University of Texas (Austin), 2.7 GPA 2100+ SAT

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So right now I'm a junior almost halfway through the school year just now realizing the terrible position I'm in, since my family is the first in the United States, my parents did not fully understand how to deal with me educationally and just said do your best, I don't care as long as it gets you into college. Since then, I've convinced them to change their ways and will assist my younger brother and sister with school and whatnot. That's besides the point as I don't want to put all the blame on my parents.</p>

<p>I'm aiming for UT at Austin, but also considering UH, Texas A&M and UT at San Antonio (will transfer into UT Austin), pursuing a major in Petroleum Engineering. As of now my GPA is less than stellar, currently at 2.7 out of 4.0, or 3.3 out of 5.0. My school is highly competitive being a suburb of Houston, where the vast majority of students have moved because of the Oil and Gas industry, so it's all smart++ Asians, Indians, etc. (Not to support stereotypes, just the truth). I didn't fully realize how much my actions Freshman/Sophomore year impacted me, and largely blew them off, but I know myself that I'm as smart kid. Teachers, parents and people that know me know this, but I've realized this much too late.</p>

<p>On my SATs I've taken, I've scored 1850, 2050, and 2130, and shooting for 2200 soon to increase my chances. Right now I have one or two teachers in mind that can write strong teacher recommendations, an AP language and composition teacher I'm close with and my orchestra director. My extracurriculars are not particularly strong, just volunteering clubs where I've only accumulated ~30 hours, and orchestra where I enjoy playing, but am not ranked very high among my orchestra. I'm searching for a job and will look harder this coming summer.</p>

<p>I'm working hard to bring up my GPA to 3.0+, and my course load is relatively heavy, all AP level classes available this year (APLANG and AP US History), took World History AP last year (4 on AP exam, and will increase the load next year (BC Calculus, AP Literature, AP Chemistry, AP Gov/Econ, and AP Comp Sci)</p>

<p>Was wondering how I'm doing on getting into UT@Austin, and what I can do to improve. Thank you in advance!</p>

2

<p>Your problem is going to be your class rank, since so many kids are admitted automatically based on their rank. You could go the CAP route and go to UTSA or someplace your first year. If you keep your grades above the GPA set by UT, you could automatically transfer there your sophomore year.</p>

3

<p>Texas admissions are pretty much based on rank unless you want to consider UT Dallas which gives auto admission based on 1800 SAT score. High score would have helped with honors programs once admitted but with such low GPA, UTAustin is not in picture.</p>

4

<p>So my SAT’s will not be able to compensate?</p>

5

<p>Duncanxgee, start getting busy and applying for leadership camps and opportunities this summer. Study hard and get that gpa up. When did you come to the us? Connect with one EC you feel passionate about and run for an office or really get involved. Keep this in mind that outside of texas your sat would hold more weight with a school that does not emphasize class rank as much. For your major you probably should stay in texas. I think austin and houston both have such camps check into them and if possible apply. This will allow you to somewhat check out the schools and to get acquainted with the schools. If you do well this can be put on your application as well. The key get your foot in there if possible. Check out engineering and leadership camps (usually a week long).</p>

6

<p>You have time to improve your situation. Do you have a good guidance counselor?</p>

7

<p>Our counselors aren’t all that great, which is understandable since my school was at its peak last year held over 4000 students.
I’ll look into engineering camps for this summer, thanks for the advice!</p>

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<p>Ok you can talk to a counselor or you can do your own research. I don’t know if you qualify but you can apply to texas’ girls state which I think is called bluebonnet something. It’s a government and leadership building conference/week which most state colleges value on applications as an honor to attend. It is free except for your time. Your junior summer you can do these camps etc, volunteer, and/or work. In my state they are just beginning the search for girls state ‘delegates’ so you might want to google/bing bluebonnet s and see if you are interested at all. What I have seen is leadership and community really can fill out your application nicely but you also have to raise your gpa. Keep track of every hour you volunteer and every award you receive. It’s easier to have this list and fill out your application then to have to go back and try to recall everything.</p>

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<p>UTD is your safety…</p>

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<p>UT works mostly on class rank in Texas. Your GPA probably puts you around 50% while UT operates at 7%.</p>

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<p>Texaspg would it be hard to transfer into ut-austin later?</p>

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<p>I’m assuming Texas girls’ state is for girls only, so I don’t meet the requirements, aha.
So, UT Dallas will be for sure because of the SAT score, but what about UT San Antonio? And I’ve looked into it a bit, neither UT Dallas nor UT San Antonio offer Petroleum Engineering, what do I take my freshman/sophomore year of college before transferring into UT Austin?</p>

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<p>Petroleum Engineering at UT is one of the hardest programs to get into and there will be enough people trying to transfer into the program within UT for them to admit students from CAP.</p>

<p>[Total</a> transfers via CAP stay low | The Daily Texan](<a href=“http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2012/10/07/total-transfers-via-cap-stay-low]Total”>http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2012/10/07/total-transfers-via-cap-stay-low)</p>

<p>There are specific schools accepting CAP (UTSA, UT Arlington). If the goal is some how to make it to Austin one can accept CAP but if the goal is a specific major, one should find a school with that program and settle down.</p>

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<p>So what I’m thinking now, is to forget CAP since my specific major will make it very difficult to transfer into, keep hopes high for UT Austin (Still apply), and instead apply to Petroleum Engineering @ different colleges like Texas A&M and UH?</p>

15

<p>I’ll talk to my counselor when I get the chance this coming week.</p>

16

<p>If you are in engineering school in UH or Texas Tech, it would be easier to gradually move to PE. It would be hard to get to UT Engineering as part of CAP.</p>

<p>Btw, if you don’t apply by early deadline (dec 1st?), UH gets more stringent for admission requirements.</p>

17

<p>My apologies duncanxgee. You might be interested in texas boys state then. Sorry and I think you are smart to talk to your counselor.</p>

18

<p>Ask your guidance counselor where you can go for petroleum engineering with your current class rank.</p>

<p>For Petroleum engineering, check out University of Tulsa and Marietta College (apparently they have a 100% placement by graduation) [Marietta</a> College ? Petroleum Engineering](<a href=“http://www.marietta.edu/Academics/undergraduate_degrees/petroleum_engineering.html]Marietta”>Petroleum Engineering and Geology Department | Marietta College)
Your tough curriculum will help you at both (their admission is not rank-based).</p>

<p>Public universities in Texas admit most of their students based on class rank. UT Austin admits at least 75% students based on the fact they’re in the Top 7% at the end of junior year (or soon thereafter); TAMU admits top 10% but has an alternate route if you’re top 20%. The competition for the few remaining spots is incredibly tough.</p>