First-year students admitted to the summer term will participate in one of our three summer programs: Ignite, First-year Semester Abroad, or Challenge. Students admitted to the fall term also have the opportunity to begin their studies at Tech in the summer term, along with nearly 700 other first-year students. The summer term helps students acclimate to campus, get a head start on classes, and meet fellow incoming students before the fall semester.
Learn about the different summer programs below and compare your options.
| Ignite Summer Launch Program | Challenge Summer Intensive Program | First-Year Semester Abroad (FYSA) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Overview | Students admitted to summer term are expected to begin in Ignite unless they are admitted to FYSA or Challenge. Ignite is your opportunity to get a head start on classes, learn the campus, and make friends! Students will have many opportunities to engage with fellow Ignite students, faculty & staff through engaging workshops, events and more! Contact us at: ignite@gatech.edu | Challenge Summer is OMED: Educational Services’ award-winning signature six-week summer intensive for admitted first-year students. Challenge Summer is an opportunity for students to adjust and familiarize themselves with all Georgia Tech has to offer through a rigorous, immersive, & holistic experience. Challenge scholars benefit from a cohort model to experience game changing opportunities before actually starting in the Fall. Contact us at: challenge@gatech.edu | This innovative program leverages Georgia Tech’s global campuses and programs to provide a high-quality, experiential learning opportunity for incoming first-year students who wish to internationalize their college career right from the start. Contact us at: fysa@gatech.edu |
| Location | Georgia Tech’s main Atlanta campus. | Georgia Tech’s main Atlanta campus. On-campus housing is provided for all Challenge participants at no cost to students. | Students begin their experience on our Atlanta campus, then travel to one of two locations: Metz, France (at GT Europe, with field trips in France) or Oxford, England (with two travel courses in Europe). |
| Program Dates | June 20 – August 1, 2025 (anticipated – subject to change) | June 21 – August 1, 2025 (anticipated – subject to change) |
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| Program Size | 400-500 students | 150 students | 100 students (50 per location) |
| Eligibility Requirement |
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All first-year students admitted to Summer or Fall term may apply to join Challenge. The Challenge Summer Intensive Program satisfies the enrollment requirements for all Summer or Fall GT admitted students. |
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| Recommended For | All incoming first-year students. | Incoming first-year students who are interested in developing themselves in a multicultural environment with like-minded, high achieving students to enhance their skills, tools, and network pre-Fall - to effectively take advantage of the many Georgia Tech resources including social, cultural, professional, academic, etc. | Students interested in gaining intercultural competency skills and global perspectives. |
| Program Costs | Coming soon! For more details on Ignite 2023 costs, please click here. | $500 program activity fee, plus additional summer meal/meal plan costs.* (*event meal provided at all Challenge sponsored events – daily meals not provided) Click here for details. | Coming soon! For more details on FYSA 2024 costs, please click here. |
| Financial Aid Availability | Yes. Click here for instructions on how to apply for financial aid for the summer semester. For specific questions, please contact us directly. | No. There is no tuition or housing cost associated with selecting Challenge. Therefore, your financial aid will not be affected and may not be used for Challenge. *Eligible students may request a need-based waiver to cover the Challenge Summer Intensive program activity fee. | Yes. Click here for instructions on how to apply for financial aid for the summer semester. |
| Eligible to Participate in Learning Community? | Yes. | Yes. | No. While First-Year Semester Abroad begins in the summer, we are an academic-year long Learning Community. Students are abroad in the Fall as part of the FYSA program and therefore, are unable to participate in another on-campus learning community. |
| Credit Hours Earned | 6-7 credit hours (includes GT 1000 and two additional courses). | N/A. Challenge is not a tuition-based course program. | 3 credit hours in the summer and 12-15 hours in the fall. |
| Grades | Grades earned during this program are permanent on your transcript. | N/A, Students who complete Challenge receive an audit grade in the GT900 Challenge seminar course. Other Challenge courses are program-based courses equivalent to Georgia Tech's Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Social Sciences courses. Challenge courses occur in a dedicated learning cohort with smaller student to faculty ratios. Additionally, students could be reimbursed up to the full amount of their program fee ($150-$500), with even more chances to earn an additional $1,000-$1,500 in corporate scholarships based on academic performance in Challenge program courses. | Grades earned during this program are permanent on your transcript. |
| Program Website | https://experiential.learning.gatech.edu/ignite/ | https://provost.gatech.edu/challenge-program-details | https://firstyearabroad.gatech.edu/ |
| Video Overview | Ignite Recap Video | Challenge overview | FYSA overview |
Apply for any of the summer programs listed above in the Summer Programs Portal located in your Admission Portal.
