The Georgia Institute of Technology

The Georgia Institute of Technology is (many others can attest to this) a bittersweet experience. I, during my first year there met many new and interesting people yet I can say that the overall quality of the academic program can be greatly improved. First off, to set things straight, GT is gonna to try to break you down both physically and mentally. The sheer volume of coursework and the unnecessarily difficult exams will be enough to send even the brightest students home before the 2nd semester of freshman year (see my roommate). And yes, there is no hiding the fact that there are WEEDOUT CLASSES, and obvious ones at that. Yes, CS1321 and physics 2211 are both classes intended to filter out the incapable, as I soon learned that lesson first hand. Yes the curriculum is an excellent one indeed, but this only fully experienced with the aid of some outstanding self study skills because the professor will give you NO help in learning the material. GT is a world renown as research institute and that comes first before worrying about whether a kid can correctly perform the Gram-Schmidt procedure. Get what Im saying??? You will work harder than you ever have before and you will encounter a great deal of anxiety, stress, and sometimes depression while at Tech. Yes you will continually be impaled by the shaft. But you must realize this is the institute intention. To build resilient and driven students who are determined to settle for nothing less than excellence. And I guarantee you it will payoff. You cannot let them get to you or else you will have a nervous breakdown. Despite Tech's shortcomings (see parking, the rude administration, the unhelpful and terribly unqualified faculty, the neverending construction, unreliable transportation, and abhorrent housing conditions), it offers one the ability to build character and mental toughness. If you can get through this hell hole you can get through anything!

1st Year Male -- Class 2006

Surrounding City: A+, Friendliness: F

I just finished my first year at tech, and I think I enjoyed my first year more than any of my friends from high school. Believe it or not. I just want to say that Tech really isn't the hell-hole that everyone says it is, even if the dorms and food are shitty. FASET is bullshit. Freshman experience is bullshit. Live on East campus. BE IN A FRATERNITY OR SORORITY. Greek life on campus is huge. You will party every night of the week if you so desire if you are greek. You will be busy 24 hours of the day. You will learn to love sleep. You will learn how to go to class with a hangover and still learn. CO-OP, it is a great program and will get you a good job, I had interviews with NASA, Boeing, Delta etc. this semester. How pimp would it be to come back the summer after your freshman year and tell your HS friends that you are working for NASA in the fall... You will go to school for at least 5 years, and that is for a bachelor's degree. If you are not an engineering major, or don't want to be, don't come to this school, you have no business here and will be ridiculed about your major beyond belief (unacceptable majors include: STaC, MGT, INTA and sometimes IE aka imaginary engineering)

1st Year Male -- Class 2006

Education Quality: A-, Perceived Campus Safety: D+