2. Admission

A comprehensive college education depends on a robust exchange of ideas, exposure to differing cultures, preparing for the challenges of an increasingly diverse workforce, and acquiring competencies required of future leaders. The University handles a very large number of applications and must select from among this highly qualified pool only the number of students it can accommodate. In addition to an assessment of the academic strength of an applicant’s record, admission decisions result from an individualized, holistic review of each applicant, taking into consideration the many ways the academically qualified individual might contribute to, and benefit from, the rich, diverse, and challenging educational environment of the University.

The procedures and criteria for admission given in this chapter are effective as of the date of publication but are subject to change by action of the Texas Legislature or the Board of Regents. The information here is intended for use by students applying for admission for the 2010–2011 academic year.

Undergraduate Admission

The Office of Admissions is responsible for the admission and readmission of undergraduate students to the University. Application procedures for freshman, transfer, former, international, and transient students are outlined later in this chapter.

Prospective students are encouraged to apply early for the enrollment period in which they are interested. Although no preference is given for early application, beginning the process early allows ample time for applicants to assure that their applications are complete by the application deadline.

Because there are more qualified applicants than can be instructed by the faculty or accommodated in the facilities, it is often necessary to admit a limited number of applicants from among those who are qualified. Information about additional admission requirements for some undergraduate programs is given later in this chapter.

An applicant who has undertaken coursework at another collegiate institution (including freshman, transfer, reentry, and international applicants) may not disregard any part of his or her academic record. Such coursework must be reported on the appropriate section of the ApplyTexas application. Applicants who fail to report all college coursework or who otherwise falsify any part of their application or the documents required to complete the application process are subject to disciplinary action. Disciplinary action will include a one-year ban on enrollment and a permanent statement on the student’s record about the failure or falsification. Action may include expulsion and loss of credit for work taken subsequently at the University, as well as appropriate action by the dean of students.

In compliance with the Federal Student Right-to-Know Act, information about graduation rates and crime statistics is available from the Office of Admissions.

Questions about undergraduate admission may be addressed to the Office of Admissions by telephone or by e-mail. The Office of Admissions may also be contacted by mail at The University of Texas at Austin, Office of Admissions, P O Box 8058, Austin TX 78713-8058.

Application deadlines. For undergraduate admission in 2010–2011, all application materials must be received in the Office of Admissions by the following deadlines.

	Summer Session, 2010	Fall Semester, 2010	Spring Semester, 2011
US and international freshmen	December 15, 2009[1]	December 15, 2009[1]	October 1, 2010
International transfer students	February 1, 2010	February 1, 2010	October 1, 2010
US transfer students	March 1, 2010	March 1, 2010	October 1, 2010
Former students	May 1, 2010	July 1, 2010	December 1, 2010
Transient students	May 1, 2010	not applicable	not applicable

Application processing fee. A nonrefundable fee of $60 is required with each application for undergraduate admission. International applicants (those who are not United States citizens or permanent residents) must submit a nonrefundable fee of $75.

To request an exemption from the application processing fee, an applicant must submit a copy of one of the following:

1. A financial award letter (for undergraduate transfer applicants and Graduate School applicants)
2. An approved test fee waiver from the ACT, SAT, GRE, or GMAT
3. The applicant’s parent’s or guardian’s income tax returns for the past two years or the applicant’s own returns, if he or she was not claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer
4. A financial aid transcript from an institution the applicant previously attended
5. Documentation from a high school counselor showing financial need. For example, the counselor might submit a statement that indicates the applicant’s free-lunch status.

Enrollment deposit. Any applicant admitted to the University as an undergraduate for the summer or fall must pay an enrollment deposit of $200 to indicate that he or she accepts the offer of admission. The deposit is applied to the payment of tuition when the student enrolls. Students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for assistance to cover the amount of the deposit. Enrollment deposits are refundable only until the May 1 enrollment deposit deadline.

Freshman Admission

The Office of Admissions offers a variety of services and resources to assist prospective students with the freshman application process. Freshman applicants are encouraged to use all available resources, especially the resources of the University’s five admissions centers, where admissions counselors provide detailed information about and assistance with the admissions process. Centers are located in John Hargis Hall on the University campus, in Dallas, in Harlingen, in Houston, and in San Antonio. Admissions counselors also travel throughout the state, visiting high schools and participating in events designed to encourage prospective students to continue their education after high school.

Prospective students may also communicate with admissions counselors through the Web site Be a Longhorn. The site offers a counselor finder; event registration; secure access to personal information like application status and admission decisions; and details about admission, academics, financial aid, housing, and more.

High School Preparation

Entering freshmen must complete the University’s minimum requirements for high school coursework. Under these requirements, freshman applicants must earn at least 20 units of high school credit in grades nine through twelve as described in the following table. The number in the column Units is the minimum number of units the student must take in that area. One year’s work in a subject is one unit; a semester’s work is a half unit. More information about fulfilling the high school curriculum requirements is available through Be a Longhorn.

Area	Units
A. English English I, English II, English III, and English IV English as a second language courses may not be substituted for English III or IV.	4
B. Mathematics Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry Strongly recommended: Prospective students interested in studying architecture, business, geosciences, natural sciences, engineering, or other technical fields are advised to prepare by taking math every year of high school, culminating with precalculus or higher.	3
C. Science Students may choose from the following four areas. Biology, chemistry, and physics are strongly recommended. 1. Integrated Physics and Chemistry 2. Biology, Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, or International Baccalaureate (IB) Biology 3. Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry 4. Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, or IB Physics	3
D. Social studies World History Studies (1), World Geography Studies (1), US History Studies since Reconstruction (1), and US Government (1/2)	3 1/2
E. Economics	1/2
F. Foreign language Both units must be in a single foreign language. American Sign Language may be used to fulfill this requirement.	2
G. Electives Required: Four and one-half units, including (1) required units for graduation under the recommended or advanced high school curriculum for those seeking admission under section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code; (2) any units beyond the minimum required in areas A through F; (3) any units in fine arts; (4) vocational or other subjects, except drill subjects (such as driver training and military training).	4 1/2

Applicants seeking admission under section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code must meet unit and elective requirements as defined by the recommended or advanced curriculum. An applicant who attends a high school to which the recommended or advanced curriculum does not apply must complete a curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor or must meet the other requirements for college readiness defined in section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code.

Admission Deficiencies

Admission is not granted to applicants who have not completed the required units (or their equivalent) listed above. Texas high school applicants who rank in the top 10 percent of their class but who are unable to complete the recommended or advanced curriculum because their high school does not include the courses necessary to complete the unit requirements may gain automatic admission only if they meet minimum SAT or ACT College Readiness scores as defined by section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code. Such applicants admitted without the required units may be required to remove the deficiency before graduating from the University. Generally, one semester of college credit is required to remove a deficiency of one year or less of high school credit. Courses taken to remove a deficiency do not count toward the student’s degree.

Freshman Application Procedures

To be considered for admission as a freshman, the applicant must submit the following items by the application deadline:

1. A completed US Freshman ApplyTexas Application, including at least two required essays, and a senior course schedule. Either essays A and B or essays B and D are required. Applicants who wish to provide additional information about their special circumstances may submit essay C as well. Essay C may not be submitted in place of essay A, B, or D.
2. An official high school transcript showing rank and class size and coursework through the junior year; or a transcript and a statement from the high school that it does not rank its students; or a transcript and a statement from the high school showing the applicant’s class rank and the class size. In order for a student to qualify for automatic admission, the high school must report the student’s rank as prescribed by section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code.
3. An official test score report for the SAT Reasoning Test, including the student-written essay, or for both the ACT Assessment and the ACT Writing Test. Scores must be sent directly from the testing agency (see the section Admission Tests below) to be considered official.
4. The application processing fee or a request for an exemption.

A freshman applicant may not disregard any part of his or her academic record, including college credit earned as dual credit. Such coursework must be reported on the ApplyTexas application, and the applicant must submit official transcripts of the coursework.

Applications may be completed at the ApplyTexas Web site. Printed application forms are available at most Texas high schools.

Admission Tests

All applicants for freshman admission must submit scores on either the SAT Reasoning Test, including the student-written essay, or both the ACT Assessment and the ACT Writing Test. Official scores must be sent directly from the testing agency; a photocopy of test results and results listed on a high school transcript are not acceptable. Official scores must arrive in the Office of Admissions by the application deadline.

To show that they are ready to take college-level calculus, applicants seeking admission to the Cockrell School of Engineering must submit appropriate scores on the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics, ALEKS—a Web-based placement exam available through UT Austin—or Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. Scores must be received by the Office of Admissions by the application deadline. Most applicants to other fields are not required to take SAT Subject Tests for admission purposes, but they may be required or may prefer to take such tests for placement purposes. Most applicants must take the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 or Level 2 before they register, to determine their placement in mathematics courses. Information about required and optional placement tests is given in chapter 4.

Information and registration materials are usually available from the student’s high school counselor. Information about SAT tests and the ACT is available online. Online test registration is available at these sites.

Freshman Application Review Process

Freshman admission decisions are dependent on the applicant’s academic strength and an individualized, holistic review of all submitted applications. As required by state law, class rank is a deciding factor for some applicants.

Texas high school graduates ranked in the top 10 percent of their class. In accordance with section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code, students are admissible to the University as first-time freshmen if (1) their end-of-junior-year class rank places them in the top 10.0 percent of their class (without rounding) at an accredited Texas high school or at a high school operated by the United States Department of Defense; (2) they will graduate with the recommended or advanced high school curriculum or will meet the minimum college-readiness test scores as defined in the Education Code; and (3) they submit all the required credentials described above by the appropriate application deadline. Applicants must have graduated from high school during one of the two school years preceding the academic year for which they seek admission and must not have attended an institution of higher education in the interim. Applicants applying in the year following high school graduation are considered for top-10-percent eligibility based on their rank at the time of graduation.

For a student to qualify for automatic admission, the high school must (1) report the student’s rank at the end of the junior year by the application deadline; (2) report the student’s rank as a specific number out of a specific total class size; and (3) report no more than 10 percent of a given high school class as being in the top 10 percent of the class.

Admission under the top-10-percent law does not guarantee admission to the applicant’s requested major. Some of the University’s most competitive programs restrict automatic admission for top-10-percent applicants. How decisions are made for restricted majors is described later in this chapter.

Applicants to the Cockrell School of Engineering must meet the calculus-readiness requirement described above to be eligible for admission to an engineering major. To be considered for admission to another math-intensive major (mathematics, business, physics, or computer sciences), a top-10-percent applicant must demonstrate math readiness by the application deadline. Math readiness can be demonstrated by high school credentials that show current enrollment in or successful completion of mathematics coursework at the level of precalculus or above; by an SAT Reasoning Test math score of 600 or above or an ACT math score of 26 or above; or by documentation of concurrent enrollment in dual-credit precalculus or calculus. Applicants who do not meet the math readiness requirement are not eligible for admission to math-intensive majors, but they are eligible for automatic admission to the University.

Texas high school graduates not ranked in the top 10 percent of their class, homeschooled students, and all graduates of out-of-state high schools. To be considered for freshman admission, applicants who are not eligible for consideration under the provisions of section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code must normally have graduated from high school and have completed the unit requirements.

Applications received by the deadline are evaluated individually. No specific class rank, test score, or other qualification by itself—other than automatic admission based on section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code—ensures admission. Admission decisions are based on an assessment of the following:

1. Class rank
2. Strength of academic background, including the number of courses taken in mathematics, science, and foreign language
3. SAT Reasoning Test or ACT scores
4. Record of achievements, honors, and awards
5. Special accomplishments, work, and service both in and out of school
6. Essays
7. Special circumstances that put the applicant’s academic achievements into context, including his or her socioeconomic status, experience in a single parent home, family responsibilities, experience overcoming adversity, cultural background, race and ethnicity, the language spoken in the applicant’s home, and other information in the applicant’s file
8. Recommendations (although not required)
9. Competitiveness of the major to which the student applies

Admission decisions are made on the basis of the information submitted as part of the student’s application. Applicants who believe that supplemental items will help convey information about their qualifications are encouraged to submit such items with their applications. Supplemental items often included with applications are expanded résumés of accomplishments and extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and letters addressing an applicant’s special circumstances.

As a state-assisted institution, the University reserves a majority of its spaces for Texas residents. Consequently, the admission of nonresidents is highly competitive.

Enrollment pressures at the University may not permit admission of all who qualify for certain academic programs. When this occurs, the Office of Admissions will, within applicable law, admit those students who are judged to be most able to contribute to and benefit from the University’s rich, diverse, and academically challenging environment. The Office of Admissions may also use a wait list to help manage the enrollment process. Details about restrictions on automatic admission to some majors and additional admission requirements for some undergraduate programs are described later in this chapter.

The director of admissions may admit recipients of bona fide scholarships designated by the president.

Before applying for admission, homeschooled students should review the information available on Be a Longhorn, including details about the information that should be submitted with the student’s application.

Under Texas law, graduates of unaccredited high schools may seek admission to the University.

Students who did not graduate from high school. Texas residents who did not graduate from high school may seek admission through special consideration. In addition to all application material, the student must provide a copy of GED results. It is important for the student to provide as much information as possible in support of the application. Some important indicators of the student’s academic competitiveness are SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Test scores, Advanced Placement courses, and grades in college-level courses the student took while in high school.

Admission Decisions

When making admission decisions, admissions representatives initially consider individual applicants for their first-choice major for the requested semester. Applicants not admitted to their first-choice major are then considered for their second-choice major. Applicants who do not qualify for admission to either their first- or their second-choice major because of space limitations are then considered for admission as undeclared majors in the School of Undergraduate Studies for the requested semester.

The Coordinated Admission Program. A Texas resident who meets the University’s high school course requirements and completes an application for admission by the application deadline, but is not offered regular admission for the fall, is eligible to participate in the Coordinated Admission Program (CAP). (Nonresidents are not eligible to participate in CAP.) CAP students spend their freshman year in residence at a participating University of Texas System component institution other than UT Austin. Students who are offered participation choose from a list of institutions open to them when they complete the CAP agreement.

To receive guaranteed admission to UT Austin following CAP participation, a CAP student must meet these requirements:

1. Complete at least thirty hours of approved coursework with a grade point average of at least 3.20 in residence during the fall and spring semesters at the participating UT System component institution at which the student enrolls
2. Complete at least one mathematics course beyond college algebra from the list of approved courses as part of the required thirty hours
3. Complete requirements 1 and 2 by June 1 of the year in which the student participates in CAP

Although applicants offered CAP participation do not need to apply to the UT System component institution, they must meet the admission requirements of the institution they choose to attend.

Students who meet the CAP requirements are guaranteed admission to the University of Texas at Austin as regular students in the fall semester of the following year. Students are guaranteed admission into the School of Undergraduate Studies. CAP participants may request admission to other colleges and schools, but they are guaranteed admission only to undergraduate studies. (Because some of the University’s colleges and schools have made their admission decisions for the fall by the time CAP participants complete their first-year requirements, some programs may not accept applications from CAP students.) Students who request admission to another program do not jeopardize their admission to the School of Undergraduate Studies.

CAP participants who do not complete the program requirements may seek admission to the University for a subsequent semester by applying for transfer admission. Such applicants are evaluated as part of the competitive transfer applicant pool; all college-level coursework, including that completed during CAP participation, and any dual credit work completed during high school are considered when transfer admission decisions are made.

Whenever admissions through CAP exceed 60 percent of total external undergraduate transfer admissions, a review of the CAP requirements for entry into UT Austin will be conducted, and new requirements will be established as appropriate.