How to ask admission requirements without seeming ignorant?

Applying to College
1

How do I ask admission officers about the best ways to get into an honors program (oh say, I don’t know, how about the Turing Scholars program at UT) without sounding like I just want to get in for the “bragging rights.”

For instance, if I asked an admission officer what I could do to better my chances, he/she would say, “Well, just do good in Physics and Math courses and display an interest in Computer Science”, but in their mind, they would think, “Well, if this student really did want to be part of the program, he/she would have already done something because they are truly interested in Computer Science.”

Anyway, I suppose the root of my question is: How do I ask about honors program requirements (specifically Turing Scholars at UT Austin Computer Science) without seeming like I just want to get in for bragging rights?

P.S. I do, candidly, wish to further my CS knowledge through Turing Scholars.

2

First you read all the available information on the website about the college, the department and the program so you don’t ask obvious questions that are already answered there. On the UT website you can read the Turing pages with tips for prospective students, and the admissions FAQ. If there are not specific criteria then they are just picking the most qualified students in their mind. You could say you are interested and that would imply that you have researched the benefits of the program and have though about how it suits you. If there are not formal requirements, know the informal ones, know where you stand among prospective students and ask what makes a student stand out,

The admissions officer isn’t going to second guess you and try to play mind tricks. It’s not so much asking the best way to get in, more in asking what you can do to prepare yourself better than you are now.