SAN ANTONIO — Deciding your future as a high school senior can be terrifying, but a new collaboration between San Antonio ISD and UTSA is relieving some stress. SAISD juniors in the top 25% of their class can now know by May if they're admitted to UTSA.
Maritza Rodriguez is a senior at Jefferson High School. She was sitting in chemistry class last year when she found out she was admitted.
“I had no idea about this partnership but, it came as a shock, but it was a wonderful surprise,” Rodriguez said. "It has most definitely given me a sense of ease, knowing that I have been granted this acceptance at an early rate."
Her graduating class, the class of 2024, is the first to be a part of this program.
"UTSA has always held a special place in my heart. San Antonio is my hometown…. My family, my sister graduated from UTSA," she said.
Dustin Nieto, coordinator for post-secondary initiatives with SAISD explained conversations around the partnership began spring 2023. Students were informed in May after rankings were released.
"Each student is reviewed independently, based off of UTSA. This is just kind of the first step into that doorway,” Nieto said.
Those who are admitted early through the partnership are at an advantage, according to Lynn Barnes Jr., the senior vice provost for strategic enrollment at UTSA.
"We’ll work with you throughout your senior year along with your high school counselor or your family members, or whoever, we will help you through the process and really try to de-mystify it, and make it not feel so daunting,” Barnes said.
Students that are admitted early still have to fill out an application.
“The reason why we still need the application on the back end is, at some point, the university…you know, UTSA is no different than any other university, at some point there is some data we need to collect, and the most efficient way to do that is the application cause since it’s completely automated," Barnes said.
The SAISD schools a part of this program are -
Fox Tech High School
Jefferson High School
Edison High School
Travis Early College HS
Advanced Learning Academy
Cast Tech High School
Sam Houston High School
Brackenridge High School
Highlands High School
Burbank High School
Lanier High School
Cast Med High School
Young Men's Leadership Academy
In the future Barnes said, they hope to expand this program to other districts across San Antonio.
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