Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech for short, is a public research university and technology institution in Atlanta, Georgia.
Georgia Tech, located in Atlanta, GA, is ranked as the 33rd best national university by US News and World Report. The school was founded in 1885 and is extremely well known for its technology and engineering-related majors and programs. Here are some more rankings for Georgia Tech:
Does all of this sound intriguing to you? Then you’re in luck! This article will go through the application requirements of Georgia Tech so you can have a good idea of how to get into Georgia Tech. Let’s get into it.
How hard is it to get into Georgia Tech? Georgia Tech has an acceptance rate of 21.5% overall, accepting 33% of Georgia residents and only 10% of non-residents. This makes it an extremely selective school with a competitive admission process. After all, Georgia Tech is one of the world’s best research institutions for technology fields.
This year, Georgia Tech received almost 60,000 applications for the 2024 first-year class. They accepted 8,250 students from this group.
Understanding the acceptance rate trends at Georgia Tech over the years offers valuable insights into the university's level of competitiveness. Take a look at the table below.
Source: Georgia Tech Common Data Sets
Knowing these trends empowers you, as a prospective student, to make informed decisions about your college choices, setting you on a path toward a more successful and satisfying academic journey.
Keep in mind that the acceptance rates can vary based on the program you’re applying to at Georgia Tech. For example, the acceptance rate of Georgia Tech engineering differs from that of computer and information sciences. So, it’s important to read up on the particular programs you’re interested in.
The Georgia Tech early action acceptance rate for Early Action 1 was 38%. Early Action 1 is reserved specifically for students from Georgia, but the Early Action 2 plan includes out-of-state and international applicants. The Early Action 2 acceptance rate at Georgia Tech was 9%.
Here’s a table with some further data on Georgia Tech’s Early Action 1 acceptance trends from the past few years:
See below for info on Georgia Tech’s Early Decision 2 admittance trends:
Gaining admission to Georgia Tech is known to be quite challenging due to its low acceptance rate of 21.5%. With a limited number of spots available for incoming students, the university can be very selective in its admissions process.
As a result, applicants face stiff competition, and meeting the academic and extracurricular requirements to stand out among the many qualified candidates is no small feat.
Prospective students should be prepared to showcase not only strong academic achievements but also unique qualities and experiences that make them exceptional candidates for Georgia Tech's rigorous academic programs.
Take our interactive quiz below to find out how likely you are to get into Georgia Tech.
The Georgia Tech average GPA is 3.79, which is very competitive. In a recent incoming class, 91% of admitted students had a high school GPA of 4.0, so you’ll need to develop strong study habits and achieve very high grades in order to be a competitive applicant.
It’s also important to know that Georgia Tech has specific GPA requirements based on the college you're applying to. For the College of Computing and College of Engineering, the minimum GPA requirement is 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
For other colleges like Design, Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Business, it's 3.0. Some specialized pathways have stricter requirements, demanding a minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA and 3.3 in math and lab science combined GPA.
They evaluate GPAs using a specific grading scale for math and lab science courses and consider courses with lecture and lab components. Repeat coursework is generally not included unless you initially failed the course.
Computer Science and Engineering courses are not counted as lab science for GPA calculations. If you receive a Pass/Fail grade, it won't affect your GPA, but an F grade will.
The Georgia Tech average SAT score was 1470 in a recent admissions cycle. The 25th to 75th percentile ranges from 1370-1530. This broad score range reflects the university's diverse applicant pool, with successful students showcasing strong aptitude in both Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math.
Georgia Tech requires first-year applicants to submit at least one official SAT score. Georgia Tech SAT scores are evaluated based on the highest section scores from all reported test results.
While there are no minimum score requirements, aiming for a high SAT score is essential due to the competitive applicant pool.
The Georgia Tech average ACT score is 33. The 25th to 75th percentile range usually falls between 31 and 35. This means that students admitted to Georgia Tech typically score very well on the ACT test, especially in English, Math, Reading, and Science.
To have a good chance of getting into Georgia Tech, it's important to aim for scores within this range because it's a highly competitive school with many qualified applicants.
Like the SAT, Georgia Tech evaluates ACT scores based on the highest section scores, excluding the Writing section. Similarly, for the SAT, they consider the highest section scores in Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math. Optional AP, IB, and AS & A Level exams may provide college credit if you choose to enroll, with official exam results required for credit.
Georgia Tech seeks to admit students who are intellectually curious and are willing to face challenges. You can demonstrate these traits through your academic record with a 4.0 GPA and high SAT/ACT scores! Georgia Tech also seeks students who are community-oriented and driven.
Here’s some information from a recent Common Data Set that provides more insight into how Georgia Tech evaluates applications:
To get into Georgia Tech, you’ll need a high GPA of at least 4.0 and SAT/ACT scores of 1530 and 33 respectively. To make your application really shine, consider taking rigorous AP or IB courses. You should also place a strong focus on community involvement in your essays and extracurriculars.
Applying to Georgia Tech is a process that requires care and preparation. All applicants must apply for the Common Application and submit all documents required by the school after the Common Application is finished.
Below are the mandatory materials for applying to Georgia Tech:
First-year students must apply to Georgia Tech using the Common Application, which will open on August 1st, before the applicant’s senior year. Georgia Tech has three academic plans: Early Action 1 (for Georgia students), Early Action 2 (for non-Georgia students), and Regular Decision.
Below is a table for the deadlines and decision release dates for all three application options:
The Regular Decision deadline for Georgia Tech is January 4. You should have submitted your application on the Common App by this date; however, you will still have until January 17 to submit updated transcripts and self-reported test scores.
If you’re applying to Georgia Tech through Early Action 1, your application is due on October 16. You’ll need to submit documents by October 30 and self-reported test scores by November 20.
Early Action 2 applicants need to submit their applications by November 1. November 15 is the document deadline, and January 2 is the self-reported test score deadline.
Every Georgia Tech admission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on the above dates in your time zone. For example, a student who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, must submit their application by 11:59 p.m. ET.
Do you want to know how you can get into Georgia Tech? Here are a few things you can do to help increase your chances.
One of the best ways to display your values and how you contribute to the community is through extracurricular activities. These are everything you do outside of the classroom and are often detached from your academic duties given to you (which means they are more about your interests).
Thus, when you select your extracurricular activities, choose based on what you care about and reflect on your involvement. Will the extracurricular activity demonstrate commitment? Or responsibilities? Or leadership? As mentioned before, don’t just mention what you did. Give details and paint a picture.
And, of course, do what is necessary. Make sure you select three to five extracurricular activities to focus on. Quality matters more than quantity.
Georgia Tech is very interested in hearing what each applicant brings to their community, to the point that they have dedicated an entire application section to it. When it comes to community service, some of the most valued traits and attitudes include the following:
So, when you fill out your application, think about your activities and experiences that demonstrate the above traits or any other traits that showcase a sense of contribution to the community you belong to.
A big part of the admission process comes from academic requirements, so make sure your academic performance is not just excellent but consistently so. Do well in courses, and make sure you do particularly well in courses related to your major. This is especially important if you plan to apply to any technology-related programs.
You must also be wise in your course selection. Make sure you choose courses demonstrating knowledge and skills related to your program. Additionally, If the school offers it, you should enroll in courses as advanced as your capabilities allow. As for standardized tests, start preparing as early as possible.
Georgia Tech prefers students with intellectual and academic curiosity and a will to face challenges. Therefore, you are at an advantage if you can succeed in the more advanced and rigorous academic curriculum and programs your high school offers. These include but are not limited to the following:
Essentially, anything that shows you can take the challenge and the drive to do well in those tough scenarios will help you!
While optional, recommendation letters are an effective method to improve your chances. Recommendation letters are documents by third parties that offer more background information about an applicant. The main purpose is to persuade the admission committee why an applicant is worthy of admission.
You should request recommendation letters from teachers, counselors, or other academic professionals who know you well as a student and a person. A maximum of two recommendation letters are permitted.
Georgia Tech requires all applicants to write two admissions essays for their current applications: the Common Application personal essay and the Georgia Tech short answer question. Both essay topics will be given prompts, and students must provide their well-thought-out responses as content.
The Georgia Tech short answer question has a maximum response length of 300 words.
For the Common Application Personal Essay, applicants must choose one of the following seven given essay prompts provided by Common Application. On the other hand, the Georgia Tech short answer question has the following prompt:
“Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?”
These essays aim to assess your writing ability and communication skills and, much more importantly, to learn more about you as an individual.
Make sure you do some good, long self-reflection on what you want the universities to know about you, especially your experiences, skills, personality, interests, passions, and goals (both long-term and short-term). To draw inspiration, take a look at some other supplemental essay examples.
If you have any unanswered questions on how to get into Georgia Tech, these frequently asked questions will help you!
Georgia Tech has a low acceptance rate of just 21.5%. Applicants are evaluated through a holistic process that considers many different factors. Thus, getting admitted to Georgia Tech is quite a challenge.
The average admitted Georgia Tech freshman has a GPA of 3.79.
The median SAT score of admitted Georgia Tech first-year students is 1470. The average SAT score tends to land between 1370 and 1530 out of 1600. Meanwhile, the median ACT score of admitted Georgia Tech first-year students is 33.
Georgia Tech is considered to be an elite engineering and technology school, as well as one of the top public institutions in the nation.
You must demonstrate consistent and wide-ranged academic excellence, a strong will to contribute to the community, motivation, leadership, and interest in the school.
Georgia Tech is competitive, with an 21.5% acceptance rate. Your chances depend on good grades, optional test scores, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations. Your background also matters. So, make sure your application highlights your strengths.
Georgia Institute of Technology is among the best places to learn technological engineering programs worldwide. Of course, the admission process is a massive mountain to climb, as they have rigorous requirements inside and outside academics. However, with hard work and dedication, you can get through it.
You must consistently possess and showcase drive, dedication, commitment, leadership, and courage to face challenges, whether in or out of the classroom. And now that you have a solid idea of how to get into Georgia Tech, you can apply these tips and strategies to set yourself up for success.
It sounds back-breaking, but if you have what it takes, you will be heavily rewarded with one of the best post-graduate technology and engineering education in the nation and possibly the world.
Good luck!
