<p>When I apply to UT next fall, I intend to fill in McCombs as my number one choice and economics as my number 2 choice. I've noticed from multiple forums and general talk about the school that once you are rejected from your first choice, it seems like you don't get your second choice either. For instance, I believe I saw a kid with a 2100 on one thread who was rejected from McCombs and rejected from his second choice. This is hard for me to believe because his SAT was well above the average SAT in liberal arts which I believe is around 1800-1850. So I guess my question is, once you are rejected from your first choice, is it more difficult to be admitted by your second choice? If I am 11% in my class with a 2200, what do you think the likelihood is that I would first get into McCombs, and secondly be admitted to liberal arts? </p>
<p>You can transfer to either for mccombs though it is REALLY HARD YOU WOULD NEED AT LEAST A 3.7 + GPA TO BE COMPETITIVE AGAINST Others. Also apply to Texas a&m business school as a backup. Trust me you always need a backup in college admissions. Mays business school is really good. You can transfer to any major but you just need a high enough gpa for the competitive courses (business, engineering, natural science). Undecided works like this after your semester ends December you have the option to transfer out to another major, if you are not accepted then try in the spring just maintain a high GPA it is very crucial that you do.</p>
<p>@135pipe - I want to ask you about McCombs. Okay, I will be graduating with a 12% class rank and a 2200. Average SAT for McCombs is a 1330 or so, and my composite is a 1450. In addition, the new statistics from 2013 show that the average HS classrank at McCombs is 8th percent. What would you say the likelihood is that I get in? I mean, if my stats are way above average in one area and a little below average in the other, would that not make me a match? I don’t understand UT admissions. This school is at or a little below my level and I feel like there’s a 80% chance I’ll get rejected? </p>
<p>I don’t know. I have known instate kids with worse stats who got into McCombs, including non auto admits, but they had great ECs, like state swimming or hundreds of volunteer hours. At the same time, this past year I knew a girl barely outside the 7% who I thought for sure would be a holistic admit to CNS, and she was rejected. </p>
<p>Chiming in as well. I think to do well in holistic review, you have to stand out. I agree with @Lizardly that ECs are part of it. However, it’s not just about having lots of ECs, but demonstrating a passion about something. It’s better to do fewer ECs and be able to demonstrate passion/commitment rather than rack up tons of ECs with nominal leadership positions in several. I also think the essays are very important for holistic review. They should speak to your passion and help make you stand out as a person, not just a set of stats. In D’s graduating class, I know of many cases of kids with high stats who were barely outside the automatic admission cut of top 7% who did not get in compared to many others with lower stats in terms of test scores/class rank who got in. It’s about making your application stand out. Keep in mind they are reviewing thousands and thousands of applications. It’s about standing out, and the primary way one does that is through the essays. I think it’s a good idea to get your essays reviewed by someone who not only writes well but someone who has seen many college essays and knows what pitfalls to avoid. I think it’s the one aspect of the outside help we sought for D’s college application that was worth it. If you PM me, I will see if I can track down the document the essay coach gave us and see if there’s a way to get you a copy.</p>
<p>Guys, I appreciate all the comments. One more question. You guys are talking about UT reviewing non top 8%ers “holistically”, but, as far as I know, UT just plugs your statistics into an equation. There was a link I recently saw that showed how UT admits students. There are two scores that you are given based on your stats/EC’s/Essays: they are called the AI (Academic Index) and PAI(?Personal Achievement Index?? I think I forgot the name of this). The Academic index is a mixture of your SAT scores and Class rank, and the PAI is basically derived from admission officers ranking your EC’s and essays on a 1-6 scale. Can anyone confirm this? </p>