Georgia Institute of Technology, also known as Georgia Tech, is a prestigious public research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. Offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, Georgia Tech is known for its strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. For prospective graduate students looking to apply to Georgia Tech, understanding the GRE requirements for specific programs is crucial.

For admission to graduate programs at Georgia Tech, most programs require applicants to submit GRE scores as part of their application. The average GRE Quantitative and Verbal scores vary depending on the program of study. For example, students applying to the Computer Science program at Georgia Tech typically have an average GRE Quantitative score of 164 and an average GRE Verbal score of 156. It is important for applicants to review the specific GRE score requirements for the program they are interested in before submitting their application.

In addition to GRE scores, some programs at Georgia Tech may also require applicants to submit other standardized test scores, such as the GMAT exam for programs in the Scheller College of Business. Prospective students should carefully review the admission requirements for their chosen program on the Georgia Tech website before applying. The admission process at Georgia Tech is competitive, and meeting or exceeding the minimum GRE score requirements can improve an applicant’s chances of being accepted into their desired program.

Course	Average GRE Quant Score	Average GRE Verbal Score
Computer Science	164	156
Analytics	167	162
Information Security	160	160
Architecture	162	156

Brief Background

Georgia Tech or the Georgia Institute of Technology is a science and technology research university based in Atlanta, Georgia. This university was founded in 1885. Georgia Tech confers degrees through various schools: the Scheller College of Business and the College of Engineering as well as an engineering school. Georgia Institute of Technology ranking is 38th in the world by the Times Higher Education’s The World University Rankings 2021. 

Infrastructure 

The campus of Georgia Tech is well-equipped for students. The campus is complete with the latest infrastructure and other facilities for all the students. It has an awesome library, great research centers, and facilitated laboratories as well.

Acceptance Rate

Georgia Institute of Technology acceptance rate is around 20%. The college is highly selective and the student has to have an excellent academic background and high test scores to get admission. A good GRE score is essential. GRE score for Georgia Institute of Technology is expected to be at least 153 in the Verbal, 3.0 in the Analytical sections, and 155 in the Quantitative for the MS program.

Residing Options 

Georgia Tech students usually prefer to stay near the campus, if not on campus itself. Students like to stay at Home Park and Midtown. They spend between $500-$1000 per month on accommodation.

Faculty

GTech has an excellent faculty that all the students appreciate as per their experience of learning at the university. Numerous professors of GTech are even Nobel laureates. Some students do say that they do not get much from the professors due to their extensive indulgence in their research work, but professors always give their helping hand to those students who show their sincerity in studies. More than 65 percent of all Georgia Tech students graduate from the College of Engineering.

Financial Aid  

There are bright chances of many students getting scholarships in the first semester, but as they move forward it becomes really difficult to gain them. However, it should be noted that Ph.D. students are more preferred than graduate students. There are several loan options available by banks and other financial lenders to fund the Georgia Institute of Technology fees.

Jobs and placements 

In the case of MS (Master of Science) graduates from Georgia Institute of Technology, the average salary is $88,675, while the Master of Engineering (MEng / ME) graduates make $95,598 on an average. Girls make $50,413 – $97,232, and boys earn about $58,592 – $110,264. The average salary for Georgia Institute of Technology graduates is $83K. In the STEM field, the highest annual median pay is of Senior Software Engineers – around $108K. MBA is the highest paying degree with an average annual salary about $125K. 1863 students found jobs after passing Georgia Institute of Technology graduate programs. They found the placements extremely satisfying and rated 4 stars out of 5 on Payscale.

The top recruiters from the institute include The Home Depot Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corp; General Electric Co (GE); The Boeing Company; NCR Corp; Amazon.com; Inc Intel Corporation. The most popular job profiles amongst the alumni of the institute are Software Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Senior Software Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Project Engineer, Aerospace Engineer, Process Engineer.

Alumni  

Maj. General Chuck Swannack (ret.): President of U.S. Logisitics, Inc.

Nagesh Kukumoor: Bollywood director, actor, producer and writer

Verdict 

GeorgiaTech is continuously been ranked in the top 10 international universities every year. Thus, Georgia Institute of Technology graduate admission is aimed by a huge number of students around the world.

Location

Georgia Tech’s main campus is located in the Midtown area of Atlanta in the vicinity of downtown of the city. Headquarters of one of the leading technology giants of the US and world AT&T being within touching distance of the campus make the setting of the technical institute ideal.

The main campus of Georgia Tech is divided into four parts. The central campus houses the teaching and research facilities, while the eastern and western campuses are constituted of students’ living expenses. Tech Square is the fourth part of the main campus located on its eastern periphery.

The campus is known for its distinct blend of the bustle of the city and its beautiful green surroundings that lend it calmness, to the extent that it becomes difficult to believe that one is in the middle of a city. It is well-connected by road, rail, and air routes. Interstate connector 75/85 connects the campus through West Peachtree Street, Spring Street, Techwood Drive, Cherry Street, and Ferst Drive.

The nearest railway stations are North Avenue Station and Midtown Station of MARTA rail. Stinger Buses and Tech Trolley are convenient options to get around the campus area. The nearest airport is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which lies 12 miles south of the main campus.

The institute also has satellite campuses at Savannah, Georgia (US), Metz (France), Athlone (Ireland), Shanghai (China), and Singapore.

Scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required. Applicant scores are expected to be at least 153 in the Verbal, 155 in the Quantitative, and 3.0 in the Analytical sections for the MS program. The desirable minimum GPA is 3.0/4.0, though most candidates score higher.

Around 130 majors and minors are offered at the undergraduate level at Georgia Tech University. The prospective students can apply through the official website’s application portal.

Application Portal: Common or Coalition Application

Application Fee: 85 USD

Academic Requirements for International Students: Applicants must submit either ACT or SAT score along with the application. These scores are valid for a period of 5 years. The scores accepted for the recent 2018 admissions are as follows:

Test Name	Average Scores	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Math	746	720	790
SAT Reading and Writing	549	370	730
SAT Composite	1295	1090	1520
ACT Composite	32	30	34

Supporting Documents: Official high school transcripts, final transcripts with graduation date, counselor recommendation, teacher recommendations, personal essays, transcript evaluation and SOP.

Graduate Admissions

Thanks for your interest in the graduate school of ECE at Georgia Tech! We look forward to hearing from you. The following is an overview of everything you need to know about ECE graduate admissions, including how to apply, admission requirements, and important dates.

The admissions committee considers several factors when making admissions decisions, including your academic performance at prior institutions (GPAs), statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation. GRE scores are no longer required. GRE scores will be considered if submitted, but are not necessary. Applicants’ undergraduate record and recommendation letters will be given greater consideration.

Graduate Program Requirements

Students with a previous degree in engineering or a related field from a recognized institute of higher education are eligible to apply for admission to our graduate programs.

For more information about the graduate program offerings in electrical and computer engineering at Georgia Tech, see:

The admission committee considers several factors when making admission decisions: your academic performance at prior institutions (GPAs), your statement of purpose, your letters of recommendation, and standardized test scores (if supplied). All of these factors are important. We welcome all applicants.

Mandatory Documents for All Programs

• Transcript (unofficial or official) for eligible degrees. Official transcripts are welcomed but are only required after you have been admitted.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Statement of purpose (1,000 word maximum).
• International students only: Official TOEFL or IELTS Scores.

*Exemption of the TOEFL or IELTS test is determined by the Graduate Studies Office. In addition, this link is provided for more information.

Eligible Degrees

Most students who are accepted into the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s graduate program have a degree in electrical and/or computer engineering. Applicants with degrees in other engineering disciplines, computer science, mathematics, or the physical sciences are also eligible to apply. Qualified applicants with degrees in disciplines other than electrical and/or computer engineering are encouraged to take undergraduate ECE courses as preparation before enrolling in ECE graduate courses. Persons with engineering technology (EET) degrees or persons with non-engineering degrees not mentioned above must first earn a bachelor’s or master’s of science degree in one of the disciplines listed above before applying to our graduate program.

*It is highly discouraged to apply for the master’s program if you have already received a master’s degree in ECE, EE, or CE from a U.S. institution.

 

Standardized Tests
 

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

GRE scores are not required, but will still be considered if submitted.     

Institute Code: R5248
Department Code: 1203

TOEFL

The TOEFL is one option for international students to demonstrate English proficiency.

Minimum score required:

• Overall minimum score of 90.
• Minimum section scores of 19. 

Exam results more than two years old cannot be considered. Exam may be taken multiple times, with only the highest score being considered.

Institute Code: 5248
Department Code: 66
 

IELTS

The IELTS is another option for international students to demonstrate English proficiency.

Minimum score required:

• Overall minimum score of 7.
• Minimum section scores of 6.5 in reading, listening, speaking, and 5.5 in writing.

Exam results more than two years old cannot be considered. Exam may be taken multiple times, with only the highest score being considered.

Georgia Institute of Technology MBA Admissions

Application Portal	Owen Georgia Tech University Admissions Portal
Application Fee	85 USD
Academic Requirements	GMAT/GRE, TOEFL
Supporting Documents	Official transcripts, UG degree and personal statement.
Additional Requirements for International Students	LORs
Course Fee	40,752 USD

Georgia Institute of Technology MS Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering (EECE) Admissions

Application Portal	Owen Georgia Tech University Admissions Portal
Application Fee	85 USD
Academic Requirements	GRE, TOEFL
Supporting Documents	BSc. in Computer Science or related field and SOP.
Additional Requirements for International Students	3 LORs
Course Fee	15,032 USD

Requirements for the Master’s Degree

Graduate Course Option

Students completing both a bachelor’s and master’s in the same discipline at Georgia Tech may use up to six credit hours of graduate-level coursework in the major discipline for both degrees. Recognizing that some master’s degree programs do not have a unique undergraduate counterpart program and that some master’s programs are offered by several schools, the term “discipline” in the prior sentence will be broadly interpreted in such cases. To qualify for this option, students must complete the undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and complete the master’s degree within a two-year period from the award date of the bachelor’s degree.

Enrollment Requirements

While students may enroll in a master’s degree program upon admission with either full or conditional standing, all conditions must be met and the student’s status changed to “full” in order to graduate with a master’s degree. Students enrolled in a master’s degree program must register for at least one semester per year in order for the original requirements for their degree to remain unchanged. In other cases, the school may reevaluate the student’s credentials and impose additional degree requirements. Students who have completed all coursework and are planning to submit a thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree should register for research hours (MAJR 700

Program of Study

The student, in consultation with the faculty advisor, should prepare a program of study for the master’s degree as a guide for planning an academic schedule. In some cases, the student’s school may require that the proposed program be submitted to the chair of that school for approval.

The program of study must be completed satisfactorily within six consecutive calendar years and must include, at a minimum, 30 approved credit hours distributed as follows:

WITH THESIS:

1. Minimum course credit hours in major field (a basic field of knowledge, not a department of specialization): 12
2. Minimum course credit hours at 6000 to 9000 level: 12
3. Minimum course credit hours for degree: 18
4. Minimum Thesis hours (7000): 6
5. Total credit hours: 30

WITHOUT THESIS: (MUST HAVE APPROVAL OF SCHOOL CHAIR)

1. Minimum course credit hours in major field (a basic field of knowledge, not a department of specialization): 18
2. Minimum course credit hours at 6000 to 9000 level: 21
3. Total credit hours: 30

Some schools require more than the minimum credit hours. Refer to specific academic program descriptions for more detailed information.

Other than thesis hours, the student may use only three hours under the pass/fail designation in the approved program of study.

Students who are pursuing two Master’s degrees at Georgia Tech may double count a maximum of 6 hours of credit for both degrees. This ensures that each degree involves a minimum of 24 hours of coursework completed at Tech that is not double counted. Students should consult with their advisors on sharing coursework among Master’s degrees.

Students may be eligible to utilize the Graduate Course Option or participate in an approved BS/MS program. Students should refer to the Catalog for requirements for the Graduate Course Option and for BS/MS program requirements.

Master’s Thesis

To complete the requirements for the master’s degree, the student must submit a master’s thesis unless the school chair determines that additional coursework is of more importance in meeting approved objectives.

Students who meet the requirements for the master’s degree by completing a combination of coursework and thesis must register for a minimum of six hours of thesis credit.

A candidate whose program includes a thesis must present a treatise in which the results of an investigation directed by a member of the faculty of the Institute are set forth in a clear, articulate form. The purpose of the thesis is to further educational development by requiring the student to plan, conduct, and report an organized and systematic study of importance.

The Manual for Graduate Theses specifies the formatting requirements for the thesis. Information regarding electronic thesis/dissertation submission can also be found on the Graduate Studies website.

Requirements for the Award of the Master’s Degree

For a student to receive a master’s degree from Georgia Tech, the following requirements should be met:

1. During the semester prior to the anticipated final semester of work, students should petition to graduate. This can be done by completing the Online Application for Graduation.
2. The Approved Program of Study (which is listed on the petition for degree application) should show that course requirements for the master’s degree will be satisfied before or during the final semester. The Approved Program of Study should be completed within a period of no more than six consecutive calendar years.
3. Students should have an overall GPA of at least 2.70 and satisfy all school academic requirements. (Some schools may require a higher overall GPA, and some programs may have different GPA requirements for certain segments of the program requirements, such as for core classes. If so, this must be reported to the Institute Graduate Curriculum Committee through the initial proposal or as a curriculum change and will be considered an informational item on the agenda. These requirements will be enforced at graduation.)
4. Students should earn a grade of at least D on coursework for it to be considered completed. (Some individual programs may require a grade of C or higher. These requirements must be reported to the Institute Graduate Curriculum Committee either as part of the initial proposal or as part of a curriculum change and will be considered an informational item on the agenda. These requirements will be enforced at graduation.)
5. Students may take three hours on a pass/fail basis, per Institute policy. (However, individual programs may not allow pass/fail grades at all or may restrict them to only specific portions of the degree such as electives. These restrictions must be reported to the Institute Graduate Curriculum Committee as part of the initial proposal or as part of a curriculum change and will be enforced at graduation.)
6. Students should be registered for a minimum of three credit hours at all times. However, thesis students are permitted to enroll for one hour of MAJR 7000 in the semester of graduation. This reduction may be used only once. Students who have met all requirements for graduation before the last day of registration for the graduation term and who were registered the preceding semester may be eligible for a waiver of enrollment.
7. Coursework at the 1000 or 2000 level may not be used for a master’s degree. In most cases, coursework at the 3000 level may not be used for a master’s degree. But individual programs may allow a reasonable number of 3000-level courses in special circumstances, such as in a program that requires language proficiency. Individual programs may include 4000-level coursework, but this must be reported to the Institute Graduate Curriculum Committee as either part of the initial proposal or clearly stated when revising a program. These rules will be enforced at graduation.
8. Students should have completed satisfactorily any language requirement imposed by the major school.
9. Thesis students must complete the requirements for training in Responsible Conduct for Research (RCR).
10. Students should have passed any qualifying or comprehensive examinations required by their school.
11. Students should have completed any required coursework outlined at the time of matriculation.
12. Students should ensure that all requirements for the degree are completed and certified by the Office of the Registrar no later than 48 hours after final grades for the term are due. If a candidate for a degree is not certified by the appropriate deadline, the degree will not be awarded. It is the responsibility of the student to reactivate the degree petition for the following semester.
13. The diploma of a candidate for a degree shall bear the date of the latest commencement ceremony for the term in which the degree is awarded with the exception of summer graduation diplomas, which will bear the date of the official end of term.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MASTER’S THESIS STUDENTS

1. Students should submit the thesis topic and committee form to Graduate Studies for approval and make satisfactory progress on the thesis.
2. Students should complete the requirements for training in Responsible Conduct for Research (RCR).
3. Students should submit the thesis electronically to the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation  website and receive final acceptance from Graduate Studies.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

The student’s school may require a reading knowledge of one appropriate language other than English.

Georgia Institute of Technology MS Economics Admissions

Application Portal	Owen Georgia Tech University Admissions Portal
Application Fee	85 USD
Academic Requirements	GRE, TOEFL
Supporting Documents	Personal statement, resume/CV, and bachelor’s degree.
Additional Requirements for International Students	3 LORs

The admission process at Georgia Tech is time-consuming as the admissions committee evaluates each application very seriously. A total of 35,613 applications were received for 2018 admissions at Georgia Tech. The number of application received has increased to 16% for Early Action admissions. While a 13% increase in applications has been seen for Regular Decision.

Overall the admissions have been moderately selective at Georgia Tech, with an admit rate of 26% for the recent 2018 admissions.

MS Computer Science Admission Requirements

Admission to the program is highly selective; there are many more qualified applicants than there are places in the program. The challenge for the College every year is to select a class from a highly qualified pool. The College looks for compelling reasons to admit candidates, and the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores and GPA are all reviewed carefully. Having a strong undergraduate background in computer science, including C programming, is highly recommended for applicants. The Admissions Committee welcomes additional pertinent information that will aid in making objective and informed decisions.

Students are admitted to the master’s program only once a year. The application deadline is Feb. 1 for admission to the following fall semester.

Application Requirements

• Completion of the online application.
• Receipt of three recommendation letters (requested within the on-line application).
• Scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required. Applicant scores are expected to be at least 153 in the Verbal, 155 in the Quantitative, and 3.0 in the Analytical sections for the MS program.
• The desirable minimum GPA is 3.0/4.0, though most candidates score higher.
• See the Institute’s English Proficiency Requirements.
• We will also accept IELTS beginning in Spring 2020.  A minimum overall score of 7.5 is required, with minimum section scores as follows:  Reading 6.5, Listening 6.5, Speaking 6.5, Writing 5.5.

A student who is enrolled in another graduate program of the Institute may pursue an MSCS while that student is also pursuing his or her degree in the other major. To be granted permission to pursue the MSCS, a student must submit to the Office of Graduate Programs in the College of Computing the material required for admission to the MSCS program. This includes transcripts, letters of recommendation, and the GRE General Test. If the student is approved by the admissions committee to pursue the MSCS, the student will be notified in writing. At no time will a student outside the College be allowed to pursue a concurrent degree without prior permission of the admissions committee.

International Applicants

One of the things that we’re most proud of at Georgia Tech is our global community. Not only are a number of our faculty members from countries around the world, over 60 percent of our graduate student population is international, hailing from more than 100 countries around the world. 

Ranked as one of the Most Innovative Schools(link is external), you can choose from more than 300 programs in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. As an international graduate student, you have access to research and internship opportunities in one of the largest innovation ecosystems in the US. At Georgia Tech, we are focused on the whole person education of our students and will make sure you develop valuable 21st century skills that will help you succeed during your time as a student and beyond.

At Georgia Tech, we consider you an international student if:

• you are living in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa,
• you are living outside of the United States and will require an F-1 or J-1 visa to study in the United States, or
• you are going through the process of becoming a United States permanent resident
   

You are eligible to apply to one of our graduate programs if you have earned at least a bachelor’s degree, or its US equivalent, prior to the start of your first semester of study. Your degree must be issued by an institution authorized to award degrees by the appropriate government agency such as a Ministry of Education or the University Grants commission.

International Application Process

1. Confirm the application and admission requirements for your program
   1. Your first step should be to connect with your graduate program of interest to check their admission requirements and deadlines before you start the graduate application process.
2. Submit the online application
   1. The online application can take anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour to complete. You do not have to complete this application in one sitting. If necessary, you can save your work and log back in later to complete it.
3. Submit your application materials
   1. You are required to submit several application materials before the graduate program can review your application for admission. Examples of such materials are proof of English language proficiency, letters of recommendation, transcript, test scores, etc. It is your responsibility to check that all the required documents have been received by the program’s application deadline. You can check the status of your application and required materials by logging in to your Application Status Portal after you have submitted your application.You will find more information about required materials by visiting Application Documents
4. Receive decision from your graduate program
   1. After all required application materials have been received, your program’s graduate admission committee will review your application. The application review timeline varies for each program, so make sure to directly check with your graduate program regarding their decision release date(s).
   2. Once an admission decision is made, you will receive an email indicating that an update has been made to your Application Status Portal.
5. Submit additional documents for the application verification process
   1. If the graduate admission committee decides to admit you to their program, then the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) will carry out a verification/evaluation process to finalize your admission.
   2. In some cases, OGS may ask you to submit additional documents. You will receive an email from grad.ask@gatech.edu(link sends e-mail) with instructions and details for completing this step.
6. Receive the Application Verification Complete email
   1. After all the required documents are received and verified, you will receive an Application Verification Complete email with information about next steps and continuing the enrollment process as a newly admitted graduate student at Georgia Tech.
   2. Be sure to check your Application Status Portal and email on a regular basis for updates and important information from the Office of Graduate Studies.

International Academic Credentials/Documents

You must submit academic credentials/documents (transcripts, marksheet, or diploma supplement) in the native language and provide an English translation by an official translation agency, unless your institution issues academic credentials/documents in English.

If you completed your education outside of the United States, we highly recommend using one of the three Georgia Tech approved credential evaluation services: IEE(link is external), Educational Perspectives(link is external), or SpanTran Pathways(link is external).

If you do not choose to use one of our approved credential evaluation services, then your credentials/documents will be evaluated in-house by the Office of Graduate Studies. Please be aware that the in-house evaluation process does take longer than using one of our approved evaluation services.

Georgia Tech requires that international applicants hold the equivalent of a U.S. four-year baccalaureate degree earned from an institution authorized to award degrees by the appropriate government agency such as a Ministry of Education or the University Grants commission. For more information, visit our Grad Admission Catalog.

For more information on how to submit your academic credentials/documents, go to Application Materials.

Proof of English Proficiency

Georgia Tech requires that all applicants demonstrate proof of English language proficiency at the time of application. Failure to meet our requirement will result in an automatic denial of your application.

For details on how to satisfy this requirement, please visit English Proficiency Requirements.

Additional Resources 

Regardless of where you decide to attend graduate school, here are a few additional resources that you might find helpful:  

• Georgia Tech Language Institute. If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the proficiency requirements for admission to a GT graduate program or you would like to be better prepared to meet the communication demands of being a graduate student, the Georgia Tech Language Institute can help.  The Language Institute offers an intensive English program, short courses, professional communications courses, online courses, and graduate student English proficiency assessments year-round. You can see a full list of their programs at www.esl.gatech.edu.
• EducationUSA.(link is external) This is a U.S. Department of State-supported network of hundreds of advising centers around the world. Each year, EducationUSA advisors provide millions of international students with accurate, comprehensive, and current information about how to apply to U.S. colleges and universities. EducationUSA staff also work with U.S. higher education professionals to promote international student recruitment.
• Study in the States.(link is external) This website is an information hub for the international student community by bringing together the various federal agencies that play a role in implementing U.S. student visa and exchange visitor programs, including the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The site offers the latest information and resources for international students and school officials through blog posts, news articles, interactive guides, and videos.

GRE Waived for Fall 2021 Graduate Admissions across College of Sciences; Several Schools and Programs Permanently Drop the Exam Requirement

December 10, 2020 | Atlanta, GA

Over the past ten months, colleges and universities across the nation have rapidly transformed and adapted to the shifting landscape of higher education in the midst of a pandemic. One of the more notable changes within the College of Sciences, however, centers on a standardized test that began raising questions on campuses beyond Georgia Tech long before Covid-19 first dominated headlines and the college experience.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test was established in 1936 as a way to measure reasoning and critical thinking skills for students entering graduate collegiate programs. 

Georgia Tech College of Sciences is waiving the GRE (subject and general test) and will not require the exam for fall 2021 applications into any of the College’s graduate programs. Information on requirements across campus for fall 2021 applications can be found at the Degree Programs page of the Georgia Tech Graduate Studies section of the Institute’s website.

Several College of Sciences programs have also opted to permanently drop the requirement, joining a movement coined throughout academic circles as “GRExit.” 

The GRE is permanently no longer required for entrance into Georgia Tech’s Schools of Biological Sciences, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Chemistry and Biochemistry. The Quantitative Biosciences Ph.D. Program and Ph.D. in Applied Physiology program, as well as the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) in the College of Engineering, have also permanently dropped the exam as a graduate admissions requirement.

Boosting diversity and equity in graduate admissions

Jennifer Glass, an associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS), who also holds a courtesy appointment in the School of Biological Sciences, has been active in asking programs across the Institute and beyond to take a closer look at whether the GRE makes sense in their individual admissions processes.

“The impetus for our efforts came largely from conversations with graduate students, who told us that removing the GRE requirement was an essential step towards boosting diversity and equity in graduate programs,” Glass says, noting that recent data also represented that the GRE can be “biased against underrepresented groups — and that it is not a good predictor of graduate school success.”

Glass joined fellow EAS professor Kim Cobb, who also serves as an ADVANCE Professor and Georgia Power Chair; EAS graduate student Minda Monteagudo; and faculty from Georgia State University and Boise State University in writing a summer 2020 op-ed about the GRE for Eos Magazine, which is published by the American Geophysical Union. The op-ed, “#GeoGRExit: Why Geosciences Programs Are Dropping the GRE,” refers to the social media hashtags #GRExit and #GeoGRExit that have surfaced as academics and students around the country discuss their personal experiences and research related to how the standardized test can narrow and stymie inclusivity efforts and representation related to science, technology, engineering, and math-based (STEM) professions — with a particular focus on bio- and geosciences.

During a fall presentation on #GRExit to Georgia Tech graduate admissions leaders, Cobb shared that 340 biology/EEB (ecology/evolutionary biology) graduate programs in the U.S. have dropped their GRE requirements, as have 75 geosciences graduate programs. (That biology graduate program number has increased to 370 programs since then, according to that database’s keeper, Joshua Hall, Director of Admissions for the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sarah Ledford, an assistant professor at Georgia State University who co-authored the Eos op-ed, publishes the geosciences database.)

Two years ago, a study published in the journal PLOS ONE examined the efficacy of the GRE in predicting Ph.D. completion related to STEM fields. The study analyzed the academic performance of 1,805 students from four flagship universities. Its lead researcher told Inside Higher Education that although the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which owns and administers the GRE, explicitly discourages the use of cutoff scores on any part of the GRE, “this is a common practice … our study shows convincingly that the scores [were] not useful for identifying students most likely to finish STEM doctoral programs. In fact, the scores [were] negative predictors of completion rates for men.”

The researcher added that “one reason given for using GRE scores to compare students is to ‘level the playing field’ for students coming from undergraduate institutions differing in prestige. It has been suggested that without these scores, admissions committees may show implicit bias that could hurt the chances of admitting students from underrepresented groups who often come from lesser-known institutions. However, for undetermined reasons women and non-Asian minorities continue to score less well than white males and Asian Americans and, therefore, the pool of ‘acceptable’ women and minority candidates is reduced substantially.”

ETS responded, sharing that “The GRE test does not predict graduate or doctoral completion rates … Rather, the test provides a measure of graduate school readiness by assessing skills that are necessary to handle graduate-level work: verbal and quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing.”

Breaking down the barriers

Beyond concerns with cutoff scores and true readiness assessment, students and faculty alike have noted other barriers that the exam can add to the process of applying for grad school. “The issue of cost, for example ($205 to take it and $27 per report) is a major barrier for many students,” notes Cobb. “This entire initiative (at Georgia Tech) was really the brainchild of the CoS Graduate Student Diversity Council, on which Minda (Monteagudo) sat.”

“It’s exciting to see the College of Science remove the GRE requirement in some programs temporarily, and in other cases more permanently,” Monteagudo adds. “I’m grateful to the CoS Graduate Student Diversity Council for their leadership on this issue, as well as the faculty and administrative support that made this change possible. I’m hopeful that removing the GRE requirement is an important first step towards making the graduate admissions process more equitable.”

The following links are for the individual degree program requirements for the College of Sciences graduate programs:

• ·      Biology
• ·      Bioinformatics
• ·      Ocean Science & Engineering
• ·      Mathematics
• ·      Quantitative Biosciences
• ·      Statistics
• ·      Chemistry and Biochemistry
• ·      Applied Physiology
• ·      Psychology
• ·      Physics

·      Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

General Application Questions

Can I apply directly to the Ph.D. program, or is a master’s degree required before doing so?

Prospective students may apply for admission directly into the Ph.D. program from their undergraduate studies. Many Ph.D. students complete a master’s degree during the course of the doctoral program, but it is not required. Students may also enroll as master’s student and later apply for admission into the Ph.D. program.

Can I submit a supporting document after the deadline?

No, all materials, including offical test scores, must be received prior to the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Can students earn joint or dual master’s degrees with other programs?

The only formal dual degree program in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering is between the School of City and Regional Planning and CEE’s Transportation Systems Engineering group. Students must apply separately to each program and meet each program’s degree requirements. A small, limited number of credits may be used toward both degrees. Students completing the dual degree program receive a Master’s degree from each program, and the degrees must be awarded simultaneously. 

Even though no other formal programs exist, students may pursue multiple graduate degrees with other Georgia Tech schools. Students must apply separately to the other school’s program and must meet the program’s degree requirements. Separate Master’s degrees are awarded from each school when the degree requirements are satisfied.

Can you evaluate my chances of admission before I apply?

No, a complete application package is necessary before the faculty can consider a student for admission and possible funding support.

If I do not have an engineering background, am I eligible to be considered for a master’s or Ph.D. degree in engineering? Will I need to take any pre-requisites before being accepted?

Yes, you may apply for the master’s or Ph.D. program with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or its equivalent. CEE has no published prerequisites, but our faculty may suggest additional coursework as needed.

May I apply to more than one academic group within Civil and Environmental Engineering?

No. Applications will only be considered by the group listed on the application.

Where can I learn about the faculty’s research?

Visit our faculty profile pages to see a complete list of our professors and learn about their research interests and expertise. You can also visit the Research section of our website to learn about the strategic focus on our research efforts and you can learn more about our academic groups.

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Can I apply for admission for the spring term?

Although we accept applications for spring semester, we typically reserve spring admissions for Ph.D. students. Master’s students are welcome to apply, but we encourage master’s students to apply for fall semester admission.

What are the application deadlines?

The application deadlines are December 1 for the fall and summer semesters and July 15 for the spring semester. All materials must be submitted prior to the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Does CEE make admissions decisions on a “rolling basis” as mentioned on the Georgia Tech Graduate Studies web page?

No. The CEE faculty prefers to view the entire pool of applications for a term before making admission decisions. We expect to report decisions, initially via email, by March 30 for the fall and summer semesters and by October 30 for the spring semester.

Degree Requirements

How long does it take to complete the degree?

A full-time student will usually complete a master’s degree in a year and a half. Ph.D. degrees generally take four to six years beyond the bachelor’s degree, with most of this time spent researching and writing the doctoral thesis. In both cases, the time to complete a degree is dictated by the pace of coursework and research completed by the individual student.

What are the course requirements for the master’s degree?

A minimum of 30 credit hours is required for the Master’s degree (30 credit hours of coursework for the non-thesis option, and 24 credit hours, plus 6 thesis hours, if writing a master’s thesis). Students must complete 18 credit hours within their chosen academic group among Construction and Infrastructure Systems Engineering; Geosystems Engineering; Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials; Transportation Systems Engineering; and Water Resources Engineering. Each academic group within the School determines its own specific course options.

What are the course requirements for the Ph.D. degree?

The Ph.D. is primarily a research degree. The specific courses or program of study to be taken are established for each student by their faculty advisory committee. Doctoral students generally take approximately 50 credit hours of course work beyond the bachelor’s degree. All doctoral students must also complete a Minor Field of Study, consisting of at least 9 credit hours outside of CEE.

Funding

Can I have the application fee waived?

No, the application fee must be paid as part of the submission of your online application. Your application will not be transmitted to Georgia Tech until the application fee has been processed.

How do I apply for financial aid/assistantships?

There is not a separate application for graduate research and/or teaching assistantships. By answering “Yes” to either of the funding questions in the online application (“Do you request funding?” and/or “Do you require funding?”), the faculty will consider you for funding during the application evaluation. You should mention your research interests and experience in your Personal Statement.

What is the cost to attend?

Current tuition and fee information is found at the Georgia Tech Bursar’s Office web site. Ph.D. students are expected to register for summer semesters as well as fall and spring.

What types of funding are available?

Nearly all funding from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering is in the form of a research or teaching assistantship (GRA or GTA). These require 20 hours per week of lab or class support and provide a monthly stipend along with a waiver of most tuition.

Who makes the admission and funding decisions?

The faculty in the specific academic group within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering to which you apply make the admission and funding decisions.

GRE and English Language Proficiency Tests

Do I need to take the GRE exam?

 The GRE requirement is waived for Fall 2022 applications.

If I have a degree from a university where English is the language of instruction, do I still have to take the TOEFL?

Yes. The only exceptions are detailed on Graduate Studies’ website. 

What are Georgia Tech’s codes for the reporting of GRE and TOEFL scores?

The GRE requirement is waived for Fall 2022 applications.
Georgia Tech’s Institute Code for TOEFL registration is 5248, and CEE’s department code is 65.

If you are taking the IELTS, please search “Georgia Institute of Technology”, then choose “Graduate” to have your scores sent to Georgia Tech. 

What are the minimum test scores and undergraduate GPA for the graduate program?

The GRE requirement is waived for Fall 2022 applications.
The internet-based TOEFL exam – 90, with a minimum section scores of 19 or higher on each skill area
IELTS exam- Overall score minimum of 7; with minimum section scores for reading 6.5, listening 6.5, writing 5.5, and speaking 6.5
There is no set minimum undergraduate GPA for graduate applicants.

Online Application Issues

Where do I go if I’m having problems with the online application?

If you are experiencing issues with the online application, please view the FAQs on the Graduate Studies website. If you cannot find your answer, please contact them through this page.

Recommendations

Is there a specific format for recommendations?

The online recommendation has specific questions that references are asked to answer, and there is space for recommenders to provide additional written comments.

Can I send in paper copies of my recommendation?

The online application will require email addresses of recommenders. Recommenders are advised to use the electronic form.

My recommender has not received the email prompt to complete the recommendation. What should I do?

Ask your recommender to please check their SPAM filters — often emails go there and the recommender is unaware they have been received.

Go to Status Checking. Make sure the email address for the recommender is correct — if not, use the edit button to correct. If it is correct, then send a reminder by using the edit button adjacent to the recommender’s name. This will resend all the information that was sent immediately after you submitted your application. Contact your recommender and let them know you have just resent the request so they can watch their email (and SPAM) to make sure they receive it. 

When will my recommenders receive an email notification?

As you complete the online application, you will be asked to enter your recommender’s name and contact information. Your recommender will then receive an email with login instructions for completing the online letter of recommendation form. To ensure receipt of this email, please inform each recommender about this email prior to the submission of your application.