The Average GPA at Georgia Tech as of 2018

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgia Institute of Technology
1

Ok so I realize this question has probably been asked a lot but all the threads I am finding are from 2008-2013, and I was wondering If anyone had any updated stats on the Average GPA of tech students.

The problem is some people are telling me it is a 2.9 but then someone else will say the average is above a 3.0. I’m confused and this is actually a very important thing for me as I plan to do grad school at some point in life, and don’t want to have to destroy myself studying just to try and break a 3.0, or worse get below a 3.0 and not even have a chance at most grad schools.

The thing is that with the right amount of studying and dedication I think I could be an average student at Tech, which is all I am really after, but if the average student has a 2.9, there will be problems.

(I am majoring in Civil Engineering)

2

on the Gt website somewhere it said 3.2 is their average

3

Tech publishes grade distributions by college and course: http://www.irp.gatech.edu/grade-distribution

You have to login to see the data and it doesn’t really provide you with an average GPA for undergraduates, but based on these distributions and the previous average undergraduate GPAs I’ve seen published by the Office of Greek Affairs, the average was somewhere around 3.2-3.3 in 2015. The all fraternity GPA seems to currently be just above 3.0, although that GPA may or may not reflect the average for undergrads as a whole: http://www.fraternity.gatech.edu/?q=node/72

If you want to get into most graduate programs, you should be aiming for at least a 3.2 and probably closer to a 3.5+. A 3.0 is really the bare minimum for graduate work at most places.

4

Ah! Thank you very much!

5

My son just finished his first semester at GT and got all A’s. His hardest class was outside his CS major (history). Why are some students doing poorly? Some students get distracted by all the fantastic extracurricular activities offered at GT. Some students take 6 classes. That is pretty intense, not because the material is so hard but there are only so many hours a day to study. You can improve your odds for an excellent teacher by checking Rate My Professor. GT also provides a list for each course of the names of instructors and the grade distribution for their classes. Hope this helps.

6

Thank you!

7

Here is the link to the classes and teachers who instruct the classes. https://critique.gatech.edu/
You can get an idea of just how hard the teacher grades (or how poorly they teach) by his or her grade distribution. Also, many students discuss the pro’s and cons of courses and teachers on reddit. So far, my son has found his teachers very supportive and helpful when he asks questions or requests help.

8

DS is a sophomore in CS/math. I do not get the feeling that its too hard for him, but he had enrolled for a summer at college and upped his study game, and he completed IB/AP curriculum at a well ranked high school. He had been exposed to discrete math and Calc 3, and repeated Calc 3, he was glad he did. The more math you are exposed to, the easier freshman year will be at GaTech. For certain review calculus at the very least, if its been a while, use Khan Academy, Open Course, Coursera, etc.

He says about half the CS students get As, at GaTech, so he may be in the easier major than some engineering majors. Math classes are graded harder than CS classes at GaTech, according to DS. Classes do get harder in upper class years, and many engineering classes have a large math component to them. Chemical engineering seems to be one of the hardest majors.

Freshman year students take health, and a seminar that are easy As. Honors math classes are truly challenging and will require a lot of hours to get an A, but honors classes are in no way required, there is always a large section of regular math offered. You do not need to be in the honors freshman dorm to take honors classes. The freshman honors dorm has an annoying and strange list of humanities and social science classes where those students are together, but anyone can take an honors math class at GaTech.

Absolutely study the data on the professors and talk to your peers about their teaching style and grading. Don’t worry about first semester so much, but yes, some kids load up on six classes, and that is a bit of a juggling act. The semester calendar is helpful, you will have time to learn all the material, compared to schools with rapidly paced quarter calendars. Also, GaTech has spontaneous snow days, if the Ga Legislature is shutting down, GaTech shuts down. Its always nice to have a day off, use it wisely!

9

lots of feedback, thank! Do students get to choose their profs? @Coloradomama

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@khake2000. So in CS, there are two sections of most required classes, so students can try to select the professor they feel is a better fit, but clearly, GaTech is trying to balance the size of both classes, and if one professor is highly oversubscribed, his/her class will fill up first. Also your schedule needs to work out, so you may get the “less popular” professor some of the time. DS seems to like most of his math and CS professors, some just grader harder than others. In fact some students prefer the harder graders, so it works out in the end. Sometimes you will get the harder grader, but he/she may be the better lecturer as well. In general the freshman subjects are taught well at Gatech.
You will be required to place out or pass two English classes. GaTech makes students work in English, but not as much reading, at least for my DS’s English 2 class. It was a tiny bit disappointing to ME but not my son so much. English 2 has about 10 sections and all study different literature. So in that case, you pay select based on your interest in British lit, science fiction, or American classics etc.

11

@qow100 I am just a parent who went to a hard techy school, myself, with DS at GaTech.

I think the most important factor to getting a good GPA, is RECOGNIZING if you are floundering and getting extra help right away. You will know after a few problem sets if the material is review for you, some new material, or completely new, and you need to hit the books and study sessions really hard. Also some classes, with proof based mathematics can really throw some students, but GaTech does ease kids in nicely. Calculus is taught at a faster rate with much harder problems than some kids are used to. Those who want to really challenge themselves, try Calculus 3 honors, its got analysis built into the class like Caltech! So you can challenge yourself at GaTech, or you can take the regular course of classes and still learn a TON and have a little fun too. So, if you bomb the first test, thats the time to ask for help in a serious way and help is available. Another way to up your study game, is to find a study partner. GaTech has strict rules about copying homework sets. But its OK to work and tutor other students, as long as you write up your homework without direct copying, line for line, the math. You are not going to be able to solve every problem on very problem set all alone, its hard and it extends what the lecture taught you.
There is less spoon feeding, but thats why you are at GaTech, to LEARN HOW TO LEARN! You will have a marvelous time and love every minute of it, mostly! There will be agonizing seconds and days, but the overall feeling is fantastic, at the end of a semester, year, and four year degree. Its worth every penny, even if you are paying OOS tuition.

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thanks, this feedback was really helpful @Coloradomama

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@Coloradomama …is your DS double majoring in math and CS?Is it doable?My son got accepted for CS but is thinking of double majoring…wasn’t sure if that was possible. Thanks.

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@priya2015 I think GaTech asks double majors to earn almost twice the credits. I don’t know for sure if he will be able to double major in four years. He also has specific interests in math so he may only take those classes in abstract algebra, combinatorics and some other topics but I’ll ask him again and let you know. With a lot of AP and/or IB credits I think one can double major but it will be a full load and maybe not easy to finish in four years.

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@coloradomama…thank you!

16

@priya2015 There is a minor in mathematics at GaTech, see this website–
https://www.math.gatech.edu/undergraduate/minor-mathematics

And some math/other major double majors at GaTech too, see this website, but this one is dated.
It says 36 credit hours are needed to do the double major, so it could take an extra year of work over a four year degree.
http://people.math.gatech.edu/~lacey/ump/advising/faq.htm#double

I think a GaTech undergraduate math major may be a very strong and get a student a lot of attention at GaTech.
Computer science is crowded there, but also good. The math classes are really challenging and
have wonderful professors.

Today if one wants to get into graduate programs in CS or economics or physics, a LOT of undergraduate math is required to get into those programs.

If one pays for a masters degree in CS, thats different, and easier, but if one wants graduate funding, one needs a strong undergraduate background in math.

17

Thank you @Coloradomama.This is was very helpful.

18

Thank you very much

19

@suenos53 I’d like to point out that the course requirements for CS allow them to opt into easier life sciences. I’m currently Bio/Pre-Med and took Chem 1211k, Hon. Biology 1511, Diff Calculus 1551, Psych 1101, and GT 1000 my first semester. The combination was particularly difficult, especially considering Chem and Bio are 4 credit hour courses both have a 3-hour lab aspect.

On a side note, regardless of institute GPA, any Pre-Med student reading this should remember that in-state/Georgia med schools show some leniency towards tech students in terms of GPA. Also, GPA and MCAT scores are almost exclusively used to determine interview eligibility (the med app takes into consideration other things when making a final decision).

Additionally, if anyone else has any questions about what they need to do to prep for a specific career or post-graduation path, please talk to an academic advisor that can give you more specific advice and review your circumstances. Do not depend on a website when you have on-campus resources! Having (what you think is) a bad GPA isn’t necessarily the end of the world, and it’s important to remember many tech students struggle with the rigor adjustment (inability to coast like in high school). This study habit adjustment is also accompanied by an adjustment to environmental shifts, such as being away from home for the first time, jobs, etc.

Most people checking this post will be doing so after a stressful midterm or after finals. If you are experiencing any negative thoughts towards yourself, others, or just in general, please go to STAMPS, especially after this past semester’s events. Tech is just a school, these are just classes, and a GPA is subject to change.

Now for a general PSA to parents, and the reason I created this account (@suenos53). If your tech student is doing well, that is a fantastic achievement. However, no matter how smart you think your child is, they went through more stress and general semester anxieties than they care to tell you. The institute is circumstantially and generally difficult. Also, your opinion is not more relevant if you’re an alumna, because most of the course structures, professors, and materials have changed since your graduation. If you see a post, refer the asker to an on-campus resource that can more comprehensively aid that individual. Students notoriously take specific cases as generalities, which promotes under-informed decisions and thought processes.

20

@Biotech22 I think a lot of current GaTech students use Reddit, not CC. So mostly parents and high school students read College Confidential. I am quite worried about the stresses on GaTech students, as there seems to have been about two or three suicides a year now for two years. Its good to be aware. GaTech, UIUC, U of Penn, MIT, Cornell, Caltech have Reddit posts when there are suicides. Its not a pleasant topic, and as a parent, its good to keep in touch with students. Cs earn degrees is a motto I take seriously, and Bs are really very good for some difficult classes. I don’t expect my student to earn straight As. Jobs don’t depend on a super high GPA either.

Its sad if students are struggling alone, and i know GaTech cares and trying to make it easy to access resources, both tutors and mental health professionals.