The Georgia Institute of Technology

Date: Mar 31 2003
Major: Civil Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
Tech gets a bad rap a lot of times. I'm not sure what most students expected when they came here, but you get a world-class education at an extremely affordable cost. Almost every engineering department is consistently ranked near the top five or ten in the country, and GT employs some of the most well-respected expects in their respective fields. There is certainly not a better technical (i.e. engineering) university in the Southeast. I think a lot of students of had a TV or movie view of college life when they got here. No, there won't be people banging on your door all day wanting to go do something fun, and there certainly won't be a new girl [or guy] in your room every night. But, if you can balance schoolwork and a social life, you can have a great time here. Make sure you study hard, and if you are efficient, there is plenty of free time. You just have to be assertive; find people you want to hang out with; join a few organizations; go to athletic events; basically just get out of your room! If nothing on campus excites you, go out in Atlanta. There are plenty of other universities in the city. It is one of the most vibrant, growing cities in the country and you can't find something enjoyable here, then you won't find it anywhere.

As for my major, I have been very happy with the school of civil engineering. The students are all very bright, but they are easily the most down-to-earth of all the engineering majors. Most are willing to help each other out, and most enjoy just chilling out, having a cool conversation between classes. The faculty are all top-notch. A great blend of old & young, male & female, research & teaching. They are very approachable and are willing to make time for you if you need it, even if they have to come back to campus at night. Sometimes, however, they do come across as a little over-your-head, and they assume you learned a lot in high school or in your previous courses that you really didn't learn. The facilities are very good. Though they are aging, they are still top-notch and the school is beginning to look at replacing a lot of equipment. The environmental engineering section is even moving into a brand new building.

All in all, I'm very happy with my decision to come to Tech. I have gotten an education that I couldn't have gotten anywhere else. I will be far better prepared for my career than many graduates of other schools. I have met many interesting people, all from diverse backgrounds. I've watched great sporting events in one of the best major conferences in America. I've gone out into a vibrant city and explored a lot of things I'd never done before. And all in an area of the country with a great climate!

[One little caveat… if you can possibly come to school here with a boyfriend/girlfriend from back home, I would do it. That's what I did, and I'm so happy that I did, because the romantic atmosphere here does leave a lot to be desired]