@GTAustin Ok so only UT Austin and A&M offer free tuition and UT Dallas only has AES or Terry Scholarship? If I have a 1460 SAT & top 25% class rank, do you think I’d get free tuition at UT Dallas?
UTD will also offer financial aid based on need but they don’t have a guarantee that if your family makes less than $XX you will receive free tuition. You can go on line and fill out the Net Price Calculator and it should give you a general idea on how much your family would be responsible for and how much aid you might expect to receive. To receive that aid, you have to fill out the FAFSA.
As far as a 1460 SAT and top 25% ranking, my best guess would be $3000/semester or $6000/yr about half of the tuition. If you could pull your scores up to low 1500, that could bring in full tuition plus a stipend. That is my best guess but it is best to apply and see what they give you.
@GTAustin Thanks! I’ve already applied and got accepted. I’m just anxious to know how much they’d give me lol. So if my efc is 0 and if AES is like $6k/year, do you think I’d get free tuition at UTD?
It’s possible. UTD can offer grants, loans and/or work study. First, you will find out about the AES scholarship probably in December. I’m not sure when financial aid comes out - I’m thinking in March but I am not sure. Hopefully, you will get good news with AES. I’m sure you are also applying to different universities. You might have to wait until March and see what your best options are. Waiting is the hardest part of the college app process. Good Luck!
@GTAustin
[quote=“GTAustin;c-22445006” Waiting is the hardest part of the college app process. Good Luck!
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@GTAustin Agreed & thank you!
GTAustin, because my friend met her husband at UT Austin she feels she made the right decision passing up the full ride at A & M. Her parents probably wanted her to accept the full ride but thankfully things worked out financially for them. My first son did not apply to A & M. My current high school senior son did apply to A & M ( UT Austin and UT D) but yesterday he decided to apply for housing at UT Austin and no where else (yet). Second son is hoping to get into Mc Combs but if not, he seems to be leaning towards Computer Science at UT D over Mays at A & M although he hasn’t gotten an answer from Mc Combs or Mays.
@parentof3kids, it does sound like she made the right decision for her. I am an accountant, so I do tend to look at decisions from the money side. In my mind, there are so few times in life that somebody is willing to throw big $$$$ at you with most being tax free, that you really have to give it due consideration whether it is at UTD, A&M or the multitude of other schools that will pay for good students. I know the $$$ isn’t everything, especially if they are miserable there but it truly helps them and their family not to be stressed about money or taking out loans. Trying to find that balance between desire, compatibility and affordability is hard when looking at colleges.
As someone who has been through the process, I’d love to get your thoughts on applying to McDermott.
My son is accepted into UTD and CV as a NMSF. He should be NMF as he has no red flags, so COA would be covered if he attends. We’re talking about about applying to McDermott but have a couple of questions/concerns:
- How important is service for the application?
He’s a bit short on service hours. He is in the second year of being mentor in a local program and has some tutoring hours, but that’s pretty much it - probably 20 hours/year.
- How important are recs? His counselor rec would be good but he has no strong relationships with teachers. Would a rec from his employer (Mathnasium) be a plus?
- He is being recruited to play tennis at UTD. Would it even be possible to play a varsity sport with the time demands of McDermott?
His academics are strong: 4.8/4.0 GPA, 1510 SAT, 5/418 Rank, IB Diploma Candidate.
His EC’s are OK - 2x state champion tennis player and 8x nationals qualifier, speech and debate club treasurer, math club tutor, student council rep.
If McDermott is more academic based, I think he has a shot. If service and recs are weighted heavily, probably not. What do you think?
It’s not the number of hours but what he’s done to effect change. They are looking for things more like starting a tutoring program than just participating in one.
rec’s are very important
I think that would be a plus for the application but having no idea what it takes to play tennis on the college level I can’t comment on how that would fit in with his studies and McDermontt obligations.
Academics will might get you into the door but you’ll need much more to become a McDermott Scholar
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I’d suggest you google the bios of past years McDermontt Scholars, you might be able to find some of their video on line as well, and see how they compare with your son.
Thanks! That’s really helpful.
Son # 1 claims he would have gotten AES at UT D but they were missing a test score and he never followed up and the acceptance package from UT D came in May, after he was already committed to UT Austin and much too late for AES. So in some ways I was relieved to not have to know that he passed up the $$$ if he got AES.
@parentof3kids, yes, that would definitely make the decision easier.
@RayTX and others going between paying tuition at UT Austin (or any of the UT schools) vs. a tuition waiver.
Tuiton will be increasing by 2.6% per year for the next two academic years. Since it’s % based this really going to hit the few full pay OOS.
McCombs School of Business and Cockrell School of Engineering students will pay an additional charge of $550 a semester, and College of Natural Science students will pay an additional charge of $250 per semester in addition to the 2.6% increase
I also read that they are raising the 4 year guaranteed tuition amount by 7%.
My DD20 applied a few weeks ago … just waiting on that official-embossed-enveloped-transcript to arrive. It showed up this morning and she was accepted today … yay
I posted this on the old McDermott thread, but posting it here as well … would love some feedback from @3scoutsmom …
DD is NMS/F we certainly expect finalist
OOS
ACT 35
SAT 1540
GPA 4.76/3.95 (finally got her MS grades in HS classes dropped from transcript)
Class rank … this is our problem: 71/785 … does not put her in top 5% … She goes to a highly competitive magnet school that required a test-in to enroll. By highly competitive her class includes 27 NMSF !
Also a debater, (3 years as captain, 2 years on exec board, made to Nats as F/S/J), tutor, leadership positions, decent service hours, teamed up with debaters from other schools in the district and started a MS debate program, found advisors and coaches them 2X a week and helped put together two district-wide tournaments for them
Her LOCs will be fantastic as she does have really close relationships with multiple teachers
If she makes it to McDermott finalist she will interview very well … but making it there is the big worry!
I see your recommendations above … was confused by the mention of a video as I didn’t see that option on the main McD web page …
And what is the difference between AES and McD scholarships … ?
From: https://www.utdallas.edu/mcdermott/application-process
Mc Dermont has a little higher stipend, covers travel and extra trips, summers and gives peeks such as networking opportunities as a representative of the university.
AES covers 8 semester tuition and fees and stipend that covers room and board plus $6 K study abroad. AES can also be used toward grad school.
Mc Dermont comes with many extra responsibilities that AES does not for example Mc Dermont students are required to stay on campus all four years including summers and weekends unless otherwise approved, they are required to room with other Mc Dermots, they are discouraged from attending local churches instead, encouraged to only participate in campus based faith services and groups. Mc Dermondots are required to take on campus leadership roles and must submit a weekly log of service hours, Mc Dermots are required to support and participate in Alumi actives after graduation…
McDermonts are treated like rock stars at UTD and I’d encourage you D to apply, just know what she’s getting into.
Man, I must need more coffee … I think I have looked at that information about 10 times and missed it every time … Thanks.
It is the high level of involvement that my daughter is really wanting in college … your description sounds like an environment in which she would really thrive.
We shall see if she makes their cut … she is top 10% in a highly competitive HS not top 5% … I think all of the top 30 students in her class got 1590 or higher on the SAT, 5 (that we know of) nailed perfect 1600s. To determine class rank her HS includes SAT scores as part of the ranking … her 1540 didn’t make it.
Thanks again … you are clearly an awesome UTD ambassador yourself!
Last question … is she automatically in for AES or is there something else she needs to do for it?
General note: I do not think I will survive the entire college application/acceptance/scholarship/etc. process without having a full break-down. And I am the least helicopter-y parent out there. All of HS I was 100% hands off allowing my D to self-direct, self-achieve or self-struggle.
@CrackintoPieces my apologies, earlier I confused AES with National Merit
The highest level of AES is about $5K less in stipends a year than National Merit and does not include the $6K Study abroad. All students are considered for AES and the results should be posted in their portal in mid-Dec.
I assume you are talking about National Merit and not AES. For National merit the student must list UTD as her first choice school with National Merit by a certain date. NM students are now automatically placed in the honors college (no application or essay required).
Should you D make Mc Dermot please kept taxes in mind, not that it should effect her decision on applying but something one needs to be aware of and prepared for. Because Mc Dermot is a year round program, she will likely hit the threshold for paying taxes on her scholarship - again it’s always better to have a big scholarship and taxes than no scholarship! Scholarship taxes are no longer based on the “Kiddie Tax” but based on the estate tax rate so you might look into this as UTD will not discuss taxes.
Thanks @3scoutsmom … the differences between the various schools she is considering has made my head swim. Apply to this, don’t need to apply to that, this is automatic, this other needs an application.
The competition for McDermot looks like it is insane … and their class sizes look to be shrinking (cut in half) from the current senior class to this year’s freshman class of scholars. That will be a long shot for certain.