🍦 Daily Digest Aug 20: Why do colleges care about research so much

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. School of the Day: Georgia Tech, an emphasis on tech

2. Admission Blueprint: Why do colleges care so much about research?

3. Essay of the Week: Crime Scene Report

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
Georgia Tech

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Atlanta, Georgia
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 18,415
📊 Acceptance Rate: 36% (In-state), 12% (Out-of-state)
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1435/32
💸 Tuition: $10,512 (in-state), $32,938 (out-of-state)
📅 Admission Options: In State Early Action (October 15), Out-of-State Early Action (November 1st), Regular Decision (January 6)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Undergrad Engineering (#3), Computer Science (#6) (US News)

Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is a leading research university known for its strong emphasis on technology and engineering. But what makes Georgia Tech stand out from other top-tier institutions?

The Positives

🔧 Exceptional Engineering Programs:
Georgia Tech is consistently ranked among the top engineering schools in the nation. With cutting-edge research facilities and a curriculum that emphasizes hands-on learning, Georgia Tech is the ideal place for aspiring engineers. The Cooperative Education Program allows students to gain real-world experience with leading companies, often leading to job offers before graduation.

🌐 Tech-Driven Campus:
As a hub of innovation, Georgia Tech offers a campus that’s wired for success. The Invention Studio, a student-run makerspace, provides access to 3D printers, laser cutters, and other advanced tools for students to bring their ideas to life. The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is a major contributor to tech advancements, providing students with opportunities to work on impactful projects.

🌆 Prime Urban Location:
Situated in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia Tech offers the best of both worlds— a vibrant city life with the perks of a college campus. Whether you’re interested in internships at Fortune 500 companies, exploring cultural landmarks, or enjoying the city’s nightlife, Atlanta provides endless opportunities. The campus is also near Piedmont Park, perfect for outdoor activities and relaxation.

🧑‍💻 Strong Alumni Network:
Georgia Tech boasts a vast and influential alumni network, especially in the tech and engineering sectors. Alumni like President Jimmy Carter and former CEO of Walmart, Mike Duke, have left their mark on the world, and the Institute’s connections often lead to valuable job placements and career opportunities.

Some Negatives

📚 Rigorous Academics:
Georgia Tech is known for its challenging coursework, particularly in STEM fields. The academic pressure can be intense, and students often need to balance demanding classes with extracurricular activities. However, the payoff is a degree that’s highly respected by employers worldwide.

💸 Higher Costs for Out-of-State Students:
While in-state tuition is relatively affordable, out-of-state students face significantly higher costs. Financial aid is available, but the overall cost of attendance can still be a concern for those coming from outside Georgia.

🏫 Competitive Admissions:
With an out-of-state acceptance rate of just 12%, getting into Georgia Tech is no easy feat. The university attracts a highly qualified applicant pool, and competition for spots, especially in popular programs like Computer Science and Engineering, is fierce. Applicants need to showcase not only strong academic records but also a passion for innovation and problem-solving.

Georgia Tech is a top choice for students who are serious about pursuing careers in technology, engineering, and business. The combination of a tech-driven campus, a strong alumni network, and the vibrant city of Atlanta makes it a unique and compelling option. However, the demanding academics and competitive admissions process are factors to consider before applying.

ADMISSION BLUEPRINT
Why do colleges care so much about high school research?

While it’s extremely rare for a high schooler to be part of groundbreaking research and, say, find a cure for cancer, having some research experience under your belt before you go to college is crucial. Not only does it prepare you for all the undergraduate research opportunities you’ll have, but it can also help you with your college applications. Today, we’ll be diving into why it helps your applications so much, and in the coming days, we’ll also cover how to actually get involved with research as a high schooler.

🧑‍🔬 The Role of Research in Colleges
To understand why colleges care so much about research, you have to take a step back. 🔍 Most colleges are research institutions. At these institutions, professors use the university’s facilities to work on their own research and often teach on the side as a way of thanking the university for supporting them. When professors get their work published, it brings more credibility and attention to the school, helping it get more funding to build new facilities—and maybe even boost professors’ paychecks.

But these professors can’t do all the research work themselves, and that’s where students come in. Professors work with undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students in these labs to help with tasks like coming up with new ideas or handling lab work.

🎓 Why Colleges Care About High School Research
When college admissions officers are choosing who to admit, they want to ensure they’re picking students who have an interest in research and will go on to be those undergraduates who help professors in their labs. That’s why colleges care so much about high school research.

✍️ Do You Need a Published Paper?
Oftentimes, students wonder, Do I need a paper published in high school? If you noticed, I didn’t mention publications or papers above. That’s because colleges are really trying to understand whether or not you’re interested in the world of research. While having a paper can help show that you’re committed to research, having meaningful research experiences that you can talk about in an essay or interview is much more valuable than having a publication when it comes to college admissions.

📅 Want more?
If you enjoyed this section and want to learn more about research in high school, tomorrow’s Admission Blueprint will be a how-to guide on getting involved with research as a high schooler. Tune in!

ESSAY OF THE WEEK
Crime Scene Report

This week, we’re trying out a new section that we call Essay of the Week. We’ll feature an essay and share some feedback on the essay, including what we think the author did well and what they can improve upon. If you like or dislike this section, please feel free to let us know at the feedback link at the bottom of the email.

Here’s this weeks essay:

Our comments:

Wow. Just wow. When I first read this essay, it completely shattered my understanding of what a college essay looks like. Written in a letter format, it also includes quirky notes throughout the body of the letter. While it takes a significant risk by deviating from the typical introduction-body-conclusion structure, the essay is undeniably memorable. The writer successfully pulls off both the fictional mystery they craft and their playful writing style. Just wow.

The truth is, the essay structure shares more about the applicant than the content of the essay itself. It shows the reader that the applicant isn’t afraid to take risks and stand out among a crowd.

Besides the structure, another very telling part of this essay is the concluding sentence. Ending the story with a statement that she is hiding from the incoming student body, shows her confidence that she deserves to be a part of Duke. If there’s one thing, besides creativity, that college admissions officers love to see in essays, it is confidence.

What can you learn for your essays? Don’t be afraid to be creative and confident. If you have an idea but feel that the officer might think it is too quirky, don’t back down. If they do think that it is too quirky and decide to put down your application because of that, maybe that school isn’t the right fit for you and maybe they aren’t looking for the quirkiness that another school might enjoy so much. Believe in yourself, you got this!

LINK LOUNGE
Key Resources & Scholarships

In the Link Lounge section, you can find links to great resources such as scholarships during the college application process. These links can be really helpful and will be updated as time goes on, so be sure to check back frequently!

Coca-Cola Scholars Program: prestigious $20,000 scholarship, 2024-25 applications now open
Fastweb Scholarship Finder: free service to search through hundreds of scholarships
Collegevine Sage: AI college counselor with over 2M users
Georgia Tech Admissions Blog: arguably the best admissions blog out there, providing commentary on important topics in the world of college admissions

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
August SAT is this Saturday!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

August SAT: Saturday, August 24
September ACT Registration Deadline: Sunday, August 25
September ACT: Saturday, September 15
University of Texas Early Action Deadline: October 15

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
Have an idea for the newsletter?

Is there a question you’ve been dying to have answered related to college admissions? Or, is there something just nagging you about Scholar Scoops that you want to see fixed soon? We want to hear from you. You can submit feedback at https://forms.gle/7Rj2eBCiauEc5oNV8. Thank you so much!