Hi, I was wondering what my chances of getting into UT-Austin look like. As of right now I have a 3.05 GPA (Unweighted) and in the top 27% of my class (I only need to move up 7 spots to get into the top 25%). I have taken my PSAT and scored an 1100, but took the actual SAT two weeks ago and am waiting to get my scores. Along with those numbers I have done 58 hours of community service, got A/B honor roll my freshman year, and hopefully going to be inducted into NHS this year. I’ve taken nothing but Pre-AP classes except one CP class my sophomore year (Pre-AP is the same thing as honors classes). As of right now I have taken 2 Dual Enrollment classes ( Avearged out to an 85.5, but they are college classes so it should add more points to that and will boost my GPA and rank ). At the end of my junior year I am projected to have a 3.13 GPA (Unweighted), ( Could be a 3.25 because of the Dual Enrollment classes) and be in the top 25% of my class. I also plan to take AP classes my senior year to help my GPA and rank even more. So as of right now, what are my chances of getting admitted into UT-Austin?
A friend of mine has a relative with a score 300 points under the average for his major and he got admitted. He just had three SAT Subject Tests and that is it. I think you could get it as long as you get decent SAT Scores…
Good luck!
I only need to move up 7 spots to get into the top 25%
Um… UT Austin is top 7% for 2018. 25% is for A&M (with SAT).
I have taken my PSAT and scored an 1100, but took the actual SAT two weeks ago and am waiting to get my scores.*
If you have a 3.05 GPA, you are going to need a very high (1500+) to make up for it.
done 58 hours of community service, got A/B honor roll my freshman year, and hopefully going to be inducted into NHS this year.
58 hours is pretty average, honor roll is decent, but why is NHS so late?
Also, will it help that my mom attended UT and graduated with a masters degree?
It might help but only so far.
In order to make a comparison, I will tell you a bit about myself. I am also a junior at a texas high school. I currently have 7 AP classes with all the rest being honors except 5 classes. I plan to take 7 more in senior year. I scored a 1460 on my PSAT (and also waiting for my SAT). I have a 3.89 GPA, along with being a president of a group with ~150 hours.
Yet, I am 90% certain that I will not be able to get into UT Austin. It is insanely competitive for engineering and unless your class ranking is 4-5%, you will not get in.
I don’t want to put you down or anything, but unless you have some crazy recs and a mind-blowing essay I just can’t see it happening.
Short version : you’re not getting in.
Longer version:
You need to be top 7% just to get into UT, and to get into engineering you need to be at the top of these. UT then looks at top 10% students from top high schools who have sufficient course rigor and top grades. Again, not you. Then, they take athletes. Not you. Then, oos applicants whom they want, either because of stellar stats or legacy status. So, you’re not getting into UT.
Nor TAMU engineering btw. Tamu liberal arts, perhaps, but not sure) they want top 20% max).
Top 25% and engineering : perhaps Texas Tech and UT Dallas but even there it’s not certain at all.
Utsa you have a shot.
I’d look seriously at oos colleges too (UOklahoma,Montana State , UWyoming)
And discuss costs with our parents.
There is a lot of misinformation on this thread. I suggest that you google “utexas kroll report” and “utexas admission best practices” to find some concrete and reliable information about the admission process. If you are not top 7% of your (Texas) high school class (and even if you are but want a major other than undeclared liberal arts), there is a holistic review process that does not have a specific cutoff for class rank or test scores. However, the academic index (based on class rank and test scores) is extremely important. It is true that @Omee55 is extremely unlikely to get in with those stats, but no one can know for sure without seeing the entire application. Also, UT does not consider whether one’s parents attended or have a connection to UT (except in very unusual circumstances discussed in the Kroll report, and which I suspect are a lot more rare now than even a couple of years ago).
^ l
The Kroll report mostly focused on connections (ie., not just legacies, but powerful donors’ letters of recommendation with admissions made directly by the president… those would now become exceedingly rare for IS applicants).
Legacies considered are students whose parents and/or grandparents attended the university, continue the tradition, and are now living out of state. Only 7% are OOS students and academic criteria are even more rigorous for them, so more criteria are taken into account; they represent a very small number of admitted students. @TexasMom2017: I know what you’re saying, but most students admitted outside the Top 7% are top 10% with excellent grades, scores, and course rigor. Some students who are admitted outside the top 10% are really close to top 10% and/or attended a super competitive high school or bring something unique to the university (such as the ability to win football games). Even among that last group they’re top 25% and that’s what OP is hoping for, I’m guessing. While there’s no exact cutoff after top 7%, UT is a top public university nationally and admits top students period.
A student who might squeak into top 25% with a B+ average is extremely unlikely to make it as you said, but “no one knows for sure” isn’t setting things right for this student, who needs to focus on finding affordable safeties, matches, and reachable reaches.This is a good student who has excellent choices in Texas and elsewhere. If s/he wants to throw in an application to UT after completing the rest, sure, but right now we really can’t nurture his/her hope that going from 27% to 25% will matter.
@Omee55 - don’t give up hope yet. Try to get best SAT or ACT score and focus on extracurriculars (and summer job) related to your intended major. Make sure to present yourself through essays. Write all three essays and couple of good recommendation letters. BTW your senior year grades doesn’t count for admission decisions. All the best!!!
@RMNiMiTz You are severely over exaggerating UT engineering’s selectivity. While I agree that it would be a reach for OP, it’s certainly not as impossible as you are making it out to be. A good SAT score (1450-1500+) can make up for not being in the top 7%. UT weighs class rank heavily but it still isn’t the sole factor in their admissions.
1450 would be top 2%, 1500 top 1% nationwide.
If s/he reaches that it opens up some opportunities (full tuition and honors college at ole miss for one.) I doubt it’s counteract the class rank though. @KohliTheBeast : unfortunately @RMNiMiTz isn’t exaggerating. Top 7% gets you into UT not into your major. For restricted /impacted majors, there’s holistic review, and admission to UT engineering is for the top of those top 7%. Look at the results thread from last year. This is true for TAMU too, but with top 10%.
@MYOS1634 I have seen those admitted and it’s definitely possible outside of the top of the top 7%. You just need to make up for it with some nice SAT/ACT scores.
Echoing @KohliTheBeast, my son was admitted to UT CS 2 years ago despite “only” being in the top 17% of his high school class. High test scores, strong ECs, etc. can offset some weakness in class rank (up to a point). Go back and look at the AI/PI formulas.
High rigor and strong EC’s wit awards/prizes/recognition + that should clearly match the student’s stated major + top 1-2% test scores can offset a lowish class rank, but it’s not common. The fact it’s possible doesn’t make it likely.
What I’m trying to say is that UT Engineering is a reach if you’re top 7% and if you’re not it becomes “reach for everyone” territory.
The Best Practices doc is invaluable indeed. the AI/PAI formulas are a bit confusing though.
This kid got a 1100 on the PSAT. Unless he works some magic and improves by 500 points in the scope of a year, he probably isn’t getting in. With only 58 hours and beginning NHS this year, his EC’s don’t look spectacular, unless he is hiding a lot from us.
It is possible to get into UT without being top 7%. However, 27% (and he says he is trying for 25%) is definitely on the low end.
@TexasMom2017 Can you plz provide some more info on your son’s test scores and list some of his ECs? They must’ve have been really good to compensate for not being an auto admit.
@Glee my son who was admitted 2 yrs ago (to CS) had class rank of top 17% and ACT of 35 (36 in math). He had solid ECs but nothing that dramatic: 2 years of band, 4 years of Scouts (he was almost Eagle at he time he applied), had played piano for many years. He participated in a few CS competitions and attended some week-long UTD camps in CS and chess. I think his essays were very strong: one about his first attempt to make a video game and one about attending Philmont (scout hiking/backpacking camp). He also took a rigorous load in high school, but I’m sure that’s true of most kids applying to UT CS.
My son has applied to UT Austin for engineering and waiting decision…Top 4.5% of his class, IB AP and dual credit classes, SAT 1290 with a 660 in Math, Hispanic Merit Scholar, in Band and Captain of his swim team GPA 3.6…weighted 4.6. What do you think his chances are?.
