International transfer student to UTAustin!

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey Guys, </p>

<p>Im new t College Confidential. I am applying for a transfers admission (International) to University of Texas at Austin in the Computer Engg. Dept. I am currently studying in my 2nd year. The problem is that I failed a particular subject in my 1st year and am going to give it again in my 2nd year 1st sem (Nov end). The subject is Engineering Mechanics, but I've passed all the other subjects with good marks. Suppose I apply for a transfers to UTAustin without passing that particular paper? Otherwise this is my application :</p>

<p>Marks : 2.25 GPA (57% in my 1st year) this is due to the fact that my University is REAL tough and ranks in the top Univs of the Country!</p>

<p>Recommendations from Profs/HODs/Deans : Excellent recs</p>

<p>Work Exp : Worked with a US firm for 4 years from home, programming, design and got letters from the company proving it. Made websites, worked with firms in home country.</p>

<p>I ranked in the top 10% of my college in my 1st sem but got a low % in my 2nd sem (1st year) but since Im in the branch of my choice Im gonna get a real good percentage this year. </p>

<p>So what do you guys say about my chances of getting admission to UTAustin with their transfer acceptances being above 40%!</p>

<p>Thanks,
vidx</p>

2

<p>I assume this for undergraduate?</p>

<p>Your in for a big disappointment unfortunately...</p>

<p>Firstly, I don't know where you got that transfer acceptance rate because UT Austin does not publish such information--I've asked time and time again. However, if that transfer rate is indeed correct, I can almost assure you that is either domestic or total transfer rate. The international transfer rate to UT Austin is quite low.</p>

<p>Secondly, since you are an international student your transcript will be evaluated by the International Office of Admissions for a GPA calculation. This is not a good thing... </p>

<p>The way that it works is that they will look at your courses determine how much they are worth relative each other and then convert the credit hours that they are worth by finding an easily divisible number around 30 hours (what a normal undergraduate takes at UT) and set the hour per course using the relative worth. Then they will calculate your GPA on a UT scale which means that A-4.0, B-3.0, C-2.0, D-1.0, F=0.0. If you're university evaluates your grades at 2.9 or 3.5 etc, this means that you are royally screwed because they will respectively become 2.0 and 3.0 at UT which will lower your GPA even further.</p>

<p>The problem with UT is that they sort students out based on GPA, set a low mark where they will not even consider student below the mark for admission and then they have the applicant pool that they look at. From what I understand, the mark for international and domestic is different. For the domestic pool it is fluctuates from year to year, but is generally around 3.0; for international pool it will be higher.</p>

<p>So my concern is that they won't even look at your the rest of your application meaning that your recs, work experience, et. al are all not even looked at. That is what happened to me when I tried to apply to UT-A as a domestic student transferring from an international institution.</p>

<p>There is a process for appealing this after you have been denied, but it is really isn't exactly clear and you'll have to make a case to the admissions committee. It would seriously help if you could get close to a 4.0 next semester. It won't matter to UT whether or not you take Mechanical Engineering next semester so think about that...</p>

<p>I don't really know what to tell you... </p>

<p>I'd say apply and see how it goes, but don't expect to get in without some sort of a fight...</p>

<p>I don't mean to sound grim, but this is the harsh reality that I face when I tried to apply...</p>

<p>Post back if you have any questions!</p>

3

<p>i hope ur not korean....</p>

<p>nowadays...due to huge influx of students from Korean/Chinese Peninsula (including Vietnam).. i have heard that universities will give preference to international candidates from other countries.</p>

<p>it's funny....how u Chinese people change your name when you come to US... i mean ....</p>

4

<p>Hey thanks a lot for the quick reply! </p>

<p>@pakiboy : I am not Korean/Chinese, I am Indian :)!</p>

<p>@noct : First of all my University does not provide a GPA at all. They grade my papers in percentages (%) so basically Ive got 57% in my first year and will increase to a max of 63-64% in my 2nd year (taking overall percentage of 1st yr + 2nd year), earlier in my msg I had converted my % into the GPA scale out of 4 which I was getting a 2.28/4. </p>

<p>In my e-mail to UTAustin's International Advisor I had requested to know whether they convert Internationals students percentages/GPA to UT's GPA or not. She had said no, they did not. They saw each percentage on its own and the advisor was quite familiar with the Indian system of percentages. Therefore I do not think that they will be converting my %.</p>

<p>Also let me tell you that in my College of 240 students who appeared for the same exam the highest aggregate in the 1st year was 70% and I got a 57%, so the MAX GPA in my College was a 2.8 and mine was a 2.28! So what do you say, in the prospectus (UTAustins's Intll Transfer Booklet) they said that they dont have a MIN requirement, they see each case as it comes and they see it in a relative sense, so 2.28 and the highest is 2.8! I also rank in the top 20% of my College (out of 240 students).</p>

<p>Also my Rec/Work Ex/Co Curricular and others are good. So what do you say now? </p>

<p>And is TOEFL necessary for me as I have given all the papers in English and the medium of teaching is English?</p>

5

<p>In the Recent Transfer Rates 2006 thread there was a mention for UT's Transfer Rates at the bottom of the list, check this out, the bottom part of the list :</p>

<p>UWashington - 54.4%
RPI - 63.3%
UCI - 70.8%
Tulane - NR
Yeshiva - NR
Penn State - 47.7%</p>

<p>UT - 41.5%</p>

<p>UCD - 69.7%</p>

<p>UCSB - 70.4%</p>

<p>Please reply!</p>

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<p>vidx... i am a pakistani...</p>

<p>are u an ABCD? or Indian</p>

<p>ABCD - American Born(Lived) Confused Desi....</p>

<p>it's weird to know that UT Austin doesn't provide a GPA..... anywayz best of luck...
honest advice ... try to bring up ur GPA as well</p>

7

<p>vidx,</p>

<p>I don't mean to confuse you or provide false information. What I said above comes from my experience trying to apply to UT as an international transfer student. It's been an arduous process and I've more counselors and administrators that you would ever care to.</p>

<p>Perhaps, since you are an Indian student, they do not convert your grades to a UT scale GPA--however, I can assure you for other countries/systems they do convert percentages--they did with mine--to UT style GPAs using the system above. There is no minimum officially, but there is one effectively.</p>

<p>A little advice about talking to people at UT is not to take everything you are told by the counselors/advisor's there with a grain of salt. A lot of what you are told is misinformation.</p>

<p>If you are ranked that high in you class, I think you stand a good chance. I'd say apply and see what happens. I hope you get in!</p>

<p>As for the TOEFL, you're English is excellent, but as I understand it you are required to take English if it is not your native language.</p>

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<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>@pakiboy : Lol, im not ABCD :)! I was born in India and have been living here since birth :D. UTAustin does grade their students in GPA, what my point is that UTAustin said that they did not convert Indian Universities %'s to GPAs, read below mail they sent to me :</p>

<p>"...We will average your marks. We do not convert the grades to a 4pt scale. We use the grading system used in the country where the grades are earned. Although 60% may be First Class, Distinction begins around the 70% mark. I am very familiar with the grading scales in India.</p>

<p>I do not iknow what the applicant pool will be for a future semester. The stronger your academic standing within the applicant pool for the major you list on your application, the better the chance for success. There are NO guarantees. Admission is very competitive. We are not able to admit all who apply because we do not have the space, therefore, we admit those applicants from the applicant pool who are strongest academically within the applicant pool. The applicant pool changes every semester...."</p>

<p>@noct : I am pretty confused lol! Where were you trying to Transfer from and which course exactly? Please let me know ASAP, also please if you can, detail your application in your reply, did you have any extra curriculars, ur marks/GPA, your recs etc! Id love to see it. As my University does not dish out great scores, everyones results are down in the dumps. So do you think UT will consider the fact that my scores are not bad after looking at the max gpa attained in my college and my rank or they'd just compare my percentages with other applicants from India or the entire applicant pool for that matter. You see every University has a different standard of grading papers, I am in a University which does not give great grades!!</p>

<p>Also my TOEFL exam is on the 29th Sept 2007 and the last date for submission of my application is 1st October 2007. After I give the test do you think TOEFL will be able to deliver my scores immediately to UTAustin before 1st October 2007???? this is a major problem!</p>

<p>@pakiboy : Are you also trying for a transfers somewhere??</p>

<p>Thanks a lot guys!
vidx</p>

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<p>Also guys wanted to ask you about Drexel University in PA. They've got a free application LOL. I submitted it, just for safety! </p>

<p>But really tell me how is it? I've heard its ranked real low! </p>

<p>Later!</p>

10

<p>This is what the adviser NOW sent me!</p>

<p>"....You must have a minimum of 3.00 to be eligible to apply for admission to UT-Austin. We receive approximately three times as many applications as we have available spaces, therefore, admission is very competitive. Having a 3.00 does NOT guarantee admission, it only means the application will be reviewed within the applicant pool for the major listed on your application. The stronger the academic standing within the applicant pool, the better the chance for success. Your GPA is a stronger factor in your academic standing.</p>

<p>The average GPA of applicants admitted to EE is in the range of 3.70 or better..."</p>

<p>and </p>

<p>"The GPA varies depending on the major listed on the application. For EE, the average GPA would be in the range of "Distinction" or around 70% or better."</p>

<p>Do Universities not consider the fact that my University does NOT grade papers very highly, that the maximum marks attained in my college is 70%, how can I present this fact to them? Any ideas??? Please do reply!!</p>

<p>THanks,
vidx</p>

11

<p>Sorry I never got back to your last post... But I can answer this one.</p>

<p>Really, the best way to solve this is to ask the Dean/Registrar/Someone with Authority at your previous University to send an official letter--not a recommendation, but an explanation of the facts-- explaining the grading and your rank in the class and if you can convince them some sort of converted grade. My University sends this letter automatically perhaps yours does too.</p>

<p>Otherwise, you'll have to wait until they reject you and protest/appeal their decision.</p>

<p>Have you looked at other schools / What is your draw to UT?</p>

<p>P.S.
****... looks like a lot of people applied but at least they decided on 3.0 and not higher.</p>