For those of you who are attending UT Dallas national merit (or in the honors program/ scholarships/ or Mcdermott scholarship), can you tell me how you like it so far? I’m a national merit semifinalist, likely finalist, and am planning to major in economics/finance/math. For those of you who are Mcdermott scholars, do you have any tips on how to get in?
My son is NMF, in the honors and CS2 program and made it as far as finalist weekend for McDermott and he’s loving it at UTD! He’s made lots of friends and joined several clubs. Please know that the McDermott scholarship is VERY competitive, apply early and make sure you do the video, be creative.
@3scoutsmom do you know how the economics/finance and the math program is at UTD? I heard its more focused on CS? Also, do you know how strong the career services are?
@lovescookies I do know that there’ a current McDermott scholar who switched majors from Physics to Math and UTD has a good business program. As for career services I only know about the CS side of things. They have two big intern fairs a year (one’s this Friday) and just about anyone that wants an internship gets placed.
My DD is a 3rd year NMF at UTD and is loving it. All promises that UTD made, they have kept. Good advising, first pick of classes, first pick for housing, money for studying abroad, activities on and off campus, research opportunities, everything they promised. They are as interested in you as a student as they were when they are recruiting you.
She did not try to be a McDermott and has somewhat regrets that decision. She does do a lot socially with them and it appears to be a great program. The few I have met are outstanding. They study all over the world. One that I met had studied astrophysics at Univ of Chicago after his freshman year. I know South Africa, Morocco, Peru, Amsterdam have all been mentioned. This is not just limited to the McDermott scholars. My DD did spend 6 weeks in Italy studying fine art and will spend 4 weeks in Peru over winter break studying Spanish. Some of this, we are having to financial supplement which is fine because UTD is paying for everything else. (UTD paid for Italy, we are paying for Peru). She also got a great internship after her sophomore year that helps with the finances.
UTD does have a good business school and I would assume math program. They do have one of the largest CS programs in the nation and that is why you hear about it a lot but they are good in other things as well. One of the reasons we like UTD is its flexibility to study multiple things. My DD started out in CS but has switched to Cognitive Science. When she graduates in 4 years, she will have a Masters in Cognitive Science with a minor in CS and a second minor in fine art. UTD has been the perfect school for my DD.
My son is the McDermott math major previously mentioned. He is on the pure mathematics track and spent the previous summer working on braid theory research with a departmental mentor. I don’t know that much about the applied math options. (In truth I don’t completely understand the math the boy IS doing 
)The math department is much smaller than the business department (which is in a separate part of the school - math is part of college of natural science, business is Jindal College of Business) but there are definately opportunities for those who seek them.
A previous McDermott was very successful studying mathematics and economics and is currently pursuing a masters overseas through a funded scholarship.
My advise to potential McDermotts is always - your stats get you consideration, but you need to be able to demonstrate that you are more than your stats. As 3scoutsmom mentioned, the video is VERY important. They also really like to see a willingness to try new things and a broad interest base that demonstrates things like creativity and leadership.
I see on the website that the NMF package covers 8 semesters of tuition. If a student comes in with 30 hours or whatever of APs/Dual credits and can basically finish a major in 6 semesters, what are the options for that last year? Can they take master’s level courses? How does it work if they need to apply to get into the Masters program? Do they graduate with their undergraduate degree and then start taking master’s classes while still considered a NMF?
@TXRunningMom yes the remaining semesters can be used for grad school, also you could use a semester for summer school. Not sure how it works in other majors but CS has an option for “Fast Track” where students can double count certain classes for both grad and under grad credits. If you are accepted to the Fast Track program you don’t have to take the GRE:-)
https://cs.utdallas.edu/education/undergraduate/fast-track-program/
Other majors at UTD offer Fat Track too but may have different requirements.
@3scoutsmom , great information, thanks for sharing! Interesting that they don’t have to take the GRE. I thought that was a federal requirement but I guess not? Thanks again…
My DD got into the fast track for cognitive science and she also did not have to take the GRE. She did have to apply and have 2 or 3 references. She was accepted a couple of weeks later. They are allowing 15 grad credit hours to count for undergrad as well. She hopes to complete the Masters by the end of the 4th year.
@GTAustin , thanks for chiming in! My son is interested in the Speech Therapy Communications Disorder (not sure of the official title) undergrad/masters program. So this is good info to know! Do you know how competitive it is to get into the Fast Track for the Speech Therapy masters? Do NMF have an easier time?
I do not know how competitive that major is but I would assume somewhat because UTD does have a nationally ranked program in speech therapy. That being said, I do think being a NMF does make it easier as long as your grades are good in your first year. From my DD experience, the advisers do everything they can for NMF. If possible, I would do a one on one NM tour and coordinate with the NM office to have somebody knowledgeable about this program to speak with you. The NM office there is really good about working with you to get any info you need.
Is the NMF scholarship enough to cover tuition, housing, AND meal plan?
Also what are the chances of a Nat Merit Finalist not getting into UTD? I’m anticipating that son will be NM Finalist but am paranoid he won’t get into UTD
Yes, at least with the cost this year it was enough to cover freshman dorms, 14 meals a weak meal plan, and all tuition and madetory fees. The was a small ballance listed on DS’s account maybe $160 or $180 BUT he’ll be getting another small part of the scholarship, the part that comes from NMSC ,it should be here in a week or so, that will cover that and what he spent on books. He’ll likely be changing to a lower meal plan next semester because he’s not using all his meal swipes. Also UTD allows stacking of outside scholarships. I know kids that used those new computers or furniture when they went from dorms to appartments.
If your son makes NMF he’ll get into UTD without a problem.
3scoutsmom: you look like you’ve gone through this process. I live in Central Texas and my DS is a NMSF and will become a NMF. He wants to study math. How would you compare Texas Tech and UTD? Both offer a full ride. Do you think UTD offers a more rigorous education than TTU? More opportunities?
Thank you.
@kaywallis I think TTU offers a more generous package - they cover transportation. You should visit both. I’m biased toward UTD so I don’t think I can give you an objective answer. DS ruled out TTU because it was “geographically undesirable” he couldn’t imagine spending 4 yours in Lubbock,TX and felt he’d have much better networking/internship opportunities in Dallas. But hey, he also ruled out OU before he knew they reduced their NM scholarship because “all that red brick!” His older sister is NMF at OU!
At this point you need to be looking at “fit” and that’s a very individual thing.
Thank you for the info. On paper UTD looks pretty good for my son so we are very interested.
Do we need to notify UT Dallas if our student is a NMSF, (hopefully, NMF by spring) or will it just show up in the portal? I see she already has the AES scholarship on there.
They will know but if you want a personal tour just call the NM office there. Once you declare them your first choice, the scholarship will be upgraded. Congrats!
Today son got an email about the upcoming Scholars’ Days that mentioned attendees could qualify for a waiver for the $50 application fee. We are out of state and were planning on going to a National Merit preview day next spring after his finalist standing is confirmed. Would it be weird/tacky to ask UTD for a fee waiver anyway?