Is Georgia Tech or Brown more selective for STEM applicants?

The biggest practical difference is that Georgia Tech’s selectivity changes sharply by residency and intended program, while Brown evaluates applicants to the university as a whole rather than admitting students directly into an engineering or computer science major. For an out-of-state applicant targeting computer science or engineering, Georgia Tech is extremely difficult because those areas draw a very large, highly qualified pool. Georgia residents receive a meaningful admissions advantage at Georgia Tech, so the comparison can look quite different for an in-state applicant.

Brown is typically the more selective institution overall, including for students with strong STEM interests. Its applicant pool is exceptionally broad and academically strong, and applicants are assessed in a highly holistic process that values intellectual curiosity, academic achievement, and contributions beyond a planned major. Declaring CS, engineering, or another STEM interest does not create a separate, easier Brown admissions lane.

So, Brown is the more selective school in the broadest sense, but Georgia Tech is not a safer STEM alternative for most out-of-state applicants. For a Georgia resident, Georgia Tech may be appreciably more attainable than Brown; for an out-of-state student seeking CS or engineering, both should be treated as highly selective reaches.