A CPS investigation started my senior year and I got put in a really bad foster home, which threw off the college application process by months. No campus visits at all through the summer, just went to UH orientation and hated it. My support system is in Houston, though since I have no family now.
Got into major of choice (computer science) at UH (last resort), but NOT UT (second choice), I’m leaning towards UH, but I absolutely don’t like the school. I can’t see myself happy there, but UT is a huge risk, since I haven’t seen it and I’m going to be almost completely alone.
My final goal is to transfer to Rice (first choice, rejected) or Columbia (didn’t consider, have people like family nearby), but right now I’m dealing with the cards I’ve been dealt. Would I have a better shot starting as a UHCS student and transferring into UTCS after a semester or a year, or getting in after being undeclared within UT’s Natural Science and Mathematics?
With the same GPA, would it be easier for me to transfer from UH or UT? Is the security worth going to a school I hate?
Female, Indian, Independent (no income at all), graduated summa 6.57/7.00 (weird district GPA), 3.8/4.0.
Stats:
Grades: Straight As or all As one B every semester of high school but the last, with one C. 13 AP credits, mostly in STEM areas like Calc and Physics.
SAT 1500, ACT 35.
Recommendations: I can contact my former government teacher and my former guidance counselor if needed.
Activities: Self taught programmer, Mu Alpha Theta math honors society, GSA vice president, Computer Club manager, worked part time through school.
Second generation Indian-American, female, lost contact with parents after a CPS investigation involving severe neglect, applying to university as an independent.
What do you not like about UH?
How does cost compare?
I received 26,000 dollars a year from UT and 16,000 a year from UH (combined schols+loans). I’m going to feel horribly lost, especially at UT, but I don’t have a place to attend community college from (no car), and nowhere to live otherwise. My life literally just got turned upside down, and I’m in a really bad place and don’t feel mentally ready to attend at all.
For each school, what is the net price after subtracting scholarships and grants (not loans) from the list price?
It is close to impossible to transfer into computer science at UT Austin. Go to UH, or try for UTDallas
If you were in foster care in Texas, did you get the tuition and fee waiver letter from CPS? It will give you free tuition and fees to any public university or community college or trade school in Texas. Also, there are funds called ETV that you can apply for that help you with money for room and board and books etc. There are some rules to using both of these–I can point you in the right direction. Also, there are a few colleges in Texas that have Supportive independent living housing in dorms for Texas kids who aged out of foster care where the state pays for your room and board expenses. Unfortunately not at your chosen schools of UT and UH, but there is a very supportive one at University of North Texas. Also, did you mark on your FAFSA that you were a former foster child? Anything you don’t feel comfortable asking publicly here, I don’t mind answering privately.