Chances for UT Austin Dean's Scholars?

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

<p>So... I know this program is ridiculously selective, and seeing as how the letters should be coming out in a month or so, I'm (understandably?) nervous.</p>

<p>Here goes:</p>

<p>Rank: 11/630 (2%)
GPA: 5.34/6.0 or 3.901 unweighted</p>

<p>SAT I: 2290 (1490 M+CR) took only one time
SAT Chem: 780
SAT Math II: 800</p>

<p>(Did not taking the ACT hurt me?)</p>

<p>AP Tests
Human Geo: 4
WHAP, Chem, Bio, Calc AB, Env Sci, English III, APUSH: 5</p>

<p>Extracurricular
Speech and Debate (4 years): Debate captain (2 years), qualified for TFA State Competition in CX Debate
Culture Club (3 years): Secretary for 2 years, raised about $800 for various charities
HOSA (2 years): member, went to National Conference
NHS (2 years): member
Mu Alpha Theta/Math Honor Society (2 years): member
Science NHS: co-founder/vice president, haven't really done anything yet...</p>

<p>Work Experience
Instructor at The Tutoring Center (August-now): Tutor for elementary to high school kids, quite a few dyslexic or ADD/ADHD students</p>

<p>Summer Things
Welsh Summer Scholar Program (this summer): worked with a UT Arlington Biochem professor on his research</p>

<p>Awards
National Merit Semifinalist
National AP Scholar
National Forensics League Member with Special Distinction
2nd Place Biomedical Debate at HOSA National Competition
Superintendent Scholar (2nd year)
Award of Merit for Poetry (3 years): PTSA Magazine competition award</p>

<p>150+ community service hours (from 2 hospitals)
Shadowed an orthopedic surgeon for a week
Shadowed a family medicine doctor for 2 weeks</p>

<p>Classes taken this year
AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP English IV, AP Macroecon, AP US Gov, AP Stats, A/A Anatomy and Physiology, Debate IV (IS)</p>

<p>Rec letters were probably good enough</p>

<p>... Yeah I have no idea how I compare to everyone else haha. Any replies would be really awesome!</p>

2

<p>Most of the kids in Dean’s Scholars have a track record of research that I do not see in your stats. Your stats are crazy strong, and with that said, those alone could give you a chance but you would be surprised at the kids apply to the program because they want to continue research they have been working on for years, some in the same labs right at the University or at Pickle. They know the researchers at Pickle or other labs across the state and their letters of recommendation for DS come from fellow researchers, not a high school biology teacher. They are typically in a different league than your average over achieving high school student.</p>

3

<p>Do you want to go into medicine?</p>

4

<p>If you plan to go into medicine (and this is probably the case evidenced by your 150+ service hours at hospitals and doctor shadowing), then UT’s new Health Science Honors (HSH) program is probably more suitable for you. As collegeshopping has indicated, the DS program is geared more towards students who aspire to be researchers/scientists. In the previous years, UT saw many of the DS graduates go to medical schools instead of graduate schools (i.e., science PhD programs), which kind of defied the goal of the DS program. The HSH seems to be the answer to that issue.</p>

5

<p>@collegeshopping I actually did do some research. With the Welch Summer Program, I worked on my own project for five weeks (which I even wrote a paper on), in addition to helping my mentor with his own research.</p>

<p>@labeisoupeand goldtx Yes, I do want to go into medicine, but I have to say, I REALLY enjoyed my time doing research. Even though it was a five week program, I ate it up. If they put me in HSH, though, based on my shadowing and volunteering and all, I don’t think I would mind. I did put my preference down for DS, though.</p>

6

<p>And thanks for your comment about my stats collegeshopping xD</p>

7

<p>I’m in DS and I had worse stats than you did. They really do read your essays (yes, you do write those for a reason), so it’s definitely worth applying.</p>

8

<p>That’s weird… I didn’t really have to write an essay for this program. There was one short answer on my career aspirations for the future, and another short answer asking me to describe myself in five sentences. I heard about there being an essay last year, so I suppose that this is the first year they did away with a long essay. So I’m not sure how they’re going to be judging us now…</p>