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When I was at Georgia Tech, I didn't care about startups per se—I just wanted to learn and build stuff. I was very disappointed to learn that, as a mechanical e

by bsmith 13y ago

When I was at Georgia Tech, I didn't care about startups per se—I just wanted to learn and build stuff. I was very disappointed to learn that, as a mechanical engineering major, I could NOT sign up for a computer science course I wanted to take because it wasn't in my college or curriculum. I also couldn't have access to a machine shop (even with proper training) unless I got a job in one of the labs. I truly had much more freedom in high school, where I had a master machinist helping me with all my side projects on weekends. So, bravo for going after the administration. They need to let kids actually learn and build shit!

timtamboy63 13y ago
Exactly how I feel - we've been butting heads with the administration for a while now. There are definitely some members who kick ass and who have our back 100%, but as an institution, Georgia Tech is pretty stuck in it's ways. I've got another ~4 years there, so if nothing else, I want to change that by the end of my college career.
ghc 13y ago
When I was at Georgia Tech (graduated '08), I was forced to take CS and EE classes. You could easily get exceptions to prerequisites for classes if you asked, and so I did. Having open access to CS/EE changed my life, and I changed my major. At the same time, reading "Hackers and Painters" and getting involved with the Georgia Entrepreneur Society, which encouraged startups on campus, changed the rest of my life. Georgia Tech is a difficult place to deal with, but it does teach you lessons outside of the technical. Access to resources was there, you just had to fight tooth and nail to get it. That lesson in particular has served me well.
ak217 13y ago
Exemptions are a thing, my friend. I have never been denied enrollment in a class (tbh I've been granted entry in a few classes that I wasn't even ready for yet). It's just a matter of persistence. I love what these people are doing though. Clough ULC is incredible compared to what Skiles was, and with groups like these, it could really transform learning at GT for the better.
- bsmith 13y ago
  > Exemptions are a thing, my friend. I have never been denied enrollment in a class (tbh I've been granted entry in a few classes that I wasn't even ready for yet). It's just a matter of persistence. I hear you loud and clear—I should have kept at it. Unfortunately, I gave up after a couple of dead end phone calls :/ > I love what these people are doing though. Clough ULC is incredible compared to what Skiles was, and with groups like these, it could really transform learning at GT for the better. Holy crap yes, Skiles was such an inhospitable hell hole. And I also love what these groups are doing; I wish there had been more activity in the arena when I was an undergrad there.

by bsmith 13y ago

timtamboy63 13y ago

Exactly how I feel - we've been butting heads with the administration for a while now. There are definitely some members who kick ass and who have our back 100%, but as an institution, Georgia Tech is pretty stuck in it's ways. I've got another ~4 years there, so if nothing else, I want to change that by the end of my college career.

ghc 13y ago

When I was at Georgia Tech (graduated '08), I was forced to take CS and EE classes. You could easily get exceptions to prerequisites for classes if you asked, and so I did. Having open access to CS/EE changed my life, and I changed my major. At the same time, reading "Hackers and Painters" and getting involved with the Georgia Entrepreneur Society, which encouraged startups on campus, changed the rest of my life. Georgia Tech is a difficult place to deal with, but it does teach you lessons outside of the technical. Access to resources was there, you just had to fight tooth and nail to get it. That lesson in particular has served me well.

ak217 13y ago

Exemptions are a thing, my friend. I have never been denied enrollment in a class (tbh I've been granted entry in a few classes that I wasn't even ready for yet). It's just a matter of persistence. I love what these people are doing though. Clough ULC is incredible compared to what Skiles was, and with groups like these, it could really transform learning at GT for the better.

bsmith 13y ago
> Exemptions are a thing, my friend. I have never been denied enrollment in a class (tbh I've been granted entry in a few classes that I wasn't even ready for yet). It's just a matter of persistence. I hear you loud and clear—I should have kept at it. Unfortunately, I gave up after a couple of dead end phone calls :/ > I love what these people are doing though. Clough ULC is incredible compared to what Skiles was, and with groups like these, it could really transform learning at GT for the better. Holy crap yes, Skiles was such an inhospitable hell hole. And I also love what these groups are doing; I wish there had been more activity in the arena when I was an undergrad there.