<p>I'm a white male that attends one of the top high schools in Massachusetts (really competitive). I am a junior and have weighted GPA of 4.2, my school does not calculate unweighted GPA's, but I think mine is around of 3.6. I've takes all honors courses except for history freshman and sophomore year, but this year I'm taking everything honors but accelerated history and chemistry. I play varsity baseball and football. I participate in the Speech and Debate club, Model UN, Spanish Club, and Engineering club. I tutor middle school students twice a week throughout the year and volunteer at a children's camp every year. I have 120 hours of community service (60 is required by my school). I also recently went on a trip with my Church to New Orleans to aid to the community down there (what I wrote my essay on). I've had a job since the summer of sophomore year. I also have two great recommendations from my teachers. I got a 1950 on the SAT and a 29 on the ACT. What are my chances for The University of Texas at Austin; I'm thinking about applying to the school of natural sciences or engineering.</p>
<p>Anyone???</p>
<p>General studies you could probably get in, but with today’s competitiveness an out of state applicant has to be really really qualified for natural sciences or engineering. You’ve got a chance, but I would be safe and make it a reach school.</p>
<p>Engineering will be really hard to get into. I would take the SAT again and try to get your score up, but your other stats are pretty solid!</p>
<p>Thanks, natural sciences would be my preference, so is it harder to get into as opposed to engineering or business?</p>
<p>D was OOS- she had the lowest GPA of other OOS that got in- weighted she was 4.1 but unweighted she was 3.93. Remember that TX only considers unweighted grades so try to pull an unweighted 4.0 this semester and fall semester. Your SATs are higher than hers (she had a 1920) but with engineering I would retake 1-2 more times and try to get it above 2000, ACT 29 should be good, she knows 2 students who had 30 and 31 that were admitted to McCoombs. My D interviewed with the dept (not engineering)- see if you can get an interview with the Assoc Dean of the Dept- bring some of your projects, your essay (make sure your essay has been edited by many so there are NO mistakes). My D found that after the interview and sending a thank you letter she had support from the dept for her admission- they can’t decide but they can send admissions a letter of support. D also did all 3 essays. D did have 5 AP classes, 2 honors classes. D also wrote a political essay (aligned with conservative view which there are a lot of conservatives in TX although Austin is probably a lot of liberals as well). Also, D visited Austin campus several times and the admissions dept noted that she had a strong commitment to attend. Interviewed with admissions as well and brought her college resume to all interviews. Start creating your resume and have others edit.</p>
<p>Forgot to add- undeclared is always a safe 2nd major and then internal transfer- worked for my OOS son. He made an internal transfer the following year after obtaining 3.2.</p>
<p>Redsox, my OOS son from Maine had a lower GPA than yours but a higher SAT and got into engineering. He was an athlete and an Eagle Scout, so that probably helped him. I think it’s really hard to guess how you’ll do. Give it your best bet - carmom has given you some great tips!</p>
<p>Thanks, you two were very helpful. Do you know if there is standard way to calculate my unweighted GPA because my school only calculates weighted GPA’s and the 3.6 was just an estimate.</p>
<p>Actually, it is my understanding that UT just uses whatever GPA your school submits. They don’t care if it’s weighted or unweighted! So my son was at a disadvantage since his school didn’t weight grades at all. Your weighted GPA would have been considered better than my son’s unweighted GPA, since they just look at absolute numbers.</p>
<p>Oh that’s weird, but thanks</p>
<p>^I know! I may have misunderstood, because it makes no sense to me. Does anyone else know for sure?</p>
<p>I would suggest changing your essay topic, tons of kids do the “class/church vacation/mission trip changing my life” essay. I’m not trying to be rude, but look at it this way, you went there with other kids (I’m guessing) and I would bet that at least a few of them also wrote about the same topic. Now think about how many kids apply to UT austin, even the auto admits; lots of them probably went on one of those and wrote about it, too (I know that a majority of my friends have gone on a few, and many wrote about it). The admissions office will see a ton of these, and you won’t stand out as much.</p>
<p>Also, essays like these tend to not be about yourself, but rather about the trip itself. This misses the point of the essay, which is to let admissions get to know you. Of course, if you feel your essay is well written enough to stand out on its own, then definitely don’t let me deter you, as I do not know how strong your essay is.</p>
<p>I would stay far away from a political essay (religion as well), but if you go there better make it liberal. Travis county is likely the most liberal county in Texas. Austin is VERY liberal. UT really wants to see an essay that shows them who you are and why you want to be at UT. Highlight a unique element to your life, game you play, music, film that has inspired you. Getting into engineering with those numbers will be a stretch, but with a second choice of liberal arts and third undergraduate studies you should make it in and can internal transfer.</p>
<p>Thanks, but what if i wanted to apply to natural sciences instead of engineering?</p>
<p>Anyone have input on the GPA question or if the college of natural sciences is easier to get into than engineering?</p>
<p>Natural sciences is easier to get into than engineering. I don’t know specifics about GPA, though.</p>
<p>Okay thanks</p>