when does non-top10% decision come out?

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
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<p>I'm glad this thread is cooling down some...</p>

<p>I'll throw my opinion in. Personally, I am against the top 10% rule. No, it's not because I am not top 10% (I'm 4th in my class, 35 ACT, decent ECs, recommendations, and essays, if I do say so myself...and I've been admitted to UT...not my first choice though) and it's not because I want to see UT lose its diversity (why would I want that? I'm Hispanic), but rather because its a numbers game. Think about the extraordinary amount of students who graduate from Texas high schools every year...the number continues to grow as our state's population grows. If you leave the top 10% rule in place, it is just a matter of time before UT is overcrowded and the quality of education it can offer will be compromised. The same goes for Texas A&M, and eventually Texas Tech, UNT, U of Houston, etc. etc. If you let it continue indefinetely, there will come a time when there will not be a good public education to be found in the state. Granted, that time is very far off, but it isn't as far off for the large flagship universities of our state (I put UT and A&M ONLY in that category). </p>

<p>Should there be a way to encourage minority access to Texas public universities? Of course. But the top 10% rule is NOT the answer.</p>

22

<p>Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm not a top 10% proponent. I am just saying that this is the reality right now. Until the legislature does something about it, all the upcoming students will be facing the same drama. The best advice that can be given to students (including my freshman in hs) is to keep your grades as high as you can (if going to UT is your dream). That's good advice for admittance to any school, but with the Texas system being what it is, a numbers game, that is the only advice that assures an automatic admission. </p>

<p>I know that in other states, they have a guaranteed admission program, but it is to "a" state university, not necessarily the "flag ship" ones. Perhaps Texas will move to that, or perhaps they will limit the 10% kids to only 50% of the freshman class (think of the chaos then of getting your app in early!), or maybe they will change it to the top 5%. I don't know what they will do, but they will have to do something or you are absolutely correct in that there will be immense overcrowding which will lead to a decrease in the quality of the education.</p>

<p>But, until something is done - we have what we have, and no amount of *****ing, unless it is in the form of a letter to your state representative, will do anything about it :(. And, blaming the hard working kids (not the cheaters) who worked their butts off to stay in the top 10% is not going to change it or make anyone's stress and frustration any less.</p>

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<p>ag54 - I completely agree with your post. Well stated.</p>

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<p>nathanTX07, I agree with you too. I'm also number 4 in my class, and I hate this top 10% rule. There are plenty of schools like mine where only the top 5 people are freaking geniuses and the rest of the 55 kids in the top 10% are B students. Then again, there are some schools where the top 25% will all make it into top 25 universities and LACs.</p>

<p>The top 10% rule just lets a lot of people in who shouldn't be let in. Chances are, if you're "smart" enough to be in the top 10%, then you are "smart" enough to make it into Texas without guaranteed admission.</p>

<p>The reputation of Texas at my school and the other schools I know, is that it's a "back up" for the kids in the top 10%. (Funny because that's probably the best place a lot of these "top 10%ers" could make it into.) Which is total crap for people like me, because I most likely have to come here because of money issues.</p>

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<p>To ag54...thanks for providing some common sense, "old school" replies to what is a daunting dilemma for many deserving applicants. nathanTX07, you offer some mature insights for a (I presume) high school senior.</p>

<p>Folks, it is what it is and "it" isn’t going to change for a while. Is a student in the 25th percentile from Highland Park better prepared for the academic rigors of UT than a 10%er from the Valley? Who knows? While far from perfect, the current system ensures that a broad representation (socio-economic, ethnic, etc.) of the best students in our state have the opportunity to receive a world class education. But until there is change, applicants will have to work within the system. </p>

<p>Most applicants have or will be turning 18 this year. Be an agent of change. Write your state representative and state senator. Start a grass roots movement to help those coming behind you. Your voice and your vote count.</p>

<p>Until then, the Class of 2012 and beyond needs to keep its collective nose to the grindstone, take the most rigorous curriculum offered by your respective schools, and be involved in things outside of yourselves (give something back to your community). I know this all sounds trite, but in the final analysis, it isn't rocket science.</p>

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<p>T.T lots of post lots to discuss</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I am posting, because my high school career is over, and I am just shedding some light. These are just the things that I have discovered over the years.</p></li>
<li><p>"Is a student in the 25th percentile from Highland Park better prepared for the academic rigors of UT than a 10%er from the Valley? Who knows?" I do, the answer is yes. Whether you like it or not, kids that come from academically challenging schools are going to be better off in college than kids that go to academically depressed schools. </p></li>
<li><p>Me and AG54 see eye to eye I believe. I was just venting. My venting ticked her off and made her vent. It's all good though.</p></li>
<li><p>I have written my state representative about this issue, becasue I have two younger sisters, and I hope this will not be an issue when they enter and exit high school. Also, it was part of my government assignment.</p></li>
<li><p>I strongly disagree with some statements about taking rigorous class loads. It will only hurt your chances. Rather, here is my advice. Go to <a href="http://www.ratemyteacher.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.ratemyteacher.com&lt;/a>. Find your high school, and study up. Take the classes that are the easiest. I know if I did high school all over again, then I would skip out on so many classes. Right now I am in 5 AP classes, and they all make me laugh. I don't study at night, and just keep myself entertained, and yet I am pulling easy grades. (AP/GT English = 97, AP Art History=99, AP Calculus AB = 96, AP Economics= 89, AP Government= 93) My G.P.A. is like 4.3 weighted. So, once again, if your dream is to go to UT-Austin or A&M, then take easy classes and make sure you are in top 10%.</p></li>
<li><p>Wow nickdechile. Just because we live in Texas doesn't mean we are racist, sexist, or predjudice in any mannerism. Please, that actually offends me that you think I don't want diversity. Honestly, I don't care. But looking at my groups of friends, aka the United Nations, I would say it is hard to call me racist of any sorts. I didn't hire a tutor, I bought the Princeton SAT Review, just like 100,000s of other high school seniors, and just practiced SATs. Cost me like 50 dollars when I was done with it all. </p></li>
<li><p>Wow I guess I forgot to clarfiy things. Schools like Plano, Plano East, Plano West, all have 1300+ students...in their senior class. The school alone has 3000+ students, and it is a senior high only, with means juniors and seniors only. My school isn't that big, we have maybe 3000+ in all four years combined. My year has 695, but that is dwindling due to over dose, suicide, drop outs, and etc. etc. </p></li>
<li><p>AG54, I feel the same as your son almost. All this anxiety isn't worth it, and I got accepted to Penn State, so I might end up going there.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I am done for now, I love to read this it is so entertaining.</p>

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<p>Tdrag, Yes, I do think we pretty much agree. And, trust me when I say, you DO have a good chance of getting in UT, but if you don't Penn State would be awesome!</p>

<p>Good for you that you wrote your representative! That is really the only thing that can change anything. The bummer is that the legislators that really don't want things to change have been digging in their heels on this thing for years. The supreme court changed their initial ruling in the Hopwood Decision in 2003, so there is no legal rationale for keeping the 10% rule in place. But, parts of Texas (especially the rural areas) have benefited from the ruling, and it is going to be a hard sell to the reps from those areas. </p>

<p>There is some talk that the rule might be tweaked to 5% or one of the other measures I stated above. There was a bunch of press at the beginning of this legislature's session, now not so much. </p>

<p>Frankly, considering the Texas legislature can't even figure out school funding (and they've been working on that for YEARS), I don't have much faith that this issue will be resolved until the regents at UT start screaming (and louder than they have already screamed). </p>

<p>Just my two cents ;)</p>

<p>Do you go to one of the Plano schools? We have been up there the last couple of years for lacrosse tournaments (in fact that darn Plano East knocked us out of the state finals two years ago). Those are ENORMOUS schools!</p>

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<p>lol no lots of friends go there, and lots of friends at highland park, t.t lots of friends everywhere. I played baseball hardcore till senior year, over 60 games in less than 2 months, you do the math ><, so ive made friends far and wide. i live in Coppell, a small town about 15 minutes west of plano. Right next to lewisville >< Ya plano is huge t.t football they own</p>

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<p>This is something I read that sucks too:</p>

<p>High School Coursework
When making admission decisions, we look positively upon students who show their commitment to academics by taking the recommended rather than the required high school courses in a given academic area.</p>

<p>Because not all applicants have access to advanced or honors courses, we do not, however, consider the level of coursework taken (regular, advanced placement, honors, AP, IB or other) during the admissions process.</p>

<p>If you want to pursue a math-intensive major such as architecture, business, engineering, geosciences, or natural sciences, we encourage you to take math or science courses each year you’re in high school.</p>

<p><a href="http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/admission/factors/academic/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/admission/factors/academic/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>See, AP coruses are useless, except for GPA boost</p>

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<p>Small world, we played Coppell two weekends ago at the A&M tournament in College Station. Good lacrosse team! Highland Park is the creme de la creme as far as lacrosse goes! The real deal. </p>

<p>Yea, that's alot of baseball. Are you not playing anymore?</p>

<p>The awesome thing about sports is that you do get to meet kids from all over. I know that when my s goes to Texas next year, he will run into guys he has literally run into (hard - as in football and lacrosse) for years. It should help make it a smaller place.</p>

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<p>At our hs, you get a gpa boost, therefore a rank boost for 4 ap/honors classes a semester, so it does help. Some highschools don't use a weighted system for rank though, so in those cases I guess it would help to not take the harder courses. The other side of that is that you do get hours by taking AP. My older son went to UF with 27 hours and now is classified as a junior and didn't have to take stuff like govt., American history, freshman English, Calc.,etc. That's a good thing!</p>

<p>re: the rank boost - at s's hs in order to be in the top 1/4, the grade point is over 4.0, so even if you have gotten a's in all academic courses, you would not be in the top 1/4. the top 10% kids don't have more than one or two b's with the most difficult curriculum. the val's have all a's, all ap/honors. it's ridiculously competitive.</p>

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<p>Yeah same here. For AP/honors classes you get a 5.0 for an A and a 4.0 in a regular class. Our rank is on a weighted scale, so it does help if you do well in a tougher class.</p>

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<p>I'm top 10%, but I don't like the top 10% rule. I know too many people who are not in the top 10%, yet I'm sure they deserve the spot more than those who hold it. Many top 10% cheat.</p>

<p>I don't think you should find the easiest teachers because that takes away from your education. You may end up not taking an ap class because of a hard teacher and it just may be that the course missed out on could have been your niche or could have saved you some time in college.</p>

<p>For me, the top 10% rocks, but it takes away from UT's prestige. Many top schools are top because the kids are well in school and can think critically. Just being in the top 10% does not make the student able to solve problems, for some it just makes them able to cheat. Like zanna said, many people who have actually worked hard at school and made the best of their oppurtunities look at UT as their back-up school.</p>

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<p>Yes t.t i choose my words very meticulously for the most part good sir. This is why said "if your dream is to go to UT do yaydadyadyady, so your top 10 and auto in" I own at my AP classes, b/c i just have that set of mind now. And im sure it will help in college, but i got to get into college before i can use these skillz, so its like one step at a time.</p>

<p>AG54- Kak >< i know alot of people on our lacrosse team, but dont know their scedule too well. No, i got uber unlucky lol, this summer, 2nd to last tournament i got pwned. Overthrew a f astball, and lost control, and it ended up going down the c@(ck, and the guy ripped it back at my so hard, i tried to shield myself with my arm, but i couldnt get it up in time, b/c it hurt, and the ball ricocheted off my elbow. I was cooked. Fractured my elbow, and hyper extended my shoulder, it was horrible. But, meh its cool now, b/c my grades fluxuated alot towards the higher end, and ive joined alot of clubs. BPA STATE >< with the good comes the bad =), wiat other way around, with the bad comes the good =). Yep, >< out of words.</p>

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<p>Tdrag, wow, so sorry to hear about your baseball injury. Good that you found some good out of it though, that will stand you well in the future - to have that kind of attitude.</p>

<p>I hope your all mended up now. :)</p>

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<p>lol my shoulder is better after theraphy, but my elbow is still messed, and if i bend it at akward angles when i work out, it gives out. I probably should check it out, but meh not worth my time, and i sure the hell dont want to wear a cast again, cause that sucked.</p>

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<p>I know you're not going to want to hear this, but I am a mother and can't help myself ;)</p>

<p>You can probably deal fine with the discomfort now, and it's more of a nuisance than a real problem, BUT when you get old, things like that tend to come back and bite you. You should definitely get it checked out, and then look at your options. It may be something that you can put off til later and it won't make any difference, or it could be that waiting will cause more damage. You won't know unless you get it looked at. Take this from somebody who had a nagging shoulder injury from a jet ski wreck in college who now can't even bear to sleep on that side! It s**ks.</p>

<p>OK, mom's done now!</p>

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<p>but as a mom dont you know the inuedno (did i even use this word right)</p>

<p>"I am a teenager, im invincible!"</p>

<p>=)</p>

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<p>wow dude you are sooooooooo funny</p>

<p>not to bust your balls but that was really weak</p>

40

<p>meh. Im going with the excuse :</p>

<p>I was tired.</p>

<p>But thanks random letters member, ill try to make my posts more witty and clever next time just for you...</p>