I’m currently a junior. My weighted GPA is around 4.7 and my SAT score is a 1500 and I have not taken the ACT yet. I have taken almost all AP classes. I really want to go to UT Austin but I don’t think I have a good shot at making it in. I meet their requirement for SAT and GPA but unfortunately I am not in the top 6% (due to my school being very competitive) and don’t think I will be able to get up their by the end of this school year. As per my extracurriculars, I have been doing robotics for many year and have been successful throughout it. I have also had a job for around a year. I really want to go to UT because its in state and fits all my criteria. Although my rank is lacking, do I still have a shot at getting into UT? Please help, anything is appreciated.
Yes you still have a shot but you need safeties. Without auto admit, you can’t count on UT Austin. Do your best on the application but apply to other schools where you know you will be accepted.
What do you want to study?
@gettingschooled is correct.
Perhaps visit TX A&M.
How close are you to top 6%? And what do you plan to major in?
Many people don’t understand that UT pulls different from each school district and high school. So for some high schools, it will be the top 6% and for others, it might mean top 10% or even more. Yes auto-admit is top 6% but holistically it will be different for each district/high school. It’s been controversial over the years so it is important for you to know how many are accepted from ‘your’ high school. Our local papers tend to publish this stuff but you can ask your counselors.
So for example - we have one school district in Austin that UT pulls heavily from:
“The University of Texas was the class’s top choice for application, admissions, and attendance, with 26 percent of Westlake’s 2018 graduating class, or 170 students, admitted to the school”
For our high school which is in Austin school district - we had to be in the top 6% with perfect or near perfect scores.
So … given that you are holistically going against students from some schools that offer 36 different types of AP classes - you’ll want to have a great application. I encourage you to take ALL exams including showing you are a great candidate taking SAT Subjects and the ACT. The idea is to prove to UT - they must select you. Your essays should prove to them that as well. Basically, keep thinking how can I go above and beyond. Work on a cool project this summer that perhaps you can write about (if you haven’t done so). And most important - if you don’t get in - make sure you Appeal.
My son just told me about 4 kids who got in from an appeal and that’s just who he knows about.
We all wish you the best of luck. Start early on those essays - the UT application is one of the harder ones.
You should also look at UT Plan II, the honors liberal arts program. It’s entirely holistic review and many kids get in there that don’t get in to regular undergrad programs (and vice versa). Your stats would be an absolute match.
Since you’re a junior or rising senior, while you should still try to raise your grades, GPA, and ACT/SAT scores up, getting engaged in extracurriculars is essential! Join clubs and organizations that you are generally interested in, or at least can get interested in, and try to go for leadership positions in those that you can. Start drafting and writing your essays early, and make sure you have a few people proofread it and give honest opinions. My high school is known for its academic rigor and for sending a good amount of kids to UT, and from what I’ve seen from my graduating class and the underclassman one graduating this year from my high school, is that extracurriculars and essays/short answers can either make or break your application. Good luck!
Im currently in top 9% of my class and Im about to start my senior year. I don’t believe I will be able to make that big of a jump but I may get close. I plan to major in an engineering major. I am not 100% sure yet but I am thinking either civil, chemical, or electrical which are all very difficult.
I visited A&M but the atmosphere didnt suit me that well. I plan on majoring in an engineering which is quite difficult at UT.
I am taking a few “gpa boosting” courses senior year but I dont think they will count towards my transcript. Grades go in a week after first semester and by then applications are already sent. Is there anyway that colleges can see my updates transcript before accepting me?
My extracurriculars are very good- in my opinion. I have been doing robotics for many years and Ive also juggled a part time job. I also gained leadership roles in the robotics club as well as gotten many acheivements. Im working on my essay right now and getting it read by several people to make sure that it is the best that it can be.
So any updates on your UT admission?