Non-top 10% OOS applicant - Forget about it?

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

<p>UT-Austin (Also applied for Business Honors Program) -- OUT OF STATE
1st choice: Business
2nd choice: advertising</p>

<ul>
<li>Got mail that i was rejected from BHP... but have not received decision from the college.</li>
</ul>

<p>Indian Male . Attend #1 Best Public School in Georgia (named best for 3 consec. yrs)</p>

<p>Academics: </p>

<p>W: 94.32 (3.9 GPA) --> For UT-Austin (they look at W)</p>

<p>Most rigorous workload: 7 APs, 1 JE. All Honors classes except 3 on-level classes.
19th percentile --> out of 611 kids. </p>

<p>SAT (for UT-Austin): 680 CR, 630 M, 640 W = 1310/1600 </p>

<p>Recommendations:
Friggin Sweet = 3 teachers. All really like me and praise me. Counselor and I are very close. </p>

<p>Essays: Pretty good in my opinion. Those who have proofread have said they are all very well. Creative and Catchy. </p>

<ul>
<li>Resume (below). I also attached a 3-page Art Portfolio of my work as Creative Director and my work in my student companies. </li>
</ul>

<p>ECs:
Northview Website Development Team (11, 12) – Creative Director (Design the school website)
American Red Cross Club (11, 12) - Co-founder & Treasurer
National Honor Society (11, 12) – Math Chairman
Kaleidoscope/Diversity Club (9, 10, 11, 12) – Publicity Chairman
Bhangra Dance Team (9, 10, 11, 12) – Co-founder & Dancer
Model UN (9,10,11) - Member
Ultimate Frisbee Club (9-12th) - Team Member and Treasurer </p>

<p>Duke TIP participant: summer before 10th grade. </p>

<p>Volunteering </p>

<ul>
<li>Bal Vihar Hindi School Volunteer (Assisted teachers in teaching Hindi to students) – 2003 to 2006 : Over 180-200 Hours</li>
<li>Fulton County Northside Hospital “Volunteen”(Assisted nurses and doctors with patients) – Summer 2006: 60 Hours (ish)</li>
<li>Spruil Oaks Library Volunteer - over 100 Hours (ish) </li>
</ul>

<p>Work Experience </p>

<p>Khabar Magazine, Inc.
Internship
Designed print advertising campaigns for small businesses
Designed and reviewed layouts for the magazine
Researched options in enhancing company website and promoting business </p>

<p>Sinopse Media Designs (student company)
Co-founder
Design websites, logos, and collateral for businesses and small organizations
In charge of marketing companies to potential clients </p>

<p>Tangerine Designs (new student company) - Founder. Received first 2 clients just last week.
yay =)</p>

<p>Super Honor Roll (All Years)
Principle's List (All Years)
V.I.P Award - 2 teacher nominations (9th grade)
National Honor Society - math Chairman
2007 talent show winner. =)
TAG Student.</p>

<p>So..with all this banter about it being virtually impossible to get in now if you're not in the top 10 percent even IN-STATE. </p>

<p>Do i have a chance at all being Out of state?</p>

2

<p>10 views.</p>

<p>zero responses. </p>

<p>booo. =(</p>

3

<p>I have essentially the same credentials...a bit higher rank, and im IN-STATE...and im pretty much giving up hope</p>

4

<p>Well, I'll answer your stuff one at a time.</p>

<p>UT does not care that you attend the best public school in Georgia. Their admissions process allows for little human empathy, and is basically just plugging in numbers into a formula. At UT, you actually have a better chance if you have good numbers at a BAD, low-income high school than at a good high school. Race cannot officially figure in to the admissions process currently, so that neither helps nor hurts you.</p>

<p>Your GPA doesn't matter in the slightest. UT does not look at GPA, weighted or unweighted, at all. What they look at is a class rank. You are top 20%, which isn't bad, but this year it's so competitive that it will really hurt. The most-rigorous workload will help you out a bit but it isn't significant. Your SAT score is a 1310 at US doesn't look at writing. That is a little below the average for admitted OOS students, but remember that means half of the admitted kids are below the average (1330). Recs: if you applied to honors, it helps. Otherwise it doesn't fit into the formula. They add anything you send into your file, but I believe don't look at them at all unless you appeal (and may not even then). Essays are 3/7 of the personal achievement index, and if they are good that will help you. Unless you are applying to Art, they don't care about your Art Portfolio. They are dealing with 25,000 applications, they can't be holistic and personal. Your resume is strong, but they spend maybe 5 minutes looking on it. It is 4/7 of the personal achievement score. That personal score looks like it will help you, but the academic side may be a little low.</p>

<p>Personally, I have to say they will deny you. The acceptance rate for students who are not Texas top-ten is going to be about 15-20% this year. Based on the people who normally apply, I do not believe you would be in this percentage (especially because, with the number of Top ten kids going in, I believe that OOS kids will see a drop in the number of spaces available). You would be a good candidate for summer admission, but I believe that is restricted to only Texas residents (I may be wrong about that though).</p>

<p>Advertising is not a good second-choice major, it usually fills up with first choice kids. Communications and Business are the two hardest schools to get in to.</p>

<p>I wish people knew this: pick some Liberal Arts or Natural Sciences major as a second-choice. Particularly one that isn't particularly popular. That way you have a much better chance to get in.</p>

<p>Let us know what happens. I could be completely wrong.</p>

5

<p>BHP typically accepts top 1.8% applicants with an average SAT score of 1453 out of 1600, so don't be too discouraged--it's REALLY hard to get in. I'm still waiting to hear back...eek.</p>

<p>Although my school doesn't rank, I'm pretty sure my 3.65 unweighted GPA didn't place me in the top 10%, but I'm not completely sure. I think my high scores are what saved me and why I was admitted to UT, quite frankly. </p>

<p>I think your big disadvantage is that your school ranks, and you fall outside of the top 10%. Your scores, though not terrible, are not especially stellar either, which hurts you because if you had high scores than those scores probably would've made up for your 19% rank. I find that kind of interesting though, your 3.9 GPA (I'm assuming unweighted?) puts you in the top 19% rank...that unweighted GPA would put anyone in the top 1% of my school, but my school doesn't rank.</p>

<p>Your resume/EC's seem decent but not especially strong, but UT obviously puts much more weight on rank and other numbers (test scores).</p>

<p>Did you take any AP exams after taking the AP courses?</p>

<p>Honestly, given your top 19% rank, OOS status, and relatively mediocre SAT scores, chances do not look good for your admission. But hey, UT might send you a fat acceptance package soon! You never know.</p>

<p>All in all, this year especially for all '08 applicants is the most competitive year in history for college admissions, which is made even more harder because of UT's top 10% law and your OOS status.</p>

<p>I mean, you've done all you can so now just sit back and wait. UT will definitely notify you by April 1st. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>thanks for the analysis guys!! </p>

<p>..is there anyone who has been out side of the top ten percent and OOS that can give me some hope? haha</p>

7

<p>it is very tough to get into the school this year non top 10% instate, much harder OOS.</p>

<p>With 80% incoming guaranteed freshman, 94% in-state freshman, and only 6% OOS, it's not looking good.</p>

8

<p>Is that 6% number ALL OOS kids, including internationals?</p>

<p>That's rough.</p>

<p>If I remember correctly, the non-Texans have usually been half OOS and half international.</p>

<p>So basically if you get in OOS, it's like getting in to a HYPS school.</p>

9

<p>I hope you didn't spell 'principal' the way you did on your application.</p>

10

<p>Your chances are almost nil.. less than average test scores, bad rank, and you applied to some of the hardest majors to get into..</p>

11

<p>Rejected. </p>

<p>Hopefully I'll have better luck elsewhere. </p>

<p>=(</p>