AI-Powered Admissions Counselor
Freshmen
Transfer
Undergraduate Students
Anywhere
se habla espanol
Hi, I’m Rowdy AI, your 24/7 admissions counselor!
Ask me all your questions about undergraduate admissions and getting ready for your first semester at UT San Antonio. Whether you’re exploring majors, applying, or figuring out next steps like financial aid, orientation and enrolling, I’m here to help, no appointment needed!
- I’m available 24/7, 365 days.
- I can speak many languages, including Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, and Portuguese. I can write in more. Including the above, I understand Kurdish, Belarusian, Haitian Creole, and Pashto.
- I don’t have access to look up your records.
Text me
My preferred mode of communication is text! Text me at 210-972-7470. Note, data rates may apply for texting. You can also opt-out and opt-in any time!
Call me
You can also call me at the same number, but just note that voice AI technology is not as advanced as AI used for written communications, like texting! You can call me at the same number at 210-972-7470.
My fellow human counselors
I can answer a lot of questions, but I can’t look up your specific student record. But I have an amazing team of humans who I’m connected with. If I can’t help you, then I’ll be sure to let the right team know so they can follow-up with you personally. Quick note, messages sent to staff are reviewed during university business hours and can take 2-3 business days to review.
If you’re curious about how Rowdy AI works, what he can do, or how your information is handled, visit our FAQs below.
Report an Issue with Rowdy AIRowdy AI – Frequently Asked Questions
Getting to Know Rowdy AI
AI stands for artificial intelligence. It is when computers are trained to think and learn in ways that are similar to how humans do. AI can spot patterns, learn from examples, and come up with answers or suggestions based on what it has learned. Think of it like a super-fast learner that has studied millions of examples and can use all of that to help you out.
You Already Use AI Every Day
When Instagram recommends a video you actually want to watch, or Spotify adds a song to your playlist that you end up loving, that is AI doing its thing. AI is also behind things like autocomplete on your phone, spam filters in your email, and the facial recognition that unlocks your screen.
AI 101: Did you know that the AI that powers tools like ChatGPT was trained on more text than a person could read in thousands of lifetimes? It processed books, websites, articles, and more to learn how language works. That is why it can hold a real conversation.
How Rowdy AI fits in
Rowdy AI is our AI-powered admissions counselor at UT San Antonio. He has been trained specifically on UT San Antonio information, so when you ask a question, you get answers about our university, not just general college advice. Think of him like a version of ChatGPT that only knows UT San Antonio, and knows it really well.
Rowdy AI does not replace real people. He makes getting help faster and easier. And when you need to talk to someone on our team, he can connect you.
Pro tip: AI is helpful, but it is not perfect. Even though Rowdy AI has been trained on UT San Antonio information and thoroughly tested, treat his answers as a starting point, not the final word. Before acting on anything important, keep these in mind:
- Pause and think. Does the answer make sense?
- Double-check important details like deadlines, requirements, or documents.
- Ask a real person if something feels unclear or really important.
Bonus tip: The more detail you give Rowdy AI, the better his answers will be. Instead of asking “what do I need?” try “I am a first-generation student applying for fall 2026. What documents do I need to submit?” More detail means a faster, more useful answer.
Think of AI like a really smart classmate. Helpful and fast, but you would not turn in an assignment without checking their answer first.
Rowdy AI does not search the internet or make things up. He was trained on a set of UT San Antonio information that our team put together, including things like admission requirements, deadlines, financial aid, housing, and campus life. Think of it like a textbook that only covers UT San Antonio. Rowdy AI is the tutor who has studied the whole thing.
Because his answers are specific to our university, not just generic college advice you could find anywhere. When Rowdy AI answers your question, he pulls from that UT San Antonio knowledge base and can point you to the source.
AI 101: This approach is called a “knowledge-grounded” AI. Instead of guessing or pulling from the whole internet, Rowdy AI is anchored to a specific set of trusted information. It is like the difference between asking a random stranger for directions versus asking someone who has lived in the neighborhood their whole life.
No! Think of Rowdy AI like the self-checkout at H-E-B. It is fast, convenient, and great for quick things. But if you have a complicated situation, a real person is still there to help.
Rowdy AI handles the common questions so our admissions counselors can spend more time on the harder, more personal conversations. And if Rowdy AI cannot fully help you, he will connect you directly with the right person on our team.
Rowdy AI does not update his knowledge mid-conversation. He does not get smarter just because you had a great chat. But he does remember your past conversations so he can give you more helpful answers over time.
For example, if you mentioned your major, your application status, or a question from last week, he can use that context the next time you reach out. You will not have to repeat yourself.
Think of it like your Notes app. It saves everything you put in, but the app itself does not get smarter from reading your notes. The UT San Antonio team handles the “getting smarter” part by regularly updating what Rowdy AI knows, kind of like a software update on your phone.
AI 101: Teaching an AI to get smarter is called “training,” and it takes a lot of computing power. Large AI models are trained on clusters of specialized computer chips that can cost millions of dollars to run. That is why AI updates happen in planned releases, not in real time.
Using Rowdy AI
Just talk to him like you would a person. No special commands, no specific format. Just type or say what you need. You can reach Rowdy AI by text through SMS or by calling and speaking with him over the phone. Use whichever feels easiest for you.
Tips to Get the Best Answer
- Be specific. Instead of “what do I need?” try “I submitted my application. What should I do next?”
- Give context. If you are a transfer student, a first-gen student, or an international applicant, say so. It helps Rowdy AI give you a more relevant answer.
- Ask follow-ups. If an answer is not quite right, ask again with more detail. It is a conversation, not a one-shot search.
Texting vs Callings, What to Expect
Voice AI and text-based AI are actually two different technologies, and right now they are not at the same level.
When you text Rowdy AI, you are using something called a large language model. It is a system that has processed huge amounts of text and learned how to have helpful, clear conversations. The same kind of technology powers tools like ChatGPT.
When you call, there is an extra step. Your voice has to be turned into text first, then processed, then turned back into speech for the response. Each of those steps can introduce a small error. Things like background noise, accents, or fast talking can affect how well it works.
So if you call and something feels a little off, maybe Rowdy AI misheard a word or the answer felt a bit robotic, that is normal. For anything detailed or important, try texting instead. You will likely get a faster, more accurate response.
AI 101: The technology that turns your voice into text is called Automatic Speech Recognition, or ASR. The same tech is behind Siri, Google Assistant, and voice search. It has improved a lot in recent years, but understanding every accent and speaking style in every environment is still one of the hardest problems in AI.
Rowdy AI is built to help with UT San Antonio admissions and enrollment for undergraduate students. Things like:
- What are UTSA’s admission requirements?
- When is the application deadline?
- How does financial aid work?
- What do I do next after submitting my application?
- What majors does UTSA offer?
Connecting with a Human
Rowdy AI may connect you with a staff member for personal situations, appeals, or anything that really needs a human judgment call. He can help by providing the right contact information or pointing your question to the right team.
A good rule of thumb: if you would expect to find the answer on the UT San Antonio website, Rowdy AI is a great place to start. If you ask something outside his area, he will let you know and point you in a better direction. No judgment.
It can happen, and that is okay. AI is helpful, but it is not perfect. If something Rowdy AI tells you does not feel right, trust that feeling.
Here is what you can do:
- Ask Rowdy AI a follow-up question to get more detail on his answer.
- Ask him where the information came from. He should be able to point you to a source.
- Reach out to an admissions counselor for anything high-stakes or specific to your account.
For big decisions, always double-check. Missed deadlines and skipped requirements can have real consequences. Use Rowdy AI as a starting point, not the finish line.
AI 101: When AI gives a wrong or made-up answer, it is called a “hallucination.” This happens because AI does not actually know things the way humans do. It predicts what words should come next based on patterns. Sometimes those patterns lead to a confident-sounding answer that is just not accurate. That is exactly why Rowdy AI is built to pull from a defined set of UT San Antonio information, to keep hallucinations to a minimum.
Just ask. Rowdy AI is great for quick answers, but some situations just need a real person, and that is completely okay.
You can say something like “I want to talk to someone” or “Can I speak with an admissions counselor?” and Rowdy AI will connect you with the right person on the UT San Antonio team. Just note that it won’t be in real-time though or a live transfer.
Your Privacy and Safety
What Rowdy AI Can See
Rowdy AI uses information provided by the UT San Antonio admissions team, along with anything you choose to share during your conversation. He does not access information beyond that.
What Rowdy AI Cannot See
What Rowdy AI knows about you is limited. He will not be able to answer questions specific to your account or application status. For those, he can connect you directly with someone from our admissions team who can help.
When Rowdy AI Reaches Out to You
On occasion, the UT San Antonio enrollment team may set up Rowdy AI to reach out to you directly. These messages are meant to help you stay on track with reminders about upcoming deadlines or next steps in your journey. For example, if you are an admitted student, you might get a reminder to sign up for Orientation or check off items on your Rowdy Ready checklist.
Your conversations with Rowdy AI are handled securely and are not shared publicly. That said, UT San Antonio staff may review conversations to improve the system or to follow up if you need help. Think of it like a DM to a school account. The people running the account can see it, but it is not out there for everyone. So treat talking with Rowdy AI like talking to a teacher or counselor. Be honest, be respectful, and do not share anything you would not say in that setting.
Keep your information safe. Never share sensitive personal information through any AI tool, including Rowdy AI. That means things like your Social Security number, bank account details, or passwords. There are much safer ways to submit that kind of information, like through the UT San Antonio Document Uploader.
Protect Yourself Online
It’s important to know, scammers sometimes pretend to be schools, companies, or AI tools to trick people into sharing personal information. This is called phishing. If anyone, AI or human, is asking for your Social Security number, passwords, or financial details through a chat or text, that is a red flag. You would not hand your debit card to a stranger on the street just because they asked nicely. The same rule applies online. Only share sensitive information through official channels you trust, like a website with a lock icon in the browser. If Rowdy AI ever seems to be asking for this kind of information, do not provide it and let the UT San Antonio admissions team know right away.
AI 101: Phishing attacks are one of the most common cybersecurity threats in the world, and scammers are now using AI to make fake messages sound more real and personal. Learning to spot them is one of the most useful digital skills you can have.