Jude - UT Austin - Class of 2029

When considering colleges, I looked for the right balance of academics, school spirit and opportunities for personal growth. Most important, any college on my list had to have both a great engineering school and a great marching band. 

Marching band is not just a hobby for me. It is a central part of who I am and the skills I bring to a college community. I think being active in marching band helped me stand out in my applications. My achievements, leadership roles and solo experiences showed my dedication, teamwork, and commitment to excellence. 

Realistic about UT Austin

I had always admired UT Austin for its excellent engineering school and the Texas Longhorn Band, but I thought it would be too hard to get into. UT Austin was the main school everyone talked about at my high school. Students need to be in the top five percent of their class to qualify for automatic admission, and there were many students ranked above me. I decided to focus on schools where I thought I might have a stronger chance.

Texas A&M (TAMU) was my top choice after UT Austin. When I toured TAMU, I was shocked by how big and professional the engineering building was. When I went on the UT Austin campus tour, I thought nothing could compare to its Cockrell School of Engineering – the 3D printing rooms alone took up four floors. But TAMU’s labs, classrooms, and resources were also impressive and the instructors seemed to love their jobs. While the school is huge – with more than 60,000 undergraduates, TAMU is known for its tight-knit community and loyal fan base. I saw many opportunities for making connections and working on real engineering projects. 

But what about the band?

The only downside was that TAMU’s marching band, The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band,  wasn’t my style. It is a military band focused on traditional marches and marching precision, while UT Austin’s band is more contemporary and plays a wider range of music. To join TAMU’s marching band, I’d need to join TAMU’s Corps of Cadets, a military style leadership program. Although cadets have no obligation to join the military after graduation, I’d still have to take part in the Corps’ activities and attend ROTC classes, and I worried it would take too much time. Even so, I liked TAMU as much as UT Austin, at least academically, which was most important.

The Best Essay-Writing Advice I Received

For my essay, I chose to write about an experience from eighth grade, when I helped support my family during COVID by working part-time and taking care of my younger siblings. The most challenging part of writing this essay was figuring out how to share my personal experiences honestly while keeping the story engaging. 

My counselor told me to focus on a specific moment or detail rather than just summarizing what happened, and so I described a single day when I had to watch my little sisters, pay bills, and complete my schoolwork. I tried to make the reader see and feel the things I was going through and show my ability to handle responsibility. I also explained what I learned from this experience – how it helped me realize I was more capable than I thought. 

College Decisions Ups and Downs

When my first round of decisions arrived, I was accepted to Oklahoma State, the University of Houston, Tarleton College, and Texas Tech. This gave me confidence and confirmed I had options. I thought with all these acceptances, I had a really solid shot of getting into TAMU – and maybe even UT Austin.

Then I heard from TAMU. I was admitted, but not to its flagship campus in College Station. I was deferred to its Galveston campus, and I wasn’t interested in going there. I was devastated and heartbroken that TAMU had denied me. Now I was sure I wouldn’t get into UT Austin and that I would have to attend one of my backup schools. 

Fortunately, Texas Tech had awarded me a scholarship that made it way more affordable than the other schools on my list. It had solid academics and a supportive academic environment – and one of the top marching bands in the country. I knew I wouldn’t regret going there. I called my mom and dad and told them the bad news about TAMU – and that I’d be going to Texas Tech.

My Plan is Thwarted – by Great News

About 12 hours later, I received an email from UT Austin. When I opened it, I was shocked – the school where I thought I had no chance had accepted me! I was ecstatic! I called my parents and told them I wanted to accept my offer from UT right away. After hearing their cheers and congratulations, I hung up the phone and did just that. 

What I Learned

• If I had to repeat the college application process, I would start earlier and spread out my work to avoid stress. I underestimated how much time essays and applications would take, especially while balancing school and extracurriculars.
• I would have asked for more feedback on my writing and asked for it sooner than I did, so I would have had more time to revise and improve my essays. 

The Money Factor

I’m paying for college almost entirely with federal student loans and scholarships provided by my high school, my high school band, and my high school’s parent-teacher organization. I also received a $1,500 need-based scholarship from UT Austin.

My Advice

• Carefully research schools to find the best fit academically and personally. Since I thought I wouldn’t get into my first choice, I spent a lot of time researching my backup schools and discovering things I liked about them. As a result, I felt I’d be happy attending any of the colleges on my list, and I worried less about where I’d get in.

• Talk to current students. Talking with students who attended some of the colleges on my list helped me understand what daily life and academics were really like. 
• Stay organized, be honest in your essays, and trust the process. Every part of the journey helps you grow. 

How CollegeData helped me On My Road to College

CollegeData’s College Chances tool helped me the most. It gave me a realistic idea of the colleges I’d be able to get into and helped me see that I had a lot of options.