<p>I am an international applicant to U of T Austin, and i have not received decision yet.
I just came into this website and I am seeing these threads about top 10% thing.
What is this all about???
What if my high school does not rank students??</p>
<p>Don't worry. I know someone applying from Colombia and none of that will matter. You should find out in March.</p>
<p>I'm from Canada lol.</p>
<p>It only applies to Texas citizens.
All top 10% students are guaranteed a spot, so they have to accept all those students first, THEN start accepting everyone else.</p>
<p>It is a horrible rule, in my opinion. An African American female was once denied to UT-Austin. She claimed that the admissions counselor was racist, and that compared to everyone else she was qualified to be in the school. She was in the top 10% of her class, and when compared to other white males, she was more qualified then they were. So, Texas legislature passed a law, that if you are ranked in the top 10% of your class you are automatically admitted into any public college in the state of Texas. This rule has been manipulated and controlled by the parents and students, and has become an ever growing problem. Along with the obstacles such as population growth, and school popularity. This is why people complain so much about this rule.</p>
<p>Actually, it was in reaction to the "Hopwood Decision"
[quote]
which took the position that the University of Texas Law School could not take race into account in admissions either to promote diversity or to remedy the effects or the State's formerly segregated system of public education, but could only seek to remedy the Law School's own discrimination.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
In response to the judicial ban on the use of race-sensitive admissions, the seventy-fifth Texas legislature passed H.B. 588, which guarantees admission to any Texas public college or university for all seniors graduating in the top decile of their class.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There is a ton of information on both the top 10% rule and the Hopwood Decision if anyone is interested. Just google.</p>
<p>Another interesting point is that the Hopwood Decision was abrogated by the Supreme Court in 2003, the significance of that is that "race" may now legally be used in admissions in order to form a diverse class. U of Michigan has gone back to using race in admissions, the state of Texas college systems could do it as well, but the legislature has to change the laws. </p>
<p>There are many legislators though who don't want to change the 10% rule, these are mostly rural and inner city representatives - the rule benefits their constituents the most. </p>
<p>The best thing anyone can do is get involved in the process - start writing your state representative demanding action and a repeal (or at least a retooling ) of the law.</p>
<p>What she said</p>
<p>I Love The Top 10% Rule</p>
<p>
[quote]
I Love The Top 10% Rule
[/quote]
Maybe because you wouldn't have gotten into UT without it?</p>
<p>Dannnng foxshox hahah. Ouch.</p>
<p>the top ten percent rule blows its a peice of crap law....</p>
<p>I really hope the top 5% thing gets passed. All of this has no effect on me, but I really don't like seeing really crappy, ungrateful kids get in b/c their top 10% (and being snooty about it) while genuinely smart, interested kids can't get in b/c they're outside the top 10% at a good high school.</p>
<p>I agree, if they're not going to abolish it, at least make it top 5% ^^ the 10% rule can really harm students especially those who're not cut out to be at Austin but luckily attend a mediocore or below-average highschool. I know many people in my top 10% who score below 1400 on their SAT (on the 2400 scale).</p>
<p>same here. i know alot of undeserving people in the top 10% and a lot of deserving people not in the top 10%. seems to be the story everywhere. for example, i know a guy who is #2 in his class yet scored less than a 1200 on the new SAT. i think he is going to UT's business school. ugh.</p>
<p>^ you think that's bad. My friend transfered to a low performing school to get a higher rank because she wanted to have a high rank to go to a school like Northwestern, UMich, etc. She has people in her top 10% that don't even try to be top 10%. She said there are people who have never taken honors or AP Classes and have really low SAT scores and they are top 10%.</p>
<p>I got higher SAT scores than her. I also got higher scores on the AP tests we both took and when we went to school together we made about the same grades and we both take rigorous school courseloads packed with honors/APs. She is unrivaled valedictorian and because of that is getting a scholarship to UT. </p>
<p>BLAH. Life is unfair. Especially if you want to to a public college in Texas...</p>
<p>well, the good thing is libby that graduate admissions isnt as frustrating or complicated as undergraduate.</p>
<p>I'm not a fan of the 10% policy and the specific % policys of the specific schools (business, engineering, communications? etc). It just seems to me there is too much weight on rank and not enough on everything else. It is not reasonable as there is a wide spectrum of caliber of high schools in Texas. And if your not top 10% or 3% for Business and Engieneering, your automatically shoved off into that "other" group of applicants to compete. Every student should be looked at equally without regards to rank.</p>