Waitlisted and CAPed? Should I appeal?

Hi, I’m an in-state applicant and was recently offered CAP, PACE and wait list at UTA. My teachers and I are a little confused as to why I was not accepted but students that my teachers see as less-qualified did get in. I would appreciate if anyone could look over my stats and give some insight as to whether or not I should appeal , and if there is anything that sticks out to you that would’ve weakened my application.

1st choice: natural sciences
2nd choice: liberal arts
rank: top 20%
SAT: 2240
ACT:36
AP: all 5s except for a 3 in physics
ECs:
Academic Decathlon
magnet program
have helped plan several local fundraisers
have directed and stage managed several school plays
~200 volunteer hours
summer classes at local universities

Also submitted recs From teachers I was very close to. My essays may have been a weaker point for me and my lit teacher didn’t like them that much when I showed her my first drafts.
Has anyone had experience getting off the wait list?

what major did you apply to in CNS? and UT stopped looking at applicants 2nd choice in 2011 (ik, it’s stupid that they still put it on the application). they only look at what your first choice is, and if you don’t make the cut there, they stop looking at your application. as for the appeal, I do not know. appeal’s are typically if you incorrectly inputted information or to submit new information that’ll help boost your chances, not for your scenario. your application is compelling and I am confused as to why you weren’t accepted either. I have very similar stats, applied to CNS, and was offered CAP, PACE, and wait list at UTA as well… very upset and confused. my friends who are ranked way lower than me got accepted to CNS too. I know how you feel, literally. but from what i’ve researched, getting of the wait list is a 2-6% chance (stats from the last 3 years). I wouldn’t count on it, as I am not either. although I had my heart set on UT, with stats similar to mine, I don’t doubt that you have been offered admittance to other great schools as well.

@bengor10152 i chose biochem. very sorry that you had a similarly upsetting experience . i wonder why they’re being so seemingly arbitrary : /

@sahar1811 The process isn’t arbitrary; it’s just extremely flawed. The vast majority of UT Austin students are admitted under the “top 8% rule”, which means that UT has little room for qualified non-automatically-admitted students like yourself.

it just seems arbitrary because people with much lower test scores and ranks, and little to no extra curricular involvements, got in from my school while i didnt : (