you joined or research you conducted to learn more about that subject. If you haven't pursued that subject outside of the classroom in a concrete EC, have you conducted any reading into the subject on your own time? Do you listen to a related podcast/watch a related YouTube series (say, How Things Work if you want to be an engineer, etc.)? Have you seen a documentary related to the major? However you can, provide evidence of your interest in and preparation for that major.

Then, find specific Georgia Tech opportunities that you would pursue for that major. Mention a specific Co-op you'd pursue, a research lab you wish to join, an event/lecture series you'd take advantage of. Find a specific class (not CS 101 but a higher level class that is somewhat unique to Georgia Tech) and mention why that class will be a catalyst for your career. Don't just prattle off a ton of things you want to pursue at Georgia Tech, but write a sentence for each opportunity, mentioning how that experience will expand upon existing knowledge you possess or take your knowledge in new directions. Example: "My love for DECA and Debate will be united by pursuing a certificate in Business Law and Ethics. Within that specialization, the class Technology Law and Ethics will help me understand the legal and ethical quandaries within the rapidly growing technology industry—an industry I hopefully hope to join one day."

The next essay Georgia Tech has you tackle is a choose one of three option: 1) What is your role in your family, and how have you impacted them? 2) Do you have any experience with entrepreneurship, and how do you plan to use Georgia Tech's entrepreneurial resources? 3) Describe your typical day. Your word limit is 250 words, but the box gives you 300 words. Some students have asked if this is a test, and students should not go over 250; I doubt it's a test, but I'd recommend not going more than a few words over 250 if you're in a pinch and the deadline is looming.

For the first question, you shouldn't solely describe that you're the middle child and you have a good relationship with your older sister and you torment your younger brother. Instead, describe how you function as the peacemaker between your combative siblings, you try to mentor your baby sister, or you're working to help keep food on your table. Describe what actions you take and character traits you employ to keep your family functioning. Try to show your personality and values in this essay, so the reader can extrapolate to picture who you might be within the Georgia Tech "family".

For the second question, make sure you're diversifying your answer from the first one if you chose to write about a major or Georgia Tech opportunities that align with entrepreneurship. You want to show the reader multiple facets of who you are. Mention something entrepreneurial you've done in your life (started a business, created a prototype, conducted research, interned/worked at a company where you witnessed entrepreneurship, started/ran a club, fundraised, pitched before judges (DECA, even Debate could be stretched to show that you've developed traits that entrepreneurs will need in the future), tinkered with technology around the house, sketched designs, etc. You don't need to be an entrepreneur to demonstrate to Georgia Tech that you've demonstrated attributes of an entrepreneur, so don't write off your activity as "not impressive enough". Show the reader how it was entrepreneurial, and then tell them the ways in which you can become MORE entrepreneurial on their campus. Don't simply end your essay with "And Georgia Tech has all the tools to help me become an entrepreneur"—name the tools you'll utilize on campus. Georgia Tech has a center for innovation, for crying out loud; there are tons of opportunities you can mention. Again, don't just list all the resources you'd pursue, but connect a resource to how you'd utilize that resource (example: "Funny that Georgia Tech calls InVenture Prize the "American Idol for Nerds", because I would love funding for my app on how to sing in tune—and winning InVenture Prize can help me secure $20,000 to fast track my app for development.")

I've found the third question to be unsuccessful for many students, as they get too granular in describing their day and focus on some boring details ("first I go to chem class at 8 am, then I go to calc AB before going to English lit and then lunch"). If you do talk about your classes, focus on what you're learning in class that excites you. Or, gloss over some classes and focus on other parts of your day that are really dynamic, like your after-school activities. Really provide details here for the reader that provide a 3D picture of who you might be on Georgia Tech's campus.

If your application is done, you haven't yet submitted it, and you're really unsure about what you wrote, check out my Comprehensive Application Review . I have time today to work with a maximum of 10 students in reviewing their Georgia Tech (or UNC) app, providing advice you can immediately implement in time for you to hit submit on a better app than you could have created all on your own. Or, if you're on a budget and need some quick advice, respond to this post with a question.

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

UNC has you choose two prompts to answer within 200-250 words. Those prompts include 1) Discussing a peer who has influenced you, 2) What you hope will change about the community in which you live, 3) What is one thing we don't know about you?, 4) What about you will positively influence the education of your UNC peers?

If you are down to the wire and have absolutely no time left, you can reuse an essay you've written for another school to satisfy prompt #3. For example, you could recycle your essay about your role within your family from Georgia Tech's app with a few tweaks. Remove any language that feels hand crafted for another school (so don't send make it obvious that you wrote your essay for Georgia Tech). Add in something about "one thing you don't know about me but should is...", so the essay feels personalized to the prompt at hand. So, if you're applying to Yale or Stanford early, you could reuse one of their short answers (if you've written those already)—you just need to remove any language that is specific to the other school and tie in UNC's prompt.

If you tackle prompt #1 about a peer, don't sell UNC on why they should admit your peer—they should know something about your personality, values, or potential contribution to campus from your interaction with your peer. So, instead of making your essay entirely about how that peer influenced you, give a short anecdote about how that peer has influenced you and then spend at least half of your essay talking about how that peer's influence has changed how you think, feel, view the world differently, lead in a different manner, take educational risks, whatever!

If you tackle prompt #2, it's not necessary for you to have already begun implementing that change in your community, but that would be a nice thing to include if you have. So, if your school district doesn't have a strong STEM program and you created an IoT or math club or Girls Who Code chapter, etc., mention how you saw a problem within your community and are working to create a legacy where students interested in STEM have avenues they can pursue. On the flip side, if your school is too STEM and you expanded your lit mag to recruit new writers and increase publication, write about that! Even if you haven't taken concrete actions like starting a club, have you changed the way you interact with others? Do you wish your community was more tolerant to immigrants, so you chose to show the exchange student around the school so they'd feel more welcomed? Think about your personal interactions, as those are sufficient for demonstrating how you're working to create minor change in your community. Or, if you've done nothing whatsoever in reaction to the change you want to make in your community, perhaps address how UNC doesn't have the issue your community has, and how you're eager to immerse yourself in that new community.

If you tackle #4, really reflect on how you'll impact your peers. I've seen students make the mistake of recycling their research essay to say "I'll contribute to research on campus," but that contribution doesn't inherently benefit your peers' education. So, instead talk about how you'll facilitate discussion in class, contribute to a club on campus that is preprofessional in nature (and thus will help educate your peers about their future industry), etc. You can benefit your peers by sharing knowledge or even just by having a positive, accepting, welcoming attitude, but definitely demonstrate a few concrete ways in which you'll enrich others' education.

In the Activities section for UNC, UNC allows you to upload some additional information about an extracurricular pursuit. Don't simply paste your resume that repeats everything you said in your Activities List and Honors/Awards List. You will have wasted UNC's admissions readers' times. Instead, take this as an opportunity to expand on one or two extracurricular pursuits, mention a hobby, or your contribution to your family (helping out in the family business, babysitting your siblings, etc.). This can be an essay, it can be a few sentences, it can even be a few bullet points, but don't half ass it. If you're going to use this opportunity, use it WELL.

Other little things about the UNC app: authorize UNC to talk to your counselor about your app (just in case they're on the fence about you, call your counselor, and your counselor tips the decision in your favor) and say yes to Excel@Carolina.

Again, if your application is done, you haven't yet submitted it, and you're really unsure about what you wrote, check out my Comprehensive Application Review . Or, if you're on a budget and need some quick advice, respond to this post with a question and I'll try to get back to as many kids as I can today.

If you aren't applying to UNC or Georgia Tech (or already submitted), but would like my help on future apps, click that link above or shoot me an email at [email protected] .

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How to Write the Georgia Tech Supplement Essays 2017-2018

Situated in the bustling city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute of Technology (or Georgia Tech) is one of the premier research and technological universities in the nation. Known for its engineering and computer science programs, Georgia Tech maintains a rigorous curriculum that helps prepare students for high-paying jobs in STEM fields.

With an acceptance rate of only 25% and median ACT scores of 30-33, Georgia Tech’s admissions process is competitive . But beyond test scores and grades, the school also emphasizes essays.

With this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with all the tools necessary to tackle Georgia Tech’s supplemental essays.

Georgia Tech Application Essay Prompts

Beyond rankings, location, and athletics, why are you interested in attending georgia tech (max 150 words), please choose one of the following questions and provide an answer in 150 words or less:, a) tech’s motto is progress and service. we find that students who ultimately have a broad impact first had a significant one at home. what is your role in your immediate or extended family and how have you seen evidence of your impact on them, b) georgia tech is always looking for innovative undergraduates. have you had any experience as an entrepreneur what would you like georgia tech to provide to further your entrepreneurial interests, c) we challenge our students to ‘be comfortable being uncomfortable.’ tell us about a time in high school that you felt outside of your comfort zone and the resolution., ‘why georgia tech’ essay.

With this essay, Georgia Tech gauges if applicants are truly interested in the university’s offerings or are simply intrigued by its name value. The key here is to showcase to the admissions officers that you see yourself thriving at Georgia Tech. Don’t let the low word count lull you to sleep. This question is vital to demonstrating your interest in the university.

But remember, this question is still about you . Ensure that you discuss topics such as how you will fit into the campus community or how you will improve the university. There are three foundational steps to taking on this essay: research , pinpoint , and personalize .

For this step, find out as much about Georgia Tech as you possibly can. The more that you know about the university, the more easily you will be able to express why you want to be a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket. Georgia Tech rewards applicants who demonstrate thoughtfulness in expressing why they want to attend the university.

Helpful resources for this include:

• Family or friends who are either alumni or current undergraduates
• Campus tours/Information Sessions
• Their website http://www.gatech.edu
• Follow Georgia Tech Admissions on social media

Remember, the essential aspect here is to learn how you can take advantage of Georgia Tech’s opportunities and unique characteristics.

Since this essay is only 150 words, there is no space to waste. This means that you should focus on one aspect (at most two) of Georgia Tech that resonates with you. Your essay shouldn’t read like a list, but rather should give admissions officers a compelling idea of what you will bring to Georgia Tech. This strategy is most impactful if you choose something distinctive about the school.

The aspect of Georgia Tech you choose to hone in on does not need to be academic. For example, Georgia Tech is known for its school spirit. A powerful essay could describe how an applicant who planned and promoted school events during high school strives to cultivate a school identity similar to that of Georgia Tech.

If you’re looking to highlight a strength of Georgia Tech’s engineering culture without sounding cliché, you could bring up the Invention Studio, describing how much you’re looking forward to tinkering around with new gadgets. Connecting this to your desire to create and innovate new technological masterpieces would be a great way to add a personal element. In this way, you can showcase that your personality blends perfectly with Georgia Tech’s school atmosphere and values.

Personalize

Now that you have an idea of what to write about, you should express something about yourself.

One way to do so is to discuss an extracurricular activity you participated in during high school and how you plan to delve deeper at Georgia Tech. For instance, an applicant interested in the environment might discuss her summer internship researching solar energy and how she plans to continue innovative research through Georgia Tech’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

Georgia Tech seeks students who are passionate and authentic. To demonstrate these qualities in your writing, strive to show, not tell . If writing about your interest in Georgia Tech’s study-abroad program, don’t tell the admissions officers that you like traveling and going to art exhibits. Rather, share an anecdote about how visiting the Louvre in France changed your perspective on the importance of art in society.

‘Your Choice’ Essay

With Georgia Tech’s second supplementary essay, you choose one of three diverse options . Keep in mind that there is no “best option.” Simply choose the question that jumps out at you or that you feel most comfortable answering.

With each of these three essay options, Georgia Tech wants to assess how you will mesh with the university’s core values and interests. Don’t be afraid to use this essay to highlight something unique about yourself that will help your application come to life.

Tech’s motto is Progress and Service.  We find students who ultimately have a broad impact first had a significant one at home.  What is your role in your immediate or extended family? And how have you seen evidence of your impact on them? (max 150 words)

This prompt invites you to get personal and is ideal for someone who has taken care of his elderly grandmother, encouraged a family member to complete her education, or worked a part-time job to support a family. With this essay, Georgia Tech wants to identify individuals who have made an effort to improve the lives of those around them and will continue to do so at their university.

However, your impact doesn’t need to be something massive to be significant. For instance, you could write about how helping a younger sibling with his math homework has helped him to improve his multiplication skills. No matter the situation, don’t forget to discuss the impact that you have had on your family. In many cases, it’s also helpful to reflect upon what you learned from this experience.

Since this prompt is specific , it may not be the one for you if you can’t identify a significant influence you’ve had on your family.

Georgia Tech is always looking for innovative undergraduates. Have you had any experience as an entrepreneur? What would you like Georgia Tech to provide to further your entrepreneurial interests?

As a university interested in providing its students with a variety of opportunities to gain work experience and innovate freely, Georgia Tech actively seeks students who can take advantage of its entrepreneurial offerings.

Don’t be afraid to answer this prompt if you haven’t had any direct business experience. An entrepreneurial approach to an existing problem comes in many different forms . For instance, you could explain how your experiences in Virtual Enterprise, FFA, or software development have led to a desire to launch new programs in these areas.

You can also answer this question by discussing an innovative approach you have taken to solve a problem. A yearbook editor could describe a creative approach she pioneered to use social media to promote publicity for the yearbook.

No matter the situation, ensure that you also emphasize how Georgia Tech will help you to bring your ideas into the real world. One of the many ways Georgia Tech fosters innovation is through its Capstone Design course, in which undergraduates work as a team to design, create, and test prototypes that will have real-world applications. A student interested in creating a device that more reliably detects liver cancer could express their interest in the Capstone Design course as a vehicle to help them bring their product into production. Learn more about Georgia Tech’s varied entrepreneurial support here .

Option Three

We challenge our students to ‘be comfortable being uncomfortable.’ tell us about a time in high school that you felt outside of your comfort zone and the resolution..

As this prompt is vague, it provides a perfect opportunity for you to write about any number of topics. Don’t be afraid to break the mold and discuss something that is out of the ordinary or uncommon.

An essay for this prompt excels when it highlights an aspect of your identity you didn’t discuss in your other essays. For example, a basketball player could write about her experience as a supporting actress in her school’s production of the Wizard of Oz .  In the same way, an introverted applicant could describe getting outside of his comfort zone by taking the initiative to organize a team for Relay for Life.

When writing this essay, remember to discuss both the situation and the outcome of being outside of your comfort zone. Reflection also plays an essential role. Answer questions such as why you decided to get outside of your comfort zone, what you learned about yourself by doing so, and how this decision has impacted you. By answering these types of questions, you will write both an informative and compelling essay.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Georgia Tech Guide

The Ivy Scholars guide to Georgia Tech’s culture, admissions, and other essential information for prospective students and their families.

Location:  Atlanta, Georgia

Mascot: Buzz the Yellowjacket

Type: Public Research Institution

Population: 32,700 (16,000 undergrads)

Jump to Section:

Statistics  

Natl. Rankings  

Admissions Info

Academics  

Special Programs

Student Life  

Financial Info  

Fun Facts     

About Georgia Tech

The Georgia Institute of Technology was founded after the Civil War, in order to provide the South with a technical college in the tradition of MIT. WIth many long lived traditions and a strong sense of school spirit, camaraderie among students is high. While the athletic program is notable, Georgia Tech is best known for its academic rigor, priding itself on the difficulty of its classes and the skill and knowledge of its graduates.

Georgia Tech Statistics

Year Founded:  1885

4 Year Graduation Rate:  40%

Gender Distribution: 63% Male, 37% Female

Acceptance Rate:  23%

Residency: 60% in state, 17% out of state, 23% international

Location Type:  Urban

Schedule System:  Semesters

Student/Faculty Ratio:  22:1

Average Class Size:  25

Demographics: 49% Caucasian, 21% Asian, 16% Other, 7% Hispanic, 7% Black

Need assistance with the college admissions process?

National rankings.

US News Rankings:

• #4 Most Innovative Schools
• #4 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
• #5 Top Public Schools
• #8 Undergraduate Research
• #29 National Universities
• #40 Best Undergraduate Teaching

Independent Rankings:

• #5 Top Public Universities per Niche
• #13 Best Colleges for Computer Science per Niche
• #13 Public Colleges per Forbes
• #19 Best Colleges for Engineering per Niche
• #38 World Universities per The Times of Higher Education
• #65 National Universities per Forbes
• #68 National Universities per The Times of Higher Education

Georgia Tech Admissions Information

Application Deadlines:

• Early Action I: October 15th
• Early Action II: November 2nd
• Regular Decision: January 4th
• Transfer Deadline: April 15th

Notification Dates:

• Early Action I:  Mid-December
• Early Action II:  Late January
• Regular Decision:  Mid-March
• Transfer Deadline:  June 15th

Acceptance Rates:

• Early Action I:  40%
• Early Action II:  14%
• Regular Decision:  19%
• Transfer Deadline:  29%

Average Applicant Pool: 37,000

Average Number of Applicants Accepted:  8,400

Average Number Enrolled: 3,100

Application Systems:  Common App

Average GPA: 4.07 weighted

SAT Scores: 25th% – 1400, 75th% – 1530

ACT Scores: 25th% – 31, 75th% – 34

*Test mandatory. Writing sections are not required.

Demonstrated Interest:

Georgia Tech does consider demonstrated interest.

How to demonstrate interest

Recommendation Letter Policies:

Recommendations are optional, but students may choose to submit one letter from a counselor, and one from a teacher. They recommend that the teacher be of an academic subject who knows you well. Additional recommendations are not accepted.

Georgia Tech Essay Prompts:

• Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?
• Georgia Tech is committed to creating solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Tell us how you have improved or hope to improve the human condition in your community.
• If you feel that your personal or community background can provide additional insight to your application that we have not already seen elsewhere, please take this opportunity to share that information with us.

Georgia Tech Essay Writing Tips

Special Notes:

• EA 1 is only open to residents of the state of Georgia, while EA 2 is only open to non-Georgia residents.
• Only non-native English speakers are allowed to interview, no other interviews will be offered.
• Choice of major is factored into the admissions process, but all admissions are through the university generally.
• Students who have earned college credit through AP courses or dual enrollment are eligible for transfer admission. 
• Certain majors have required courses , which must be completed for students to be eligible to transfer.
• Official transcripts are required from all previous institutions attended.
• The College of Engineering and College of Computing require a minimum GPA of 3.3/4.0, all other schools require 3.0/4.0, although higher grades are recommended for both.
• Transfer students are required to submit two essays as part of their application.
• Choice of major is considered during transfer admission.

Georgia Tech Admission Strategy

Admissions Criteria:

The criteria the school considers very important are: course rigor, GPA, and extracurriculars. They look for a pattern in a student’s extracurriculars, and see if it matches with their intended major.

The factors they consider important are: class rank, essays, test scores, state residency, geographic origin, character, and talent. It is easier for Georgia residents to get into the school, although their admission is not guaranteed. The school strives for geographic diversity both from within Georgia, and from around the country. Around 60% of the student body, and each admitted class, is from Georgia.

The factors which are considered are: First-generation status, legacy status, recommendations, race/ethnicity, and level of interest.

Recruited athletes do have an advantage in admissions, so long as they are able to do the work academically, as Georgia Tech prides itself on student-athletes.

What is Georgia Tech Looking For?

All candidates are evaluated using a holistic review, where all aspects of an application are considered as a whole. Admissions officers look for students who will positively contribute to the campus community, and look for these character traits in an applicant: commitment, responsibility, motivation, leadership, initiative, and entrepreneurship.

Due to the gender imbalance, female applicants have an edge in admissions. This does not mean that the requirements are laxer for female applicants, but that more qualified female candidates are admitted due to the lower total number of female applicants and students.

The school has a long commitment to diversity, and seeks through recruitment to maintain a high level of admissions for minority and otherwise underserved students, both from within Georgia and around the country. Here, they are in direct competition with MIT and Caltech for the most qualified candidates.

Georgia Tech looks for students who have demonstrated leadership in their activities, especially outside of the classroom. The activities list is key to demonstrating this, and showing the student’s passion for and involvement with their areas of interest and their broader community. The school wants students who will contribute, so they look for past examples of the student doing exactly that.

Georgia Tech Strategy:

While admissions rates are higher for students who apply Early Action, this is not because the requirements are laxer. First, recruited athletes all apply EA, and second, the overall pool is smaller, meaning more qualified applicants are admitted. While this may boost chances some, it is not as large a factor as Early Decision can be.

They school does consider demonstrated interest, and this is an easy way to improve chances of admission. The school’s yield rate is around 40%, and while this is not bad, admissions officers do like assurances that the students they admit will attend.

While letters of recommendation are optional they are recommended, and students should consider submitting them. This is especially the case when the teacher can support other aspects of an application, such as the students academic passions, leadership abilities, or talents in or outside of the classroom. 

The school is known for its difficult and demanding academics, and much like Caltech, expects students to be both able and willing to do the work required of them. The school is also known for often requiring five years to graduate, due to the number of required courses and the length of majors. While the entirety of the school experience isn’t work, students should expect to need to study a great deal and work hard if they are going to Georgia Tech.

Finally, the school is similar to Caltech in that it is much more focused on the practical elements of engineering and science than the theoretical. While there are humanities majors, and it is not as devoted to science and technology alone, those are still the main focus of the school.Humanities students can still thrive there however, and may have an easier time getting admitted due to there being far less competition for spots.

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Georgia Tech Academics

• Scheller College of Business
• College of Computing  
• College of Design
• College of Engineering
• Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• College of Sciences
• Changing between schools is difficult, and requires an application.

Core Requirements:

• Georgia Tech has universal core requirements. All students are required to take courses in Constitution and History, Ethics, Wellness, and 6 core areas (Communications, Computer Science, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Major requirements).
• Comprehensive Information

Courses of Study: 

• Majors Offered
• Option to double major
• Popular majors include Mechanical Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, and Biomedical Engineering
• It is difficult to change majors, and being able to change is not guaranteed, depending on the popularity of the new intended major. Students do not have to enter the school with their major declared, but most do.
• Minors offered
• Course Catalog

AP Credit Policies:

• Georgia Tech awards course credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5, depending on exam. They grant credit for scores of 5, 6, or 7 on IB exams.
• Comprehensive Test Credit Information

Honors Programs:

• The Honors Program offers special housing, coursework, and mentorship opportunities to students. Students must apply to the honors programs separately after being admitted to Georgia Tech.
• University Honors (based on cumulative GPA)
• Academic Honors Societies These offer an involved group of similarly focused scholars.

Research Availability:

• The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) serves to connect students with research opportunities.

Study Abroad: 

• Study Abroad Options

Business Options: 

• The Scheller College of Business offers a BS in business administration, with 8 concentrations available . 
• Students, both business majors and otherwise, are able to earn certificates in any of twelve areas.
• There are dedicated organizations and other programs offered through the school for students interested in exploring business further.

Pre-Med Options:

• There is no dedicated pre-med major or minor, but there is a pre-health advising program, which helps students interested in careers in medicine with course selection, preparation for the MCAT, and with the application process as well.
• The biology department also has a pre-health program, which allows completion of prerequisite classes while also completing a biology major.

Pre-Law Options:

• Pre-Law Program , this includes the Law, Science, and Technology minor.
• Pre-Law Advising

Computer Science Options: 

• The College of Computing offers degrees in computer science, along with nine minors , which students outside the school may apply to take.
• The joint BS/MS in Computer Science allows students to earn both degrees in only 5 years.
• Research is available and encouraged for undergraduates.

Additional Specialty Programs: 

• Dual Degree Program
• Computer Engineering BS/MS  
• Electrical Engineering BS/MS
• Materials Science BS/MS
• Media BS/MS
• International Affairs BS/MS
• Public Policy BS/MS
• Summer Language Programs

Programs for High Schoolers:

• Summer Engineering Institute (SEI) is a three-week residential program for 11th and 12th grade underrepresented students interested in engineering.
• H.O.T. Days is a weeklong day camp for Georgia high school students interested in technology.
• National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) is a two-week program open to high-achieving high school students interested in technology.
• Pre-College Programs are offered both virtually and in-person on campus, and offer a taste of the college experience and a chance to explore subjects of interest.

Student Life at Georgia Tech

Mission and Values:

• Mission: The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.
• Additional Information
• Student Testimonials ( Niche , Unigo , Grad Reports )

Residential Housing System:

The school runs residence halls for freshmen, which are primarily found on East campus, and apartment style housing open to upperclassmen, which is all on West campus. The school also has living learning communities, which are often located within other buildings, and form smaller units of students who are interested in the same academic topics. These include the honors program. Each residence hall has its own character and traditions.

Housing Statistics:

• 91% of Freshmen live on campus
• 43% of undergrads live on-campus at any given time

Campus & Surrounding Area :  

• Located in Midtown , just North of downtown Atlanta, most campus buildings are short, and there is a lot of greenery, giving the campus a more suburban feeling.
• The campus is divided into West, East, Central, and Technology Square; with West and East primarily composed of student residences, and Central being the main academic section.
• Points of interest on and around campus include the Robert Williams Paper Museum , sites and shops in Midtown , the Fox Theater , and the High Museum of Art
• Safety Information ( Georgia Tech , College Factual )
• Virtual Tour , Virtual Visit

Transportation:

• There is a shuttle system which runs through campus. The school also offers discounted public transit passes, and other commute options.
• Parking Information

Traditions:

• Stealing the T – Students conspire to steal the T off of Tech Tower, in a tradition generally condemned by the administration.  
• Ramblin Wreck – A 1930 Model A Ford which leads the football team onto the field for every home game. 
• Rat Cap – Worn by selected freshman students, the caps must be worn to football games or other school spirit events.
• Freshman Cake Race – A half-mile sprint held before the homecoming game at dawn. All participants get cupcakes, winners get full cakes.

Student-Run Organizations:  

• Organization Database
• Sample Organizations ( Ramblin Wreck Club , The ANAK Society , Glee Club )
• D1 Athletics Athletic Coast Conference (Good Football and Softball)
• Intramural Sports
• Club Sports
• Main Rival: University of Georgia

Greek Life:  

• 30% of students are members of Greek life, including social, service, and academic organizations.
• There is an active nightlife scene in Midtown.
• As an urban school, there’s always things to find or do in the city.
• Football games are also large social events, drawing crowds for tailgating and post-game parties.
• Most of the party and social scene on campus is dominated by greek life, but due to the urban setting it’s easy to find things off campus as well.

Financial Information

Yearly Cost of Attendance:

• Total: $49,944
• Tuition: $31,370
• Fees: $2,424
• Room & Board: $12,090
• Books: $800
• Personal Expenses: $3,200

Financial Aid:

Georgia Tech has a separate application for student aid which must be filled out, alongside FAFSA and the CSS profile. All of these should be completed by the due date; while applications will be accepted late, priority is given to those that are on time. Funding is provided based on both demonstrated student need and academic merit.

Additional Financial Aid & Student Loan Information

Scholarships: 

The Georgia Tech Promise Program is a scholarship fund dedicated to meeting the full need for the most underprivileged students in Georgia. It is only open to residents of Georgia. The HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships are merit based academic scholarships available to students.

• The nickname “ramblin wrecks” comes from the period when Georgia Tech trained engineers were helping build the Panama Canal, and the machines they constructed to get them through the jungles were dubbed ramblin wrecks, with the operators in turn called “ramblin wrecks from Georgia Tech.”
• The highest scoring football game of all time was Georgia Tech 222 to Cumberland’s 0 in 1916.
• The school’s rivalry with UGA is dubbed “Clean, old-fashioned hate.”
• The school offered a required class called “downproofing” from 1940-1987, which taught how to float while bound, and how to swim a distance underwater, along with other survival skills.
• Georgia Tech was the first university in the deep South to integrate without a court order.
• Much of the housing in West campus was originally constructed for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Jimmy Carter attended the school briefly before transferring out.
• John Heisman, for whom the college football trophy is named, was football coach at Georgia Tech for two decades.

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Takeaways from a Georgia Tech win: Defense answers the call

DUBLIN — One game into the awfully young 2024 season, Georgia Tech served notice that it may be a force to be reckoned with, and a possible ACC title contender, with a 24-21 win over No. 10 Florida State on Saturday at Aviva Stadium.

The Yellow Jackets got a last-second field goal off the right leg of Aidan Birr to beat the Seminoles, their first win over a top-10 team since beating No. 9 FSU in 2015. They got the victory despite falling behind 8-0 and then 11-7, and giving up a 21-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Second-year coach Brent Key said, however, the scoreboard throughout the day had nothing to do with his team’s mentality.

“We set our goals going into the season and they really had nothing to do with the outcome of the football game,” Key said. “We all know that’s what we want to occur, but our goal is to go out and play every play as hard as we can possibly play, not look at the scoreboard. A lot of times people hear that and think it’s kind of coach talk, but it’s starting to be ingrained in who we are. And they’re starting to understand that — the players are.”

Thanks to a thrilling win over FSU, Tech, which returns home to face Georgia State at 8 p.m. Saturday, has a chance to go 2-0 for the first time since 2016. Here are a few more notable takeaways from Tech’s win:

New Georgia Tech DC Santucci wins debut

Much was made about Tech’s offseason hiring of Tyler Santucci as new defensive coordinator. That hire looks real good after one outing.

Tech’s defense held FSU to 291 yards of total offense, its fewest in a regular-season ACC game since Nov. 6, 2021. The Seminoles had 58 yards rushing on their first offensive series, then just 40 rushing yards the rest of the way. The Jackets forced a turnover on downs, recorded seven tackles for loss, held FSU to 5 of 12 on third downs and forced two punts out of two third quarter FSU drives.

“(Santucci) talked to the defense (Friday) night and he said 166 days ago they started a journey. He told them their only goal was to be the best version of the 2024 Georgia Tech defense that they could be. Not to be anything more than that,” Key said. “After that meeting I told those guys, ‘I cannot wait to see you all go out on that field and play together as one.’

“You gotta stay in the moment and play the next play and I thought that’s what they did tonight. Huge credit to (Santucci) and his staff and the plan they put together.”

Santucci got pivotal plays from cornerback Ahmari Harvey, linebackers Kyle Efford and Trenilyas Tatum and safety LaMiles Brooks. Newcomer Romello Height had a sack wiped out by a facemask penalty. Freshman Tah’j Butler had a tackle for loss in his debut.

If there was one rough patch, it was during a fourth-quarter drive in which FSU converted two fourth downs to keep a game-tying drive alive. But all was forgiven after a winning effort by a new-look, new-attitude defense.

“I would say the biggest difference of our defense has nothing to do with football. It’s all just a connection,” Efford said. “We know what we’re playing for now. We play for each other. Regarding football, yeah, we got a new coach, and he put in a great scheme, but we truly bond together as well. I feel like that’s our biggest difference is how together we are. (Santucci) fostered that environment for us to come together.”

Chad Alexander’s debut showed ‘resiliency’ and ‘toughness’

Chad Alexander came to Tech as a walk-on running back out of Archer High School. He worked his way onto the Jackets’ special teams in 2023 and became an integral player. On Saturday, Alexander earned his first opportunity in the backfield and made the most of it by rushing for 41 yards on seven carries.

After backup running back Trey Cooley was injured early in the game on a kickoff return, Alexander was thrown into the fire in the second quarter. His first collegiate carry went for 16 yards on a second-down play from Tech’s own 47. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Alexander then made three crucial carries on Tech’s winning drive, two which gained first downs.

“He’s really a great example of who we are as a football team,” Key said. “We got a lot of guys that aren’t big enough and aren’t fast enough, might have been overlooked at another school and decided to come here. That’s who we are. He was running between the tackles and pushing the pile. Just the resiliency that he showed and the toughness that he showed — his first carry in a football game he’s getting positive yards and falling forward.”

(Haynes) King still on his throne

It wasn’t the flashiest of games statistically from Haynes King, Tech’s junior quarterback. But when it mattered most, the Texan delivered.

King had just 11 completions (tied for second-fewest in a game during his Tech tenure) for 146 yards (fourth-fewest in his time with the Jackets). But he ran the ball 15 times for 54 yards to force the FSU defense to honor the threat of the quarterback run.

On the final drive King had runs of 4, 7 and 3 yards as he orchestrated the game-winning series.

“He’s a really good quarterback. And, you know, obviously that dynamic of his game, of being able to run, he’s got great speed,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said. “Sometimes we were in position, but he did a big job of getting to the edge. That was definitely an X-factor in this game. And I thought he played at a very high level.

“Even on the time where he wasn’t necessarily the ball carrier, he still brings a dynamic where you have to — it forces you to account for him. It all starts with that quarterback, and I thought he did a really good job being efficient.”

For his performance, King was named the game’s player of the game.

Other notes

Tech’s win was its first as time expired in regulation since defensive back Lance Austin returned a blocked field goal 78 yards for a touchdown in Tech’s 22-16 win over No. 9 Florida State on Oct. 24, 2015.

The win was Tech’s first over a nationally ranked opponent in a season opener since a 23-14 win at No. 16 Auburn on Sept. 3, 2005.

The win was Tech’s first over a top-10 opponent in a season opener since a 24-21 win at No. 4 Alabama on Sept. 12, 1981.

The Jackets are 6-5 all-time when opening the season against an ACC opponent.

About the Author

Chad Bishop is a Georgia Tech sports reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Credit: Peter Morrison/AP

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Credit: NYT

Credit: Joe Kovac Jr.

Enrollment Management News

Tech welcomes over 5,300 new students.

Georgia Tech continues to expand student access.

Approximately 5,326 new undergraduate students joined the Georgia Tech community this summer and fall. This group includes over 1,440 transfer students and nearly 3,880 first-year students, taking Tech’s total undergraduate population to more than 20,000 for the first time.

“Expanding access to Georgia Tech is a major focus because the education, networks, and experiences we provide hold immense value,” said Mary Tipton Woolley, interim executive director of the Office of Undergraduate Admission. “Under President Cabrera’s leadership, we’ve made it a priority to not only increase the size of our first-year class and overall undergraduate enrollment but also to enhance the breadth of backgrounds, perspectives, and passions within our community.”

Undergraduate Admission received a total of nearly 59,800 first-year applications for the 2024 incoming class, representing a 14% increase from 2023 and a 46% increase from 2020.

Enrolling first-year students hail from 93 countries, 48 states, and 112 Georgia counties, marking a 36% increase in in-state residents since 2020, an expansion that Wooley underscored:

“Undergraduate Admission and Enrollment Management prioritize Georgians, first and foremost,” she said. “That is why our admit rate for students from Georgia is more than three times greater than it is for nonresidents. We want to ensure more qualified Georgia students than ever before have access to study at the Institute.”

Eleven percent of the 2024 class are first-generation college students, with neither parent having graduated from college. Additionally, female enrollment increased 5% for an overall class split of 44% female and 56% male. Georgia Tech’s first-year class has been over 40% female for more than a decade.

This year also brought new highs for transfer students, who make up over 26% of new undergraduates. The number of transfer applications increased 21% from past years, with many students applying through a transfer pathway program . Pathway programs offer a unique route for students interested in transferring to Georgia Tech, with special pathways for first-generation and limited-income students, as well as veterans.

Ahead of their arrival on campus, more than 90 students new to Tech shared their hometowns and majors on the Office of Undergraduate Admission ( @gtadmission ) Instagram account.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Georgia Tech Admission (@gtadmission)

In addition to the first-year and transfer students joining the on-campus community, 1,601 students from 129 high schools across 38 counties will participate in Tech’s predominantly online dual enrollment programs for this current academic year. New this year will be a pilot online course for dual enrollment pre-calculus, offered to students in Clayton County Schools and Atlanta Public Schools. It was developed with the School of Mathematics ; the Center for Education Integrating Science, Math, and Computing ; and Georgia Tech Professional Education .  

Undergraduate Admission now turns its focus to recruiting the next class of Tech students. The first-year application cycle for the entering class of 2025 is now open, along with the Spring 2025 transfer application period. Undergraduate Admission will spend the coming months traveling to meet students, school officials, and community members. To learn more about Undergraduate Admission at Tech, visit the website .

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Georgia Tech on the upswing under Brent Key after one of darkest periods in program history

FILE - Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key looks on before an NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File)

FILE - Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King (10) passes the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File)

FILE - Georgia Tech running back Dontae Smith (4) is stopped by North Carolina linebacker Power Echols (23) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Georgia Tech running back Jamal Haynes smiles during the Atlantic Coast Conference NCAA college football media days, Monday, July 22, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

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ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia Tech program that was about as low as it could go is suddenly filled with optimism.

The Yellow Jackets are coming off their first winning season since 2018 and feel like they’re ready to push even higher under coach Brent Key.

The Yellow Jackets were a laughingstock under previous coach Geoff Collins , who talked a good game but was woefully unprepared to lead a major-conference team.

Those dark days are in the rearview mirror. While no one expects Georgia Tech to contend for national titles on a regular basis, this group has shown it can be competitive in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“We want to embrace these challenges that we have in front of us,” Key said. “Nothing’s easy. We don’t want it to be easy.”

Key’s impact

Heading into his second full season as coach, Key deserves credit for lifting the Yellow Jackets out of the abyss that was the Collins era.

The fiery coach has instilled a winning, edgy attitude in his players, which paid off a season ago with unlikely victories over North Carolina and Miami .

Georgia Tech was 10-28 in three-plus years under Collins , including a 7-19 mark in conference play. Since Key took over four games into the 2022 season, the Jackets are 11-10 overall and 9-6 in the ACC.

Good to be King

Haynes King returns at quarterback after a breakout season.

The transfer from Texas A&M threw for 2,842 yards with 27 touchdowns to go along with 737 yards rushing and 10 more TDs.

If there’s one thing King needs to work on, it’s being a bit more selective with his passes after getting picked off 16 times. But no one was complaining much after the Yellow Jackets averaged 31.1 points per game — their highest output in five years.

“He does everything you want him to do,” offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said. “We’ve got a lot of confidence in him and what he can do, and we just keep putting more and more on his plate.”

Offensive weapons

Faulkner received plenty of kudos for King’s development, which was hardly a one-man show.

Running back Jamal Haynes piled up 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, to go along with 20 receptions for 151 yards. Eric Singleton (48 catches, 714 yards, six TDs) and Malik Rutherford (46 catches, 502 yards, four TDs) were the top receivers. All are back.

“He’s got great players around him and he understands that,” Faulkner said of his quarterback. “He knows how to get them the ball and makes them look really good.”

Defensive shakeup

While the offense was a bright spot, Key was not pleased with a leaky defense that surrendered nearly 30 points a game, ranking 97th nationally.

Georgia Tech overhauled its staff on that side on the line, most notably bringing in Tyler Santucci from Duke as the new defensive coordinator. Under Santucci, the Blue Devils surrendered just 19 points a game to lead the ACC and rank 16th nationally.

He is expected to bring the same sort of results to Georgia Tech.

“That’s why I got hired,” Santucci said. “Stop people, create takeaways, get the ball back to the offense and don’t let them score touchdowns. That’s not pressure. That’s our job.”

The schedule

Georgia Tech faces a difficult slate of games, beginning with the Aug. 24 opener against No. 10 Florida State in Dublin, Ireland.

“It’s a great opportunity for Georgia Tech. for people to see the GT on a worldwide stage,” Key said.

The Yellow Jackets also host No. 7 Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons — on Oct. 19 and close the regular season at top-ranked Georgia on Nov. 29.

For good measure, there are back-to-back home games against No. 19 Miami (Nov. 9) and No. 24 N.C. State (Nov. 21), plus another tough road trip to Louisville (Sept. 21).

It’s the kind of schedule that could make it difficult for Key’s team to improve much on last year’s 7-6 mark, even if they continue their upward trajectory.

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll

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United States Files Suit Against the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia Tech Research Corporation Alleging Cybersecurity Violations

The United States joined a whistleblower suit and filed a complaint-in-intervention against the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Georgia Tech Research Corp. (GTRC) asserting claims that those defendants knowingly failed to meet cybersecurity requirements in connection with the Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. GTRC is an affiliate of Georgia Tech that contracts with government agencies for work to be performed at Georgia Tech. The whistleblower suit was initiated by current and former members of Georgia Tech’s Cybersecurity team.

“Government contractors that fail to fully implement required cybersecurity controls jeopardize the confidentiality of sensitive government information,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative was designed to identify such contractors and to hold them accountable.”

Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that until at least February 2020, the Astrolavos Lab at Georgia Tech failed to develop and implement a system security plan, which is required by DoD cybersecurity regulations, that set out the cybersecurity controls that Georgia Tech was required to put in place in the lab. Even when the Astrolavos Lab finally implemented a system security plan in February 2020, the lawsuit alleges that Georgia Tech failed to properly scope that plan to include all covered laptops, desktops, and servers.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges until December 2021, the Astrolavos lab failed to install, update or run anti-virus or anti-malware tools on desktops, laptops, servers and networks at the lab. Instead, Georgia Tech approved the lab’s refusal to install antivirus software — in violation of both federal cybersecurity requirements and Georgia Tech’s own policies — to satisfy the demands of the professor who headed the lab.

The lawsuit further alleges that in December 2020 Georgia Tech and GTRC submitted a false cybersecurity assessment score to DoD for the Georgia Tech campus. DoD requires contractors to submit summary level scores reflecting the status of their compliance with applicable cybersecurity requirements on covered contracting systems that are used to store or access covered defense information. The submission of this score was a “condition of contract award” for Georgia Tech’s DoD contracts. The lawsuit alleges that the summary level score of 98 for the Georgia Tech campus that Georgia Tech and GTRC reported to DoD in December 2020 was false because (1) Georgia Tech did not actually have a campus-wide IT system and (2) the score was for a “fictitious” or “virtual” environment and did not apply to any covered contracting system at Georgia Tech that could or would ever process, store or transmit covered defense information.

“Cybersecurity compliance by government contractors is critical in safeguarding U.S. information and systems against threats posed by malicious actors,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “For this reason, we expect contractors to abide by cybersecurity requirements in their contracts and grants, regardless of the size or type of the organization or the number of contracts involved. Our office will hold accountable those contractors who ignore cybersecurity rules.”

“Deficiencies in cybersecurity controls pose a significant threat not only to our national security, but also to the safety of the men and women of our armed services who risk their lives daily,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the DoD's Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “As force multipliers, we place a substantial amount of trust in our contractors and expect them to meet the strict standards our service members deserve.”

The whistleblower lawsuit was filed by Christopher Craig and Kyle Koza, who were previously senior members of Georgia Tech’s cybersecurity compliance team, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and to receive a share of any recovery. The act permits the United States to intervene and take over responsibility for litigating these cases, as it has done here. A defendant who violates the act is subject to liability for three times the government’s losses, plus applicable penalties.   

On Oct. 6, 2021, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced the department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative  to hold accountable entities or individuals that put U.S information or systems at risk by knowingly providing deficient cybersecurity products or services, knowingly misrepresenting their cybersecurity practices or protocols or knowingly violating obligations to monitor and report cybersecurity incidents and breaches. Information on how to report cyber fraud can be found  here .

Senior Trial Counsel Jake M. Shields of the Justice Department's Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. Nugent and Melanie D. Hendry for the Northern District of Georgia are handling the matter.

The case is captioned United States ex rel. Craig v. Georgia Tech Research Corp, et al. , No. 1:22-cv-02698 (N.D. Ga.). Investigative support is being provided by the DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigations and Air Force Material Command.

The claims alleged by the United States are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

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Network security —

After cybersecurity lab wouldn’t use av software, us accuses georgia tech of fraud, researchers allegedly found security protocols "burdensome.".

Nate Anderson - Aug 23, 2024 9:16 pm UTC

Dr. Emmanouil "Manos" Antonakakis runs a Georgia Tech cybersecurity lab and has attracted millions of dollars in the last few years from the US government for Department of Defense research projects like "Rhamnousia: Attributing Cyber Actors Through Tensor Decomposition and Novel Data Acquisition."

The government yesterday sued Georgia Tech in federal court, singling out Antonakakis and claiming that neither he nor Georgia Tech followed basic (and required) security protocols for years, knew they were not in compliance with such protocols, and then submitted invoices for their DoD projects anyway. (Read the complaint .) The government claims this is fraud:

At bottom, DoD paid for military technology that Defendants stored in an environment that was not secure from unauthorized disclosure, and Defendants failed to even monitor for breaches so that they and DoD could be alerted if information was compromised. What DoD received for its funds was of diminished or no value, not the benefit of its bargain.

Given the nature of his work for DoD, Antonakakis and his lab are required to abide by many sets of security rules, including those outlined in NIST Special Publication 800–171 , "Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Information Systems and Organizations."

One of the rules says that machines storing or accessing such "controlled unclassified information" need to have endpoint antivirus software installed. But according to the US government, Antonakakis really, really doesn't like putting AV detection software on his lab's machines.

Georgia Tech admins asked him to comply with the requirement, but according to an internal 2019 email, Antonakakis "wasn't receptive to such a suggestion." In a follow-up email, Antonakakis himself said that "endpoint [antivirus] agent is a nonstarter."

According to the government, "Other than Dr. Antonakakis’s opposition, there was nothing preventing the lab from running antivirus protection. Dr. Antonakakis simply did not want to run it."

The IT director for Antonakakis' lab was allowed to use other "mitigating measures" instead, such as relying on the school's firewall for additional security. The IT director said that he thought Georgia Tech ran antivirus scans from its network. However, this "assumption" turned out to be completely wrong; the school's network "has never provided" antivirus protection and, even if it had, the lab used laptops that were regularly taken outside the network perimeter.

The school realized after some time that the lab was not in compliance with the DoD contract rules, so an administrator decided to "suspend invoicing" on the lab's contracts so that the school would not be charged with filing false claims.

According to the government, "Within a few days of the invoicing for his contracts being suspended, Dr. Antonakakis relented on his years-long opposition to the installation of antivirus software in the Astrolavos Lab. Georgia Tech’s standard antivirus software was installed throughout the lab."

But, says the government, the school never acknowledged that it had been out of compliance for some time and that it had filed numerous invoices while noncompliant. In the government's telling, this is fraud.

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