<p>Hi! Right now I'm an out of state sophomore studying chemistry and minoring in material science engineering. I came to Tech straight from high school and I feel it might be helpful if you guys were able to ask questions to a Georgia Tech student directly, whether it be about classes, campus life, or anything in general. Feel free to post any questions and I'll do my best to answer them!</p>
<p>WHat makes tech unique to you? what has been the greatest inspiration so far?</p>
<p>Tech is definitely unique when compared to other schools. The biggest difference would have to be the culture. We’re known to be a rather geeky school and that is true to fullest extent. The geekiness also causes us to have a different mindset. We all enjoy the home football or basketball games but at the same party there is usually some sort of LAN party going on around campus. We are also quite diverse, have tons of people from all around the world studying here.</p>
<p>Another thing that I find unique about Tech is how it is up to you succeed. If you are focused and motivated, Tech is great due to the numerous lab jobs, research positions, etc. The college is more a sink or swim place where you have to hit the ground running. </p>
<p>Greatest inspiration? I would have to say seeing all the awesome projects my friends get make in either their classes or their actual jobs with a company or lab.</p>
<p>I am trying to decide between Tech and Auburn. Can you offer any insight on what it is like to go to Georgia Tech compared to what you may know about attending a state university for a major in engineering? Thanks</p>
<p>You won’t have nearly the same opportunities coming out of Auburn compared to GT. Auburn attracts more local companies looking for lower-cost employees. GT attracts the national and international companies looking for top talent. The average starting salaries typically run $20,000 to $30,000 per year different when comparing a 3.0+ GT student and a 3.0+ Auburn student. </p>
<p>In addition, the schools have very different internship/co-op opportunities. Tech students typically work 3 to 5 semesters while earning their degree and earn $12,000 or so per semester they work. Auburn students do not have those opportunities.</p>
<p>Graduate school opportunities and professional school opportunities will be very different coming out of the two schools, as well.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, BanjoHitter. You mentioned that most tech students work 3 to 5 semesters in the co-op program. I plan to do the co-op program in college… mostly for the work experience but also for funds to offset part of the costs. I understand that 3 semesters of co-op work are required. Why do you feels students work an additional 2 semesters?</p>
<p>The Co-op program used to require 5 semesters of work experience. The move to 3 is a recent change.</p>
<p>Also, about half of Tech’s students graduate in 4 years and the other half graduate in 5 years. If you graduate in 4 years, interning only 3 semesters makes sense (If you start in the Fall and graduate in the Spring, that’s 11 semesters: 8 in school, 3 working). However, if you’re on the “5 year plan”, you’ll have time to take a 4th co-op semester (start in Fall and graduate in Spring means you’d have 14 semesters: 10 in school and 4 working). </p>
<p>And before you ask, Tech does not require 5 years. Every major can be completed in 4 years. The people who take 5 years are the ones who switch majors repeatedly, fail or withdraw from classes, don’t take full course loads every semester, or are in a joint BS/MS program. Also, students who are in a 3/2 program with another university take 5 years, but obviously only part of that is at Tech.</p>
<p>I have heard that Tech is tough academically. On average, how many hours a day are you in class, how many hours a day are you studying outside of class, and how much free time do you have? What are some of the things that a typical Tech student does in their free time?</p>
<p>You’ll be in class the same number of hours regardless of school. If you register for a 15 credits, you’ll be in class for 15 hours / week as 1 credit = 1 hour/week of lecture. The exception are labs and recitations which are 1 credit = 3 hours/week of lab or recitation time. That’s standard at any school.</p>
<p>As far as studying, Tech students like to scare other people by talking about how many hours they spend in class and how hard the classes are - they’re really not that bad and you don’t spend that many hours studying. Tech does a good job now of only admitting students that have proven the ability to succeed at Tech.</p>
<p>As far as what people do on campus, that’s entirely up to you. You can browse official campus organizations here: [Georgia</a> Tech - Organizations](<a href=“http://jacketpages.gatech.edu/organizations]Georgia”>JacketPages | Organizations) and you can view sports clubs here: [Georgia</a> Institute of Technology :: Campus Recreation Center :: Sport Clubs](<a href=“http://www.crc.gatech.edu/sportclubs/plugins/content/index.php?id=11]Georgia”>http://www.crc.gatech.edu/sportclubs/plugins/content/index.php?id=11)</p>
<p>hi i have a question abt the current campus conditions. i live off campus and commute. my classes were canceled (they were labs/rec) today. im scared to come there tomorrow because of the crazy conditions due to the snow. should i bother coming or no, as far as road conditions are concerned? i also have quite a walking distance between classes and i was wondering if the side walks are cleared pretty well and if its safe to walk across campus…most of my classes are mainly around howey physics building and management square, so are conditions around that area good? thanks</p>
<p>In terms of credit hours and extra time studying, it really depends. For example, the gen chem class has three 1 hour lectures and a three hour lab. So while the class is worth 4 credits, you spend about 6 in class/lab. Lab classes are more time consuming because you have the regular class along with the lab. I usually take about 14-16 credits a semester and I usually study about 10-20 hours a week, more if I have tests coming up. Usually your tests are pretty close to each other so you’ll have a few down weeks then one week where you study a lot. Right now I have a 4.0 and I work part time in a lab too plus I still hang out with my friends. Its really all about time management. Just make sure you keep up with your work and you’ll be fine. Since mostly everyone at Tech has a similar mindset (in terms of studying/academics), you should have no problem finding a good study group.</p>
<p>Zoospore: Tech is actually pretty clear. The streets are mostly clear and the sidewalks, though a bit icey, are fine. I would definitely come tomorrow because since we missed two almost a week of school, the professors will be teaching at a faster pace. Just be careful and it will be ok. Plus it will be in the 40’s tomorrow so it will start to melt things faster.</p>
<p>Hi Banjohitter. You mentioned that Auburn students don’t have the co -op opportunities that you would have at Georgia Tech. I suspected that was the case but did not have facts to support that - Could you elaborate on that - however when you visit Auburn (or another rural state college for engineering, ie Clemson - I don’t mean to downgrade Auburn) they tell you that they have a great co-op program. What do you think about this and do you have friends in engineering in state schools in rural locations that have told you about their experiences in co-op? And thank you for answering my questions. This really helps.</p>
<p>Hello!</p>
<p>I’m in the process of trying to transfer to GATech for a second degree in IE. Whether that happens this fall or next spring…</p>
<p>But… how do the prospects look for holding down a part-time or even full-time job while studying at Tech? I did it at Georgia State just down the street… but I’m sort of concerned about my ability to afford a living while a Tech student.</p>
<p>Also, do you know any anything about the IE department? What’s it like… the students and professors?</p>
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<p>You won’t find many facts. There’s a reason that Georgia Tech posts things like starting salaries, % employed at graduation, companies that recruit, etc. and Auburn does not. </p>
<p>As far as the companies that come to Auburn, you’ll see a few (but not all) of the big name companies, but those companies do not “target” Auburn, meaning that you have to be the best of the best - someone with a reference from the president of the university and a near perfect GPA - before you’ll be hired. Whereas those same companies come to Tech with positions to fill. </p>
<p>Similarly, Auburn is primarily recruited by smaller companies and rural plants in Georgia. The President of UGA said it well when he made his case to add an engineering program at UGA. When asked if his program will compete with Georgia Tech, he said that there are two types of engineering needs in Georgia: a need for high-paying, highly skilled engineers and a need for low cost engineers. Georgia Tech fills the need for the highly skilled engineers. Clemson, Alabama, USC, and Auburn fill the need for low cost engineers. UGA would be Georgia’s representative in the second group, and not the first. I think that argument can be extended from just Georgia to the entire Southeast. </p>
<p>The schools are just… different. Think of it this way: Auburn’s engineering program is like a Honda. It’s a nice car that runs well. Most people are happy with a brand new Honda. On the other hand, Georgia Tech’s engineering program is like a Mercedes. </p>
<p>Employers are much like people that go to buy cars. Someone that walks into a Honda dealership is primarily concerned with price. They want the best car they can get for the lowest price. Whereas people that walk into a Mercedes dealership aren’t so concerned with price. They’re more concerned about the performance and quality of the vehicle (well, and the prestige). Someone might go to both dealerships (buy a Honda and buy a Mercedes), but what is he going to do with those cars? The Honda will be the every-day commuter car, while the Mercedes is the fun car that goes to go do all the fun things.</p>
<p>Someone at Auburn might be quick to point out that an ABET accredited engineering degree is an ABET accredited engineering degree where ever you go. That’s like saying that a car is a car, regardless of whether it’s a Honda or a Mercedes. Or that Harvard and Southern Vermont College are equal because they’re accredited by the same board.</p>
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<p>Of course they tell you that. They’re selling the university. And why is comparing Auburn to Clemson a downgrade? They’re comparable. Numbers 70 and 76 in the US News Rankings. GT is 4.</p>
<p>Hi Absane, </p>
<p>I find working while going to school not that difficult as well, though I only work about 10-15 hours a week. I would not recommend working full time though because GT itself is basically a full time job. There are many jobs on campus that pay pretty well, especially in the labs where you can make about 10/hr. I don’t know much about our IE program, other than the fact its number 1 in the country. Some of my friends are IE and they enjoy it. I haven’t really heard any complaints from them either about the teachers, other than the occasional rant about a hard test :P.</p>
<p>How is the Management program at Tech? I know all about the rankings, but I want the opinion of the students as well. How are the job prospects/internships for bschool students? I’m not looking for a job on Wall Street or anything like that. Harsh curves? I know a lot of bschools implement harsh curves, which I would like to avoid if possible. Thanks!</p>
<p>Job prospects, despite the economy, are pretty strong for Tech management graduates. 67% have an offer by the time they graduate and the median salary is $50,000. Top students with a couple of internships under their belt often receive multiple offers with salaries that can approach $80,000. Tech is very good about preparing students for the job market through its internship and co-op programs, and 100% of management graduates have career-related work experience. Additionally, the new BSBA degree that is replacing the Management degree requires a concentration and 15 hours of career development, so it is very feasible that with the new changes and future improvement in the economy these numbers will rise by the time of your graduation. </p>
<p>Tech has no mandated curves, although professors are generally discouraged from giving too many high or low grades. In general, lower level management classes give 30-50% A’s while upper level classes tend to give about 20-30% A’s. However, there are disparities between individual professors and classes. You can look up grade distributions at [SGA</a> Course Critique | Welcome to Course Critique!](<a href=“http://www.sga.gatech.edu/critique/index.php]SGA”>http://www.sga.gatech.edu/critique/index.php) Grades are based strictly on performance, so if you get a 90 in a class and the syllabus says a 90 is an A, then you make an A. You are not going to be curved down because of your percentile rank in the class, like you might at some business schools. In some cases, a professor will curve up to give a more appropriate grade distribution, but you should never assume this will occur, and this is generally more prevalent in introductory math and science courses, rather than management courses. To give you an idea of where you need to be at academically to be more competitive for jobs, a 3.12 GPA would currently put you at the top 35% mark in your class. That GPA is VERY doable.</p>
<p>What are the policies / procedures involved with student parking at GT?</p>
<p>Any student can purchase a permit to park on campus. However, parking permits run about $600/year. There are some free parking locations, but they are off campus and require a long walk to reach.</p>
<p>What is your impression on the amount of crime in and around GA Tech? DS has been admitted but I am very concerned about reports of armed robberies. How bad is it?</p>