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That means nothing when it comes to getting into UT. In Texas we have the top 10% rule now. That means that the top 10% in a graduating class get automatic admission to any state school, EXCEPT UT. Because UT is highly desired the cutoff changes year to year and usually hovers around 4-7%. Her kid could have knockout SAT scores and GPA but if she is in a highly competitive HS where even a high GPA does not mean a high ranking, it won't matter. Another student in a less competitive HS could be in the top 5% of their graduating class and have low to mediocre SAT/ACT scores and get in.
This is pretty recent and they can't publish rubbish. I've bounced around this site and the numbers are about right. At the 2 top UCs, the admissions percentage is under 25%, therefore, I find this reliable. There was once a time when UC had a guaranteed grade/test formula for admission. There was also a time when UCLA admitted about 1/2. Boy, how things have changed.
@suzy_q: What a thoughtful reply and you brought up some great ideas about volunteering such as helping with the sport by organizing tournaments, etc. My daughter has done just a little of that b/c her fencing club often uses members as helpers during the summer when they offer summer camps for little kids.
@everyone: I wrote the original post about a week ago and you all are helping me feel more at ease about my daughter's participation in her sport. We're going to a college fair at the end of January, and in March we will begin visiting colleges and it will be interesting to see what the different universities are looking for in their incoming students.
Seriously?? How long ago did you apply for colleges? All of the applications want that information now.
No, they don't. Admission to the California State Universities are entirely based upon GPA/Test Scores (which convert to an eligibility index). They don't even have a space on the application for extracurriculars.
No, they don't. Admission to the California State Universities are entirely based upon GPA/Test Scores (which convert to an eligibility index). They don't even have a space on the application for extracurriculars.
I have taken summer courses at the CSUs. I can honestly say I got quality instructors every time. They are all about teaching. Sadly, they are considered California's second tier university system. The UC system, with its emphasis on research, sees the stronger applicant pool. I could see the UC system's admissions offices as having to do a lot more head scratching, reading essays and looking for "David versus Goliath" stories of overcoming adversity in their admissions process.
None of the CSUs, of which there are many, are competitive for admission, except for Cal Poly SLO, which has some high-demand programs. At a whole bunch of them, one only needs a heartbeat - I'm talking about Bakersfield, Stanislaus, San Bernardino, and a few others. Again, one can get an excellent education there if they need to save money, they are geographically close by for commuting, and they don't get pulled down by the indifference of some students. But, yes, because of the applicant pool, I am not at all surprised the CSU system only looks at grades and test scores.
No, they don't. Admission to the California State Universities are entirely based upon GPA/Test Scores (which convert to an eligibility index). They don't even have a space on the application for extracurriculars.
Ok, every school except for the California state schools then....
Ok, every school except for the California state schools then....
I posted the info that the Colorado public colleges, all of them, use for their automatic admission on another thread in here. Extracurriculars are not included, just grades and test scores. They do admit more students than the AAs; it's possible they look at extracurriculars then.
Unless you're getting scholarships through your sport. It doesn't matter.
Clubs, leadership roles and community service (in addition to test scores) play a much bigger role IMO.
Granted adding a sport wouldnt hurt anything, I just think colleges look for well rounded over achieving individuals.
Personally I put in a lot of effort into sports and should have spreaded out into other community and leadership roles. And despite having a 4.0 my test scores were on the lower side.
So I would personally not put too much stock in the sports side.
This is pretty recent and they can't publish rubbish. I've bounced around this site and the numbers are about right. At the 2 top UCs, the admissions percentage is under 25%, therefore, I find this reliable. There was once a time when UC had a guaranteed grade/test formula for admission. There was also a time when UCLA admitted about 1/2. Boy, how things have changed.
Not doubting the scores they are reporting. However, it is misleading.
In Texas we have the top 10% rule for admissions to state schools. Just because one gets a certain score on their ACT/SAT and their GPA is high, it does not matter. It all depends on where they fall in their high school class rank. My own kid with great scores could not get into UT because her school is highly competitive with the IB program and a strong AP program. She took all IB/AP courses, scored very well on her AP tests. GPA is a 3.8, NHS, president of clubs, etc Can't get into UT because for the Fall 2013 semester she is not in the Top 8%. She IS in the top 10% and can get into every other state school and was awarded a very nice merit scholarship to Baylor as well as one to the out of state (OOS) school she will be attending. if one wants to attend the Engineering or Business school at UT, the percentage is even lower.
I have known parents to move their family away from the city out of a competitive high school to Podunkville, TX just so their kid can be in the top of the class to get into UT.
The other problem with UT is when it rolls around to the end of your 2nd year and you declare your major. They have a ceiling limit on each major so one better have a 2nd and 3rd choice.
Go on College Confidential and you can see for real life who gets in and who does not. That automatic admit has some strange ways of doing things.
My child is in 10th grade and is a fencer. She just made the switch from recreational athlete to competitive over the summer, but to me seems to be making very little progress. Coach assures me she's advancing in skills, etc. but she has yet to place very high in a tournament or earn a rating. We are in the Dallas area and the competition is keen. It is hard to break into the elite cadre of fencing here unless you're very, very good.
This is my question - how will a mediocre sports career look to a college admissions panel? She spends 4 days/week fencing and is participating in tournaments 3/5 weekends a month. Besides belonging to one school club and National Honor Society, she isn't involved in any other school activities due to fencing commitments. I am worried she'll never advance and have nothing to show for all her hard work, such as winning X tournaments and having a Y rating, come college application time.
So, would a college admissions panel see her fencing career as foolish and quixotic, or as an example of her "stick-to-it-ness" and depth of character? Should I encourage her to give up fencing which she will never be great at for something she might be able to excel in (although I have no idea what that "something" is?)
^ This. Schools won't care how good she is , unless they are considering her for an athletic scholarship. What they want to see is some demonstration of passion and commitment. It is widely acknowledged that participation in sports teaches a lot about managing time, leadership (and followership), cooperation, and commitment. Actually any activity including sports, music, debate team, school play, or a job, will be a big plus on her resume, especially if there is a multi-year commitment. 'Probably should have another such activity.
Not doubting the scores they are reporting. However, it is misleading.
In Texas we have the top 10% rule for admissions to state schools. Just because one gets a certain score on their ACT/SAT and their GPA is high, it does not matter. It all depends on where they fall in their high school class rank. My own kid with great scores could not get into UT because her school is highly competitive with the IB program and a strong AP program. She took all IB/AP courses, scored very well on her AP tests. GPA is a 3.8, NHS, president of clubs, etc Can't get into UT because for the Fall 2013 semester she is not in the Top 8%. She IS in the top 10% and can get into every other state school and was awarded a very nice merit scholarship to Baylor as well as one to the out of state (OOS) school she will be attending. if one wants to attend the Engineering or Business school at UT, the percentage is even lower.
I have known parents to move their family away from the city out of a competitive high school to Podunkville, TX just so their kid can be in the top of the class to get into UT.
Ok, I get it. It's on a HS by HS basis. So, Van Horn TX versus River Oaks in Houston TX, then. That would explain the 530 + 570 = 1,100.
Sounds like a not necessarily race/ethnic/color based version of affirmative action.
I also think that public schools where you are admitted into your program junior year should be avoided. What if someone doesn't have a 2nd or 3rd choice for their desired major?
Hey, let's admit it, Texas can be funny about things. I've been there a couple of times. I was driving cross country and happened onto an Impala/Caprice being driven by a couple that looked out of "American Gothic" - the front of the car had longhorns instead of a hood ornament, and the rear had a Texan-sized bumper sticker saying "My daughter and my money go to TEXAS."
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