Surly kids who can't get into UT

[gsoda3 3,311]

4 hours ago, Tailgate said:

I was a C student in H.S. I was a diehard Horn and like someone else said, woke up my junior year and worked my tail off. Still didn’t have grades or test scores to get in so I went what’s now called the CAP route. I believe perseverance and hard work will win all day. If he’s got that, he’ll find his way. 

When did you graduate HS? 

 

You guys know what organizations look at 8th grade PSATs? I remember the Duke TIP used to in the 90s.  Anyone else?

[Tailgate 3,027]

1 minute ago, gsoda3 said:

When did you graduate HS? 

 

You guys know what organizations look at 8th grade PSATs? I remember the Duke TIP used to in the 90s.  Anyone else?

1986

[CooterBrown 18,099]

On one of the first pages, I talked about this book and it deserves repeating.  

This journalist spent a year at Washington, Emory, and Davidson in the admissions department learning about how selections are made and how merit aid is given.  It's a quick read and really eye opening about the entire process.  Because of my kid's chosen major and her academic profile, we tailored her college list based on what I learned in this book.  As a result, she's gotten into every school so far and all but one has given her the maximum amount of merit aid.

 

  

Edited October 18 by CooterBrown

[yoladu 4,170]

On 10/11/2024 at 5:50 PM, SurlyGator said:

Senior daughter (no pics, ya pervs) has a 32 ACT and a 4.3 GPA and lives in an affluent zip code here in metro Nashville, so we are getting boatloads of mail from private schools.  UChicago has sent her a metric fuck ton.  SMU quite a bit, Cornell, Johns Hopkins.  Likely either going to a Christian school or Honors program in-state.

we got soooo many UChicago mailers, which is surprising considering their acceptance rates is miniscule.

[gsoda3 3,311]

4 minutes ago, yoladu said:

we got soooo many UChicago mailers, which is surprising considering their acceptance rates is miniscule.

Strange. HS class of 2000.  UChicago was one of the schools who sent me the most mailers.  

[yoladu 4,170]

On 10/17/2024 at 9:25 AM, MinerProphet said:

Appreciate all the responses @Tailgate @troph @Born to Run @jimmyjazz @Texas Jeff

Follow-on question: while being a Solid-B student is generally not gonna get him to where he wants to be without some sort of CAP, etc., is the phenomenon from back in my day of being a B-student but doing awesome on the SAT's still work? Essentially, can a 1400+ (or 1500+?) SAT score do the heavy lifting that the average GPA can't do in college applications? To be honest and I've told Jr. this-- that is how I got into UT back in the day.

Times are so different that I don't even understand what "Test Optional" applications mean and if you should still send in a test or not and if a killer SAT score can rule the day as a sort of bail-out for not being a great student, but being intelligent.

If any of that makes sense.

others can weigh in.. but the emphasis on one's SAT/ACT score varies from school to school. Even more broadly, the general attitude towards among 4 year universities tend to eb and flow. UC schools don't even look at them. The last 5 years there has seem to be a general de-emphasis of them, but in the last year or so some schools have begun to publicly supported their merit and reverse their positions on them.

Today, i would say if it is important to your son, developing a kick ass story (ie: essay) and lots of community service/school organization involvement might be the way to go. Especially community service in which he takes a leadership role in / not just show up and check the box. <-- All that is a bit daunting i know, especially if he is a typical teenager and not particularly motivated.

Now that is today -  3 years from now; who knows?

[Iceman 2,810]

On 10/17/2024 at 9:33 AM, gsoda3 said:

When did you graduate HS? 

 

You guys know what organizations look at 8th grade PSATs? I remember the Duke TIP used to in the 90s.  Anyone else?

Junior National Honor Society?
Hell, they'll even offer you a commemorative book for two installments of $59.99 +S&H.

Edited October 18 by Iceman

[gsoda3 3,311]

4 hours ago, Iceman said:

Junior National Honor Society?
Hell, they'll even offer you a commemorative book for two installments of $59.99 +S&H.

NJHS looks at your 6th and 7th grade performance.

[Texas Jeff 1,978]

On 10/17/2024 at 9:25 AM, MinerProphet said:

Appreciate all the responses @Tailgate @troph @Born to Run @jimmyjazz @Texas Jeff

Follow-on question: while being a Solid-B student is generally not gonna get him to where he wants to be without some sort of CAP, etc., is the phenomenon from back in my day of being a B-student but doing awesome on the SAT's still work? Essentially, can a 1400+ (or 1500+?) SAT score do the heavy lifting that the average GPA can't do in college applications? To be honest and I've told Jr. this-- that is how I got into UT back in the day.

Times are so different that I don't even understand what "Test Optional" applications mean and if you should still send in a test or not and if a killer SAT score can rule the day as a sort of bail-out for not being a great student, but being intelligent.

If any of that makes sense.

It depends.  Different schools emphasize different parts of the application.  Some schools are test optional, meaning you can submit a test if you think it helps your case, but you don't have to.  Some schools require it.  Your kid is going to have to write one big essay, and what will seem like a small library of smaller essays on different subjects.  It is like trying to get a drivers license in 8-10 states at the same time.

For UT, a large part of the freshman spots (65-70%) are taken by top 6% students.  About 10% are international/out of state.  That leaves a small amount of the spots that everyone else is trying to get.  So if you are not in the top 6% for UT, you have to be very attractive in some other way to get one of those 15% spots.  A high SAT score plus a kid who is really really interested in a non-popular major might get in ... or maybe not.

For other UT system schools, they don't have as many top 10% kids enrolling, so there a high SAT score or even strong "demonstrated interest" in a major might be enough.  Check out these stats for UT system schools:

Top Ten pct - https://data.utsystem.edu/data-index/applied-admitted-enrolled

UTSA - 17% from the top 10% in 2023
UTD - 23% from the top 10% in 2023

UT Austin - 64% from the top 10% in 2023

SAT scores - https://data.utsystem.edu/data-index/admissions-test-scores

UTSA - 1116 SAT in 2022
UTD - 1291 SAT in 2022 - BTW I think this is slightly better than Texas A&M's average, UTD has smart kids but it's not the classic college experience.

UT Austin - 1403 SAT avg in 2022

If you want to outsource this, you can get a college counselor for your kid that knows what schools want what and will help with applications and school decisions, but it's not cheap.  And you are early for that sort of thing.

 

[Iceman 2,810]

20 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

NJHS looks at your 6th and 7th grade performance.

[gsoda3 3,311]

22 minutes ago, Texas Jeff said:

UT Austin - 1403 SAT avg in 2022

 

 

that's the AVERAGE, wow.

 

 

13 minutes ago, Iceman said:

what else would they look at?

[Iceman 2,810]

1 minute ago, gsoda3 said:

what else would they look at?

My comment was more about the anointing of Junior high bullshit in general and then selling you a book about it; but hey, it's been a minute since I had anyone in the rat race. 

It's bordering insanity how arbitrary some of the measures are.

[The Dog 44,204]

Kid got into Iowa today (not hard), but still:

(might be a really good fit)

[South Austin 52,746]

9 hours ago, The Dog said:

Kid got into Iowa today (not hard), but still:

Fun college town with a bunch of hot midwest women who like to bang.*

 

 

 

*I know none of this to be true, but wishing the best for your son.

[Pescado_Rojo 19,454]

Rojo Jr got his Arkansas acceptance and 70% OOS tuition grant, so I think that settles it for him. He's already paid the housing deposit and starting connecting with the Razorback Fly Fishing Club guys on social media. 

My daughter also got accepted with a 90% grant, but she's still weighing her options. 

[South Austin 52,746]

That's awesome, Pescado.  Congrats!  I'm hoping Arkansas is on Kid No. 2's radar.

[The Dog 44,204]

41 minutes ago, South Austin said:

Fun college town with a bunch of hot midwest women who like to bang.*

 

 

 

*I know none of this to be true, but wishing the best for your son.

daughter actually (no pics). thanks.

32 minutes ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

Rojo Jr got his Arkansas acceptance and 70% OOS tuition grant, so I think that settles it for him. He's already paid the housing deposit and starting connecting with the Razorback Fly Fishing Club guys on social media. 

My daughter also got accepted with a 90% grant, but she's still weighing her options. 

I hated the idea of any of my kids going to pig but the tuition discount is very hard to ignore. 

[South Austin 52,746]

Just now, The Dog said:

daughter actually (no pics). thanks.

Well then, fun college town with polite midwestern farm boys who won't try to go past second base.

[Grimas 671]

32 minutes ago, The Dog said:

daughter actually (no pics). thanks.

I hated the idea of any of my kids going to pig but the tuition discount is very hard to ignore. 

You learn to cope… With the 70% tuition, it works out to be slightly less than Tech…

[Pescado_Rojo 19,454]

36 minutes ago, The Dog said:

daughter actually (no pics). thanks.

I hated the idea of any of my kids going to pig but the tuition discount is very hard to ignore. 

I was hesitant at first myself, but the campus is beautiful and it might be over 50% Texas kids these days...and the tuition discounts are incredible. 

[South Austin 52,746]

1 hour ago, The Dog said:

I hated the idea of any of my kids going to pig but the tuition discount is very hard to ignore. 

By the time I got to UT in the mid-90s, the Arkansas rivalry seemed like it was in the distant past, though I know it was only a few years prior that Arkansas left the SWC.  I just don't loathe that school like I do aggy and OU, its academic standing has been creeping up, and Fayetteville is sort of blue-ish in an otherwise heavy red state.  I'm fine with my son going to Arkansas if he wants to, and yeah, the tuition makes it one of the better bargains if your kid wants to go to a large state university outside of Texas.

Edited November 8 by South Austin

[4th&Five 41,710]

took my junior on her first visits last weekend to UGA nd Clemson.  She didn't like Georgia but I think that's mostly because it was their Fall break and Athens was deserted.  She liked Clemson on game day and the size of the campus although the town may be too small. Going to see some CA schools over Spring Break.

[CooterBrown 18,099]

2 hours ago, Pescado_Rojo said:

I was hesitant at first myself, but the campus is beautiful and it might be over 50% Texas kids these days...and the tuition discounts are incredible. 

I had my daughter submit an app there as a backup and she got that 90% tuition discount. It takes tuition down from $27,728 to $9,958/year.  It's cheaper than any in state Texas schools.

[DaysOff 8,012]

I hope we beat the shit out of Arkansas so bad they drop football.

[HenryJames 66,293]

45 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

I had my daughter submit an app there as a backup and she got that 90% tuition discount. It takes tuition down from $27,728 to $9,958/year. 

So you get a discount on 90% of the tuition cost?

[CooterBrown 18,099]

7 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

So you get a discount on 90% of the tuition cost?

It's based on weighted GPA. I think it was either 3.75 or 3.80 for a 90% reduction in the out-of-state tuition mark up.  For example using simple math, if Instate tuition is $5,000 and out of state tuition is $15,000, then the 90% tuition waiver gets you $6,000/year tuition ($10,000 mark up x .1).

Edited November 8 by CooterBrown

[The Dog 44,204]

https://scholarships.uark.edu/nrta/

[TexasBeta 1,271]

As much as I would love my twins to go to Texas.. one has an outside shot.. one is in now based on Top%.. They want out of Austin.

This is what I'm pushing. It is comparable to instate tuition at Texas.. They have a large alumni base in Dallas, etc. It is a real college town (even if they are crazy) compared to that shit hole in C.Stat... so.. we shall see

[gsoda3 3,311]

1 hour ago, CooterBrown said:

I had my daughter submit an app there as a backup and she got that 90% tuition discount. It takes tuition down from $27,728 to $9,958/year.  It's cheaper than any in state Texas schools.

How much is room/board etc per year at Arkansas?

[CooterBrown 18,099]

31 minutes ago, gsoda3 said:

How much is room/board etc per year at Arkansas?

From our spreadsheet of schools, it's  $14,402/year.

 

[ballrific 215]

I had my daughter submit an app there as a backup and she got that 90% tuition discount. It takes tuition down from $27,728 to $9,958/year.  It's cheaper than any in state Texas schools.

goddamnit, now I’m gonna have to take the piggies into consideration for our oldest. Can’t ignore those numbers, but grandpappy would be rolling over in his grave…

[Grimas 671]

I’m paying around 25k a semester all in at Ark for 2. One twin got the 90% OOS scholarship and the other got 80%. And both are in Walton Business school studying Supply Chain which is ranked in the top 10 nationally ( thanks Walmart!)

[North of Walburg 30]

My son is a sophomore at Uark and has the 80%. What I’ve noticed between his cost of attendance compared to my older son’s when he was at UT, is the difference in fees. Uark charges more in fees. And the fees can vary depending on hours taken and what college you’re in. 

[F250 28,959]

12 hours ago, South Austin said:

By the time I got to UT in the mid-90s, the Arkansas rivalry seemed like it was in the distant past, though I know it was only a few years prior that Arkansas left the SWC.  I just don't loathe that school like I do aggy and OU, i

Same here, I believe we are about the same age, hitting 50 in December. Like you, the Arkansas rivalry was over by the time I showed up on campus but I spent my formative years following Texas football and hatred for Arky was programmed into my head. That didn't awaken until the 2021 game. Suddenly a hatred for Arkansas just started flooding back through my veins.

With that said, my youngest son attends ou and I frequently text trash talk about Venables and their program to him.

[Schulz2.0 29,063]

5 hours ago, F250 said:

my youngest son attends ou

[South Austin 52,746]

7 hours ago, F250 said:

my youngest son attends ou

[Sawbonz 27,791]

On 10/18/2024 at 10:15 AM, yoladu said:

we got soooo many UChicago mailers, which is surprising considering their acceptance rates is miniscule.

My son says this is because they want to drive their acceptance rate lower by increasing applicants 

[morehornsepower 887]

Oldest is in the last year at Arkansas, Computer Science.  We got the 90% OOS scholarship, which made it a little easier to swallow.  It's a bit farther from Austin than we'd like, but she loves it.

[Pescado_Rojo 19,454]

2 hours ago, morehornsepower said:

Oldest is in the last year at Arkansas, Computer Science.  We got the 90% OOS scholarship, which made it a little easier to swallow.  It's a bit farther from Austin than we'd like, but she loves it.

Love to hear her thoughts on their CS program. That’s the route my son is going

[tx 3 putt 77,955]

4 hours ago, morehornsepower said:

Oldest is in the last year at Arkansas, Computer Science.  We got the 90% OOS scholarship, which made it a little easier to swallow.  It's a bit farther from Austin than we'd like, but she loves it.

 

how’s his hiring experience been ?

[morehornsepower 887]

On 11/9/2024 at 10:43 AM, Pescado_Rojo said:

Love to hear her thoughts on their CS program. That’s the route my son is going

She did not have a strong CS background coming out of high school - she was not sure what she wanted to do, and ended up moving into the program after her freshman year.  Like many majors, the degree plan doesn't have a lot of room to slip, so she ended up on a 5 year plan.   She likes the program now, but did struggle at first without that coding background.

On 11/9/2024 at 1:23 PM, tx 3 putt said:

 

how’s his hiring experience been ?

She was able to get a great internship this past summer, but doesn't have anything lined up yet for once she graduates (May).

[tx 3 putt 77,955]

5 minutes ago, morehornsepower said:

She did not have a strong CS background coming out of high school - she was not sure what she wanted to do, and ended up moving into the program after her freshman year.  Like many majors, the degree plan doesn't have a lot of room to slip, so she ended up on a 5 year plan.   She likes the program now, but did struggle at first without that coding background.

She was able to get a great internship this past summer, but doesn't have anything lined up yet for once she graduates (May).

 

hiring market is very wonky 

take the first offer and prepare / get experience for a better market 

best of luck 

[Bateshorn 9,964]

On 11/9/2024 at 8:24 AM, Sawbonz said:

My son says this is because they want to drive their acceptance rate lower by increasing applicants 

Este.  

It's a well worn path towards ginning up your US News and World Report ranking.  Pioneered by BU and Northeastern, who went from party schools to desireable by encouraging applications, turning people down, and shooting up in the rankings, which lead to more applications....becomes self re-enforcing cycle. Both my kids got mail from Princeton. News flash: They were not qualified. 

[HookEm 2,471]

My daughter is a freshman at Arky in Supply Chain as I have mentioned.  She loves it there, has made great friends already and is doing well in school.  Just be aware that the school is VERY Greek.  If your kid isn't going to rush (mine didn't), then they should be prepared to find a like minded set of friends, which can be difficult. 

She is staying at Gregson Hall, which I would highly recommend. Great location and the culture seems to be better than the other dorms.

My son is at UT and is living in an apartment as a sophomore.  The overall cost is about the same.  In fact, I would say cost is higher at UT once they move off campus.  Apartments in Austin aren't cheap.  Parking isn't cheap.  Food, eating out and entertainment isn't cheap.  All of that is much cheaper in Fayetteville in my experience.

Heading up there on Thursday decked out in burnt orange for the game.  Hook'em.

[sasquatch69 608]

1 hour ago, HookEm said:

My daughter is a freshman at Arky in Supply Chain as I have mentioned.  She loves it there, has made great friends already and is doing well in school.  Just be aware that the school is VERY Greek.  If your kid isn't going to rush (mine didn't), then they should be prepared to find a like minded set of friends, which can be difficult. 

When we toured there they said it was only 30% of student body involved in Greek life, which is about double UT but lower than some other schools we visited (like TCU).

[BrickHorn 18,333]

Anyone have insight into international options like McGill, Univ of Toronto, or UK schools? 

[jimmyjazz 46,502]

7 minutes ago, BrickHorn said:

Anyone have insight into international options like McGill, Univ of Toronto, or UK schools? 

@Brisketexan has kids outside of the US.

[Brisketexan 105,626]

1 minute ago, jimmyjazz said:

@Brisketexan has kids outside of the US.

Yep.  Can share details as needed.  Daughter went to McGill, son is at U of Glasgow.

[HookEm 2,471]

5 hours ago, sasquatch69 said:

When we toured there they said it was only 30% of student body involved in Greek life, which is about double UT but lower than some other schools we visited (like TCU).

We were told that as well. It is misleading.  The 30% number may be the total across the whole student body, but it is heavily weighted toward freshmen and sophomores. 

Rough maths for females:  3,600 new freshmen with 2,000 rushing or about 56%.  With them parading around in huge groups all over campus it can seem like 90%.  Just FYI so your kid knows what to expect.

[sasquatch69 608]

2 hours ago, HookEm said:

We were told that as well. It is misleading.  The 30% number may be the total across the whole student body, but it is heavily weighted toward freshmen and sophomores. 

Rough maths for females:  3,600 new freshmen with 2,000 rushing or about 56%.  With them parading around in huge groups all over campus it can seem like 90%.  Just FYI so your kid knows what to expect.

That's fair.  My kid will be a poli sci major and plans to do band, so he'll likely find his people pretty quickly.