<p>any one have any opinions of ut dallas? particularly the chemistry program? have tried a bunch of searches on cc but find info on austin and other texas schools but really nothing on dallas.<br>
thanks in advance for any input!!</p>
<p>UTDallas has some very strong academic programs- especially in math and science. The school has received some tremendous money from Dallas businesses (Texas Instruments etc) to beef up the programs. That said, I think there are better options. It is largely a commuter school and the campus is pretty unattractive. Reasons to attend would be a great financial package or the need to commute from home in Dallas.</p>
<p>They are trying really really hard to grow and to attract good students. You would probably get better merit aid there than at other schools in the UT system.</p>
<p>hmm, thanks for replies (more also welcome) here's the things i found that interested me. new dorms, new science buildings, tuition reasonable even for out of state but even better... if you receive even 1K in merit they reduce your fees to instate! (we will not qualify for any need-based aid so merit is really important factor for out of state schools.... and merit is automatic (although i couldnt find the exact criteria...but several very generous levels)they have several honor colleges . I reviewed the research being done by faculty and it looks good. Looked at classes offered and schedules and availability looks good. my son could potentially do well with scholarships if i compare his gpa/act etc with the average data. if he liked it there they offer undergrad, masters and phd levels for chemistry.
one path he has considered is md/phd and it looks like southwestern medical school has a relationship with this school.</p>
<p>We went and visited, as DS would have received lots of merit money - full-tuition plus. He hated it, and we all agreed it was not a good fit. Building are nice and new, but campus is small. There was not a cohesive feel to the community and kids who live on campus live in apartment buildings (and cook for themselves) right from the start, so they don't have a whole lot of dining halls set up (which help to build the community feel.) It felt like a trade-school kind of place; a good place to come for night school or if you are an older student, or want to commute. Very techy, very pre-professional, which would be great for some kids who know exactly what they want to study. Not what we wanted or DS wanted.
(edit: just checked the website; looks like they are building a residence hall/dorm which might help keep a critical mass of kids around on campus and increase social activities.)</p>
<p>Two of my children attend UTD - a senior in government/politics and a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering. Dallas is not our home base so both students live on campus. It is not a residential campus, but the students who do live in campus housing seem to be happy with it and have formed a good network of friends. </p>
<p>UTD started with PH.Ds, then Masters, and the undergraduate programs have started in the last 20 years.</p>
<p>D turned down Notre Dame, A&M, Tulane, and Emory to attend UTD. She liked the size and the attention given to eager undergraduates. She has not been disappointed with either. She has a close relationship with many professors that has come in handy as she applies to law school. She has applied for competitive national internships over the last three years and gotten them. Her friends are pleased with the graduate programs that they are getting into. </p>
<p>Son turned down Notre Dame, Trinity, University of Tulsa to attend UTD. Since UTD is known for electrical engineering and has close ties to TI, his decision was not surprising.</p>
<p>Merit aid is phenomenal. Because merit aid is phenomenal, UTD attracts many top notch students who know that the undergraduate program is just the beginning and a good place to not accrue debt.<br>
Close ties with Southwestern Medical School.</p>
<p>MoWC is correct in that the campus is not attractive, but I know a beautification program is in progress. </p>
<p>UTD is not right for every student. No football team - and in Texas - need I say more. One of my major complaints was the apartment style housing: fine for D, but my son wasn't as ready - although he has yet to admit it. However, dorms with a food service open next year, so that problem has been addressed. </p>
<p>What grade level is your son?</p>
<p>he is currently a junior in hs. dont really think the idea of it being commuter type school or not a residential type campus would be an issue for him. when we toured uab he had no problem with that "setting" which isnt your typical college campus either. he has been living at a math and science school for 2 years now where alot of students go home on weekends but he only gets home for breaks as it is over 6 hours away.
havent been able to find info on number of chem majors on their site but hope it wouldnt be that large that he wouldnt be able to know his professors like your daughter.
if he likes what it offers it seems it would be a good one to visit as from your experience it offers what we are looking for. ie good programs and good merit aid. and although he can get that in state he also wants to check out of state</p>
<p>We have not toured but went to a hotel information session. (Served "real" food -- fajitas!).</p>
<p>As mentioned, great merit aid. I think that's what attracted some of the kids we know who went there, but we haven't spoken to them now that they're on campus.</p>
<p>But we left the info session, and ds was not at all interested. He made an interesting comment when we were leaving that "They didn't talk about a rec center or anything." I think that's because it's such a commuter campus; I think he'd kind of read between the lines. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, we have relatives in the area and on a visit we'll no doubt actually get on campus and take a tour, just to be we want to rule it out.</p>
<p>They actually have a very nice rec center, and the buildings are nice..</p>
<p>I'm sure they do, but he didn't get a feeling of "community" at all. He really likes one of the kids he knows who is a freshman -- a Scout two years older from his troop who is really smart, nice and a fellow athlete -- so I bet what he says will carry a lot of weight, be it favorable or unfavorable, once he gets to talk to him about it.</p>
<p>One of the nice things about the UTD merit aid is that it takes "three strikes" to lose it. It allows that little bit of breathing room for those students who just have a bad semester (or two).</p>
<p>found the numbers for chem majors in common data set</p>
<p>number of chem majors enrolled fall 2008 fresh/soph/jr/senior
CHEM 27 17 28 43</p>
<p>that looks pretty good for getting to know professors.</p>
<p>found a couple of different numbers re student faculty ration from 19:1 to 26.5:1. </p>
<p>the more i read, i think it may well be worth a visit. I called him and asked him to look at the website</p>
<p>D knows a few students (friends) who went from UTD into a md/phd program. One student is at Harvard and two are at Southwestern. (D is pretty sure that the two at Southwestern got scholarships for the md/phd program.) </p>
<p>Anyway, she wanted to make sure that you looked into the Green Fellowships.</p>
<p>UTD</a> now accepting applications for research fellowships | Richardson | pegasusnews.com</p>
<p>Green</a> Fellowships</p>
<p>thank you so much ignatius.. i have sent the link to him. the md/phd program at southwestern is a great program but they do require 90% are texas residents and i have no idea of he would qualify as texas resident after 4 years of undergrad (then again he would be 22 applying for grad so he might</p>
<p>just found another thing he would like(although i dont know how wise if in class all day..maybe a cat) once you are finished freshman year you can have a pet.</p>
<p>Approved* pets* include* dogs,* cats,* and* f ish.* Cats* and* dogs* are* strictly* prohibited* in*
the<em>Freshman</em>designated<em>housing</em>areas.*
Non <em>freshman</em> areas,* Phases* I* –* VII,* may* maintain* a* maximum* of* two* pets* (cats* or*
dogs)* per* apartment.* Dogs* and* cats* may* not* exceed* 35* lbs.* at* maturity* and* must* be* at*
least* 1* year* old.* * Fish* tanks* (limited* to* 20* gallons)* are* permitted* throughout.</p>
<p>ignatius do you have any idea of the stats needed for various scholarship levels or the honors colleges ie collegium or mcdermott?, with your kids having received scholarships do you have an opinion re my son;s (maybe not top scholarship but some merit money?)</p>
<p>all classes honors or ap
unweighted gpa 3.9 weighted 4.2 as of last term probably higher now
act score (grade 10) 32 will be taking again this year
good ec/s member mult honor societies, sga involvement and officer
will graduate with distinctions in both chemistry and biology (requires completing 12 extra courses than required for graduation)
summer internships</p>
<p>D's roommate has a dog.</p>
<p>Apartment of freshmen boys wanted a dog. Got one and named him "Fish" - after all, freshmen can have fish. Funny to hear that dog answer to the name "Fish" when called.</p>
<p>Re your son's stats: I think scholarship notification comes with acceptance. No special app needed except for the mcdermott scholarship.</p>
<p>The McDermott Scholarship app is involved. If your son is a junior, he might want to let his school counselor know of his interest now. He can also be put on a mailing list of interested students. Looking at his stats, I'd say that he should at least apply for the McDermott if he plans to apply to UTD.</p>
<p>the students that got into the McDermott are incredibly accomplished! my s probably wouldnt get that (he would meet minimum requirements ie 32 act but reading the bio's he doesnt have what they have!) but i saw the other honors college collegium V also. but cant find the criteria for the various levels of merit aid.</p>
<p>Sorry, but don't know the various criteria levels.</p>
<p>Still, looking at your son's stats, if he applies to UTD, he should seriously consider the McDermott. (He met the minimum ACT testing requirements as a soph in hs and multiple ECs, etc.) Definitely wouldn't get the scholarship if he didn't apply for it.</p>