Do you think I can transfer to UT?

[Evisju7]

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I'm currently at University of Houston. I've been here for a year and feel very uninspired; my professors focus on their research and treat teaching as a chore.

Anyways, I'd like to transfer to UT or another school (although I'm more familiar with Austin and UT).

I've transfered to UH from a community college.

-Community college GPA 3.6 (terrible first semester followed by all As there after)
-UH GPA 3.9
-Sophomore
-No highschool data (got my GED, worked, and went to community college)
-Able to get a LOR from a bio professor who went to UT and did research there
-Not very well rounded on paper, though I did have a volunteering job for almost a year, and worked for about a year as well.

What do you think?

 

[UTUT]

your gpa is 3.9 and you're involved although not extensively, I would say you stand a good chance of transferring, unless UT prefers transfers from community colleges instead of 4-year institutions, which I do not know enough about to shed light on.

The question is, is the grass really greener on the other side?
UT is an enormous school, with a high student/faculty ratio, so if you're looking for personalized attention from professors in classes, it won't happen unless maybe you go to office hours or go do research at a lab of one of the professors.
In UT Austin, there so many students, finding a lab position or a clinical volunteer position takes some work. UT students should be more competitive than those at UH and can you get such a high GPA, as high as 3.9 at UT? Remember high gpa matters in applying to med school.
If you're receiving 3.9 at UH, then you're a top student there, and you should be able to find research and a clinical position and do well there, especially since you can find opportunities at Texas Medical Center in Houston.

Sounds to be you're doing academically well at UH, and your issue is how to get yourself involved and not so much the institution you're at.

 

[DokterMom]

My suggestion is to identify what you like/dislike about U of H, then broaden your search to include a variety of schools. Your aim is to find a school where you will thrive that will help you reach your goals. As @UTUT has said, UT Austin is enormous -- so if you're looking for 'personal attention', it's hard to come by. Other schools may be a far better fit for you, so do look around at all of the possibilities before making a decision.

 

[tiedyeddog]

I would bet you can transfer BUT I would strongly think over it. UT is a massive school where the professors are probably just as likely to be consumed with research instead of teaching. That happens at most big universities, professors career advancement depends more on their research than the student evals they get. Once you get past the prereqs and get into your major courses it will get better, the smaller classes help.

If you want to do research have you considered trying to find something at Baylor COM/UT-Houston/Rice? There should be tons of stuff you can get involved in, just send out some e-mails.

 

[pacoast]

As others have said, you could probably get in, but keep in mind that you also have to apply for the specific school/major you want to join. Unless you are studying something like liberal arts or education, which are open colleges, the college of whatever (natural sciences if you're in a pre-med major) will also have to accept you. Some people are accepted to transfer to the university but aren't accepted to the college they want, so they have to spend a semester/year being undeclared before they can reapply to the program they want.

Additionally, it looks like the fall transfer application deadline has already passed (March 1 according to http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/transfer/admission/requirements) , meaning that you wouldn't be able to transfer in until halfway through your junior year. If you did that, you would have to start over with all of your ECs which is another hassle.

 

[Evisju7]

Than you all for you replies. I appreciate the insight you have. Clearly I need to go back and revisit my reasons for wanting to transfer, and agree that UT probably isn't the best option.

Based on the responses her, I don't even think I'm going to pursue a transfer. Perhaps you're right and I simply need to seek out more opportunities and make the best of what I have now.

I am always so impressed with the knowledge this website has (and I seriously mean this; there's no reason why I'd be suck-up right now).

 

[The Buff OP]

Than you all for you replies. I appreciate the insight you have. Clearly I need to go back and revisit my reasons for wanting to transfer, and agree that UT probably isn't the best option.

Based on the responses her, I don't even think I'm going to pursue a transfer. Perhaps you're right and I simply need to seek out more opportunities and make the best of what I have now.

I am always so impressed with the knowledge this website has (and I seriously mean this; there's no reason why I'd be suck-up right now).

What's your major by the way?
I know UT-Austin gets really special with their transfer courses that they accept. They ask for calculus 1 and 2 for almost everything. 😵

 

[DrShephardWannabe]

I'm currently at University of Houston. I've been here for a year and feel very uninspired; my professors focus on their research and treat teaching as a chore.

This is far worse at UT. I've had 2-3 professors who have been excellent. The rest are just researchers who teach how they want to teach and force you to adapt, rather than vice versa.

I'm a UT student who has had several friends transfer from other colleges, every single one has said the academic rigor at UT is far beyond anything they had seen before. Looking at the fact you're doing extremely well at UH I would ask why would you want to change a good thing.

If you're going into your junior year it may be hard, because UT values early transfers. I think you could get in, but honestly wouldn't recommend it from the stats and thoughts you posted.

 

[Evisju7]

What's your major by the way?
I know UT-Austin gets really special with their transfer courses that they accept. They ask for calculus 1 and 2 for almost everything. 😵

I'm a biology major, but could go into psychology and then transfer. Psychology is my minor. I should have finished cal 2 by next spring.

But after reading this, I am rethinking