<p>-Bipolar disorder, rapid cycling.
-Nervous breakdown (fall 2007)
-Inconsistent grades (was 1st in class for 2 years until nervous breakdown)
-61% as a grade on my transcript, as the administration mistakenly told me that the class would not count against me because I had dropped it.
-Will be a senior this fall
-Is lost when it comes to college choices.
-Thinks it is better to stay in Texas while schooling
-Believes that if condition is better stabilized and work ethic "comes back" during senior year, that honors program would be good.
-Will have no assistance from family when it comes to paying for college</p>
<p>I don't know what college I want to go to, and it's best that it is in Texas where I have family and my very good psychiatrist. I was thinking that my first choice would be UT Austin, as I am interested in double majoring in political science and Arabic. I'm pretty ambitious (or should I say, was pretty ambitious). I have aspirations of going to Yale for law school.</p>
<p>But if anyone could give me advice regarding the selection of colleges IN TEXAS, I would very much appreciate it.</p>
<p>Sorry I can't help you... I'm all the way up in Michigan and I'll be a senior next year too. But I can help you keep this thread bumped so someone smarter than me can answer. Good luck!</p>
<p>Managing your bipolar disorder should be your top priority. I advise you to stay close to home where you have the support of your family and psychiatrist for a couple of years, attend a local college (community colleges are more affordable anyway) and transfer later if you want to.</p>
<p>If I remember right, UT-Austin has a requirement of being in the top 10% of your class. I personally think that's a terrible idea since it refuses to take into account special circumstances such as yours, but unfortunately thats the way it is.</p>
<p>Depending on your SAT's and overall GPA, a school like Rice might even be able to look past one bad year and see your overall situation. Give it a try, at least.</p>
<p>Otherwise, look at other state schools' honors programs, like Texas Tech, UTEP, etc.</p>
<p>Will your school allow you to retake the class you failed?</p>
<p>Unless you are in the top 10% of your class, UT will be very difficult. I would suggest you stay close to home for cost and medical reasons (are you willing to live at home?).</p>
<p>The school will not let me retake the class I failed.</p>
<p>Despite my 61 and other dismal grades of junior year, I am in the top 5% of my class.</p>
<p>Oh, and there is no such top 10% requirement. I think you've got it confused with Texas policy that if you are in the top 10% of your class, you automatically gain admission into any Texas state college.</p>
<p>What we mean is that over 80% of the applicants admitted to UT for fall 2008 are in the top 10%. Doesn't leave much room for applicants outside the top 10%.</p>
<p>It seems to me that you need to get a scholarship after getting in as well. In that case apply to less prestigious school for more money, in cast UT doesn't offer enough. And with your mental health, perhaps it's better for you to go to smaller school. They are probably more considerate of your conditions than a giant one.</p>
<p>-Attend Texas State University in San Marcos (30 minutes away from home, so I can still live at home) for a year (Passed all my AP tests. If I pass AP tests of senior year, I'll have enough credit to enroll as a sophomore). </p>
<p>-After a year of Texas State University and proving that I am mentally stable enough to handle college, I will transfer to UT Austin. Also, I can enroll in some honors programs at UT, even though I would be a transfer student.</p>
<p>I think this sounds better.</p>
<p>And plus, UT Austin will see my COMPLETE high school transcript from all years of high school. I'm pretty sure I'm doing well enough to do good work my senior year of high school.</p>
<p>Thats what I was planning on doing...I attended Texas State this year and will be next year as well. I sort of fell for Texas State though...reputation not up there with UT but the atmosphere and setting is excellent. San Marcos is a sweet place.</p>
<p>And I had a really good talk with my parents. I'm going to work my hardest to find scholarships, though they are also going to help me and do what they can.</p>
<p>If you are near San Marcos then you are also near either San Antonio or Austin. I suggest checking out Austin College and Trinity University. They may be a size that is better for you right now. They are private so you will need a need based scholarship. Trinity I believe has a relatively large endowment for its size.</p>
<p>Of course, given your academic record, your options might change if you turn out to be a National Merit Finalist. At that point, freebies at schools like Texas A&M and N. Texas could be available.</p>