Higher Education Goals: Advice from an Admissions Counselor and UTPB Alum

Higher education often has the reputation of being unattainable and exclusive. This feeling can also be exacerbated if you are a “nontraditional” student; perhaps you are a first-generation student, you may have children at home, or you may be returning to the classroom after years of not being in school. Whatever your situation is, we see you. My family and I moved from Mexico to the U.S. when I was 7 years old, and you may think that after 10 years of being in America we would have been ready to navigate the system with no issues, but alas, we had no idea what we were doing.

I have come a long way since those days, and I am here to tell you that higher education CAN be attainable and affordable. Whatever your dreams may be, it helps to have a plan and set goals in order to make the most of our of University resources. Here are some tips to help you reach for the stars.

Apply early to maximize your experience:

Applying to college early can potentially maximize the amount of financial aid and scholarships you may receive. Although UTPB has no application deadlines, it is always best to have application and all required documents submitted by April if you are looking to start classes in the fall semester. As soon as you submit your application on GoApplyTexas.org, get to work on sending us your documents. The sooner you get us your transcripts, the sooner you can get your foot in the door to register for classes. Registering for classes early allows you to set your schedule in a way that best fits your daily responsibilities. Applying can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes and requesting a transcript takes another 5-10 minutes. Completing those two steps early will set you up for a less stressful start at UTPB.

Apply for all the financial aid & scholarships you possibly can:

UTPB offers a wide variety of financial aid including grants and scholarships that could help you get your degree at little to no cost. The Office of Admissions gives out scholarships to all qualifying incoming freshman and transfer students based on their GPA – no application required. In addition, get familiar with the FAFSA application. Some people are hesitant to take this step, but it’s required for many scholarships and grants and people are often surprised at how much support they can get just by filling out the FAFSA. Filling out the general scholarships application before the deadline is another simple way to earn more scholarship money. If you need any help filling the applications out, do not hesitate to reach out to the Financial Aid office; these folks will be your best friends throughout your college career.

Advocate for Yourself:

Finally, throughout your college career, remember that nothing in life is simple. There might come a time in which you will want to change your major, you might fail to submit an assignment on time, or you might have had to stay late at your job which caused you to oversleep and miss your morning class. These situations alone do not define you. Actually, these are all opportunities for you to learn to advocate for yourself. The key is to remain consistent in your efforts, to prioritize your college career and maintain an open line of communication with your professors and University staff. In the end, take full advantage of University resources and NEVER feel afraid to ask questions.