Any school with an acceptance rate below 25% is automatically a "reach" school for all applicants irrespective of the students grades, GPA, activities and test scores. A reach school is one where the acceptance rate of students is so low that all students have a very low probability of getting accepted to that school. UT Austin for the class of 2025 received 66,077 applications and enrolled 9060 students, which leads to an acceptance rate of 13%(Ouch!)
What are your chances of getting admitted to UT Austin?
Your chances of getting admitted depend on a lot of different factors. If you are a Texas resident, then you have a better chance of getting in than an out of state student because UT Austin is a public school and by state law, 90% of admitted students must be Texas residents and 75% must be automatically admitted from the top ranking 6% of students from Texas schools (called Automatic Admissions). The remaining 25% are admitted through a holistic review process done by the UT Admissions office. There's a catch to the top 6% of automatically admitted students - the student will be admitted to UT Austin, but there's no guarantee that the student will get his/her preferred first major.
How can you increase your chances of getting into your major?
We work with many students both in state and out of state who are interested in getting admitted to UT Austin. So here are our tips if UT Austin is your dream college:
Work hard in high school during Grades 9, 10 and 11 to maintain a 4.0 unweighted GPA (that's all As and maybe an occasional B)
Work harder to take AP or IB or weighted courses during high school to increase your weighted GPA to 4.3 or higher.
Spend time practicing for your SAT/ACT test to get a high score that is above UT Austin's accepted mid-range of SAT/ACT score (Check UT Austin's common data set to get more information on the latest mid range of SAT and ACT scores). UT Austin is currently test optional, but test scores are still considered if you submit them and having a high test score works in your favor.
If you are interested in a particular major, then consider taking courses related to that major and also consider joining clubs or doing external work on a topic related to that major. Demonstrated interest is one of the most important factors to help a student get into his/her preferred major at UT Austin.
The student's college essays have to be top-notch. Be sure to work with an essay expert to ensure that your college essays are not just generic essays but instead are genuine interesting essays that help the college admissions officer learn everything about you! Consider joining one of our monthly 4-day essays workshops if you are a junior completing the school year or a senior who will be applying to college.
Your college application should be reviewed by a high school counselor or an independent counselor to ensure that all the sections are filled out accurately with the appropriate details and minimal mistakes.
UT Austin is big on an expanded resume. It is shown as optional in the admissions requirements, but a detailed resume with your activities will be a great positive addition to your application as we have seen with past applicants.
Choosing your major is as important as the rest of the application. Sometimes certain majors are in great demand and choosing a major that is close to the popular major with the same courses, but not as much in demand will help you get in and get your preferred course of study.
If you are interested in getting your profile evaluated for the likelihood of getting admitted into UT Austin, then consider signing up for our half hourly or hourly service so that we can review your transcripts, activities and other details and provide you with specific advice on how you can strengthen your profile and increase your chances of getting admitted.