cola

Is it true that it’s easier to get into the COLA at UT Austin? I have applied as an econ major, and this is my dream school. Stats kinda in range, I’d say average.

“Easier” is a relative. Without context, your question is very difficult to answer. For some applicants it might be easier. For others it might be impossible. Most will fall somewhere in between.

COLA at UT Austin doesn’t seem to have a plethora of impacted majors. Economics, Psychology, and a few others are verging on “impacted”. There are many majors within COLA that are very difficult to get into, even though they are not impacted. Requesting a non-impacted major couldn’t ever be considered a backdoor way into the university. UT is serious about this question: How have you demonstrated your fit for your requested major?

Are you an in-state, out of state (OOS), or international applicant? 90% of UT admits are residents of the state of Texas. The remaining 10% is OOS and international applicants (with international making up approx. 2%). If you’re OOS or international, would you need financial aid?

“Stats” are only one component of the UT Austin holistic review process. For the 2018-2019 admission cycle, 85% of the successful applicants were in the top 10% of their class. 11% of successful applicants fell between to top 11-25%.

So, ease of admission is truly relative. Here are the questions that you should be asking yourself:

  • Did you put forth your best application?
  • Did you answer all of the optional essay and short-answer prompts?
    • Does your writing show maturity and depth?
  • Did you submit the expanded resume?
  • Did your essays reflect your passions and reveal how you'd impact UTs community?
  • Do your extracurriculars and letters of recommendation reflect an aptitude for Econ?
  • Overall, does your application + supplements reveal reveal who you are and your character, and indicate that you'd be a successful student at UT Austin? Does it reveal why UT Austin?