Chance Me- UT Austin Plan II Honors

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
1

Hello, I am currently planning on attending UT Austin to major in Biochemistry and Plan II Honors (while also doing pre-med). I visited the Plan II Honors Program a few weeks ago and it’s something I’m VERY interested in! If anyone could chance me, it would be greatly appreciated! College apps seem to be the most stressful part about senior year, and I wish all applicants (to any college) the best of luck!

Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male

ACT: 30
Rank: 4 out of 568
GPA: 5.5 out of 6.0
AP Scholar with Honor
APs Taken: Human Geography, World History, US History, Chemistry, English Language, Macroeconomics
Current APs: English Literature, Calculus BC, Art History, Music Theory, Biology, US Government

Extracurriculars:
Band, Marching and Concert (Section Leader for 2 years and Secretary this year / has won multiple regional- and state-level solo competitions)
National Honor Society (Secretary)
Student Council (Webmaster)
Spanish Club (President, 2 years)
Diversity Club (Treasurer)
HOSA (Junior Representative last year)
AP Ambassadors (speak at AP events to help bring students into the program)
UIL Academics (competing in Calculator Applications, Number Sense, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies / helped the team place 3rd at district in Calc and Science, placed 5th individually in Calc)
Spanish NHS
English NHS
High School and Middle School Youth Leader (2 years)

Community Service: ~100 documented hours
Essays: Good, read by several students/alumni who go to Ivy’s and big-name colleges (Boston, Stanford, etc.)
Teacher Recs: Great, one from my APUSH teacher (is also the sponsor for NHS and StuCo so I’ve gotten very close with her) and one from my Chemistry teacher (is also the sponsor for UIL Math/Science so I’m also very close with her)

Weaknesses: Test Scores, Community Service
Strengths: Class Rank, Essays, Recs

Thanks in advance!

2

Since your class rank is high, that will at least get you into UT, hopefully into your major. For Plan II, your class rank is less important than the essays you submit–spend a lot of time on nailing these–and probably your ACT subscores in English and Reading. And another 20% comes down to your Plan II-ness, the most subjective criteria. If you had a chance to re-take the ACT, that might help, particularly scoring in the 30s in both English and Reading.

It is always difficult to chance candidates for Plan II, particularly because they look at candidates differently. Since you are in Biochemistry, your might also consider the other Honors programs in CNS. Good luck to you, and let us know how it goes!