UT Austin

UT Austin is a hot school, literally and figuratively. The weather is very warm – Texas is hot! And UT is in demand, highly competitive and the “it” school of the south. US News and World Report ranks it #7 Best Public School in the US, and #30 Best University in the US. And the 29% acceptance rate is misleading: about 7% of the admitted students come from out-of-state, so only the strongest students are competitive. And UT requires test scores.

The most important thing to know about UT when applying is that they admit by major – and look for fit to major. If you’re applying to college hoping to explore, look elsewhere. You can also look elsewhere if you’re hoping to study something you haven’t yet dug into. And while most students applying to college really don’t need to submit a resume, UT requires one, and they’re very clear about how to write it – forget the “one page” rule you learned once upon a time. They want details, they want experience, and they want to see evidence that you’re a strong match for the program you’re applying into. Also, writing your essay about your fit to major is a good idea, and keep this in mind when asking for letters of recommendation! They’ll really want to hear from someone teaching a relevant subject. UT is unique in this regard: fit to major is essential.

Some other nuggets related to admissions: the most competitive majors are Engineering, Business, Architecture, Nursing, Natural Sciences, and Computer Science. Also, Engineering students go directly into their specific major; unlike many other institutions, they’re not introduced to the different fields within engineering freshman year. Transferring majors is never guaranteed, so it’s not advisable to try to game the system. And AP and Dual Enrollment courses are considered equally – not the case everywhere.

UT has many schools and colleges you’d expect, but some noteworthy ones are the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs (side note: the LBJ Presidential Museum is on campus), the Jackson School of Geosciences with majors such as Geophysics, Geosystems Engineering, and Hydrology and Water Resources, and the School of Civic Leadership, which offers one bachelor’s degree: a Bachelor of Arts in Civics Honors. The degree focuses on Constitutionalism, Western Civilization, and Civic Leadership. How cool is that?

Needless to say, there’s a ton to do on campus. But if you want to live on campus as a freshman, it’s important to pay the $50 housing deposit right away – don’t wait to be admitted!
UT will continue to be in demand, no doubt about that. There’s a lot to love here. It’s a top public institution on a campus that feels campus-y in a very cool city. But honestly, on the tour, I kept asking myself, “When are we going to see the pretty parts of campus?” Don’t come expecting to find gorgeous quads with green grass, collegiate-looking brick buildings and courtyards with archways interspersed here and there. You’ll be disappointed.