<p>I live in Houston and UT has been my number one choice throughout this entire application process. I got accepted to TX Tech, LSU, Colorado, Florida, and Tulane. Then Texas gave me CAP. I was pretty much set on UTSA until I get an acceptance letter in the mail from CAL BERKELEY! I really couldn't believe it. But even though it is the number one public school in the country, it may not be practical. My parents said along with my aunt they would be able to pay for it if I wanted to go there. OUt of state tuition would end up being a lot of money. It is far away and I wouldn't know anyone. But it may be too good to pass up. </p>
<p>Then there is the option to do CAP and end up at UT. I have some friends that may go to UTSA, and I have family in San Antonio. I also have a lot of friends that are going to Austin. I would even think about taking 15 hours over the summer, take 15 hours in the fall at UTSA and attempt to transfer to Austin by January. And if the transfer doesn't work, then I know I'm guaranteed to get there after one more semester so it wouldn't be too bad. </p>
<p>It just seems like the easier, more practical route to do CAP, instead of going all the way to California. But it is Berkeley. I was just wondering what you all think: Should I even be considering turning down Berkeley for CAP? Or would CAP be a good idea? Just want to know what everyone's thoughts are because I'm really not sure what to do. Thanks</p>
<p>I'd just stick with the CAP program. Look at it like this, is Berkeley worth the extra 50+ thousand? Highly unlikely. Just do your time at UTSA and then transfer to your number one choice in UT.</p>
<p>If UT is far and away your number one choice, then CAP is a safe way to get there. But if you're having doubts (and I'm assuming you are, or you wouldn't write this), then spend some time to consider all of your options, because you have some fine schools on your list.</p>
<p>I don't know how much you and your parents are willing to pay, or what fin. aid packages you recieved, but keep in mind that if you attend an OOS school (say Berkeley), then you can become a CA resident, and be charged in-state fees. This might be something to look into...</p>
<p>The only problem with establishing residency is that I highly doubt Berkeley is going to let the OP defer their acceptance for a year. The OP sounded surprised that they got accepted, and I'm lead to believe that there is a decent chance that they might not get accepted if they were to reapply next year. Let's just say worst case scenario, the OP gets rejected next year for Berkeley. Now if that were to happen, the OP will have some serious questions: go to a private (which would probably cost more than UT), go to a CA school with in-state tuition, or go back to TX with out-of-state tuition. Seems kinda risky.</p>
<p>I meant establishing residence once he/she is there (ie: perhaps as a sophomore or junior), and I was only using Berkeley as an example. The OP has 3 other publics he/she can choose from, whose state may be more lax on residence requirements.</p>
<p>Again, I'm only saying it's something to look into. If your heart is set on UT, then CAP is a good way to get there. But it would be a shame to turn down the other schools w/o investigating the options further.</p>
<p>It is very difficult to establish residency in most states, you usually need to either OWN real estate or be able to prove you have a full-time job and aren't just there for school.</p>
<p>Berkeley is an amazing school but in all honesty it is NOT worth $100k over 4 years.</p>
<p>Florida and Colorado are also solid schools, but OOS can be pricey.</p>
<p>UTSA is not a bad school, and most CAP kids do very well. If you really want to come to UT, that would be the way to go. Beware though, as a lot of CAP kids end up liking UTSA a lot and don't ever come to UT.</p>
<p>theloneranger, Berkeley oos would probably end up costing not 100K, but closer to 200-250K over the four years. </p>
<p>I feel like I am leaning toward doing CAP and ending up in Austin, but it's tough to turn down the number one public school in the country. I appreciate the advice and any more opinions would help.</p>
<p>Berkeley is awesome. Congratulations on your acceptance there. That is a great accomplishment. I don't even know what it says, to think you were CAPed at UT and got into Berkeley. Another student posted on this board that he was accepted into Plan II at UT and also accepted into Berkeley and was deciding where to go.</p>
<p>I think that it is particularly difficult to become a California resident to get in state tuition there, compared to other states, so when you are thinking about costs, you might check with the Berkeley people to see if it is a possibility for you. If not, you would need to plan for four years of out of state tuition.
US News says the rates are as follows (these will have risen by now):
Berkeley Tuition and fees:
$8,384 in-state, $27,452 out-of-state
Berkeley Room/board:
$13,848
Sounds like more than an extra $100,000 over 4 years to go to a UC out of state as opposed to a Texas school in state, if you assume no scholarships or financial aid in either place... How much does money figure into this?</p>
<p>Have you visited Berkeley and were you comfortable there? If you haven't visited Berkeley yet, get out there as soon as possible. Great academics, and the campus is absolutely beautiful. If you love it there, that will make the decision more difficult. Or you might find out after a visit that it is not for you, which would make this decision easy. US News says the ethnic breakdown of Berkeley is as follows:
African-American 3%
Asian-American 41%
Hispanic 11%
Native American 0%
White 40%
International 3%
The kids from my daughter's high school who visit Berkeley often come back saying every student they saw was Asian. That is clearly an exaggeration, but you want to to get a feel for the atmosphere on campus.</p>
<p>You know, you could try Berkeley for a year, the way with CAP you are trying UTSA for a year. This assumes UT would let you transfer in from Berkeley, but I guess you can't count on that. UT Admissions is hard to figure out. </p>
<p>Good luck! What a decision to have to make! Again, congratulations.</p>
<p>MidwestMom2Kids, I thought about doing Berkeley for a year and transferring if I didn't like it. However, this is not so easy because I am not guaranteed admission after a year at Berkeley to UT, where in CAP I am. My G.P.A. would most likely not be as good if I were to start at BErkeley, which could make it even harder to transfer.</p>
<p>What was your rank and SAT? Your case is almost too unbelievable, given that Berkeley is extremely hard to get into in-state, let alone OOS. </p>
<p>This really shows just how utterly wrong the state's admission policy is. Almost morally wrong. Some tool with a 900-ish SAT score will get a spot that certainly should have gone to you.</p>
<p>picox, i know I couldn't believe the situation myself. But I have come to understand it is all the legislature's fault, not ut's. UT hates the law as well. It is a terrible system. However I am also surprised I got into Berkeley. My stats aren't bad, but nothing amazing: </p>
<p>Math SAT-660, CR-620, Writing-640
Rank-118/770 (I think) top 15%
I wrote really great essays for Berkeley, I also have a lot of extra cirricular activities. </p>
<p>I hope the law is changed at some point, they will have to change it. But basically i got screwed. I am leaning towards doing CAP, but am still unsure.</p>
<p>I think you should call Berkeley. I'm sure they've been through this before and can shed light on whether or not you would be able to establish residency. Once you know that, you can make a better decision.</p>