Campus Partners Play Key Role in Student Recruitment

The Office of Undergraduate Admission is finalizing its review of applications for the 2019 first-year class. During a recent meeting, Admission staff presented an update for Campus Partners, a group comprised of faculty and staff who support Tech’s undergraduate student recruitment efforts.

For 2019, the overall first-year application total came in just under 37,000, up slightly from 35,600 last year and setting another record for Georgia Tech in terms of applications. The total number of Early Action applications was 20,291.

“Our goal is to bring in a new first-year class of 3,000, which is smaller than last year,” said Rick Clark, director of Undergraduate Admission. “Because we keep our undergraduate population at approximately 60 percent from Georgia, 30 percent from the U.S. (non-Georgia), and 10 percent from abroad, this year will probably be the first in Georgia Tech history that our admit rate will be less than 20 percent, making Tech one of just four public universities in the country at that level of selectivity.”

Clark said the three factors primarily driving applications nationally are: a heavy STEM focus, a solid return on investment, and location.

“In a lot of ways, Georgia Tech has never been in a healthier position, largely because of our standing with those three factors,” Clark said.

Admission and Campus Partners: A Team Effort

The Campus Partners meeting is held twice a year so Admission can give updates on the recruitment and review process, and elicit support from the campus at large.

“One of the goals of the Office of Admission is to make sure we are equipping you — our Campus Partners — with the information that we have, and the goals that are being set forth, so we can work together to achieve those,” Clark said.

“While it’s easy at a place the size of Georgia Tech to become siloed within colleges and departments, when it comes to creating the next generation of Yellow Jackets, we are all on the same team and need to be on the same page,” he said. “We feel it is our responsibility to lead that charge, but we know, without a doubt, that you are the ones who really help sell Georgia Tech and get students to commit.”

One of the opportunities to convince accepted students to choose Tech will be upcoming Gold Carpet Days, on Feb. 18 and April 8. These programs feature all the Institute has to offer and provide an opportunity to answer the pressing questions accepted students may have. Visitors will hear from a student panel, as well as representatives from areas such as the Dean of Students Office, Advising, Campus Services, the Georgia Tech Police Department, and alumni.

Approximately 600 students will attend each event.

To join the Campus Partners email list, complete the form at https://application.gatech.edu/register/campuspartners.