University of Texas at Austin Class of 2023 Admissions

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
2161

@GTAustin,

Therein lies the problem. Parents are focusing on someone else’s idea of “prestige” vs. true fit, and value. If parents stop kowtowing to self-serving surveys that tell them that success comes from this list of schools (which isn’t even remotely true), then kids would to. Texas has many great options. UT, TAMU, and Rice aren’t the only good schools that will end in prosperous careers. We, as parents, and professionals with real world experience (because we know better) have to stop perpetuating those myths. Outside of Texas, Texas Tech, Univ. of Houston, Baylor, UT Dallas, have really good reputations. Not that reputation is everything. I have interviewed a lot of people over the years. I only care that you have the degree from an accredited college/university. I have seen and given the hiring nod to a great many a “I have never head of it U.”

Texans need to stop perpetuating the myth of prestige, and support the students of Texas in the reality of real success, IMO.

2162

@nomatter, totally agree! For the present, this situation actually creates opportunity. UT Dallas, for example, give out merit scholarships to about 25% of their students with the highest level being a full ride. They are doing that trying to lure students who would normally go to UT to their campus. Their students stats are about equal to UT. It is a newer campus and in a middle of a large urban area filled with internship possibilities. It is still a hard sell because of USNWR rankings. Parents and students need to look beyond the rankings.

2163

@GTAustin When will UT give out merit scholarships?

2164

@GTAustin,

UT Dallas is a wonderful option, and for families who truly look at fit, and I personally know several families with kids who aspire to TAMU (for example), who would find UTD a much better fit for what their kids are actually looking for in a campus and culture. And, UTD is really delivering on the merit! I live in North Texas (a suburb of Dallas/Ft.Worth), and UTD kids are not only getting a great education, they are truly getting some amazing opportunities for research and internships. And, they’re getting great jobs when they graduate. Another real powerhouse offering great $$$ is Trinity down in San Antonio. Great school, great campus, awesome learning and internship opportunities. I feel like Texas is just sitting on all of these great gems, and its residents are primarily blind to them. The University of Houston seems pretty generous with the $$$ as well. And, TCU, SMU, and Baylor are great options with merit that can make the hefty price tags no more expensive (and in some cases, much less expensive) than in state public tuition. These schools are not even remotely “lesser”. I like both Texas and TAMU as well. They’re both great schools, but they are simply not the ONLY great schools in the great state of Texas.

2165

@GTAustin , I agree with you about UT Dallas. They also have fantastic dorms and I hear are improving their mass transit options so that going into downtown Dallas from the university will be easier in a few years.

However, it’s still a hard sell for some kids. It skews male (57/43) and towards STEM. It’s known to be a bit more of the “geeky and introverted” set. This could be a GREAT fit for a lot of kids. Is a great fit. But between all that and no big football team, it’s not poised to compete with UT Austin in the same space.

It’s still on the table for us, just for financial reasons. The highest AES award is not a full ride but close. It’s full tuition plus 6k per year stipend (unless you mean the McDermott but it’s way competitive).

I also agree Texas Tech is not an appealing locale for a lot of students. My daughter chose not to apply there.

So for kids who want to stay in state and for whom A&M is not the right world, there are not tons of options.

And let’s not forget that when we bring in the pricey privates, the costs are not going to be uniform even with merit aid since the need based aid will vary so much.

For instance, Trinity is not going to be cheaper than UT Austin for higher income families unless you win one of their 20 full tuition scholarships. My daughter is competing for that in a few weeks, but if she doesn’t win one, it will be 34k per year. That’s what it is after top merit aid and without need based aid.

Southwestern can’t compete either. Daughter was given the top scholarships you can get there and it’s still higher than UT Austin.

It’s a tough scenario to be in for some high achieving kids who have high EFCs but still can not afford to pay over 30k per year. Don’t even get me started on SMU. We’ve been jumping through those hoops too, but it won’t even come close to affordable even with their top merit aid plus departmental scholarships.

So really, are we surprised that demand for UT is so high? It’s an incredible value for those with high EFCs.

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@nomatter, thank you for your kind words. What a lovely thing to read.

I am new to this board and was gobsmacked at the posts on various threads that diminished or discounted the rural six percenters. That’s really weird to me. Why would anyone automatically set aside a group of people for their background, not knowing anything about their circumstances or potential? Why would anyone disregard a stranger’s value or dedication for their place of origin? (or race, or religion, or political affiliation and so on.)

I’m likewise surprised at the general handwringing about how a school is ranked by US News and World Reports. I see those rankings as superficially important, at best. When hiring folks, I’m looking for smart, insightful, collegial people who seem like they’re gonna work hard and well, regardless of whether they went to a little Lutheran school in Ohio, Kenyon, Dartmouth or Kingsville A&M.

Human beings are complicated creatures and the college admission process is fraught with subjective variables that cannot be prognosticated accurately or satisfactorily. In the end, you just don’t know what the admissions office is gonna do. I wish folks would breathe easier about where their kids end up. I want my son to go to a place that rocks his world and challenges him to his core. Happily, there are lots of schools that can do this, in all different parts of the country. We have tons of choices; it’s a matter of matching up the right fit, academically, culturally and economically.

Good luck to all!

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UT is an incredible value but as this thread proves, even if you do everything you are suppose to - grades, rank (because you might not get your major), and great EC’s, you might not get in. UT is not a safety for anyone and it might be your child that does not get in. It also might not be the place with the most opportunities. I do believe if you get into UT honors, take it! If you get into another good school with money and departmental honors, it definitely should be a contender even if you do get accepted to UT. I think of Malcomn Gladwell’s chapter on college acceptances about how if you are the big fish at a less prestigious pond, you can receive more opportunities as far as research, publishing and even completing your major. He presents stats to back it up.

@Meadow530, I am going to put in a plug for UT Dallas. My DD had the same choices, got accepted to UT CS but had a full ride to UTD on a National Merit scholarship. She picked UTD. She didn’t care about the football. She is an extrovert and has found incredible opportunities there as well as culturally broadened her. She came from a typical Texas suburb and has had roommates from all over the US as well as culturally all over the world including Eastern Europe, Vietnam, Pakistan and Plano. She has traveled abroad twice because of the money we saved. She started 2 clubs and is active in many others. She has had 2 internships, is doing research and will complete her masters in 4 years. It has been an incredible experience for her. Not for everybody but don’t let the general reputation make the decision for you.

@kli586, UT does give out some merit scholarship but not many. Certain depts have more money. I’m thinking of a $35 million donation to UT engineering that was made a few years ago for the specific purpose of scholarships. I’m not sure if that is used for merit or financial need based. Their philosophy is that they don’t need to give out merit scholarships to fill slots with high achieving students and they are right.

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@GTAustin, thanks for the insights about UTD! I’m glad to read about your daughter’s amazing experience there. It’s certainly a compelling offer. Sorry, when you said full ride, I had forgotten about the NMF. My daughter is not NMF, but did receive the full tuition/6k AES. And applied to the honors college.

We vacillate some. We’re still waiting on Rice, but assuming that doesn’t come through, or unless SMU invites her to Presidential and she wins or she wins the Trinity Tower…we really have to choose between Plan II or UT Dallas. The financial difference is obviously substantial. Most days we think Plan II is the no brainer, but sometimes I think about the money savings at UTD, and I wonder. They would also take way more of her dual credits (she has almost 60) whereas Plan II is not as accepting. It’s also complicated by the fact that we live in Austin and quite selfishly would love to be able to take her out for lunch sometimes!

I think if she was STEM, then she might consider UT-D more closely. She wants to major in Public Policy. Which actually UTD has, but UT-Austin does not (closest is government or various minors/concentrations through other programs). So we probably need to compare those offerings a bit more thoroughly.

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You do have a hard choice. Plan II is a great program. The one thing that UTD does offer that could possible rival that is the Archer Program. My DD did have 2 friends that did that last semester. Unfortunately, that is not a guarantee, you have to interview for it but very worth while. Your daughter does have some great choices, it is just figuring out which one is best.

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Yep. And I’m remembering her mentioning the Archer program and it’s avaialble through both UT Austin and UT Dallas.

Lots of discussion over these next few months.

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@GTAustin Thank you! Does UT offer any scholarship to NMF? I was just wondering if we will hear any merit scholarship news before end of March or not? We are OOS and DS got in CS in beginning of Jan. But without any scholarship, it’s hard to pay full price to go to UT.

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@kli586 , no, no NMF scholarships. UT Austin gives very little merit based aid. Most of the scholarships that are given are through the departments and many require a separate application. Have you looked here?

https://www.cs.utexas.edu/undergraduate-program/student-engagement-and-support/scholarships

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@kli586, I have also heard that the CS merit scholarships go to the students that have been accepted to Turing Honors. If your son is not one of those lucky few, I would not count on any merit scholarship. Also, @Meadow530 is correct in saying there is no merit scholarships for NMF.

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@GTAustin @Meadow530 Thank you! My son did not apply for Turing honors. The scholarship for CS that @Meadow530 referred to was for current students seems. I remember there was a university-wide scholarship that every applicant would be auto-considered that required no separate application. Do you guys what it might be? Thanks again!

2175

Fingers crossed that more COFA decisions come out tonight at 8.

2176

anyone hear good news? any news?

2177

crickets tonight.

2178

DS received Presidential Scholars this evening!

Portal notification, no email. Hoping for more good news for everyone.

2179

Where did that show up on the portal?

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@UTWannabe23

Admissions tab.
A 2nd paragraph was added which began “We are happy to inform you…”