<p>Abstract: got into A&M engineering, but not UTs. Got into my second choice for UT (Business). Ranked top 3% of class. I have every intention of being admitted to UT engineering (EE)</p>
<p>Question: Should i start at A&M Engineering, and plan to transfer to UT? Or is it better to start at UT, and hope that they'll allow me to transfer in? any suggestions? tips? advice?</p>
<p>What I know: 24 units required at UT before applying for transfer to engineering school. As for transferring from A&M, I think I'd have to wait one year.</p>
<p>Anyone in a similar situation? Which option would grant me higher chances of being admitted to UT Austin engineering?</p>
<p>Wow, interesting that you got into business but not engineering at UT.</p>
<p>I know that they fill their classes the same way, starting at 1% and working up until they fill 75% then the last 25% done holistically.</p>
<p>Engineering is seen to be slightly easier (as in they get higher on the % scale) than business. It must be that EE is EXTREMELY competitive to get into vs. other disciplines.</p>
<p>Can I ask what were your test scores? (I only ask because I have a junior son who will be applying for engineering next year and I want to have some guide as to where he stands).</p>
<p>Anyway, Good luck with whatever you choose. Both schools have excellent engineering programs.</p>
<p>My SAT scores are not spectacular by any means:</p>
<p>-SAT = 2000. Near perfect on Math, struggled in Verbal and Writing.
-SAT II in Physics, Chem and Math 2c, all in low 700s.
-AP: 5 on Calc BC, Stats, Physics (all of them), Music Theory. 4 on Bio and Chem. 2 on World History and English Language. This might ahve hurt me.</p>
<p>Would prefer UT as I have family in Austin and at school. Anyone with tips / more advise? I realize both have decent engineering programs, but I wasn’t admitted to the UT Engineering program.</p>
<p>You sound like my son!! Top 10% (around 6%, but only has 1 B - dang competitive highschool!!) Perfect 36 on math, 35 on English, but 26 :eek: on reading!! (Screwed up his timing)</p>
<p>He really wants to go to UT engineering as well because his brother is there in the business school. </p>
<p>We met with the engineering dept at A&M a couple of weeks ago, and they said that he would qualify for some pretty decent scholarship money and that he would be in the Honors College (which I assume you have been offered as well, with your scores and rank). So, having both options is great!</p>
<p>But, as to your problem, I know that you start taking some engineering pre-reqs freshman year (at least according to the A&M info we received and I assume UT is the same way), so starting in either business or liberal arts might set you back pre-req wise. If graduating on time is not an issue, then I can tell you that the freshman level typical classes are not hard to get A’s in (if you use pick a prof wisely). You should be able to transfer into engineering. But, if EE is this competitive to get into, it might be hard to get into that specific program as a transfer.</p>
<p>Bottom line, are you willing to take the risk that you will not be able to get into the program of your choice, EE, at UT in order to be in Austin? You already have a spot at A&M in that major (and probably in honors engineering which has benefits).</p>
<p>you have a few good points. Problem is this:</p>
<p>Staying in Austin would mean I save on room and board as I would live off campus with family. at A&M, I’d have to shell out that extra cash for rent, etc. But I’m not trying to let money play a factor althugh in reality it probably does</p>
<p>I actually was not offered scholarsips OR honors at either schools. I even called to verify. Many were surprised that I didn’t get honors or some sort of financial benefit. I did not quality for need based, but I was hoping to get some merit based scholarship. For A &M, I didn’t quality because one of my SAT subsection scores were too low? and when I called for UT, they just laughed and said all decisions are final</p>
<p>Yeah, the business school at UT is notoriously stingy! I don’t think they give much in the way of merit.</p>
<p>Well, like I said, the freshman level courses at UT are not THAT hard. My son had a 3.77 after freshman year (in the business school). Most of the classes he took were your typical things like economics and humanities, with a few of the lower level business required courses (accounting 1 & 2, business communications, stats, etc). I’m sure, if he’d wanted to, he could have transferred into engineering with those grades. BUT, it wouldn’t have been a sure thing…</p>
<p>One thing that is important, in business (and liberal arts) you don’t take the “science for science majors” so, you’d have to check with them to see if you could take it anyway because you are planning on transferring into engineering. You should probably set up a meeting with an advisor at UT and pin them down about what courses would transfer into the new major, and which would be a waste of time. Also, you could find out realistically what your chances are, and what you would need to do, to get into EE.</p>
<p>If it looks darn near impossible, or ridiculously hard, then maybe A&M is the way to go.</p>
<p>I would really want to talk to someone in the departments to see what your realistic options are.</p>
<p>I spoke to the business school. Basically I can take the “science for science majors”, and still have it count for the business school, since those classes are actually harder. There’s actually no restriction on these general classes (in terms of just taking these classes). Basically if I were to major in EE, I would like at their plan of study, and start taking those general classes. </p>
<p>As far as these “general” courses like humanities / english / etc goes, I’m planning on taking them over summers, to keep the semesters open for more difficult classes (less courseload that way).</p>
<p>That’s a good plan. My son at UT has taken classes like the second Government class and Sophomore English over the summer at CC. better to not have those classes ruin a good UT gpa!</p>
<p>On the other hand, for a lot of people, those classes are easier to get A’s in, so taking them at a CC over the summer removes that padding from your GPA and forces you to take more technical courses over your normal semesters. Let me tell you, that can be tough when you have 4 technical courses in one semester instead of 3 and one easy Gen Ed.</p>
Give him numbers any day!!</p>