CAP triumphs ought to transcend stigma

Whereas many college students achieve direct admission into UT, others earn their place by way of various routes, such because the Coordinated Admission Program. 

The CAP program offers a chance for Texas residents, who initially didn’t obtain admission to UT, to switch to the College. CAP college students who full sure necessities throughout their freshman 12 months at collaborating establishments are assured admission to the School of Liberal Arts. 

Whereas the CAP program gives a novel pathway for college kids to check at UT, it’s not immune from false impression and stigmatization. 

Philosophy junior Anahita Penton remembers a fellow scholar teasing her for transferring from UT Arlington. 

“The jokes which can be made and some remarks made me suppose that it’s talked about, particularly when CAP college students aren’t there,” Penton stated. 

Whereas Penton’s expertise isn’t an anomaly, not all CAP college students really feel stigmatized at UT.

“We usually don’t hear quite a bit about college students feeling as if (CAP is) a program the place they’re stigmatized,” stated Mike Washington, UT affiliate director of admissions. 

Nevertheless, for college kids who’ve skilled belittlement, the results are important. Many CAP college students expertise disgrace and a way of inadequacy as a result of adverse attitudes surrounding this system. 

“I believe the toughest a part of (transferring) was experiencing some impostor syndrome,” Penton stated. 

This self-doubt exacerbates emotional exhaustion and burnout for college kids and correlates with low shallowness and elevated ranges of nervousness and melancholy. In response to Washington, there are round 1200 new college students collaborating within the CAP program every year. The affect of this stigma can’t be ignored. 

To construct a extra inclusive campus for CAP college students, we should reframe the social narratives that encompass this system. This begins with difficult the jokes, snide remarks and adverse attitudes that marginalize college students. 

“If I can inform different individuals about it, I’d say, be cautious about the way you discuss CAP college students or simply individuals who didn’t get into UT the primary time,” Penton stated. 

As a substitute of devaluing CAP college students, we must always acknowledge the laborious work they put into attaining their desires and rejoice their contributions to UT’s vibrant tapestry. We are able to do that by acknowledging that the place college students began their faculty journey doesn’t outline their price.

“I believe one of the simplest ways to sit up for fight this adverse concept about CAP is to actually rejoice that we’re all at UT now,” stated Penton.  “We’re all graduating from right here.

Destigmatizing the CAP program requires us to do not forget that success is available in varied types. By acceptance and understanding, we are able to foster an surroundings the place each scholar feels happy with their accomplishments on the Forty Acres, whatever the path they took to get right here. 

Chowdhury is a world relations and world research senior from Spring, Texas.