Questions re: Transfer Admission to UT

[MidTexHorn]

My son is just out of high school and is becoming interested in attending UT. His high school grades won't get him in, so he'll need to attend another school and then try to transfer. A couple of questions for anyone in the know or who has gone through the experience in the last couple of years (I transfered into UT, but that was back in the mid-90s):

1) When I transferred, you needed to have a transfer GPA of at least 3.0. This no longer seems to be a specific requirement, but I imagine that you probably need to have even higher now. Anyone have a clue what my son needs to shoot for?

2) Is there a benefit to attending a UT system school over a community college? My son could go to UTPB or Midland College. Assuming he gets the same grades at each, is there an advantage to having a UTPB transcript over a Midland College transcript?

Any help or insight y'all can provide will be appreciated.

 

[MilkmanDan]

There are some posters that can provide more insight, but I would start here.

 

[Bob in Houston]

If he hasn't attended elsewhere, he should consider applying to UT with the idea of getting into the Coordinated Admissions Program (CAP).

If he can get a 3.0 in the required number of hours, he will be able to transfer to UT. However, he will have limited options in terms of the school he can get into.

 

[Hornboi]

Yeah. He should attend another UT campus with hopes of transferring.

 

[TexasOwnzYou]

hrm...there was some kinda rule that if you attended a UT system school and had a GPA of ____, u would be automatically admitted to UT (kinda like the top 10%). I remember my counselor telling me about it. If you have a 3.5+ GPA from any CC, i'd say u have good chances to get in (depending on the major, of course).

 

[pmg]

Dan and Bob are on the right track. Talk to a counselor first.
I'm assuming your kid graduated in Spring 04? Better hurry up for CAP, as I believe there's a time limit.
Nobody can tell you for sure what the situation will be like in Fall 2005 as far as taking non-"automatic" admits; e.g., top 10% and CAP.

And the circus returns to town in the spring...

 

[hookem115]

I was a transfer to UT. My first semester at Texas was fall 2003. I went to a junior college and had a 4.0 gpa, so there was no doubt I was getting in. I had junior college friends that got in with gpa's as low as 3.4. That was the lowest one I had heard of. The only benefit I can see of going to another UT system school is if they offer him the plan of doing a certain amount of hours and maintaining a certain gpa, then he will be admitted. Hope this helps. Feel free to pm with any questions.

 

[MidTexHorn]

Thanks to everyone for the info. We'll look into the CAP program first, and if that's not doable he'll probably head to a juco and have to study his *** off.

 

[PacSER]

The two keys objectives:

1)3.5 or above

2)Make sure the classes he takes will transfer to Texas. if your son takes a bunch of classes that will not transfer, that will hurt his chances. UT has an equivalence site that will tell you if a class will transfer or not.

Good luck! IMO, it is the best thing for your son. if he is not used to the work, he will need some time to learn to study. UT will not give him that time.

 

[CleverNickname]

PacSER mentions a crucial detail: make sure those classes count. By way of this I would highly reccomend the basic english, government and US history courses. Basic level science classes are good too, especially if you are just fulfulling science requirements for a liberal arts degree.

Contrary to popular beleif UT isn't solely high school A students. My roommate never even took the SAT, and was a high school drop out (GRE + army). Some people just need time to get there.

 

[beam,coke,&horns]

It doesn't matter between UTPB and MC. The counselors at MC will know what will transfer to UT. BEsides, with school being free for 2 years at MC for midland grads, you can't lose. That is what my younger brother is doing.