Hey, currently a junior doing IB Diploma, would like to know if I have a good chance of getting into Cockrell for Mechanical or Aerospace engineering! 
GPA/Rank: 3.76 UW / 19/211
SAT: 2070 (800 M, 680 R, 570 W, 6 Essay)
ACT: 34 (34 E, 36 M, 32 R, 35 S, essay score is coming soon)
PSAT: 214
Course load: IB Diploma Candidate, currently taking all IB classes except Spanish since I’m a year behind, but I’m 1 year ahead in math (currently in IB Math Year 2 as a junior), next year will be all IB classes and probably Calculus 3 online.
Extracurriculars: Varsity Orchestra (running for president next year, elections are coming up), Eco Club (likely to be granted a leadership position next year), Science UIL, planning to start an e-Sports club next year.
Work Experience: Worked in a tutoring center for 3 months, and then in a different tutoring center for 5 months, where I tutored kids on math up to precalculus level.
I was also diagnosed with major depressive disorder in 9th grade, which I was thinking about writing about in my essays as a special circumstance to explain my low GPA. Do you think I should do it?
Thanks in advance!
Rank may be a problem (the top 7% rule is brutal to non-autos), but otherwise you’re definitely spot-on! For Mech or Aerospace, I think you definitely have a shot
Hopefully, your depression is improving! Try to be somewhat blunt and to the point about your depression diagnosis, and I’d be cautious of using it as a main essay topic. Check with other people you trust to make sure your essay doesn’t sound like a sob story (I know depression is extremely serious and I apologize if this sounds terrible, but admissions people can be insensitive). I would definitely mention depression under the optional essay specifically asking for special circumstances. It can’t hurt! You can write another essay on how you plan to join the UT LoL Collegiate Team and carry them to finals; you’ll be a shoe-in! (Jk, don’t do that lol).
Also, make sure to take Math 2 (even if you’re in Calc 3, they’re still going to want to see it) and a science subject test!
Good luck, and hook 'em \m/
@imthereal thanks for the advice! I was actually plat 1 last season (lost promos to diamond :() but now I’m only plat 5 after decaying from plat 3 placement :((
Hopefully my rank won’t push me down too much, I may be able to get it up to 15th but that still wouldnt be 7% 
And I think it would be best to write the depression in the special circumstances essay, I’ll try to not make it sound like a sob story. Also I took Math 2 and Chem subject tests on Saturday, hopefully I did well on those!
Keep pushing on that class rank. For the entering class of 2016, it’s 8% rather than 7%.
@gobluemom85 wow really? I swear it was 7% when I checked, was it changed recently? That means I should be good to go if I move up 3 ranks, which is very possible!
@FortTheLulz Yes, it’s on the UT admissions’s own site. They have a special arrangement under the 10% law. They have to reevaluate each year and let the let TEA know each year how the math works out.
http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/decisions/automatic-admission
You have a good shot at Cockrell with that great ACT score. Make sure you have some other schools on your list. You are auto-admit for A&M. Now is the time to think about finances.
The top percentage rule changes annually with the size of each high school graduating class. At least, that’s what the admissions people told me on my UT tour
Like @txstella said you are auto-admit for A&M. It’s always good to have backup plans.
A&M is ranked higher than UT for both undergraduate Aerospace and Mechanical engineering
A&M (2013 - rankings handed out at a National Scholars Day)
7 Aerospace
8 Mechanical
UT (on the website- not sure of the year)
9 Aerospace
10 Mechanical
Of course program rank is not everything, but both schools have strong programs in what you want to major in.
Rankings for UT are 2015 (and could be for overall and not just among public univ.)
Have backup plans as UT engineering is not guaranteed. They have few spots and many qualified applicants.
@EventHorizon32 @txstella thanks for the advice! Tbh, my backup school is UTD, as while I am auto admit to A&M and it is similarly ranked to UT, I feel like I would really not enjoy the conservative vibe going on there in College Station, plus I could probably get a full ride to UTD and it’s only 20 mins from where I live. Hopefully I’ll get into Cockrell, but if not UTD will be my backup.
@FortTheLulz, A&M has a reputation for having a conservative vibe. But, it is such a large campus and there will be all kinds of groups to get involved with. Resources at a University, connections to the job market and starting salaries for one’s major could be important when making a decision.
The campus has a warm and friendly feel. My older son is at UT, so I could compare the two when we visited with my younger son. However, “fit” as one perceives it is definitely important. Wishing you all the best in your college choice.
@FortTheLulz You sound like you’re op at League, lol.
You sound like you have a good plan Hopefully your subject test scores turn out well! I think that for M2 and Chem, a 750+ will suffice for sure. I got the same ACT score and have otherwise similar stats (although a slightly higher rank that barely put me in the top 7%), but as an OOS I still got in for ChemE. I really think you have a shot at Cockrell! Don’t stress too much.
Also, I totally get you on the vibe; I’m from California and A&M was a bit too conservative for me. I think that when choosing a school, vibe is an extremely important factor. I was choosing between UT and a few other really great schools that gave me better offers, but I knew that I loved UT’s vibe far more and ended up committing because of that (not to mention that it was my dream school, lol)! Good luck, mate. I believe 
Does UT look at SAT II scores for admission decisions? They did not in past years. Maybe they are looked at for Honors decisions.
Vibe is important for sure. Those who love the UT vibe will not consider any other school. My older son was a born Longhorn. My younger son considered his scholarship offers, specific programs (University Honors, Engineering Honors, Leadership seminars), schools industry connections and starting salaries when considering his offers.
You have a strong profile for Cockrell and have a backup plan, so you are way ahead of the game.
@imthereal I haven’t played much league at all recently, but I hope to get to diamond this season in the summer! You can add me if you’d like, summoner name is “king of eden”. I’m fairly confident in my Math 2 score, my Chem score… might end up retaking that >__> but we’ll see. Thanks for the advice, hopefully I do make it in! Maybe I’ll end up meeting you if I do go there (probably not, but who knows? :P)
@EventHorizon32 not sure if they look at subject tests, as I was originally taking them for my applications to other universities, but if they do look I’ll be sure to send them. And yea I really love the vibe of UT, after visiting twice and talking to my sister who is in McCombs, it sounds like a perfect match for me. Thank you for the advice! And having two older sisters has definitely helped in terms of planning
@EventHorizon32 I’m pretty sure they considered them for Honors decisions (for the record, I was denied honors because I am a loser LOL). I don’t think they consider them for normal decisions, but they’re always good to take!
@FortTheLulz I am actually terrified to play with you because I am a scrub. I don’t play ranked and I’m more of a casual Leaguer. ARAM is where it’s at. Also, no problem and good luck with everything!! If you do go to UT and want to meet up, feel free to send me a PM! I’ll be happy to show you around (I just realized how creepy that sounds, I apologize. The offer still stands, though!)