Georgia Tech - One of the Best Public Universities in the U.S.
Written: Mar 16 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Great education, Tremendous job opportunities upon graduation
Cons: LOTS of work, often 5-6 years to graduate
The Bottom Line: Georgia Tech is a great choice if you want to be an engineer and are willing to work hard, especially if you live in Georgia.
|
|
|
| basilisk4's Full Review: Georgia Institute of Technology |
Ever wonder if college could really be that hard? Well, if you go to Georgia Tech, it will be. On the other hand, you'll also get a great job when you graduate -- according to Georgia Tech's Career Services Department, Tech graduates average starting salaries between $32,000 and $50,000, depending on your major. It's up to you to decide for yourself whether or not that will be an acceptable trade-off.
As a former Computer Science major at Georgia Tech, I can tell you that this school is no place to play around. If you want a great education, along with lots of hard work and no social life for 4-6 years, then this is the place for you. Seriously, Georgia Tech is only for dedicated students. If you can't handle a challenge or expect to go out drinking and partying every night, you will be sorry if you enroll here. Georgia Tech has a proud tradition of high-quality higher education and is one of the oldest public technology-oriented universities in the country.
In its most recent college rankings, U.S. News and World Report ranked The Georgia Institute of Technology as the 8th best public university in the country, as well as #35 among all colleges and universities in the country. Perhaps more importantly, Tech has consistently been ranked as the #3 engineering school in the country. In addition, a whopping ten of Georgia Tech's degree programs are ranked within the top ten such programs in their respective fields in the country; another two are ranked within the top 15.
Georgia Tech has also been ranked one of the best overall values in the country, and it is easy to see why -- tuition for in-state residents costs about $3,000 a year. In addition, in-state residents can take advantage of the HOPE Scholarship program, which pays full tuition for any student attending a public college or university within the state of Georgia, as long as (s)he graduates high school with a 3.0 GPA or better. Even for out-of-state students, tuition isn't outrageous (at least compared to other schools at the same level), at around $11,000 a year.
The two years I spent at Georgia Tech could scarcely be described as anything much better than a living hell. My classes required constant work and studying, and most teachers were aloof, inaccessible, and uninterested in students' concerns. The feeling around the Tech campus is that you're there to learn (or at least to study), rather than the constant drinking and partying that many entering Freshmen expect to be able to do.
That's not to say that there are never any parties at Georgia Tech. Of course, there are frat parties every weekend, but the overall atmosphere is one more of having to get things done than what I've experienced at some other colleges. Those who want to party every night (or even many nights) will be able to do so to their hearts' content, but only for a couple semesters, after which point they will be kicked out. To put it bluntly, this is not play-time; it's the big time.
Given the number of credits they require, few of the degrees at Georgia Tech can honestly be considered traditional "four-year degrees." Students routinely stay at Tech for up to 6 years to finish a single undergraduate degree, and almost no one gets out in 4 years. Expect to work a lot, but if you make it, you'll be glad you did.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
basilisk4
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Location: Atlanta, GA
Reviews written: 233
Trusted by: 214 members
About Me:
Soon-to-be married 26-year-old lawyer who likes electronics, computers, and cars.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.