Transferring to UT-Austin Spring 2014

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
1

<p>I'm hoping to transfer to UT-Austin after 1 semester of college. I'm considering either going to UH or UTD. I would already have around 15-20 semester hours due to AP exams.
I'm wondering which route would be the easiest since I am doing a Gov/Eco double major and then possibly Mccombs. Should I do UTD or UH?</p>

<p>Also, here are the courses I'm considering for for Summer/Fall 2013
Calc II
Intermed Macro
Intro Pol Theory
Sociology
Geology or Meteorology</p>

<p>Psychology-Summer</p>

<p>Would this be rigorous enough in order for me to transfer?</p>

2

<p>Rigor is not your goal. Your goal as an external transfer should be the McCombs prereqs, a high GPA, and a stellar resume with ECs.</p>

3

<p>Also, if your goal is to transfer, do whichever option is cheaper.</p>

4

<p>Don’t they take into consideration ur rigor?</p>

5

<p>In terms of rigor, they will probably be more concerned with how many hours you took opposed to what courses themselves.</p>

6

<p>Unless you take courses that are obviously really easy and are nothing than GPA boosters than no, rigor doesn’t matter at all. GPA is what matters most followed by your letters, resumes, essays etc. Also you have to have 30 hours done by the time you attend. AP exams DO NOT count as hours. You can still use your AP exams to get credit for classes but they don’t count as hours. They merely mark off the courses and give you credit but they don’t count as hours on your transcripts. You might want to think of a different plan because you won’t be able to attend until you have 30 hours (which you won’t after one semester).</p>

7

<p>AP credits don’t count as hours?</p>

<p>If the school I am going to for one semester gives me the AP credit as a certain amount of hours, doesn’t that mean UT will just mark it?</p>

<p>I should of just continued my previous thread.</p>

8

<p>AP/IB credits do count as your hours. As long as the first college you go to accepts the credits, you’ll get the hours, and they’ll be a part of the 30 hours when you transfer to UT.</p>

9

<p>The 2 schools that I mentioned (UTD and UH) do give me hours correct? So everything is ok with what I am planning?</p>

10

<p>Ah ok I misunderstood. I thought you were going to apply your AP credits towards UT instead of UTD/UH then UT. In that case I’m not really sure what happens so I wouldn’t be the one to answer that. I believe UTD/UH will mark the class as CR on your transcript though. I thought you were going to do 15 hours and attempt to use your AP credits towards UT first.</p>

<p>Also I would just go to community college for a semester and save yourself time and money (unless you just really hate community college which I would understand because community college is terrible and the exact same thing as high school).</p>

11

<p>Haha nah I won’t do CC. I got in to other places that are equal to UT or above. I just really want UT badly now. What does CR mean?</p>

12

<p>It just means they give you credit for the class. UT never sees your AP score. And why not CC? I mean don’t get me wrong; I can’t stand community college. It feels like a prison. I hate everything about it. Thinking about it just makes me want to punch something. But on the bright side I save money. I think I’ve only had to pay $300 combined for books and tuition because I got grant money.</p>

13

<ol>
<li>My parents would never let me do it.</li>
<li>I don’t like the vibe</li>
<li>I’m considering other places as a transfer as well.</li>
</ol>

14

<p>All understandable. If I had the choice I wouldn’t have attended community college. I seriously hate it so much. I feel like I am trapped in a prison cell. Plus I feel like I am getting dumber each day. Classes are so easy. I would have a near perfect GPA if it were for dual credit English my senior year of high school.</p>

<p>Why not CAP?</p>

15

<p>Speaking as a former CAP student, CAP is not very friendly to students that already received a bunch of credit in high school. You need to take 30 hours in residence at the CAP University, and I already got so much credit from dual credit and IB, that I would have been taking a bunch of classes that I don’t need. So I opted out of the CAP program and I go to a CC this semester.</p>

<p>And yeah, I agree. There’s nothing to do at a CC. The only saving grace is how cheap it is. The classes are way easier, and I don’t need to work as hard to get a high GPA. While that makes it easier to get accepted to UT, I’m worried I won’t be prepared enough when I take classes at UT since I’m going to be either an engineering or science major.</p>

16

<p>@JP
Sorry, I don’t know how to quote. I don’t want to do CAP partially because of what kb said.</p>

<p>I still might end up at another school as well since I’m considering transferring to a few other places (Washu, Vandy, CMC). </p>

<p>How long have u guys been doing CC? A year?</p>

17

<p>I did CC out of high school and got into UT this spring. I liked CC as I felt it was a good transition from HS, but then again I went to a huge CC. </p>

<p>As for transferring, you have to find the balance between rigor and a good GPA. Take all of the required classes you need and make sure you do your best. Since you are planning on transferring anyway, I would go for the cheapest of the two. Make sure the classes you take are required at the different schools you are considering.</p>

18

<p>I went to CC right after high school and I am in my second semester. I honestly can’t stand it and my CC is supposed to be one of the best CCs in the entire nation (I believe it’s the biggest CC system in Texas). I honestly can’t stand going there. Everyday I feel like I am letting my life go to waste. I have no friends or any sort of social life now ever since I started going there. My classes are way too easy and I can’t take anything seriously. I don’t care for most of the people there either. Most of them still act like high school students. Honestly I had a much harder time with my classes in high school (in terms of quality of the course itself) and I really wish I could go back. It doesn’t help that it’s located right across the street from my old high school.</p>

<p>Hopefully that will all change next semester. I’m REALLY hoping for UT but if not I should be able to get into UTD. It’s just a matter of finding a way to pay for it.</p>

<p>Seriously just thinking about going there for another day makes me want to punch something. I’m getting mad just typing about it.</p>

19

<p>I assume you’re at ACC? A bit of advice from a resident ACC vet:</p>

<ol>
<li>If for some reason you don’t get into UT this semester, another semester or 2 at CC isn’t the end of the world. I know it feels exactly like HS right now, but that has little to nothing to do with the school—your first couple semesters at any college will inevitably feel that way because it basically <em>is</em> an extension of HS. The majority of classes are packed full with kids just out of HS, lost and immature and clueless about whether or not they even want to be in college, they’re there only b/c that’s “the thing to do” after HS. </li>
</ol>

<p>But there is light at the end of the tunnel! Once you get through about 2 or 3 semesters, the annoying people who don’t give a damn about their studies become sort of weeded out, so that by the time you reach 2nd or 3rd level classes, you classrooms are filled with higher concentrations of intelligent people who are there b/c they want to be, actually engaged in classes, and have all (mostly) put their petty/catty/ridiculous/immature HS personas behind them. It gets better, just don’t give up before you get to the good part!</p>

<ol>
<li><p>If you don’t like your campus, SWITCH! There are plenty to choose from! Different campuses have drastically different “feels.” I often take classes at multiple campuses in the same semester just to mix it up and break the monotony. Some are better than others. But if you’re as miserable as you say where you currently are, then move! This isn’t HS anymore— you now have the freedom to move about as you please! HS was prison; you’re free now, so start enjoying it. </p></li>
<li><p>Are you in the Honors Program? If not, get there. Honors classes are head & shoulders above the general status quo, and they max out at 16. (Or wherever you’re in school, I’m sure this applies pretty much anywhere). Much more interesting topics, too. Look into it if you don’t feel challenged. And keep in mind that years 1-2 in <em>any</em> college or university consists of core curriculum… Outside of perhaps the Ivy League, it’s hard to imagine that English Comp I, US History, and Gen Chem I are going to be terribly challenging no matter where you go. Can’t really blame all that on the school; it’s more a function of our broader education system than anything else.</p></li>
<li><p>Transitioning from HS to college is always awkward, crazy uncomfortable and generally just not much fun b/c the comfort zone and social circle you’ve gotten used to for probably 4+ years undergoes abrupt upheaval. The good news is, it’s time to start actively redefining your life. It will now be whatever you choose to make it. If you’re bored and/or lonely, get yourself involved in something! Doesn’t matter what, just whatever you think you might be interested in, try it: student government, student life, PTK, some sort of club or something – anything, really. One of the most difficult things about college, for me at least, was having to make an entirely new set of friends, starting basically from scratch… It can be very lonely at times. The thing is, for too long I assumed making friends in college would be the same as HS: just keep doing my own thing, and it would happen on its own, gradually & naturally. This is not the case. You’re no longer with the same people all day, everyday. If this is the strategy at play, you’re going to stay lonely for quite possibly the rest of your life. Making “grown-up” friends requires a concerted effort. You have to <em>intentionally</em> place yourself in new and different situations and settings that maximize the likelihood you’ll be able to strike up conversation with interesting people you might have a thing or two in common with. It can be really exhausting having to actually choose/make a whole new set of friends, and it does require some effort as opposed to the super easy friends-by-default-due-to-proximity thing from HS. But in the end, it’s totally worth it. </p></li>
<li><p>Last, but certainly not least, no matter whether you take any of the advice above, please do hear this: STOP BEING MISERABLE!! if you don’t like something, CHANGE IT. If you’re unhappy where you are, MOVE. Life is too short and we are blessed with far too many options to spend any sizable part of it being totally miserable. You can only blame external forces for so long; but if one <em>really</em> wants to be happy, it’s most likely to happen iff (if and only if, not a typo) we stop complaining and instead start doing something about it. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Maybe it’s just me, but what follows was / is / will continue to be the single most difficult thing for me to really, truly grasp throughout this gradual evolution into adulthood: </p>

<p>The bad news: From now on, my life is only what I make it. </p>

<p>The good news: From now on, my life is only what I make it.</p>

20

<p>Definitely some good advice about community colleges there. I remember being super bored in some of my core curriculum classes (especially English Comp) because it was easier than what I did in high school (AP English). But you just have to truck through and do your best. </p>

<p>I think the other thing about community college that makes it difficult to make friends is that most CC’s are commuter campuses. Most universities have people straight out of high school, for the most part, and they have the time to hang around and socialize. But at CC’s, people are all different ages and life situations. People drive in for class, then leave after, usually. Lots of us have jobs to get to after class (or are just coming from work straight to class). Some people have kids. I know that I haven’t really made any friends at school since I moved here to Austin a year and a half ago, but that’s because I’m pushing through full time classes and a job, and I just don’t have time for many extracurriculars/clubs, etc. I don’t want to hang out after class to chat with people either because I have a job to be at, or I’m just plain tired and want to go home. So those more mature non-HS types you’re looking for? They’re mostly not on campus because they’re busy with life and whatnot. Just means you have to go out of your way to find them and ask them to hang out before they rush off campus to do the next task on their to-do list. </p>

<p>Also, definitely agree that ACC’s campuses all have a different feel. I’ve always had to take classes at Northridge due to it being closer to where I live. This semester, have to take a class at the campus up in Cedar Park. Totally different. Much newer campus with nicer stuff, but so empty of people and boring. To me, Northridge is the better, more vibrant campus, between the two of them. YMMV.</p>

<p>But overall, I really love ACC. I feel like the professors are really great and willing to work with you, and I’ve learned a lot about my interests and talents. Even so, I’m glad I’ll be graduating this semester. Ready for a change of scenery. My only regret is not being able to take honors classes. I really wanted to, and they invited me to, but most of them are at Rio Grande, and I just couldn’t afford the gas/commuting time to drive across town to just take one or two classes. :frowning: Maybe after I transfer, I can get into some more advanced stuff! Here’s hoping.</p>