Georgia Tech Essays 2023-24

Georgia Tech Essays 2023-24

Georgia Institute of Technology is a public university in the University System of Georgia, located in Atlanta. As one of the nation’s premier research universities, the Georgia Tech essays form a key part of the school’s admissions process. 

Founded in 1885, the 400-acre Georgia Tech campus is home to more than 18,000 undergraduate students. The institution offers majors across 6 colleges and 28 schools focusing on business, computing, design, engineering, liberal arts, and sciences. With an acceptance rate of 18%, Georgia Tech is a highly competitive school, especially compared to other Georgia universities. Ranked #15 in Top Public Schools by U.S. News, Georgia Tech is one of the best colleges in Georgia. 

In this guide, we will walk you through the Georgia Tech essays and application requirements. Keep reading for tips and tricks on how to write the Georgia Tech essays, “why school essay” examples, and gaining acceptance to Georgia Tech!

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website. 

What are the Georgia Tech supplemental essays requirements?

In addition to your Common App Personal Statement, you are required to complete other Georgia Tech essay prompts. Specifically, there is only one additional Georgia Tech essay: the Why Georgia Tech essay. 

In 300 words, you will answer the following Georgia Tech essay prompts:  Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? 

Besides the Common App personal statement, you have one other shot to impress Georgia Tech admissions with the Georgia Tech supplemental essays. Submissions are limited to 300 words. This means it is vital that you plan your Why Georgia Tech essay ahead of time. Use clear and concise language, and get personal with the details you choose to include. You should put your best foot forward given the low Georgia Tech acceptance rate. 

Writing Georgia Tech essays can be intimidating, but the Georgia Tech essay prompts are not trick questions. Craft an honest and original response to the Georgia Tech essay prompts by sharing information not found on your resume and explaining specific reasoning in your Why Georgia Tech essay. You should help the reader understand who you are and why you would fit in at Georgia Tech. Successful Georgia Tech essays answer the why Georgia Tech essay prompts entirely.

Georgia Tech Essays – Personal Statement

The first of the Georgia Tech essays is the Common Application Personal Essay. For this, students will choose one of seven essay prompts provided by Common App. The current Common Application essay prompts are as follows: 

How do I write the Georgia Tech Essay?

Nailing the Georgia Tech essays can seem daunting, especially given the limited word count. However, with ample time to prepare, a solid outline, and time to edit and revise, you can write standout Georgia Tech essays. 

Begin your Georgia Tech essays writing process by researching unique aspects of the school and curriculum. That way, you can get a sense of how Georgia Tech will contribute to your overall career goals. You should describe how you hope to develop your interests at Georgia Tech and how the community will help you do so. 

So, spend some time thinking about the Georgia Tech essay prompts. Then, establish a structured outline. This will focus your thoughts and help you write successful Georgia Tech essays.

Why the Georgia Tech essays matter

The admissions team uses your Georgia Tech essays to determine whether you would fit into the campus community. So, your Georgia Tech essays should show that you have thought about your ideal college environment and future goals. The admissions team hopes to enroll a class of diverse, innovative thinkers and problem solvers. So, prove to them how you would contribute to their community in your Georgia Tech supplemental essays.

With a low acceptance rate of 18%, it is even more important that your Georgia Tech essays stand out. Your Georgia Tech essays should capture your accomplishments and goals, highlighting why Georgia Tech is your ideal next step. 

Utilize “show” vs “tell” writing. Your Georgia Tech essays should show readers who you are beyond your academic achievements. To do so, think of stories from your life that capture your identity and values. What have you done that reflects your interests? What examples can you give of your character? Show the admissions team examples that reflect your characteristics rather than simply stating them. Your Georgia Tech essays should paint a clear picture of how and why you would succeed on campus. 

Your readers will assess your Georgia Tech essays for content and quality, so make sure to revise them thoroughly. Brainstorm and draft the Georgia Tech essays well before the Georgia Tech application deadline so you don’t feel rushed. This is particularly important if you are applying by the Early Action Georgia Tech application deadline of October 16th.

For more tips on how to answer the Georgia Tech essay prompts and how to get into Georgia Tech, check out this guide to the Georgia Tech Essays 2022-2023. It also includes previous Georgia Tech essay prompts. 

Why Georgia Tech Essay

Like many other colleges, Georgia Tech requires a Why Georgia Tech essay. There are not multiple Georgia Tech essay prompts, so this is the only supplement you will submit. 

Here’s the prompt:

You’ll likely write “why school essays” for many colleges on your list. So, you should understand how to approach the Georgia Tech supplemental essays. The Georgia Tech essay prompts require you to describe why you would like to attend Georgia Tech and how you would contribute to the community. For the Why Georgia Tech essay, you are asked specifically to explain why you want to study your chosen major. To answer these Georgia Tech essay prompts, you should explain how their curriculum, values, and campus environment will help you achieve your academic and career goals. 

Preparing for the Georgia Tech essay prompts

To prepare to write your Why Georgia Tech essay, spend time researching specific aspects of Georgia Tech that align with your goals. As you conduct your college search, you should only apply to schools that meet your needs. Research your schools’ requirements, programs, and offerings. That way, you can submit a well-informed and persuasive application. 

The why Georgia Tech essay is also a “why major essay.” Once again, this is the kind of college essay you’ll likely write for several schools. 

What do you want to major in at Georgia Tech and why? Like choosing a college, choosing a major is a big decision. When choosing your Georgia Tech major, you should consider your academic interests and career goals. In your Georgia Tech essays, talk about what you wish to major in and what makes this subject interesting to you. 

How do I write the Georgia Tech Short-Answer Question?

The Georgia Tech supplemental essays ask you to highlight two things in one 300-word response. First, the Georgia Tech essay prompts you to describe your interest in Georgia Tech. Second, the prompt asks you to discuss why you’ve chosen to pursue your intended major. 

So, how should you approach answering this why school/why major essay? 

The why school essay allows the admissions team to learn more about you and your interests. You should address what you want to major in at Georgia Tech and why. The purpose of your why major essay is to highlight who you are and what you hope to gain from Georgia Tech. Your Georgia Tech essays allow the school to get to know you, assess mutual fit, and understand how you could enrich the Georgia Tech community. 

Your essays are evaluated for content, writing, and grammatical skills. Before submitting your application, you should edit your essay thoroughly, preferably with another set of eyes. Your essays should demonstrate authenticity, self-awareness, and thoughtfulness. You should also show Georgia Tech how you are a good fit for them and how your goals align with their values and mission statement. 

If you are interested in applying to Georgia Tech, make sure to familiarize yourself with their requirements as well as Georgia Tech Why Major essay examples. 

Is the Georgia Tech essay required?

Yes—all students applying to Georgia Tech must complete one of the seven Common App essay prompts as well as the Georgia Tech Short-Answer Question.  

Because the Georgia Tech acceptance rate is highly selective, you should submit an outstanding essay that lets your personality shine through. Make the most of the 300-word limit as you show the admissions team what sets you apart and how you can contribute to the campus community. Your essays should reflect your academic potential as well as who you are as a person. 

Georgia Tech admissions uses a holistic review process, meaning they consider your application taken as a whole—no single requirement will make or break your admissions odds. They consider factors such as academic preparation, standardized tests, contribution to community, personal essays, recommendations, major selection, and institutional fit. Your Georgia Tech supplemental essays should give your readers insight into your academic interests, intellectual curiosity, and unique traits.  

Is the Why Georgia Tech essay important?

Your Georgia Tech supplemental essays may be the single most important part of your application because they are your only opportunity to speak directly to the admissions office. Moreover, the Georgia Tech essays allow you to convince your readers why you are a good fit for the Georgia Tech community. 

The Georgia Tech essay prompts require you to describe specific reasons why you would like to attend Georgia Tech and how you may contribute to their environment.  You are asked to explain why you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech. As you start writing this essay, it can be tough to know where to start.

Before you get into writing your Why Georgia Tech essay, we recommend getting to know more about the school you are applying to. One of the most important things you can do to prepare to write your Why Georgia Tech essay is to spend time researching specific aspects of Georgia Tech that align with your educational and career goals. You should want to be just as good of a fit for the school as it is for you. So, use your passions, interests, and values to your advantage when answering the Why Georgia Tech essay prompt. 

Keep in mind that the Why Georgia Tech essay has a limit of 300 words. It may be helpful to write your initial draft without worrying about the word count. Then, you can edit your draft down to your strongest arguments.

For inspiration on answering the Why Georgia Tech essay prompts, check out this example.

Additional requirements for Georgia Tech application

Beyond the Common Application Personal Essay and Georgia Tech Short-Answer Question, there are other requirements for applying to Georgia Tech. 

The Georgia Tech admission office uses a holistic admission process for first-year applicants. This means that the admissions team considers a multitude of factors when reviewing your application. The process identifies applicants who will benefit from the Georgia Tech learning environment and enrich the overall community. 

The first of many considerations by the admissions office is Academic Preparation. Because Georgia Tech is highly selective, they look for students who have taken the most rigorous curriculum available at their high school, which includes AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment courses. 

As a requirement for admission, Georgia Tech requires these high school credits: 

• English – 4 Units
• Math – 4 Units
• Science – 4 Units
• Social Science – 3 Units
• Foreign Language – 2 Units

Another consideration for undergraduate admission is Standardized Tests. All first-year applicants must submit results of the SAT and/or the ACT to be considered for admission to Georgia Tech. Unlike many other universities, Georgia Tech is not test-optional. 

Georgia Tech also looks for Contribution to Community. This relates to your extracurricular activities and involvement in your communities at school and beyond. Community involvement reflects traits that the admissions team values in the application process, including: 

• Commitment
• Self-motivation
• Personal Responsibility
• Compassion for Others
• Initiative
• Leadership
• Entrepreneurism
• Intellectual Curiosity

If possible, you should try to tie these values and characteristics into your Georgia Tech essays. 

While Recommendations are optional, they are considered in the holistic admissions process if submitted. Georgia Tech accepts one recommendation from your high school counselor and one from a teacher of your choice.

As a part of your Georgia Tech Common Application, you can select a primary and secondary choice major. Georgia Tech admissions considers your Major Selection as an important part of the application review process in order to enroll an academically diverse first-year class. You should provide evidence of your interest in and preparation for the major that you list on your application. This is a key component of your Georgia Tech supplemental essays. 

Five Tips for Writing the Georgia Tech Essays

1. Start early

The first step to writing Georgia Tech essays is starting early. Give yourself enough time to develop ideas, draft Georgia Tech essays, and review them for any contextual or grammatical mistakes. Familiarize yourself with the college application requirements, guaranteeing that you are well prepared and write the best Georgia Tech essays. Your essay is an extremely important component of your overall application, so you need time to brainstorm, research, draft, edit, and repeat. 

2. Do your research

Before you start writing your why school essay, you should learn more about Georgia Tech. Spend time researching their values, mission statement, majors, campus setting, and organizations. The best Georgia Tech essays are full of school-specific details. Your Why Georgia Tech essay should show how Georgia Tech meets your needs and how you plan to contribute to the campus community. Prove to the admissions team that you have invested time and energy into finding the best college for you. 

3. Get personal and be specific

The most crucial aspect of a successful essay is authenticity. To write Georgia Tech essays that stand out, write a solid introduction that grabs the reader’s attention. Your essay should make the reader want to get to know you better. Write your essay in a way that authentically reflects who you are and helps Georgia Tech understand why you belong on campus. Use detailed anecdotes to help the reader understand what makes you unique. This will make your essay more interesting and fun to read. 

4. Be clear and concise

Clarity counts for more than creativity of vocabulary, so you should focus on quality over quantity. Remember that your Why Georgia Tech essays have word limits, so you must make every word count. Admissions officers can be easily frustrated by a student’s failure to follow directions, which could reflect poorly on you. Keep your essay concise, clear, and focused. 

5. Leave time to review your essays

Georgia Tech supplemental essays are evaluated not only for content, but also for writing style and grammatical skills. When you think you have finished, you should proofread, edit, and make sure you have answered all parts of the Georgia Tech essay prompts before you submit. Additionally, have several trusted sources review your essay for grammatical errors. However, make sure to maintain your own writing style and voice. 

Georgia Tech Essays Takeaways

While your grades and test scores are important components of the application, your essays have the power to help you stand out in the competitive applicant pool, especially the Why Georgia Tech essay. Therefore, use this opportunity to tell the admissions team where you have been, where you are, and where you are heading.  

Most importantly, start early, create an outline, draft your ideas, revise, and proofread. These steps will help you write outstanding Georgia Tech essays that display your background, experiences, ambitions, and personality. So, use the Georgia Tech essay prompts as an opportunity to make a good impression and get you the Georgia Tech acceptance letter you’re looking for. After reading this guide, we hope you have a better understanding of the Georgia Tech admissions process and how to get into Georgia Tech. If you’re interested in attending Georgia Tech, you should check out our guide to the HOPE scholarship, a merit-based scholarship reserved for residents of Georgia, and Georgia Tech’s financial aid information. For more help, you can look at our other CollegeAdvisor resources or schedule an appointment with one of our advisors. Good luck!

This article was written by Bailey Bennett. 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.