I understand the budget vagueness, but OP will have full tuition covered at all Georgia publics due to Hope/Zell Miller scholarship. Unless I am missing something, it does not appear that the in state publics are unaffordable for this family. My point was the most likely “worst case” for a student this accomplished is UGA honors not Kennesaw State.
I agree for doing early action for Auburn, Clemson, GT, and UGA. For the other ones, it will simply be a matter if I have time or not. That is my only worry, I will try and research if early action impacts my chances of college acceptance as an OOS to see if I should prioritize others on the list first. The list you provided for order was great, thanks!
Budget will be what it is. The rule from my dad was at least have my bachelor’s fully paid off and leaving me with no debt. I have funds I can contribute and we will manage somehow. If I assume a reasonable amount of debt, so be it and it will be paid off with the return investment of attending a valuable college.
Georgia is not the issue as others have voiced. The budget concerns were more oriented towards Rice University or the University of Texas, those out-of-state universities considered “reaches” for me.
Purdue as well -they fill the majority of the class in EA, and honors and merit is only on the table for EA applicants.
3 Likes
I think the only way to beat the in state options value is by landing some kind of full ride cohort scholarship from somewhere (like Stamps, etc.) which are reaches, but you would be competitive for. They often require spending time on supplemental applications. Would you be interested in something like that?
1 Like
@frenchclasher , I would also mention in your GT essay that it is your top choice since it was part of your upbringing (dad legacy and brother), so you attended events at Tech, so value of tech degree first hand, enjoyed Tech culture from insider eyes etc.
That makes you to show you understand Tech vs. I want to study at Tech because everyone likes it and it is top school…
1 Like
I would tweak that recommendation a bit. @frenchclasher - Given your family history, you might focus on what you have seen your family members do with their tech degree(s) that has helped others, and how it has shaped your vision of what it is you plan to do with your degree that will make a positive impact on others (and then say what that is— eg if you were planning to major in Mech E you could say -improve robotics for the disabled, improve the production or design of sports equipment to reduce injuries, improve hearing aid technology with hopes that they will be more affordable to all, etc. ) You can come up with some ideas for improved building workspace, air quality control, etc specific to your intended major. Speak to GT’s mission statement .
2 Likes
Thanks to you and @momsearcheng. I had intended to write quite the passionate essay including meeting with professors/school chairs to understand the program. To speak to their mission of progress, I was going to add the extensive list of opportunities they had that appealed to me, including research opportunities, career fairs, co-ops, etc. I had not considered mentioning family though, and I will take that into consideration.
Here are my 5 cents. If you are accepted to UGA but not GaTech and you want to use GaTech legacy pathway, it maybe easier academically to satisfy requirements with higher GPA at say GSU. 
So before committing to UGA I would weight - how easy to register for classes to satisfy transfer requirements, how easy to get required GPA, what is cost of living or how hard to switch housing (I suspect you are in Atlanta and GSU is very close to GaTech.)
GSU & GT are very close for me, so right on target. Will take this into consideration, thanks.
1 Like
A little slow to this discussion but GSU and KSU also have very late application deadlines for fall semester (May and July, respectively) so OP can just have them in mind without needing to do much yet. There are honors programs and scholarships in play by applying early but if the plan is to pathway to GT, and the chances of OP needing to exercise these options are slim, OP has a LOT of time before GSU and KSU is on the table. Simple apps with no essays.
We’re in GA as well. D23 and S24 went through the college app process very recently, plus our oldest who is at KSU. D23 successfully fulfilled the pathway requirements through dual enrollment courses at KSU and APs, and then for her freshman year attended a foreign campus of a US university (front loading her study aboard). We planned her senior year courses with the pathway in mind. She is starting GT later this month. Woohoo!
S24 had good stats but not nearly as good as OP and got into UGA early action, but was denied at GT. He has the pathway as well and is attending a private out of state. We’re encouraging him to go all in at the private, but we shall see. GT was his #1 and it’s hard to break that.
I agree with Greatpyrmom that for OP, UGA is a safety and GT a likely. FWIW, S24 said for his class, every student (approx 20) in GT distance math was accepted to GT this last cycle. About another 20 not in GT distance math were accepted. There were a lot of GT bound students at graduation. The ones not going to GT are going to Ivies and like and a couple to UGA (one is premed). So to OP, of course have back up options and employ good strategies, but if GT is your top school, go get it!
5 Likes
Yep. Good points.
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. If you’d like to reply, please flag the thread for moderator attention.