Georgia Tech vs Purdue

Hi all! I'm a high school junior and I'm torn between Georgia Tech and Purdue for my dream engineering school. Besides rankings, what are some differences between the two schools that I should consider when making my decision? If anyone has attended either school or knows someone who has, I'd love to hear your thoughts on things like campus atmosphere, extracurriculars, and internship opportunities. Thank you!

While rankings can give you a general idea of how good a school is, it's essential to take a closer look at factors like campus atmosphere, extracurriculars, and internship opportunities to determine which environment suits you best. I'll give you an overview of the differences between Georgia Tech and Purdue in these areas.

Campus Atmosphere:

Georgia Tech is located in Atlanta, which is a vibrant and diverse city with lots of opportunities for networking, internships, and entertainment. The campus itself is somewhat urban, but still has green spaces and a sense of community. The student body at Georgia Tech tends to be competitive and hardworking, but also collaborative.

Purdue, on the other hand, is located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The campus is more suburban, with a traditional college-town feel and a close-knit community. Purdue students are known for their strong school spirit, especially when it comes to sports and events. The atmosphere at Purdue can be slightly more relaxed compared to Georgia Tech, but expect a strong work ethic from your peers.

Extracurriculars:

Both Georgia Tech and Purdue provide numerous opportunities for students to get involved in extracurricular activities. They both have a wide variety of clubs, student organizations, intramural sports, and Greek life. Georgia Tech has a special focus on research and innovation, similarly, Purdue also has a strong emphasis on research and offers a variety of resources, such as the Purdue Foundry for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Internship Opportunities:

Both schools have strong connections to industries and companies relevant to engineering. Georgia Tech, due to its location in Atlanta, offers more local opportunities for internships with companies such as Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, and Georgia-Pacific. Purdue, though located in a college town, has strong connections to the automotive, aerospace, and tech industries, with companies like Rolls-Royce, Eli Lilly, and Cummins often recruiting from Purdue students.

In conclusion, you should consider factors like the location and how much you value a city vs. a college-town experience, and what kind of campus atmosphere you thrive in most. Additionally, take a closer look at the specific engineering programs you're interested in at each school to help you make a decision. Reach out to current students or alumni to gather detailed, first-hand experiences that can be valuable in making your choice. Of course, you could also always apply to both and give yourself more time to make a final decision!

Regardless of which school you choose, if you want tips on how to maximize your chances of acceptance, check out the following blog posts from CollegeVine breaking down their respective school-specific supplemental essay(s):

- Georgia Tech: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-georgia-tech-essays

- Purdue: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-purdue-university-essays

You could also consider participating in an engineering summer program, as admissions officers love to see that you're taking initiative and pursuing your interests outside of the classroom. CollegeVine's blog has a list of reputable ones for high schoolers: https://blog.collegevine.com/high-school-engineering-summer-programs/

In addition to potentially boosting your odds of acceptance, participating in a summer program could allow you to network with current engineering professionals and educators, who could give you more personalized guidance on whether Purdue or Georgia Tech is a better overall fit for you. Good luck!