Undergraduate Admissions Counselor Stephanie Lowrance
Hometown: Bedford, Texas
College Major: Advertising
Territory: Central Texas
Office: Undergraduate Admissions Center
Phone: 512-475-7499
Q: Where are you from?
A: My family moved around a lot when I was growing up. I was born in Alpine, Texas (out west, near Big Bend National Park), but then we moved to Southern California for a while. We came back to Texas when I was in junior high school. We finally settled in Bedford, Texas. Bedford is outside of Fort Worth and may be best known as part of "HEB" or the Hurst-Euless-Bedford triplex. I graduated from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst and got to UT Austin as fast as I could!
Q: Where did you go to college? What did you study in college?
A: I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in advertising. When I was in high school, I thought about attending college out of state. However, I visited UT during my senior year and realized that it was the perfect fit for me. The campus tour was what sealed the deal. I could really imagine myself learning in UT classrooms, hanging out at the Texas Union and reading a book in the middle of the South Mall lawn.
I also really loved Austin! When my parents and I came for a visit, we took advantage of as much as we could so I could get a real feel for the city. We canoed at Lady Bird Lake, saw the Mexican Free-tailed bats fly out from under Congress Avenue Bridge, had dinner and a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse, and listened to live music at Threadgill's Sunday Brunch. I was excited to go to a nationally-recognized university in the middle of such an amazing city.
Q: How long have you been working in higher education?
A: I've been working with students for about five years. When I graduated from UT Austin, I went to Japan where I taught English in a Japanese high school for three years with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET). After that I worked in higher education for a year and then joined the Peace Corps. I served as a volunteer teacher in the Kingdom of Tonga (in the South Pacific). In all of my different positions, my favorite part has been working with the students. Nothing is more rewarding than helping students break down a stressful and overwhelming process into very manageable steps.
Q: What is your favorite place on campus?
A: The pools outside of Gregory Gym are really nice. They are a great place to study, socialize and soak in some sun. I also really enjoy sitting outside on the South Mall because it is a beautiful view of the Tower and the Capitol. You'll also encounter a lot of really cute squirrels there. If you're lucky, you may even see one of the legendary albino squirrels before one of your finals. It's supposed to be good luck!
Q: What are some of your favorite things about Austin?
A: I've been fortunate to travel to many cities around the world, but Austin is still my favorite city. I love the fact that you can listen to FREE live music any night of the week. I think Austin has the best aspects of Texas. It has beautiful rolling green hills, sweet Southern hospitality and 300 days of sunshine every year.
Yet Austin is unique because it is made up of such a diverse mix of people. There are the intellectual academics from UT, the people working in government, and then you also have the Austin natives who seem to be just really down to earth people. The city is bustling with activity, whether it be people running their hearts out in a marathon or people going on a casual stroll around Lady Bird Lake. There is always something to see or do and someone interesting to talk to in Austin.
Q: What is your favorite UT Austin fact?
A: Before Bevo (the Longhorn), UT Austin's mascot was a dog named Pig.
Advice to Prospective Students
ASK QUESTIONS!!! Talk to as many people as you can about the university, about their experiences and about what options exist out there. And then, take all of that with a grain of salt and do your own research.
Coming to college is a big deal, and you need to feel like you have weighed all of your options and made a knowledgeable decision based on what is right for you. The only way you'll be able to do that is if you take the initiative. That means talking to friends and family, but also contacting admissions counselors, visiting different universities, and inquiring about specific majors and their requirements.
Give yourself plenty of time to explore your college options so that the process can be enjoyable and not stressful. Take advantage of all the resources available to you. Admissions counselors are here to help, so contact us. We look forward to speaking and working with you.