It always seems that each year it is more and more competitive to gain an admission to the top universities in any state. Well, it seems that way because in fact it is more and more competitive – especially for U GA and Georgia Tech. The number of applications received was astronomical, and predictably the admission rate declined from last year.
Specifically, for the University of Georgia, almost 48,000 applications were received (12% more than last year), and 15,800 seniors received the happy-to-have-you email. While that makes it sound like it’s not so hard to gain admission – it’s a 33% admit rate – please don’t forget a few very important details. One, standardized scores ARE required, so students with lower scores may not have applied. Two, U GA recalculates your (core) GPA using only classes taken in high school, given extra weight for honors, AP, IB and core DE, and in the end the middle 50% GPA range was 4.08 – 4.35!!! The middle range for the number of AP/IB/DE courses taken was 8-14. So yes, 33% isn’t terrible, but wow – these are very competitive numbers! Oh, and the average SAT was 1390, average ACT was 32. The good news for Georgia residents? U GA wants 80% of their students to be in-staters, so the Peach State seniors have a definite advantage in this admissions process.
U GA cares about extracurriculars and their essay, but the most important factor in determining admission is curriculum, grades, and SAT/ACT scores. Consider those factors as opening a door, and then your resume and writing can push you towards getting a YES. One final note – all majors are not looked at in the same light, as UGA does has different admission standards for different majors.
Georgia Tech and its national name make it a highly sought after institution. As with U GA, almost 12% more applications were received this year over last (almost 67,000 this year), with 8,520 eager seniors receiving a Welcome email. Georgia residents are the lion’s share of those getting a thumb’s up – GT hopes to have more than 60% of their freshman from Georgia. The admit rate for Georgia residents was 30% and for out-of-state applicants…. a mere 9%. SAT and ACT scores are quite high, as you would expect from such a prestigious university – 1440 SAT and 32 ACT averages – and math is especially important. Your high school transcript needs rigor – a lot of rigor – and math should have calculus honors completed by senior year as a minimum.
Georgia Tech truly does holistic admissions – they look at everything in your application and want to know why you want to attend and how you will fit in. And when it comes to your activities, you need to authentically demonstrate how you have given back to whichever community is important to you. GT walks this walk, and they want their student body to truly embrace the importance of community. So, while your fantastic grades, classes and scores are important, your application is judged all together. Fit really matters to Georgia Tech, and your writing and activities can set you apart in the admissions process.
Applying to your state’s flagship campuses will always benefit from understanding the context of the current admissions landscape. Having the latest insights and data can put admissions into perspective and help a senior build a well-balanced comprehensive college list.
Marjorie Licht
Director of College Advising and Senior College Advisor
