Georgia Tech facts for kids
 |
|
|
Former name
|
Georgia School of Technology (1885–1948) |
|---|---|
| Motto | "Progress and Service" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | October 13, 1885 |
|
Parent institution
|
University System of Georgia |
| Accreditation | SACS |
|
Academic affiliation
|
|
| Endowment | $2.97 billion (2021) |
| Budget | $2.12 billion (2021) |
| President | Ángel Cabrera |
| Provost | Steven McLaughlin |
|
Academic staff
|
1,309 (Fall 2022) |
|
Administrative staff
|
8,594 (Fall 2022) |
| Students | 47,961(Fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 19,516 (Fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 28,445 (Fall 2023) |
| Location |
,
,
United States
33°46′34″N 84°23′46″W / 33.776°N 84.396°W |
| Campus | Suburb, 373 acres (1.51 km2) |
| Other campuses |
|
| Newspaper | Technique |
| Colors | Gold and white |
| Nickname | Yellow Jackets |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
NCAA Division I FBS – ACC |
| Mascot |
|
 |
|
The Georgia Institute of Technology (often called Georgia Tech or GT) is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was started in 1885 and is part of the University System of Georgia. Georgia Tech also has campuses in Savannah, Georgia, Metz, France, Shenzhen, China, and Singapore.
The school began as the Georgia School of Technology. It was created after the American Civil War to help build new industries in the Southern United States. At first, it only offered a degree in mechanical engineering. By 1901, it had more engineering programs like electrical, civil, and chemical engineering. In 1948, the school changed its name to Georgia Institute of Technology. This showed that it had grown from a trade school into a major technical institute and research university. Today, Georgia Tech has 6 colleges with about 31 departments. It focuses a lot on science and technology.
Georgia Tech has many sports teams, known as the Yellow Jackets. They compete in NCAA Division I athletics. Their teams have won five national championships. The university is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Contents
History of Georgia Tech
How Georgia Tech Started
The idea for a technology school in Georgia came about in 1865, after the Civil War. Two former Confederate officers, John Fletcher Hanson and Nathaniel Edwin Harris, believed the South needed better technology. They wanted to help the South catch up with the industrial changes happening in the North. Since the South was mostly farming, a technology school was very much needed.
In 1882, the Georgia State Legislature sent a group, led by Harris, to visit technology schools in the Northeast. They liked the way schools like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) taught both "theory and practice." This meant students would learn in classrooms and also get hands-on experience.
On October 13, 1885, Georgia Governor Henry D. McDaniel signed the law to create the new school. In 1887, Richard Peters, an Atlanta pioneer, gave 4 acres (1.6 ha) of land for the school. He also sold 5 more acres to the state for $10,000. This land was near Atlanta's northern edge at the time. A historical marker on campus notes that the first buildings were on land once used for defenses during the Civil War.
Early Years of the School
The Georgia School of Technology opened in the fall of 1888 with two buildings. One building, now called Tech Tower, had classrooms. The second building had a shop with a foundry, forge, and engine room. This was where students could work and make things to help fund the school. Both buildings were the same size to show that learning with your mind and with your hands were equally important.
On October 20, 1905, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt visited Georgia Tech. He gave a speech about how important technical education was. He then shook hands with every student.
In 1912, Georgia Tech started an Evening School of Commerce. In 1917, the first female student was admitted to the evening school. The state officially allowed women to attend in 1920. Annie T. Wise was the first female graduate in 1919. She also became Georgia Tech's first female teacher the next year.
In 1948, the school changed its name to the Georgia Institute of Technology. This new name showed its focus on advanced technology and scientific research.
Modern History
Under President Blake Ragsdale Van Leer, Tech grew a lot. New buildings were added, and new engineering courses were offered. It became the largest engineering school in the South. Van Leer also allowed the first female students into regular classes in 1952. He also started steps toward ending segregation. After his death, his wife, Ella Lillian Wall Van Leer, helped female students succeed. She started the first sorority and a Society of Women Engineers chapter on campus. By 1968, women could join all programs at Tech.
In 1959, students voted to allow qualified students of all races to attend. Three years later, Georgia Tech became the first university in the Deep South to end segregation without a court order. In 1968, William Peace became the first black instructor. Marle Carter became the first black member of the homecoming court.
In 1988, President John Patrick Crecine changed how the university was organized. He helped Atlanta get the 1996 Summer Olympics. A lot of construction happened, creating most of what is now "West Campus." This area served as the Olympic Village for athletes. The Georgia Tech Aquatic Center was built for swimming events. The Kessler Campanile and fountain were also built as a landmark for the university.
In 1994, G. Wayne Clough became the first Georgia Tech graduate to be president of the school. He was president during the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 2009, G. P. "Bud" Peterson became the 11th president. In 2014, Georgia Tech started the first "massive online open degree" in computer science. This program costs students $7,000 for a full degree.
On September 3, 2019, Angel Cabrera, a Georgia Tech graduate, became the new president.
Campus Areas
The Georgia Tech campus is in Midtown, just north of downtown Atlanta. Even though many tall buildings are nearby, the campus itself has few buildings over four stories. It has a lot of green spaces, making it feel like a suburb.
The campus has four main parts: West Campus, East Campus, Central Campus, and Technology Square. West Campus and East Campus are mostly for student housing. Central Campus is for teaching and research buildings.
West Campus
West Campus has apartments and dorms for undergraduate students. It also has the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center (CRC), a volleyball court, and green areas. In 2017, West Village opened, offering dining options and classrooms.
The Robert C. Williams Paper Museum is also on West Campus.
East Campus
East Campus is home to most of the freshman dorms and all of the fraternities and sororities. It is close to Midtown Atlanta. Bobby Dodd Stadium, where Georgia Tech football plays, is on East Campus. McCamish Pavilion, for basketball, is also here.
Brittain Dining Hall is the main dining hall for East Campus. It looks like a medieval church with carved columns and stained glass windows. The main road from East Campus to Central Campus is a steep hill called "Freshman Hill." In 2007, the North Avenue Apartments were given to Georgia Tech. They now house students and are known as "North Ave."
Central Campus
Central Campus has most of the academic, research, and administrative buildings. This includes buildings for physics, chemistry, computing, and design. The Georgia Tech Library and the John Lewis Student Center are also on Central Campus. The Student Center has a computer lab, game room, and places for student clubs. The Kessler Campanile is next to the Student Center. In 2011, the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons opened, adding more learning space.
Technology Square
Technology Square, or "Tech Square," is across the highway from East Campus. It opened in 2003 and has helped improve the Midtown area. It has Georgia Tech buildings and shops. The College of Business Building, the Georgia Tech Hotel, and the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center are here.
The Technology Square Research Building (TSRB) is also in Tech Square. It has offices for computing and electrical engineering. The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) is a place that helps new science and business companies grow. Tech Square also has many restaurants and the official university bookstore.
Other Campuses
Georgia Tech has other campuses around the world. In 1999, it started offering programs in Savannah, Georgia. The Georgia Tech Savannah campus now focuses on professional education and innovation.
Georgia Tech also has a campus in Metz, France, called Georgia Tech Europe (GTE). It opened in 1990 and offers master's and Ph.D. courses in engineering and computer science.
Georgia Tech and Tianjin University also have a campus together in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various engineering and design fields.
How Georgia Tech is Organized
Georgia Tech has six colleges for its undergraduate and graduate programs. Even in fields like liberal arts, Georgia Tech focuses on science and technology. It offers Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees, not Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts.
- College of Computing
- College of Design
- College of Engineering
- College of Sciences
- Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
- Scheller College of Business
Academics at Georgia Tech
Becoming a Student
| Admissions statistics | |
|---|---|
|
2021 entering
classChange vs. 2016 |
|
| Admit rate | 18.3
(
 −7.5) |
| Yield rate | 41.8
(
 +5.2) |
| Test scores middle 50% | |
| SAT Total | 1370-1520 (among 53% of FTFs) |
| ACT Composite | 31-35 (among 36% of FTFs) |
Getting into Georgia Tech is very competitive. For the class that started in fall 2021, Georgia Tech accepted about 18% of applicants. This means that out of many students who apply, only a small number get in. Most students who get in choose to attend. The average SAT scores for admitted students were between 1370 and 1520. The average ACT scores were between 31 and 35.
Most freshmen (97.3%) stay at Georgia Tech after their first year. About 92% of students graduate within six years.
University Rankings
| ARWU World | 151-200 |
|---|---|
| THES World | 36 |
| USNWR National University | 33 |
| Washington Monthly National University | 52 |
| Forbes | 34 |
|
USN&WR Undergraduate Engineering Program Rankings |
|
| Overall | 4 |
| Aerospace | 1 |
| Biomedical | 2 |
| Chemical | 2 |
| Civil | 2 |
| Computer | 4 |
| Electrical | 2 |
| Environmental | 3 |
| Industrial | 1 |
| Materials | 5 |
| Mechanical | 2 |
| Analytics | 3 |
U.S. News & World Report often ranks Georgia Tech very high. In 2021, it was ranked 3rd worldwide for its Bachelor's and Master's programs in Analytics. It also ranked 12th for engineering and 13th for computer science in the world by Times Higher Education.
Georgia Tech's undergraduate engineering program was ranked 4th in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report in 2021. Its graduate engineering program was ranked 8th. Many specific engineering fields, like Industrial Engineering, are ranked 1st. The computer science program is also highly ranked.
Research at Georgia Tech
Research Facilities
Georgia Tech is known for its very high research activity. In 2021, it spent over $1.11 billion on research and development. Much of this research is paid for by large companies or government groups.
The oldest research group is the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). GTRI does research in areas like radar and materials engineering. About 40% of Georgia Tech's research, especially secret government work, is done through GTRI. GTRI has about 3,000 employees.
Georgia Tech also has other research institutes, such as the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience and the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute.
New Ideas and Businesses
Many new companies start from research done at Georgia Tech. The Advanced Technology Development Center and VentureLab help researchers turn their ideas into businesses. Georgia Tech is ranked highly for starting new companies and for getting patents for new inventions.
Georgia Tech encourages undergraduate students to do research with graduate students and professors. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program gives scholarships to students who work on research projects. Students can also write a thesis to get a "Research Option" on their school record. There is even a student journal called The Tower where undergraduates can publish their research.
Georgia Tech works closely with Emory University on many research projects. They have a joint institute for health and a department for biomedical engineering. They also work with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta on important health research.
Georgia Tech also has research centers in other countries, like the Georgia Tech Panama Logistics Innovation & Research Center and The Centre for Next Generation Logistics in Singapore. These centers help improve how goods are moved and stored around the world.
Working with Companies
Georgia Tech has strong connections with businesses. Many students get experience through Georgia Tech's cooperative education and internship programs. The Division of Professional Practice (DoPP) runs one of the largest and oldest co-op programs in the U.S.
These programs allow students to work full-time or part-time with companies while they are still in school. Over 3,000 students take part in these programs each year. About 1,000 businesses hire these students, who earn a lot of money while gaining valuable experience.
Georgia Tech's co-op and internship programs have been praised by U.S. News & World Report as some of the best in the country.
Student Life
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian | 46% |
|
|
| White | 34% |
|
|
| Hispanic | 8% |
|
|
| Black | 6% |
|
|
| Two or More Races | 3% |
|
|
| Other | 2% |
|
|
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 11% |
|
|
| Affluent | 89% |
|
|
Georgia Tech students have many activities and events on campus. They also enjoy the cultural options in Midtown Atlanta, which is known as "Atlanta's Heart of the Arts." Many students and recent graduates live in the nearby Home Park neighborhood.
Student Population
As of fall 2023, Georgia Tech has over 47,000 students. About 60% of them are graduate students. The student body is roughly 60% male and 40% female.
About half of all Georgia Tech students are from Georgia. Around 20% come from outside the U.S., and 25-30% are from other U.S. states. Students come from all 50 states and 114 countries. The most international students come from China, India, and South Korea.
Student Housing
Georgia Tech's housing is divided into East and West Campuses. East Campus is mostly for freshmen. West Campus houses some freshmen, transfer students, and older students. Graduate students usually live off-campus or in special graduate housing.
The university has programs to help new students adjust and feel part of the community. These programs have helped improve how many students stay at the school.
In 2007, the North Avenue Apartments opened for Tech students. These buildings were originally built for the 1996 Olympics. They help house Georgia Tech's growing student population.
Clubs and Activities
Students can join over 500 student organizations. The Student Government Association (SGA) helps manage these groups and gives them money. The ANAK Society, a secret honor society started in 1908, helped create many of Georgia Tech's oldest traditions and student groups.
Arts and Music
Georgia Tech's Music Department started in 1963. In 2009, it became the School of Music. The Georgia Tech Glee Club, founded in 1906, is one of the oldest student groups. It performs often and has even appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band plays at athletic events. It was started in 1908 and has over 300 members. The band travels to every football game.
The School of Music also has a Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and other groups. Students can also form their own small music groups.
There are also student-run music groups outside the Music Department. These include four a cappella groups. The Musician's Network runs Under the Couch, a live music venue in the Student Center.
Many performances are held at the Ferst Center for the Arts. DramaTech is the student-run theater group. Momocon is an annual convention for anime, video games, and comics held on campus.
Student News and Media
WREK is Georgia Tech's student-run radio station. It broadcasts at 91.1 MHz and is one of the most powerful college radio stations in the country. The Georgia Tech Amateur Radio Club, founded in 1912, is one of the oldest college amateur radio clubs.
The Technique, or the "Nique", is the official student newspaper. It comes out weekly during the school year. Blueprint is the school's yearbook. Other student publications include The North Avenue Review (a free-speech magazine) and Erato (a literary magazine).
Greek Life
Georgia Tech has over 50 fraternities and sororities. The first fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, started in 1888. The first sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, started in 1954. In 2019, about 28% of undergraduate men and 33% of undergraduate women were part of Greek life.
Sports at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech sports teams are called the Yellow Jackets. They are also sometimes called the Ramblin' Wreck or the Engineers. They compete in NCAA Division I and are part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf, and tennis. Women's sports include basketball, softball, volleyball, and tennis. The cheerleading squad also competes.
The school mascots are Buzz and the Ramblin' Wreck. Buzz is a person in a yellow jacket costume. The Ramblin' Wreck is a 1930 Ford Model A car. It leads the football team onto the field at every home game.
Georgia Tech's biggest sports rival is the University of Georgia. This rivalry is known as Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. There is also a rivalry with Clemson University.
Georgia Tech football teams have won national championships in 1917, 1928, 1952, and 1990. In 2007, the women's tennis team won the NCAA National Championship, which was the first NCAA national title for Tech.
Fight Songs
Tech's fight song, "I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech", is famous worldwide. It was first published in 1908. Even former U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev sang it together in 1958 to ease tensions.
"I'm a Ramblin' Wreck" was reportedly the first school song played in space. Actors like Gregory Peck and John Wayne have sung or whistled it in movies. It is played after every Georgia Tech score in a football game.
Another popular fight song is "Up With the White and Gold". It was also written by Frank Roman in 1919. The song refers to Georgia Tech's school colors, gold and white. Its lyrics also mention "Down with the Red and Black," which are the colors of the University of Georgia.
Club Sports
Georgia Tech also has many club sports that are not part of the NCAA. These include archery, boxing, crew, cricket, cycling, fencing, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, rugby, and swimming. Many club sports use the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, which was used for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Traditions at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech has many old traditions. One well-known tradition is trying to steal the 'T' from Tech Tower. The letters "TECH" are on top of the historic administrative building. Students have sometimes managed to steal the large symbolic 'T'.
School Colors
The rivalry between Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia is very strong. It started around 1891. The University of Georgia once used "old gold" as a color, but then removed it. Georgia Tech then started using old gold for their uniforms to show their spirit. Georgia Tech's official colors are now Tech Gold and White, with Navy Blue as a secondary color. These colors have been part of the school's history since 1891.
Mascots
The official mascot of Georgia Tech is Buzz. Buzz is a person in a yellow jacket costume. He does flips and runs onto the field at football games. Buzz is also known for crowd surfing and having fun with fans.
The Ramblin' Wreck is the first official mascot. It is a 1930 Ford Model A car. The Wreck is gold and white and has flags that say "To Hell With Georgia" and "Give 'Em Hell Tech." The Ramblin' Reck Club, a student group, takes care of the Wreck.
Spirit Groups
The Ramblin' Reck Club helps keep school traditions alive and creates new ones, like the SWARM. The SWARM is a group of 900 students who cheer loudly at games. They often paint their bodies and lead chants.
The marching band wears all white and sits next to the SWARM at football games. This creates a cool mix of white and gold colors. Freshman band members wear traditional yellow caps called RAT caps.
Fight Songs and Chants
The band plays "Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech" and "Up With the White and Gold" after every football score and between basketball periods. After these songs, there's a drum beat followed by the cheer "Go Jackets" three times. The official cheer is "Fight, Win," but many people yell a longer version.
Another tradition is for the band to play the "When You Say Budweiser" song during football and basketball games. During this song, fans stand up and bend their knees. A popular chant is "What's the Good Word?" and the answer is "To Hell With Georgia."
Famous People from Georgia Tech
Many famous people have studied at Georgia Tech. They are known as Yellow Jackets. The first class had 95 students in 1888, and the first two graduated in 1890. Today, Georgia Tech has thousands of students.
Jimmy Carter, who was the 39th President of the United States and won the Nobel Peace Prize, briefly attended Georgia Tech. Juan Carlos Varela, a 1985 graduate, became president of Panama. Another Nobel Prize winner, Kary Mullis, received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993.
Many successful business leaders also went to Georgia Tech. These include CEOs of major companies like Earthlink, AT&T Corporation, Wal-Mart, Delta Air Lines, and American Express.
Georgia Tech graduates have also been important in politics and the military. Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen Jr. and former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn are examples. Many military leaders, like James A. Winnefeld, Jr. (Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), are alumni.
Several astronauts and NASA leaders also studied at Tech. John Young walked on the Moon and was the first commander of the Space Shuttle. He is the only person to have flown four different types of spacecraft.
Famous engineers and scientists from Tech include Herbert Saffir, who created the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, and Krishna Bharat, who developed Google News. Architect Michael Arad designed the World Trade Center Memorial in New York City.
Even with their technical backgrounds, Tech graduates have also excelled in arts and sports. Comedian/actor Jeff Foxworthy and actor Randolph Scott are alumni. Many athletes have gone on to play in the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and Major League Baseball (MLB). Famous athletes include football players Calvin Johnson and Chris Bosh (basketball), and baseball players Mark Teixeira and Nomar Garciaparra. In golf, the legendary Bobby Jones, who founded The Masters, and David Duval are Tech alumni.
