Georgia Tech Student Reveals How To Get In As International Student

Summary

In this interview, a student reflects on their journey to Georgia Tech, sharing insights on their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and college application process. Accepted to multiple top universities like MIT and UC Berkeley, they ultimately chose Georgia Tech to study Computer Science. The student highlights their hands-on projects, mentorship experience, and participation in the Canada-wide science fair. They also discuss how their essays were shaped by their engineering passion and provide advice for prospective applicants, including the importance of finding a 'spike' in your application and getting involved in extracurriculars early on.

Takeaways

• 😀 Starting early in high school (Grade 9 or 10) by joining clubs gives you a better chance of securing leadership roles later on.
• 😀 Grades are important, but extracurriculars and personal essays are key factors in university admissions.
• 😀 Having a clear theme or 'spike' in your application (like a passion for engineering) can help you stand out.
• 😀 Personal essays should reflect your journey, showing progress and resilience, especially in projects that didn’t go perfectly.
• 😀 Researching the university, including professors and their work, helps you craft a compelling 'Why This University' essay.
• 😀 Extracurricular involvement should be meaningful and sustained, focusing on a few activities in later grades for depth.
• 😀 A well-rounded application includes academic achievements, extracurriculars, and personal experiences that align with your interests.
• 😀 Admissions officers appreciate vulnerability and relatability in essays, so don’t shy away from sharing personal growth stories.
• 😀 Getting involved in clubs and activities early gives you an advantage in securing positions like club president later on.
• 😀 Self-discipline is essential, especially when dealing with senioritis and maintaining motivation throughout high school.
• 😀 Even if you make mistakes or face challenges in projects, showing how you learned from them and improved is valuable in your application.

Q & A

Which universities did the interviewee get into?

The interviewee was accepted into several universities in both the U.S. and Canada, including UCI, Washington, and Georgia Tech.

Which university did the interviewee ultimately commit to?

The interviewee committed to Georgia Tech for a Computer Science major.

What was the interviewee's SAT score?

The interviewee mentioned their SAT score as 'okay' but did not provide specific details.

What was the interviewee's GPA?

The interviewee's GPA was reported as 96%.

What extracurricular activities did the interviewee participate in?

The interviewee participated in several extracurricular activities, including a mentorship program where they worked on a model train project and research mentorships focused on engineering and computer science.

What project did the interviewee work on in the mentorship program?

The interviewee worked on controlling a 150-scale model train system, making it function like a real subway system.

What achievements did the interviewee highlight in their application?

The interviewee mentioned their participation in the Canada-wide science fair, where they earned a bronze medal for their project.

What was the main theme of the interviewee's application essays?

The main theme of the interviewee's essays was their engineering passion, particularly focusing on their research mentorship experience and challenges faced while developing a variable keyboard.

How did the interviewee approach the 'Why Georgia Tech' essay?

For the 'Why Georgia Tech' essay, the interviewee did about 5 hours of research on the university's professors and their research areas, aligning their interests with the university's programs.

What advice did the interviewee give to younger students about extracurriculars?

The interviewee advised younger students to explore as many clubs as possible in grade 9 to find their interests, and then focus on a few key clubs in later years to increase their chances of obtaining leadership roles.