Seeking Tier One status, UTSA toughens admissions (San Antonio, Uvalde: loans, schools)

[JuneOf48]

Originally Posted by Proffer

Thanks for your inside perspective, Juneof48. Out of curiosity, what is your position title and academic rank at UTSA?

I'm an assistant professor and a few years in (and yes, heading toward tenure). I don't like to get too much more specific than that on public message boards!

[Pops and Sweets]

There's no denying that UTSA will never become the next UT. There again, I doubt the academic mission for UTSA is to be UT - I gather that it's to produce and teach at a level commensurate with Tier One academic Instutions.

The best model for UTSA is to be similar to UC-Irvine. UC-Irvine is an outstanding school that's produced Nobel Laureates, been amongst the leaders in academic journal output, and has carved out its niche in being the leaders in degrees not typically valued at other big named schools - i.e. UCLA, UC BERKELEY, etc. But how many Texans have heard of UC Irvine and it's quirky mascot - the Ant Eater? I bet not many. And that's ok, because they produce quality graduates, quality professors and get excellent rankings without the name recognition of other California universities.

[Proffer]

That's cool, Juneof48, congrats! I was just checking to see if you were a grad student yourself, or a part time adjunct or something else peripheral like that, or if you were the real deal.

[JuneOf48]

Originally Posted by Pops and Sweets

There's no denying that UTSA will never become the next UT. There again, I doubt the academic mission for UTSA is to be UT - I gather that it's to produce and teach at a level commensurate with Tier One academic Instutions.

The best model for UTSA is to be similar to UC-Irvine. UC-Irvine is an outstanding school that's produced Nobel Laureates, been amongst the leaders in academic journal output, and has carved out its niche in being the leaders in degrees not typically valued at other big named schools - i.e. UCLA, UC BERKELEY, etc. But how many Texans have heard of UC Irvine and it's quirky mascot - the Ant Eater? I bet not many. And that's ok, because they produce quality graduates, quality professors and get excellent rankings without the name recognition of other California universities.

This is a very good point, P and S--and one which not too many folks are aware of. Most people (myself included) could not point to Irvine on a map, but I know of them through their specialization in a certain aspect of my discipline. They've hired some real hot shots (including a senior prof from Rice, actually), and are making a big splash in a lot of ways. Of course, with the decline in the UC system, we'll see how long that lasts!

Wisely, many UTSA departments have chosen to specialize their doctoral programs. In my own, we are really making a name for ourselves, and it's great to see the recognition we get in terms of applicants with excellent GRE scores, degrees from Ivy League institutions, and stated interests in a number of competing programs (some of the best in the world, believe it or not). It's even better to see that some of our applicants are choosing us over some of the more established and "prestigious" departments out there.

It's certainly an interesting time to be at UTSA.

[GEM-Texas]

Good luck on tenure! It's a rough haul but you can do it!

[Backliteyes]

I really hope UTSA does improve it's academic prestige. I went to a Tier 1 school for my undergrad, and if I go back to school for a Masters the only reason I would go to UTSA in it's current state is if I couldn't get in to UT-Austin. The degree I'd be after is noticeably more prestigious there.

In fact if I can't get into UT-Austin the money might be better spent on a house than to do the same degree at UTSA. Not sure though, I've just not heard the best things from the people I know that have gone there that have since been accepted to better schools.

I don't really trust the opinion of those that have only gone to UTSA...they don't have any other college-level academic experience to compare it to. Honestly the only opinion that really matters to me are from those that would or would not hire me for the work I want afterwards.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by Backliteyes

Honestly the only opinion that really matters to me are from those that would or would not hire me for the work I want afterwards.

You may not like the answer you get if you ask the question that way. There was someone in the forum last year who said that his company wouldn't even bother to interview applicants with degrees from any of the San Antonio universities. Really stirred up a hornet's nest.

[TexasVines]

Originally Posted by Bowie

You may not like the answer you get if you ask the question that way. There was someone in the forum last year who said that his company wouldn't even bother to interview applicants with degrees from any of the San Antonio universities. Really stirred up a hornet's nest.

one should question the longevity and decision making of any company that is located in a city where they feel they need to look outside of the city for a pool of college applicants

one would question why they stay located there and the cost of them having to recruit from out of town exclusively VS trying to work with or invest in the universities right in the same city

[Bo]

Originally Posted by TexasVines

one should question the longevity and decision making of any company that is located in a city where they feel they need to look outside of the city for a pool of college applicants

one would question why they stay located there and the cost of them having to recruit from out of town exclusively VS trying to work with or invest in the universities right in the same city

The company wasn't located in San Antonio. It was a large employer in another part of Texas, IIRC.

[Backliteyes]

Originally Posted by Bowie

You may not like the answer you get if you ask the question that way. There was someone in the forum last year who said that his company wouldn't even bother to interview applicants with degrees from any of the San Antonio universities. Really stirred up a hornet's nest.

Well I'm betting he's the exception rather than the rule. I'm sure he is, especially since I'd prefer to stay in Texas whether I return to school or not (though not necessarily in SA).

If for any reason it wouldn't be worth the time and money I'd much rather find that out beforehand. It would be so much worse to go back to school only to graduate and only be able to do more or less what I'm doing now. Which is one reason I'd only go to the best school I can get into, and I'm not convinced that UTSA is cutting the mustard yet.