I’ve been accepted to both GT for Industrial Engineering and Emory, and with deposits due within less than a week I’m torn between the two schools! (even after reading almost every forum I could find on here) IE at Tech is world class, but so is business at Emory. My eventual goal is to get into consulting or a related business field, does anyone here advocate for one route over the other? Emory business vs GT industrial engineering? People on here have suggested that the job market is saturated with business majors and engineering is a better route, but I’m not the stereotypical “Techie” or math whiz that goes to GT. My math skills are very normal and I’m a pretty social guy. Also, I’d like to eventually get an MBA so I’m worried that the mythical grade deflation at GT (average GPA in the COE is 3.12 http://factbook.gatech.edu/academic-information/distribution-of-grades-table-5-13/) will prevent any immediate hopes of grad school. Any advice that would help decide between the two schools or the decision between business administration and IE would be greatly appreciated!
Post your questions on gatech’s reddit. Although this is finals week the students over there might be able to answer your questions.
My son seems to be similar to you (not the stereotypical techie and very social), and he chose GT IE. It’s the business-y side of engineering, focusing on efficiency and productivity, and GT has the top program in the world. Extremely strong placement into consulting (40% of undergrads), probably even better than Emory. It’s still engineering, though, and the math is more intense than business majors. If GT admitted you, then they know you can handle the math. Probably not a big issue, but Emory does not start you in their business school. You will need to start in the liberal arts college then apply to Goizueta later.
That average GPA for the COE includes all engineering majors. The average for IE is a reputedly higher, as it’s somewhat less difficult. The techies at GT like to say that IE stands for Imaginary Engineering. The IE students say it’s Instant Employment. GT IE grads have no problem getting into top MBA programs, and rising to the highest levels in the business world. Nearly 10% of all GT IE alumni have reached the highest positions in their company (CEO, Pres, etc.). If you like the overall fit at GT, don’t hesitate to choose it over Emory.