I just got my rejection e-mail and I could not be more confused…
I am in the top 7% of my high school class of 900 seniors, got a 33 on my ACT, am out of state (but have visited UT for 3 college tours), a 2 sport team captain varsity athlete, an all-state runner, have been playing violin for 13 years, loads of community service, started a veteran support club at school, a national merit scholar semifinalist, and started an online shoe business that made over $45,000 my first year of business (Junior year of HS). I applied to the business school and put my second choice as undecided and was flat out rejected… I also had 3 essays I submitted that were revised by 2 AP English teachers and my private-paid tutor.
I just don’t know what I did wrong or how I got rejected; I know UT is extremely competitive, but it still makes no sense to me. I just wonder if there are other people that feel the same confusion.
UT must take 90 percent of its class from in state applicants. That leaves 10 percent for international and out of state students. The competition for those slots is fierce. You did not do anything wrong. You have outstanding stats and accomplishments. There just are not enough places for OOS students. Looking at your post, I am sure you have great choices from the other schools to which you were surely accepted.
UT Austin is really tough to get into if you are an OOS student.
Don’t second guess your accomplishments, these had nothing to do with your rejection. It had to do with your address not being in a Texas zip code.
Being in the top 7% did not guarantee anything for you because you are OOS. Your rank is what is factored in.
I agree, shake this off and consider your other options. UT has to consider the top 6,7,8% (depends on the year) of Texas high schoolers which leaves very few spots for OOS or internationals. Not being accepted does not mean you were not an excellent candidate.
Good advice from the above posters. With your significant record of accomplishment, you also have many other highly sought-after offers most likely. Don’t sweat it. Part of the process of becoming an adult is learning how to handle rejection, which many top performing kids encounter for the first time only during college admissions. Get used to being rejected, do more push ups and shrug it off. Attitude not aptitude will determine your altitude.
Similar situation here 
I’m an international student from India, had applied for Electrical Engg, got rejected at UT Austin.
I had a 33 in ACT, 2110 in SAT, 800 and 780 in SAT 2 Maths(level 2) and Physics.
I was President of various clubs, founder of a community service organization, had done research work with professors from one of the best institutions here, etc etc.
My essays were good, and my teachers gave m amazing recommendations letters.
I believed that UT A would have been a great fit for me
Also, some of my friends with much lower SAT/ACT scores got in. How can this happen?
same here, I got accepted to better schools but rejected to UIUC and UT Austin CS. My friend last year got in with much lower ACT, GPA, and EC. It is no coincidence that UIUC and UT Austin has the lowest OOS percentage (less than 10%). Texas has affirmative action law so your ethnicity will certainty play a role in this thing. The other thing is ofc your major. Almost everyone get rejected to UIUC CS. Therefore, it is possible that your ethnicity and your major be the role in a such competitive body.