Hi everybody. I have a couple questions about college admission appeals specifically with UT Austin but am also looking for opinions across the board. So this previous summer I was diagnosed with ADHD and with treatment I’ve increased my GPA tremendously. I had a 92.5 cumulative GPA for freshman, sophomore and junior year and currently have a 103.5 GPA for the first semester of my senior year. On my original application to UT I did disclose the information but did not have a transcript to provide proof for it and ended up getting denied. My ACT, resume and essays were all very competitive (in my opinion) and even though UT admission is very difficult I really think my GPA is what hindered me the most. I now have my updated transcript with the new grades and a 2 point increase in cumulative GPA. Do you think I should appeal my admissions decision? And more specifically for UT what types of appeals have gone through? Thank you!
@ddance11 GPA is not part of the calculation used to produce your AI which is used for half of the admission criteria. Your class rank and scores are used for this. did these points raise your Rank significantly. what major did you apply for? kids were denied majors in engineering and business with 33 and above act and top class rank. some CNS non auto admits were denied up to 32. did you win some awards or scholarships since submitting, did you take an ACT late and maybe have a higher score? The appeal process has to show new stats that they use or it has to prove something was overlooked( like an ACT score that came in fairly late).
It is always good to have an upward transactors in grades. Your better grades/GPA and diagnosis/medication are coincidental in time. Correlation doesn’t mean causation. Schools look for indices of learning over time such as test scores like on the SAT that measure long term learning versus success on semester exams.
FYI! Never disclose disability before admissions because you are arguing that your condition was a factor in the grades you earned. What you don’t have is a track record of learning that the school expects, but only one semester of better grades. You will never learn the disclosure of ADHD was a factor in the adverse decision, but it will be difficult to argue that your recent diagnosis indicated a real change in academic performance. Instead, writs down examples of successful performance such as awards and higher scores on the ACT and any other successes that the university prizes. These things should not be tied to ADHD but to your success as a high school student who meets University requirements.
In the fall, make sure you have a pharmacy to refill meds immediately. Also sign up for student disability services. Also check out the learning center for tutoring and other a academic experience. Finally remember it is you and your brain that are succeeding, not some RX. Helpful, facilitates, etc.? Yes. Owns you and your success? Never!