Hi!
I was CAPped from UT Austin and was pretty disappointed about it. I have since been accepted to Trinity University but didn’t get great financial aid there. I got their Trustee Scholarship but not much on top of that and I know going through the CAP program will save me lots of money. I’m super introverted, though, so I’m really worried about that aspect because going to UTSA for a year only to transfer is nerve-wracking. I know there will be other students doing it, but how was it for you adjusting to the student life at UT Austin after cap? Were you able to meet new people in Austin after you went to UTSA? Also, are there any things I should know about while going to UTSA? Eg. What dorms to stay at do make the most friends doing CAP. I really wish I could go to Trinity and settle in my first year and my parents say we could do it, but I don’t know if I could live with myself knowing the price difference and knowing that the career availability afterward would be roughly the same for such a significant difference. Hopefully some of you can ease my nerves a little bit and give me some tips. Thank you so much!
Well, if you do CAP, you’re going to be stuck studying liberal arts at UT. That won’t help you much if you’re looking for a career, even if the degree is from UT. Most CAP students end up staying at UTSA anyway because there’s a lot more opportunities for employable degrees like business, engineering, and computers. Those majors at UT are almost impossible to get into without a near 4.0 GPA. It’s also cheaper than Trinity. I went to UTSA. It’s a great school and it’s super friendly.
I sent you a private message!
Hi! Just finished my freshman CAP year at UT Tyler (not as relevant as UTSA but still) it’s not a bad program if you’re really set on going to UT Austin and want to major in liberal arts. I will say, however, if you want to major in something from a school other than liberal arts, CAP may not be quite worth it, as that’s the only guaranteed major choice offered and it’s very difficult to transfer either internally or externally to another school within UT. I haven’t started in Austin yet so I can’t speak as to the transition process, but I can at least say this - take initiative to find what courses you need to take (off the UTSA CAP approved course list) and what would be the most applicable to your major. The more you do ahead of time, the easier your advising appointments will be. Message me if you have any questions!
@maddieoddle Hi! I just finished the CAP program at UTSA about a week ago. I was in a similar position as you last year, except the school I couldn’t afford was Northeastern University. However, I’ve met really wonderful professors who have helped me realize what I want to pursue as a career. I did have to pick the top rated ones on ratemyprof.com, but I must say that they do sometimes genuinely care about teaching you. I’ve even had dinner with one. Also, I’ve made many new friends I’ll miss and new friends I’ll hopefully see at UT in the coming semesters.
First, I’d definitely advise you to find a UTSA CAP GroupMe. I was in one with 100+ people. They’re so supportive in there, and you can always ask CAP-related questions.
UTSA students are suppperrr nice. Many of my friends I’ve made by joining extracurriculars, but I’ve also made (perhaps lifelong) friends at UTSA in some in my classes (especially smaller). Several times throughout the school year, random UTSA students have come up to me to just talk or to help me out.
Definitely get involved on campus! I suggest the organization For the Kids Dance Marathon. It’s a large organization, and the officers will sit next to you and talk to you (even and especially if they don’t know you). If you’re artistic, if you like interacting with kids, or if you like overlooking finances, you’ve got a place in the org; they have something to do for everyone. Some other orgs are more of an acquired taste, I guess. There’s Writers R Us, which is just a great place to be when you want to wind down, talk stories, and talk about random things in life in general. That’s a smaller club. Chinese Club and Chinese Corner are cool because you get to watch movies and eat food. In the Club, you don’t need to be taking a Chinese course. I’d only been to a few meetings, but you’ll quickly get adopted into both. Protectors of Animal Welfare and Safety is for people who love llamas, emu, donkeys, dogs, and cats. You’ll do some not-so-elegant work, but you’ll also get to hang with the animals! In that club, people don’t really interact during the meetings as much as they do during volunteering events. I was also in Alpha Lambda Delta, a freshman honor society, and something-Collegiate Scholars. I wouldn’t have joined the later, but ALD does look good on a resume because it’s more official.
I stayed at Laurel Village in first a 4-bedroom and then a 2-bedroom. I feel like roommates don’t really talk to each other at UTSA. The reason is because we have our private rooms. However, my friend at Alarez studied in this common area on her floor and met some friends there.
In conclusion, don’t fret! People at UTSA get super close quickly. However, I would advise you not to choose CAP if you’re not doing a liberal arts major. I’m a pretty studious student, so I didn’t do too bad in my classes. However, the study culture at UTSA is lacking. I often found myself overlooking group projects and once stayed up until 5 AM to finish what other group members hadn’t done. Other CAP students have struggled with their classes. Of course, the thought of not meeting my professors and new friends is sad, but I would not have chosen CAP over UT Dallas, for example, if I had known I would change my preferred major. It’s a risk, and I heard transfers aren’t guaranteed housing.
If you have any questions, feel free to message me!