Hey everyone! I applied to health science scholars back in October and saw that there isn’t a thread dedicated to CNS honors updates/decisions. I know that some people who applied to Turing Scholars have heard back, but have any other programs heard back?
Haven’t heard back from Dean’s nor Turing Scholars. My main rec got his letter in late (10/24) and I missed priority deadline, so that may explain my situation.
My daughter was admitted to CNS and applied to honors, but hasn’t heard back yet. Has anyone else heard?
Unlike Plan II and the business honors program, the CNS honors programs work very slowly, inefficiently, and with no communications with applicants and no timetable. Perhaps CNS honors is worth it, but their lack of responsiveness suggested a disorganized program and was ultimately a big reason why my DS decided to attend school elsewhere.
@HankE, likewise. My daughter has applied to CNS Honors. She just heard back today that she got a regular admit. But, it’s not clear if the Honors apps are processed separately. Their Honors FAQ does say, you would hear back on your Honors app either way. But, have to agree with @Eidetic: The program does seem disorganized, and the silence deafening! 
Last year the only way we knew whether our student was accepted or not was when the status changed online. No email, no phone call, no letter, just a status change. Not very impressive.
@CollegeDadTX, @Eidetic & @HankE - This is my take on it. The previous director moved positions in September. I don’t know if they filled her position with a new director. The man now in charge of DS, HSS & Polymath looks familiar- like last year maybe he just handled polymath…Therefore, I think they may be short-staffed & on a learning curve- which is a shame.
(We heard last year in December & they started having open house weekends in February- looks like it will be pushed back a bit this year.)
Son is a DS & Turing & has really liked the community & classes he has been able to take by being in honors (all upper level as a freshman).
Good luck to everyone waiting on decisions.
hmmmm- @NotSoPatient - we received both emails & letters by mail for both Deans & Turing. You never got a letter? That’s weird!
@bookmom7, thanks for that context and sharing your experience from last year. So I understand, your child got an admit in Dec, and later heard about the Open House weekends in Feb? If so, that would indeed clarify the main question in my house today, viz., whether you hear just one admit from UT (regular v/s honors), or you hear about honors either way separately. Thanks, again.
@CollegeDadTX - well he was admitted in November. Received Deans notification in December- so yes it is later- then found out about Turing in January. It was the end of January that they sent out an evite for the open houses starting in Feburary. CNS had several dates throughtout the spring- even into April. Turing just has 1 open house date.
Thanks, @bookmom7, for that timeline. And, congratulations to your son - and your family! Clearly, he’s a smart, young lad!! Good luck to y’all.
My student was not chosen for Dean’s Scholars last year, and the only way we knew was the status changed to say something like you were not chosen or something like that. It turned out for the best as she was chosen for another program that has been very good for her. And she ended her first semester with a 4.0 GPA! I do not know what criteria they use for selection for the honors programs, but there are University Honors for students who perform well in their classes. If chosen, congratulations! If not, no worries. There are so many opportunities at UT that you will find your niche!
Yes, there are many, many opportunities at UT.
CNS honors faq website is helpful: https://cns.utexas.edu/students/future/faqs#Freshman_Admission
They do state “Yes. All honors applicants will hear a decision, either way.” Maybe they need to be more specific. :-/
CNS students - also check out FRI, Freshman Research Initiative. It’s not an honors program but is a great opportunity to participate in a research project as a freshman, and get course credit for it. My CS son participated in this. You have to apply, but I believe it’s open to all CNS freshmen - at least, they try to find a spot for all who apply.
@TexasMom2017 Thanks. That’s a great suggestion! isn’t it closed now for fall 2017?
@Glee not sure. When my son applied 2 years ago, the process was that you applied in the spring after being admitted to CNS.
@TexasMom2017 I sure will keep an eye on it. Thanks for being helpful to all of us.
I was admitted to CNS Physics on the 20th of January, but I haven’t received any notification on the DS program.