Chances for Plan II?!

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
1

<p>So, I'm applying to Plan II, but I really don't think I'll get in. Opinions? I'm getting pretty nervous about the application process...</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Female</p>

<p>GPA: 5.19 out of a 6.00 point scale
3.95 UW</p>

<p>Class Rank: 18th out of 588 students (will be around 16th or 15th because my GPA went up)
School: Fairly competitive...but not as competitive as the neighboring high school (Westwood)
State: Texas</p>

<p>PSAT Score: 214
SAT Score: 2070 (750 CR, 680 M, 640 W)
1430 (CR+M subscore)
I know my SAT scores were kind of bad the first time. I completely screwed up my timing on the writing section. :( I'll be retaking in October.</p>

<p>AP Scores: World History -- 5
English Language -- 5
U.S. History -- 5
SAT II Score: U.S. History -- 800</p>

<p>Freshman Year Classes: Pre-AP Geometry, Pre-AP English I, Pre-AP Biology, Geography, Latin I, Debate I, PE, ACE (Academic Career Excellence)/Health</p>

<p>Sophomore Year Classes: Pre-AP Algebra II, Pre-AP English II, Pre-AP Chemistry, AP World History, Latin II, BCIS (i.e., a basic technology course), Dance I, Medical Terminology/Microbiology</p>

<p>Junior Year Classes: Pre-AP Pre-Calculus, AP English III (Lang. and Comp.), Pre-AP Physics, AP U.S. History, Pre-AP Latin III, HST I (Health Science Technology), Leadership/Communication Applications, Art I</p>

<p>(Planned) Senior Classes: AP Calculus AB, AP English IV (Lit. and Comp.), AP Biology, AP European History, AP Psychology, HST II (a block course in which you intern at a local hospital and receive your phlebotomy certification), Advanced Anatomy and Physiology</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: HOSA (10, 11, 12)
National Honor Society (10, 11, 12)
Mu Alpha Theta (10, 11, 12)
Key Club (10, 11, 12)
Asian Club (10)
Film Club (10, 11, 12)
Life Teen Youth Group (10, 11)
Helping Homeless Families (9)
Varsity Debate Team (9)
UIL Social Studies (9, 11, 12)
I lector at one of my church's masses. (11, 12)
I volunteer at my church's gift shop. (11, 12)
Altar Served. (9)
Intern at local hospital. I get to wear scrubs (lols)! (12)</p>

<p>Summer Activities: Volunteer at Down Home Ranch, a camp for children and adults with Down's Syndrome. (9)
National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine (10)
Bluebonnet Girls State (11)
I take college courses at my local community college. (11)
UT Honors Colloquium (11)
Summer Invitational Honors Program at Texas A&M (11)</p>

<p>Leadership Roles: School Delegate for Bluebonnet Girls State (11)
Secretary for Mu Alpha Theta (11)
Parliamentarian for NHS (11)
Junior Representative for Key Club (11)
Student Leadership Forum for high school students at my school (less than 10 people selected for this). We talked to the superintendent of our school district about issues at our school. (11)
Parliamentarian for Mu Alpha Theta (12)
Member of the Film Club Selection Committee (12)
Possibly Senior Representative of Key Club (idk, elections haven't been held yet).</p>

<p>Awards: 3rd Place at the Blanco UIL Debate Tournament. (9)
Key Club Member of the Semester (10)
Made it to Area for HOSA Bowl. (11)
AP Scholar (11)
Alpha Award. (9, 10, 11)
1st Place for District UIL Social Studies. (11)</p>

<p>I will receive my phlebotomy certification at the end of senior year. Should I put this on my app? Tehehe, sorry for the insanely long chance me thread. :) Please respond to this thread!!</p>

2

<p>But you forgot the essay part. How well are your essays written? Plan II will be really ****ed if you send in mediocre essays. 40% of their evaluation is based on essays.</p>

3

<p>I haven't started my essays yet because I have a whole buttload of stuff to do. But I am definitely putting a lot of effort into my essays. I know they count for a lot...</p>

4

<p>bump...any responders?</p>

5

<p>You are only 15 points below the average plan II SAT score, your rank is good. It will all really come down to your essays. Your ECs look good, your course rigor is pretty good, I mean there isn't much to reject you on.</p>

6

<p>I was accepted with a worse SAT score than you however, I knew my essays were the distinguishing factor and I planned accordingly. The essays constitute nearly forty percent of the admission decision. They really look for advanced intellectual thought and your unique voice to come alive within your essays. Your aim should be to genuinely piece together an essay that emphasizes a passion for learning. As a suggestion, really focus and allow for all conscious thoughts and planning of your essays to "breath" with this overarching theme. These suggestions are by no means a way for you to feel limited in the possibilities in which you can write about, but rather with this perspective in mind you will really be able to feel confident in your intensions. I've talked with a lot of kids who have thought about writing college essays and too often they are trying to portray themselves as something they are not. It is my impression that if you are really interested in Plan II you will find joy with espousing your passion for learning because that is exactly what Plan II is about, learning for a lifetime not a point in one's life. Plan II does not produce adults that view their college experience as something they needed to "get out of the way". Judging your profile as objectively as possible I think your chances are as good as you want them to be. Nothing that I can see is holding you back. You have the statistical intangibles, the only thing necessary as so often the case when reviewing cases such as yours over the internet is that "non-statistical element" that can only come alive in your writing.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the input. :) I'm definitely going to kick some bootay on those essays.</p>

8

<p>If your scores are close, its all in the essays. Don't play it safe, swing for the fences and take some risks, they'll reward you for it</p>

9

<p>Yeah, I was thinking about writing some quirky essays, but I was, "Ehhh...do I wanna risk it?" I guess I do. :)</p>

10

<p>Well you have to answer the prompts in the essays, which haven't been released yet. If you are so quirky as to be off topic, then you won't get in.</p>

<p>Hell, I started my essays the day before the EC deadline and they ended up making me $52k. They weren't quirky or unique at all, they didn't scream out Plan II at all. Honestly, I thought they screamed out "last minute" but with my other stats I'd be okay, but apparently they were thought to be very well written.</p>

<p>That being said, DO NOT wait until the day before to write your essays!</p>

11

<p>I'm probably going to go to UT as well, but I don't really see what the benefits of doing Plan II are. Could someone enlighten me what a degree from Plan II would do? (not sarcastic)</p>

<p>On the other hand, I'll probably see you at the UIL social studies :)</p>

12

<p>theloneranger, your story taught nothing...lol</p>

<p>I was waiting for a lesson being learned</p>

13

<p>You get access to classes and teachers specifcally for plan II. Its also recognized and highly sought after by many graduate schools. </p>

<p>I've read articles were people have said its comprable to an ivy league education at princeton, but as a current student I can tell you that is a huge stretch. It is a very strong program though, the best you can do in the state of Texas or in the South or Southwest for that matter. I'd put it on par with Emory, Rice, etc.</p>

14

<p>Well the lesson is sometimes procrastintion doesn't hurt that much. However, under no circumstances would I recommend for anyone to do as I did. I was working on college essays from August to November, all of which my English teacher said weren't good enough. Finally I chose just to ignore his advice and write naturally for me and I ended up getting in and getting a nice scholarship.</p>

<p>But most people who I know who procrastinated did not have as good results as I did. So I wouldn't recommend it, but the story could help to inspire some people.</p>

15

<p>Longhornlife, i'm still curious about one thing however, that is what graduate school are you prepared for with a degree in Plan II? Law School perhaps?</p>

16

<p>Juan E. P. -</p>

<p>Plan II is a rigorous interdisciplinary liberal arts program. While you are at Texas, you will have special, small, interesting, rigorous classes with excellent professors.</p>

<p>Plus, my understanding is that if you are planning to work in Texas after you graduate from college, if your resume says that you majored in Plan II at Texas, your employer will be impressed - that employers in Texas know about Plan II and understand that it is good to have been chosen for Plan II and to have graduated with a Plan II major.</p>

17

<p>The advantage of being a Plan II major when applying to law school (and all grad schools in general) is that it shows you are a well rounded, well educated candidate. Grad schools look for applicants who show not only the capability to learn but also the drive. To choose a major which requires you to take a very broad array of classes will make you stand out from all the other applicants who all look the same.</p>

18

<p>I understand that it would prove that you challenged yourself, but nobody has told me what a bachelor's degree in Plan II does. suppose you don't do grad school, what does it do?</p>

19

<p>There are VERY few P2 majors who do not double-major (or duel enrollment, whatever). In all honesty, I think that just a P2 degree wouldn't do a whole lot; it is meant to be supplemented with whatever classes you need to get closer to your post-undergrad aspirations. And if you want to know what a P2 degree will get you straight out of undergrad, it will get you nothing, just like all undergrad degrees. Nowadays, attending grad school is almost mandatory if you want a solid job. And having P2 on your grad school application shows that you aren't a one trick pony.</p>

20

<p>The College of Liberal Arts requires that you at least minor in some other subject, right?</p>