CAP Program info: https://admissions.utexas.edu/enroll/cap
I love UT, and Austin is the perfect city for me IMO. Unfortunately I go to a competitive magnet school, and even though my test scores are well above the average, my rank is very low and I am almost certain that I will not get into UT. I had the foresight to apply to UTSA so I could get a scholarship that can be put towards my CAP year there if I end up doing that. I was not expecting to get into UH Honors, but I did somehow (the only reason I think I did is because my school is pretty well known in the state and they gave me some leeway for it). I don’t really mind going to either, so that’s why I’m looking for advice here.
If I do CAP, I’m 99% sure I will definitely make the GPA I need to get into college of liberal arts and 95% sure I can get into college of natural sciences (which I would be cool with since I can still pursue another passion, physics). Getting into Cockrell school of Engineering is much harder, but I still feel like I will have a good shot at getting a 3.8+ GPA at UTSA. My high school has prepared me really well for college. I have no doubts I can be super successful at UTSA.
UH:
+drive to school everyday and save ~$10,000 in room/board for a year
+UH Honors college >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> UTSA, so if I end up really liking it at UH, it’s still a great school academically
-I will miss out on dorm life/first year experience at UT
-Not very good with recruiting from Silicon Valley companies, but good for Houston companies
UTSA -> UT:
+I really, really want to go to UT
+UT is the best school for my money (maybe MIT/CMU/Caltech would be the exception) and has great on-campus recruiting
-Have to pay room/board
-Only have guarantee to the liberal arts college (although I will still have access to the job fairs)
The obvious choice seems to be going to UH for a year and then transferring to UT, but I feel like I will have a hard time making friends as a transfer, especially since I’m not outgoing at all. At UTSA, on the other hand, I will have tons of people that transfer with me through CAP that I can get to know. Not too keen on going to TAMU even if I do get into engineering because I’m a minority and the alt-right neo-nazi stuff going on there freaks me out.
Do you guys have any thoughts about what I should do?