<p>I understand how out-of-state is more difficult, but is it to your advantage to be from a state that is not well represented. I'm from New Jersey, and according to utexas.edu, only 100-199 undergrades are from New Jersey. I figure this would actually help out if they indeed want to diversify. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>My stats:</p>
<p>1330 (660V, 670M)
2.86 UW/3.57 W</p>
<p>EC: Strong and original
Essays: Very legit reasons for poor grades in beginning of high school (ie: family issues).</p>
<p>I'm applying to Liberal Arts because it's the only school I feel like I have a chance in. UT is truly the only school I want to go to. How does it look?</p>
<p>Hmmm. I keep answering these chances requests because no one else seems to be doing it. You know that I can only guess. I'm certainly no expert and I can only give you my opinion based on what I've read from the UTAustin website. There is a service provided there called "ask DON" that you can use to find some information that is not shown outright in other areas of their website. You should browse through it. </p>
<p>Okay, that said, here are some things to consider. ( I'm assuming that you are a senior). Your SAT is near the top of their 50th percentile, that's good, Your unweighted GPA seems a little low but it's obvious from your weighted gpa that you took some hard classes. And you mentioned that you will be addressing your relatively lower gpa in your essays. Do your grades show an upward trend? How were your junior year grades and the grades so far this year? Have you taken the recommended minimum requirements to get into Texas (found on their website) ? What is your class rank? 94% of their students are in the top 25% of their class. I do agree that of the different schools, liberal arts would be easier to get into. Your chances will partially depend upon how many of the top ten percenters in Texas apply to UT this year.</p>
<p>I guess if your essays are really strong and you come across as a student in love with the idea of attending UT then there's an okay chance of admission. Have you already applied? They let my d know relatively quickly that she was accepted, but she was top ten percent in Texas and thus there was no suspense for us. I don't know about UT and diversification so I don't know if being from out of state helps or hurts.</p>
<p>Either way, since you are really wanting to go there, I hope you get accepted. Go for it and good luck.</p>
<p>My high school has no class rank in any form. Even if directly asked for what quintile I was in, they would not say. This is because of the competitive nature of my school; In a class of 100, there are already 10 ivy league acceptances. My grade trend certainly went up, and my freshman year was in a private school (which my grades were certainly the worst). I applied but did not submit my second essay yet.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for you wishing me good fortune and I return it to you. Going to UT is honestly everything to me, so put me in your prayers if you'd be so kind. Thank you for the response.</p>
<p>On the UT website they specifically address out of state students from non-ranking schools and the factors they consider when deciding about admissions. They also recommend that you give them details of any special circumstances that you have had to contend with in your life. They want to hear from your counselor regarding details of your high school. They will accept a resume if you have extra activities or involvement that you would like to highlight. Finally, they recommend that you contact your admissions counselor. The admissions counselor for your high school may be found by doing a search under the "prospective Students"-"Freshman admissions" section on the website. If you don't already know who this is then you should find out and contact that person and start letting your enthusaism for UT show. It could only help. </p>
<p>Island Mom, I have appreciated your UT posts. My son is an in -state URM with a 1450, but only top 17% at a very good public. In the end it is UT all the way for him . He started with that position and after thinking about other schools he just couldn't get himself to apply to the typical East Coast prestige schools, though he gets wistful as some of his friends get admitted to the Ivies. He has done much better last three semesters after a poor first two years. </p>
<p>We are sweating it a little. Many think UT has a sort of informal policy (which they will deny) of admitting those above 1350 and say the top 25%. </p>
<p>If my son's school is any indication. UT is getting some kids who are competititive for the very top schools. If for no other reason than their parents won't pay 40 k per year for prestige unless it is an Ivy or perhaps only the top 4.</p>
<p>Texdad, I think your son will get in. 1450 is a wonderful SAT for UT and will help to bring up their stats. They should like that. And top 17% is not shabby either. I know it's harder in some high schools to get that higher class standing and thus many people wonder whether they will keep the top ten percent rule in effect in the future. As long as the rest of his stats and application look good then I think he's got a good chance. I'm sure they will take into consideration the caliber of the school your son attends. </p>
<p>I agree that many people applying to UTAustin are of the Ivy league caliber. My sister and my husband both went to UT and both loved it. </p>
<p>My daughter also has many friends applying to the Ivy league. But she only "bought" one "lottery ticket" to the Ivy league. We would help her financially if she got in but attending the Ivy league would definitely mean going into quite a bit of debt. She doesn't really want to acquire that much debt. So if she's not accepted, she will not be heartbroken. She just chose the Ivy which seemed to be the best fit for her and gave it a shot. With her 15% chance I guess we really just consider the 50 dollar admission fee to be a lottery ticket.</p>
<p>I think for the price, it would be very hard to find another school that offers as much opportunity as UT. The only thing I worry about is that I've been told (and I believe it) that since the school is so big it IS possible to graduate from there without learning much. It's also possible to graduate from there with a wonderful education. But they won't be babying anybody. It's the sort of place where you probably really do get out of it what you put into it.</p>
<p>UT would actually be my first pick for my daughter, but I have a feeling that she's leaning toward Baylor which is even cheaper for us because of merit aid. We'll see.</p>
<p>Here is some info taken from the UT website that may help those who are asking about chances:</p>
<p>"Due to the quality of students enrolling at UT Austin, the average SAT score of incoming freshman for Texas residents is about 1220, for non residents the average SAT score of incoming freshman is about 1310. Class rank is not as critical in scholarship decisions as is high school gpa, that is because over 80% of our freshman class graduates in the top 25% and about 55% in the top 10%. We have over 3000 valedictorians alone, some from high school classes as small as 15 students to some as large as 2500 students.</p>
<p>You will also see deviation amongst majors. For instance, in the College of Engineering the applicant pool is so strong academically that no student with an SAT score lower than 1450 is even reviewed for scholarships, and so on for various other majors. As a general rule of thumb the SAT score range for scholarship consideration through the Office of Student Financial Services is 1250-1600 for Texas Residents and 1360-1600 for non residents. The lower end of these ranges is about 50 points higher than the average SAT score of all incoming freshman for both residencies."</p>
<p>For the Essays was it best to take a more informative approach or to make it creative? And I don't like the idea that they want you to put challenges in an essay when you could just submit your challenges through the website. It is also hard to not sound whiny when writing Essay A.</p>
<p>Well, I don't really know what the admissions officers want but if I had to read thousands of essays I would certainly prefer the creative approach. Something fun to read that lets the students personality shine through. All the objective info about what you've been doing the last few years will be found elsewhere on your application.</p>
<p>As far as writing the essays being difficult, I agree. For many people it's very difficult to brag about oneself. But remember, you are selling yourself to them. Do it well. If you have had a challenge in your life which you can make interesting then I would certainly write about it.</p>
<p>This is off topic for the original poster, I apologize for that.</p>