What are Some ways I Could Answer This Essay Prompt From Georgia Tech?

Beyond rankings, location, and athletics, why are you interested in attending Georgia Tech? (max 150 words)

You could name some specific professors that you want to work with or some program that is unique to that school or a particular advancement that they are responsible for or a research area in which they are particularly strong, etc. You could mention something about the culture that appeals to you.

Why are you interested, really?

Yes, your answer has to come from you. These questions are primarily about getting to know the student. It’s helpful to maintain an attitude that if a student’s honest answer does not resonate with the admissions rep it probably means that the school is not the best fit for the student, and vice versa, which is best to know before you go there. Think honestly about why you are applying to spend four formative years (or more) at GT and put that down. Good luck!

Do some soul searching – what about the school truly appeals to you (other than ranking/location/athletics)? It can be anything from overall vibe, STEM focus, research, intramural athletics to name but a few things – but the answer has to come from you.

I was told that that is the worst possible thing to do, by a rep from UNC Chapel Hill, who came to talk to us about filling out applications. She said it was a painfully lazy thing to do, look up the Profs and their research, because impressive research happens at almost every college. It has to be more personal than that.

OP shouldn’t be asking us why he wants GT.

The problem with naming profs is that it often sounds superficial, like they just looked up some names. (And even profs who don’t teach UG or very little.) When they name programs, if they can’t relate them to their interests or prep in a meaningful way, same issue.

There are some parents here whose kids did this and had great results. But there was more to their answers.

^ Agree. Don’t just say oh wow I’d love to research with professor X. That would only work well if you have been researching something similar already.

Coming down to the wire for ea, but my daughter took it to be activities in the Georgia tech community that she plans to join that are not academic or d1 sports. Basically, what will she do with her ‘free’ time.

Georgia Tech is known for hackathons, and academic clubs, if any of that appeals to you. Look up Hack GT, to learn more. The rock climbing and mountain biking are outstanding if either of those are your hobby, look up the clubs associated with your interests. Georgia Tech offers a class for the Putnam Mathematics competition and its open to freshman, if you are math whiz, look up the Putnam and think if you want to take that super hard exam, GT will help you do that. There is the campus in France ! There is the co op program thats both international and state side job options. There is an international degree program, which includes world languages and study abroad plus the technical degree. Tech has one of the strongest alumni groups in the nation, thats a benefit most high school kids may not recognize, but look up your alumni group in your state, if you think its a positive to stay connected to your university after graduation. Finally Greek life is strong at Tech, if thats of interest. Look up sororities or fraternities and write about it. There are nerd frats, athletic frats, and special interest fraternities. Finally GT offers super good study support, figure out what they offer and write about why you like it.