Big questions on CAP program, or transferring

Colleges & Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
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<p>Hello, I'm going to be graduating this spring 2011 and so far I have been accepted to these schools:</p>

<p>CAP program
St. Edward's University
Baylor University
Savannah College of Art and Design
University of North Texas
Austin College</p>

<p>I plan to study in the Liberal Arts (Philosophy is one choice). Financially, graduate school is an option for me.</p>

<p>My first choice was UT Austin, for the acclaimed academics and the desirable location. However my only options to get there now is to either CAP or go somewhere else and try to transfer in.</p>

<p>I feel like the only positive to CAP, for me, is that I would be guaranteed admission to Austin campus if i get the minimum GPA. Other aspects to this program are very unattractive to me. I'm worried about the risk of failing and being stuck at one of these schools, but I also think I would be very determined to not let that happen.</p>

<p>Going somewhere else, like St. Edward's, for example, would mean that I would have to work even harder (3.6 GPA at least, my preferred program is the College of Liberal Arts) and take extra care in picking transferable courses.</p>

<p>The social aspect of college is invaluable to me. I feel that college is a very important stage of my life, in that it is a time of self-education, and discovering what kind of person I want to be. Therefore, I want to be in what I feel would be the right place for this to happen.</p>

<p>To summarize this post:
Is there anyone who was or is already in CAP program that would like to share their thoughts on it? (Socially or academically)
Has anyone ever transferred without the help of the CAP program? How competitive is the process?
Does anyone know of the difficulty of the academics in any of the schools I listed above (including CAP)?
Also, if you tried to transfer to UT Austin from any of those schools, can you explain your experience or offer advice with that?
Does anyone know more about St. Edward's University? I'm planning to visit soon but I would like to know as much as possible. I have a couple friends at UT Austin already, but would I be disconnected from that area if i attended St. Edward's? I might be taking a car to college.
My parents went to Baylor and liked it there, and they sort of want me to go. However, I didn't see myself living there (the campus and the town). Any thoughts on Baylor?</p>

<p>I'm sorry for such a long post, but I have a lot of questions and I'm sure I missed some of them in this post. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. I haven't been sleeping at night just because I can't get my mind off any of this.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

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<p>wk, last year I was in the exact same position as you. I went to the CAP orientation for UTSA, learned all about it, what was required to get into UT, etc. Personally (and I don’t mean to offend anyone) but I thought the entire program was BS. Getting the CAP offer is pretty much given to all rejected Texas residents. I had several other schools I was thinking about, but I knew UT was my number 1 goal. To get into COLA, if you get a 3.5+ you’re almost guaranteed. As with the help of the ATE system, [UT</a> Austin Automated Transfer Equivalency System](<a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/ate/]UT”>http://www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/ate/) you can see exactly what will and won’t transfer to UT.</p>

<p>I can’t tell you much about the program (seeing as how I rejected it) but from the get-go I didn’t like any of it. IF you think you can handle the course work, I say forget the CAP program and go somewhere else. A high GPA anywhere (along with being a Texas resident) and completed required courses will give you just as much of a shot into UT as the CAP program.</p>

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<p>I was accepted to UT for fall 2010 in Econ, also in the COLA. I was a transfer from a CC, not the CAP program. I had a 3.9 GPA, but I was lacking all the math classes. Meaning, you don’t have to be the perfect applicant and there is still a chance. </p>

<p>St. Edward’s was to small for me, not quite enough of everything.</p>

<p>My old CC was in Waco, and plus I grew up an hour away, so I know Baylor pretty good. Anything specific you want to know? For me, Baylor was pretty expensive but they are really flexible academically. It is one of the only schools that offer a BBA in Econ, plus I could take Film classes along with some Construction Science classes after talking to the advisors. I lived in Waco for two years and thought it not bad, but after living in Austin for 7 months and now College Station a year, Waco kind of sucked. Lol…</p>

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<p>If you want an almost guarantee of getting into UT Austin, i’d go with the CAP program. I’m assuming you’ll try hard at any college you decide to go to so as long as you keep up your grades in the CAP program you should be fine.</p>

<p>I currently go to Baylor and I plan on transferring to UT Austin next fall. If you do decide to go to Baylor and then try to transfer to UT Austin make sure you don’t enroll in the honors program/BIC program. Students in those programs have to take certain classes that won’t transfer over. Other than that though most of the classes here are transferable. Just let your advisor know that you intend on transferring so they know to put you in classes that can transfer. (Just don’t take Religion (Christian Scriptures/Heritage) - a mandatory course at Baylor that you need to complete before you graduate because it won’t transfer over. Also, if you’re for sure going to transfer to UT Austin then you probably don’t need to enroll in chapel either - another mandatory course you need before you can graduate at Baylor. That will save you quite some time). I also don’t want to steer you away from choosing Baylor either, but Waco is quite a BIG difference from Austin so be prepared to live through Waco for a year if you do decide to come here. Good luck.</p>

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<p>Thank you everyone! I’m only really considering the CAP program because wherever i go, i’m going to try and apply to transfer to UT… so maybe it would be better to make it easier on myself? I’d have to sacrifice one year… at UT dallas… but maybe it would be worth it.</p>

<p>Does anyone know more about St. Edward’s? I’m planning to visit in a couple of weeks, but I want to get as much information as i possibly can.</p>

<p>@derekallen2009, For Baylor, I basically walked around campus and it didn’t feel right… I guess i just didn’t feel like i belonged there. Plus, I hear that it is really conservative and religious? If that is what the students and overall school are like, then there is no way I would fit in without lying to myself.</p>

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<p>bumping…</p>