Questions from an OOS

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
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<p>Hey everyone. So I'm a junior in high school and am just now really getting into the whole college search deal. I think of myself as a fairly good student, and really aspire to do something with my life after school is all said and done. Right now I go to high school in Fayetteville, Arkansas (home of the U. of Arkansas), so obviously my residency is AR. However, I have no intentions of going to a school here, for several reasons. It's not that the schools are bad, but most people attend college here because it's their "home", or because they have family who have gone to school here. I've lived in Arkansas for quite awhile now, but have lived all over the country and am actually from San Antonio. My mom, aunt, and uncle all went to UT-Austin, so I've been a Longhorn my entire life (even living in Razorback territory for so long). I'm trying to keep this from being simply a "chances" thread, but I'm slightly worried about how UT is going to work for me, from a potential applicant's standpoint. </p>

<p>First of all- how is UT when it comes to accepting students out of state? I can only imagine how many apply from Texas, so I almost feel like the OOS number of accepted is significantly smaller percentage wise than ISS. </p>

<p>Second- how is UT about scholarship/financial aid to out of staters? My parents are divorced, I live with my mom, and my dad has basically said he isn't going to help me out with school. My mom works on and off as a lawyer, but I don't think her yearly income right now is above $60,000 (and that's with a 5 person family). Financial aid is important, and being that I'm trying to get out of Arkansas I'm going to be dealing with OSS tuition at just about everywhere that I apply. </p>

<p>Third- this is more of a hypothetical question, but does the fact that my mom, uncle, and aunt went to UT play any role in me having a chance at getting in? I guess that falls under a legacy deal. Oh, and this kind of relates, but does getting good rec's help as well?</p>

<p>Here are some basic stats for myself so far in HS:
3.93 unweighted GPA, 4.04 weighted
Oct ACT- 31 Composite (34 reading, 34 english, 29 math, 28 science)
Waiting on my results for the April ACT (expect higher)
I've taken all honors/preap/AP courses that I can up to this point
I'll be taking 5 more AP's next year, hopefully finish with a 4.16 weighted or so
Decent EC's so far, but I'm not going to compile a full list for the sake of your time, unless you want to see them.</p>

<p>Overall, being an OOS student, how are my chances at UT? First acceptance wise, and then financially. My dream school is UT, so any tips/advice would be very valuable. Hook em'!</p>

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<p>Here is a calculator for you
<a href=“College For All Texans: Page Not Found”>http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/CollegeMoney/&lt;/a&gt;
COA for OOS is about $48000 You are eligible for Pell Grant and Stafford Loans, I am not sure about SEOG
Based on need only UT would be financially unaffordable.</p>

<p>You would be able to afford it only if you are:</p>

<ol>
<li>lucky to get 40 acres scholarship after retaking tests
(Desirable candidates (recommended but not required): Scored 1400 or higher on the two-part SAT or 32 on the ACT. Are ranked in the top 5% of their collective high school graduating classes)
[Forty</a> Acres Scholars Program - Texas Exes Scholarship Foundation](<a href=“http://www.texasexesscholarshipfoundation.org/scholarships/forty-acres/]Forty”>http://www.texasexesscholarshipfoundation.org/scholarships/forty-acres/)</li>
</ol>

<p>or</p>

<ol>
<li>lucky to get Competitive Scholarship Waiver (+ self help/loans)
<a href=“http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/financialaid/tofa2.cfm?ID=435[/url]”>College For All Texans: Competitive Scholarship Waiver;
</ol>

<p>Don’t have too much hope. Look for universities elsewhere and consider your UT application a lottery ticket. You can win, you can lose, nothing is for sure.</p>

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<p>Okay, so thats the financial aspect. But from a purely applicant notion, am I a good candidate?</p>

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<p>Pjbrida</p>

<p>It is not about being a good candidate to be accepted, it is about being a good candidate to get scholarships.
Find topics about both scholarships and look at stats of people who got them. It will give you an idea. At least you’ll be able to compare theirs stats and yours.
(you’'ll need class rank and SAT too)</p>

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<p>I agree with the other post. I think you have the credentials to get in. My S got in for this fall from OOS. You have to go to the info session and do everything they suggest (resume, all the essays, etc) but financial aid is a different story. You may want to consider looking in to some small private LA colleges. We looked at quite a few and some give so much merit/need based money that they end up being much cheaper. If you look at some in the northeast, you may have even more of a shot. They probably don’t get a lot of applicants from Ark. Good luck.</p>

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Is the information session at UT “Forty Acres Scholars Program Information Session” really worth attending?
I have to take a day off from school to attend, so unless the info session offers some"insider" secrets, I don’t realy want to attend. Thanks!

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