Advice to GT Freshmen...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgia Institute of Technology
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<p>Congrats to those accepted, this is something to be proud of.</p>

<p>You are about to enter a great university and a new chapter in life, probably one of the best (hopefully). When mom and dad drive off and you turn around to look at your new home its quite a good feeling. You really won't know what to do first.</p>

<p>That being said let me present one of the absolute worst things about Georgia Tech (from a 3rd year math major's point of view). I love it here and appreicate (almost) every moment but the worst and most annoying and frustrating things at Tech isn't in class, during finals week, at Brittain, or even when the football team ends another lack luster year. The worst thing about this place is the constant, unending, whiney a$$ people you will run into far too often.</p>

<p>There are people here that for some reason thought this school was just some walk in the park, lounge around for a few years and get handed a degree. They will complain, make exuses and talk all the time about how they were somewhere else. God I wish they were.</p>

<p>Granted this school is hard, very hard. Often frustrating and upsetting. Atlanta can seem pretty mean sometimes. Your first Physics, Calc and other "weed out" classes (ECE2025 to all you EE's) will test every sleepless nerve in your body. Don't turn into one of these people! Work hard and do well, if thats not enough and you get a B (or even a C) its not the end of the world! You come here for an education and that is exactly what you get. To quote B.F. Skinner "Education is what remains after what was learned has been forgotten". </p>

<p>When I finished ECE2025 with an 89.2 (still a f'n B) I was quite frustrated. I spend 20 hours per week in lab and studying. I went to the professor distraught and beaten. I expressed my concerns. We talked a bit about the class and I suddenly realised how much I really had learned in that course, how much more I knew about a subject that I knew nothing about before. He invited me to join a reseach/discussion group with him for the next semester. I did and I enjoyed it very much and met some great, very smart people. He still didn't give me the A :(</p>

<p>To those who want it Georgia Tech offers a great education and a great college experience. To often however students turn bitter and get neither. Make the best of your years here. Make friends, talk to people, leave your dorm door open, be hospitable. There are plenty of people who want just the same thing you do. If the jackass across the hall just plays Halo all day and never smiles try the guy next to you.</p>

<p>To the gentlemen: The best way to beat the ratio? Get out of your dorm. There are plenty of women around campus and generally you don't notice (except in some classes). I know a girl who actually complains that guys aren't available (and shes pretty attractive)! There are plenty of beautiful young women here, just get out there!</p>

<p>To the ladies: We love you.</p>

<p>GT is what you make it, just don't let them get you down. There are great profs here and most love hearing from students. Talk to them, they will help you and listen. This is a bit harder in the bigger first year courses but after your second year its all smaller classes.</p>

<p>The first two are the worst. After those the courses are a bit less demanding and you are used to it. </p>

<p>Have a good time, get out on the weekends, Atlanta has plenty to offer and its all a subway ride or cab ride away. Cafe Intermezzo on Peachtree and 28th (about $5 cab fare from Arts Center Station) is a great place a few miles off campus to relax and have a coffee/tea/beer/wine or food late at night.</p>

<p>Smile and enjoy it, the weather is usually not bad. The rec here is nice and brand new, student center has stuff to do and our basketball team has sellout championship seasons. Give this rising senior some smiling faces for his last year...</p>

<p>The day of your last final, after weeks of intense studying you will look back and realise how far you have come and it will all be worth it. Its a great feeling. Then go drink until you can't feel feelings anymore.</p>

<p>Just kidding..... or am I?</p>

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<p>Thanks for writing the best post on the Georgia Tech board.</p>

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<p>gt06, these "weed out" classes, they can be placed out of w/ AP exams right?</p>

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<p>I have a naive question: What makes GT so much harder than other schools? I've always heard horror stories such as weed out classes and tough classes. Do you think that other schools such as MIT, Duke, or Emory students have the same experience? (Or even harder) Why or why not? I'm not trying to shy away from the hard work but just trying to get my view straight. I have been accepted to GT and am still trying to decide where to go.</p>

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<p>Squirrel, not all of the weedout classes can be placed out of. CalcII and PhysII are some of the notorious beasts. It also depends on your prof for some of those classes. For calcII, the only way you can exempt out of it is if you take a placement test at orientation. BC Calc wont do it for you. I think the same is w/physics but im not 100% sure.</p>

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<p>You won't be able to get rid of all the weedout classes with AP. Calc 1 and maybe some Chem/Physics if you have a 4 or 5. I've heard a lot of people who exepmted Calc 1 and died in Calc 2. I didn't think it was so bad but a lot of people say to take Calc 1 anyway. Guess it depends on how good you are at Calc 1 (without the TI89).</p>

<p>As far as how hard Tech is compared to other schools is a tough question. As far as places like Emory and Duke go for example I think (this is simply my opinion) is that because GT is all engineering (basically) no matter what you have a hard ass major that require a lot of work. Not that non-engineering majors are "easy" but its a different kind of work. </p>

<p>My friends at MIT work a lot too, the kids there don't complain about it as much as they do at GT.</p>

<p>Mardi Gras '05 was awesome.</p>

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<p>gt06, I know this is an old thread... but here are some open questions.</p>

<p>1) Do you ever wish you went to college some where else? If so, where?</p>

<p>2) The students who get "weeded out", where do they go? Other majors? or do they leave Tech?</p>

<p>3) Do you feel Tech admits a lot of students who aren't capable of doing the work? or willing to do the work?</p>

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<p>...just found this comment on studentsreview.com Jan 24 2003 relating to #3:

[quote]
Unlike most schools that accept only students who have the potential to succeed at their school, GT accepts everyone. All too often I saw kids there that could have spent their time better at a Junior College growing up a little and preparing. However, since education is free for Georgia residents who receive a 3.5 or higher in high school, many kids simply remain at GT for 6 or more years. An 8 year undergrad with no degree is much more common then it should be anywhere.

[/quote]
Does this sound accurate?</p>

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<p>Lets see... to answer your above questions:</p>

<p>1) Do you ever wish you went to college some where else? If so, where?</p>

<p>Sometimes I think it but I know its good I'm here. Tech is hard. Bottom line. I strongly believe that students here work much harder than the people I know who go to most other schools. There are no 'easy' classes. A friend of mine at Cornell is taking "Tree Climbing". Yes a real class. Nothing like that here. Nothing is easy, and nothing is free. Students here work harder and get lower grades for their efforts. Average GPA at Princeton: 3.44, Average GPA at GT: 2.76. That doesn't mean Princeton students are smarter, it means the grades are skewed and inflated way too high.</p>

<p>I'm glad I came here because I truely got an education, but I didn't really realize or apreciate it until near the end of my 2nd year. I came to love my major and I have a great work ethic, much more so than when I entered. I am confident in my strengths and aware of my weaknesses. I can prioritize, organize, and plan even with A LOT on my plate. I'm quite pleased in the academics and people who get a degree here earn it. </p>

<p>So yes, I'm happy I came but it wasn't always like that. You have to really want an education and be ready to work for it.</p>

<p>I did think that life would be easier, and perhaps funner if I went to Cornell, NYU, Northwestern, etc but I doubt I'd be as prepared as I am now.</p>

<p>2) The students who get "weeded out", where do they go? Other majors? or do they leave Tech?</p>

<p>They either transfer out, get kicked out, or switch to Management. You'll meet a lot of people who came here in COE and are now Management majors.</p>

<p>3) Do you feel Tech admits a lot of students who aren't capable of doing the work? or willing to do the work?</p>

<p>If either its the latter. Most people here are smart, quite smart but there are the exceptions. Tech admits people who did well in HS, most with minimal effort. Now they are at a place with lots and lots of demands and A's are not handed out without a fight. I think most everyone here is capable of doing the work, some are more prepared than others. I talk to too many people who lack the brain capacity to do it but they do exist. Not for long however.</p>

<p>As far as the quote goes:</p>

<p>Its a crock of **** in my opinion. First off, as far as I know Georgia residents have a strict number of hours which are free, usually about 4.</p>

<p>Secondly, if you need a place to grow up this is the place to come. You are surrounded by hard working people who dilligently work and have set goals. Naturally you will be motivated by this.</p>

<p>As far as people taking long on degrees that is true, but not necesarily because they are failing, dropping, slacking etc. </p>

<p>First off a lot of people change their major, either to sciences, other engineerings, etc. Add a year for that. A lot of students co-op (work at a company related to you field) as well where you go to school a semester/work a semester etc. Another year. Double majors are also common.</p>

<p>Some students just take more time on their degrees, by choice. Some classes, say ECE2025 or CS2335 take a lot of time but are also integral to doing well in your major. I've heard of many students just taking these "sophmore weed out" courses with only 1-2 other classes.</p>

<p>8 years undergrads do exist and some because they aren't cutting it but its not too common. Its exciting when you do meet them. Good stories.</p>

<p>But overall no Tech doesn't admit student who can't do the work. The people who don't make it, I'd say a majority just wouldn't do the work.</p>

<p>Good Luck.</p>

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<p>Wow, you can't say **** on this board.</p>

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<p>Hi, my daughter was accpeted to GIT for fall 2006. What were the largest class sizes you experienced? What should I make of all the negative comments I have read here and on studentsreview.com? I am somewhat concerned about the average GIT GPA and how that could impact chances for graduate school scholarships.</p>

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<p>Okay, it's a 3.0 average that is required for free TUITION, not all around college, for one. Two, GA won't let you complete more than 127 credit hours (with few exceptions in certain majors), so if you want to double major, it's coming out of your pocket. So, 8 year undergrads aren't as common as that quote makes it out to be.</p>

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<p>all of the comments on students review are negative.. -_-</p>

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<p>I think the comments on studentsreview are very one sided. I disagree with them and most of the people I know would probably too.</p>

<p>This school is very different from most in a lot of ways, mainly due to the fact that it is primarily an engineering school (i.e. everyone is smart as hell and works hard).</p>

<p>I wouldn't put much stock in the reviews there. </p>

<p>As far as GPA is concerned you do earn it a bit more than others, but in general graduate schools know this. The good ones at least. I got in to a graduate program at an ivy league school and my GPA was definately lower than the average. I wouldn't put all your stock in to that, but its known which schools are nicer than others.</p>

<p>A 3.0 is required for tuition and fees plus $150 books for GA residents. They capped how much they pay for fees a year or so ago so the $150 becomes about $80 credit for you.</p>

<p>8 year undergrads are rare but they exist and not always because they are slackers. Some are double majors, co-ops, even both. There are some slacker 8 years and we love them. I finished in four years taking summer classes once. Most majors are more than 127. However compare the price tag here to that of most other schools and its a decent deal.</p>

<p>For the best 'review' come to campus (before finals week) and see for yourself. Talk to professors if you can and see if they can find you a student you can talk to.</p>

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<p>Thanks GT06. We visited recently during CWT. My daughter said some of the students passing by their tour group told them to not go there whcih prompted her tour leaders to call them losers. </p>

<p>She's from out of state so the HOPE scholarship requirements are not applicable.</p>

<p>How is the safety of students there?</p>

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<p>My guess would be the guys who said that won't be there by the time your daughter does. </p>

<p>There are a good group of people at tech who have nothing better to do than complain and whine. So much so that they fail out. Ironic.</p>

<p>In my opinion GT itself is pretty safe. I've not once felt uncomfortable on campus or even off campus day or night. There is the dreaded 3rd st tunnel which people will tell you is unsafe but I use it daily and never have any problems.</p>

<p>The notion of GT being unsafe probably comes from the fact that it is indeed in downtown Atlanta and you will see some homeless people around (but rarely on) campus. They will sometimes ask for change or give you a sob story. Thats really the worst and its more annoying than anything.</p>

<p>Campus police as well as APD are out often.</p>

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<p>I'm not a student of Tech by any means, but I know enough people there and I've spent enough nights and hours on campus to know that GT's "no social life" belief is nothing more than a myth.</p>

<p>There's a pretty strong social life that exists way beyond just studying for classes- the only thing is that you have to find it and get yourself involved. A sibling attends Georgia State, a liberal arts school 1 miles from GT, and her social life is just as fulfilling as the average Tech students. Her close male friend goes to...you guessed it...Georgia Tech. And it seems to be quite frequent that Techies cross North Avenue and look for friends in GSU.</p>

<p>The dorms (I've been in the West Campus suites and Freshman experience dorm)... WC suites are amazing. Living room, Kitchen, medium size bedroom, private baths, and everything you could imagine in your home right now. The FE (and Freshman dorms overall) are pretty small, and everyone I know has opted to loft their bed for more space. But they're not uncouth or filthy by any means. There's enough space for two people to study if thats what BOTH people are doing. If one person is studying and the other wants to watch TV, someone is gonna have to move for a few hours. The bathrooms and shower areas aren't bad, but if you're used to extraordinarily high levels of hygiene, un-get used to them [sic].</p>

<p>As much as I don't like the South (even though I've lived here for 10 years), Atlanta is amazing in its own right. There's plenty of arts, music, parks, museums, and events to keep you busy. I've lived in Atlanta for over a decade and there are parts of town I've never visited. It's no New York City, but it's not North Dakota (No offence to anyone from ND!).</p>

<p>Tech is pretty safe- like gt06, I've never felt particularly uncomfortable. The Stinger Shuttle comes to pick students up after dark and drops them off in front of their dorm if requested- for free. There are plenty of call boxes, and while crime is a given fact of any major city, Tech is very safe. Several female friends have no qualms about spending a night out in downtown if thats an indcation of safety. </p>

<p>A word of caution however: Parts of Atlanta, particularly South Atlanta (MILES from Tech...not walking distance at all!) are pretty shoddy. And I've seen stop signs in Midtown with some bullet holes, though they too are off campus.</p>

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<p>I've recently been accepted, and until tonight was very much looking forward to Tech, but tonight I stumbled across <a href="http://www.geocities.com/gtsux2002/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.geocities.com/gtsux2002/&lt;/a> and <a href="http://www.studentsreview.com/GA/GT_c.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.studentsreview.com/GA/GT_c.html&lt;/a> (as mentioned above). Yikes. It's got me really worried. I know you've already addressed some of what they say, but how much, if any, of it's true? Bad food and dorms, construction, distant profs? Has their Academic Honor Code (<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A58274-2002Apr16&notFound=true%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A58274-2002Apr16&notFound=true&lt;/a&gt;) thing changed to be less absurd? I haven't been able to find anything about it. All of this was dated a few years ago--maybe things have changed (if indeed they were that bad).</p>

<p>Sorry to ramble, but my once no-doubt decision for GT has become very shakey. Say it ain't so.</p>

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<p>I have a daughter that goes to Tech so I've been on campus a few times and have heard some stories and even thought I didn't attend Tech, that geocities site was funny...really funny and is a must read site for those considering Tech. Forewarned is forearmned.</p>

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<p>mvljog440- What does your daughter think of GIT? What is her major?</p>