I’m currently a junior and I’m really hoping to get into UT Austin with a scholarship of any type. Here are some of my stats, feel free to ask questions if any clarification is needed.
planning on majoring in Cell/Molecular Biology
currently have a 5.56 cumulative GPA (6.0 scale I believe??)
Rank 4 out of 590
Asian female
I live in Houston (so I'm in-state)
I have taken AP World History (4), am currently taking AP US History, AP Bio, AP Lang, and AP Psych; planning on taking AP Chem, AP Stats, DC Lit, AP Econ/Govt, DC Humanities, AP Calc AB
SAT score of 1410 (680 RW 730 M) and retaking it this March
some clubs/extracurriculars: orchestra for 4 years, co-founder and vice president of online school newspaper, key club 2 years, HOSA 2 years, science academic UIL 2 years, volunteer in church choir/orchestra
I hear that UT auto admits the top 6-7% and I know that most people would look at my stats and immediately think that I shouldn’t be worried about being accepted, but I have heard of some people with really good stats being rejected, and I have also heard of people at the top of their class being rejected too.
What do you guys think? How do you think my standing is for scholarships? Thanks for any input!
You are in-state with a rank in the auto-admit range, so you should be admitted to the university assuming you are not missing any other requirements (e.g. specific course subject requirements in high school).
The only concern may be if the College of Natural Sciences or the biology major is additionally selective, but there is nothing on the web sites indicating that. You may want to ask directly just to be sure.
True, top 6% are auto admit to university and true, top of their class begin rejected to competitive majors. Many freshman are send to LA majors. What was your PSAT scores?
Bring up sat score to 1500 and two subject tests around 750 will help.
Merit scholarship from UT is reach but don’t give up sending application. You can search for many Asian female scholarship for sure.
@Sweetpotatoes12 My DD, also an Asian, had similar academic and EC statistics like yours and she from a highly ranked 6A HS in Houston too…top 1% ranking, SAT 1530, 14/15 APs. Her ECs was similar to yours and perhaps a little bit better…HOSA state qualifier twice, UIL district champion several times, and etc. She had several merit scholarships offers from different TX Universites except from UT. She is a Long Horns this year but her parent have to foot her full tuition and room & board bills.
I’ll think you will be accepted to UT with your chosen major base on your academic stats and ECs. However, It’s very difficult to get merit schorship from UT. To increase your chances, I’ll suggest you practice/ re-take SAT until reach 1530+ and apply for Honor program. Please keep your option open, if UT doesn’t offer you merit scholarship, I’m sure other Universities will. Best luck to you to become a Long Horns!
@Publisher I agree completely. Which is why I hope S19 gets admitted with enough aid that makes it affordable for us.
Even with in state tuition, good stats and excellent essays/EC’s combined with 0 EFC, we want to manage expectations - so UT is likely a financial reach for us. Unfortunately, we’re not in a position to afford any loans.
@ef1688 thank you for the input! i am planning on applying to an honors program, although I don’t know how competitive it might be to get in? Do you happen to know anything about how competitive it is?
Very very competitive. I know one student from my DD HS accepted to BioChem and Plan II a couple years ago. Top 1%, SAT 2200+, 14 APs. Both academic and artistic UIL were state qualifer, National Merit Finalist. Some outside scholarship but none from UT.
Another student was accepted in BioChem a few years ago. I forgot which honor program she was accepted. Top 1% , SAT 2250+, 15 APs. excellent ECs. No merit scholarship from UT.
My DD is top 1% of 615 students, NMF, Merit Scholar, 1490/33, lots of APs etc, captain of varsity sport, lots of volunteer hours, etc was auto admit to UT and did not get her first or second choice majors (BioMedEng, BioChem), at UT.
@sweetpototoes12 UT holistic review process is kind of crazy and unpredictable. From DD, one girl her grade got accepted into UT Biology and Honor program last year. Her stats: top 2%, SAT 1500+, NM Commended, ECs: HOSA, UIL, lots of volunteer hrs., etc. Another girl, got accepted into CNS and honor but her stats unknown. BioChem and BioMedEng are some of the more difficult majors to get in. Just be careful when you choose your your first and second choice of major.
My D is 1/240, 1560, NMF, BHP, etc. No merit. She does have a friend with great stats and compelling background with need, who did get $5000 in merit. She’s the only one of about 25 kids I know (all accepted to honors at UT) to have gotten merit.
You need to get super realistic about merit from UT. It is SUPER rare and likely will not happen.
D admitted to Biomedical Engineering last year. #10/675 and 34 ACT (which I believe is equivalent to a 1520-1540 SAT) and decent ECs (not as good as yours though but a state award, held a job during school, etc.) and $0.00 dollars in merit scholarships. Zero
She did not apply to Honors and we know now that most kids who get merit are in Honors. But even then I doubt she would’ve gotten anything.