Freshman Admissions Counselor Ruben Ortiz

Hometown: Weslaco, Texas

College Major: International Business

Territory: El Paso, Texas

Office: Freshman Admissions Center

Phone: 512-475-7496

E-mail: ruben.ortiz@austin.utexas.edu

Q: Where are you from? 
A: I’m originally from Weslaco, Texas—a small town in the lower Rio Grande Valley.  Weslaco is located within miles of Mexico-United States border. 

Q: Why did you decide to attend UT Austin?  
A: When I first visited UT, I knew that it was the place where I needed to be. I wanted to go to a university that was close to home, affordable and offered the best education for my money.  UT Austin had all these things to offer to me.  In addition to that, the city life is unmatched, and for that reason, my decision to come to UT was reaffirmed.

Q: What did you study in college? Why did you choose that major?
A: I received a degree in International Business from the Red McCombs School of Business.  I always knew that business was what I wanted to study.  I love to travel and am fluent in Spanish and wanted to find a profession in which I could make the most of both. Because of that I chose to major in International Business.  I had the opportunity to travel abroad in Monterrey, Mexico, for a semester where I met many wonderful people from all over the world.    

Q: What is your favorite place on campus?
A: In the spring time, my favorite place on campus is the "six pack" (the six red-roofed buildings on the South Mall built in the 1930s and arranged like a six-pack of drink cans). It’s a great place to take a nap in the grass, read a book or play Frisbee.  The views from that area of campus are amazing! You get a clear view of both the Texas Capitol and the Tower. 

Q: What are some of your favorite things to do in Austin? 
A: Austin has many things to offer, and I try to take advantage of as many as I can.  My list could go on and on. If you enjoy the outdoors, you are likely to never be bored. We have great hiking, biking and running trails and beautiful places like Barton Springs, Town Lake and Lake Travis.

We also have some major festivals that draw many people from all over the world.  My two favorite are Austin City Limits Music Festival and South by Southwest. 

Q: What's one of your fondest memories about your time here at UT Austin? 
A: My fondest memories at UT come from when I was a member of Texas Cheer.  To be on the field in front of thousands of Longhorn fans and cheering on one of the best football teams in the nation is indescribable. 

Q: What parts of admissions counseling do you enjoy?  
A: I enjoy working with the best and brightest prospective students and describing to them what the university has to offer.  Applying to a college or university can be extremely overwhelming, and I am here to help out in any way possible and make an impact on every student that needs guidance and assistance. 

Advice to Prospective Students

• Start your application EARLY.  It’s never too early to start gathering the materials you need to submit a completed application.  The last thing you need is to realize that you did not get all the required materials in by the deadline. 
• It’s important to realize that every school you apply for has a different admissions process and different application requirements.