As the academic year begins, the Office of Undergraduate Admission at Georgia Tech is turning their full attention to recruiting the next class of students through expansive travel efforts across the state of Georgia and beyond.
Beginning Aug. 27, Georgia Tech will join the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and Augusta University for the start of the 21st annual Peach State Tour, where colleges collaborate to visit communities around the state and meet with prospective students.
“As we’ve intensified our focus on recruiting students from Georgia, we recognize the importance of meeting students where they are,” said Katie Mattli, senior assistant director of Undergraduate Admission. “We’re excited to continue face-to-face time with students, high school counselors, and community members, both at the Peach State Tour and throughout the rest of our travel season. Expanding access starts in our home state.”
The tour brings admission information from the four institutions to students statewide and is free to attend. There are 15 in-person stops in cities around the state, and virtual sessions offered for both students and high school counselors. Capacity is limited, however, and interested students should register to attend the session of their choice as soon as possible.
Beyond the Peach State Tour, the office will participate in over 40 Probe College fairs and travel to high schools from Georgia’s coast to its mountains to host information sessions.
Travel this year will be bolstered by Tech’s inclusion in the STARS College Network, which will aid the office in additional rural outreach. For Julissa Ortiz, a senior admission advisor, having the opportunity to connect with more rural students this travel season is especially fulfilling.
“As a small-town native from southeast Georgia, I know firsthand the importance of expanding higher education access to rural communities,” said Ortiz. “Ten years ago, I was a high school senior at a Title 1 school. Being first generation added another layer to my experience. I never had a college high school visit, never participated in a campus tour, and I only applied to one college. Despite being at the top of my class, my opportunities were limited. Now, as an admission counselor, I’m passionate about meeting students where they are and helping them envision a future filled with promise and potential.”
Undergraduate Admission hopes to continue the energy of last year, when they visited 282 high schools across 98 counties and connected with over 4,400 students in Georgia. Last year’s admission cycle also yielded a 13% increase in applications from Georgia students.
Beyond travel across the state, prospective students have a variety of avenues to visit and experience campus through in-person or virtual tours and information sessions.
Common App Now Open
While Admission prepares to begin traveling, the Common Application, which is accepted at Georgia Tech and over 1,000 other institutions, opened on Aug. 1. High school students interested in Tech can submit their application any time before their chosen deadline.
The application deadline for Early Action 1, which is reserved for Georgia students, is Oct. 15. For Early Action 2, which includes all other students, the deadline is Nov. 1. The deadline for the final Regular Decision application is Jan. 6 for both in-state and out-of-state students.
To learn more about first-year admission at Tech, visit the Undergraduate Admission website.