Transfer to pursue a more marketable degree?

<p>UT-Austin student seeking some sound practical advice from strangers outside my network! These are miserably uncertain times for me. Here is my background and inquiry:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>27 year old Junior at UT-Austin. I recently declared BA Economics (limited options due to GPA). Now, I have not begun any upper-division major courses yet, so I have a fresh 2 years of major GPA work ahead of me.</p></li>
<li><p>I achieved a 3.5 (30 hours) for Freshman year at another institution.</p></li>
<li><p>When I transferred to UT-Austin, I lacked maturity and direction (undeclared). I dropped out for 6 years and re-enrolled for last Spring. I raised my in-residence UT-Austin out of academic probation to a current 2.22 (48 hours) by achieving all A's for Spring. After this Fall it will rise to around a 2.5 (63 hours). I am now a diligent student and able to do well.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>So here is my inquiry:</p>

<p>Should I transfer to UT-D to begin a marketable major of my choice and finish the last 2 years with a strong GPA on a fresh transcript OR should I stay at UT-Austin and just work out my time here to the fullest. My dilemma is that Economics is obviously a rigorous major and it is uncertain that I can maximize my GPA enough to pull my cumulative to a 3.0+ (although it is technically possible based on hours remaining). If I was able to do that then my major GPA would be a 3.5+ for a BA Economics. The other option is to transfer to UT-D and study Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or Management Information Systems etc. I'd be able to earn, at the very least, the same major GPA of that in Economics at UT-Austin, or quite possibly better. I realize that my cumulative GPA at UT-Austin will never be a 3.5+ and I am taking this into account from a standpoint of marketability. I will work as hard as possible to maximize my major GPA at UT-D and graduate in a large metropolis with a more marketable degree.</p>

<p>Appreciate it.</p>

<p>Sincerely, OP.</p>

<p>PS - I forgot to mention that if I transferred to UT-D it may take an extra 1 to 1.5 years to graduate (more debt).</p>

<p>What are your post college goals - job, grad school, etc?</p>

<p>My goals are to build market identity during my remaining years via internships, research, general involvement in my area of study etc. If will expect to enter the job market immediately after I graduate. If I transfer to UTD and perform very well academically I will consider the fast-track MBA option. How are the career services and recruitment opportunites at UTD? I read in a Bloomberg business rankings site that 55% of responded Jindal School of Management recent graduates received job offers (I don’t know if that included those from the Graduate school too)</p>

<p>Quite frankly I feel that UT-D is a better fit for me and that’s why I’m seriously considering transferring next Fall. It will allow me to pursue a more vocational degree of my choice on a fresh transcript and graduate in a larger market. The student body is smaller, a bit older, and probably more dedicated and mature on average. I attended UT-Austin for 2 years and it’s just too large, competitive, and cliquish. It’s even worse when you are a Liberal Arts major, especially Economics which has over 1,000 students, and your GPA is damaged from previous terms.</p>

<p>hey</p>

<p>I am a current student at UT Austin, and I am facing the same issue, that I was on probation for a while, been outta school for a couple of years, coming back and forth for my person issues. I’ve attended to school since 2006.
Now, I’m trying to go back to school and finish up my degree,perhaps this coming spring in 2014, however, I also have a dilema that maybe UT isn’t the school for me ( btw I’m majored in biology), and since I have a very narrow range of degree and my GPA isn’t very impressing, and I am thinking about transfer to UTD and switching my major and find my path. SO my question is did you do some research and have transferred to UTD? or are you staying at UT Austin?? Please reply me back, I have some tons of questions. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>It sounds like you have already made up your mind. However, your GPA follows you forever. If you apply for a master’s program, it is typically required to turn in ALL undergraduate transcripts to determine a cumulative GPA. Also, keep in mind UT Austin and UT Dallas are in the same system but that does not mean the degree plans are the same and it does not mean the classes will transfer. </p>

<p>I am not sure if transferring schools is the magic bullet.</p>

<p>It can take 4 to 6 weeks to get an admission decision on a complete application.</p>

<p>Fall 2014 Undergraduate Transfer</p>

<p>Application Deadline for International Students – May 1, 2014</p>

<p>Document and Late Application Deadline for International Students – June 1, 2014</p>

<p>Application Deadline for US Citizens and Permanent Residents–July 1, 2014 </p>

<p>Document and Late Application Deadline – August 1, 2014 </p>

<p><strong>Financial Aid priority Processing Deadline – March 29, 2014</strong></p>

<p><strong>Fall 2014 Class Registration Opens – March 31, 2014</strong></p>

<p>Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Deadline – August 15, 2014, 5:00pm </p>

<p>Transfer Orientation (optional to attend for domestic transfer students; students must preregister) – TBD</p>

<p>First Day of Class – Monday, August 25, 2014</p>

<p><strong>YOU MUST BE AN ADMITTED STUDENT TO HAVE YOUR FINANCIAL AID PROCESSED OR REGISTER FOR CLASSES</strong></p>

<p><strong>New students are required to meet with an academic advisor in person to register for classes their first semester at UT Dallas.</strong></p>