There are only between 25-15% oos/internationals at UC schools.
Top 10% pretty much covers all the UC’s spots, plus some exceptions, and of course there are top 25% at the lower UC’s and no one wants to go to Merced.
But for UC Berkeley top 7% doesn’t cut it.
The grass is always greener… California does seem to have more good choices for their students.
yes, it’s a case of “greener grass” 
Hello, everyone! Thank you for all your insight and advice! My daughter has gotten into UTD(with the AES scholarship) Boston University, UCSD, UCLA, and University of Washington so far! We are waiting for a few other schools. At the time we were so shocked and her self-esteem went down to the bottom. It is UT Austin’s lost, also my lost because I have to pay an extra amount of money for tuition.
@mdking323 if you DD got AES at UTD wouldn’t the cost be less than going to UT Austin? Why do you have to pay “extra amount for tuition”??
UT Austin is a much much better school than UTD. UCLA is ranked at 24 and UT Austin 52, UTD 146. I would rather let her go to UT Austin cause of tuition if she could get admitted.
While she didn’t get into UT Austin so time to move on. UTD is a very up and coming school and affordable. Why would she even apply if it’s not an acceptable option? Is rank really that important to you? If so then why even consider UT Austin if it’s lower ranked than UCLA?
Will your DD go to grad school? If so save the money on undergrad and go for a high ranked school for graduate school.
UTD with CollegiumV is an excellent option for a STEM student! Congratulations!
If you can afford either of them, I’d go with BU or UWash. Due to the budget cuts affecting primarily undergraduates, I don’t think it’s worth the OOS price for the UC’s.
Before I give you my story, I want to give you a couple of facts on me.
- Weighted GPA of 4.58, Top 8-9% in my class (63/776)
- ACT: 34
- SAT: 2260 (2320 super scored) -National Merit Semifinalist
- Varsity Basketball for three years, Orchestra for four years -Asian American, male -President/founder of Engineering club i started at my school
I was capped by UT back in Feb. It was definitely a hard pill to swallow, considering how UT Austin was one of my top choices. It definitely was even more irritating when I saw kids from other schools with less competition, but had higher class ranks than me get into UT for my exact same major (Mechanical Engineering). One kid in particular (who is also a good friend of mine) did not have the scores I had (all were lower), but he still got in. I was depressed for a good couple of weeks, dreading to hear from the other schools I applied to, but it is all good now. I have gotten into UC Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Brown University, waitlisted at Harvard, and I even got a full ride to Texas A&M.
Not just me, but other students in my schools have been offered CAP by UT, but have then gotten accepted into some very great schools. I was wondering if anyone else has had or heard of the same things as me, about how UT Admissions can be off.
Congratulations @mdjanirez90, you have got a great instate option at A&M and a lot of well respected OOS options! I have seen this same situation numerous times over the past few years with UT turning away a very well qualifed candidate. It is their loss and you have a great future ahead.
UT is a public university that recruits the top 7% of each high school across the state. So, they’re not “off” - their logic isn’t the same as holistic private schools.
(A reason for not getting into UT is likely your major, since it was probably already full once the top 7% had accepted their spots. It’s the same in all states and not just Texas - MechE and engineering in general, as well as CS, has become extremely competitive.)
This is exactly why I do not agree with this top 7% rule. Too many kids who are extremely qualified, but fail to reach the coveted 7% status in their schools are being turned away from UT. They are basically being told that they aren’t “good enough.” UT Austin would rather take someone with a 4.6 GPA and no extracurriculars over someone with a 4.58 GPA and a diverse array of extracurriculars. Basically, had I not done basketball or orchestra, my GPA would have qualified me to be in the top 7%. The absurdity of this is real, and I really hope other students in my situation do not suffer the same result in the future (in terms of UT Admissions.)
@mdjanirez90 We have seen your story time and time again. UT is continually turning away students with qualifications like yours to serve an antiquated, short-sided 7% rule. The rule is not serving their campus well. Congratulations on all your acceptances! UT is losing out on hundreds (or thousands?) of overqualified candidates like you this year and every year the 7% rule stays in place.
Why are you blaming UT? Top 7% automatic admission is a state law, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. UT does what the law forces them to do.
To all that are comparing to the UC/CSU system a quick search turns up that Texas offers similar type of systems. UT has 14 institutions 8 Universities and 6 Medical center teaching systems and TAMU offers 11 more. I can understand the frustration of not getting into UT Austin when it is a dream school. However the criteria are very clear and simple, top 7% based on your class size. If this is your dream that is the bar you must clear to seize the ring. There are many quality schools in the UT and TAMU systems beyond UT Austin. School rankings are only worth how much value you place on those particular measurements. While UT is a great school it is not UC Berkley nor Stanford or Harvard or any of the top 10. It is however a great school, as is TAMU, and UTD, and TTU. There are many great options out there so take advantage and make the most of the opportunities that are available.
Honestly think CA students would LOVE a Top 7% rule for UCB and UCLA. Right now it’s more like top 2%.
I am not a fan of the ranking system but that is how the majority of people decide on the value of the school. California has 5 UC universities that are ranked ahead of UT at #56 and A&M at #74. This gives the CA students choices vs all Texas students trying to get into 1 or 2 state universities. We do need to develop and promote the other schools in the UT and A&M system, as well as Texas State, TTU, UH, UNT. As a state, we are going backwards by cutting state funding. We will continue to see more and more very well qualified students being turned down or not admitted to their major. These students will be admitted and/or given scholarships to OOS schools which they will attend draining the talent from Texas.
Personal story - I have a DD who is going to UTD. I have been asked numerous times when does she plan to transfer to UT. They are surprised when I tell them she has no desire to transfer to UT, that she actually turned down UT CS to go to UTD. That normally stops the conversation. Most people I know consider all the other UT schools just to be feeder schools into UT. As a state, we need to change that perception, strengthen other campuses and give our students more good choices.
I appreciate the 7% rule because it gives all Texas students, from all over the state, an opportunity to attend a school that is supported by tax dollars.
@GTAustin So true about the UC’s. I agree with everything in your post. Texas is losing big time to California in the battle of the public universities. UC has three schools in the top ten list of publics. UT comes in at number 18.