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How to Get Into Georgia Institute of Technology Guide – General Information

Georgia Tech is a public research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. The Georgia Tech enrollment is 44,000 students total, with an undergraduate Georgia Tech enrollment of about 17,500.

What we’ll cover in this “How to Get Into Georgia Tech” guide:

  • Georgia Tech average GPA
  • Optimal Georgia Tech SAT scores
  • Georgia Tech application deadline
  • Details on Georgia Tech Early Action 
  • How to write strong Georgia Tech essays
  • Georgia Tech class of 2025 statistics, and more. 

When thinking about how to get into Georgia Tech, make sure each part of your application — your GPA, standardized test scores, and Georgia Tech supplemental essays — is top-notch. This means keeping your grades high enough to meet the Georgia Tech average GPA, studying to ensure strong Georgia Tech SAT scores or ACT scores, and building up your extracurriculars. To boost your chances, you should start preparing for the application process well before the Georgia Tech application deadline. 

Figuring out how to get into Georgia Tech takes strategy. We can help. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes graduates from some of the country’s top schools. Want to maximize your Georgia Tech admissions odds?  Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272. 

How can I get into Georgia Tech?

There’s no magic formula for how to get into Georgia Tech, but this guide will give you ways to improve your odds. Georgia Tech admissions values applicants who have a strong track record of academic excellence. Engineering and the sciences are the core of Georgia Tech’s curriculum. Further, a significant percentage of the Georgia Tech enrollment conducts research while on campus. 

Crafting a profile that goes beyond the Georgia Tech average GPA and Georgia Tech SAT scores is essential, as most of the students who apply meet those thresholds. Your extracurriculars, Georgia Tech essays, and decision to apply for the Georgia Tech Early Action deadline can help you set yourself apart from other students. If you want to know how to get into Georgia Tech, also make sure you show Georgia Tech admissions who you are outside of the classroom.

Is Georgia Tech hard to get into?

Earning acceptance into one of Georgia Tech’s six colleges is challenging. When making your plan for how to get into Georgia Tech, have an idea of the academic benchmarks such as the Georgia Tech average GPA and Georgia Tech SAT scores. 

In the class of 2024, the middle 50% range of Georgia Tech SAT scores is 1380-1520, and 31-35 for the ACT. The range of Georgia Tech SAT scores for math is higher than verbal. More than 90% of the Georgia Tech enrollment were in the top 10% of their high school graduating class. Since Georgia Tech admissions requires standardized test scores for application cycles starting in 2022, allow time for this in your “how to get into Georgia Tech” strategy.

Because Georgia Tech is a harder school to get into, you may want to consider Georgia Tech Early Action to increase your admissions odds. 

What GPA do you need to get into Georgia Tech?

When planning how to get into Georgia Tech, make sure you know the Georgia Tech enrollment statistics, especially the Georgia Tech average GPA.  

The Georgia Tech average GPA of incoming first-year students is 4.1. Approximately 85% of students had a GPA of 4.0. 

The Georgia Tech average GPA is high because admitted students succeed in rigorous courses in high school. Georgia Tech admissions takes academic preparation very seriously when evaluating applicants. They want to see “how you stretched and challenged yourself relative to the curriculum that was available at your school.” So, as you work out how to get into Georgia Tech, choose a schedule of courses that challenge you. Ensure you’re studying hard for success in these classes long before the Georgia Tech application deadline.  

In this video, a Georgia Tech admissions counselor explains the importance of the Georgia Tech average GPA.  

What does the Georgia Tech application include?

The first step in your plan for how to get into Georgia Tech is completing the Common Application before the Georgia Tech application deadline. For tips on how to ace the Common App, read this article. 

Georgia Tech admissions requires the following materials for your application:

Make sure you submit your application by the Georgia Tech application deadline:

  • Georgia Tech Early Action for in-state students: October 18
  • Georgia Tech Early Action for non-Georgia students: November 1 
  • Regular Decision: January 5

Georgia Tech admissions requires Georgia Tech SAT scores or ACT scores as part of your application. They use a holistic review process that includes Georgia Tech SAT scores and ACT scores.

Later in this “How to get into Georgia Tech” guide, we’ll explain parts of the application like the Georgia Tech essays in more depth. 

What extracurriculars do I need for Georgia Tech?

If you want to know how to get into Georgia Tech, start by asking yourself a few questions. What makes you unique? How do you pursue your passions? 

There is no cookie-cutter Georgia Tech student. The Georgia Tech admissions team wants the Georgia Tech enrollment to have varied backgrounds, interests, and experiences. 

Ultimately, there’s no single answer to how to get into Georgia Tech. Choosing one extracurricular over another will not help you make the Georgia Tech enrollment. However, your extracurriculars are a big part of what makes you stand out. So work hard and show your passion. Get started early in high school, well in advance of the Georgia Tech application deadline, especially if you are applying to Georgia Tech Early Action.

When thinking about how to get into Georgia Tech, it’s great to focus on the Georgia Tech average GPA, Georgia Tech SAT scores, and Georgia Tech essays. But you must also set aside some time to think about the traits Georgia Tech admissions will want to see in the extracurricular part of your application.

These traits include:

  • Commitment
  • Self-motivation
  • Personal responsibility
  • Compassion for others
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Entrepreneurism
  • Intellectual curiosity

The short answer to how to get into Georgia Tech is: authenticity. The Georgia Tech admissions office will be impressed by a candidate profile that shows you explore your passions, serve, lead others, and get involved in the community. 

Read more about how to showcase your extracurriculars in your application here. To learn more about developing the depth and breadth of your extracurricular activities, watch this webinar.

What is the acceptance rate at Georgia Tech?

When crafting your “how to get into Georgia Tech” strategy, keep in mind it is a competitive school, and its acceptance rate reflects that.

Georgia Tech is #38 in the U.S. News list of National Universities and #4 on the U.S. News list of Undergraduate Engineering Programs. The Georgia Tech acceptance rate is 18%. About 45,300 students applied to become part of the 2021 Georgia Tech enrollment, and 8105 were accepted. Learn more about how to interpret this acceptance rate here.  

Note that 18% is the rate for each Georgia Tech application deadline combined. The school doesn’t say whether Georgia Tech Early Action students have a better chance of acceptance. That said, given what we know about Early Action, applying Georgia Tech Early Action will probably improve your odds.  

For help deciding whether Georgia Tech Early Action is right for you, check out this article. 

Above all, don’t focus too much on rankings or acceptance rates, as they are out of your control. Instead, focus on your Georgia Tech essays, Georgia Tech SAT scores, and choosing a Georgia Tech application deadline.

Does Georgia Tech offer interviews?

You don’t need to include an interview in your plan for how to get into Georgia Tech—the admissions team doesn’t offer them. However, non-native English speakers can take part in an optional interview to demonstrate their English proficiency. Be sure to take and submit this before the Georgia Tech application deadline for documents!

Finally, remember that you can show your accomplishments in your Georgia Tech essays. 

How do I write a Georgia Tech essay?

Georgia admissions requires all students to submit Georgia Tech essays before the Georgia Tech application deadline. So make sure this is part of your “how to get into Georgia Tech” plan. Note that you must submit Georgia Tech essays in addition to the Common App essay.  

Georgia Tech Short-Answer Question (max 300 words): Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?

Georgia Tech essays are judged for content and quality, so thoroughly revise them before you submit your application. Brainstorm and draft the Georgia Tech essays well in advance of your Georgia Tech application deadline so you don’t feel rushed. This is particularly important if you are applying by the Georgia Tech Early Action deadline.

According to the school’s website, strong Georgia Tech essays:

  1. Demonstrate authenticity and self-awareness
  2. Are thoughtful
  3. Display attention to topic, style, and grammar
  4. Show that a student has thought about why Georgia Tech

Effective Georgia Tech essays take a variety of approaches to answering the prompt. However, they have certain elements in common. They are all specific and personal, and paint a clear picture of how the applicant would succeed at Georgia Tech and beyond. 

For advice on answering this prompt, read what the university says about Georgia Tech essays. In addition, you’ll find this essay guide helpful.

How does Georgia Tech review applications?

Georgia Tech admissions is transparent about its procedures for admitting students. This helps you create an effective strategy for how to get into Georgia Tech. 

Understanding the values and mission of the university can help you identify where you align with the school. Read more about how Georgia Tech thinks about whether you’re a good fit here. 

The Georgia Tech 2020-2021 Common Data Set includes information such as the average Georgia Tech SAT scores, Georgia Tech average GPA, Georgia Tech enrollment, and other factors in the process. This can help you understand how to get into Georgia Tech. 

According to Georgia Tech’s 2020–21 Common Data Set, the college ranks these factors as “very important:”

  • The rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Application Essay
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Character/personal qualities
  • Volunteer Work
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant’s interest

The following factors are ranked as “important:”

  • Standardized test scores
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency

Clearly, academic achievement is highly valued in the Georgia Tech admissions process. Regardless of the Georgia Tech average GPA, average Georgia Tech SAT scores, or acceptance rate, you must strive to succeed in each of your courses. 

Will Georgia Tech review my social media?

As you think about how to get into Georgia Tech, you may worry about how your social media presence will affect your Georgia Tech admissions odds. Georgia Tech receives tens of thousands of applications each year, so readers usually don’t have the time to look at your accounts.

However, you shouldn’t post offensive content on social media regardless. Even beyond the college application process, you should use social media responsibly. 

Our final recommendation is to play it safe. Georgia Tech likely won’t read your Twitter or check your Instagram, but there’s always an outside chance.

Is Georgia Tech a good school for me?

When determining how to get into Georgia Tech, think about it as a two-way street. You must earn admission, but you also must decide if Georgia Tech is the school for you. If the school is on your list, you may do research to learn about the Georgia Tech average GPA, Georgia Tech SAT scores, Georgia Tech enrollment, and Georgia Tech application deadlines. However, Georgia Tech admissions urges you to think beyond the numbers. 

Consider which of their over 100 majors you intend to study. Though it is possible, it can be difficult to change your major, particularly for some of Georgia Tech’s more competitive majors—computer science, industrial and systems engineering, and mechanical engineering. 

In addition, subscribe to Georgia Tech’s YouTube channel, follow Georgia Tech admissions office on social media, attend webinars, and visit campus to learn as much as you can before deciding to apply. 

Additional tips to get into Georgia Tech

Build your profile

Your candidate profile is a part of how to beat the low Georgia Tech acceptance rate. It’s the narrative you tell through your extracurriculars, service, and projects. This shows Georgia Tech who you are and what’s important to you. 

Prepare, prepare, prepare

Don’t wait to craft your “how to get into Georgia Tech” strategy until just before the Georgia Tech application deadline. If you want to be part of the Georgia Tech enrollment, you should have a strong academic record and get involved in activities that are important to you early in high school. 

No Georgia Tech average GPA or Georgia Tech SAT scores will assure you a spot in the next incoming class. However, don’t worry about what Georgia Tech wants to see or what others’ applications include. Submit the strongest application you can, and consider Georgia Tech Early Action if you are serious about being part of the Georgia Tech enrollment. Good luck!

This guide was written by Caroline Marapese, Notre Dame ’22. If you want to know how to get into Georgia Tech, we’ve got you covered. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes graduates from some of the country’s top schools. Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.