Why did I get denied from Georgia Tech?

Applying to College
1

<p>Half-Black, Half-White, 1/16 Chinese (last name chin), 1/16 Chippewa Native American
Female
With Tech's weighting, +/-3.5 GPA (I know it is low, but it has steadily increased each semester, and I've been on honor roll a few times, and I take rigorous courses)</p>

<p>SAT
CR: 630
M: 580
W:740
Comp: 1950</p>

<p>ACT
E: 31
M: 27
R:27
S:27
E/W:28
Comp:28</p>

<p>Advanced Placement:
AP Art History
AP Language and Composition
AP US History
AP Microeconomics
AP Comp Gov't
AP Spanish Language</p>

<p>Dual Enrollment:
College Algebra
College English</p>

<p>Public Relations Officer of Student/Class Council
News Editor for school paper
Member of environmental club and world language club
I've had 3 part time jobs, one of which lasted 9 months
Model Atlanta Regional Commission Delegate
Georgetown Law & Society Summer Program
Nat'l Student Leadership Conference: US Politics & Policy @ American U
Honor Roll
National Spanish Composition Exam - Excellence
The list seriously goes ON in the realm of ECs and Honors...</p>

<p>Major Choice at Tech: International Affairs (not even a popular major...)</p>

<p>Essay: Wrote about a diverse experience; being a navy brat the first 14 years of my life and moving around the country and being immersed in a multitude of cultures and communities (I'm not going to lie, that essay was DAMN good).</p>

<p>So to re-cap: Alright GPA, Good test scores, Amazing ECs, good esssay, oh and not to mention I'm a minority-in-state-FEMALE. </p>

<p>I applied October 1st. Was it just too early? This was truly my dream school and I have no confidence in the other 12 schools I have/will applied/apply to. I even went to Connect with Tech and fell in love with it just a couple of weeks ago.</p>

<p>WHAT DID I DO?
WHY?
:( I've never cried so hard</p>

2

<p>Given that Georgia Tech is “Tech,” it might have to do with the low Math score on the SAT? However, I’m with you on this one, as the school is looking for quality females (overly male saturated) and the balance of your application looked quite good.</p>

3

<p>I think GPA/SAT scores…may have been a factor. I am sure they have a lot of minority students applying and who knows, maybe they want more OOS students for higher tuition.</p>

<p>Sorry to hear this, not sure if there is any appeal process or spring application.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the reply, i swear i’m not embellishing, and I just want an honest answer. I want a real reason, and I know somebody who has gone through the same thing may come across this. I never thought about my low math score, because I thought my other two scores alleviated the 500s score (also, the inflation of the sat score with a combination of the act superscore that tech does). It just seemed like Tech was the fit for me and now I’m at a loss.</p>

5

<p>Your SATs and class rigor seem week to me. Most people who get into tech have completed some form of Calculus and upper level science.</p>

6

<p>Hard to say, but CR+M SAT score and class rank maybe.</p>

7

<p>Probably your math SAT score. It’s in the bottom decile.</p>

8

<p>I would say no calculus and low math SAT was a big issue. Also, your AP classes seem to be the weaker ones (no Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Calc), so your course rigor isn’t there and they list that as a very important admission factor. Also, I don’t think you should have submitted your SAT scores.</p>

9

<p>I would also guess that, for a school with Tech in its name, the lack of science and math AP courses and the relatively low (not bad) Math SAT score might have hurt. Probably more and more students applying to State schools in current economic situation. No point even thinking about it now that I can see. You will find a school and very likely love it.</p>

10

<p>Wow I am very surprised you got denied. My stats, I think, are worse than yours and I at least got a deferral. :frowning: I’m sorry. I am quite upset too. Was G-Tech your top choice??</p>

11

<p>But remember, everything happens for a reason. :slight_smile: I strongly believe it.</p>

12

<p>SAT/ACT scores are way to low. Yes, you might be in-state, but the Math part is especially low for GT. Even if you are majoring in business, they look for high math. Your GPA was also kind of low for Tech. They are a high-calibre school, too, and a 3.5 isn’t as good as you might think. Many applicants have 3.75+.</p>

<p>By the way, why even say you’re 1/16 Chinese and 1/16 Native American? It’s kind of random, in my opinion…I’m pretty sure roots like that are not used in the decision process.</p>

13

<p>Yes, Tech was my number one in-state choice, as I thought it would only be practical to take advantage of the HOPE scholarship (or what is left of it).
I included my race because I know it can sometimes make a marginal difference in an admissions decision; we all know state schools have quotas. BTW, I’m almost certain any “white” person would be quick to include any minority they have in their blood, even if it wasn’t visible.
I am starting to see the pattern through your replies, that maybe I’m just not a fit for Tech. I’m not an average student and I’m not brilliant, but I’m just not math-science-minded. I want to be an international lawyer, and I thought I would have a higher chance of admission here. I’m sure next year at this time I will find a school with more people of the same liberal arts academic strengths.
Thanks guys!</p>

14

<p>Was Georgia Tech the only tech school on your list?
Are the rest of your applications directed to LACs?</p>

15

<p>notakid nailed it - If your GPA and SAT scores are not driving your application to an automatic acceptance, then they look at your interests. </p>

<p>There is not a single science class listed in your APs and you are applying to a tech school (it is not just Math but chemistry, physics, biology matter too). Have you checked the requirements of graduation to see whether they need a bunch of science and Math classes for you to graduate?</p>

16

<p>i laugh when i see minority girls with horrible sat and grades/rigor whine because their race/gender/ EC’s werent good enough</p>

17

<p>yah, being a minority with high average test scores will not get you into any school of your choice. I think you might have been led to believe this would be true by all the whiners out there that claim that minorities that are less qualified took their spots. Those stats might have gotten you in if you showed the rigor in your course load that others have mentioned. How are you supposed to compete at a school where everyone else has taken so much more math and science? Why did you pick GT in the first place? It doesn’t seem to “fit” with what you seem to be interested in.</p>

18

<p>Every student at Tech must take two semesters of Calculus and two semesters of a lab science. You aren’t providing Tech with any evidence that you can handle theses courses.</p>

19

<p>Other schools i’m applying to
U of Miami
NYU
Northwestern
American
USC (California)
Auburn
South Carolina
UGA (deferred first round)</p>

<p>So as you can see, every other school I’m applying to has a higher focus on social sciences (I’ll be doing Inta, Poli-Sci, or Pre-Law depending on the school) </p>

<p>Any advice for those schools?</p>

<p>And yes, I have met the graduation requirements for math and science at my school 1 math and 1 science every year</p>

20

<p>And I’ve never considered race a factor of admission, but it just seems to be something that people emphasize when in conversation.</p>