<p>Can anyone give me first hand information on this program? Our daughter is really “against” big schools, but understands UT is a safe school for her (in-state, currently ranked top 1%) but she wants to embrace this school if the others do not work out. She will apply to the Plan II program and she realizes it is not “safe,” but it gives her hope that it is “small” program inside the “big” of UT. </p>
<p>So…the big questions are do the kids in Plan II feel “cocooned” in this program? Well guided, supported and well taught? Do they feel that the honors dorms promote proper study habits, or simply not as much party time? Do they feel “different” than the non-plan II kids?</p>
<p>My son was in a very similar situation as your daughter, also top 1% also wanting a stong community feel, also using UT as a safety. He did not get into Plan 2. I did get to speak about this to admissions and his pitfall was that he didn’t come accross on his ap. as Plan 2 (in his case translated into as well rounded in interests) as they were looking for. This was his undoing and it had nothing to do with strengths being more apparent in some subjects than others. (Something your daughter may consider on her application.) He also applied to LAH and was admitted to that program. In the spring I asked the same question that you are asking about the LAH program and I also got several responses from Plan 2 students. It did sound like Plan 2 was a stronger community than LAH but that both offered some sense of a cocoon and this could be enhanced by living in the honors dorms. If you do a search about LAH on the UT Austin sight you can probably find this thread. If you haven’t already posted this question on the UT forum you may get more replies if you do. The end of the story is that as much as I wanted him to love UT he is really excited about going to a LAC 1500 miles away that speaks to everything he was looking for. Good Luck.</p>
<p>She certainly is not hanging her hat on an acceptance to Plan II, but if it works out for her, that would be great. I have a feeling that we will be at an LAC also, just not sure which one.</p>
<p>I hope that didn’t sound like I was saying she shouldn’t expect to get in. Really what I was trying to say is that if she has diverse interests she should be sure this is reflected in her application. My son only showed a well defined career path and didn’t expand on his other interests, that knocked him out of the running in the “How plan 2 are you category.” Plan 2 unlike other programs very clearly defines how they weight each component of their admissions criteria.</p>