Academics and related topics
Your student's academic advisor can help - go to http://www.advising.gatech.edu/ for more resources. Students also have the opportunity to meet with an advisor at FASET. GT 1000 is an extremely helpful class and also covers choosing a major.
It is best not to think of there being a "normal" course load. Rather each student needs to determine the right number of credit hourse for them based upon their comfort level. Twelve credit hours is considered full-time status.
Ideally, students should change majors prior to enrollment via contacting the Admissions office. Once the student is enrolled at Georgia Tech, the student should seek their academic advisor and the Registrar's Office to make this change in major.
GT1000, Adjustment to College Life, the Freshman Seminar, is a one-hour/one-credit graded course taught in small groups or teams (5-6 students) in classes of 25 to 30 students. The course is taught by academic faculty and administrative personnel, all of who possess advanced degrees and experience in working with college students and their transition issues. Upper-class students volunteer to serve as team leaders in each class and help support freshman students in their transition to college. The course assists newly enrolled Tech students with their academic and social transition to Georgia Tech. Examples of course topics include:
Academic and extracurricular involvement at Georgia Tech
Leadership Opportunities
Career and Major Exploration
Resume Writing
Team Building
Time Management
Study Skills
Many students elect to accept the credit; however, that means moving into Calculus II which can be challenging, especially in the first semester. If your student has concerns, please contact his/her academic advisor for more help in deciding how to proceed.
If your student is placed on probation, then they have not met the Grade Point Average (GPA ) requirements for two semesters in a row. A student goes on "Warning" the first semester they don't meet the required minimum GPA and on "Probation" the second semester if they don't meet the required GPA. If your student does not meet the required minimum GPA the semester following the "Probation" period, your student will be dropped from Georgia Tech. We strongly encourage parents and students to seek help regarding courses and course load during the "Warning" period. Parents should visit the Registrar website at http://www.registrar.gatech.edu/students/academicstanding.php for more information regarding academic status.
Health and safety
Unfortunately, at this time, we are not able to send safety alert texts to parents. Our phone system would not be able to withstand the influx of calls that would result from those texts. Situations that may require safety alerts to students also require an operational communication system for emergency personnel. In the event of an emergency on campus, parents may visit http://www.police.gatech.edu/alerts.php for up to date information regarding the situation.
Stamps Health Services is educating the Tech community on flu awareness and prevention which includes immunization against the seasonal and N1N1 flu. Students and parents are encouraged to visit the Stamps Health Services Web site for more information including how to make your appointment for the flu vaccine.
Housing, Buzzcard and transportation
The BuzzCard has many uses and benefits. Your student may use their BuzzCard to pay for meals and other purchases as well as for entry into campus facilities such as parking lots and athletic facilities. Please visit the BuzzCard site at http://www.buzzcard.gatech.edu/ for complete information on how to obtain, use and manage the BuzzCard.
Georgia Tech is proud to offer a variety of transportation methods for students. The Stinger Bus operates Monday through Friday and encompasses much of campus. Click here for more information on the Stinger Bus including bus routes. In addition, students can also take the Tech Trolley which connects Technology Square in Midtown Atlanta with the main campus. Click here for more information including routes on the Tech Trolley.
For safe and reliable after hours transportation, students are strongly encouraged to ride the Stingerette Shuttle. This service is limited to transportation between Georgia Tech operated living accommodations, academic buildings, and Georgia Tech facilities situated within the defined campus boundaries. Click here for more information on the Stingerette Shuttle.
Visit the Parking and Transportation website www.pts.gatech.edu for additional information on transportation and including visitor parking.
All Georgia Tech students who are currently enrolled are eligible for parking. All student parking permits will be charged to the student's Bursar account. Fee payments for parking permits must be made directly to the Bursar's Office. Payments for parking permit charges are subject to the same payment policies and schedule that apply to other tuition and fees. The Parking Office will no longer accept payment for student permits.
Special resources
There are several helpful resources available to women at Georgia Tech. Namely, the Women's Resource Center womenscenter.gatech.edu offers academic performance and personal development resources for the women at Georgia Tech. Please reference their website for upcoming workshops and events. In addition, the Georgia Tech Women's Clinic, located on the second floor of the Student Health Center, provides a wide range of affordable services that respond to women's health needs. Routine exams are provided by a women's health nurse practitioner
Tuition, scholarships and related topics
Federal Work Study (FWS) is a need based financial aid program that allows students to earn up to their awarded amount over the course of the academic year. Students work in positions that range from clerical to tutoring and technical assistants, and typically earn $8-$10/hour. Students who do not qualify for FWS can apply for similar on campus positions student assistant positions.
Students who are considered Georgia residents for tuition purposes and are enrolled in an undergraduate degree program may be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship as well as the newly created Zell Miller Scholarship. Click here for more information, including eligibility and coverage, on these specific scholarships.
For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid website.
These determinations are made by the Registrar. Typically, however, a student who is accepted to Georgia Tech as a non-resident will retain that classification. Information is available at http://www.registrar.gatech.edu/. Select "students" and then "tuition classification."
No billing statements are mailed. The Office of the Bursar provides real time information on account information and balance due via the student's OSCAR account. Your student can authorize you or another third to make payments online via the Student Bill + Payment Portal. Click here for more information.
There is an optional payment plan for paying tuition and mandatory fees. Visit the Bursar's website for more information.
On request, students may request that financial aid increase the designated "Cost of Attendance" used to calculate eligibility by a maximum $1500 to reflect the need to purchase a computer. This adjustment may increase eligibility for certain loan programs and a very limited number of scholarships. Contact the student's designated financial aid advisor, listed at www.finaid.gatech.edu/contacts for more details.
Dropping classes can impact financial aid eligibility in three ways. First, if all financial aid has not yet disbursed for that term, eligibility for further disbursement(s) will be based on the number of remaining hours of enrollment. Second, if a student withdraws completely, eligibility for that semester will be recalculated based on a pro-rated cost for the number of days the student was enrolled. It may be necessary to repay some or all of the financial aid that was received for the term. Third, financial aid tracks a student's "attempted hours" and "completion rate" (ratio of coursework attempted to coursework successfully completed). HOPE eligibility is generally capped at 127 "attempted hours" (see details at http://www.finaid.gatech.edu/hope/). All financial aid programs, including HOPE are also subject to a requirement that a student cumulatively complete 75% of all coursework attempted and to a separate limit on attempted hours. Visit the HOPE Web site for more information.