Should I apply on August 1st (when the application opens)?

TXArtemis
Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:12:55 +0000

@Neon88, I suggest you hold all of your apps until National Merit semi-finalist notifications go out late Aug/early Sept. The Texas cutoff was 215 last year and has hovered at 215-216 the past several years, so your 216 stands a very good chance! If you are, in fact, a semi-finalist, your overall college application strategy will likely change a bit.

Regardless, don’t submit any apps until you can put in your best work, and try not to make yourself crazy guessing what UT will do…some review candidates are admitted on a rolling basis very quickly after applying, some have to wait it out until the end. Based on what you’ve shared so far (and on my experience as parent of two successful review applicants who also applied to the same/similar type of schools on your “beyond UT” list), you will be a strong review candidate, and yes, they will be very familiar with your high school and how competitive a candidate you are based on your performance within the context of your school. I encourage you to learn more about UT’s degree plans and honors programs so you can craft your application accordingly and apply timely (although Dec. 1 is the final deadline, your chances are better if you apply earlier to some programs, e.g., you might be interested in applying to Plan II, which has a priority deadline of Oct. 15).

Your overall college lists look good for giving you a range of matches to high reaches, but be sure to add a safety you would be thrilled to attend if nothing else comes through for you, even better if it’s from a rolling school or non-binding early action. It is really hard to make it until April 1 without any acceptances under your belt–many of your peers will have acceptances in hand before winter break. Be sure you know any family budget constraints before you start–your game plan will need adjustment if you will be seeking any form of money, whether merit awards or financial aid.

@hkem123, you are correct that the admission formula involves AI + PAI. However, I think the idea that “humans do not make the admission decisions at UT, formulas do” misses the entire point of holistic review, and I definitely disagree with the notion that the competitiveness of the high school attended is not considered. The thing is, while AI is derived from purely objective stats, PAI numbers–which represent the heart of holistic review–are wholly subjective valuations. Humans are coming up with those figures based on their interpretation of you within the context of your high school background and total life experience. The fact that UT is more transparent than most schools about the factors considered in the holistic review process (a result of litigation and legislation) doesn’t mean that UT admission officers throw their humanity out the window when they are reading your essays, considering your ECs and any personal factors you’ve shared, and evaluating what earning a B+ average on the AP curriculum at your particular HS really means (assuming you attend a Texas HS, those folks know whether you can be proud of that GPA or should’ve/could’ve done better).

–> UT admissions personnel make many presentations around the state. I encourage all of you to attend one, ask questions and talk to an admission officer one-on-one if desired. You will learn a lot about how they weigh your applications! Call to find out when they are coming to your school or some place nearby.