Transfer and graduate students make up a sizeable portion of Tech's student population and bring a unique perspective to the campus community.
With the start of a new academic year, it is important to remember that even though these students have past college experience, they may be nervous about their first year on campus.
Follow these recommendations to make adjusting to a new campus a bit easier. Welcome, new Yellow Jackets!
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Incoming graduate students at Tech may not have an extensive orientation like FASET, but after Graduate Orientation and Grad Expo have passed, there are still several ways to get ready for your career at Georgia Tech.
1. Connect with other graduate students.
Graduate students may find it difficult to identify and schedule time for extracurricular activities, but they should be aware that many campus organizations are open and welcoming to them.
Student groups set up tables early in the semester to recruit new members, so keep an eye out for tables, flyers, emails, and events. Graduate students can also use Tech’s Engage page for more information about active campus organizations. Learn more about student life for graduate students.
Graduate Education also organizes GT6000, a seminar course that meets in small groups led by a fellow graduate student. The groups meet for eight weeks during the semester and are not tied to a specific academic or social interest.
2. Don't let the workload overwhelm you.
Graduate school at Tech can be intense, but the benefits of finishing the program are extensive. It’s important, though, that students make time to care for themselves.
Fortunately, Atlanta is a vibrant city that provides plenty of places for students to explore off-campus. From museums and live performances to hiking trails perfect for outdoor adventure, there’s something for everyone. Find time to step back, take your mind off your studies, and return to your work rejuvenated.
3. Prioritize your health.
Graduate students are usually comfortable cooking meals for themselves, but a busy schedule often means less time in the kitchen. It may be difficult to cook three meals every day, so luckily there are plenty of ways to make sure you’re meeting your nutritional needs on campus.
Many graduate students don’t use dining halls as frequently, so a full meal plan may not be necessary. But there are benefits to using Dining Dollars, which can be used at all dining halls and Georgia Tech Dining Services on-campus locations. When students deposit $400 or more into Dining Dollars, they get a 10% bonus, giving them a discount on food over time.
For more information on meal plans and dining locations, visit dining.gatech.edu.
Remember that as a student you also have access to the Campus Recreation Center, and you can purchase a semester-long pass for group fitness classes.
4. Know that you belong.
From assisting with communication skills to health-related issues, Georgia Tech offers many resources to help graduate students through their studies and careers. Learn more here.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
The Transfer Student Association offers resources for students to get adjusted to a new campus culture.
1. Find a community.
You can search Tech's hundreds of student groups on Engage with your Georgia Tech login.
2. Start early.
Seek help through academic coaching or tutoring if you aren't doing as well as you'd like.
Professors and teaching assistants are also excellent sources of support.
The Transfer Student Association offers this connection in the form of a mentor-mentee program. You can also find out who your advisor is here.
3. Go to the Career Fair.
There are dozens of career fairs on campus each year, and it can help to go to several.
The next All Majors Career Fair will take place Sept. 14–15, just a few weeks after the semester starts.
4. It may be hard — and that's OK.
LOCATIONS TO NOTE
1) Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons
The Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons includes lecture halls, labs, desks and tables for studying, coffee, and multiple printing locations.
2) Price Gilbert Memorial Library and Crosland Tower
The Library offers computers for student use, desks and tables for studying, and printing locations.
3) Dining Options
Dining halls include North Avenue, Brittain, and West Village. In Tech Square, there are more: Subway, Ray’s New York Pizza, Moe's, Tin Drum, Waffle House, Umma's, and Gyro Bros. The Student Center also has dining options, including a Panda Express, Chick-fil-A, and Blue Donkey Coffee.
4) John Lewis Student Center and Stamps Commons
The Student Center contains the Georgia Tech Post Office, ATMs, dining options, a computer lab, Tech Rec, Paper & Clay, and Under the Couch.
5) Residence Halls
6) Campus Recreation Center
The Campus Recreation Center contains hundreds of types of exercise equipment, a 50-meter competition pool, a running track, a rock climbing wall, indoor racquetball courts, and outdoor fields, and offers group fitness classes.
7) Football Stadium, Basketball, Tennis, Baseball, Softball
8) Greek Houses
9) Stamps Health Services
Stamps Health Services is located in the Joseph B. Whitehead Building (Student Health Center), next to the CRC, and provides health care and health education to students. The services include primary care, pharmacy, women’s health, psychiatry, immunization and allergy, health promotion, sports medicine, and nutrition.
10) Barnes and Noble at Georgia Tech
The Barnes and Noble in Tech Square serves as Georgia Tech’s bookstore and includes the BuzzCard Center, textbooks and supplies, Starbucks, and a few desks and tables for studying.