That's CAP Scholarships Opportunities

The University of Texas at Austin is known for its incredibly selective admissions. The top six percent of a high school class is automatically admitted into the school but not necessarily into their major. The rest of the applicants are thrown into a pool and selected based on their applications. As priority decisions have come out, these applicants have been notified whether they’ve been accepted into the school and their major, only into the school, denied overall or capped.

Senior Lina Hudak applied before the priority decision deadline at UT Austin., as it was her top choice school.

“At first I saw my email about it and didn’t think it was true,” Hudak said. “I didn’t know it was a thing until I opened my admissions page and saw that it was the real deal.”

Hudak, along with other students, received the dreaded email many UT Austin applicants hoped to never receive informing her of her CAP status.

CAP or the Coordinated Admissions Program is an exclusive program offered by UT Austin to students who were not offered regular admission to their freshman year. The program allows applicants to complete their first year of college at another University of Texas system school, like UT San Antonio and are then offered the opportunity to transfer— if students meet specific criteria.

“Initially I was very discouraged and upset when I received my UT decision and I was capped,” alumni and CAP student Angelyna Rosales said. “I felt pretty unmotivated because it felt like I had worked so hard throughout high school just to basically be denied from my dream school. I can honestly say I felt worthless and angry with myself for not being ‘smart enough.’ However, with that being said, I am incredibly grateful for what the CAP program has given me and do not regret my decision at all. I think the CAP program is a really great and unique opportunity for students to experience two different schools and meet a really diverse group of people.”

If a student decides to be a part of the CAP program, they must accept the decision via their MyStatus portal. Then they must pick from a list of “satellite schools” such as UTSA, UT Arlington, UT Rio Grande Valley and UT Tyler. A $70 processing fee must be paid once the decision is made.

“If you want to attend UTSA or UT Arlington, try to submit your CAP agreement as soon as the application direct admission into the UT College of Liberal Arts which offers majors like psychology and communications. In order to transfer to other colleges that offer engineering or business majors, CAP students must submit additional paperwork like resumes and supplementals, and their admission into that major is not guaranteed. opens up because those schools only accept a certain number of CAP students,” Rosales said. “At UTSA, CAP students are required to take six credit hours in the summer, nine hours in the fall, and 15 hours in the spring. In addition to the credit hour requirements there's a specific list of classes that CAP students are allowed to choose from and they are not allowed to take any courses that are outside of that list.”

“The prospect of ‘guaranteed admission’ is appealing, but it's only in their College of Liberal Arts,” senior An Dang said. “For other UT colleges, it's another year of standard college admissions. I think CAP mostly exists because UT doesn't have the space to admit everyone. So, unless half of the admitted applicants suddenly decide to go to other universities besides UT, I don't think CAP benefits applicants.” Applicants who are capped can also appeal the decision in order to be reconsidered for direct admission. The process requires an additional essay to be submitted, stating why the students should be reconsidered.

However, the program only offers

“It can be really discouraging to receive a CAP decision from UT, but statistically most of their admission is only those who were in the top 6% for automatic admission, which leaves very little room for those who were not auto admit,” Rosales said. “If UT is where you truly want to continue your education, I would 100% recommend and encourage those who were capped to accept and research the CAP program, because it's a super unique opportunity where you get to attend and experience two separate universities. It's definitely a difficult decision and an interesting program, so if you do go through with the program make sure it is the best fit for you academically and socially.”

Counselor breaks down college FAFSA form for senior students

Jasper Johst | Asst. Editor

Every part of the college application process is important in getting the best possible opportunities available to a student. However, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is especially essential.

FAFSA has many benefits a student and their family may receive after filling it out.

“Students have the possibility to receive grants, loans, and scholarships based on their family financial situation to help them pay for college,” college and career counselor Leigh Spradlin said. “Some universities also look at the information to award scholarships to students that have parents who may not qualify for grant money.”

Oftentimes students may believe that FAFSA is not relevant to their college pathway.

“Some students don’t realize that many trade schools, and beauty colleges also take FAFSA,” Spradlin said. One reason a family may not want to fill out the form is that some parents may find themselves paranoid regarding the idea of publishing such personal financial information.

“A huge myth with parents is that you are giving out your information to a random entity, causing them to not want to do it,” Spradlin said. “If you do your taxes, the government already has all the information. You are just allowing the IRS to talk to the Department of Education.”

A common misconception regarding FAFSA is the idea that if you aren’t going to college, you don’t have to fill out the financial form. Spradlin recommends all seniors to fill out this form, regardless of their plans after graduation.

“Even if you think you are not going to college, it’s a good idea to complete it as a backup plan,” Spradlin said. “If a family refuses to complete the FAFSA, there is an 'OPT OUT’ agreement form they can fill out to fulfill the graduation requirement. However, the district will not allow you to exempt your exam if the ‘OPT OUT’ is on file for the student.”