the reality is dorm life has been torn apart by corona and is not likely to go back to normal anytime soon. pick your head up, take a gap year and reapply, or go to community college for a little while. maybe by the time you get into a college you want to go to the world will be a little more normal. unfortunately you are not going to get where you want to go without some grinding and some time, but you very well may get there. don’t panic and don’t dwell on the past, and don’t do anything stupid because you feel you can reclaim some of what you lost. what’s done is done. the world is what it is.
You’re top 10%, which is valuable in Texas.
So, top 10% + IB candidate.
(which HLs/SLs?)
Beside your prime targets, which should be UHouston and UTD*, here are colleges for you to contact
(Good schools in Texas)
Austin College (in Texas but not in Austin :p)
Southwestern
St Edward’s (in Austin!)
Texas Lutheran
(top notch academics, strong financial aid):
Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Georgia (only if you identify as a girl)
Augustana, Illinois
Butler, Indiana
Centre, Kentucky
DePauw, Indiana
Drew, NJ
Drury, MO
Elizabethtown, PA
Gonzaga, WA
Hobart&William Smith, NY
John Carroll OH
Juniata PA
Knox, IL
Lawrence, WI
Lewis&Clark, OR
Luther, IA
Marquette, WI
Randolph, VA
Randolph-Macon, VA
Rhodes, TN
Rollins, FL
Susquehanna, PA
University of Scranton, PA
Wooster, OH
I know that some may not be in your preferred region, but you’ve got to try if one comes through for you in terms of financial aid.
- U Houston, UTD: CALL OR EMAIL NOW, before they "close" for the day. You should still have 1 hour today. If you don't know what to write, write a draft here and people on this thread will help you. Did you act on the tip kindly provided by a poster here.
That’s 30 colleges, so probably too many to apply to, but after you contact them explaining your GPA, full IBD, test scores, EFC0, you’ll have fewer listed (once you’ve cut those that don’t have enough financial aid).
UTD doesn’t offer free tuition for me unfortunately.
And even though University of Houston is still open for applications, and tuition is covered, my parents aren’t keen on me living in Houston…which I don’t mind.
So is deciding to work in the Fall 2020, save up, then apply to UT for Spring 2021 as incoming freshman s actually get accepted a long shot?
It might be time to sit down and have a realistic discussion with your parents about viable and affordable options, and your future plans.
It’s a plan, but you’re going to need a VERY solid (or several) back-up plan. CNS at UT Austin is not going to be a cinch to get into. Even if you made it into the Top 6% before the end of this school year it’d be competitive for major. Realistically, based on current and (recent) previous years’ data, you have about a 19% chance, at best, of gaining admission, based on the information that you’ve provided-- perhaps slightly less for admission to CNS. And, there are other considerations (questions that you haven’t answered), like the strength of your science and math progression and outcome. I am NOT trying to be a downer at all. I just want you to understand that UT Austin is really not a Safety, and that you need real matches and safeties (that include affordability). You have to consider UT Austin, at best, a low reach.
From a financial and major perspective, I’d say that the University of Houston should be considered a match for you. It’s also a great school with a tuition guarantee that rivals UT Austin. You may want to have that conversation with your parents ASAP.
If it’s UT Austin or bust, try to work on improving what you can improve, work on submitting as strong an app as is possible, and prepare for the possibility of community college to UT Austin (a solid and affordable plan!). From a financial standpoint, even if you applied and got CAP’d, that solution wouldn’t likely be viable from what you’ve told us.
@nomatter do you think I would increase likelihood of acceptance if I applied as a writing/English major? My application is stronger in that sector with past writing awards, gifted writing summer programs, 740 SAT in RW (meaning low math score) and it’s what I originally wanted to do until I started working at an Aquarium past 4 yrs. My SAT and SAT Subject scores in math are bad.
Do you think that will help?
What about applying to UT in Spring along with University of Houston & UtDallas as the back up plan? I was also thinking Texas A & M- College Station because they also have free tuition.
All this will be done for Spring 2021 while I work ??In the fall and save for housing if needed.
What do you think?
Realistic?
Improved chances? Yes, especially if your supporting supplements and attributes reflect your strength in writing.
Is it a sure thing? Far, far from it, still. But, much better chances (statistically speaking) than CNS.
But, is that what you really want? If you’re betting on being able to transfer into CNS, it’s not odds in your favor. I’d go so far as to say that you’d be making a grievous misstep. Again, not impossible, but low probability of success.
If you really want Marine Biology, let the very wise contributors here help you build a realistic list that’s within reach and will be affordable. They certainly helped me to guide my student in his search! Keep UT Austin as your reach if you really love it. That way, if you get in, it’s gravy. If not, you still get the very tasty meat and potatoes.
I think that’s a good and realistic plan IF you’d truly be happy with attending the University of Houston and/or UT Dallas or TAMU, and your parents will be onboard (if their support is required). Oh, and you’ll have the resources to cover room/board fees and personal necessities.
Your list would be:
Matches: ???
Reach(es): UT Austin
Safety (because Auto Admit + tuition promises = Woot!): University of Houston, UT Dallas, TAMU
Look at the that list from @MYOS1634 , because there are some truly great options there.
I thought University Houston, UT Dallas, TAMU would be matched…so what would be matches then with my stats?
@Petal12 I just went back and looked at the thread and realized that you’ve not answered some critical questions. First, are you a Texas resident for tuition purposes? If you’re in the Top 10% in an accredited Texas School, and you’ve met the requirements in the Texas Uniform Admission Policy for the Distinguished Level of Achievement, then you can reasonably put the University of Houston, UT Dallas, and TAMU (College Station & Galveston) in the “safety” column for a Spring 2021 app. Hint: TAMU Galveston is still taking apps for Fall 2020, and that’s a great school for Marine Sciences! If you’re NOT a resident of Texas, disregard that list of safeties, entirely.
IMO, you’ve left off the answers that would help zero in on viable matches (academic and financial), and possible safeties.
Here’s the useful inputs that we know, based on the info you’ve provided:
* Your class rank is 40/405
* Your SAT score is 1380: EBRW 740/Math 640
* You're an IB diploma candidate
* Your first choice major (or interest) might be Marine Science
* Your 2nd choice major (or interest) might be English or Rhetoric/Writing
* You've stated that your parents can contribute zero towards your costs
* You want to live on campus
* You're seeking colleges that offer full tuition guarantees for admitted students
Here’s what contributors would need to know to give you leads that are actually useful and relevant to your qualifications and needs:
-
Are you a resident of Texas? (I thought the answer was yes, but now I’m not sure) If NOT, what state are you a resident of?
-
What is your UNweighted GPA on a 4 point scale?
-
What are the highest level of math and science classes that you will have completed in high school?
-
For your IB Diploma, what was your HL and SL course sequence?
-
Did you complete the FAFSA? If so, what is your actual EFC?
-
Are you a 1st generation college student?
If you take the Community College route, and you’re an excellent student, you could compete for a Jack Kent Cook scholarship which is $40K. There’s a thread on this forum for that, plus the website.
If you wait and reapply for next year, you might want to consider women’s college. This strategy would be to NOT take any CC classes so to keep your freshman status. The apply to get their Freshman-level financial aid. Many women’s colleges have GREAT financial aid. By “great” I mean that it can be as low as attending for the price of your in-state flagship depending on your personal situation. They are excellent for women going into science as well.
Because this is a strange year, and it’s unclear if they will fill, it’s not a bad idea to send gentle emails to them outlining your situation and asking if they would still allow you to apply this year. If they say no, deadline has passed, then try the gap year plus applying as a freshman strategy for the next year.
The Five College Consortium offers Marine Bio and two women’s colleges are part of that consortium. Both have really good FA and are gorgeous and are top schools
Smith College
Mt. Holyoke
Wellesley is a top school and ensures that all of it’s accepted students receive enough aid to attend. You can take classes at MIT.
Barnard has outstanding need-based aid and it’s brother school (across the street) is Columbia University – both institutions share all classes, all facilities, etc. Because of its close ties with CU there will be men on campus and in your classes.
Bryn Mawr has very good aid as well and it’s part of another consortium that includes top schools: Haverford, Swarthmore, and University of Pennsylvania. Because of its close ties with Haverford there will be men on campus and in your classes.
Scripps is on the West Coast and is part of a consortium of top schools–so men on campus and classes. I’m less clear about its FA but I think it’s pretty good.
If you decide on a gap year, to my mind that means NO community college classes.
A second idea is to try applying to some schools that still have open deadlines. Here is a list–
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/late-applications
Run their net price calculators, on their website, to help you figure out cost to you.
Hendrix is still open for applications. It’s a great LAC and for the lowest income the price including R&B and everything is about $15K-$16K according to COLLEGE NAVIGATOR, a government website that notes average cost by income level. https://www.hendrix.edu/
Texas schools still open–U of T at San Antonio–still open for apps
U of Houstaon at Clear Lake
Texas A&M Corpus Cristi
U of Houston downtown
U of TExas Dallas
Texas Women’s University and it has several locations
U of T El Paso
Another private U that’s got great sciences is still open. Alfred University in NY has incredible engineering for glass, the best ceramics program in the country, and is a pretty school. Cost is about $14-$16K for lowest income students including everything https://www.alfred.edu/
There are more schools in Texas and elsewhere.
Texas A&M International
Texas Tech
My Ranking of 41/405 (I was off my 1) is unfortunately not 10%.
I am a TX resident. My unweighted gpa is around 4.6 or 4.7. Last math I took was IB Math SL & IB Biology SL. Not sure what you mean by sequence sorry. And 1st generation.
With that ranking, is University of Houston, TAMU, UTD?
A GPA > 4.0 would be a weighted GPA. What is your unweighted GPA based on A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0? This would be needed for others to help you with colleges other than Texas public universities (which use rank instead of GPA).
If you have all A grades, your unweighted GPA = 4.0. If you have any non-A grades, it will be < 4.0.
University of Houston:
https://uh.edu/undergraduate-admissions/_documents/uh-freshman-adm-brochure.pdf
Top 25% rank and 1080 SAT = assured admission
Deadline 6/1 but was 11/15 for scholarship priority
Texas A&M:
http://admissions.tamu.edu/freshman/admitted
Top 25% rank and 1360 SAT with 620 M and 660 RW = academic (assured) admission
Deadline was 12/1; can apply by 10/15 for spring 2021
UT Dallas:
https://www.utdallas.edu/enroll/freshman/admission-requirements/
https://www.utdallas.edu/enroll/freshman/application-process/
No assured admission except for top 10% rank for Texas residents
Deadline 7/1
Note: assured admission may not necessarily include admission to an oversubscribed major.
FYI-- TAMU is no longer doing “Academic Admit”:
https://admissions.tamu.edu/freshman/admitted
“*Beginning with applicants for Fall 2021, academic admission will no longer be available.”
So, it’ll only be Auto-admit, top 10% for TAMU.
^^ This. We don’t have the context for weighted GPAs. We typically don’t know the scale or the weight distribution. An unweighted GPA (measured the way @ucbalumnus described, is more straight forward and ‘universal’.
Not only for Texas non-publics (Like Texas Lutheran that considers unweighted GPA for admissions and merit), but also for automatic and reachable competitive need and merit-based scholarships that contributors might be aware of that could be the difference between affordable and “Nope” at any school.
If you’re not top 10%, you’re taking an enormous risk putting everything on hold for UT Spring Admissions. Is there any change your rank will change and you’ll be 40 instead of 41?
Definitely don’t apply for CNS. Perhaps Geosciences, since they include Ocean Science.
http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/education/undergraduate/why-geosciences/
In Liberal Arts, you could apply for Geography&the Environment.
Overall, though, if I were you, I wouldn’t pin my hopes on getting into UT, putting my life on hold for six months. As a first gen student, you’re better off starting at a 4-year college in the Fall, with no more debt than the federal loans.
What do you like about UT?
The football?
The fact it’s in a dynamic city?
The many majors?
If we know what you like, we can look for colleges that have that characteristics.
Although truthfully the #1 criterion is likely to be cost…
Would you like to have a shot at marine science (which, BTW, is not really related to aquariums - it’s a lot of chemistry, biology, and biochemistry, testing water, plants, etc.) When you mean marine science, do you mean fisheries? water quality/treatment? algae? Would you imagine working by the sea or by rivers/lakes?
As what said before, your campus of choice in Texas, for marine science, would be Texas Galveston. That’s their mission. In addition, you’re an automatic admit - Ocean and Coastal resources within Marine Science would likely be the best “fit”.
https://www.tamug.edu/
https://www.tamug.edu/admissions/freshman/Admissions.html
I’m really not sure Spring admits get the same consideration as Fall students for scholarships.
UHouston: you’d be an automatic admit and you could write to get into the Honors College, since you have the basic qualifications. Honors housing is very good BTW (also, please note it’s not the Downtown UH, but the “campus” UH).
https://www.uh.edu/honors/students/prospective-students/honors-admissions/criteria-admissions/
You’d have a shot at this major:
https://www.uh.edu/nsm/earth-atmospheric/undergraduate/degree-programs/bs-environmental-science/
They also have a school of communication where you’d find writing majors (congrats on the 740!)
Thanks for the info. Is it really that big a risk of waiting to apply to UT if I’m 41 ranking yet not as big if I’m 40?
If I decide to wait to apply and work in the fall I realize I am risking a fall semester of college. Yet, in all honesty the reason behind UT is:
Free tuition
City Life
Reputable teachers
Great writing program…and I assume excellent Marine Science
Big, dorm college life
I worked at the aquarium for 4 yrs since I was 14. And although my application is strong in the writing sector, my dream is to work with the ocean and it’s animals and eventually travel.
That’s where I’m conflicted with choosing a major that gets me accepted.
Yet, from the TAMUG site, based on my SAT scores and ranking, I have automatic admission into TAMUG. Bad part is the best scholarship they have, paying for tuition , room & board for 8 semesters, had its deadline in January already ? And the qualifications for that scholarship was excellent SAT scores and leadership in high school…something I had a good shot at getting ?
So TAMUG sounds good in terms of my major and I don’t have to worry about getting admitted and deadline has been extended yet now the question is that of how will I pay for it?? It’s like $15,000 a year ?
What’s your FAFSA EFC?
I don’t remember. I filled it out awhile ago.
My family is poor so I’m assuming 0