@UTtransfer That’s the problem. Since I was told that Dual Credit wouldn’t factor into my admission decision, I only applied to the University of Texas. In a way this was arrogance on my own part, (I knew I would be able to make a 4.0 GPA and be guaranteed acceptance) but that doesn’t change the fact that admissions had been misinforming me since senior year of high school. I had everything planned out to get guaranteed acceptance into McComb’s, but it crumbled when I was told Dual Credit would be a factor. My parents are refusing to pay for my college education if I get a Liberal Art’s Degree (Economics), so I am kind of in a bad situation right now.
@UTMccombs2017 the admissions counselors are terrible (sometimes), I usually call multiple times and average the answers they give me.
@utcswannabe I was told every single time I had called that Dual Credit wouldn’t be a factor. I probably asked this question upwards of 5-10 times since senior year, and received the same answer every single time. Hard to average statistics like that.
Can someone chance me?
Major: Finance at University of Texas at Dallas
GPA: 3.41 but might be higher after this spring semester
32 hours (including transferrable courses from a community college)
Wanting to get into COLA as an Economics major
2nd major is Business Undeclared
Essays: Pretty solid essays talking about how I manage my finances, considering family issues and other challenges.
Extracurriculars: FSA, Rugby, ALPFA (latino finance organization)
Work: Remodeling and managing construction, dealing with money
Letters of Recomendation: 1 from a business professor who is an alum from UT
Trying to get into UT, and my girlfriend is there so that’s a definite plus!
All opinions welcome!
@UTMccombs2017 The same thing happened to me with the miscommunication about Dual credit and how it would affect my GPA. Throughout high school, I was told in Texas the dual credit only goes in for the credits and not the GPA. Then when I had my plan to transfer to UT I was told the same thing over and over again. Dual credit was high school and would not count but would be looked at for the credits. So I pulled out a 3.75 for my first semester of college and thought that would be a guaranteed acceptance into the RTF program or COLA. But when they asked to send my DC transcript I noticed it had all my grades and GPA on it and was sad. Also, my scholarship application listed a GPA completely different. I called many times to UT and it seemed like most of the people picking up were just interns or students working in the office who either gave me an incorrect answer, didn’t know, or only knew what it was like for CAP students. This was stressful for me. Every time I tried to schedule an appointment with someone who actually worked with admissions, I would never hear back or get a response to my emails. Luckily eventually I got a phone appointment not with UT Austin but with an advisor in Houston. She cleared up everything to me, while I explained my situation. She said even though my application was still in review I could still write up a note explaining my situation and upload it or even write essay C ‘Special circumstances’ and include the confusion in there to try to help improve my application. She couldn’t however, tell me whether or not my application had been reviewed so I don’t know whether or not my last minute 1500 word essay C would be worth anything.
So I am in the same boat as you man. Hopefully they upwards grade trend will really help as in high school I really did not know how the system worked nor did I care. Luckily I have a ton of LOR and Work experience in my field that separates me from other potential applicants.
The waiting game plus change of GPA is killer though man. I feel for you
Would someone mind chancing me??
–I’m an OOS student with 54 hours and I submitted my application on January 26th (if that matters)
–3.62 GPA
–First Choice: Moody Political Communications
–Second Choice: COLA Government
–4 LOR (1 from my uncle who is a former chairman of the Texas Association of Business, one from my cousin who is an alumni of Moody, one from my AP World History teacher in high school who also oversaw the foreign exchange student program I was president of, and the last one is from my Public Policy professor from last semester)
–Political Science Honor Society Member (Pi Sigma Alpha)
–3 essays
–I wrote Essay C about my three heart surgeries
Thanks in advance!!
Oh man we are in exactly the same boat. Unfortunately, I found out about my Dual Credit after my application had already been submitted, but I had already written my essay C about my grades in general. The thing is, with my grades it’s not even an upward trend; it’s a complete change. Well see I suppose.
@UTplsacceptme Did you take applied calculus 1&2 or the regular calculus (1&2) or (differential and integral)? Economics at UT requires the regular trig based calculus as an admissions prerequisite, so if you took applied calc your chances are zero. Also, that GPA isn’t that competitive.
@UTtransfer Thanks for the feedback! One more question, do you know how competitive the iMPA program is, in regards to getting admitted into the program?
@UTMccombs2017 I am in the exact same boat! My grades are complete change as well. I also did not know until after everything was submitted. I submitted essay C after my application was done. I literally did it last week. But regardless I think it rather unprofessional the way people gave different answers.
All we can do is hope man. Is your application in review?
I know it depends on the major itself, but what is a competitive GPA for COLA overall? 3.5+, 3.6+, 3.7+?
Seems like everyone gets a decision by June 20th.
@sp00ky I took differential and integral last semester at UTD
After contacting admissions from Dallas, Houston, and multiple office in Austin and looking over last year’s data, expect the first wave of admissions decisions to UT in 2-3 weeks (if you applied with over 30 credit hours).
I’m a current student at ACC and have been since graduating high school since 2012. I graduated high school with no particular direction, and have just been wandering through ACC with no goal in mind, changing my degree plan numerous times (I spent a couple years trying to do something computer related before realizing I hate computers), before recently settling on deciding to major in Government and hopefully get a graduate degree in public policy. Only question is whether or not I can get in or not.
My grades shouldn’t be a problem, my ACC GPA is a 3.75, although a couple classes on there don’t transfer to UT and may not be part of my UT GPA. The problem is my lack of experience outside of anything school and work related. I had a six month stint working at the Austin airport in 2013, and have then been working at HEB (a grocery store chain in Texas for any out of state lurkers) since September 2013, varying from 3 days a week to 5 days a week. Between work, school, and my previous lack of interest in applying for a competitive college, and my resume is thoroughly unimpressive. Along with that complete lack of interest in my resume comes a complete lack of anything worthwhile to say in my essay; I’m a 22 year old guy who still lives with his parents and spends all his time at work or community college; I don’t know how I could possibly expand on that to make 4 pages. Are my grades alone enough to make up for my lackluster resume and likely to be bland essay?
I should also add that I have 4 withdrawals from times when I tried to burden myself with too much work and school, which makes my transcript look less impressive.
Your GPA is fairly impressive depending on how many credit hours you’ve taken. I’m not sure how they take nontransferable credit into account GPA wise. (Someone reply if you know because I’m curious too!!!) I heard if you have over 60 credits at the time you apply it’s harder to get in because it interferes with your UT credits, but I’m not sure how true that is. Second of all, you don’t have to be completely involved school wise. There is a section for work on the application. They really just want to see that you’re passionate about something in life. The essays aren’t particularly based around your involvement at ACC. The statement of purpose is basically just about why you’re passionate about your major/UT. The other essays are pretty broad. Just pour your heart out in those essays and show your personality!!! That’s the most important thing. Also, they don’t take withdrawals into account. Your GPA is competitive, all you have to do is have faith. I say it’s worth a shot.
@saintg ^^^
On yall’s expanded resumes did most of you include both HS and college ECs, just high school, or just college??? I’m curious to see what others included because I’m not sure if mine was strong enough or not.
@mmm303 I think I put entirely college, you can put high school but I suggest only if it’s really notable (like a prize, leadership position or award). To many people put “fillers” on their resumes from high school.
“Your GPA is fairly impressive depending on how many credit hours you’ve taken”
I’ve taken 46 credit hours (49 if you include the non transferable class) and am getting seriously close to 60 hours given that I’m in 9 hours right now. I’m definitely going to try to get in, although I was hoping to see if someone here had experience getting in with a less than impressive resume.