Parents with dc in Georgia Tech

[langfam]

How are your dc faring? Is it a pretty big transition from hs to GIT?
TIA:)

[Annie G]

We have a daughter just finishing her 3rd year of grad school at Tech and it's been a good experience. However, grad school experience is different than coming in as a freshman.
As far as the transition, Dd taught some freshman chem labs and couldn't tell which kids had been homeschooled, which is a nice thing. In college, when she meets a formerly homeschooled kid, it's nothing more than a casual, 'oh, you were homeschooled? So was I'. She loves that how she was schooled isn't an issue any more.
What is your student planning as a major? Dd is working on her PhD in polymer chemistry.
Good luck to your student! Dh is a Tech alum and his education has served him well.
BTW, what hoops did your student have to go through to get into Tech as a homeschooler? We live in Illinois and ds is still eyeing Tech even though big sis says to choose a smaller school (she knows him well!)

[Michelle in GA]

The workload was intense, the classes huge, and any required help was delegated to the TA's(teacher's assistants), who are graduate students. Most were helpful, a few were not. His dorm was small, dank, and his roomate was a Korean who spoke very little English and was a total slob. His biggest shock academically was NO calculators at all in calculus! Having said that, he did just fine and is currently taking a few summer classes right now, and is looking forward to a better dorm situation in the Fall(he'll have his own space that opens up to a commom area with 3 other guys). Now that he has a year under his belt, I would probably have pushed a smaller school for a year or two before transfering to such a large school,not only for the smaller, cozier environment, but for a more balanced liberal arts education. The liberal arts classes at Tech are not very good IMO. I'm just glad that he read so extensively at home in highschool. However, it seems to have worked ok for him....it really depends on the individual. Like Annie G says, graduate school at Tech is great, in fact, it is where Tech really shines, and gets all those high ranking as well.

[langfam]

No calculators for Calculus!! OK, now I'm nervous. I think this ds needs a smaller school environment for a couple of years. He really has his heart set on Georgia Tech. I found this http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/majors/major_desc.php?id=48 this morning, which in my opinion is perfect for him and it's only 70 miles from our home. I hope he'll go for it.... if I can only convince him how big the transition will be if he goes directly to GIT. Any suggestions?

I don't know what hoops he'll have to go through to get Georgia Tech. He will have a transcript from a regionally accredited home study program. What did your dc have to do?

Thanks!

[Michelle in GA]

If you have an accredidated transcript, then there should be no hoops to jump though at Tech, or anyhwere for else that matter. You ds will be treated as if he were a typical applicant. He will still have to have great grades and test scores for Tech however, as it, as well as UGA are the most competitive public colleges in Georgia.

If you feel that your son would be better in a smaller, more nuturing environment, I would not hesitate to steer him in that direction. My son had a substantial scholarship at a small private school, but he demanded Tech. In hindsight, I think the smaller school would have served him better for those first few years before transferring to Tech. If you have any more questions let me know!

[langfam]

Annie and Michelle,
Thanks for you replies. DS GPA is great...working on SAT and ACT.