UT Austin Transfer to CS

Is there any effective way to maximize your chances of getting accepted? I am hoping to apply for Fall 2020. I am a community college student, 3.8 GPA.

I am also a hopeful CS transfer, but for fall 2019.
So I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time researching and thinking about this topic.

Here are some things I’ve focused on:
– keep GPA as high as possible (obvious)
– complete calculus I and a science sequence (at least)
– show interest for CS (clubs, complete fundamental courses, etc.)
– answer in your essays why you want to study CS at UT
– accept you won’t get in

UT’s website has some decent things on which you should focus like degrees plans, checking transfer equivalency, and so on.

For example, taken from UT Austin’s website regarding transfers into CNS:

"Transfer applicants should exhibit strong past performance in math and science courses. A college transcript that indicates a competitive grade in calculus and a solid foundation of first-year coursework in science is highly valued.

To be most competitive, students should have earned credit for calculus and should have complete or in progress a minimum of nine credit hours in first-year math and science courses for science majors. A grade of A or B in all math and science courses is also desirable. "

But having a high GPA and completing the requirements isn’t enough, so it seems (from what I’ve read).
I have a 4.0 and after this semester I’ll have all requirements complete (plus some). I am also nontraditional, so I have a handful of years of analyst experience (scripting with SQL and Python). I got letters of recommendation too, FWIW.

With all this, I still have mild confidence on my chances of getting admitted to UT. But I don’t think I could do anymore to show them I am worthy.

Anyway, you should look into UT Dallas as a back-up school. It is a top 50-60 program, comparable to TAMU. They offer good scholarships to transfers. It’s where I’ll be this fall if UT Austin won’t have me. And I will be there happily.