<p>Georgia Tech’s engineering departments, college of computing, etc are pretty much all top ten. If your son surely wants to do engineering, GT is the place to be. However, the GT environment isn’t for everyone… it’s a gut decision that your son will have to make. In terms of engineering education, GT is up there.</p>
<p>Research availability depends on the field. In the lab sciences (chem, bio, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, etc.) it’s very easy to find research - there are always more positions than undergrads, so your son should have no problem. In the analytical fields (psychics, industrial engineering, business, political science, history, etc.), research is more difficult to come by. </p>
<p>In the lab fields, the faculty usually use you as a lab assistant for a semester or two, then let you start actually contributing to research. In the analytic fields, there’s no way to “break in” to a lab, so you have to build relationships in class, show an aptitude, etc. That is, unless he does a 5 year BS/MS, in which case he’ll be fine in any field.</p>
<p>As a chemical engineer, he’ll be fine. In computer science, it get’s a little more difficult.</p>
<p>I guess you almost will have to have a car to do intern or co-op ? </p>
<p>I will not have a car for first two years so I guess I will not worry about either.</p>
<p>Usually, you do need a car, but sometimes you can get around it. I worked with a guy who didn’t have a car. We got an apartment together and he rode in my car to and from work. He paid for gas.</p>
<p>Another option is to intern in a city with good public transportation (Boston, NY, DC, SF, Chicago, etc). Though, that’s hard to do with some majors.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, though, you’re going to make $15,000 (probably about $12,000 after taxes per semester, or $48,000 over 4 co-ops). Just take $2000 and buy an older used Civic or BMW. It will get you from point A to point B, and you’ll be able to sell it back for $1000 - $1500.</p>
<p>" GP. You went to georgia tech? and you said you went to a better school than i did?" </p>
<p>where did you go to school?</p>
<p>To understand his comment (and all you need to know about this poster), see here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/672292-miami-purdue-ohio-u-osu.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/672292-miami-purdue-ohio-u-osu.html</a></p>
<p>GP, in regards to internships/coops, there is a possibility my son will have an opportunity for one this summer through two different sources - both excellent if they should occur. He will be a new freshman the Fall of 2009 and of course has not taken any univ. classes through GT. </p>
<p>Is there a possibility he could get approval for a summer internship/coop for this summer through Georgia Tech even though he hasn’t signed up for any courses thus far? If yes, how should he go about getting approval?</p>
<p>I’ve actually hired students like that before. I’ll meet them at a PS interview, then hire them as an intern before freshman year when I’m hiring my students at Tech.</p>
<p>He doesn’t need approval for an internship. His resume is where his internship is listed and is what employers consider. The Department of Professional Practice can put a 12-hour Audit Course (no grade, no credit, it just shows him as enrolled) on his transcript, but that’s not really important. </p>
<p>The only time he needs those 12 hours of Audit is if he’s going to be out of school for 2 consecutive semesters (i.e. Spring internship then not going to school in the Summer, or a Fall/Spring 10 month internship). If this happens and he doesn’t have the 12-hours of Audit on his record, Tech might list him as an “inactive student”. This would take his student loans out of deferral and a hold would be placed on his registration. </p>
<p>If you want them to approve the summer job as a co-op term (for the purpose of getting a notation on his diploma - which adds no value, in my opinion), he’ll want to contact The Division of Professional Practice: [Georgia</a> Tech :: Division of Professional Practice](<a href=“http://www.profpractice.gatech.edu/]Georgia”>http://www.profpractice.gatech.edu/) I doubt they’ll approve it, though, since he’s not technically enrolled in school until August.</p>
<p>–
I just looked over the FAQ for the Department of Professional Practice to check on that 2-semester issue (and it is correct above) - their information is very misleading. I need to contact them.</p>
<p>For example, they say that a co-op student usually makes more money at graduation. That’s only true if you compare a co-op to someone with no work experience. There’s no difference between a 3-semester co-op and a 3-semester intern. </p>
<p>They also mention that you have to pay student fees while interning. That’s also not true. You CAN pay student fees if you’re interning in Atlanta and want to use GT facilities (i.e. the gym and athletic tickets), but you’re not required to do so.</p>
<p>Thanks GT for responding so quickly. I definitely appreciate all the “insider” info.</p>