I got accepted into the UT Austin Health Science Scholars Honors Program. I wanted to know- is this program really worth it? Has anyone been in HSS? What was your experience like? How beneficial is HSS in getting research opportunities and getting into medschool?
I have also been offered a full-ride scholarship, including tuition and boarding, at UT Dallas. I’m going to apply to the Collegium V Honors Program there as well.
I am trying to choose between these 2 schools. I will get no scholarships from UT Austin (due to personal reasons) for the first year, and have already been offered a full ride at UT Dallas.
I’ve heard that both UT Dallas and UT Austin are about the same for premed students. I’ve also heard that UT Dallas had a better premed program due to better research availability.
UT Dallas used to have premed program connecting you to medical school, almost for sure you will be admitted to medical school, many valedictorian in DFW go to UTD for this program . I think UTD still have this great premed program.
@TexasFootball The UT-PACT BA/MD program has been closed for the foreseeable future. I was also strongly considering that program, but sadly it is no longer available
UTD has a 72% acceptance rate to medical school which they say is about double the nation’s average. I don’t know what UT’s acceptance rate is. You really should consider UTD and save that money for medical school.
Congratulations, it’s a very good dilemma to have
Are you a McDermott scholar?
If not, definitely apply for CollegiumV/honors.
Health science honors at UT is a very good program.
How sure are you about med school? If not med school would you consider NP or PA? If not are you sure you’re interested in the health field? Have you taken any from: AP chemistry, AP biology, AP calculus?
@MYOS1634 I am definitely sure about going into the medical field. I did apply to collegium v honors, and I did take ap bio, ap chem, and bc calc in highschool. I’m just not sure whether UT Austin HSS is worth the debt i would incur
How much debt?
Pretty much, if we’re talking debt vs. full ride with a strong honors college at a respectable university, it should be full ride hands down.
Perhaps ask the question in College Admissions or Parents Forum?
If you have any questions about UTD, I might be able to answer them. My DD is there now on a full ride for CS but many of her friends are premed/prehealth. Its a good program that attracts students from across the nation.
I have friends at UTD and they seem to really like it. Program wise, it seems UTD is a better fit for your medical career goals. Save up money for med school!!!
Tough choice - agree with the assessment about less debt, but UT Austin now has a medical school in Austin, opens this fall, and being a lifelong Texan, and growing up near UTD, and now living in Austin for 20+ years, The campus life and surroundings of the two schools is VERY different. I assume you have visited both? If not you should - and decide what type of experience you want - D1 sports versus none, etc. Good Luck!
@ATXDAD15 ,the UT Austin medical school is very competitive and brings in students from all over the state. Last year, the class was 50 students from 25 schools.
The campus life is very different between UT and UTD. I don’t know if you have been around UTD’s campus the last few years. It is very different than 20 years ago, modernized and landscaped. UTD does have sports, D3 though, but they do very well. No football. Alot of the students participate in sports vs watch. My DD swims and plays ultimate frisbee thru supported campus clubs. No large Greek scene or large sports. Has more of a small school feel and less of a party atmosphere. It does depend on what you are looking for. Good luck @indecision28, you have got good choices!
Yes, I have customers on both campuses - and travel there frequently - you are correct - UTD is very different than even 10 years ago, much less 20, but still vastly different than UT Austin - notice I say different, not better or worse. I have no doubt each one is the right fit for the right student.
I live in Austin and many times when I say UTD, the person grew up in the Richardson area and they remember the concrete buildings, no landscaping, minimal housing, night school atmosphere and they believe that is what it still is. It has changed dramatically in the last decade and changes are continuing each year. Many people have not been back and have not seen the changes. You’re right: different size, atmosphere, surrounding area, social scene, architecture, sports scene, everything. It all depends on what you are looking for and the affordability.
My ex graduated in 1997 from UTD, I used to go to class with him alot. Went back to UTD last summer as D was at a summer camp. Boy, It did not even look like the same school at all. UTD is growing like a weed and improving so much! I pray they keep offering the awesome merit scholarships by the time we need them.
@MYOS1634 I am still on the fence about both schools. I have been admitted to the Collegium V Honors Program at UTD. At this point I’m trying to get as much information as I can about both schools- both seem like strong premed schools to go to. I’m uncomfortable turning down the huge scholarship at UTD and the selecive honors program at UT.
I have another question: how good is the freshman research initiative at UT? Would I not be able to get the same quality of undergrad research at UTD in my freshman year? The way I see it, both UT and UTD offer about the same research and advising for premeds. The pull for HSS comes from automatic admission into the freshman research initiative at UT, the Capstone project, and making better connection with professors through honors classes. I’ve heard that it’s very easy to make connections with professors at UTD. UTD Collegium V Honors also requires students to complete a Capstone Project similar to the one required at UT. However, from simply looking at the information offered about these projects at both universities, it seems like the one at UT is more rigorous (please correct me if I’m wrong) only because UTD doesn’t offer much information about it on their website. I’m also worried about the quality of research available to undergrads at UTD vs. UT. I want to take the generous scholarship and go to UTD, but I’m afraid of unknowingly giving up a much more valuable education at UT. If anyone has insight to offer on this, please let me know. It’s very much appreciated!
@indecision28 I’m pursuing CS/computational biology with plans to maaaaybe go into medicine as a physician. If I had definite plans to go into medicine, I would strongly be considering UTD, seeing as your undergraduate school matters less than your MCAT scores, GPA, LORs, and extracurriculars (particularly research if you’re majoring in a natural science).
I personally feel that the quantity of Ivy League/top 20 grads in med schools is more of a “correlation than causation”; only determined, high-achieving students get into them, and those same students will do well on tests and be driven to excel in their extracurriculars. While UT Austin isn’t top 20, the same point still applies: in the end, it’s all up to you to succeed in your environment, and if you can do that in UT Austin, you can probably do that in UTD.
But… despite what I just said, I’m majoring CS/computational biology and will probably attend UT Austin due to their stellar (top 10) program, despite the national merit scholarship I have at UTD and others.
I can understabd why you’re on the fence.
Have you talked with your parents ? Is UT affordable for you and your parents with limited loans (no more than 5.5k in federal loans for you, none for your parents)?
