The Georgia Institute of Technology

Date: May 06 2009
Major: Aerospace Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
Background:

High School

GPA 4.0 (unweighted) SAT 1350 ACT 30, played sports and was in all the clubs

Georgia Tech

GPA 3.8+, cooped 4 semesters, have a job after graduating this past May, was in Band including the marching band that went to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2008.

Academics:

Engineering: Your classes will be difficult but if you stay with the work you'll most likely develop your own system of learning the material. At Tech, the education is grounded on theoretical understanding THEN it's subsequent application (just a word of warning).

Non-Engineering: +If you're female…tends to be a lot of "MRS" Degrees, not saying that's right or wrong but that's the tendency +If you're male…do management because it's gaining in reputation even though the work load is ridiculously less strenuous or challenging.(Hint if you want to go Greek) +We have the largest non-Mandatory co-op program anywhere. Co-oping gives real world experience that is important to young engineers and Tech will HELP set that up for you…if you choose to go that option.

Student Life +General Student Population: Over achiever male (or nerdy female) that now has to cope with being average. Have you seen the show "Big Bang Theory"? Then you've seen the typical Tech student.

>That being said it's relatively easy to stand out as someone who is "cool".

+Females: Although there are less females, my biggest issue is that there are not enough in the REAL Tech majors (computer science and engineering) [Note: this is an issue nationally and is being addressed by women advocacy groups] +Greek: Unnecessary and overrated. If you absolutely have that much difficulty finding friends and members of the opposite sex than go for it. There are big positives and negatives, but it's not necessary. +SGA can be a pretty crazy place. Participate at your own risk. +If you EVER played an instrument join the band. You'll get involved with campus events and Tech traditions without having to pony up the fees for other clubs or organizations.

Athletics: +WIDE assortment to view and participate in (IM and club sports) +Athletes are cool and approachable (but stay away from the swimmers, the chlorine has made them a little crazy) +Campus Recreation Center is top notch +Don't be surprised when you see foreign students in the library during football games.

Safety: +This IS Atlanta. Campus is relatively safe with police patrols and emergency alert towers but plan accordingly +You WILL find yourself having to travel across campus at the middle of the night. Plan accordingly.

Administration: +Just got a new group in with "Bud" Peterson from Colorado so there's no telling what his future policies will be. +Stange things tend to pop up on campus: Examples include…

GTCOW (GT Coming Out Week) where the LGBT community embraces those who make the decision to publicly proclaim the sexual orientation

Anti abortion days where people from some organizations come and put giant pictures of baby fetuses to raise awareness of how developed an aborted fetus appears.

The Great Porn Debate with Ron Jeremy…

+Basically if you have a stance on issues, the Institute is very good at allowing differing view points to be presented for debate and consideration.

Summary

There is no comparison for engineering in the Southeast. The education is difficult but doable if you apply yourself. There's just enough time for the typical student to complete their coursework and participate in one or two extra curricular activities…moral of the story, choose wisely.