Longhorns, please chance for McCombs!

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
1

<p>Hey guys I'm a rising senior, in state, and I really want to go to the McCombs school at UT Austin. This year, for the first time I believe, they are no longer admitting people based upon class rank at all. It used to be set to where people were auto admitted from the top 1%, 2%, 3% and so on until 75% was filled up, but now 100% of the applicants are admitted holistically and NOT based only upon class rank. The middle 50% sat there is 1220-1420, but this includes a good number of students who were automatically admitted and had sub-par test scores. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>SAT:
Reading - 670
Math - 760
Total - 1430 (UT-Austin looks at SATs out of 1600)</p>

<p>ACT:
English Usage – 32
Reading – 29
Math – 34
Science – 33
Composite - 32</p>

<p>Bible study leader (lessons taught 100% by me to roughly 15 underclassmen kids), Secretary for the European History Club, JV basketball captain junior year, on the youth advisory committee for the new science museum in Dallas (help to design the museum and create new ways to attract a diverse audience), five honor societies, top 10%, Hispanic (not sure if that helps or not), National Hispanic Scholar, and lastly I intern with Conference USA (an NCAA Division-I athletic conference host to schools such as rice, SMU, UAB, Houston, South Florida, etc) where I help to construct their basketball schedule for the next year.</p>

<p>My unweighted gpa is a 3.7, my weighted gpa is a 4.29. My school doesn't do class rank, they just let you know if you are in the top 10% (which I am), but from comparing my gpa to that of others it looks as though I'm roughly in the 9th percentile. Also I go to a very competitive high school that was just ranked as the #3 open enrollment school in the country, so it’s definitely competitive.</p>

<p>I take the most rigorous course load offered at my school. I will have taken 14 AP classes by the time I graduate, I’m two years accelerated in math, and all of my classes are honors on top of that.</p>

<p>What chances do I have of getting into McCombs? If my chances aren’t very good, what can I do to enhance them? Thanks for the help!</p>

2

<p>Well with the new admissions policy (which in my opinion is way better) it’s too hard to tell for sure. But I would say you have a good chance.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the input. Do you have any insight or opinion as to in what way the new policy will affect admissions? (i.e. Will average test scores be affected, will the importance of class rank change, etc?)</p>

4

<p>With McCombs now utilizing a holistic review process, they will be using a two-prong approach: the Academic Index (AI) and Personal Achievement Index (PAI). The document below explains the way UT derives the AI, which is based on a multiple regression formula, and PAI, which is on a more subjective 1-6 scale.
<a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/research/HB588-Report13.pdf[/url]”>http://www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/research/HB588-Report13.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Pay special attention to pages 4-5 which explain the process for class rank calculation, and addendum 9 at the very bottom that lists the formulas for each college. </p>

<p>McCombs also has a checklist available on its website:[Getting</a> Admitted | McCombs School of Business | The University of Texas at Austin](<a href=“http://new.mccombs.utexas.edu/BBA/Prospective/Admission/Freshman%20Admission.aspx]Getting”>http://new.mccombs.utexas.edu/BBA/Prospective/Admission/Freshman%20Admission.aspx)</p>

<p>Note that there is a reference for an interview process on that checklist. However, after speaking with Admissions, that was included in error. There will only be interviews for BHP candidates, according to them.</p>

5

<p>Thank you, that was extremely helpful (and somewhat frightening). According to the Business ACT formula my AI is a 3.739 out of 4.0 (I didn’t add in the possible .1 for strength of curriculum, but having taken all honors and AP classes I’m hoping I’ll get it when they calculate the formula themselves). Obviously I can’t grade myself on the subjective section, but is a 3.739 a respectable AI for McCombs or do I need to try to raise it to have a good shot?</p>

6

<p>As stated in the pdf file above, the AI is used to guesstimate your freshman GPA. Personally, I think a 3.739 (really a 3.839–add the .1 in, you earned it :slight_smile: ) is excellent for a freshman given the change of being away from home and learning good study habits. </p>

<p>As for the PAI, my advice would be to really work on the application essays to make them as good as possible. Have others read them for their opinion and to double check for any mistakes that might slip through. Also, McCombs is requiring an expanded resume this year. Don’t be shy–expand on all of your extracurricular accomplishments. </p>

<p>Last, if you are going to apply to BHP, you will be required to have a teacher submit an online recommendation. Even if you decide not to pursue BHP, it wouldn’t hurt to have a teacher mail in or fax a recommendation letter. The more complete the application, the better.</p>

7

<p>You sound like a solid candidate! Rock those essays and I think you’d have as good of a chance as anyone :P</p>

8

<p>According to the pdf file above, UT Austin actually looks at SAT out of 2400.</p>

9

<p>Yah I found that odd given that they report stats out of 1600 on their website, but I did notice the business equation included writing for the SAT and English/Writing for the ACT.</p>

10

<p>Your stats are MUCH greater than mine and I got in (I’m also in state). I recommend several things though</p>

<p>DON’T make your essays so “I’m proving to you I’m smart”. My essay wasn’t a “smarty” essay at all but a very genuine and insightful one. I didn’t use high vocabulary or anything nor did I discuss some smarty-people who knows what. Keep it real :smiley: I even threw in a witty line or two because I wanted them to get the feel of me as a person. Voice matters.</p>

<p>List your accomplishments but try to keep a focus on the one that mattered MOST to you. I was in two clubs and an honor society but I chose to emphasize my dedication to one. I didn’t list any club/activity I did only for one year or less. I wanted to prove my activities were qualitative and not quantitative. </p>

<p>You should be fine, especially considering how they’re doing the new process. Try not to over-calculate and obsess too much it’s just unhealthy.</p>