<p>Hi Diabl0, thanks for your comment. The average SAT of the admitted/enrolled at McCombs in 2012 was 1352/1322. Her scores were 1570, the top 3% in her class. I think it had more to do with her 1st choice major because everything else on her app was favorable. </p>
<p>Essays are always the game changers for close applicants. I also was denied but given the opportunity with the CAP program. I was 50% below in ranking. :(|) </p>
<p>Two items I learned this week from my son’s college counselor (TX public HS, 5A):</p>
<p>1) the acceptance data in our high school’s scattergrams for UT-Austin included CAP and PACE. This was never mentioned in my many years of attending parent information lectures.</p>
<p>2) UT-Austin significantly overbooked its Class of 2016. They are committed to not repeating that mistake.</p>
<p>jrdaughtermom - Thank you for posting what you learned from the Admissions Dept. (I have a nephew and niece who would like to attend UT-Austin.)</p>
<p>Denali21, that is interesting information. My d’s cc was misinformed by UT as well. Do your nephew and niece reside outside of Texas? The info I have relates to out of state, but I can’t say if it applies to residents. At least they will know the right questions to ask. Thanks for the info - I did not know that about the class of 2016. </p>
<p>Perhaps a slightly more positive way to phrase UT’s thought process would be, “No way will a candidate as qualified as this accept for her second choice program—she’ll go to another college instead.”</p>
<p>thank you, Hunt - what a nice thing to say 
</p>
<p>You should appeal the decision.</p>
<p>McCombs is nuts to turn her down. With her stats she should get some awesome news soon. Please post back with updates! </p>
<p>Thank you 2019hope - will do!!!</p>
<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>I was wondering the same thing. I was surprised as well today when I found out I was denied with a 2240 SAT, a 4.8 weighted gpa, some great extracurriculars (president of NHS, mock trial, reading buddies, YMCA job, etc.), and what I thought was a good essay. It just dumbfounds me, looking at people who got in. I had higher scores, a higher gpa, and better extracurriculars in my opinion.</p>
<p>It could have just been a fit thing with your daughter and me. Admissions counselors are trying to pick people that will stay at their school and have a good time for four years. I don’t think I was as interested in UT Austin a your daughter was, but that doesn’t change the admissions process. </p>
<p>Also, UT Austin is very hard to get into out of state. The top 7% of the class in Texas gets in automatically. This means that students, in the top 7% of their class at a high school with low gpas in Texas, will get in. But a school that’s not so great, these students have not learned how to work hard and succeed at a school like UT Austin. They often drop out after their first year. So there are lots of transfer spots open for sophomores. Maybe your daughter could apply then?</p>
<p>Anyways, I wish you good luck! This will open up other doors for your daughter. The system isn’t set up to fail kids like your daughter who have good test scores and work hard. She will get in some where and make the best of the next four years of her life, as will I.</p>
<p>Well thanks, this is kind of a way for me to vent as well.<br>
Adam </p>
<p>Hi Adam,
Wow, you have an impressive resume. You will probably get in to lots of great schools. Which major/school did you apply to as your 1st choice at Texas? </p>
<p>It was McComb’s which is more selective than the college of liberal arts. But I think I said that if UT Austin didn’t think I could cut it at McComb’s, that then I would still be happy with a place at the College- so it’s even more confusing. This whole thing can be really arbitrary sometimes, I’m just going to forget about it and move. Your daughter will be fine!</p>
<p>So what is the harm in contacting them and saying that UT is her top choice even for 2nd and 3rd major?</p>
<p>Hi Adam, most of the info about this new policy with UT is on page 2 of this discussion, comment #6, and also page 3, comment #6. I think that, especially if you are from out of state, what happened to my daughter is the same thing that happened you. Had you applied 1st choice to a less competitive program, you would probably have gotten in. Did any of your classmates with lower scores apply to bigger programs at UT and get accepted? </p>
<p>Hey Bopper, thanks for your comment. There’s no harm in contacting them, but they have already said that she would have to go through their appeals process, and she has decided to move on.</p>
<p>Jrdaughtermom:</p>
<p>This is my first post. I have a junior daughter and sophomore son and was interested in this thread since UT is on both of their radars (we are also OOS). I can only imagine how frustrated you must have felt, particularly since your daughter appears to be so exceptionally well qualified. I also imagine that you couldn’t have anticipated just how much her choice of majors would have influenced what happened and how her application was ultimately processed by UT.</p>
<p>But I will say that I was very impressed how you handled this rejection and also how you pressed the matter, at least so that you were able to learn why UT denied your D. You were also able to find out what your options are should she decide that UT is where she definitely wants to be (i.e., appeal, apply after freshman year (when the odds should be much better for her)). Good luck to you and your D; I’m sure she will excel in the future wherever she ends up. </p>
<p>I feel your daughter’s pain. Both me and my sister (I graduated in 2013, my sister will in 2014) applied and got capped after showing admissions solid grades, standardized test scores, and VERY well rounded resumes.</p>
<p>What I’ve come to learn about UT Austin, and even Texas A&M, is that they have that 8% (i think it’s 8) automatic acceptance rule… and what a lot of kids do at public schools is take non challenging courses (maybe they take AP eng. or AP env. sci. to spice things up) and they end up meeting the automatic acceptance cut off. All they did was breeze by in easy classes, eliminating chances for more well rounded students, and clearly academically qualified students like your daughter and my sister, to be accepted. </p>
<p>One of my family friends executed that approach… He got automatic acceptance into UT and A&M… chose A&M engineering… got moved down a “level” in the engineering program because his GPA dropped… you wanna know why? … ah yes… He joined a frat and didn’t spend enough time in the library.</p>
<p>I don’t want to rag on greek life or anything else that has negatively effected my sister for the college admissions process, but my family has heard too many stories and has experienced enough to know how the system works and honestly we’re sick of public universities being so narrow-minded. Heck, I got turned down from both UT and A&M and now I am going to the US Air Force Academy… I mean, really?</p>
<p>I encouraged my sister to appeal… She thinks she may have a case they will consider. </p>
<p>I really hope the automatic admissions rule is dwindled down to around 5% soon. If the intention of the university is to educate bright, MOTIVATED, well rounded students into becoming leaders and hardworking citizens of the USA, then why aren’t they generating an admissions process that gives students an overall score that includes their extra curriculars, grades, ACT & SAT scores, essay, etc. and rank students THAT way.</p>
<p>Oh, America.</p>
<p>Hi Ljtjrose, Thank you for your kind words. You sound like you’ll be well prepared when your 2 go through this process. And I hope my post doesn’t discourage you from Texas - my oldest daughter loves it, and if your 2 know about the new discrepancy in the admission process, they will be fine. Of course, everything could change in the next 2 years, but you seem like you’re on top of it. Aren’t they lucky to have you?!?!!!</p>
<p>It reallys helps when you get on that roller-coaster to have kind people commiserate with you, especially if you have a big let down (which you probably won’t). Thank you again for your kind comments.</p>
<p>Jmbruggy, you are so right about colleges’ treating class rank the same from every school. Every school is not the same, and the top 7% at the easiest school in the state is alot different form the top 7% from the most challenging school. There must be some sort of algorythm or formula that schools could use to make this process more equitable for the students. I hope schools like Texas will come up with one.</p>
<p>I’ve heard parents talk about taking their kids out of a competitive school for the last 2 years of high school and putting them into a super easy school where they can move to the top of the class. That would definitely put the student in a more competitive position for college apps, but my gosh, who would actually go through that? These days, it’s like you need a business model to get your kid into a good college, and that’s crazy. In the end, it doesn’t help the student grow up or get where they need to go. </p>
<p>On another note, Jmbruggy, I am very impressed and grateful that you attend the Air Force Academy. We need sharp kids like you there. My UT daughter has friends in Annapolis, and they are the most well-rounded and impressive kids you could find. It’s not easy to get in, and it’s not easy to stay in. I’ve heard from their moms that they really work them hard - no party land at your school. My hat is off to you! And you’ll have the world at your door when you finish. Good for you!</p>
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<p>Access to the Texas public universities to the top 10% (7% at UT Austin) students of any Texas high school ensures political support for the Texas public universities from all parts of the state, including the poorer or disadvantaged parts who would otherwise not have a chance against those from high SES urban or suburban public schools or academically high end private or public magnet schools. Whether or not you agree with the policy, there are political reasons behind it. (Of course, the policy also dulls the incentive to improve the K-12 schools in the poorer or disadvantaged parts of the state.)</p>
<p>excellent points, ucbalumnus. thank you.</p>
<p>@jmbruggy - ditto @jrdaughtermom 's comments, especially the ‘thank you’ about your entering the Air Force Academy. I know two students there (one male / one female - both excellent students from a magnet science and technology school). It won’t be easy, and it’s not meant to be, but it sounds like you are up to the challenge.</p>
<p>@jrdaughtermom - your daughter is in excellent company. I noted this in another thread: our HS valedictorian (#1 out of 1000+, TX public HS, 5A) did not get into UT Engineering. Since he is an auto-admit, he has been offered admission as an Undeclared Major. What he thought was his safety school became his reach school.</p>