new UNT Eagle Advantage Program

[Harry]

Interesting strategy for UNT to try and build enrollment. They are auto accepting from certain school districts any junior in the top 20% of their class...I think typically it is top 10%.... I am not sure which districts are included. After enrollment went down last year this is probably not a bad concept to engage with qualified students.

read more: http://www.unt.edu/eagleadvantage/?

[GrayEagle]

Arlington was on Channel 8 today and they said that there would be 10 more school districts in this rollout.

[Harry]

This is getting a ton of media coverage:

PBS

WFAA

[eulessismore]

I thought the PBS segment today was one of the best things UNT related I've heard for the last year. I liked using the band to promote it. Hey, creativity!

[GMG24]

Maybe use an athletic plug...... Shrugs..... Drops mic.... Walks off the stage

[eulessismore]

Maybe use an athletic plug...... Shrugs..... Drops mic.... Walks off the stage

Good thought, and yes, I believe that someday our athletic programs will be spoken of as reverentially as our music programs. We're not there yet. When you're wanting to close a sale, you have to go with a salesman who's done it time and again, virtually anywhere in the World.

[Quoner]

We already were an obvious safety net for this caliber of student - now we've just branded it. Money well spent, Debbie L.

[oldguystudent]

We already were an obvious safety net for this caliber of student - now we've just branded it. Money well spent, Debbie L.

I agree with this. I'm trying really hard to get a positive spin from this, and I guess it's in that the number of warm bodies come fall registration will increase, but it doesn't appear to me to increase the academic caliber of student applying to UNT nor does it raise UNT's overall academic profile. Top 20% just isn't that big of a deal.

I would rather UNT find a way to be effectively MORE selective in who it admits.

Ultimately, you want alumni who stay connected after graduation and in turn give cash back; you want them to have had to work to get in and work to graduate.

I don't see partners in my firm hanging these billboard size A&M monstrosity posters in their office because the Aggies went to their high schools and said, "Congratulations! You've got a B average! No need to apply! C'mon in!"

Edited January 14, 2015 by oldguystudent

[ChristopherRyanWilkes]

I agree with this. I'm trying really hard to get a positive spin from this, and I guess it's in that the number of warm bodies come fall registration will increase, but it doesn't appear to me to increase the academic caliber of student applying to UNT nor does it raise UNT's overall academic profile. Top 20% just isn't that big of a deal.

I would rather UNT find a way to be effectively MORE selective in who it admits.

Ultimately, you want alumni who stay connected after graduation and in turn give cash back; you want them to have had to work to get in and work to graduate.

I don't see partners in my firm hanging these billboard size A&M monstrosity posters in their office because the Aggies went to their high schools and said, "Congratulations! You've got a B average! No need to apply! C'mon in!"

Going back to perception which is harped on a lot on here -- when you let everyone and their dog into a school the product is generally not going to be as good. You improve your perception by being selective about who you admit so that North Texas grads can make a good impression out in the work force. I do no agree with this program at all...

[ChristopherRyanWilkes]

We already were an obvious safety net for this caliber of student - now we've just branded it. Money well spent, Debbie L.

This is dead on. Hate to say it, but generally if you are top 10% you are going to Texas or A&M anyways, depending on scholarships and things like that. The next 10-20% is what UNT generally attracts. This is not something we should be advertising though...

Edited January 14, 2015 by ChristopherRyanWilkes

[UNTLifer]

Is having a large enrollment really that big of a deal?

[MeanGreenTexan]

I don't see this as a bad thing at all. It would be a little more concerning if they said top 50% or something. Don't we want the top 20% of high school classes to have UNT on their radars?

[ChristopherRyanWilkes]

Is having a large enrollment really that big of a deal?

It is for the administration because more students = more money. As a whole it's a bad idea, and a growing trend. Schools are becoming less selective and accepting more and more students who they charge whatever they feel like. An 18-year-old sees a student loan which is easy to get and has been told their whole life that they need to go to college. As a result college degrees are becoming more and more common and less marketable for my generation of recent grads.. It's almost gotten to the point where you need some type of post-graduate degree to even stand out anymore.

[ChristopherRyanWilkes]

I don't see this as a bad thing at all. It would be a little more concerning if they said top 50% or something. Don't we want the top 20% of high school classes to have UNT on their radars?

To me it is more the school district. Nothing against Arlington ISD but it is very similar to the school district I went to in Irving ISD. Without getting into demographics, it's not going to be as competitive as Coppell or Colleyville to be in the top 20%. I was in the top 15% of my high school class and it was never even a question if I would get into North Texas or not.. Heck I know folks in the top 50% you mention who were admitted as well from my high school. As a whole, North Texas is not known to be highly selective.

Edited January 14, 2015 by ChristopherRyanWilkes

[oldguystudent]

As a whole, North Texas is not known to be highly selective.

61% acceptance rate in 2012. I don't know if they release average test scores and whatnot of applicants.

[meanJewGreen]

This is designed for the Coppells, Colleyville, Plano, Frisco, Richardson but to be honest, (and I'm a Plano West alum) most of those 20% wont go to UNT. It's unfortunate, but they usually go to OU, Arizona, Kansas, Indiana, Missouri, at least that was my graduating class experience. Plus, didn't Texas pass the whole 7% thing?

To me it is more the school district. Nothing against Arlington ISD but it is very similar to the school district I went to in Irving ISD. Without getting into demographics, it's not going to be as competitive as Coppell or Colleyville to be in the top 20%. I was in the top 15% of my high school class and it was never even a question if I would get into North Texas or not.. Heck I know folks in the top 50% you mention who were admitted as well from my high school. As a whole, North Texas is not known to be highly selective.

[ChristopherRyanWilkes]

61% acceptance rate in 2012. I don't know if they release average test scores and whatnot of applicants.

When I applied if you had I believe something around a B GPA and a 1050 SAT you were auto admit, not very selective.

[oldguystudent]

When I applied if you had I believe something around a B GPA and a 1050 SAT you were auto admit, not very selective.

When I took the GMAT for grad school (mind you, I'd already been taking classes for a year), I asked what percentile I needed. 25th. I had to only beat the bottom 25% to be admitted.

[ChristopherRyanWilkes]

When I took the GMAT for grad school (mind you, I'd already been taking classes for a year), I asked what percentile I needed. 25th. I had to only beat the bottom 25% to be admitted.

My fear is that the selectivity is going to continue to decrease due to trying to make up for the accounting error and needing higher enrollment.

[oldguystudent]

My fear is that the selectivity is going to continue to decrease due to trying to make up for the accounting error and needing higher enrollment.

Yep, this whole thing smells of money grab, and is in no way consistent with Tier 1 aspirations.

[Quoner]

I don't see this as a bad thing at all. It would be a little more concerning if they said top 50% or something. Don't we want the top 20% of high school classes to have UNT on their radars?

Of course we do - but sometimes, you can have a goal and build a campaign to do it without specifically calling it the "Hey look over here! Please! Please!" campaign. I think the issue I have is that most of the well-intentioned stuff the last few years seems like it came from a meeting where people listed some goals and then figured out the easiest way to do it.

We need to show everyone we're a great value! Above the rest for 1000s less.

We need to engage the top 20% of students in NTX! ATTENTION TOP 20% STUDENTS - WE WILL TOTES LET YOU IN WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT.

We're cheapening ourselves - and all for what feels like laziness. That said, we don't know the whole plan for this goal is, so I'm trying my hardest not to just shoot it all down and declare it stupid forever, but just posted my initial reaction/"HOT TAEK."

[MeanGreenTexan]

Of course we do - but sometimes, you can have a goal and build a campaign to do it without specifically calling it the "Hey look over here! Please! Please!" campaign. I think the issue I have is that most of the well-intentioned stuff the last few years seems like it came from a meeting where people listed some goals and then figured out the easiest way to do it.

We need to show everyone we're a great value! Above the rest for 1000s less.

We need to engage the top 20% of students in NTX! ATTENTION TOP 20% STUDENTS - WE WILL TOTES LET YOU IN WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT.

We're cheapening ourselves - and all for what feels like laziness. That said, we don't know the whole plan for this goal is, so I'm trying my hardest not to just shoot it all down and declare it stupid forever, but just posted my initial reaction/"HOT TAEK."

Right on.

I think if this program is something UNT hangs it's hat on, that would be one thing. But I think it's just an announcement of the program, not necessarily something that will jump to the top of UNT's branding... at least, I hope not.

Just like last year, with the introduction of the Eagle Express Tuition Plan, we started seeing it being advertised around... but those signs are gone now, and it's just another program UNT offers.

I guess I look at it a different way, like, "Hey, if you graduate in the top 20% of your HS class, UNT is interested in you!" That's not necessarily a bad thing. But if it becomes a "Hey, look over here, please! please!" desperation campaign, like you're concerned about, that would be different.

I trust Smatresk.

[Harry]

I think it's getting more competitive for students than it ever was before. With the advent of online degrees, and less state funding it will only get tougher.

[NT1978]

Is having a large enrollment really that big of a deal?

Not if you're well endowed.

[FirefightnRick]

Of course we do - but sometimes, you can have a goal and build a campaign to do it without specifically calling it the "Hey look over here! Please! Please!" campaign. I think the issue I have is that most of the well-intentioned stuff the last few years seems like it came from a meeting where people listed some goals and then figured out the easiest way to do it.

We need to show everyone we're a great value! Above the rest for 1000s less.

We need to engage the top 20% of students in NTX! ATTENTION TOP 20% STUDENTS - WE WILL TOTES LET YOU IN WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT.

We're cheapening ourselves - and all for what feels like laziness. That said, we don't know the whole plan for this goal is, so I'm trying my hardest not to just shoot it all down and declare it stupid forever, but just posted my initial reaction/"HOT TAEK."

This^^^^

Rick