<p>I have a question - our son applied EA to GT but was deferred to RD. We are trying to figure out if he has a shot in getting into GT - any thoughts? Thanks!</p>
<p>In case anyone wants info: ACT Composite - 32 - SAT II Chemistry - 720, Math 680, 6 AP Classes, 15 honors classes, 4 yrs Marching Band, 3 yrs Jazz band, 4 yrs Spring Musical, 1 yr Drama play, volunteer at local Animal Shelter, two summer jobs, church choir member for 8 years, 4.4 QPA weighted, 3.9 unweighted - we are just baffled and can’t figure out what he might be missing. Any ideas will be most appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>I’d be puzzled too. Math score is on the low side, though for those I know applying as STEM at GTech. What math is he taking? My friend’s DD was accepted early with numbers pretty much the same, but her math was up there, she was a female and was taking AP calc at the BC level. </p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback - he is taking AP Calc BC this year and has an A for the first semester. He is trying for Chem E if that makes a difference - what we don’t get is another student from his school also applied EA and got accepted with only AP Calc (this year) and no other AP classes, lower QPA and lower ACT/SAT scores - go figure - we are also out of state - do not know if that makes a difference - we are just baffled but maybe it is the Math - he scored 34 on the Math ACT though - sigh - we just don’t understand. This was his #1 choice - he was accepted into University of Michigan, Penn State Main campus, and Pitt Honors all early action. Thanks again for the feedback. </p>
<p>Sorry - tell your friend’s child CONGRATS!!! (-:</p>
<p>Math II is lowish. If it’s Math I then it’s 70th percentile. If it’s Math II then it’s 47th percentile. Either way, it’s lowish for GT. </p>
<p>His SAT II for Chem is also low. It’s 63rd percentile.</p>
<p>People get used to thinking that anything around 700+ is strong for SAT II scores, but often they’re not. SAT II scores often have to be very high to be in the high percentiles.</p>
<p>From what I understand, GT really looks at the ACT subscores. What were his? (edit: I see he has a 34 in Math)</p>
<p>Are you instate? If so, then your chances are greater. If you’re OOS, then aren’t there cheaper schools? GT won’t give you much/any aid if needed.</p>
<p>edit: I see that you’re OOS. Well, unless money is no object, then GT is a bit pricey OOS. Maybe one of his other acceptances will be more affordable anyway. Did Purdue give him any merit? </p>
<p>"another student from his school also applied EA and got accepted with only AP Calc (this year) and no other AP classes, lower QPA and lower ACT/SAT scores - go figure "</p>
<p>Maybe a female? maybe a different major? Maybe a URM? Maybe First Generation?</p>
<p>We are out of state but in PA which means Penn State is just a few thousand less than GT - yep go figure. Thanks for your response - His ACT subscores were 34 for Math and truthfully can’t remember the others - for a composite of 32. Make sense? He is our only child so we have never gone through this process so any feedback is so appreciated. Actually GT is considered a value play from a tuition standpoint - considering it is OOS but I am beginning to think he doesn’t stand a very good chance to get in RD. Ugh! His defer letter wanted to see his first semester grades - thank goodness he has an A in all 4 AP classes and his Honor classes - so I guess time will tell.</p>
<p>The other student is a male and also in the band at school - he is the one who brings the 'flask" to the band trip - go figure. He is majoring in Mechanical Engineering our son is Chemical Engineering. My co-workers keep telling me he will be where he is meant to be but, as a parent, it is heartbreaking to see it. Thanks again!</p>
<p>"My co-workers keep telling me he will be where he is meant to be but, as a parent, it is heartbreaking to see it. "</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>I realize that this is your only child, but this is not a heartbreaking situation. If your child ends up at Purdue or PSU or any other fine eng’g program, his future outcome is going to be what HE makes of it. The four years of undergrad are not the dream. HIs future life is the dream. </p>
<p>That said, hopefully, his first semester’s grades will be the nudge he needs. :)</p>
<p>(BTW…many/most state schools really care less about ECs. Those usually don’t make much/any difference.)</p>
<p>Thanks - I agree; he will end up in a good school with a good engineering program. He amazes me at 17 he gets up on his own at 5:30 each morning for school; we don’t get up until about 6:30. He is self-motivated and we have told him that will help him go far in life if that is what HE wants. >:D< </p>
<p>we are in a similar situation - my d was deferred from her 1st choice (similar scores but probably higher in math 2) but got in early to Uof Michigan. That is a fantastic school to have but was pretty devastated with the deferral. She got straight A’s in her recently concluded semester. hopefully that will give her the nudge she needs to get into her 1st choice. Good luck to your son </p>
<p>I have no idea why I think this but I believe your son will get into GT…last year, about 15% of GT’s deferred students were accepted…with another 20% being put on the waiting list…he’s borderline and I believe he’ll slip in! </p>
<p>My D is a Freshman at GT. I just wanted to mention that GT does not take major into account in admissions.
I also think that at some point it is just a crap shoot for out of state -especially guys. I understand with GA tech switching to the common app that made it harder this year so far. </p>
<p>Another plus (from a parent perspective), if he goes to PSU, he’s much more likely to intern and then work in your state (or within the NE region). It will be a lot easier to visit him at school and then after he graduates! 
</p>
<p>There is no escaping from the PARENTS…ever…</p>
<p>SAT2s are taken by a subset of the population (read: those going to more selective programs) and therefore they have much higher avg. scores than the SATs, especially in the math/science arena. That’s the only “weakness” I see and truly I’m like SouthernHope… I think it will happen for him. He’s right there in with the mix. I would be surprised if I were you too… but how did he do on his AP exams? Remember this, he has done everything he can do including having a GREAT 1st semester. Kudos to him. And if he has to go to dreaded Purdue, he will LOVE it. (I went to Purdue 100 years ago:) Oh dear, I have to worry about my own two girls’ acceptances and now I have to worry about yours too! I’m hoping for him. </p>
<p>CupKsDad - who was your d’s first choice? Many people would love to go to UofM (not me, of course, considering Big 10 rivalries and all:). Congrats on that acceptance!!!</p>
<p>CUPKSDAD - THANKS for the feedback. My son too was accepted to U of M on EA and I think that the pain of the deferral is what got to him. I think when he was accepted into all three other EA schools came before GT he was surprised - but we told him this was a life lesson and he was deferred; not out and they want to see his 1st semester grades; they came out today so they will get submitted to GT and Northeastern (they wanted to see his mid-year grades as well) and we’ll see what happens.</p>
<p>"And if he has to go to dreaded Purdue, he will LOVE it. "</p>
<p>Yes, excellent for STEM. My H went there for undergrad.</p>
<p>That said, going to PSU would be super, too. Sometimes it is easier for summer internships if the student isn’t too far away. </p>
<p>At times like this I hear my mom’s words, “Remember, children look at how the parent is reacting to disappointing news, so if parent looks devastated, kids will be devastated. If the parent looks on the bright side of the other alternatives, then the kids will, too.”</p>
<p>Thanks Southern Hope - I hope he gets accepted too; just because he is my son and after our visit there last summer we all fell in love with the campus. (-:</p>
<p>Thanks 3tallblonds - he has not taken any AP for this year yet but his last year’s AP were 4s which included AP Chemisty. I am from the University of Illinois but it was too “rural” of a town for him (boo-hoo) and his dad is UCONN alumn (former big east) so needless to say my thoughts of him going to U of M and cheering against Illinois - not liking it so much - LOL!!! He just told me today he plans on taking all 4 AP tests this year (Calc, Spanish, Psych and Physics) - oh and by the way he is getting an A in Honors Organic Chemistry for the first semester - so he made the “wall” at school - ha! Thanks again!</p>
<p>OP- I posted on the GT forum the exact numbers but the main reason for your son’s deferral is simple- He applied the year that they switched to the Common Application and that GT was in the press a ton (Nick Selby’s speech etc.). GT has shot up the popularity ranking for applicants. This year they received 12K EA applications vying for 5K spots. The EA applications were as much as they received total just a few years ago. Of the applicant group 3200 were deferred. They received 24500 application total (EA & RD) which represents a 45% from last year.!! So now you have almost 16-17K applicants vying for the remaining 2500 spots. You must make sure you son keeps this in perspective. He still has a shot in RD and I will keep my fingers crossed for him but his odds were better in EA. Looking at the stats posted in the GT forum of students rejected or deferred really showed that acceptance was based on more than just grades and test scores. I saw students rejected with perfect SATs.</p>
<p>One thing about GT is that they do value ECs very much and put them on the same scale as grades and test scores. See the freshmen application website for more information. During a hosted vist my DD and I attended in September GT told us that they look for students already engaged in engineering like activities. From what you have described about your son I do not see that he did summer STEM programs; robotics; research etc. Second GT told us that they want specific examples of making a difference in the students EC so telling them that “I recruited and tripled female membership on my robotics team” was what they were looking for. Perhaps you can have your son send an update to the admission rep designated for his area that hits upon those kind of things.</p>
<p>My DD was accepted EA to tech and has enrolled. When we returned from our special visit she made sure to draft her application to address those points and gave Tech lots of specific examples. Her friends who did the same thing were also accepted. My DD kept in contact with the admission rep for our area. She participated in online chats with the admission reps. Those are just some things that may help during his deferral. </p>
<p>As others have pointed out he already has gotten into some great schools. Michigan has a wonderful engineering school that I know many students would love to attend. Penn State too. Good luck for these coming months. </p>