What are my chances at Engineering at UT Austin (not 10%)?

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
1

I would like to do Biomedical engineering at UT Austin. I’m also curious: how my chances would be if I didn’t put engineering as a second choice major?
I go to a decently ranked Texas public school where i’m ranked 10.5%

I have a 1450 (750M/700RW) for my highest single sitting SAT and a 1420 (780/640) as my other SAT.

AP Scores:

5s-Calc BC (AB subscore)/Human Geo

4s-Lang/Physics 1/World History

3s-Stats/Physics 2 (May not report)

Taking Physics C Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism this year along with AP Lit.

ECs:

  1. Model UN (I’ve dedicated a lot of time to this club and it has a really interesting story about how I helped it grow over the years). Secretary for 2 years and held a non-officer leadership role 1 year

  2. Science/Math/Number Sense UIL. A couple team awards. Member for 4 years. Captain of all 3 teams.

3)Technology Student Association. Qualified for state twice. VP one year

  1. HOSA. Just joined this year.

  2. 100 hours volunteering at a hospital

  3. Interned one summer at an IT department of a school district and got to fix laptops all summer.

Awards: A couple team UIL awards and Model UN awards. National Merit Commended. AP Scholar with Distinction.

I can get some pretty good recommendations

2

@Sherburt The latest stats available on UT’s website are 2015-2016. They say they take about 130 new undegrads into Biomedical each year. Average SAT 1449 according to the website. Good luck!

3

Remember that 1449 was old SAT. That equates to something higher on the new SAT. If you are quoting new SAT in your original post, you’ll likely be below the average quoted here. Use the old/new SAT converter on college board’s website to compare.

The way the academic index works your rank and test scores are combined to get to a single number. If your test score is below average and your rank is probably at or just below other applicants, you’ll be below the average. Then you look at the Personal Achievement Index. You have some really nice accomplishments listed.

It did seem last year that Biomedical Engineering was super competitive. If you look at last year’s thread, I believe there was a NMSF who did not get into Biomedical Engineering and it did not appear that second major was considered.

Your chances are not terrible but they are not great either. You will never know if you do not try. As long as you have the time and money to apply and you have already applied to some safeties, you should try. Good luck.