How much does class rank matter?

While my standardized test scores were okay for UT (32 ACT, 1370 SAT), my class rank isn’t. I have a 3.8 GPA, which is pretty bad, but not the worst. The only problem is that my school is extremely competitive and most people near the top have almost perfect GPAs, which I couldn’t acquire due to me immigrating to the country in freshman year and didn’t do too well that year. Do I have a chance for UT Austin?

To answer your question, class rank means alot. By not being in the top 7%, you are not an automatic acceptance. UT fills 75% of all slots with automatic acceptance. That being said, you still have a chance depending on your major. Certain majors are extremely competitive; CS, engineering, business, nursing, to name a few. If you are an education major, your chances are better. Make sure you apply to some other schools that are considered safeties.

If my DD is from Texas, ACT 32, and 7.2% in her class ranking…is she an auto admit? Surely they round down don’t they?

I don’t believe they round down. They mean 7.0 or less.

They do not round down. A girl from our high school was literally the cutoff between the top 7 percent and the rest of the class. She had an over 4.0 gpa, tons of ECs, leadership, etc. 2nd generation longhorn. Appealed twice. She is an Aggie.

According to the book “your ticket to the forty acres” by a former UT admissions counselor of the name Kevin Martin, UT Austin apparently only looks at class rank, and they do NOT look at GPA, or school competitiveness.

Schools are required to disclose what they consider in the application process in their Commin Data Set. For any school you are considering you can usually find it by googling the school name and common data set. Here is UT’s. Around page 7 you will find ranking of various factors.

https://utexas.app.box.com/v/CDS2016

Class rank is arguably the top factor in getting in. UT has a deal with the state the the top 7% (this year, but it can vary) get into the school. It can not adjust by what their opinion is of a specific high school, as that would be seen as potentially discriminatory. Then it could be said for example that kids from city schools in Houston are getting the shaft because UT is only taking kids from private schools in Houston. After the agreed to 7%, UT can use all their normal metrics to admit kids. Since the incoming class is now 75% Texas due to the 7% rule, this usually gets tilted towards out of state/other country kids to create a more balanced class. Thats why its hard to get in if you are not top 7%.

If you are not ranked, then you will need to compensate with other stuff like higher standardized scores and doing well on rigorous classes. Your SAT and ACT scores are not quite competitive.

For those reading these posts, please don’t let the fear mongers convince you that class rank is all that matters at UT Austin. Oodles of evidence are on these threads that negate this fact – so many applicants with outstanding grades, extracurriculars, and having taken rigorous courses at competitive schools who are not top 7% gain admission. Just like at any school, if an admissions rep sees an unacceptable class rank after reviewing the school’s profile, that applicant would be denied. UT is no different. There are required to admit all who fall within the 7% but admit many of these into majors to which they did not apply. Through my own children’s application processes I know of many many denied students whose class ranks were significantly higher than some admitted students to the same major-- so the anecdotal evidence alone proves that Class Rank is but one criteria used at UT Austin just like at any other school.