Georgia Institute of Technology

Pixel Journal: How is OHS evaluated in the admissions process? Is there any bias against an online education in your university’s admissions process? What are your biggest concerns?

Georgia Institute of Technology: Each year, Georgia Tech receives a number of applications from students whose high school experiences are not in a “traditional,” brick and mortar school environment. As with all of our applicants, regardless of the high school they attend, we are looking to see how they have taken advantage of the opportunities available to them. This includes the specific and different rigor, involvement, and scheduling options each school environment is able to provide. We also are looking to see how our students have interacted with their surrounding communities, ways in which they have challenged themselves, worked with others, and emulated our motto of “progress and service.” These are traits that students are able to demonstrate regardless of the type of school that they attend.

PJ: Do admissions officers take into account the rigor of our classes relative to those of other schools?

GIT: We absolutely take a student’s rigor of curriculum into account when reviewing applications. Comparing one high school to another is often like comparing apples to oranges. We assess how applicants challenge themselves with their rigor choices based on what’s available at their high school. We know that SOHS is unique in its ability to offer coursework well beyond AP designated work, and we take this into account as part of our holistic review process.

PJ: What are the research opportunities that are available to undergrads at your school?

GIT: Students at Georgia Tech can begin research as early as fall semester of their freshman year. This presents itself in a variety of ways. For students looking to work alongside faculty and staff, our Undergraduate Research Program and initiatives such as our Vertically Integrated Projects allow for meaningful work with current research projects. Some students prefer to pursue their own research topics, and our President’s Undergraduate Research Awards help to provide research stipends to support these endeavors. For students whose research has an entrepreneurial lean, spaces like our Invention Studio (our student-run maker space) and programs like Create-X and the Inventure Prize help to provide the physical space, mentorship, and financial opportunities necessary to support and encourage our innovative undergraduates.

PJ: What is one thing that every undergrad at your college needs to know about?

GIT: Georgia Tech prides itself on being an exceptionally collaborative campus. Our goal is to prepare our students for the real world, and teamwork is a vital component of that preparation. Our students challenge and support one another, seek interdisciplinary collaboration, and understand that a team is better able to tackle the complex problems that we face than an individual. Understanding, embracing, and appreciating this type of learning environment is vital for our students.

PJ: What’s one piece of advice on the admissions process at your university for prospective students?

GIT: I think it’s helpful early on to understand that there are parts of this process you can control (staying organized, meeting deadlines, using your resources to learn more about universities, etc.) and those that you cannot (like who else is in our applicant pool that year). Embrace the things you can control and try not to bear the stress of the things that you cannot. That stress will not serve a useful purpose for you.

PJ: Which aspects of a prospective student's application does Georgia Tech prioritize the most?

GIT: Our process is holistic, meaning we’re looking at a number of factors as we review student applications. A student’s academic preparation is as important as his or her engagement outside of the classroom. The balance between the two, the ambition to pursue success in both, the self-awareness to understand one’s impact, and the vision to move intentionally towards a goal, are all significant and necessary traits of our undergraduate students.