10% rule and school strategy (Dallas, San Antonio: house, transfer, high schools)
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Wow. I really disagree with several of your assertions, and wonder how much experience you have with getting students into top-caliber schools, or how many admissions directors you speak to on a regular basis. I have worked with well over 1000 students over the past 10 years on college admissions, and had numerous meetings with admissions directors, as well as attending annual professional school counselor conferences.
While being ranked as the top one or two students certainly can help in gaining admission to an Ivy League school, it is not required. Except in rare circumstances of athletic or artistic talent, you do have to be in the top 5%, certainly, but I have had many students gain admission to the most elite Ivy League schools who were in the top 3-4% of their class.
Also, I disagree that "schools like UT" are the "next most obainable choice". There is an entire tier of incredible private schools who are considered "sub-Ivies" by graduate schools and employers. I graduated from Georgetown University for undergrad, and was not only accepted into Ivy League graduate schools, but was told by employers (who hired me) that having Georgetown on my resume got me the interview. I have heard similar sentiments from former students who attended schools like Boston College, Boston University, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, Haverford, etc, etc, etc. I'm not denying that UT is an excellent school, I just disagree with your expressed attitude that if you're not going to Ivy League, the next step is to automatically shoot for a quality large public school. That may not be the best choice for a student for a variety of reasons.
Furthermore, your claim that you *need* an Ivy League undergraduate education, or at the "bare minimum" a school like UT to get into an Ivy League graduate school is just plain false. I knew many fellow students at my Ivy League graduate school who did not come from such schools.
Finally, I'm sorry, but your "strategy" for your children regarding college just makes me sad. I hope over time you come to view their adolescence and school experiences as more than just a meticulous and studied plan to get them into an Ivy League graduate school.
Your Georgetown argument did little more than prove my point. It is a highly regarded school that is easily considered as good or better than UT. Feel free to insert Georgetown or any other highly ranked university in place of UT throughout my argument.
Furthermore, feel free to compare UT ( Public Ivy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) with any of those highly ranked schools based on its value (I'm speaking of tuition and caliber of education) to an in-state resident and I think you may have a better understanding of my comments. There is also no guaranteed admission to any of those other schools for being in the top-10% of a public Texas high school.
As for your sadness, I apologize that my plan may involve a school transfer the summer before a child's senior year if said child can not crack the top 10% of their class or that the plan actually expects them to achieve academic success. I am quite confident that their precious adolescent experience (e.g., sex, alcohol abuse, drug experimentation) won't be too destroyed in the process. And out of curiosity when does the adolescent experience end? It it a magical transformation on the last day of ones seventeenth year?
wow, that was kind of snotty At least her kids will GO to college. Who knows, maybe they'll go to school relaxed and really enjoy their experience and do great without the pressure to relive moms college life but moreso. Less worry about disappointing mom and dad.
I thought it was kind of funny.
All I know is that *I* don't, or wouldn't, work for him/her...and that's all I can control.
That's the funny thing that happens when your kids grow up...you realize that you can't control them. Only they can make those choices, all we can do is educate, support and love.
The topic was about the 10% rule and getting in to UT, lets keep it reasonably close to that area....
In my personal opinion, the 10% rule will be replaced sometime during the next legislature, or possibly the one after that (2-4 years). Not telling what the criteria will be then.
From what I understand UT has an overall acceptance rate of over 50% with one of biggest class sizes for a university. So while I understand you are worrying about your kids' chances, perhaps its better than you think despite the 10% rule?
There was a local kid from Austin recently (several months ago) profiled on local news stories and in the Statesman who had impeccable high school credentials (over 4.0 gpa, near top of class, very high SAT, extra curricular activities, community service, science awards, etc.) and still was declined by all the Ivy League colleges applied for.
He was accepted at UT to their advanced track (I forget the semantic - plan b or something?) and some other generally good colleges, but the story was basically a "how can this be - he's so perfectly qualified?" story about how tough it is to get into a higher tier school today because high achieving high schoolers are a dime a dozen in America.
I read somewhere, Money magazine maybe, that 50%+ of current "better paying" jobs require a college degree and that 90% of future "better paying" jobs will require a college degree. So, as a parent, my kids will go to college. But I've also read and observed that test taking skills, and the ability to perform in an academic setting don't necessarily predeict happiness or success in life. In short, the "A students works for C students" comment made by someone else is evidently how it often plays out, for reasons already outlined.
Having kids this age and observing what their friends are doing, the current trend is to go to ACC for 1 yr, get the highest grades possible and then transfer into UT-Austin. My friend's son just started ACC this summer with this in mind. Another young man got accepted into the engineering program with a 4.0 from ACC. He'll soon graduate at the top of his class.
Another trend is to go to another school in the UT system under the program that allows an automatic transfer to UT-Austin for their sophomore year.
But I've also read and observed that test taking skills, and the ability to perform in an academic setting don't necessarily predeict happiness or success in life.
Exactly. Plus, if you really believe that a prestigious job/high salary are necessary for your child to be happy, successful, and content, then I really feel sorry for your kids.
There was a local kid from Austin recently (several months ago) profiled on local news stories and in the Statesman who had impeccable high school credentials (over 4.0 gpa, near top of class, very high SAT, extra curricular activities, community service, science awards, etc.) and still was declined by all the Ivy League colleges applied for.
He was accepted at UT to their advanced track (I forget the semantic - plan b or something?) and some other generally good colleges, but the story was basically a "how can this be - he's so perfectly qualified?" story about how tough it is to get into a higher tier school today because high achieving high schoolers are a dime a dozen in America.
I read somewhere, Money magazine maybe, that 50%+ of current "better paying" jobs require a college degree and that 90% of future "better paying" jobs will require a college degree. So, as a parent, my kids will go to college. But I've also read and observed that test taking skills, and the ability to perform in an academic setting don't necessarily predeict happiness or success in life. In short, the "A students works for C students" comment made by someone else is evidently how it often plays out, for reasons already outlined.
Steve
It was Plan II, an honors, liberal arts program at UT. It is highly selective, and an amazing program. I would be over the moon if my kids were interested and got in! I think the boy in the article (he went to Westwood, I believe) was not interested in Plan II because he had plans to be an engineer.
I certainly expect my kids to go to college- it's already paid for, so that's an incentive, I hope - and I expect them to go to UT, which is a bargain. I have no doubt that if they study hard, have good internships/jobs, graduate school will not be a problem. The fact remains, though, that 'kids' of 19 and 20 will make their own decisions, and that could mean they're not interested in college. Michael Dell, anyone? I agree that having a college degree is vital for economic success, but some of us have to learn things the hard way.
Having kids this age and observing what their friends are doing, the current trend is to go to ACC for 1 yr, get the highest grades possible and then transfer into UT-Austin. My friend's son just started ACC this summer with this in mind. Another young man got accepted into the engineering program with a 4.0 from ACC. He'll soon graduate at the top of his class.
Another trend is to go to another school in the UT system under the program that allows an automatic transfer to UT-Austin for their sophomore year.
I love those stories!
The UT system does have a 'CAP' program, where if you don't get into UT Austin or AM, you are guaranteed admission to another UT system school- UT San Antonio, El Paso, Dallas- and if you have a 3.5 GPA (B) after 30 hours, you can transfer to UTA. That's what they called 'getting CAPed'.
I think it's very generous.
I love those stories!
The UT system does have a 'CAP' program, where if you don't get into UT Austin or AM, you are guaranteed admission to another UT system school- UT San Antonio, El Paso, Dallas- and if you have a 3.5 GPA (B) after 30 hours, you can transfer to UTA. That's what they called 'getting CAPed'.
I think it's very generous.
That's it! I couldn't remember what its called. Another friend's daughter just finished her sophomore yr at UT-Austin after spending her freshman yr at UTSA.
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I hope over time you come to view their adolescence and school experiences as more than just a meticulous and studied plan to get them into an Ivy League graduate school.
At least her kids will GO to college. Who knows, maybe they'll go to school relaxed and really enjoy their experience and do great without the pressure to relive moms college life but moreso. Less worry about disappointing mom and dad.
