Chances for OOS Student

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

Thanks.

Stats:
ACT 34
UW GPA 3.6
Class Rank 40th Percentile
AP Classes: AP Calc BC (5, 4 AB subscore), AP Euro (4), AP Chemistry (3), AP Lang (5), AP Macroeconomics (5), AP Microeconomics (5)
Senior Schedule: AP Physics 1, AP Literature, AP Statistics, APUSH, Calculus III, German 4
EC’s: Track and Field, Cross Country, FBLA, DECA, German Hon. Society, NHS, Various Jazz Ensembles / Summer Camps, Marching Band, Pit Orchestra
Work: Cashier (11th), Teller (12th)
Not applying for financial aid.
NMS Semifinalist, NHRP Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction

The UT website states the following:

Major Selection
First-Choice Major
We encourage you to select a first-choice major that is aligned with your interests and strengths, not just what you hope to do as a career.

Second-Choice Major
You may be considered for your second-choice major if you qualify for automatic admission and are not admitted to your first-choice major.

Does this mean if I get rejected from McCombs (which theoretically would be my first choice as I want to get into BHP but even non-honors business is a reach) they wouldn’t consider me for my second choice major?

Do I have any chance of getting into Plan II for Econ? Or UT-Austin in general?

2

That is correct. The focus is on your first choice major. OOS are not admitted into UT Austin in general (only in state top 6%) and honestly your second major does not matter for review.

3

UT-Austin reserves 90% of admissions for Texas residents, which means you have a 10% chance of getting in. That’s only half the battle. You’re paying triple the tuition costs going out of state. Also, getting into an employable major like business, computers, engineering, or nursing is ridiculously competitive. To be honest, there’s nothing UT has that your in-state flagship university doesn’t already offer at a fraction of the cost.

4

Slim to none.

No, you don’t get a second choice major. Only those auto- admitted do. You are not an auto admit.

Because of so many auto admits, even Texans who are not in that group find it ultra difficult to get into their flagship school. For you, it would be even more challenging. Also look at the GPAs for this school.

5

I agree with the others. I would look elsewhere.

6

Let’s look at the data (fall 2018):

OOS acceptance rate last year was 25.9%, which is higher than the in-state non-auto admit acceptance rate. OOS ACT mid 50%ile was 30-34. https://admissions.utexas.edu/explore/freshman-profile

OP’s ACT is at the 75%ile, GPA might be relatively low, but with good rigor.

It is true that the second choice major is unlikely to be considered, so choose your first choice wisely. Make sure you do the Expanded Resume, which is listed on the application page as optional…OOSers should NOT treat that as optional.

It has never been clear to me whether UT is need blind or need aware for OOSers but if need aware OP being full pay will have an advantage there.

Certainly apply, but UT Austin is a reach…make sure to have match and highly likely/safety schools as well.

Good luck.

7

I’m filling out the application on ApplyTexas. I have decided that I want to apply to the Plan II Honors Program, but my main goal is getting into the university. Seeing as though my second-choice major most likely will not be considered, does applying as an economics major as my first-choice instead of a Plan II major give me a greater chance of admission? If I do not get into the Plan II Honors Program will I be considered for the non-honors College of Liberal Arts at all? Additionally, I am a full-pay student.

8

@super2160 There isn’t a conflict between applying for econ and applying for Plan II - you can do both. In fact you could apply for something else (non-liberal arts) first choice, and list liberal arts as second choice, and you would still get full consideration for Plan II.

I will take issue with a couple comments above about the value of UT. I think UT can have a lot of value for an OOS student. My S is an OOS sophomore in McCombs, has done well and had a great time at UT, got a great internship after freshman year, and is lining up another one for after this year. I don’t think he would have gotten internships like these, or had nearly as good an overall “college experience”, at our state’s flagships. It’s also possible (with work) to get Texas residency after freshman year.

Finally, is your OP correct? My S had around a 3.8-3.85 UW in HS, and that put him in the top 4%. A 3.6 UW would have been lower of course, but not nearly down to top 40%. Is that a typo? Otherwise I would have to guess that your school gives out an astronomical number of As, or is a smaller uber-competitive type school.

9

My rank is in fact 40%. I would not consider it a good indication of my academic experience and effort. My school is not super competitive, but the lack of any weighted grade point averages hurts the students that take schedules full of AP and honors classes. Also, even though I am an OOS student, I will be considered in-state for tuition purposes because one of my parents is a resident of Texas.

10

As I said previously, I would look elsewhere if I were you.