Here is a news report about UTD at 50.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/higher-education/2019/08/18/ut-dallas-evolved-small-research-center-one-fastest-growing-universities-just-50-years
Good article!
I have heard good things about this school. We live in the DC area and three students from my daughters’ school selected UT Dallas. My understanding is the merit scholarships offered were very attractive.
@yellahamma, yes, UTD does offer high $ merit scholarships. If your child is a NMF, it is a full ride. Otherwise, UTD offers AES scholarships with the highest being full tuition and fees plus $3000/semester stipend for living expenses. You do have to have a high test score and GPA with rigorous classes to get it. The next level is full tuition and fees plus $1000/semester and the lowest level is $3000/semester. At the lowest scholarship level, your tuition would be at the in state rate, not OOS, so it still saves you alot of money. Its a great school and easy to get to for OOS.
@GTAustin Do you know if those scholarships will stay the same for the class of 2020? I am nervous about them decreasing the awards.
As far as I know of, the scholarship amounts will remain the same. Every year the required ACT/SAT score increases in order to receive a scholarship. They are doing something different this year. Previously, you would know upon acceptance to the university or within a few weeks whether you were going to receive a scholarship and the amount. This year they are waiting until December before they release scholarship offers. Applying early will still give you an advantage because they did say they will take that into consideration between comparable students. I guess by waiting they will have a better overview of the quality of the students that are applying. It is getting more competitive every year but they don’t seem to be dropping the scholarship amounts.
@GTAustin Yes, we were disappointed to see that AES awards won’t be released until 12/15. Dd will most likely be NM but I wanted to know the AES award as back-up.
Crossing my fingers that your DD make NMF. Its been a great program for my DD. My DD does regret not applying for the McDermott. At the time, she thought too much work and she was NM but she is envious of some of the perks they get - ie. always traveling around the world!
@GTAustin why did she think it was too much work? Does anyone know what the essay prompt is for McDermott application? Additional essay is a big deterrent for my daughter. TIA!
My DD was a NMF, so she already had a full ride plus $ to travel abroad. The McDermott application required 3 additional, excellent recommendations. My DD did go to a large public school and did not want people to spend the time to write recommendations if she wasn’t totally committed to it. She was aware of the requirements of the program including community service hours, attending programs and acting as an UTD ambassador, not being able to come home for the summer and other commitments. It turns out she has done all of this and more just by getting involved there. Looking back, I don’t think she would have made a finalist because she didn’t have the nonacademic traits that I think they look for. She does now - leadership, passion for certain ideas which she acts on, committed involvement in numerous areas that benefit UTD. I think she would be an excellent candidate now but she needed to grow. The NMF program has been great for her and she does hang with all the McDermott’s.
@GTAustin Thank you so much! My daughter will highly likely be NMF and she has those traits McDermott would like. Getting recommendations won’t be that much work but those required commitment might be something to look at before we start. I might ask you more questions regarding NMF program later!
@mavian, congrats to your daughter! The McDermott program is a wonderful program. I have met probably 6 to 8 of them and have been totally impressed. The NM program has been wonderful as well. That growth I was mentioning for my daughter is because of it and with hanging with the McDermotts. It has really opened my daughter’s eyes to the world. I would be glad to answer any questions you have. Again, congrats!
How well UTD got ranked in Wall Street Journal’s college rankings for 2020? UT Austin is #61 and A&M #78 this year.
Last year, UT Austin was #62, A&M was #94. UTD was #425 in 2019.
@riversider, what is your problem with UTD? I don’t care what WSJ ranks it. My daughter got a totally free education including a masters with multiple study abroad and now has a high 5 figure job offer with 2 well paying internships in between. That is what matters. She could not have done better at UT Austin or A&M and it would have cost us a lot more. I say take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. If you want to pay a fortune for the same result, please feel free to do so.
Good for you. Congratulations!!