Hello, so I’m applying to UT for the fall of 2018 and I was wondering if any of you could give me an estimate of my chances of getting into computer science as my first choice, my second would be biochemistry.
First Generation to go to college
IB diploma candidate
150 hour of volunteering/CAS
class rank: 82/1026 (in state so not automatic)
SAT: 1500 CR: 730 Math: 770
4 years of computer science, HL this year
Computer Science Honor Society
Attended 15 Computer Science UIL’s
Recommendation from my computer science teacher
Interned at a Software Firm
Shadowed at a Private Clinic
Other Clubs:
Math Honor Society
Spanish Honor Society
DECA (4 years of state qualifying and 1 year of international qualifying)
HOSA (2 years)
Decathlon
Science UIL team
I don’t really chance people because it is too hard to show the complete picture in a thread like this. You have definitely helped yourself with your SAT scores, with the ECs and your internship. Submit an extended resume. The first generation thing will matter too. Do a good job with the short answers and essays. You should not consider UT a safety.
I totally agree with @gettingschooled. You cannot treat UT as a safety so do apply to other schools but you do have a decent chance for all the reasons mentioned above. Again, spend time and do a great essay. Apply to other schools as well. You would be able to get a decent scholarship at UTD (probably full tuition +) and they do have a CS honors program.
Thank you @gettingschooled and @GTAustin for the helpful feedback. Do you think I have a better chance of applying with biochemistry and what are the chances of receiving financial aid?
Your chances of getting into biochemistry are greater. It is not as competitive as CS but again should not be considered a sure thing.
UT is not known as being a generous school as far as financial aid. You can file the FAFSA as early as Oct 1 and that will determine the amount of aid you could receive. From past posts, alot of the aid offered is loans. Also, I believe UT underestimates the COA in the room and board area. Most people I know spend at least $25,000/yr not the $20,000 they publish.
Apply to UT before the priority deadline and see what happens. Also apply to honors. The students that I know that received significant merit scholarships were accepted into both their majors and honors by the end of the year.
Again, apply because you have great stats, ECs, first generation, everything accept that 1% in rank but also find some other schools that you can be happy at and apply there as well. Do this so you have a choice when you have all the information - acceptance to school, major, honors, financial aid - mostly likely in the spring. At that point you can make an informed decision.
One more thing, I think you should apply to the major that you really want to do. You have a great background in CS, so you should know if that is something you want to do. You don’t have to go to UT in CS in order to be successful. The most successful student I know in CS went to Trinity in SA. She had 3 internships with Google and is just starting to work at Microsoft in Seattle. She was successful because the school fully supported her. She did turn down UT CS for Trinity because of finances. UT has a great program with the reputation and ranking but it is definitely not the only path to success.
In today’s paper, there was an article about financial aid at UT. They are going to increase it effective next year. They said right now, families with less than $60,000 in income normally get their tuition covered by grants. This new financial aid will help families making more than $60,000.
Thank you for your advice again, @GTAustin, it’s been very helpful. I just have two questions, can you send an updated rank for first-semester senior year and I was also invited to a seminar on CNS Honors at UT next month. I know colleges send emails just to attract students. Is that what this is or is this the college showing interest in me? Thanks again for the help
I’m not sure if you can send in an updated rank and whether they would consider it. Their verbage indicates they look at the rank as of the end of the Junior year. As far as the invitation to the seminar, I would consider that UT is expressing an interest in you. You should attend, if at possible, to show that you do have a definite interest in UT. I think that is a good sign.
For CS, probably not admitted. UT’s policies are hard on strong candidates like you. You might have a better chance at UC Berkeley, Carnegie-Mellon, Georgia Tech, Illinois. Washington, probably a reach.
With the schools @EngPII mentions financing becomes a much bigger issue. All great schools but all $50,000 to $60,000 a year and with the exception of Carnegie-Mellon, all public schools w/o the incentive to help OOS. It depends on what your family’s EFC is and what they can afford. In state, A&M, UTD, UTA, UH are all rated in the top 100 for CS and you would be a sure thing at all of them. Get your undergraduate degree paid for by one of them and go to UT for your masters with the money you save.
@highschooler17 - did you apply for CNS honors? If so, which ones?
What did the invite say? Just trying to see if I could offer some insight- DS was admitted as a Deans & Turing Scholar. Turing (CS) usually has just 1 open house. Other CNS honors programs have several open houses throughout the spring.
I also think you should attend, if at all possible. Good luck!
I applied for the same as your daughter, Deans, and Turing.
The Open House I attended was for Polymathic, Deans, and Health Science. According to the leader of the event, all of those invited, were competitive to be accepted into any of the honors programs.
@highschooler17 What did the portal say ? Did it say "We’re still reviewing your application for the College of Natural Sciences … …We will do everything we can to provide a decision notification efficiently and no later than Feb. 27. Thank you for your patience and interest in UT Austin! " ? or did it say that you actually were deferred ?
