Making it at Tech

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgia Institute of Technology
1

<p>This is a question to Tech students who may have struggled or thought about leaving:</p>

<p>My son is a Tech freshman (OOS) who is seriously considering not coming back for the Spring semester. I don't think his case is unusual; he's a long way from home, misses a very close group of friends (some of whom remained in the area), was the best math student in his HS who discovers he's average at Tech, and is surprised at how challenging it is (he knew this going in... but it's one thing to know it in theory, another to experience it). Right now he's got a mix of grades from A to C. My advice to my son has been to not make the decision based on whether he is miserable now - this is a new situation for a kid who's never been away from home for an extended period - but whether he will be miserable in the future, next semester and beyond, because this is a decision about the future. Is there anything that can change that would change his perception of the situation?</p>

<p>I was wondering if Tech students could share some of their stories of how things worked out for them in similar situations. I've read some of the earlier threads about tech being a "hellhole", etc. I'm not looking to start another fight on whether Tech is a hellhole or not, but I'm just wondering how things did or did not change for students as they proceeded through their years at Tech; especially, if they changed for the better, what was it that changed that made the experience more positive. thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Hey!
I’m a student at Tech and while the adjustment is tough, you have to realize there are others like you who are struggling as well. Also, Tech generally curves up. C’s are usually bumped into B’s, and B’s are usually bumped into A’s. Hang in there. Its just the first semester. Everyone is exploring. A bad grade is not the end of the world. And life is not about getting A’s at Ga Tech. It gets better after the first semester and everyone who has gotten a degree from Tech has said it was worth it. Just hang in there :)</p>

3

<p>Glad to see this response, but can you also advise what year are you - what major - in state or out of state - are you on scholarship linked to GPA? Thank you!</p>

4

<p>I’m first year out-of-state also. I think as a trend we are more apprehensive about coming to tech that kids from Georgia. None of us are really “happy” about being at tech. It also comes from talking to upperclassman who didn’t leave and seeing how burned out they are. </p>

<p>Honestly it will be his decision. I myself have already made the decision to transfer to a state school back home next fall. College is about finding yourself, and your son may not think burning $40k a year at tech is worth it here.</p>

5

<p>rhackle, thanks for your reply. Actually I was in the same situation 30 years ago when I was in college, didn’t transfer when I should have, and suffered the consequences. Hope everything works out for you.</p>