georgia tech essay 2023

Georgia Tech 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Oct 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 6

Georgia Tech 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: Why

Supplemental Essay Type(s): 1  essay of 300 words

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? (50-300 words)  

Admissions wants to know how you plan on using a Georgia Tech education to accomplish your career goals. Some schools ask students why they want to attend or why they like different offerings, but Georgia Tech isn’t messing around. They’re asking you to specifically speak about academics here, so don’t waste your time researching the dining halls. Why study here? Why study this subject? And finally, why study this subject at Georgia Tech, specifically? Spend some time learning about Georgia Tech’s majors, classes, professors, resources, and alumni network. Pore over the website for the department you’re interested in and soak up information about faculty, research, guest speakers, and special opportunities for undergraduates. Jot down the details that appeal to you and by the end of your research session, you’ll have everything you need to plead your case. Connect the school’s offerings to your personal interests and goals and you will demonstrate your fit and commitment to the school. What career path do you see for yourself? Is Georgia Tech known for producing successful graduates in that department? The more details you can provide, the better.

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Two essays of 300 words each (max) are required as part of the transfer application. The purpose of the essays is to assess your writing ability and, more importantly, to learn more about you as an individual. This portion of the application helps us get to know you, assess mutual fit and better understand what you could contribute to Georgia Tech.

Essay Questions

Required Essays

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?

Georgia Tech's Strategic Plan outlines  nine distinct Institute values . Select one and discuss how your past experiences have prepared you to contribute to our community.

What Are We Looking for in Your Essays?

Essays are evaluated for both content and writing/grammatical skills. So, before submitting your application, you should take the time to edit and review your essay thoroughly. The traits of a strong essay include ones that:

Demonstrate authenticity.

Brings you to life on paper.

Are excellent in topic, style, and grammar.

Demonstrate thoughtfulness.

Demonstrate a student has thought about why Georgia Tech, specifically, is a fit for them and how their goals align with  Georgia Tech’s Values . The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.

Our Advice for this Portion of the Application

Get started early. Don’t wait until the last minute to complete your essays!

Write and edit your essay in a document editor. Once you have the final draft, you can cut and paste it into your online application.

Don’t overthink it. It may not be easy to write about yourself, but just write what you feel most comfortable with.

Don’t write what you think we want to read. Write what you want to say!

In the same way you would not copy directly from any other source you may incorporate into the writing process; you should not copy and paste directly out of any AI platform or submit work that you did not originally create. Instead, approach and consider any interaction with an AI tool as a learning experience that may help you generate ideas, provide alternative phrasing options, and organize your thoughts. Ultimately, we want to read and hear your unique and valuable writing style.

Per Georgia state law and Georgia Tech policy , all admission staff are mandatory reporters who are required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect of minors to appropriate authorities. Any statements in written materials, including anywhere in a student’s application or supporting materials, that give admission staff reasonable cause to believe abuse or neglect of someone under the age of 18 may have occurred must be reported to the Georgia Tech Police Department. Learn more about reporting requirements .

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2 Georgia Tech Essay Examples

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Georgia Institute of Technology is one of the foremost schools in the country for STEM-related majors, such as computer science, engineering, and mathematics. Situated in Atlanta, there are plenty of opportunities for students to get real-world experience in their field through internships and study abroad. 

While writing any college essay can be intimidating, admissions officers at Georgia Tech are especially selective, so make sure your essays are top notch! In this post, we will be going over two essays real students submitted to Georgia Tech. In addition, we will explain what each essay did well and where they could improve to inspire your writing.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Georgia Tech essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Essay Example #1

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

I held my breath and hit RUN. Yes! A plump white cat jumped out and began to catch the falling pizzas. Although my Fat Cat project seems simple now, it was the beginning of an enthusiastic passion for computer science. Four years and thousands of hours of programming later, that passion has grown into an intense desire to explore how computer science can serve society. Every day, surrounded by technology that can recognize my face and recommend scarily-specific ads, I’m reminded of Uncle Ben’s advice to a young Spiderman: “with great power comes great responsibility”. Likewise, the need to ensure digital equality has skyrocketed with AI’s far-reaching presence in society; and I believe that digital fairness starts with equality in education.

The unique use of threads at the College of Computing perfectly matches my interests in AI and its potential use in education; the path of combined threads on Intelligence and People gives me the rare opportunity to delve deep into both areas. I’m particularly intrigued by the rich sets of both knowledge-based and data-driven intelligence courses, as I believe AI should not only show correlation of events, but also provide insight for why they occur.

In my four years as an enthusiastic online English tutor, I’ve worked hard to help students overcome both financial and technological obstacles in hopes of bringing quality education to people from diverse backgrounds. For this reason, I’m extremely excited by the many courses in the People thread that focus on education and human-centered technology. I’d love to explore how to integrate AI technology into the teaching process to make education more available, affordable, and effective for people everywhere. And with the innumerable opportunities that Georgia Tech has to offer, I know that I will be able to go further here than anywhere else.

What the Essay Did Well

The strongest part of this essay is the hook. It captures the attention of the reader and immediately draws them into the story. Yet, still, the reader is left with a desire to know how the anecdote ends; this sets a great flow and general outline for the essay. Another important aspect of the in medias res technique is how to “zoom out” from the story to the main point of the essay in a way that remains personal to the author. This essay does this very well by tying the computer game into the student’s passion for computer science in the second sentence.

This essay also does a great job of answering the prompt. “Threads” are something unique to the College of Computing at Georgia Tech, and this student makes it clear that the path they want to pursue is only possible through this program. We can also see their personality shine through in this essay. This student is someone who is invested in equality and justice, as evidenced by the reference to Spiderman, their past as an English tutor, and their interest in the People thread.

What Could Be Improved

This essay does a good job covering the basics of the prompt, but it could be elevated with more nuance and detail. The biggest thing missing from this essay is a strong core to tie everything together. And no, the student’s major is not enough of a core. So what do we mean? We want to see a common theme, anecdote, or motivation that is weaved throughout the entire essay to connect everything. Take the Spiderman quote for example. If this was expanded it could have been the perfect core for this essay.

Underlying this student’s interest in AI is a passion for social justice, so they could have used the quote about power and responsibility to talk about existing injustices with AI and how once they have the power to create AI they will act responsibly and help affected communities. They are clearly passionate about equality of education, but there is a disconnect between education and AI that comes from a lack of detail. To strengthen the core of the essay, this student needs to include real-world examples of how AI is fostering inequities in education. This takes their essay from theoretical to practical. In addition to establishing a current issue, they also need to include concrete details about their aspirations, more than simply a hope to “ integrate AI technology into the teaching process .”

Bringing details to every level of your essay makes it infinitely easier for your reader to conceptualize what you are saying, thus allowing them to see how the entire essay fits together as one.

Essay Example #2

Climate change is a human rights issue.  

There the headline was, screaming on my phone screen. I think about those suffering from a lack of clean water. I think about those suffering from a lack of clean air. 

I often think back to that headline – it’s what drives my passion for environmental engineering. As an environmental engineer, I can mitigate air pollution and design water treatment systems that address the water injustices that people face. However, it’s not just about creating a technology that cleans water; it’s about changing people’s lives. New technologies can make a lasting difference in humanitarian issues worldwide; Georgia Tech’s research on creating a toilet that turns human waste into clean water for those in need of improved sanitation aligns perfectly with my interests.   

At Georgia Tech, through the student-led organization, Engineers for a Sustainable World and the InVenture Prize, I can translate the knowledge gained from my classes into a concrete vision. I can design and implement hands-on sustainability projects around Atlanta and invent a water sanitation system for the on-site acquisition of clean water. 

Georgia Tech can also provide me with ample research opportunities, such as the broad area of Healthy Communities in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. I can further pursue my interest in developing solutions to deliver clean water while welcoming new areas of inquiry. An area I would like to explore would be the controlling of dangerous matter in the air to reduce health hazards; reducing the impact of climate change is of utmost importance to me. 

Studying environmental engineering at Georgia Tech would well prepare me to develop solutions to climate-related issues. With the countless opportunities that Georgia Tech has to offer, I know there is nowhere else where I can receive a better environmental engineering education.

This essay immediately tells the reader exactly what this student is passionate about with the attention-grabbing phrase “ Climate change is a human rights issue ,” and each subsequent line delivers on that statement. The student was true to themself and picked a particular environmental issue that they cared about—clean water—and they thoroughly demonstrated how they will make that their primary goal at Georgia Tech.

Choosing one specific issue that you care deeply about and finding unique programs at a school that directly relate to your social problem makes for a vastly stronger essay than one that generally talks about climate change and the need to address it. Because this student honed in on clean water, they could talk about the sanitation toilet designed by Georgia Tech (demonstrating a high level of research on the school), Engineers for a Sustainable World (showing the hands-on experience they will gain with water sanitation), and the intersection of their interest with the topic of Healthy Communities (illustrating their intellectual curiosity).

This student knows exactly what they want and how Georgia Tech will get them there. Their direct tone makes them sound confident, driven, and determined to make the world a better place.

The biggest thing that stands out in this essay is the lack of a personal connection to the student. Especially when they begin the essay with a statement that climate change affects human rights, meaning the rights of everyone, it is ironic that this student never discusses their personal rights. Instead, they “ think about those suffering from a lack of clean water ” and the “ water injustices that people face. “

One downside of separating yourself from a global humanitarian issue like climate change is that it paints you as a savior, which isn’t always received in the best light. Even more importantly, you miss out on the perfect chance to include personal anecdotes and your emotions—the best way to reveal your character to admissions officers!

Rather than telling us how this student thinks about others suffering, they should have shared a story about the polluted water in a nearby stream they can’t swim in or acid rain that corroded the playground that was a staple of their childhood. These are just examples, but they get at the idea of including concrete examples about the way polluted water has personally affected this child and the mental toll seeing the world around them be threatened has on them.

Where to Get Your Georgia Tech  Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Georgia Tech essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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3 Tips for Writing Stellar Georgia Tech Essays

College Info , College Essays

Before you envision yourself getting settled in at Georgia Tech, you must get over the hurdle of writing the Georgia Tech essays. The Georgia Tech supplement requires you to write a short essay specifically for Georgia Tech. But what is the essay prompt? And what should you include in your Georgia Tech essay?

Keep reading to learn exactly what the Georgia Tech essay is, what kinds of topics you can write about (and what kinds of topics to avoid), and how to ensure you're submitting a quality essay.

Feature Image: Wally Gobetz /Flickr

What Are the Georgia Tech Supplement Essay Prompts?

The Georgia Tech application includes a total of two essays . For one of these, you'll choose one of the seven Common App prompts to respond to, and the other is specific to Georgia Tech. Here's the Georgia Tech prompt:

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?

How to Write the "Why Georgia Tech?" Essay

This prompt is a version of the "why this college?" prompt . Specifically, this prompt is a "why us?" prompt: It's asking you to elaborate on why this college and the major you've chosen are best suited to you and your aspirations. In other words, what about Georgia Tech and the field of study you want to pursue there will help you achieve your future goals?

To answer this question, you'll need to do some research on Georgia Tech and the academic program you're applying to . The easiest way to do this is to go to the Georgia Tech website to get an overview of what's offered by your program, including the kinds of classes, study abroad options, professors, and internship opportunities.

If possible, I suggest visiting the campus to sit in on classes and meet professors so you can get a clearer feel for the academic program as well as the environment at Georgia Tech as a whole.

In your essay, try to pick a specific characteristic to focus on —don't just say you want to attend Georgia Tech because it's prestigious or well-known. Lots of colleges are!

Next, you'll need to know how your education at Georgia Tech will help you after college . For example, you could write about how you think Georgia Tech's cooperative education program will help you gain relevant professional experience and make connections with like-minded peers.

Regardless of what aspects of Georgia Tech and your major you want to write about, make sure to clearly connect the essay back to you and your own interests and goals .

Here are some possible topics you could use for your "Why Georgia Tech?" essay:

• An anecdote relating some sort of positive personal experience you had at Georgia Tech (such as while on a campus tour)
• A positive interaction you had with someone affiliated with Georgia Tech, such as a current student or professor involved with the major you're applying for
• Your excitement about getting to work with a particular faculty member  and how this opportunity will help you further your career goals
• Your enthusiasm for getting to study in a program, major, or minor that's not usually offered at many schools or that has a unique, interesting angle at Georgia Tech
• A special facility or piece of equipment you're looking forward to being able to work in or with that isn't offered on other campuses or is very rare

Georgia Tech Essay Examples + Analysis

We've written two Georgia Tech essay examples to help give you an idea as to what and how you could write your Why Georgia Tech essay. Additionally, we go over what makes them good essays for a Georgia Tech application.

Georgia Tech Essay Example 1

"Honestly, I can't imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't gone to Georgia Tech."

Katrina was a few years older than me and the sister of my best friend, Troy, who'd given me her email address so I could ask any questions I had about her time at Georgia Tech. This was the last line of her response—and by far the most memorable.

Like Katrina, I can't imagine myself not attending Georgia Tech. As an aspiring environmental engineer, I see Georgia Tech as a gateway to not just learning but also professional success. The flexibility of the major would allow me to focus specifically on my passion for reducing the negative effects of climate change and securing access to clean water. As a senior, I plan to take several hydraulics-focused electives.

In addition, through the InVenture Prize, which I hope to participate in at least twice, I'll be able to utilize the knowledge I've gained through my classes, projects, and fieldwork by translating it into a concrete vision—specifically, an invention that will increase the availability of fresh, healthy water for disadvantaged communities.

After graduation, and as a proud Georgia Tech alumnus (ideally with an InVenture Prize), I plan to implement the skills I've gained through my environmental engineering major in the nonprofit sector.

I haven't met Katrina yet, but I feel as though I know her—perhaps it's that shared sense of joy at having discovered the perfect school for the paths we've chosen.

Here's why this Georgia Tech essay works:

• It's got a creative hook that draws you in. This Georgia Tech essay opens with a quotation that immediately makes it feel as though you're reading a compelling story. It then goes on to connect this hook directly to the narrator who "can't imagine … not attending Georgia Tech," ensuring the focus remains on the applicant and not Katrina.
• It mentions specific features of Georgia Tech. The applicant doesn't just write about how prestigious Georgia Tech is but specifically mentions opportunities she's interested in taking advantage of, such as hydraulics courses and the famous InVenture Prize competition.

The mark of a good college essay is an acceptance letter!

Georgia Tech Essay Example 2

Atlanta has been my home all my life, and I've always known that I want to be one of the people who help make it such a wonderful place to live. My dream is to create my own business that makes it easier for other start-up businesses to get up and running. Georgia Tech is my dream school because I know it will give me the absolute best chance of achieving my goals.

The course catalog for Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business makes it clear that all business students receive a top-notch and comprehensive business education no matter what area they choose to focus on. However, what really interests me is Scheller's emphasis on entrepreneurship. I'm so excited to take advantage of the opportunities the school offers, like LBAT and study abroad programs that focus on starting a new business, the certificate in entrepreneurship, and the Enterprise Innovation Institute where I hope to collaborate with professors, business leaders, and peers to learn how to create and grow and successful business of my own.

Growing up in Atlanta, learned early that it has many resources for people hoping to go into business, and I know Georgia Tech will help me take advantage of them. Under the school's internship program, I hope to work for a start-up company, learning about what makes some new companies thrive while others fail, and getting on-the-ground experience learning what new companies need to do well and avoid common pitfalls. I'll also use Georgia Tech's extensive connections with local business leaders to continue to expand my business acumen outside the classroom.

I have so many ideas for what I want to do with my career, and I can't wait to attend Georgia Tech to learn the skills I need to make these dreams possible.

• It goes in-depth on what Georgia Tech offers. Like the first essay, this one also gets specific on exactly which parts of the school the writer plans to take advantage of the most. From mentioning the course catalog, specific business programs, and the school's connections with the community, it's clear the writer did her research and knows which of Georgia Tech's resources will be of most value to her.
• It has a clear vision of a career path. You don't need to know exactly what you want to do after you graduate college, but having a general idea can really help you show the admissions committee how you're going to take advantage of what Georgia Tech offers. In this case, it's the entrepreneurship and business opportunities at the school, which will help the writer start her own business after graduation.

How to Write a Great Georgia Tech Essay: Three Essential Tips

Now that you know the specifics of the Why Georgia Tech essay prompt, here are three key tips to use while writing your essay.

#1: Be Specific and Concise

The Georgia Tech supplemental essay only gives you room for up to 300 words. That's a pretty short essay! Since you're so limited in terms of length, you'll need to make sure you're using the space you have wisely. Don't write super flowery, verbose descriptions or rely on overly vague examples.

Instead, be as specific as you can be so that you're emphasizing only the most important parts of the story you want to tell. Specificity will make your essay more concise and easier to follow.

#2: Show, Don't Tell

You've probably heard this refrain a million times, but it's especially important for college essays: show your experiences, emotions, and perspectives instead of simply telling them to your readers . Doing this will make your Georgia Tech essays sound vibrant and alive rather than dull and boring.

One of the very best ways to catapult your descriptions to a whole new level and to lend a stronger voice to your writing is to use a variety of literary devices , including flashbacks, anecdotes, imagery, and euphemisms.

#3: Polish and Proofread

Before you submit your Georgia Tech essays, make sure to take some time to read them over, edit them, get feedback, and proofread them.

The best way to do this is to start by writing a rough draft. Once finished, put your essay away for a little while—from a couple of days to a week or so depending on the amount of time you have left before college applications are due —and then take it out again.

As you read your essay, mark any areas that are unclear, awkwardly worded, or irrelevant . You should also proofread your essay for any glaring typos and errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar.

Once you've repeated this process a few times, it's time to get a new set of eyes to look it over for you. Ask someone you trust, such as a teacher, parent, or counselor, to read your essay and offer comments and corrections on it.

Doing all of this will ensure that your essay is completely polished by the time you turn it in to Georgia Tech!

What's Next?

If you're reading this, you're likely not only applying to Georgia Tech. Get more tips with our expert guides to the Stanford essays , the Northwestern essay , and the Harvard essay .

Applying through the Common App? Check out this comprehensive list of schools that accept the Common App , and learn more about how to write the Common App essay .

To learn more about Georgia Tech and how to get in, take a look at its admission requirements page .

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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How to Write the Georgia Tech Application Essays 2023-2024

November 3, 2023

Are you ready to take on the challenge of applying to Georgia Tech? With its prestigious reputation and cutting-edge programs, getting accepted into this top-tier university is no easy feat. But fear not! In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of writing the Georgia Tech application essays, giving you the tools and strategies you need to stand out from the competition and showcase your true potential. From understanding the essay prompts to crafting a compelling narrative, we'll cover it all. So, grab your pen and paper, because it's time to dive into the world of Georgia Tech admissions and unlock the secrets to writing a winning application essay.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay Prompt 2023-2024

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at georgia tech.

This is an accelerated version of the “why this school” essay, with a more clear focus on your choice of major. Your response shouldn’t revolve around broad categories that make Georgia Tech wonderful - everyone knows it’s a strong STEM college. This essay is not asking you to highlight extracurricular, cultural, or other resources at Georgia Tech; this essay is explicitly asking you to speak in depth about Georgia Tech's academic resources —major, curriculum, classes, professors, and more. When you get started, think about how a Georgia Tech education pertains to your goals, specifically. This means that you have to identify your goals in the first place. Then, whether you are applying for Industrial Design or Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies, demonstrate how Georgia Tech will help you accomplish your specific goals. The key is to connect experiences and aspirations with academic reasons for why  you’ve chosen the school. 

Research is the key to any “why this school” essay. Before you write this response, it’s important to sit down and look through Georgia Tech’s majors and course offerings in great detail. Once you’ve decided which major appeals to you, it’s time to think about your own experiences. How did your love for the field begin? How have you honed your skills in the discipline since then? If you’ve taken any challenging courses or started relevant clubs, how is Georgia Tech the perfect place for you to continue your exploration? No matter which major you’ve chosen, it’s important to show admissions officers why your interest makes sense for you and that your dedication to the field is real. 

Remember to keep in mind what the school is looking for! An important part of doing school research includes digging in to find out what the school wants out of these essays. On its website , Georgia Tech adds that it’s wants your responses to achieve the following:

• Demonstrate authenticity & self-awareness
• Demonstrate thoughtfulness
• Display attention to topic, style, and grammar
• Demonstrate a student has thought about why Georgia Tech, specifically, is a fit for them and how their goals align with Georgia Tech’s mission statement: “The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.”

Make sure your answer fits this bill. If you’ve got any doubts, make sure you ask another reader such as a teacher, parent, friend, or college counselor to see if you’re meeting the criteria. Additionally, cut unnecessary words! It’s obvious that the Georgia Tech College supplemental essay 2023-2024 provides you very little room to write your answers. It can be tricky to get your point across in so little space. But, you can’t change the limit. So don’t waste your time sulking or complaining about the fact that you’re 300 words over on your essay and start cutting words. Use a thesaurus, ask a teacher or friend for feedback, and read sentences out loud to see if they’d still make sense if you shorten them. 

The Georgia Tech application essays 2023-2024 provide you with the chance to tell the admissions officer who you are. While the first prompt is all about showing that you really have done your research, the optional essays enable you to share more about your background and interests. Both are golden opportunities to solidify your interest in Georgia Tech and convince them how you embody the values they look for in students. So, take advantage of the supplemental essay component. Your knowledge of the school and stories exemplifying Georgia Tech’s ideal characteristics might end up getting you admitted.

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How to Write the Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay 2024–2025

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Georgia Institute of Technology , located in Atlanta, GA, is a highly rated public research university. Georgia Tech’s alumni include astronauts , Olympians , and former president Jimmy Carter . Many students pursuing careers in biotechnology , aerospace engineering , and other fields seek admission at this prestigious institution. Composing your Georgia Tech supplemental essay is an integral step toward achieving admission. Let’s dive right in.

Georgia Tech’s 2024-2025 Prompt

Why do you want to study your chosen major and why do you want to study your major at georgia tech (300 words or fewer).

General Tips

Given that Georgia Tech only has one prompt for prospective students to answer in this upcoming admissions cycle, it may feel like there is a lot of pressure to make your response to this prompt perfect. While the rest of this article will help you compose the best version of this essay that you can, before starting your essay, you may want to outline your essay before writing (or after!).

There are two main approaches to writing an essay: drafting, and outlining then drafting. If you’ve already decided your essay topic, then outlining first might be your best bet. This way, you can make sure your essay focuses on that one topic and doesn’t stray.

If you’re struggling to decide what to focus on in your supplemental essay, drafting a few ideas and exploring these ideas through writing can help bring you closer to what you really want to write about.

However, if pursuing this strategy, you need to be especially careful that your essay is cohesive and efficiently written. If you choose not to write an outline first, you may want to write one after you’ve composed your draft. This will help you organize your existing essay. Known as a reverse outline, and this strategy can help you identify structural issues in an essay draft.

Georgia Institute of Technology Short Essay Question

In this essay prompt, the reader expects you to describe firstly what you want to study at Georgia Tech, and secondly why you want to study this subject at Georgia Tech. Let’s break it down.

The admissions committee expects you to share the following three pieces of information:

• what you want to study.
• why you want to study this subject.
• how Georgia Tech specifically is a great place for you study this subject.

You can take your response to this prompt in a few different directions. For instance, you could focus on a specific program or course that you would like to get involved in while at Georgia Tech. Then, you could explain how Georgia Tech’s unique opportunities fit with your academic interests.

Alternatively, you could focus on the unique career outcomes of students in your prospective major. Then, go on to describe how your dreams align with those outcomes. To take things in a third direction, you could start by describing your academic interests. Then, explain how the unique opportunities in your chosen department would support your academic interests.

You may have noticed a common theme in this breakdown so far: specificity. Half the battle with this particular essay is doing thorough and thoughtful research into the programs at Georgia Tech that interest you. That way, you can explain why Georgia Tech specifically is the school for you. Although Georgia Tech does not consider applicants’ demonstrated interest (according to the Common Data Set ), the admissions team may evaluate your academic and social fit for Georgia Tech through this essay question.

In other words, taking the time to understand the opportunities available to you at a school not only helps you write your essays but also helps show the admissions officers how you will fit into their school. Perhaps your fit is not obvious or your interests are an atypical blend of disciplines. Alternatively, maybe you’re worried that your academic interests won’t stand out from the crowd. Whatever the reason, doing your research and being specific in your supplemental essay will go a long way toward emphasizing to the admissions committee that you’re a great candidate for their school.

If you need help polishing up your Georgia Tech supplemental essay, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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Georgia Tech Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts and Advice

July 23, 2024

Georgia Tech has always been an excellent university where one could receive a top-notch educational experience. However, it was not always a highly selective institution on the admissions front. In fact, back in the days of the Clinton White House, Georgia Tech accepted over two-thirds of those who applied. In 2024, this is a school that only admits 10% of out-of-state applicants (let that sink in a moment…). It’s fair to say that an applicant to Georgia Tech today is playing a completely different ballgame than applicants in 1995, 2005, or even 2015. Even students with nothing lower than an A- on their transcript and an SAT/ACT score above the 95th percentile still need a compelling application in order to have strong odds of becoming a Yellow Jacket. That brings us to the Georgia Tech supplemental essays…

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into Georgia Tech? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Georgia Tech: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Although it only has one general essay prompt, Georgia Tech’s supplemental section still affords applicants an opportunity to illustrate what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below is Georgia Tech’s supplemental essay for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. The College Transitions team also dishes advice on how to pen a winning essay.

2024-2025 Georgia Tech Essay Question

Why do you want to study your chosen major, and why do you want to study that major at Georgia Tech? (300 words)

This is part “Why Us?” and part “Explain Your Major.” Your aim is to seamlessly touch on both topics in a tightly woven 300-word composition. Georgia Tech is very forthcoming in its essay-related advice to applicants. They wisely advise all applicants to demonstrate “authenticity & self-awareness,” “thoughtfulness,” and to “display attention to topic, style, and grammar.”

For the “Explain Your Major” part of the essay, think about what experiences you’ve had—academic or extracurricular, formal or informal—that sparked and/or encouraged your passion or interest. For example, perhaps you had a significant experience within a club, held an internship, attended a summer program, or did a research project on a particular topic in a class at school. Alternatively, perhaps you became fascinated with automotive engineering after helping out at your grandfather’s autobody shop, discovered your affinity for entrepreneurship after starting a small side business, or unearthed a talent for coding via free classes at your local library.

Now, for a deeper dive into the “Why Us” segment, let’s examine the list of common pitfalls followed by a list of characteristics of a winning Georgia Tech supplemental essay:

Common components of a mediocre “Why Georgia Tech?” essay

• Georgia Tech’s engineering/business/computer science program is atop the U.S. News rankings, is prestigious, and has a great reputation.
• Generalities about why Atlanta is an ideal location for your college experience.
• Generalities about why Atlanta is an exciting/cosmopolitan/diverse/culture-filled city.
• Too many generic expressions of feeling (e.g. I know with all my being that Georgia Tech is the school for me…).
• Recycled statements from your other “Why Us?” essays that come across as stale, impersonal, or worst of all–irrelevant/inaccurate.

How to write a needle-moving “Why Georgia Tech?” essay

• Demonstrate how your goals align with the school’s mission statement. “The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.”
• Cite specific academic programs, professors, research opportunities , internship/externship programs, study abroad programs , student-run organizations , etc.
• Demonstrate how will you be an active, contributing member of the academic community at Georgia Tech.
• Show evidence of how your past/current endeavors will carry over onto Georgia Tech’s campus.
• Note how you will take advantage of Georgia Tech’s immense resources both inside and outside of the classroom.
• Lastly, address why Georgia Tech is the perfect fit for you. Also, touch on why you are the perfect fit for Georgia Tech.

Big-picture thoughts on a “Why this Major/College” essay

In any “Why Us?” composition, you need to show that you’ve done your homework on a given school. Yet, you don’t want it to read like a robotic list of items that you Googled ten minutes before writing the essay (even if the timing of the Google search is roughly accurate).

In addition to the pure research element, a lot of the time and skill required in creating a stellar Georgia Tech essay will involve connecting the classes, professors, opportunities, etc. of interest that you have uncovered to your distinct values, talents, aims, proficiencies, and future goals.

How important is the essay at this school?

Eight factors are “very important” to the Georgia Tech evaluation process. The Common App and supplemental essays are among them. Additional factors considered “very important” are: rigor of coursework, GPA, recommendations, extracurricular activities, character/personal qualities, volunteer work, work experience, and the level of the applicant’s demonstrated interest (which a good essay can certainly speak to).

Georgia Tech Admission Essays – Personalized Assistance

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Georgia Tech supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

Looking for additional writing resources? We’ve got you covered:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
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How to write the georgia institute of technology essay, updated for 2023-2024, why do you want to study your chosen major and why do you want to study your major at georgia tech* (300 words or fewer).

Before you start working on your application, we recommend that you start by reading the Advice from Georgia Tech’s Office of Undergraduate Admission :

What Are We Looking for in Your Essays? Essays are evaluated for both content and writing/grammatical skills. So, before submitting your application, you should take the time to edit and review your essay thoroughly. The traits of a strong essay include ones that:

• Demonstrate authenticity & self-awareness.
• Demonstrate thoughtfulness.
• Display attention to topic, style, and grammar.
• Demonstrate a student has thought about why Georgia Tech, specifically, is a fit for them and how their goals align with Georgia Tech’s Values. The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.

Our Advice for this Portion of the Application

• Get started early. Don’t wait until the last minute to complete your essays! Write and edit your essay in a document editor. Once you have the final draft, you can cut and paste it into your online application.
• Don’t write what you think we want to read. Write what you want to say!
• Don’t blow off the essay! We wouldn’t ask you to write it if we didn’t find it to be an important way to get to know you, and what you could bring to Georgia Tech.
• In the same way you would not copy directly from any other source you may incorporate into the writing process, you should not copy and paste directly out of any AI platform or submit work that you did not originally create. Instead, approach and consider any interaction with an AI tool as a learning experience that may help you generate ideas, provide alternative phrasing options, and organize your thoughts. Ultimately, we want to read and hear your unique and valuable writing style.

Explanation:

Consider this prompt a combination of the typical “Why this Major” and “Why Our School” questions. As you think about your answer, be sure to provide insight not only about why you wish to pursue your chosen academic interest and any experiences you already have in the field, but also about how the specific resources at Georgia Tech can help support your academic and career goals! Whether it be research opportunities, professors you hope to work with, or the teaching resources at one of their six colleges, the more detailed your answer is, the better. Don’t forget to weave in mention of one or more of Georgia Tech’s core values and how they align with your broader academic and personal pursuits!

As I displayed my vibrant Introduction to Python presentation through the projector, the 30 girls chatting excitedly settled into utter silence.

Since ninth grade, I’ve spent every weekend and school break teaching STEM classes to girls from low-income families at my local library. One of my favorite parts of the program has been designing a Python curriculum and watching the magic of code unfold for my students. From crafting lines that draw silly stick figures to writing looped commands for solving questions like converting our age to days, I’m always overjoyed to witness the growth in the girls’ confidence after successfully solving complex challenges.

Georgia Tech’s BSCS program at the College of Computing and commitment to making a positive impact through innovation present unique opportunities for me to further explore CS and its intersectionality with disciplines like human-centered design, while allowing me to use that knowledge to give back. By following the People Threads Curriculum, I can not only equip myself with the essential skills needed to develop interactive software using a human-centered approach, but also apply my learnings to real world applications. Taking courses like “Human-Computer Interaction” will allow me to develop a thorough understanding of the underlying principles guiding human interactions with computers, while “Educational Technology: Design and Evaluation” provides me the opportunity to practice creating effective educational software.

Beyond the classroom, I look forward to joining organizations like Women@CC, where I can be surrounded by inspiring, like-minded women in a male-dominated field. Through education abroad opportunities such as the Georgia Tech China Summer Program, I can deepen my connection to my cultural background and understand it in an academic context. Georgia Tech’s College of Computing offers the best resources for the undergraduate education I hope to receive, and I can’t wait to further explore on campus.

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How to Respond to the 2023-2024 Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay Prompts

Ginny Howey is a former content writer at Scholarships360. Ginny graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2022 with a degree in Media and Journalism (Advertising/PR focus) and minors in Entrepreneurship and Spanish. Ginny’s professional experience includes two summers as a writer intern at global creative consultancy BCG BrightHouse. More recently, Ginny worked as a content marketing intern for Durham-based software engineering bootcamp Momentum, where she gained SEO skills. She has also written freelance articles on emerging tech for A.I. startup Resultid.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. Commonly known as Georgia Tech, this university is  known for its top engineering programs. Georgia Tech has a 16% overall acceptance rate, so you will need to really showcase your strengths in order to stand out amongst so many applicants.

After completing Common Application personal essay , Georgia Tech applicants should turn their attention to supplemental essays. Although many schools have multiple prompts to answer, Georgia Tech asks for just one. 

For some students, this is great news because it’s less writing. On the other hand, it also gives you less space to elaborate on your story. With proper planning, however, you are sure to communicate your personality and goals successfully. 

Let’s take a deep-dive into the Georgia Tech supplemental essays. Read on for tips on how to craft a stand-out response!

Also see:  Scholarhips360’s free scholarship search tool

Georgia Tech supplemental essays: Prompt #1 

“Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? (50-300 words)”

This prompt is a classic “why” question. But unlike some other schools’ questions that reference the whole student experience, you need to drill down on academics here. There are two main pieces, asking: What is your biggest intellectual interest? And why is Georgia Tech the best place to study this topic? 

You should have chosen your major for a reason. Have you always had a knack for a certain subject? Are you fascinated by the developments in a particular field? Do you have a dream career? Think about what draws you to this major and an anecdote that brings this reasoning to life. For example, say your intended major is Building Construction. You could discuss how your biggest role model growing up was your grandfather, a general contractor. A nice hook could be describing your childhood enthralled with exploring his lots in-progress. Or, perhaps you have your sights set on Biomedical Engineering. Your anecdote could be about a revolutionary medical device that emulates the type of innovation you hope to contribute to.

There are all kinds of ways to elaborate, from sharing a personal story to discussing an individual curiosity. Adding in this detail goes a long way in letting your sincerity shine through.  Computer and Information Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering are GT’s most popular majors. Keep in mind there will be heightened pressure to convey your distinction for these study tracks with so many top-notch applicants. 

Also see:  How to write an essay about yourself

Do your GT homework!

Now that you have stated why you selected your particular major, do your research. GT consistently ranks as one of the top technology, science, and business universities. Investigate why that may be. Look into GT’s course catalogs, professors, student research, alumni, special events, and more. Make a list of anything that genuinely excites you. Then, see how you can utilize these intriguing offerings to help accomplish your academic and professional aspirations. The more specific you can be, the better.

Finally, keep GT’s mission in mind. It states: The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university established by the state of Georgia in Atlanta in 1885 and committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. How will you take advantage of GT’s resources to accomplish these noble feats? What new groundbreaking discoveries do you hope to make? What plans do you have for giving back to the community through your major? 

These three components to the prompt should end up telling a cohesive narrative. First, offer a story for why you chose your major. Next, explain why GT is the best choice for pursuing that major and why (with details). And to conclude, how will your studies make a difference? 

Questions to consider: 

• What fuels your intellectual curiosity?  
• How might your major help you achieve your career aspirations?
• Which distinct Georgia Tech resources are you most excited to utilize? 
• How can the field of technology be improved? 

Final thoughts for students

The Georgia Tech admissions committee offers advice for applicants on their website. Beyond making sure you are addressing the prompt content-wise, don’t forget strong writing skills. Be sure you are submitting a well-written, grammatically correct response. Also avoid repetition. In addition, don’t try to write what you think admissions wants to hear; being true to what your passion is will ensure your voice is authentic. Finally, be confident! Conviction in your path to achieve your dreams will signal to GT that you are a great fit. You can ace this essay! 

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Additional resources

As you’re applying to colleges, you have a lot of decisions to make. While you work on your Georgia Tech supplemental essays, check out some of our resources to help guide you through other questions.

• Finding safety, reach, and match schools
• How many schools should I apply to?
• How to complete the Common App activities section
• Asking for letters of recommendation for college

Other colleges to consider

• University of Georgia (Athens, GA)
• Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
• Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC)

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Master the Georgia Tech Supplemental Essays for 2023-2024 Admissions

Georgia Institute of Technology, known for its strong emphasis on STEM education and vibrant campus life, offers a host of undergraduate programs to its diverse student body. The admissions team at Georgia Tech is looking for candidates who can best fit into its ethos of progress and service. To make your application stand out, you need to effectively approach the Georgia Tech supplemental essays.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay Prompts

Here's a rundown of the 2023-2024 admissions cycle prompts:

Prompt 1: Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? (250-300 words)

Advice: This question requires a two-part approach. Firstly, explain why you are attracted to your chosen major. Discuss personal experiences, interests, or influences that led to this choice. Secondly, connect this to Georgia Tech's offerings. Maybe it's a particular professor's research, an innovative program, or unique resources that Georgia Tech provides. Show that you've done your homework and can articulate how Georgia Tech will support your academic goals.

Ever since I visited my father's construction site as a child, I've been fascinated by the intricate design and planning behind every structure. My fascination grew into a passion for Civil Engineering. At Georgia Tech, I believe I can transform this passion into expertise.

Georgia Tech's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering's collaborative environment and cutting-edge research are what attract me the most. The school's faculty includes renowned experts like Dr. John E. Taylor, whose research on 'Civil Infrastructure Systems' aligns with my interest in urban planning and sustainable infrastructure. The opportunity to learn from and potentially work under such esteemed professionals is what makes Georgia Tech the perfect place for my academic journey.

Prompt 2: Georgia Tech is committed to creating solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Tell us how you have improved or hope to improve the human condition in your community. (250-300 words)

Advice: This question is a great opportunity to highlight your service-oriented experiences or ambitions. Start by explaining the issue you addressed or plan to address. Then, discuss your role, actions, and the impact you made or hope to make. Remember, "community" can be broadly defined, from your school to your city. Demonstrate how you reflect Georgia Tech's mission of "progress and service."

Growing up in a rural town in Georgia, I witnessed the struggles my community faced due to limited access to healthcare services. This experience instilled in me a strong desire to contribute positively to my community's wellbeing.

As a junior, I initiated a project named "Healthy Future," aimed at promoting health awareness and providing basic health check-ups in collaboration with local doctors. We organized monthly workshops and check-ups, reaching out to hundreds of individuals. It was gratifying to see our efforts make a tangible impact – the number of people opting for regular health check-ups significantly increased.

At Georgia Tech, I intend to continue my service to community health. Through the Public Health Club, I aspire to organize similar initiatives, catering to the underserved populations in Atlanta. I believe my experiences align with Georgia Tech's commitment to 'progress and service.'

Optional Short Answer: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself? (50-150 words)

Advice: Use this space to share something that hasn’t been covered elsewhere in your application. It could be an interesting hobby, a unique family tradition, or a challenge you overcame. Keep it personal and revealing about who you are.

Outside of my academic interests and community service, I am an avid bird watcher. I enjoy the serenity of observing nature and have even started a local Bird Watching Club in my high school to share this passion with others. It's a hobby that instills patience, observation, and appreciation for nature's nuances – values I hope to bring to Georgia Tech's vibrant student community.

To sum up, the key to an effective Georgia Tech supplemental essay lies in showcasing your fit with the university's mission and ethos, demonstrating a clear understanding of your chosen major and how the university supports it, and highlighting your community engagement in line with the university's commitment to improving the human condition.

Now, get started on those drafts!

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Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay 2022-2023

By Eric Eng

When it comes to applying to the top schools in the country, your application is vitally important. In order to give yourself the best chance of gaining admission, you need to make sure all aspects of your application are top-notch. In this post, we’re going to do a deep dive into how to write the Georgia Tech supplemental essay for 2022-2023, and everything you need to keep in mind as you write.

Georgia Tech uses the common app, and this means that you will be asked to answer essay questions contained in the common app. The Georgia Tech supplemental essay 2022-2023 allows applicants a certain amount of freedom when choosing their supplemental essay topic, but we’re going to look at the essay prompt and discuss the best way to respond.

Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay Prompts 2022-2023

So, let’s start by looking at each supplemental essay prompt, and then we will discuss how to approach each one individually.

Georgia Tech requires that all applicants use the common app, but they also ask applicants to respond to a single essay prompt specific to Georgia Tech. The prompt itself is fairly broad, which can make crafting a response even more challenging. Let’s first take a look at the Georgia Tech supplemental essay 2022, then we can come up with a strategy for your response.

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

How to write the Georgia Tech supplemental essay?

While this prompt may seem simple enough, it can actually pose a challenge to a lot of applicants because of how broad it is. The first challenge of responding to this prompt is choosing a concrete reason for your chosen major. You should avoid vague platitudes like “making the world a better place” or “to advance modern technology.”

Instead, think about what led you to your chosen field. Think back to how you first became interested in your field, and how your interest developed from there. The Georgia Tech supplemental word limit allows you up to three hundred words for your response, so make sure to use that space wisely.

If you are wondering how to write the Georgia Tech supplemental essay, start at the beginning of your story. A helpful strategy for writing about a broad topic like this is to ignore the Georgia Tech supplemental word limit at first. Focus instead on telling your complete story. If your essay is too long, you can go back to the end and edit it down to a more appropriate length. In general, it’s always better to have too much material than too little material.

Once you’ve considered how you initially became interested in your field, think about what you did next. Did your interest influence how you chose your high school classes? Did it motivate you to continue your studies outside of school? Did you become a member of different organizations as a result?

The goal is to demonstrate that your passion for your field isn’t simply a whim. You have shown a commitment to this field over the course of your academic career and, now it is time to take the next step.

After you’ve explained how you first became interested in this field, consider why it is important to you to study this discipline at Georgia Tech. Your answer needs to be more specific than the fact that Georgia Tech is a highly renowned technological school. That’s why everyone who applies to Georgia Tech wants to go there. In order to stand out, you need to be more specific.

Does Georgia Tech have a specific program that you need to be a part of in order to pursue your goals? Is there even a specific professor who has led you to apply to Georgia Tech? You can also talk about Georgia Tech alumni, and the experiences they had at Georgia Tech that influenced your decision.

Whatever led you to apply to Georgia Tech, the goal here is to explain why Georgia Tech is the only school that is right for you.

Luckily, the Georgia Tech supplemental essay word limit allows you the room to adequately tell your story. With this in mind, try to fit your essay as close to 300 words as possible. Schools like Georgia Tech want students who will use every opportunity to tell their unique stories. And because Georgia Tech only provides one supplemental essay prompt, this will be your only opportunity to stand out from the pack.

At AdmissionSight, our goal is to help you with every step of the college admissions process. The Georgia Tech supplemental essay 2022 can seem daunting at first, but our experience and expertise will help you navigate the entire process with confidence. Hopefully, this guide to the Georgia Tech supplemental essay 2022-2023 has been helpful, but if you want more information about how AdmissionSight can help you realize your dreams, set up your free consultation today.

Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!

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Georgia Tech Essay 2022-2023

Georgia tech essay 2022-23, georgia tech essay: quick facts.

• Georgia Tech Acceptance Rate: 18%— U.S. News ranks Georgia Tech as a most selective school.
• 1 ( ~ 300 word) essay
• Georgia Tech Application: Students must submit their Georgia Tech application through the Common Application . Make sure to double check all Georgia Tech application deadline and requirements. 
• Early Action I: October 17th  
• Early Action II: November 1st
• Regular Decision: January 4th
• Georgia Tech Essay Tip: In addition to the Common App essay , there is only one Georgia Tech essay to complete. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to thoughtfully and authentically complete the Georgia Tech essay. 

Does Georgia Institute of Technology have supplemental essays?

Yes. In addition to your Common App Personal Statement, you will craft a why Georgia Tech essay that explains why you want to attend Georgia Tech. However, there aren’t multiple Georgia Tech supplemental essays.

Applicants must only complete one Georgia Tech application essay and the Common App essay .

Since the Georgia Tech acceptance rate is rather low, you should ensure your essay thoroughly explains why Georgia Tech best fits your goals.

While this task may seem daunting, the Georgia Tech application essay is not intended to trip you up. Make sure your Georgia Tech application essay shares new information while also explaining specific reasons why Georgia Tech is the place for you. Emphasize specific details that help the reader understand who you are and why you would fit in at Georgia Tech. Successful Georgia Tech essays will answer the why Georgia Tech essay completely and thoughtfully.

How to Write Georgia Tech Supplemental Essay–Question 1

Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at georgia tech (300 max).

The why Georgia Tech essay gives you the chance to state your educational goals within the context of Georgia Tech. Students’ Georgia Tech supplemental essays will resemble those of many colleges. This means that while you won’t be able to reuse your Georgia Tech application essay (after all, that defeats the purpose of the “why school” essay), learning to write a strong response to this prompt might help you in your other applications.

Also, keep in mind that your Georgia Tech application essay should largely look toward your future rather than your past. You can—and should—mention specific ways that your academic interests have developed. However, you should devote most of your Why Georgia Tech essay to why you hope to pursue these interests at Georgia Tech. Below are some ways to ground your why Georgia Tech essay:

Focus on Academic Interests

First, and most importantly, you should consider your academic interests. Remember, this Georgia Tech essay prompt asks both why you want to study your chosen major and why you want to do so at Georgia Tech. Your response to the why Georgia Tech essay should address both of these questions—that is, you should explain the origins and development of your academic passions alongside your interest in Georgia Tech.

Think a bit about your future college major when contemplating the Georgia Tech supplemental essays. Which programs at Georgia Tech most interest you? Maybe some courses excite you because they connect to your professional goals. Perhaps there is a professor whose research lights your intellectual spirit on fire. Look for reasons why Georgia Tech is the perfect place for you, and highlight them in your Georgia Tech application essay. 

Your Georgia Tech application essay should be grounded in what intellectually excites you about college and how Georgia Tech specifically quenches that academic thirst. There aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts; so, make sure that your response to this prompt is unique and passionate about your future academic interests. 

Consider discussing c ommunity

Second, successful Georgia Tech supplemental essays will consider Georgia Tech’s community, particularly in the academic sense. Why does Georgia Tech’s campus culture appeal to you? Why would you thrive in an intellectually engaged community like Georgia Tech? 

For inspiration, you might check out Georgia Tech’s admissions office website as well as their YouTube channel . There, you can see what Georgia Tech wishes to emphasize about itself to prospective students. You can also hear from students past and present about their lives on campus. Incorporating these themes will help you prepare an excellent Why Georgia Tech essay.

Keep in mind that, at the end of the day, the Georgia Tech application essay is a snapshot of your current interests. Since there aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts, students should place special attention on writing strong Georgia Tech supplemental essays. 

Many college students change their major, and the Georgia Tech admissions team understands this. Perhaps your future professors will inspire you to change direction. Or, maybe, an internship or volunteering experience might reveal a new passion. Admissions officers know that your prospective major may shift once you arrive at Georgia Tech. Don’t feel constrained by “choosing” a future major —instead, use the Georgia Tech supplemental essay to reflect on your current interests and illustrate your overall intellect.

Georgia Tech Essay Reflection Questions:

• Does your Georgia Tech application essay provide specific examples that show you have researched why Georgia Tech is a good fit for you?
• Do you avoid extended lists of reasons why you want to attend Georgia Tech and instead focus on one or two specific things?
• Will your Georgia Tech application essay stand out amongst a pool of competitive applicants?

How do I write the Georgia Tech essay?

Writing the Georgia Tech essay can seem challenging at first, especially because you don’t have multiple chances to get the essay right with various Georgia Tech essay prompts. Still, there is a method to the madness. Students should begin these Georgia Tech supplemental essays by brainstorming what about Georgia Tech appeals to you. As you draft responses to the Georgia Tech essay prompts, a structured outline will help focus your thoughts.

Keep in mind that your Why Georgia Tech essay isn’t just about Georgia Tech—it’s about you. Your Why Georgia Tech essay should not only highlight the specific resources and opportunities that draw you to the school; it should also speak to how you hope to develop your interests and passions in college. Georgia Tech supplemental essays should demonstrate that students have thought intentionally about their ideal college environment and how it relates to their goals. In evaluating your Georgia Tech essay, the Georgia Tech admissions team will consider both what sort of student you will be and what you will bring to their college community.

As the Georgia Tech acceptance rate continues declining, admissions officers sift through more and more applications. As there aren’t various Georgia Tech essay prompts, this makes it even more important that your one Georgia Tech essay shines. Your Georgia Tech application essay should capture your accomplishments, your goals, and why Georgia Tech is an ideal next step.

Why School Essay: Three tips for researching Georgia Tech

When writing your why Georgia Tech essay, or any why school essay, you should be as detailed as possible. The biggest mistake students can make when writing Georgia Tech supplemental essays is being too general. Therefore, one of the first steps in writing your why Georgia Tech essay is to do some research on Georgia Tech. You may have some useful information from your college search that led you to complete a Georgia Tech application. For their Georgia Tech supplemental essays, students can use that initial research as a base for the why school essay, especially if a certain academic program initially caught their interest. 

Your why Georgia Tech essay should aim to impress Georgia Tech admissions while still being authentic. Georgia Tech admissions is selective. Your why Georgia Tech essay is only a small portion of your overall Georgia Tech application, albeit a very important portion. Before even beginning your why school essay research, check out our guide on how to get into Georgia Tech. You’ll also want to read all about Georgia Tech admissions to understand the selection process. Without multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts to respond to, you have time to put all of your focus on this why Georgia Tech essay. 

You may already have an idea of a major or program that you want to pursue. That’s great. Students who know their intended major have an easy place to start researching when starting their Georgia Tech essays. However, maybe you’re still choosing a major . That’s no problem. Georgia Tech essays aren’t meant to be a formal declaration of your major. Rather, Georgia Tech admissions just wants to get to know you and your academic interests in relation to Georgia Tech and its programs. 

Three tips to get you started when researching for Georgia Tech essays: 

#1- start with the mission statement.

Georgia Tech admissions wants you to show in this why Georgia Tech essay how your goals align with their values. Georgia Tech states that the institution is “ committed to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology. ” You’ll need to demonstrate, through your chosen major, how you would fulfill that mission. Students who write successful Georgia Tech supplemental essays will keep that mission statement in mind as they research academic programs for the Georgia Tech application essay. 

#2- Find a major

When writing your Georgia Tech essay, search through the majors offered at the university. You’ll likely have an area of interest even if you are still undecided on a major. In order to write impressive Georgia Tech supplemental essays, students should lean into those intellectual interests in order to find a major that they can passionately and authentically write about. Students should use their Georgia Tech essay prompts to reference specific opportunities only offered at Georgia Tech. These could be the research facilities, faculty, or internship opportunities. 

#2- Learn about the campus culture

Georgia Tech admissions wants to see through students’ Georgia Tech supplemental essays how you align with their mission and values. Showing how you would excel on the campus is important. Georgia Tech supplemental essays may reference clubs or organizations that you would get involved in. How would those opportunities add to your intended major?

Take your time

Once you’ve done all the research, focus your attention on answering the prompt in its entirety. There aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts so give yourself all the time it takes to answer exceptionally. Expand on your most relevant research for your why Georgia Tech essay by relating it back to you and your goals. How do the specific values, programs, and campus community relate to you? What will you bring to this academically rigorous program? How will you apply that to your future career? Students should think about all these questions as they write their Georgia Tech supplemental essays. 

It may be helpful to look at what works when writing a why school essay. Many schools require a why school essay. Students responding to the Georgia Tech essay prompts will make their answers specific to Georgia Tech, however, the basic goal and structure of the why school essay will be the same. Check out the why school essay examples for Yale , Northwestern , and NYU to see how to ace the Georgia Tech application essay. 

Is the Georgia Tech essay required?

Yes—all students must complete the supplemental Georgia Tech application essay.

The Georgia Tech admissions team uses a holistic application review process. This means that your how to get into Georgia Tech strategy will require presenting a cohesive application narrative. When reading Georgia Tech supplemental essays, admissions officers want to understand your academic potential as well as who you are as a person. 

In addition to thoughtful Georgia Tech supplemental essays, the Georgia Tech admissions team wants to see demonstrated interest (DI) from you. Demonstrated interest is a tool of measurement that universities use to gauge how enthusiastic students are about attending a particular school. Essentially, if an admissions officer has two similar candidate profiles in front of them—similar test scores , extracurriculars , and achievements—the final decision may come down to which student better demonstrates their interest in attending. In a Forbes article on how best to use DI in your college applications, they highlight the power of the essay. In this case, your Why Georgia Tech essay can be a powerful tool to demonstrate your interest in attending.

Recently, the Georgia Tech acceptance rate has become increasingly competitive. Many students are vying for a spot at this top science , technology, and eng i neering school. Given that there aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts to respond to, make sure to make the most of the 300 word count as you show the Georgia Tech admissions team what makes you unique. Remember, well-written Georgia Tech supplemental essays can make or break your admissions odds.

Is the Georgia Tech essay important?

Students’ Georgia Tech supplemental essays are absolutely important. The Georgia Tech application essay helps readers understand who you are beyond your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars. In fact, Georgia Tech supplemental essays can even provide important context to grades and activities. This can help you stand out to admissions officers.

As you write the why Georgia Tech essay, remember to share both the exciting features of Georgia Tech and how they connect with your own experiences and goals. Georgia Tech admissions are not only looking for your academic credentials in this Georgia Tech application essay—they also want to see who you are and how you can contribute to the campus culture. Given the low Georgia Tech acceptance rate, students want to do all they can to maximize the impact of their Georgia Tech supplemental essays.

What is the Georgia Tech acceptance rate?

As a public institution, Georgia Tech has a commitment to educating Georgians as well as students from all over the country and the globe. This means the Georgia Tech acceptance rate is twofold.

For in-state applicants, the Georgia Tech acceptance rate this past year was 35% . As for non-Georgians, the Georgia Tech acceptance rate was only 13%. Georgia residents may also want to consider applying to Georgia’s HOPE scholarship , as it’s only available to them. It’s a merit-based scholarship largely based on your GPA. 

How to Win a HOPE Scholarship

Whether or not you’re a resident of Georgia, students who make the most of the Georgia Tech application essay, will have a better chance against the low Georgia Tech acceptance rate. Since the competition is so keen, you should give it your all when crafting your Georgia Tech essay. There aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts. That makes it even more important for applicants to write the best Georgia Tech essays possible. It’s your chance to show admissions who you are and why you deserve to be a part of the Georgia Tech community. 

What are the admissions requirements for Georgia Tech?

As a globally recognized research university, Georgia Tech provides excellent educational opportunities to its students. The Georgia Tech acceptance rate has decreased in recent years, and Georgia Tech admissions have become increasingly competitive. Successful applicants will not only have impressive Georgia Tech supplemental essays, but also strong GPAs, standardized test scores, and extracurriculars. 

Considering applying to Georgia Tech? Keep in mind that Georgia Tech admissions exclusively accepts undergraduate applications (including students’ Georgia Tech supplemental essays) via the Common App . 

The Georgia Tech admissions requirements include:

• Strong standardized test scores (SAT/ACT)
• High grades/ GPA
• Evidence of academic rigor in high school courses
• Strong Common App Personal Statement and Georgia Tech application essay
• Evidenced contribution to your community
• Optional recommendation letters from your high school counselor and one teacher in a core academic subject

While many schools have opted to go test-optional , Georgia Tech does require standardized test scores. Be sure to plan early in order to get the strongest score possible. Extracurriculars are another vital piece of your application narrative. Check out tips on crafting the best extracurriculars list possible. 

Acing the Georgia Tech admissions requirements

Want to stand out in Georgia Tech admissions? Make sure to take challenging courses at your high school to demonstrate your academic drive. You should also consider including optional recommendations from your high school counselor and a teacher (ideally from a core academic subject, which generally is a course you need to take to graduate, such as English or math). 

Keep in mind that Georgia Tech admissions officers use a holistic application review process. This review process includes your contributions to your community and, importantly, your personal essays . You will submit all materials for your Georgia Tech application—including your Georgia Tech essay—through the Common App.

You will also submit letters of recommendation from your teachers through the Common App platform. Additionally, the Common App will allow you to address any notable disruptions due to COVID-19, if applicable.

Keep in mind that although the Georgia Tech admissions process considers all aspects of your application, a weak Georgia Tech application essay can prevent you from getting in—even if you have high grades and scores. To maximize your admissions odds, you should put as much thought into your Georgia Tech essay as possible. Well written Georgia Tech supplemental essays will maximize your chances of admissions. 

Five Tips for Writing the Georgia Tech Essay

The why Georgia Tech essay can seem vexing. You don’t have multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts, so you may feel even more pressure to get this one right. How do you craft an answer that reflects both your own interests and specific details about Georgia Tech? 

Five tips for writing the Georgia Tech Essay: 

Start early.

There aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts for applicants to answer. There is only one Georgia Tech application essay (in addition to the Common App personal essay ). However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give your Georgia Tech essay the time and care that it deserves. Successful Georgia Tech essays will take more than a night to complete. Your essay is extremely important when considering how to get into Georgia Tech. You need time to brainstorm, research, draft, edit, and repeat. To stay organized, check out these tips on building your college application timeline . 

Do your research

The key to successful Georgia Tech supplemental essays is being specific. To make your essay count, research how you can explore your interests at Georgia Tech. You might incorporate a quote, a specific course, or a faculty member to boost your essay’s impact.

Connect the dots

In your “Why Georgia Tech” essay, make sure each detail about your interest in Georgia Tech that you include to highlight your interests also gives the reader a sense of your identity. For instance, the courses you mention could link back to ideas you have studied outside the classroom. A professor’s research that excites you could connect to a club you run or a project you did. By building these connections, you can use your Georgia Tech supplemental essay to show both the depth of your intellectual engagement and how you’ll fit in at Georgia Tech.

Be authentic

While understanding what Georgia Tech admissions is looking for in its applicants is important, you don’t want to write a Georgia Tech essay that is just what you think admissions wants to hear. Write about your genuine interest in academic programs at Georgia Tech. And show through your authenticity and passion why you’re a perfect fit for the program. 

Make sure to proofread

Georgia Tech supplemental essays are evaluated not only for content, but also for mechanics and writing style. Make sure that you carefully proofread your final draft of the Georgia Tech essay before submitting. Have someone else read it over for grammatical errors and content. If implementing someone else’s feedback, be sure to maintain your own voice and style. 

Georgia Tech Essay – Final Thoughts

Grades and numbers can only do so much. Your Georgia Tech application essay has the power to illuminate where you have been, where you are, and where you hope to go. Without various Georgia Tech essay prompts to respond to, admissions will be carefully examining each why Georgia Tech essay. Do everything you can to make it stand out. It may be helpful to find inspiration in other successful essay examples .

It is natural to see the low Georgia Tech acceptance rate and wonder how to stand out. Still, keep in mind that the Georgia Tech admissions team uses a holistic review process that extends beyond grades and test scores. This gives you the power to curate a strong Georgia Tech essay—and application—that sheds light on why you’d be a great fit on campus.

Who you are and what matters to you

The Why Georgia Tech essay lets you share both who you are and how your passions align with Georgia Tech’s offerings. Going in with a plan, such as an outline or brainstorming sheet, can help you get off to a strong start. You might also ask another person to proofread your Georgia Tech application essay and offer feedback. 

Remember that outstanding Georgia Tech supplemental essays can lead to an acceptance letter . There aren’t multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts, so admissions is looking for excellent responses to this one essay. Keep focused on creating the best Georgia Tech essay possible and hopefully you’ll be looking into Georgia Tech enrollment by spring. Good luck!

This Georgia Tech essay guide was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Georgia Tech Admission Blog

Category: essays, seniors, can we chatgpt.

Last week I wrote a piece for rising juniors about how they could consider using generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT and others in order to assist in their college search. The takeaway is that these tools are helpful for brainstorming, iterating, and sparking thought and reactions, which is essentially what the college search, application, and selection process should be.   

The responses I received via email and direct message were… mixed.  

A few were extremely appreciative– another good resource and a helpful way to open students’ minds to choices and options.  

Others were- let’s just say- less appreciative. Everything from references to an “unchecked Pandora’s Box” to some straight up vitriol. Welcome to the world of blogs and social media.  

Here is what we know  

• The Common Application does not have a policy for students on using Artificial Intelligence. In fact, if you enter “AI” into their platform’s search, only a list of colleges come up: American International College, College of St. Scholastica, The Citadel, Colby College, Lawrence University. FYI- that’s a very different list than the same prompt on ChatGPT, which again points to the concept of using a variety of sources and resources in your college search, application, and selection process.  
• Colleges are unlikely to have uniform policies on the use of AI that cuts across their entire student body. They’ll largely leave guidance and appropriate use to individual professors and courses.  
• Most admission offices have not published guidance for applicants or provided public information on how AI should or should not be incorporated as you work on applications, or supplemental questions, etc.  
• Most high school students are using AI to some extent for personal or academic purposes.  
• Colleges want applications that are full of details, specifics, and insight into who you are, how you think, what you have learned, and what you care about.  

So, in hopes of bridging the void and advancing the conversation, as well as giving students, counselors, parents, and school communities (on the K-12 and higher ed side) something to react and respond to (one of AIs biggest value adds), we consulted with experts on campus- specifically Dr. David Joyner in our College of Computing- in order to develop this framework- Georgia Tech’s applicant AI guidance.  

Tools like ChatGPT, Bard and other AI-based assistance programs are powerful and valuable tools. We believe there is a place for them in helping you generate ideas, but your ultimate submission should be your own. As with all other sources, you should not copy and paste content you did not create directly into your application. Instead, if you choose to utilize AI-based assistance while working on your writing submissions for Georgia Tech, we encourage you to take the same approach you would when collaborating with people. Use it to brainstorm, edit, and refine your ideas. AI can also be a useful tool as you consider how to construct your resume in the Activities portion of the Common Application. We think AI could be a helpful collaborator, particularly when you do not have access to other assistance to help you complete your application.  

  The Activities Section. (Hat tip to my colleague Mary Tipton Woolley for her experimentation with this portion.)   

At Georgia Tech, we call this Contribution to Community . We are looking for students to demonstrated “The Three I’s”- Involvement, Impact, and Influence. We talk about this in info sessions, write about it on this blog, and even include guidance and insight, including videos on our website. Still, sometimes students struggle to think through what they’ve done and how to describe that in the boxes provided on college applications.  

Here was my prompt:  can you help me put my work at Subway into the extracurricular activities into the common application  

ChatGPT response:

Absolutely! Including your work experience at Subway in the extracurricular activities section of the Common Application is a great way to showcase your skills, responsibilities, and dedication. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:  

• Title and Description : Start by giving your extracurricular activity a title. For example, you can write “Subway Employment” or “Subway Crew Member.” Be clear and concise. Then, write a brief description of your role and responsibilities at Subway. Highlight your key achievements and contributions.  
• Organization Name : Mention “Subway” as the organization name.  
• Position/Role : You can list your position or role, such as “Crew Member” or any other relevant title.  
• Time Commitment : Specify the duration of your employment at Subway. Mention the start date and, if applicable, the end date. If you are still working there, you can write “Ongoing” or “Present.”  
• Hours per Week : Mention the average number of hours you worked per week at Subway. This gives colleges an idea of your time management skills.  
• Key Responsibilities : List some of your main responsibilities and tasks at Subway. Highlight skills and qualities you developed while working there. For example:  
• Provided excellent customer service and ensured customer satisfaction.  
• Prepared and served food items according to Subway’s standards.  
• Operated the cash register and handled financial transactions.  
• Maintained cleanliness and sanitation of the store.  
• Collaborated with the team to achieve daily sales targets.  
• Achievements : If you received any awards or recognition during your time at Subway, be sure to mention them. For example, if you were recognized as the “Employee of the Month” or received positive feedback from customers or managers.  
• Personal Growth : Reflect on how your experience at Subway contributed to your personal growth. Did you develop communication skills, learn to work in a fast-paced environment, or improve your problem-solving abilities? Colleges value personal growth and development.  
• Skills Gained : Highlight the skills you gained or improved through this experience. These could include customer service, teamwork, time management, responsibility, or any other relevant skills.  

And then it closed with: Remember to be honest and authentic while describing your experience at Subway. Admissions officers appreciate genuine experiences that showcase your growth and development. Including work experiences like this can demonstrate responsibility, time management, and the ability to balance academics with employment. Good luck with your application!  

  Well…thank you ChatGPT. I appreciate the integrity and encouragement!     

Perfect? Absolutely not. You are not going to have space, nor do you need to delve into “Personal Growth” or “Impact and Learning.” But the rest is helpful, accurate, and fairly thorough.  

You’ll also find these tools helpful if you are struggling to fit an activity into the boxes and character count on an application. Rephrasing, reformatting, iterating, and doing so within specific word parameters is a strength of ChatGPT.  

College Specific Supplements and Essays  

Here is our specific advice:  

In the same way you would not copy directly from any other source you may incorporate into the writing process, you should not copy and paste directly out of any AI platform or submit work that you did not originally create. Instead, approach and consider any interaction with an AI tool as a learning experience that may help you generate ideas, provide alternative phrasing options, and organize your thoughts. Ultimately, we want to read and hear your unique and valuable writing style.  

The truth is that getting started with anything is hard. Getting out the door to go to the gym or for a run, cleaning the house, or working on a project. Momentum is tough to create, and we all need help at times.  

Over the years, I have consistently heard students talk about the dreaded blinking cursor. The tyranny of the blank page. How do I get my thoughts out? How do I figure out what I want to write about or how to phrase things?

Some students have built in resources to help- parents, siblings, teachers, counselors, or other supporting adults around them who they can talk through their activities or essays with. Other students pay for that service and assistance.  

AI tools can complement those other resources and fill a void for students who may not have historically had these benefits. This is a good thing.  

What I AM saying  

ChatGPT can write an essay or supplemental response for you.    

Will it have any personal style, unique details, valuable specifics, or soul? No.  

Is copying, pasting, and submitting something you did not write ever a good idea? No.  

Could reading those before you go to sleep be a helpful substitute for melatonin? Yes.  

AND I am also saying that after reading the essay or supplemental prompts, it could be worth asking ChatGPT to generate a response that will help stimulate ideas and ways to improve and personalize your writing. Again, this is a tool, a collaboration, and a way to get started.    

What YOU can expect 

• Perfect grammar. These tools are built off ridiculous amounts of information. The grammar will be impeccable.
• Inaccuracies and generic writing. After reading what is produced, it will be very sanitized and relatively boring. It will lack specifics and it will not “sound like me.” Some of the content will simply not be accurate.  
• A need to revise. Re-enter the prompt adding in details and specifics. When, where, who, why?
• Head shaking. Wait… NO. That’s not what I meant. That’s not what happened. That’s not how I want to say it. And simultaneously, YES! That could be a good way to go, or I had not thought about putting it that way.
• MOMENTUM! Ok. Now you are rolling. Now your brain is working and you’re homing in on what YOU want to write about. You’ve seen the boring and impersonal way to write about your topic. Now it is time to open that Word document and take some of the lessons you’ve learned and write your own essay or supplemental response.    

As I said earlier, colleges want applications that are full of details, specifics, and insight into who you are, how you think, what you have learned, and what you care about. That’s a lot to ask. And it is a process of brainstorming, iterating, uncovering, discovering, ultimately submitting an application that tells your story. It’s a process. While AI does not make a good author, it can be a helpful stimulator, sounding board, collaborator, and momentum generator.   

Congratulations on your senior year and getting started with your college applications!     

YOUR College Admissions Playbook

This weekend I watched “ American Underdog ,” which is about former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner . Some football fans may remember he was undrafted coming out of college at the University of Northern Iowa. In his first shot with a pro team (the Green Bay Packers), he bombed. He was not ready or prepared. Over the course of the next few years, he played Arena League Football in Des Moines, Iowa. It was in those seasons that he studied, learned, grew, and realized what he wanted and why .

You don’t have a few years before you apply to college—you have a few months. But that is enough because this is not about memorizing and executing a complicated NFL playbook. Instead, I’m boiling your summer college admission application playbook down to five steps.

GET STARTED. I am challenging you to create a Common Application or Coalition Application via Scoir by July 15. The odds are you are going to use one of these platforms to apply to at least one college, and sometimes just getting started is the toughest thing. Whether it be running or writing a paper or doing a chore, the first step is often the one that requires the most energy. But as you know, once the school year starts, you are going to have assignments, practice, work, and tons of other opportunities and obligations as a senior. Knock out the basic biographical information these applications will require now.

CREATE (or UPDATE). If you do not already have one, there are plenty of online templates and resume generators to help you. Again, the summer prior to senior year is the time to do this. Some colleges allow you to upload resumes directly into their application, and with AI tools you can take copy from your resume and easily reformat into the Activities section of college applications.

If you go for a campus visit this summer where an interview is offered, you will want to bring your resume, and ultimately if you are part of scholarship or honors program interviews, you’ll need a refined resume. In our first-year seminar at Georgia Tech, we help students refine resumes because employers, scholarship programs, and research opportunities all expect these. Get ahead when you have capacity this summer.

DRAFT and REVISIT. The Common Application essay prompts are posted. I know the weather is good and sitting in front of a computer is not the first image that pops up when someone says, “Summer.” But your goal in the fall is to be as far out in front of deadlines as possible.

Ultimately, you want to submit an essay that you believe tells more of your story and complements the other information on your application. That’s not going to be done in one sitting—even though we try to tell ourselves, “I do my best work when I’m under pressure.” I’m suggesting you pick a prompt (or two) and knock out a first draft by August 1. Under that timeline, you’ll have plenty of time to revisit your essay, run it by a teacher, counselor, or another trusted adult, and be completely set by October 1 at the latest.

READ and RESEARCH. Since you do not have actual school homework this summer, here is my assignment for the weeks ahead. READ. Think about the colleges you are currently considering and read more about them. Too many students build their list of schools based on rankings, football conferences, or the opinions of others. Read and consider what you learn about a few of the schools you are excited about. Check out their student newspaper, a recent alumni magazine online, or some of the latest stories featuring professors or students.

Ask yourself if what you are seeing excites you, encourages you, and gets you more motivated to apply… or not. This is a gut check. As you are reading, be honest with yourself about why that particular school is of interest and how it landed on your list of colleges to consider.

EDIT and ITERATE. Your first essay draft will not be your best. You will improve your writing by coming back to it with fresh eyes in multiple sittings. Too many students do not look back over their entire application to consider what they have left out or how they can improve the overall submission. But if you follow steps 1-4, you’ll have time to do this. There will be time for a parent, friend, or another adult look over your entire app and ask you questions about why you either did or did not include particular elements. Iterate.

And your college list can (arguably should) be changing this summer too. We are too quick to believe changing our mind is a weakness. Instead, it means you are thinking critically, doing your research, and staying open to what you want, what you learn, and which colleges match and fit your goals and interests. Editing and iterating is a strength. Don’t believe me? Check out Adam Grant’s instructive book or podcast for more on this lifelong skill of re-examining or “thinking again.”

Two Thumbs Up- Another element I loved about the movie was it was clear that Kurt Warner was having fun playing football. There was pressure but he did not look at it like a job. Instead, it was a privilege and an opportunity. That’s what this is, my friends- a privilege and opportunity. My hope is you’ll have fun visiting, researching, and ultimately applying to college. Sound crazy? Sound impossible? See: Kurt Warner.

Stay Curious

Early on in my time at Georgia Tech, a colleague received an email from a prospective student with a full signature line, including an inspirational quote at the bottom. I’m sure you have seen these before.

Typically, it looks something like this:

George P. Burdell King of Georgia Tech “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

In most cases, you immediately recognize the quote (like the one above) or the person to whom it’s attributed. In my experience, Gandhi, MLK, Mother Teresa, or a dead politician or author are fairly common.

This particular situation had us curious because:

• Most high school students don’t have signature lines.
• Neither the quote nor the person to whom it was attributed were familiar.

So, we discussed, we debated, and we Googled. Finally, after extensive investigative research, we connected the dots. The mystery person who uttered these inspiring words was… the applicant’s dad—the different last name threw us off initially, but once we figured this out… it was on. For a good month, every internal email we sent included a quote from our own parents or close relatives.

“Don’t make me pull this car over.”

“Failing to plan means planning to fail.”

“This hurts me more than it hurts you.”

There were a few absolute gems. But it also led to some really personal conversations about our relationships with parents and some of the wise, interesting, and influential things they shared with us growing up.

Now, I’m not proposing you create a formal signature line for your emails during high school or walk around quoting your dad, but I do think this story is instructive. The truth is I cannot recall any of the other signature line quotes I’ve read over the years, but this one is emblazoned in my memory. Why? Because it was not familiar. And as a result, it led us to ask questions, research, and ultimately have enriching, bonding conversations.

In hopes of getting you started, here are a few accessible and available tools you may not have considered yet in your college search and selection experience.

College Scorecard – This site is hosted by the U.S. Department of Education. It is an increasingly valuable tool for searching for schools by academic program, size, cost, location, and other factors. It does a very good job providing details on price, median career earnings, graduation rates, and retention data, which often are tough to find on individual admission or university homepages. As you are researching where to visit or apply, the Scorecard comparison feature is helpful because it is easy to tailor based on a variety of factors. And it will give you data to consider or metrics to compare that you may not have previously encountered or factored. My hope is you will use this along the way, whether it be prior to visiting, applying, or deciding on a college.

ChatGPT – Based on their historically glacial rate of change and adaptation, I do not expect Common Application to include instructive language about the use of AI this year. So, there is no need to stare helplessly at a blinking cursor on the screen. One of generative AI’s greatest strengths is facilitating brainstorming and iteration.

There are seven prompts to choose from in the cycle ahead, so let’s assume you pick this one: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Include a few bullet points of your ideas and be sure to name specific people, places, situations, and perhaps a quote or two- and then ask the program to produce a response of 500 words.

Make notes of what is accurate and helpful? What does not resonate with you as specific enough or reflective of your voice and experience?

In the essay, admission reviewers want details and insight that is uniquely yours. If you are applying to a college that receives 35,000 applications and the essay responses are evenly divided, then five thousand other students are responding to the same prompt you choose. As my colleague Dr. David Joyner from Georgia Tech’s College of Computing said , “use your interaction with the AI assistant as a learning experience, then let your assignment reflect your improved understanding.”

Degree Choices.   Rankings get a lot of press and attention in the college admission conversation. However, in most cases, we do not dig into how these lists are formulated. Degree Choices provides a series of rankings lists based on region, academic program, return on investment metrics, etc. Even if you do not agree with the way they approach their rankings, at least it gets you thinking about what you do value. As I’ve said before, a good high school student becomes a good college applicant becomes a good college student. That starts with doing your homework, asking questions, re-thinking, and considering a variety of angles and sources.

The Common Data Set Initiative – For the data wonks among you- or for those who want to see information presented in a uniform manner from colleges. You can easily search for any institution’s CDS online. As an example, here is Georgia Tech’s . Particularly in the test optional world we are all attempting to navigate, the CDS can be helpful in understanding the number or percentage of test takers. CDS also highlights retention rates, financial aid distribution, and residency, ethnicity, and gender breakdowns, as well as size of classes, faculty degree attainment information, and more. Looking at multiple years of information in this format can point to trends or suggest institutional priorities. Again, taken alongside other tools and resources, examining Common Data Sets will inevitably generate questions for you to ask or additional topics to research when you visit campus and speak with students, faculty, or admission officers.

Did you wonder who George P. Burdell was in the example signature line? Did you follow the link to learn more? If so, you are well on your way with this whole curiosity and exploration adventure (If not, I’ve got you covered- here’s the link ).

Rick Clark AVP/Executive Director- Undergraduate Admission “Stay Curious.”

Three (MORE) Messages Parents of High School Students Need to Hear About College Admission

Learn more and listen to Q&A about this blog on the College Admission Brief podcast! Apple | Spotify | Spreaker | Google

…and we’re back. As mentioned in Part I , I decided to write these two blogs specifically for my friends, neighbors, and other adults in my life who now have kids in high school or considering college. As such you are welcome to read and consider, read and ignore, or not read but still forward or share.

•  The admissions essay. First, not all colleges require students to write an essay or respond to short answer questions on their application. Those who do include writing as an opportunity for students to bring voice and personalization to an otherwise heavily box, number, and line- filled application. In reading essays, admission reviewers simply want to get a sense of students’ ability to express themselves or provide insight into their character, background, motivations, and so on. As a result, essays matter. Nobody adds questions or prompts to their application just to make it longer. We read. We share. We glean insight from student writing.

However, just as much as a comma splice or failure to underline the name of a book in an essay is not going to keep a student from being admitted, the essay in general is not going to be the thing that “gets your kid in.” Anyone who tells you otherwise: a) has never worked on a college campus b) has a vested (usually monetary) interest in convincing you otherwise c) that’s it. There is no C—other than their pulse on college admission. Is it wise to have someone look over an essay for feedback? Absolutely. Should students put thought, effort, and care into their writing for colleges? Undoubtedly. But as a parent or a supporting adult please do not edit out your kids’ voice/style, or pressure them to write about something they don’t genuinely value or believe has been impactful to them, because in doing so you rob the application of the very qualities we are hoping to see in their writing. More here. Bottom line: Essays are not the magic bullet/Hail Mary/death nail/Lazarus factor people believe them to be.

As your athlete has success at higher and more competitive levels, it is exciting to imagine them playing in bigger stadiums, in front of more people, or even on TV. My hope is you will focus more on the day to day and week to week of supporting, encouraging, and enjoying watching your athlete play club and high school sports, than speculating about or assuming where it may lead. Keep saving for college. Keep pushing your student to excel in the classroom. Be proud of them for who they are and what they’ve accomplished– and be sure they know it. In other words, don’t convince yourself there is an inverse correlation between the number of trophies or media coverage and the number of dollars you will be spending on college. It may play out that way, but in the overwhelming number of cases, it won’t. Dream killer or friend? You decide. Stay grounded, stay humble, and stay focused on being able to finance a college degree without dependence on a full athletic scholarship.

3. Quality of institution is not correlated with admit rate, ranking, or any other singular number or metric.

Whether it be an effort to simplify, ego, or buying into the false narrative around selectivity and rankings, parents and supporting adults too often reduce a student’s options, limit their perspective, and curb their ability to explore based on numbers.

Admit rate: When I arrived at Tech, we were admitting well over 60% of applicants. Just a few years ago we sat around 40%. This year’s class will see an admit rate below 20%. Are the students significantly smarter, more talented, or more destined for future success? Absolutely not. Students we admitted at 60% are running companies now and sitting on boards of major organizations. I’m not going to go down the rabbit hole of how different colleges count differently on apps received or admits issued, but the bottom line is selectivity level is not a proxy for academic quality. Most colleges in the country admit more students than they deny. If the best match for your student has an admit rate that is 20 points higher than another one they are admitted to, don’t let your ego or a false narrative cloud your judgment.

Ranking : The students at Tech who are currently sophomores applied here when we were ranked number five in the nation for public universities. Within a month of enrolling here, we’d dropped to number eight, and this year we are number 10. I’ve yet to see a student transfer because of this change—because nothing has changed. Same great students, important research, and valuable network/job opportunities. I  urge you to not draw firm (arguably arbitrary) lines, whether it be at number 10, 50, or 100. College is a big decision. College is expensive. College cannot be reduced to one number. Don’t fall into that trap. And for the love of all things holy, friends, if you are going to ascribe any value to a singular number or deem it an authoritative signpost, examine the methodology and ask yourself if your values are in line with their calculations.

In most cases, leading or pushing your student to limit or dictate their choice of where to apply or attend based on one number (or even small set of numbers) is short-sighted bordering on irresponsible .

Since there won’t be a part three to this series, let’s conclude this way. I know it’s challenging supporting your student through high school, and particularly through the college experience. So, while I do hope you will legitimately consider everything I have shared in this blog and the one prior, I also want to sincerely thank you.

Thank you for loving your kids.

Thank you for advocating for them.

Thank you for wanting them to have a better life and more opportunities and experiences than you have had.

Thank you for encouraging them and supporting them, even when they drive you nuts, roll their eyes, mumble one-syllable responses, or keep you up late at night worrying.

Thank you for washing the same dishes and clothes a thousand times.

Thank you for driving to and from practice and sitting through hours of swim meets or dance or music performances (just to hear or see your child perform for a fraction of that time).

Do I wish you wouldn’t disguise your voice in order to procure your daughter’s admission portal password? Sure.

Would admission officers prefer to come in the morning after releasing admission decisions, get a cup of coffee, and check the scores from the night before, rather than having parents outside (or in the parking lot) wanting to appeal or provide 13 additional recommendation letters? Yep.

Do I enjoy having my competence, intelligence, or soul brought into question based on an admission decision? Not particularly.

Nevertheless, as the parent of two kids, I get it. The truth is you are doing what you always have–loving them, protecting them, and providing for them. And since you absolutely do not hear this enough– THANK YOU!

Got friends who won’t read 1200 words on this topic, but still may benefit from hearing these messages– pass them this Twitter thread.

Three Messages Parents of High School Students Need to Hear About College Admission

Listen to the podcast! Apple | Spotify | Spreaker | Google

I am getting older. I know this because I now bring a mini-massage gun with me when I travel; my pant legs neither tightly hug my calves nor end an inch above my ankle; and when I buy wine at the grocery store the cashier either does not card me or goes back to scanning items when I confidently reach for my wallet (plus, hey, I’m regularly buying wine at the grocery store).

I’m not sure if you are also experiencing this, but my kids are getting older too, as are their parents. So, with each passing year, I’m getting more texts, emails, and calls from friends about college and college admission, and over-hearing both discussed frequently at games or other events.

While I did write an entire book on this subject, I feel like I owe my friends more than simply texting them an Amazon link. Plus, I understand not everyone is up for reading 200+ pages. But after watching this cycle repeat itself for over two decades (use of “decades” being another “getting older” give-away), I’m convinced there are a few messages most parents of high school students need to hear-and hopefully will listen to also.

Pronouns Matter. As your kids enter and move through high school, and especially as they are applying to college, I hope you will be cognizant of your pronouns. If you find yourself commonly saying things like, “We have a 3.8,”Pre-Calc is really killing us this year,” or “Our first choice is ___________,” it may be time to take a long walk, a deep breath, or a stiff drink. Ask yourself if those pronouns are just a reflection of your love and years of intimately intertwined lives, or if they are a subtle prodding to step back and let your student demonstrate what you know they are capable of handling.

As you well know, parenting is a delicate dance that becomes increasingly complicated as kids get older. Be honest with yourself and pay attention to when its time to take the lead or step back. Interestingly, it was current Atlanta Mayor (and former Georgia Tech staff member) Andre Dickens who introduced me to the concept of moving from parent to partner with a presentation he used to give at new student-parent orientation. And that should be your focus as your kids move closer toward graduation from high school.

College admission is not fair. However, in contrast to what most people think, it is easy to understand. Admission is driven by two fundamental rules:

• S upply and demand. The Applicant to Class Size ratio drives admit rate. If applications go up and enrollment does not, the admit rate drops.

This is why you hear about Younger Sibling not getting into University of X (Home of the Fighting X’s) with the same, or even better high school grades and classes, than Older Sibling (a current junior at X with a 3.4 GPA). Three years have passed, U of X’s new first-year class size is the same, but this year they receive 5000 more applications than the year Older applied. Could Younger do the work? 100%. Is Younger talented, ambitious, and very interested in going to University of X? Without question. Is this fair? Nope, but it is logical.

• Mission drives admission. As we just established, Older is a good student and a good person (3.4 GPA in college and very active on campus). But three years ago, when she applied as a high school senior, there was another candidate vying for admission—Applaquint. “App” had better grades, better classes, better writing, and more community involvement (all the things U of X says it values) than Older. App, however, was denied.

Why? Well, it happens that App is from Y (the state just to the east of X). Because University of X is a public school, students from the state are admitted at 5 times (would have been too confusing to say 5x) the rate of non-Xers. Fair? No! Again, App is smarter, nicer, and better looking than Older. But again, totally logical.

College brochures may make all campuses look the same, but the goals for the composition of their classes vary widely in number, geography, major, gender, and so on. So when admission committees discuss candidates, they are reviewing and considering GPA, essays, and letters of recommendation,  but ultimately institutional mission and priorities are the lens and filter through which admission decisions are made.

As a parent, my sincere hope is you hear, believe, and prepare yourself for this truth- neither an admit nor deny decision is a value judgment or evaluation of your job as a parent. My friend Pam Ambler from Pace Academy puts it perfectly: “Admission decisions feel deeply personal, but that is not how they are made.” As a result, many parents react when their student receives disappointing admission news. They see that hurt and think they need to call the admission office (or the president or the governor), appeal the decision, “come down there,” or pull strings. After watching this cycle repeat itself over and over, and particularly as my own kids grow up, I’ve come to appreciate ALL of that comes from a place of deep and genuine love. But ultimately, in these moments what kids need from you is very simple—love, concern, empathy, belief, and encouragement, or sometimes just a heartfelt hug.

College Parents > HS Parents. When your kids were little and you were struggling with potty training or getting your baby to sleep through the night, did you seek advice and insight from other parents in the same chapter? No! Because they were either a: just as clueless or frustrated as you were b: maddeningly oblivious c: prone to lie, exaggerate, or hide the reality of their situation.

The bottom line is parents of high school students should talk to fewer parents of high school students about college admission, and more parents of current college students, or recent college graduates. These folks, who are one chapter ahead, invariably provide perspective, levity, insight, and sanity. They are far less prone to exaggeration, and in fact often incredibly raw and honest in their evaluation. “She was crushed when she did not get into Stanvard. But now she’s at Reese’s U and is not sorry.” Or “We didn’t get the financial aid package we needed for him to go to Enidreppep University, so he ended up at QSU. He graduates this spring and already has a great job lined up with the company where he’s been interning.” Again, seek perspective, levity, insight, and sanity from parents of current college students, and spend your time talking to parents of other high school students about the upcoming game or recently opened restaurant in your area.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for listening. And stay tuned for upcoming podcasts and blogs with a few more key messages for high school parents coming soon…

If you have friends who not won’t read 200+ pages, but are likely not even ready 1000+ words, you can send them to my original Twitter thread with these messages for parents. 

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Georgia Tech stuns No. 10 Florida State on late field goal

Aidan Birr drills the winning field goal from 44 yards to lift Georgia Tech over Florida State. (0:32)

• ESPN News Services

DUBLIN -- Avery Boyd , Chase Lane and Malik Rutherford stepped in front of their Georgia Tech teammates, who were passing around the Aer Lingus College Football Classic trophy, and decided to let loose.

There was one dance fitting for the moment: an Irish jig.

They delivered. It was their second perfect performance of the day at Aviva Stadium.

Aidan Birr made a 44-yard field goal as time expired and Georgia Tech upset No. 10 Florida State 24-21 on Saturday in the first major college football game of the season.

The win was Georgia Tech's first over a top-10 opponent since a 22-16 victory over the Seminoles in October 2015.

Jamal Haynes ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns for Georgia Tech, while Haynes King threw for 146 yards and ran for 54. The Yellow Jackets (1-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) were able to control the line of scrimmage and accumulate 190 rushing yards and 5.3 yards per carry.

"Really proud of the offensive line," coach Brent Key said. "Shocking there, right? Really proud of those guys and how they were prepared."

Coming off an undefeated regular season and with a remade roster, the Seminoles tied the game with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter on a 15-play touchdown drive that included two fourth-down conversions by DJ Uiagalelei .

Florida State (0-1, 0-1), which was favored by 10½ points according to ESPN Bet, never touched the ball again. Birr came on with five seconds left to hit the winner that just stayed inside the left upright.

Uiagalelei completed 19 of 27 passes for 193 yards in his Florida State debut, hitting mostly shorter passes until the late fourth-down plays.

Ryan Fitzgerald made a 59-yard field goal, a career long and the second longest in school history, just before halftime to tie the game at 14. Fitzgerald had a 52-yarder earlier.

The teams had just seven drives apiece. Georgia Tech's final two were among the best, an 11-play, 89-yard touchdown drive and then the 12-play, 49-yard series to set up Birr's kick.

"Very limited possessions," Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. "The importance of every snap in that game was monumental."

Florida State was able to build four scoring drives, but just one in the second half. Though Lawrance Toafili and Roydell Williams had rushing touchdowns, the ground attack stalled as Georgia Tech's defense held FSU to 98 yards on 31 carries.

"We're not trying to prove anything to anyone," Key said. "We're not trying to go out and impress people. All we're trying to do is play as hard as we can possibly play -- as a team, as a family."

Coming off a 7-6 season, Georgia Tech certainly impressed, sending quite the message to the rest of the ACC.

Florida State fans packed Aviva Stadium for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, the third straight Week 0 opener in Dublin.

GT has been upset-minded in ACC play against Top 25 teams. The Yellow Jackets knocked off two ranked ACC opponents -- at Miami and vs. North Carolina -- in 2023. In 2022, Georgia Tech won games against ranked opponents at UNC and Pittsburgh.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Florida State will tumble in the next AP Top 25, which will be released after Week 1's games wrap up Sept. 3.

Florida State: The Seminoles' defensive line was viewed as one of the ACC's best but did not record a sack and allowed Tech to run at will.

Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets averaged 203 rushing yards per game (13th in the FBS) in 2023 and picked up right where they left off.

Florida State plays host to Boston College on Sept. 2.

Georgia Tech plays host to Georgia State on Aug. 31.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Biggest Takeaways From Georgia Tech's Win Over Florida State As College Football Returns With A Bang

DUBLIN, Ireland — College football is the greatest sport in the world, and Georgia Tech showed the world why on Saturday in the 24-21 win over No. 10 Florida State at Aviva Stadium in the Aer Lingus Classic.

On paper, it was an upset. After all, the Yellow Jackets were 10.5-point underdogs at kickoff. It didn’t look like it, though, as they won the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball from the moment toe met leather.

Should you buy the Yellow Jackets after the win? Should those of us (myself included) erase Florida State from our College Football Playoff predictions? Let’s break down the top takeaways.

Dublin , Ireland - 24 August 2024; Florida State Seminoles running back Roydell Williams during the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic match between Florida State and Georgia Tech at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Georgia Tech Is No Joke

I tried to tell you that the Yellow Jackets are for real in our chat with head coach Brent Key, that this team is going to punch teams in the face on a consistent basis. That’s exactly what happened, as the offensive line pummeled a Seminoles defensive front that was widely considered one of the best in the country headed into the season. That domination helped the Jackets rack up 5.3 yards per rush and wear down the ‘Noles on the final drive of the game.

Defensively, they had ‘Noles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei running for his life. The former Clemson/Oregon State signal-caller averaged just 5.8 yards per attempt through three quarters. Yes, it’s fair to say that Florida State coach Mike Norvell didn’t trust his quarterback and worked his hardest to keep him from taking downfield shots. He wouldn’t have had time to take shots anyway.

This is "Georgia Tech football." It’s exactly how Key designed this team. Win the battle up front and go from there.

Florida State’s Biggest Concern Got Exposed

There had been murmurings throughout fall camp that the Seminoles were struggling through the air, and it showed up when it counted in the opener. That’s not what is really concerning, though. It’s that the glaring hole on defense was much wider than expected.

Dublin , Ireland - 24 August 2024; Florida State Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei during the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic match between Florida State and Georgia Tech at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Defensive line depth is something that was of major concern heading into the season, and the Jackets took advantage as running back Jamal Haynes (75 rushing yards and two touchdowns), quarterback Haynes King (54 rushing yards) and running back Chad Alexander (41 rushing yards) made life miserable for a Seminoles front that was getting pushed several yards back on virtually every play.

The combination of a putrid downfield passing attack and a defense that has no fight is a bad look — especially since there is virtually no margin for error in the quest for Florida State to win its second straight ACC title.

Is Georgia Tech A Title Contender?

Speaking of the ACC title, is it fair to put the Jackets into that discussion? I think so after this performance. Defense doesn’t win championships anymore, "just enough" defense does. There was no doubt that the offense was going to be a force this year, which means that the defense just doesn’t have to be horrendous again if they’re going to contend.

It looked much better than "horrendous" on Saturday as it gave up just 291 yards.

In an ACC that will probably lack two superpowers, getting to the ACC Championship Game is certainly a possibility — especially with a head-to-head win over a team that was thought to be one of those superpowers going into the season. If they can make it to the conference championship game, all they’ll need to win it is 60 good minutes to win it — which is exactly what they got on Saturday.

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NoleGameday Staff Score Predictions: Florida State Seminoles vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Dustin lewis | aug 23, 2024.

• Florida State Seminoles

237 days have passed since the last time Florida State stepped on the football field. That will all change on Saturday with the Seminoles overseas in Dublin to open up their 2024 campaign with an ACC matchup against Georgia Tech. FSU is coming off a 13-1 season while the Yellow Jackets are coming off a 7-6 finish that included a win over UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl.

There are a ton of unknowns for Florida State ahead of the contest as the team will field at least 13 new starters on offense and defense. That includes six transfers who just arrived in Tallahassee this offseason; quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, running back Roydell Williams, wide receiver Malik Benson, wide receiver Jalen Brown, left guard Richie Leonard IV, and defensive end Marvin Jones Jr. Plus, right guard TJ Ferguson, linebacker Cam Riley, nickel cornerback Earl Little Jr., and free safety Davonte Brown are all listed as co-starters, meaning they could take the field first this weekend.

READ MORE: Why Osceola And Renegade Won't Be With Florida State For Georgia Tech Game

The Seminoles have shown moments of promise but also inconsistency during the preseason. There's a lot of directions this team could go this year and it's up to them to control their own destiny. As Mike Norvell has drilled this offseason, Florida State has to leave no doubt and it starts in Dublin.

Our staff provides their predictions and analysis as the Seminoles prepare to take on the Yellow Jackets.

Dustin Lewis ( @DustinLewisNG )

It's about freaking time. With just about 24 hours to go until Florida State's season kicks off, I'm feeling cautiously optimistic entering this game. I will say that my thought process surrounding this team has evolved dating back to the spring and now into the preseason. There are three things that I'm pretty confident about surrounding the 2024 Seminoles; the defense will be very good, the running game has a chance to be elite, and the passing game will gradually improve throughout the year.

The unknowns are what make a game like this so dangerous. Will the new pieces and returning products click on the field like Florida State's coaching staff is expecting? That just isn't something we will fully know before this team is thrown into the fire and tested in the heat of battle. The Seminoles are certainly more talented than Georgia Tech but they have to put it all together.

Looking back at recent history, the Seminoles have prepared well for season-openers and early big games. Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller held eventual Heisman winner Jayden Daniels to three total touchdowns over two matchups in 2022 and 2023. One of those scores came in garbage time against reserves when Florida State was already leading 45-17 while the other took a 99-yard drive in the final 1:20 of the game that set up Shyheim Brown's game-winning blocked extra point. The offense was obviously more established in each of those two seasons but looking back to 2021, Norvell was able to put up 38 points in a close loss to No. 8 Notre Dame.

Georgia Tech is an experienced football team and Haynes King proved himself as a dual-threat quarterback last year. With that being said, the Yellow Jackets had one of the worst defenses in the country a season ago and while the addition of former Duke defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci should help them throughout the year, Florida State put up 38 points on the Blue Devils in 2023.

I think the Yellow Jackets will put together some big plays with potential miscommunications on defense early in the year but the unit will step up inside the 30-yard line. That'll give the offense time to figure things out as Florida State grinds out a win against Georgia Tech that feels closer than it is in actuality with a big second half.

How many games did Dustin predict correctly in 2023? 14-0

Seminoles 37, Yellow Jackets 20

Logan Robinson ( @LogansTwitty )

Florida State’s offensive line. That’s the unit that will win the game for them on Saturday against Georgia Tech. If they’re able to perform like they have during fall camp and are able to get the run game clicking early, the Yellow Jackets are in a lot of trouble and the Seminoles should be able to dominate four quarters. And I think there’s a strong chance we see that happen.

How many games did Logan predict correctly in 2023? 14-0

Seminoles 34, Yellow Jackets 17

Austin Veazey ( @EasyVeazeyNG )

Florida State is currently favored by 10.5 with an over/under of 55.5, according to  FanDuel .

It's a Week Zero game in a different country. Wacky things are bound to happen. I still think Florida State wins this game while relying on the defense and special teams to pick up the slack. The offense may take time to get going but as long as they control the ball on the ground they should come away with the win. I'm curious to see if FSU's front four is as dominant as it looks on paper and if they are, things maybe get out of hand.

I'll take a 'Noles opening week win with a sneaky Yellow Jackets cover.

How many games did Austin predict correctly in 2023? 14-0

Seminoles 31, Yellow Jackets 23

Dillon Riera ( @13d_riera )

To say the Florida State football experience every day since the CFP selection show has been a difficult one would be an understatement. Following the momentary celebration that the Seminoles were afforded following the ACC Championship Game, FSU has been forced to endure incessant criticism, multiple lawsuits, conference realignment rumors, disparagement from the national media, and the list goes on. Not to mention, Norvell and his staff have also had to address the normal set of College Football challenges, such as transfers out, transfers in, lost talent to the NFL Draft, recruiting trail battles, injuries, and so on and so forth. Somehow, the program has been able to overcome said challenges and place the aforementioned distractions aside as they make final preparations for a matchup against Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland. 

It's hard to place a finger on what to expect from this team. Even after attending practice a handful of times, I still don't know how to gauge my expectations for the upcoming game, much less the upcoming season. There's no denying that there's high-level talent on this team. DJ Uiagalelei is a veteran quarterback with a multitude of experience; Malik Benson and Earl Little Jr. are a pair of Alabama transfers with tremendous potential and absurd athleticism; Fentrell Cypress II and AZ Thomas have shown flashes of greatness; and don't even get me started on just how littered the defensive line is with talent. Despite losing a handful of starters and returning just 58% of last year's production, the Florida State Seminoles have not experienced a significant drop-off in terms of talent. In fact, an argument can be made that this roster is more talented across the board, and the 'Noles possess even more talented depth entering 2024. 

But, the question was never about the talent on paper. Remember, even with all of the talent on last year's roster, the 'Noles found themselves trailing by double-digits on a handful of occasions. It's about whether or not the talent of these individuals will directly translate into significant production on the field. DJ Uiagalelei is experienced, but has he developed and matured into a consistent performer who can avoid the mistakes of his past? Can Malik Benson and the rest of the wide receiver corps give this FSU offense a much-needed vertical threat, much less make up for the losses of Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson? What exactly is this Florida State defense capable of? Is the identity of this team one that has the mental fortitude and discipline to claw out wins in close games?

Until we see this team in a game environment, some of these questions just cannot be answered. Not to mention, the 'Noles will have to begin answering these questions on the fly and against a Georgia Tech team that possesses its fair share of talent. On the offensive side of the ball, GT features the likes of QB Haynes King, who led the ACC in passing TDs in 2023 (27). Tech head coach Brent Key has also placed importance on completely transforming the Yellow Jacket defense, and they'll be wheeling out that new product for the first time against the 'Noles. This Week 0 matchup isn't exactly an early season cupcake, tune-up game for the Seminoles, which means Norvell and his staff will have to be able to adapt in real time as those unknowns begin to get answered. 

ESPNBet has the over/under set at 54.5 and the line favoring the Seminoles at (-10.5), but dropping with each passing day. Meanwhile, ESPN's FPI gives Florida State a 79.7% chance of victory over the Yellow Jackets. Florida State has the talent to out pace Georgia Tech in the long run, but I expect to see some growing pains from the 'Noles that will keep things relatively close for the majority of the game. The Seminoles will rely heavily on Patrick Payton, Marvin Jones Jr., and the rest of their defensive line to disrupt GT QB Haynes King and keep the Yellow Jacket offense in check as QB DJ Uiagalelei and the Florida State offense grow increasingly comfortable within the scheme over the course of the game. Despite the back-and-forth nature throughout the early parts of the contest, I expect the 'Noles to lean on their depth as they pull away toward the end and leave Dublin with an opening-game victory. 

How many games did Dillon predict correctly in 2023? 14-0

Seminoles 35, Yellow Jackets 24

Tommy Mire ( @TommyM3III )

The first game of the season is always one of the toughest to predict especially in the transfer portal era. There are new faces on both rosters and you have to factor in that both teams will be playing overseas with many of the players having never left the country before or experienced that amount of jet lag with such a rigorous schedule. Florida State is currently 10.5-point favorites to win the bout but there are a few wrenches thrown into the mix alongside the trip to Ireland. There is a new quarterback in DJ Uiagalelei, their offensive coordinator is suspended, and the ‘Noles will have to replace 13 players who have gone on to the NFL. We’ve watched this team the entire offseason, and I think Vegas has it right giving the Seminoles the advantage. They’ve formed an identity for what the 2024 squad is going to look like, but there could be some kinks to iron out offensively that the defense should be able to outweigh. I do think it will be a lower-scoring game than what is predicted because both teams will be trying to establish the run, which generally leads to a lower total. However, I believe Mike Norvell and Co. have schemed around any deficiencies that might show up in the first game of the season. If Uiagalelei can hit his receivers and spread Tech’s defense, the Seminoles should walk away with it. If not, I don’t think FSU will pull away until the second half, after the Georgia Tech defense has worn down and the run game takes over.

How many games did Tommy predict correctly in 2023? 14-0

Seminoles 31, Yellow Jackets 21

Kade Kimble ( @kadekimble )

The Seminoles should be able to start off their 2024 season with a solid victory over the Yellow Jackets overseas. DJ Uiagalelei and the rest of the new-look Florida State squad will establish themselves early on with an unproven roster.

How many games did Kade predict correctly in 2023? 14-0

Robert Malcom ( @kwrobertm )

Going into the first game, I think there are a lot of unknowns for the Seminoles, mostly when it comes to passing. Aside from Malik Benson and maybe Ja'Khi Douglas, nobody has really stepped in to fill the shoes of Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman. Despite whatever issues that will inevitably arise from that during the game, I think the run game is too good to say that the Florida State offense is in trouble. Lawrance Toafili looks like he will once again put on a show this weekend, I think Jaylin Lucas and Roydell Williams will also make a significant impact this weekend.

If anything is certain, it's that there should be no issues on the defensive side of the ball. Last year, Florida State had one of the best defenses in the country, and this season I think they could be better. The defensive line is arguably more complete with Darrell Jackson and Josh Farmer on the inside, and the defensive end duo of Patrick Payton and Marvin Jones Jr are going to be scary for quarterbacks. With a defensive backfield of Azareye'h Thomas, Earl Little, Shyheim Brown, and Conrad Hussey, I don't think a defensive touchdown or two is out of the question.

With all that in mind, I don't think the game will be very high-scoring, I think there are too many offensive unknowns for FSU to have a crazy offensive performance and I think that the defense will have a very dominant game. I believe the Seminoles will be able to walk away with the win, but not in the way fans are hoping they will.

How many games did Robert predict correctly in 2023? 14-0

Seminoles 24, Yellow Jackets 17

Jackson Bakich ( @jacksonbakich )

The 2024 season starts a week early for the Florida State Seminoles, and head coach Mike Norvell has the task of having his team with a bunch of new pieces peak just in time for their matchup against Georgia Tech across the pond in Dublin, Ireland.

Transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will be making his first appearance in an ACC contest in nearly two years since his three-year run at Clemson, and three transfer skill position players (Alabama RB Roydell Williams, Alabama WR Malik Benson, and LSU WR Jalen Brown) will also make their FSU debuts on foreign soil.

However, it will be the deep, heavily retained running back room that will steal the show for the Seminoles against the iffy Georgia Tech run defense. It might not appear as dominant in the final result, but the box score will show a different story. Expect the 'Noles to control the time of possession with their five or six-deep RB unit. Even if the Yellow Jackets get out to a quick start, the ground game for the Garnet & Gold will prevail.

Seminoles 27, Yellow Jackets 13

CONSENSUS: Florida State (8-0)

READ MORE: Florida State Offers Younger Brother Of Former Standout Running Back

Stick with  NoleGameday  for more  FREE coverage of Florida State football  throughout the 2024 season

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More Florida State News

•  Florida State vs. Georgia Tech: Wednesday Practice Observations For The Seminoles

•  Florida State vs. Georgia Tech: Monday Practice Observations For The Seminoles

•  FSU Football Fall Camp Observations: Passing Game Ascending With Preseason Winding Down

•  FSU Football Fall Camp Observations: Offense Punches Back With Strong Showing From WRs

DUSTIN LEWIS

Lewis joined NoleGameday in 2016 and is currently in the role of Editor-In-Chief. A graduate of Florida State, Lewis contributes to football, recruiting, and basketball coverage. Connect with Dustin on Twitter at @DustinLewisNG.

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Florida State's season-opening dud against Georgia Tech shows transfer portal success can't patch every hole

The seminoles' over-reliance on the portal for playmakers didn't prove effective against georgia tech.

No. 10 Florida State built a College Football Playoff-caliber roster in 2023 by threading a perfect needle between transfer portal additions and internal development. Naturally, the Seminoles tried the strategy again over the offseason, reeling in 17 transfers and the No. 7 transfer class in the nation. 

But if a 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland, for Week 0 is any indication, lightning rarely strikes twice. 

The Seminoles didn't look "back" to business by any means against the Yellow Jackets, or back to the levels of Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher that made them a national power. Instead, they were "back" to looking like a group playing together for the first time ever, more reminiscent of Mike Norvell's early years. 

Looking down the roster, it's easy to see why. 

The Seminoles replaced experienced quarterback Jordan Travis with Oregon State transfer DJ Uiagalelei . He failed to reach 200 yards passing. Wide receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson are in the NFL . Top transfer Malik Benson had just 39 yards receiving. Transfer running back Roydell Williams mustered just 3.2 yards per carry. A full 58 of Florida State's 98 yards rushing came on the first scripted drive of the game. 

Florida State entered the season boasting -- supposedly -- the nation's best defensive line, despite losing Jared Verse and Braden Fiske to the NFL. Georgia Tech's offensive line bulldozed them to the tune of 5.3 yards per carry, including 6.4 yards per carry from running backs. The entire defensive line, including Georgia transfer Marvin Jones, combined for 0.5 tackles for loss. Florida State, conversely, gave up three tackles for loss to defensive linemen and seven TFLs overall. 

Everywhere Florida State hoped to seamlessly plug a hole, there were cracks forming. And even worse, the Seminoles barely even had a unit that looked ready to lead the team. The most positive sign was an encouraging first half from all-purpose senior Lawrance Toafili , but that's nowhere near enough to build a serious ACC contender. 

Last season, the top five teams in the 247Sports team transfer rankings were Colorado , Ole Miss , USC , LSU and Auburn . Only the Rebels exceeded their preseason win total. While Week 0 games aren't always the perfect indicator of program success (look at Northwestern winning its only game of 2022 in Ireland, for example), Georgia Tech revealed enough red flags to set off some real alarms for teams hoping to reload and maintain through the transfer portal. 

College football history is littered with one-year wonders whose production falls back to Earth. TCU reached the national championship game in 2022 and failed to reach bowl eligibility one year later. Auburn rode Cam Newton to a national title in 2010 only to go 8-5 in 2011. Washington , entering the Big Ten with a new coach (Jedd Fisch) and retooled starting 22, is facing a similar dilemma after reaching the national title game last season. 

There was optimism that Florida State, as a somewhat recent national championship program, would simply be able to ride the wave. Multiple programs across the country tried to replicate the Seminoles' portal success from 2023 and have breakout seasons of their own. For the "Portal Kings" at Ole Miss and Colorado, take the Seminoles' stumble as a warning sign. 

By the way, Georgia Tech ranks No. 44 in returning production overall, including No. 8 on offense. That chemistry and communication was a devastating advantage as quarterback Haynes King and running back Justice Haynes combined to engineer two scoring drives to win the game. That's the kind of benefit that a program can't find in the portal. 

Is Florida State's season over? Not necessarily. The expanded College Football Playoff gives the Seminoles some breathing room. The ACC champion is essentially guaranteed a spot in the field. However, guaranteeing wins on the schedule becomes a lot more difficult after watching Florida State flame out in Ireland. Clemson , Notre Dame and Miami could all easily be losses. SMU, Florida and Memphis won't be easy, either. 

Teams grow the most between their first two games, and that should be true for a Florida State team still trying to learn about itself. Still, Florida State is the first team in ACC play with a loss. In an eight-game conference slate in which 17 teams are vying for two slots, these margins matter more than ever. 

Almost every year, a preseason top-10 team falls all the way out of the rankings. For the first time in the BCS/CFP era, a top-25 team has already lost by Aug. 24.

Florida State's breakout 2023 season was a perfect storm of things going right. Until further notice, it should be viewed as the exception, not the rule. 

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