Hi, I am a student who lives in Wisconsin. I am finishing up my junior year of high school and have the opportunity of being exempt from nonresident tuition in Wisconsin, Minnesota (because of reciprocity with Wisconsin), and Texas (one of my parents is a resident of Texas). I want to study either economics or finance; I’m personally interested in economics but many people around me recommend studying finance as it could have better career options down the line.
I will apply to UW-Madison, UT-Austin, U of Minnesota Twin Cities, and some safety schools. I decided against private colleges and out-of-state schools because I ran the net price calculators and attending one of those institutions would not be the best for my family. Here are my relevant stats:
3.62 UW GPA
Rank: 40th Percentile (300 Student Class)
I got a 32 on the ACT.
I will take 12 AP exams by the time I graduate.
EC:
Marching Band - Student Leader (4 Years)
Cross Country - Varsity Letter (3 Years)
Track and Field (4 Years)
Jazz Ensembles - I participate in an auditioned high school group and have attended jazz summer camps. (4 Years)
Pit Orchestra - (3 Years)
[Language] Honor Society - Officer (2 Years)
]Business Club] - Qualified for Nationals in a Personal Finance Event - Officer (2 Years)
[Business Club] - Qualified for State - Officer (3 Years)
[Retail Store] - Cashier
etc… I am in more clubs but I probably will not include them on my application.
I am a Hispanic male. I have an interest in the Canfield BHP at UT, L&S Honors at UWisc., and the U of M Business Honors Program. Which college will give me the best opportunities? Do I even have a chance at being admitted into an honors program? I have visited UT and UW and I liked both campuses.
UT Austin will fill about 3/4 of its class with Texas resident applicants from top 6% rank. Everyone else has to compete for the remaining 1/4 of the class. A rank in the middle of your class is unlikely to be competitive there.
I agree UT Austin is tough because there are so many in-state auto admits, which leaves a small supply of available spots for other students, and lots of demand. Not saying don’t apply, just agreeing that it is very tough these days.
If you like the state flagships, you might google financial aid for out-of-state students at a few others that offer pretty generous merit aid. I’m thinking of the University of Kansas, which has big-time sports and is in a great college town. Maybe also Iowa, which I thought was very nice also, and just got a lot of love on another CC thread. The same with the University of Nebraska, which is in Lincoln and is an urban campus.
(Scroll down to see aid for OOS students. Looks like you might pay in-state tuition if you could get up to a 3.75 GPA, and pay not too much more where are now.)
It seems like you are on top of things, which is great. I note for at least two of these that getting your application and/or FAFSA in as early as possible really helps your chances of getting aid. That is generally true.
Apply as an Econ major to UT. The College of Liberal Arts is “easier” to get into than McCombs. By easier, I mean relatively easier. You could get offered CAP which means you’d attend another UT school and then transfer to UT. This works out for majors in the COLA.
Check out the NPC for the University of Iowa. Did your PSAT qualify you for the National Hispanic Recognistion Program? ASU and Arizona have good scholarships for that designation. Another thought is the University of S Carolina International Business Program…this is competitive.
Thank you for your comments. I am a NHRP scholar and I have a strong likelihood of becoming a NMS depending on whether or not my state’s benchmark changes for 2019. Both programs have great scholarship opportunities and I have looked at them carefully.
How do the three schools I mentioned compare academically? I have looked at the RePEc rankings and UW-Madison comes out on top for economics, but I’m not sure if a PhD program ranking system translates well into undergraduate studies. Additionally, I understand that McCombs is very strong for finance, but are UW and UMinn’s finance programs comparable?
One more thing: the RePEc rankings place Boston University and NYU very high even in comparison to some Ivy League schools. I have confidence that I have somewhat of a chance at admission at these schools, and it certainly would exciting to live on the East Coast. NYU and BU would be considerably more expensive than any of the state schools I have mentioned (assuming I can get in). Would NYU, BU, or a comparable OOS “elite” school be worth the cost?
UT Austin is far more difficult to gain admittance. I don’t think you’d be given any residents edge because you did not go to highschool in Texas. I’d check out the in state tuition rules carefully too, for UT. Whether you qualify. Take a look at Texas A&M too as another possibility if you can get instate rates from Tx schools.
NYU and BU are both private schools with costs blowing past $70k a year. Make sure you know what your parents are willing and able to spend for college if you are going to give private schools a try. Understand that unless you get sufficient financial aid or merit money, they are not an option if they are not affordable. Though both of these schools do give out aid and scholarships, it’s a huge differential between these schools and instate rates for then public universities you have in mind.
UT would be a waste of the application fee just for admission, let alone honors. You are OOS for the application process but you want instate tuition rates. Are you retaking your ACT?
I have a nephew who is going to A&M under same circumstances as OP. He does get Instate TX tuition due to his father being a resident of the state even though he finished highschool in another state, living with his mother. Parents have been divorced for a while. I believe the TX resident parent has to have lived in state for at least a year. Kids who go to boarding school out of state also get in state rates for public TX universities and colleges.
There seems to be a lot of misinformed people; I should have been more clear. As user ‘cptofthehouse’ said, I will pay in-state rates for Texas because I have a parent who will have lived in Texas for over a year by the time I enroll in my first course. I did my research and even called the different registrar offices to make sure I get in-state tuition at all three universities.
To reiterate my question: how do the three schools compare academically? I do not have a strong preference for studying economics or finance so I really just want to attend a school that is the most academically rigorous and will present me with the most opportunities. I understand UT will be a reach for admissions and I plan on retaking my ACT this summer to give me the best chance at admission. For the purposes of this discussion, though, I would really find it helpful to get comparisons and comments on all three universities’ economics departments and business programs.
All 3 schools are excellent. UT Austin has the most panache. Wisconsin next. You can’t go wrong with either school in terms of quality of academics. I’m very familiar with both and give them top marks. I’m not personally knowledgeable about UMinn
NYU and BU have the added advantage of being in major cities with a lot going on in and easy access to real life use of academic principles and jobs.
These are all strong choices. Other factors like personal preferences in weather, environment, closeness to home, cost probably will play a large factor in choice rather than the small differences in ranking and how little that impact is. I’m partial to UT because I’d prefer living in Austin. Been both there and Madtown, both great places to live but Austin gets the tip from me.
As it stands though, you don't have UT stats (rank, ACT, GPA as you are OOS).
And again, while you get in state rates, you seem to say are OOS for the application process which puts you in a far more competitive pile. If you do go ahead and apply, you could try to appeal the OOS assignation (assuming your ACT was higher and you were more competitive for rank) once the application is received, but the official residency adjustment comes after the year. TAMU assigned my OOS kids in the same position as in state on admission in Sept while they are not officially instate until May (they were academic admit though, already graduated) . UT didn’t LOL.
UW and UMN are terrific schools, you are very fortunate if you get admission.
If because Texas is an actual thing, You could throw TAMU in there, but again, your rank hurts and academic admit is top 25%. And of course there is UTD. Trinity has auto merit for your stats but IMO only worthwhile if you get to play for Towers $$
Look at UT thread and weep at all the CAPd kids stats. Really, it is unbelievable. The application fee should be considered a donation.
Are you open to smaller LACs in Texas? Look at Trinity University in San Antonio. They might award you merit money, and be a reasonable cost. Great school, but not as good as UT Austin. Not all colleges care about high school class standing. If you might do well at a smaller college, Match your GPA to smaller schools and find ones where you are at the top, and look for merit money at those private school.
Also look at U of Tulsa, a private school in Oklahoma, that might give you merit. Your have a lot of AP classes, did you score well on the AP exams?
Can you take 2 SAT subject exams as well? Retake the ACT or try the SAT.
You may want to get an MBA, so this may not be your terminal degree.
Smaller schools will reward you for both your solid academic record and your athletic ability, if you
want to run track in college, for a smaller school l ike Trinity U.
Do you want to continue to run in college? Look at Division 3 teams. It might give you extra merit to be an athlete.
U of Tulsa Business program has a 96% placement rate. Its a private school, with fantastic merit packages.
Your GPA, can you get it a bit higher? You could win more merit if you get your GPA up a few points. https://business.utulsa.edu
Tulsa is a small city, with lots of business related careers, and U of Tulsa is well respected in Texas, if
you eventually want to find a job in Houston, Dallas etc.
Just other ideas beyond the excellent flagship programs you are aiming for. I like U of Minnesota the best for location in the heart of a metropolitan area with great business internships.
All of the discussion on what is best is moot until OP is accepted. As noted, UTAustin is a difficult one to gain Admittance. The top X % of each high s boom pretty much get auto admitted but if you don’t go to a TX high school, you don’t get that into that category. But no reason not to give it a go as ares g school. TAMU a more realistic choice in Texas. My nephew’s stats not where OP’s are and he was accepted from OOS. Even with an in state admissions boost, TAMU notvas selective as UTA
You need to add more choices. You might not get into any of these schools. UT is a long shot for sure. Don’t worry now about where to go, you are putting the cart before the horse. You should add more matches and safeties. You might look at Iowa State.