<p>How hard is it really to get into the University of Texas at Austin in the cockrell school of engineering? I'm a juniorand have a 3.8 GPA and I'm ranked 25 of 454 so I am in the top 5% of my class and I'm in alot of clubs, but didn't do so hot on my SAT. I really want to get, but I am scared i won't get in.</p>
<p>What was your SAT score? I’m not sure if the CoE has auto-admits, but if it does, then you would be accepted. However, if it doesn’t, then your SAT score will play a big role along with your GPA and rank.</p>
<p>I got like a 1360, but I plan on taking it again soon.</p>
<p>Bishop, no matter what, be sure you have met the Calculus Readiness Requirement by the application deadline.</p>
<p>Re: your SAT, assuming the 1360 is a reference to M+CR, the section scores Cockrell actually cares about are M and W. See holistic review discussion at the end.</p>
<p>If you are in-state, your top 5% rank <strong>may</strong> be enough. See the Cockrell admission page: “Because admission to the Cockrell School of Engineering is so competitive, automatic admission for eligible Texas applicants is restricted to the most qualified applicants.” [Undergraduate</a> Admission - Cockrell School of Engineering](<a href=“Undergraduate Admissions”>Undergraduate Admissions) The rubric they use is not spelled out on their site. However, I <strong>assume without knowing for sure</strong> that they follow the same rubric McCombs follows, which is spelled out in detail on the business school site and excerpted in relevant part as follows: </p>
<ol>
<li> A maximum of 75% of the Texas resident spaces (approximately 750 students) is admitted according to rank. The Office of Admission begins with those students ranked in the top 1%, followed by top 2%, and so on until approximately 75% of the class is filled. </li>
<li> The remaining 25% of our Texas resident spots (approximately 250 students) are admitted through a competitive process. After automatically admitting eligible Texas applicants each year, the university fills any remaining spaces in the freshman class through holistic review.</li>
</ol>
<p>So, if Cockrell follows the 75-25 rubric AND your 5% rank is not enough to get you auto-admitted, then your app will undergo holistic review. </p>
<p>If Cockrell doesn’t follow the 75-25 rubric, then my guess is all apps undergo a degree of holistic review.</p>
<p>And if you are OOS or international, you will most certainly be applying under holistic review.</p>
<p>What does UT consider under holistic review? Go to page 4 of the latest Top 10% report for the evaluation rubric: <a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/research/HB588-Report13.pdf[/url]”>http://www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/research/HB588-Report13.pdf</a> Note in the discussion about determining Academic Index there is a footnote 9, which appears at the end of the report. It shows that for Engineering applicants, the AI is derived by a calculation that uses your SAT math and writing section scores–the CR is not used (HSR = high school rank):</p>
<p>Engineering SAT Model
‐2.254 + (SAT W * .002) + (HSR * .023) + (SAT M * .003)</p>
<p>So while you should do your best on all sections when you retake the SAT, don’t blow off the writing on the theory it’s not important! It’s actually very important to the limited extent the W value is weighted in the formula.</p>
<p>Similarly, because each factor considered is only weighted to a certain degree, be sure you do put in your best effort on your resume and your essays. Read the tips about both on the Be A Longhorn site. Definitely submit letters of recommendation–most other colleges recommend two teachers, preferably from junior year, one in math/science, the other in English/social science. If you aren’t applying to other schools where you will need those recs, then because letters of rec are optional for UT and there is no specific guideline other than familiarity, you can be more flexible in selecting who will write on your behalf, e.g., you could use one teacher and one coach, Boy Scout leader or other adult who knows you well and can offer a strong rec that demonstrates something significant about you as a whole person that you want UT to know.</p>
<p>Apply as early as you can put in your best application on the theory that they are following the 75-25 rubric and approximating the cutoff rank as they go–if you put in your app Dec. 1, it may then be clear 5% alone won’t cut it, forcing you into the holistic review pool and a very long wait to find out if you got into Engineering (you will likely be advised pretty quickly you are admitted to UT generally, as there is a spot there for you no matter what because you are within the top 9% for auto admits in 2012–the only question is whether you get into your first choice of major, Engineering).</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you so much, that was really helpful.</p>