@ucbalumnus thanks for the breakdown of options.
I don’t have other options because I need a university that offers at least some free tuition like UT. I think I had a good chance of getting in considering my scores and rank.
So #2 isn’t an option.
@ucbalumnus I DO have a local university that is definitely not high caliber (90+acceptance), and has an excellent marine science program since I live by the sea…BUT No dorm life and I don’t want to sound like a whiny child but…I REALLY want that dorm life too ?
Plus I think it’s relatively cheap but no free tuition ?
What do you want to study ?
You’re in TX, right? Do you know your class rank? You didn’t know that UT-Austin auto-admits students who are in the top 6% of their class?
Did you talk to your school guidance counselor?
@Publisher Marine Science
If you are a Texas resident, UT Austin is either a safety (if you have a top 6% rank for automatic admission) or a reach (if your rank is below top 6% competing with numerous others for the last quarter of admission places) for admission. Which is it? Note that even if it is a safety for admission to the campus, some competitive majors may not be safety.
@ucbalumnus it WAS a safety if I applied when I should have.
As a transfer it wouldn’t be a safety.
@PurpleTitan I didn’t know about automatic acceptance based on rank, I thought that was only for valedictorian. It doesn’t matter though if I never applied right?
I am awaiting a response from counselor who I wrote today for advice.
First find out from your GC if you are in the top 6%. If you are, ask admissions at t.u. if the automatic admissions guarantee extends to either the spring or next fall admission cycle if you maintain your freshman status. If yes, go down that path. If no, you need a plan B because t.u. Is not a safety.
If, during your gap year, you take ANY courses at a CC, you will no longer be considered a freshman student and will be treated as a transfer.
This is VERY important because transfer students don’t get the financial aid that new freshman students receive.
In a gap year, most people work or conduct a project (Shadowing physicians, volunteering in a shelter, etc).
Don’t take ANY classes if you will need significant financial aid (dorming will require significant aid) to attend a university.
Did you apply to Texas A&M?
@“aunt bea” that is not correct for all schools. UTexas specifically states that you are a freshman admit if your number of transferable credits is less than 24. Of course the safe method is to not take any if you are unsure about what schools you may want to apply.
Your HS guidance counselor didn’t tell you about UT’s top 6% auto-admit rule? Did you speak with your HS guidance counselor this school year? You don’t know your class rank?
@“aunt bea” fortunately the free tuition at UT is covered for both incoming freshman and transfers the same.
If it wasn’t…I would definitely not apply as a transfer.
@PurpleTitan My counselor didn’t tell me anything . My gpa is 4.3 but I come from a competitive high school so I’m probably not too 6% then.
I’m still waiting on her response.
Wait, I assumed “UT= Safety+ full tuition” meant you’re a Texas resident who’s a valedictorian. Is that not the case?
1° Are you a TX resident?
2° What’s your EFC? If you don’t know = https://fafsa.ed.gov/spa/fafsa4c/?locale=en_US#/landing
3° What’s your family’s income (roughly)? Do you own your house?
4° Find out your class rank ASAP.
5° Where did you apply?
6° Are you a first gen student (ie., neither parent got a degree from a 4-year college)?
Gap year = you DO NOT take any community college. A gap year is a year without official schooling, when you learn something else. You can take community education that don’t carry any credit, non credit MOOCs, etc, but nothing for academic credit. You do something else than school, generally work&volunteer + work on college essays/applications!
With the Covid crisis, it’ll make total sense to colleges (not to mention top colleges are used to gap years although more of the “travel the world” variety).
You also have to keep your eye on deadlines, calendars, etc.
Lots of people here can help you with finding universities and scholarships for Fall 2021, help with the calendar, writing essays, etc.
@MYOS1634 UTexas gives full tuition for instate <65k AGI.
^Thanks. I thought full tuition was for Valedictorians-only. 
If you’re not top 6%, UT-Austin is far from a safety.
@PurpleTitan my thought process was this:
UT middle 50% of SAT Scores = 1170 – 1410.
My score= 1380
UT admissions rate 48.5% (in-state)
UT Austin GPA average= 3.84.
My GPA= 4.3
99% at UT were in the top 50% of their graduating class.
My ranking= between top 7-10%
My EC were good, including leadership positions.
So I may not be a “shoo-in”, but I considered my chances good at getting in…if I applied last year ?