Hello! I am currently a hs senior in the top 7.6% of my class which means I am eligible for automatic admission at UT austin. Im torn between majoring in medical lab science and biology. The only problem is I have pretty low sat score. I have gotten a 1570 and am taking the act this weekend for the first time. Even though I will automatically get accepted, what are my chances of getting the major I want, and what act score will boost my chances?
Also if it makes any difference last year as a junior i was in a program where I did rotations at 3 local medical facilities where I observed and assisted RN’s, speech pathologists, witnessed 2 c-sections, etc. also by the end of my senior year I will be a certified pharm tech, and will have completed rotations with retail pharmacists. Will this experience increase my chances?
My EC’s include:
HOSA (health occupation students of America)
NHS
And Science Honors Society
The acceptance rate for medical lab science is actually rather low, about 30%. It’s actually more difficult to get into than bio it would seem. It also states that the average SAT/ACT for CNS admitted students is ~1950/30, so you’ll need quite an improvement in all likelihood to have a good chance at either major. Unfortunately there isn’t a statistical breakdown for individual majors so just know you’ll probably need around a 2000 or a 30 to be in serious contention.
If your ACT test isn’t much better, UT may be very difficult for you in a STEM field. 1570 is very low, hopefully you just had a bad day. Also, if your high school is not competitive, try to take some harder classes before you head to UT.
Thanks! I took biology as a freshman(preAP), Chemistry(PreAP) sophomore year, AP physics(alg based) last year, and this year i doubled up and am taking AP Bio, and anatomy & physiology(Honors) im also in my fifth year math which is AP Calc AB. I’ve taken algebra 1, 2, geometry, and pre-cal. All preAP. My high school is pretty competetive (I’ve maintained A’s in all above classes expect calculus this year which I have I have a high C-yikes I know). I feel confident that I will do better on my ACT, I didn’t prepare at all for my SAT, and I love science, it’s actually my passion so im relying on that as well.
Sounds like your scores are not at all related to your capabilities, get a good night sleep, manage stress, etc.
Would be good to prepare for the ACT and maybe retake the SAT, maybe even take a test prep class, but I think that may all be late in the process.
If you get into UT or TAMU in any major, and do well, you can likely transfer (not a Texan, but someone can advise). Freshman bio majors take Bio and core sciences which are unlikely to be restricted classes. Recommendations may also count a lot in this case, having someone discuss your academic skills would be a good counterweight to those scores.
CNS is not super competitive like business or engineering but there is a calculus readiness requirement to be considered for admission to CNS. Before the admission deadline you need to have SAT math 600, ACT math 26, AP calculus 3, college credit for calculus with a grade of C, or Aleks math 80.