AboutKat Expertise I can help with anything from freshman/transfer admissions to financial aid, from coursework to campus life. I'm extremely familiar with the College of Liberal Arts, but I know a fair share about other colleges as well.
Experience I'm a senior with a double major in English and Government, and I'm also completing the Liberal Arts Honors program.
Expert: Kat Date: 5/1/2008 Subject: Transfer to UT
Question Hey Kat,
I am a freshman at Collin County Community College and I am trying to transfer into UT, either McCombs School of Business or School of Liberal Arts. My first semester I took Macroeconomics, English 1301, Government I&II,BCIS,and Public Speaking. I received a 4.0 for my first semester. This semester I am taking Calculus I, Microeconomics, History I&II, and English 1302. Depending on how my exams go, I hope to be getting a 4.0 but I am not for sure that will happen. The lowest GPA I can see myself getting is probably a 3.5. So I was just wondering what my chances were of getting into either school because I am trying to get out of community college.
Thank you,
Sherwin
Answer Hi Sherwin,
Well, I'm not an admissions counselor, so don't take my word for the gospel truth, but it seems like you would have a pretty good shot at transferring in.
You've definitely taken the kinds of courses that would help you pursue either program with a great GPA. I've heard that the "cut-off" GPA for UT is about a 3.2, with a 3.5 as a sure thing . . . However, this may not apply to the business school. McCombs is actually one of the top ten business schools in the nation, and they have EXTREMELY competitive admissions. This isn't to say that you could not get in, but I am just very hesitant to make any guesses about whether you would be accepted or not. They usually only accept the very best students they can find, so getting accepted would definitely be a big accomplishment.
That said, Liberal Arts is much more laid back. While UT is overall difficult to get into, LibArts is probably one of the easier schools to be admitted to (with that 3.2/3.5 cut-off). Many students begin with admission to Liberal Arts and then try for an internal transfer to different colleges within UT.
Other than GPA, I do know that UT likes to know not so much why UT is a great fit for you as how you can make UT a better overall institution. They want to know that you will get involved on campus, take advantage of research programs or business competitions, that you would like to get to know your professors, and not just do the bare minimum required. One of the advantages of having a competitive admissions process is that they can choose students who will actually improve the school. I would definitely try to emphasize these things in your application essays, among other aspects of why you would like to transfer.
