Hello. I am trying to balance my college list with about half of the colleges being larger, state based institutions and about another half being smaller private institutions. Some of the major state schools I am applying to are UT Austin, U Michigan, and UC Berkeley. Also I would like to include GA Tech on this although I am not sure whether or not they are a state school. Looking at the demographics for these schools, about 60% or so of students come from within the state. I know these schools are very well known and academically rigorous institutions, but their acceptance rates are pretty high compared to private schools. I just wanted to know if the fact that many state schools are obligated to accept in state students with certain credentials will actually make my chances lower as an out of state student. My average scores are all significantly above these schools’ scores, but I still feel like I am at a major disadvantage. Can anybody explain what exactly is going to factor into the decisions for state schools and how this could affect my application compared to in state students, if even at all.
Here is a link for admit rates for all the UC’s which includes in-state/out of state and internationals.
http://www.ucop.edu/institutional-research-academic-planning/_files/factsheets/2015/fall-2015-admissions-table2.pdf
On average, OOS applicants have higher stats than in-state but this may be due to 1) smaller pool of applicants due to higher costs and a-g course requirements not being met and 2) a higher UC GPA required to apply.
@CahillJ16XHS I just read your other thread. Since you are limited to 12 schools and say your family can afford anything so long as there is a little bit of financial aid, if you have not already done so before applying be sure to run the net price calculators for each school to make sure they are affordable should you get in. You do not want to waste a slot on a school that turns out to be unaffordable.
Berkeley won’t give you a penny of financial aid, so the cost is on you for $55K per year; wouldn’t that factor into your decision.
Yes it does. As @Gumbymom stated the stats are higher for OOS students. Some state Us have limits on how many OOS students can be accepted. Run the Net Price Calculators to see the amount of $ that will be expected from your family. That is where the real “major disadvantage” comes in.
Typically, admission rate is lower for OOS (except some UCs) and the admission stat is higher for OOS. Some state public colleges have obligation to accept certain number (or certain percentage) of in state students, while others don’t (e.g. UMich). This is usually due to state funding and legislature requirement. Most schools do not publish their admission stat from in state and OOS applicants separately though. For UMich, the OOS admission rate is around half of in state student while the enrolled OOS:in state ratio is around 42:56. The current year OOS admission rate is estimated to be around 20% (overall admission rate is 26%).
Georgia Tech, UCLA, UCSD, maybe UCB may take you. Looks like you have generous parents, so the UCs might work fo you, if these schools are appealing you could add UCI, UCD
U Mich is difficult for out of state, UNC near impossible
Don’t know about UT
Also reality check here, likely 25% of the student bodies mentioned above are at or above your stats, which are good but not out of the park good. I am also personally not that blown away by an ACT score of 33 at this level of competition … I assume 3.88 is UW? Cali GPA is different, only weighting is for AP classes not honors not GT not whatever.
Given these school are heavily subsidized by their state taxpayers and/or endowments (UMich), you should not expect parity. Cali wants your money, but is I believe limiting OOS at UCLA and UCB starting this year. These are the best options for Cali residents so they don’t really want to give them to just you.
If you are applying to engineering look up Big Door Little Door at UCLA and realize that this is an impacted program at most if not all UCs and that they may not open that door to you as OOS just to get that $25K OOS supplement. These are their best programs and the top 10% in their HSs want them.
Also be aware that all of these schools are very competitive once you get there and are all big state schools who will not coddle you or provide private school services and attention like a private top-tier would.
How about in-state in your state?
UT-Austin is very hard to get into as OOS, since state law requires the school to automatically accept the top X% of each high school class (the number varies from 7% to 10%). Then some Texas residents are accepted on a holistic basis. So there is not much room left for OOS kids. My son got in, but he had excellent stats.
For engineering admission would really only consider GTech likely (UCs very difficult). It is a state school.
Lots of state school power houses for engineering in the midwest.
For engineering, eliteness is less useful than ABET accrediation and a program that piques your interests. I think you should head over to engineering thread to get some more engineering type schools, including many privates.
Your average scores, whatever that means, has to be above 75% number for you to be especially competitive. Top 10% is a given, etc, etc.