Hi, could anyone please let me know more about the Grand Challenges Living Community currently? I would like to know if if the housing in Howell is more appealing than other East Campus housing, what types of students migrate to this community and how the resources supplied to GC may differ from other communities. Thank you.
Grand Challenges has gotten to be a larger and popular program at GaTech. The freshman dorms are all about the same, though, so I would not pick it based on Howell. To enroll in Grand Challenges, you need to want to work with a team of freshman and take time working on a problem that is social science related, although a few problems may be related to the environment, water cleanliness, or other world problems. Grand Challenges is a good social group to be part of, but its not really necessary to find friends and in fact it will get in the way of working on a technical project, which some advanced freshman are ready for, so a research project say in the second semester of freshman year. There may be some social advantages to being part of Grand Challenges in that you may meet more mentors and administrators. However, I would not let the freshman dorm you get or Grand Challenges dorm influence your decision to attend GaTech or another program.
Instead, compare the academics, recreation, research options and price per school. (Grand Challenges will cost extra every semester as well to be part of that )
The freshman dorm experience is a nine month experience, and all rooms across the USA are about the same: Doubles with two beds, two desks and some washers and driers in a basement. You will not be the room much, given the great weather, the pool, recreation facilities, the clubs and greater Atlanta, all for you to explore. You will make friends at Tech if you do not join Grand Challenges. Grand Challenges and its project requirements may
add some unnecessary stress as well, for some students. It will take time away from your pure social and fun time
to say join a fraternity or sorority, play a sport, learn rock climbing or join a robotics club, if you are tied down with Grand Challenges.
Also, you can apply to and get into Engineering Honors after freshman year at GaTech. Honors students can live at Cresine Hall for sophomore, junior and senior year, a nice new west side suite style building near the swimming pool and Rec center.
The east side is a bit more noisy due to football games in the fall. The east side is closer to Tech Square, but
you can get a bus from the west side to get over to Tech square, or its a nice walk as well. Food shopping is over
near Tech Square at Publix for later years, when you have a suite or live off campus.