Could I get into UT Austin?

<p>Hi! Im currently a junior in high school and am ranked number 2 out of 500. I got a 2000 on my SAT and have a 4.0 GPA. I have a total of about 50 hours of comminuty service. I plan on applying Pre-Law. Im really worried about not being accepted because of the Top 8% Law in Texas. If I remain in top 10, do you think i would have a chance at admisson? </p>

<p>I’m assuming you’re out of state.</p>

<p>UT Austin has a 32% OOS acceptance rate, which is pretty high as far as top 1% people are concerned. Which major do you think you’ll be applying for? The College of Liberal Arts offers Pre-Law Advising, but Pre-Law (like Pre-Med) isn’t a major. The only difficulty I can see you having is getting the major you want if you apply for something competitive- and getting into a top-tier Honors program like Dean’s, Plan II, or Turing.</p>

<p>That said, UT Austin has been known to be wacky in the past due to the top 7% rule (and they’re pretty actively fighting against it, reducing it every year). This year, they admitted a lot of kids in-state that I didn’t think they would accept so be prepared to deal with a completely unexpected rejection, even though the odds of it are slim.</p>

<p>@dividerofzero‌ Do you think it would be better if i apply undeclared? Or with a business or pre-law major?</p>

<p>@Courtneyyyyy‌ You’re allowed to declare your first two choice majors on the application. I know first- and second-quarter kids outside the top 7% at my (Texas) school apply for Social Work or in Undergraduate Studies just to boost their chances of admission, but I don’t know if that’s also a strategy taken by OOS applicants, especially ones in the top 1%. One of my friends got into UT for Undergrad Studies and is going to a UC instead because transferring out of Undergrad Studies adds a bunch of extra work and may delay graduation.</p>

<p>I just can’t find out whether UT admits by major- it might not even help as they automatically consider everyone for Undergrad Studies anyway. But unless you’re really worried about getting into the university, applying undeclared or for a major you’re not actually interested in is probably a waste of time.</p>

<p>EDIT: Looks like they do. If you’re worried, make an average-to-unpopular major within Liberal Arts or Natural Sciences your second choice. I’m honestly not that familiar with Pre-Law (Computer Engineering here) so I don’t know what specific majors would work well. Just keep in mind that doing so might lead to more hassle while you’re in college.</p>