I’m often contacted by young men and women who are about to leave the armed services. They’re looking ahead, preparing for a transition back to civilian life, and many of them are looking for advice on making higher education a reality. With all the strong academic programs and resources UT offers, the university can be a “great fit” for many of them!

One of the questions I’m often asked is “Should I apply as an incoming freshman or as a transfer student?”

An incoming freshman is a student who hasn’t enrolled in a college or university since high school graduation. Most incoming freshmen apply for admission to UT during the fall semester of their senior year, and most of them are notified of their admission decision in the spring of their senior year.

But sometimes a student takes a different path and doesn’t attend college right after high school. Some of them join the military, for example, and need to find out how to apply to college when their time in the military is done. If you’ve been in the military since high school and you haven’t enrolled in another college or university, then you may want to apply as an incoming freshman.

Incoming freshmen applicants complete the ApplyTexas Application for Incoming Freshmen. They must submit all required credentials with the application (i.e., SAT/ACT, SAT Subject Test in mathematics for engineering applicants, official high school transcript with rank, $60 application fee, two essays, resume, etc.).

If you’ve never taken the SAT or ACT in high school, you’ll need to do this before you can apply. You can register online at the SAT web site or the ACT site. You’ll also need to get in touch with your high school and request an official high school transcript with rank. Realize that it may take some time to get this, especially if your records have been archived.

Some students who have been in the military have taken college coursework by the time they exit. Others don’t think freshman admission sounds right for them. The other option for these prospective students is applying for undergraduate transfer admission.

Visit my blog page next week (July 13) to find out about the transfer option for military prospects.

Good luck and hook ‘em, horns!

Belinda is the Director of the San Antonio Admissions Center. She’s a Texas Ex who was a Human Development major. Find out more about Belinda by reading her counselor profile.