Following years of expanded travel efforts to rural areas of Georgia, Georgia Tech’s Office of Undergraduate Admission is proud to record a 72% increase in rural student applicants, and a 71% increase in admitted students from rural areas in the 2024-25 admission cycle.
During the 2024-25 school year, Undergraduate Admission attended 111 events in rural areas, including high school visits, college fairs, and other programming. In total, these programs connected with 6,168 attendees.
“It is an immense joy to take the time to connect with students in every corner of the state,” said Christina Scott, assistant director of rural initiatives for Undergraduate Admission. “Being present in communities across Georgia allows us to understand the context these students come from and helps these students build a stellar application for Georgia Tech. The success we’ve seen in these students is impressive and will only grow as we continue our presence in these spaces.”
In addition to Undergraduate Admission’s on-the-ground efforts, Tech’s campus hosted multiple events to promote rural access. This included Rural Computer Science Initiative programs hosted by CEISMC and STEM@GTRI, which brought high school teachers across Georgia to the Institute. It also included an Undergraduate Admission rural drive-in event that brought students from Coffee County to campus, and a rural counselor program. Together, these programs sponsored over 100 individuals from rural communities to experience Tech’s campus.
Undergraduate Admission also launched a rural student resource hub on its website, where prospective students can learn more about preparing for college and the resources available for rural students.
Celebrating One Year of STARS College Network Involvement
These efforts were, in part, made possible by Georgia Tech’s involvement with the Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network, which began in July 2024.
“When we joined the STARS College Network in 2024, we reinforced our commitment to every county in Georgia and our support for students of all backgrounds to thrive at Georgia Tech,” said Antwuan Holloway, Tech’s STARS program manager. “Together with our consortium partners, we’ve achieved excellent results in supporting rural students, counselors, and schools across this state and nation.”
The STARS College Network expands higher education access in rural spaces through group travel efforts and increased support for rural high school counselors and students. Undergraduate Admission led many efforts made possible through involvement in the network over the course of last year, including:
- Hosting a STARS breakfast event in conjunction with the annual Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) conference. The breakfast allowed an open forum for STARS partners, high school counselors, and community-based organizations to discuss network opportunities.
- Sponsorship of nine counselors from rural areas of Georgia to attend the SACAC conference as a professional development opportunity. Counselors represented Chattahoochee, Early, Laurens, Liberty, Lowndes, Peach, Pulaski, Thomas, and Twiggs Counties.
- Participation in a STARS panel presented virtually to 101 students across the country.
Holloway also joined the Small-Town Outreach, Recruitment Yield Tour, a traveling initiative bringing over a dozen schools to rural spaces across the South.
Looking Ahead to 2025-26
As Undergraduate Admission prepares for the next application cycle, the office continues to prioritize travel across the state.
“This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to see how we build upon this strong foundation,” said Scott. “Moving forward, we’re continuing to connect with students around the state, promote growth and professional development among high school counselors, attend consortium travel events with other STARS institutions, and provide additional opportunities for talented students to see Tech’s campus.”
Beginning on Aug. 26, Undergraduate Admission will embark on the Peach State Tour, which visits various schools across the state of Georgia to present information sessions with Augusta University, Georgia State University, and the University of Georgia. Students who would like to attend can register on the Peach State Tour website.
To review resources for rural students at Tech, visit the rural student resource page.