Hey guys! UT is currently my number 1 choice, as Austin is nearby and UT has a good philosophy program, (my intended major). However, I am not in the top 7%, I am in the 7.8%, which is likely to change as people are going to drop out after junior year and lower my percentage. How hard is it to get into UT without automatic admission? I have a 3.8 gpa and 31 act by the way.
If you are that close to the top 7% you should be fine.
You’re applying to a less competitive major with a 31 so you should be ok. You can also try to raise your rank senior year. Are you retaking next year as well?
Im thinking of retaking in june or september
UT uses rank at end of junior year based on what others found by calling in January.
Philosophy is less competitive than engineering, business and computer science, so you should be okay- but you need safeties.
Your major choice will help you, but its still an iffy proposition. The “top 7%” fills up 75% of the incoming class. The remaining 25% come from all over the US and the World, so you will be put in against the best students not in TX. Plus, since the top 7% is all Texas students, they will be looking to round out the class by bringing in students from other states and international. This puts you at a disadvantage right off the bat.
I think it’ll be 8% next year so if your major is philosophy you should be fine. 
Are you a junior now? If so, automatic admission for freshman applicants entering fall of 2017 is already set at 7%. Does your high school rank after each quarter or each semester? Submit an updated transcript if your ranking improves at the end of the first quarter senior year. But submit your junior ranking early in the application period. If your class rank goes down, you want UT to have the best one on file.) It can’t hurt to take the ACT again as UT will consider the single best test score that benefits you most. Ask trusted teachers to critique your essays so you put together the most competitive application possible. Submit every optional essay, resume and recommendation. And think carefully about your backup plan and apply to other schools so you have good options in case you don’t get accepted to UT. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Good luck and hook 'em!
Also, run the NPC (net price calculator) on all colleges.
Based on your stats, there should be quite a few colleges in Texas and around that would be good - UArkansas and UOklahoma have excellent Honors Colleges, for instance. Southwestern, Trinity, Austin, St Edwards, Hendrix, are all excellent colleges that nurture and challenge strong students.
Remember that colleges typically don’t meet need (in Texas, only Rice does, I believe) so running the NPC on each and every one before you apply is best.
From UT’s website:
More years are top 7% but your top 8% will help your Academic Index (AI). You can also improve your AI with top section scores for college of liberal arts. UT published the formula:
HSR = high school rank = (1-class rank/class size) * 100
My S was accepted into the very competitive CS program with an uw GPA significantly below yours (assuming the one you posted is uw). Put a lot of your focus on highlighting yourself and your accomplishments in your essays, resume, etc. It is very possible, but I agree you should make contingency plans and not assume that you will be accepted. Good luck!
I’ve heard that you only get your second choice major if you’re an automatic admit. Is that true? Or do those not in the top 7% also have a chance to get their second major or another major within UT?
I know an auto admit who received her second choice major.
@pinxrt1 No that is not true, my daughter is auto admit and got her first choice major. Or did I just read your question wrong, which I could have.
@amottmers I think you happened to read my question wrong I meant to say that if you are denied your first choice, do non auto admits get considered for/given their second choice major? I have only heard of auto admits receiving their second choice major if denied their first.
@pinxrt1 thats what I was thinking, sorry about that. Yep I have only heard of auto admits getting their 2nd choice major not sure about non auto admits.
I saw very few people get their second choice majors this year. It seemed like a few engineering students ended up in a second choice of engineering. Otherwise, it looked like people who did not get their first choice of major were offered any available major as of a certain date. The majors were almost all in COLA but did not include Econ and psych. If you read through the Fall applicants thread and the decisions 2020 thread you can find what was available.