To current GT students: Questions

<p>Firstoff, I'd like to say that I'm most likely going to GT. Even though I was offered scholarships to other good universities (like Pitt, Case W, and IIT), I immediately fell in love with Tech when I visited in early march during a CWT session. But since then, more questions have arisen, such as:</p>

<p>How does the grading policy work? What constitutes an A, a B, a C, etc., and do most professors curve? I took AP bio and chem (5,4) respectively, and plan on taking the MCAT at the end of sophomore year. Would you recommend taking those classes again? I could test out of chem with my SAT II scores b/c a 4 does not allow you to skip freshman chem class. </p>

<p>What are the FE dorms like? When I visited, I only got a quick glimpse, but they looked really small. Are there cooking facilities in addition to</p>

<p>I spoke to some current students on campus, and they said that the professors’ accents really aren’t that bad, and that it only took about a week to adjust and understand what they’re saying. But are classes usually taught by professors, or are they taught by grad students?</p>

<p>Do current students get football ticket discounts to the games?</p>

<p>Would you recommend West/East campus for freshmen? I’d like to be close to the new rec center on W, but is there less of a social life there?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your help!</p>

<p>Also, since GT is a fairly large university, is it hard to get in touch w/ profs/the administration? For example, if I had a concern and needed to talk to someone who could help me fix it, would it take days/weeks for them to answer my call/email?</p>

<p>"How does the grading policy work? What constitutes an A, a B, a C, etc., and do most professors curve?"</p>

<p>FYI: I spent 5 undergrad years at Tech, and a yet to be determined number of years as a grad student. </p>

<p>Tech uses a 4 point scale for determing course grades (with no plus/minus system like some other schools use). For the most part, 100-90 = A, 80-89 = B, and so forth. However, it is up to each professor to establish their own grading scales. Every class has a published syllabus that will give you grading details. </p>

<p>Some professors curve, others don't. During your time at Tech, you will probably have a professor who curves your grade up, another who curves it down, and another who refuses to budge when you are within 1% of the next grade cutoff. There is no uniform grading policy, so you can expect to see a little of everything. </p>

<p>"What are the FE dorms like? When I visited, I only got a quick glimpse, but they looked really small. Are there cooking facilities in addition to"</p>

<p>Well, I didn't stay in FE dorms my freshman year (but similar freshman dorms without the FE program). But I can say, yes, they are small, but you get used to it very quickly. Most traditional dorms have a kitchen/lounge area per floor. You shouldn't expect to cook a 3 course gourmet meal in the shared kitchen, but it is fine for simple meals. </p>

<p>"I spoke to some current students on campus, and they said that the professors’ accents really aren’t that bad, and that it only took about a week to adjust and understand what they’re saying. But are classes usually taught by professors, or are they taught by grad students?"</p>

<p>In my 5 years at Tech, I probably only had 1 or 2 professors that had an accent strong enough to make understanding them difficult. And yes, after a week or two, you will quickly learn to understand and read the professor's handwriting. I've actually had a lot more problems with understanding teaching assistants than I have with professors. The professors teach almost all of the lectures. I have only had 1 class that was taught by a TA. However, many (almost all) of your labs will be run by TAs. </p>

<p>"Do current students get football ticket discounts to the games?"</p>

<p>Students get free tickets to almost all of the home games. However, there are a few big games during the year (like GT/UGA) that are on a lottery system.</p>

<p>"Would you recommend West/East campus for freshmen? I’d like to be close to the new rec center on W, but is there less of a social life there?"</p>

<p>East is better if you want to be with your classmates. West side has a lot more upperclassman students. There's more "hanging out" on the east side, but there is more sports activity on the west side (CRC, volley ball courts, outdoor basketball courts, CRC fields, etc). I lived on both sides of campus, and I can't say there is an overwhelming need to be on one side or the other. You can do what many people do: you can stay on the east side your first year, then move to the west side. This way, you can make a lot more friends while on east, then once you know with whom you want to live with, you can then move to west.</p>

<p>" Also, since GT is a fairly large university, is it hard to get in touch w/ profs/the administration? For example, if I had a concern and needed to talk to someone who could help me fix it, would it take days/weeks for them to answer my call/email?"</p>

<p>All professors have published office hours. If you had a concern, you could always stop by their office during their office hours and talk to them directly. However, more generally, you will run into both sides of your concern. I have had professors that have virtually slammed the door in my face, and others who have gone out of their way to help. Some professors seem to consistently ignore emails, others will respond within hours of when you send them. Just like in the real world, you are going to deal with the entire range. Tech sometimes gets a reputation for having professors that don't care about students. I wouldn't go so far as saying that is true across the board, but you will run into those professors. </p>

<p>Have you read the tbook site yet? (<a href="http://www.tbook.org)%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.tbook.org)&lt;/a>. It should explain a lot. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>thanks Sky for all the info. i'll see you in the fall! = )</p>

<p>what do i get for my d?</p>

<p>other schools have a program that designates a computer but i have not seen that here. i am really confused about what to get her? does she take it to her classes or is it just for her dorm? does it need to be one of those very light weight ones that cost a fortune?</p>

<p>The computer ownership information is located at the following website:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.sco.gatech.edu/req_hw.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.sco.gatech.edu/req_hw.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>You are free to choose any make or model computer, and you can choose if you want to get a desktop or laptop. There are obviously ups and downs to either choice.</p>

<p>However, for many engineering classes, a laptop is useless. Most of the notes students will be taking are equations, graphs, tables, and other information that cannot be typed up quickly enough to keep up in class. However, a laptop is useful for allowing the student to work anywhere on campus. The campus has wireless access just about everywhere, so a laptop can definately be a great tool. </p>

<p>With that said, a desktop is cheaper, faster (for a given price), and I think is a bit easier to work on for very long periods of time. I have both a laptop and a desktop, but I end up doing the vast majority of my school work on my desktop. I mainly use my laptop for communication, making last minute changes, and when studying in the library. </p>

<p>I recall seeing quite a few threads on this site about the benefits of laptops vs. desktops, so I'm sure you can find plenty of discussions if you want to hear other people's opinions.</p>

<p>Dorm rooms are small at any college and desk space is limited. A laptop is small and probably the most efficient use of space however you need a docking station if you don't want to be hooking and unhooking every cable you have each time you want to take the computer with you somewhere.</p>

<p>A good compromise is a desktop on the floor with a flat panel monitor and a wireless deyboard and mouse. Cheaper, easier to fix and can be recycled to home. Also less likely to walk away.</p>

<p>Me I have a desktop that is going with me with a FP and a wireless keyboard/mouse. I already have it so no additional cost.</p>

<p>I will add a laptop later. Microsoft is going to be coming out with a new operating system and from what i have read you need a dedicated video card. Lost of laptops don;t have them. I will wait and prices will drop.</p>

<p>When I buy I will get a 3 yr warranty, next day fix. I can fix my desktop but the lappy is another issue and I don't want to be without a computer. I will also put it on my dad's amex which adds another year of warrenty for free</p>

<p>BTW this is what my dad did for my sister and it worked fine. he got her lappy midway throught her freshman year and it still had a warrenty when she was a senior. He got insurance too but never used it. </p>

<p>Where to buy? keep tabs on the deal websites like <a href="http://www.fatwallet.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.fatwallet.com&lt;/a> (drill down to forums, the "hot deals"). Another site is <a href="http://www.slickdeals.net%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.slickdeals.net&lt;/a>. Again go to the forums and hotdeals. <a href="http://www.Gotapex.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.Gotapex.com&lt;/a> and <a href="http://bensbargains.net/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://bensbargains.net/&lt;/a> are two more. <a href="http://www.Ableshopers.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.Ableshopers.com&lt;/a> is another.</p>

<p>These sites don't sell anything just a bunch of shoppers trying to find a better deal than anyone else and telling you how to get it. Pedatory shopping the american way</p>

<p>For an engineering, CS, or management major, does anyone at GT use Macs (Apple)? or are they worthless for the SW needed?</p>

<p>If so, Apple has the Mac Mini for $600, which would serve as a space saving desktop. Then you could get a cheap/used laptop for use outside the room. It's nice to have a second computer if one has a problem.</p>

<p>I should have thought of that. Of course, you need a backup. When my computers goes nuts, I panic. My D will, too. Since I fix them when they mess up, she will need a backup right there with her. My, this is going to get costly!!!</p>

<p>Do students use Macs at GaTech?</p>

<p>(As far as back up machines, yes, that could apply for Windows too.)</p>

<p>Yes, Macs are used by students. PCs are still used by the vast majority of students. I would say the prevalence of Macs is a bit higher than their overall market share would indicate, so you would not be alone if you bought and used a Mac. Even the occasional professor will use a Mac. </p>

<p>My personal recommendation would be a PC, since they are faster, cheaper, easier to repair and upgrade, easier to find software for, etc. But if you have some overwhelming need to buy a Mac, no one will stop you. </p>

<p>Software and utilities that you will need might be a bit harder to come by for Macs, but a student should be able to do fine with either system. 95% of the things undergrad engineering/cs students will do can be accomplished on either system. However, if the intent is to use the computer like an engineering workstation (that will run things like CAD software, and other analysis tools) then a desktop PC would be better. However, there is almost no need for that in justifying the type of computer purchased. All of the engineering computer tools and software that a student will need to use will be available on computer labs on campus. </p>

<p>The only engineering software that you will be expected to have on your machine might be Matlab, which is available for x86 PCs and Macs. However, since Macs are now available with x86 Intel processors, then it is will be a moot point if you get a Mac with the new processor which will be capable of running any software.</p>

<p>Do the FE east campus dorm showers have private stalls or is it a public bath? I've heard that some dorms have little stalls while in others 10 guys just shower naked in the same room. </p>

<p>I put Glenn, Smith, and Towers....how are those?</p>

<p>And I've heard a lot of people say it's much better to take Physics in a community college and transfer the credit back to Tech. Is that advisable since my major (AE or CE) requires Physics I and Physics II?</p>

<p>The dorm showers are semi-private. They have individual stalls with a white plastic curtain. Don't worry, it won't be a prison shower scene. </p>

<p>Take physics at Tech. The people who say to take it at other schools are the ones that can't cut it at Tech no matter what. Yes, it is a lot of work. But it is a good class to have. A lot of people complain that the material isn't important to many engineering majors anyways. That is crap. While you might not have to solve E&M problems as a CE or AE, the physics courses do a good job at teaching you how to solve problems and how to use many of the theories that you just learned in Calculus in applying them to real problems. </p>

<p>Physics is part of the Tech program. Would you really be proud of your degree if you used every trick in the book to try to slide by? Sure, it can be done. But I don't advise it. Instead of focusing so much on the final grade, you should be more focused on learning the material, learning engineering methods, etc. You aren't going to get the same experience and knowledge at a community college. Do not let that scare you off, getting an A is not impossible. This class will also give you a chance to see if you have what it takes to graduate from Tech.</p>

<p>I'm still torn btw. whether I should take GT 1000 (Freshman Seminar). From my involvement in student organizations, I have already had a lot of instruction/training in time management, leadership, and communication. Would it be a severe disadvantage to not take this course? Should I take it just to meet other freshmen? (I'm out-of-state, but registering for FASET)</p>

<p>from the GT site: </p>

<p>"GT 1000 Areas of Study</p>

<ol>
<li>University Culture</li>
<li>Interpersonal Communications </li>
<li>Time Management</li>
<li>Leadership Initiative</li>
<li>Major Career Development </li>
<li>Career Development"</li>
</ol>

<p>How hard is Calculus I at Georgia Tech? I am really worried about that class because I haven't been able to take any Calculus in high school and wonder how badly I'll be affected since I have no experience with Calculus. Any responses will be appreciated.</p>

<p>Over at [url=<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Institute_of_Technology#Student_life%5Dwikipedia.org%5B/url"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Institute_of_Technology#Student_life]wikipedia.org[/url&lt;/a&gt;] it says

[quote]
Quoting the Princeton Review summary of student life, "Because of the heavy workload at Georgia Tech, most students are overly stressed, worried about tomorrow's test, and driven by the desire for the degree. Students have only minimal time for social functions". The high levels of stress were the likely causes of a recent U.S. News & World Report which listed Georgia Tech as the 17th most alcoholic school in the nation — the only school on the list that hasn't ever been listed in The Princeton Review's top party schools.

[/quote]
So, is the part about alcoholism true?</p>

<p>From my experience, probably. </p>

<p>I know my Tech friends didn't sit home and knit on Saturday night.</p>

<p>Nov221963, the implication is that there is a lot of alcohol dependency among GT students... not that it is a big party place. Is this true?</p>

<p>gt08, I'm hoping you or other GT students reply to this:</p>

<p>1) How is the interaction among students of different races at GT? Do students regularly mix, or do people stay mostly in groups of their own race?</p>

<p>2) Would you say the campus is friendly? </p>

<p>3) Do students have fun?</p>

<p>WS17,</p>

<p>1) It varies. Some students mix it up while others prefer to stay within their own kind; it's very much like any other school, really. You'll see clusters of Indians walking together who generally hang out with their own kind and may not prefer to mix with ppl of other cultures.
On that same note, though, there are people who like to mix with other cultures. This could be because they're more comfortable doing so or whatever ....</p>

<p>2) The campus is friendly to an extent. If you've browsed these forums for a while, you'll see some reports from parents and students talking about how no one was smiling and everyone appeared gloomy and downtrodden; on the other hand, some ppl report seeing friendly students.
I had applied to some other schools where ppl were VERY friendly. They say "hi", smile etc ....
Tech doesn't really foster that kind of atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, ppl ARE nice there. But classes are incredibly challenging and even when students put their best foot forward and work tirelessly for a midterm and end up with a low C, they're not likely to smile.
Plus, there're always the stereotypical geeks walking around who don't seem to acknowledge anything or anybody unless there's Java code all over them ....
But, I reiterate, Tech is friendly and ppl will do their best to be nice to everybody. </p>

<p>3) Yes, GT students have fun. It's actually a pretty hardcore party school on wknds and holidays, when there's no upcoming tests or finals. The frats start going wild on Fridays and you'll always have a place to go to party.
Also GT students have access to MARTA (train system) that connects them to Atlanta and everything that the city has to offer.
Of course, some Tech students prefer to "live it up" by staying in their dorms and playing Halo or watching Comedy Central. Whatever turns you on ....
So YES, GT students do have fun - when they don't have tests coming up ..</p>