ut austin supplemental essays 2021 22

Essays & Short Answers

• UT Austin Required Essay in the Common App, or
• Topic A in ApplyTexas
• Please keep your essay between 500–700 words (typically two to three paragraphs).

Summer/Fall 2024 and Spring 2024 Essay Topic

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Submitting Your Essay

You can submit your essays:

• In conjunction with your application.
• Using the Document Upload System in MyStatus.

*Students do not need to submit other Common App essays. We’ll only review what is required,

Short Answers

• Submit the required short answers to prompts in your admission application.
• Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250–300 words per prompt, typically the length of one paragraph.

Summer/Fall 2024 Prompts

• Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?
• Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.
• The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate.

Optional Short Answer

• Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.

Spring 2024 Prompts

Submitting your short answers.

You can submit your short answers with either your Common App or Apply Texas application. Short answer responses must be completed in order to submit your application.

• Transfer applicants must submit one essay responding to Topic A.
• Applicants to the School of Architecture and Studio Art, Art Education and Art History are required to upload Topic D in addition to Topic A. 

Essay Topics

Topic a (required).

The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application. You may also want to explain unique aspects of your academic background or valued experiences you may have had that relate to your academic discipline. The statement of purpose is not meant to be a listing of accomplishments in high school/college or a record of your participation in school-related activities. Rather, this is your opportunity to address the admission committee directly and to let us know more about you as an individual, in a manner that your transcripts and the other application information cannot convey.

Topic D (School of Architecture majors and Studio Art, Art Education and Art History majors only)

Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (architecture, art history, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?

Submitting Your Essay(s)

UT Austin’s New Essay Questions

• Sasha Chada
• October 22, 2021

Table of Contents

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In a surprise move this summer, the University of Texas Austin changed their supplemental essay prompts. They added two new prompts, and combined two of their previous questions, resulting in students needing to write four essays. The abruptness of this change, and a lack of prior announcement, caused a great deal of shock for students.

So why did UT Austin make this change, and how should you try to answer these questions? While we can’t answer the first question, we can help you with the second. In this article, we’ll discuss the new prompts, give examples of how you can answer them, and show you what UT Austin is looking for when they ask these questions. 

We have a guide to answering supplemental essay questions generally , but due to the importance of UT Austin for many of our students, we thought it would be helpful to address these changes specifically.

“Change the World” Example

The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT-Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate. (250-300 words)

Because my goal is creating a life changing invention, I believe UT’s unique engineering program and focus on experiential learning will best prepare me for the future. As a biomedical engineering major, I’m eager to take advantage of opportunities to do research as an undergrad and potentially solve real world problems. One UT initiative that is perfect to help me accomplish my goals is the Inventors Program, which teaches entrepreneurial design and will help me make an immediate community impact.

Another aspect of UT engineering that excites me is the Senior Design project, a year-long course that allows students to design prototypes based on authentic biomedical engineering problems. While visiting my family in Honduras, I have seen firsthand the need for unique solutions to common healthcare problems. With resources like the Texas Inventionworks Makerspace, I hope to leverage my strong math and science background as well as my love of creativity to solve problems that are impacting the people I love.

In addition to the strong academics UT offers and their top-ranked engineering school, I was thrilled to learn that UT has a chapter of the Best Buddies program, and I plan to get involved immediately. In this program, peer buddies are paired with students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and spend time together throughout the year. I have been lucky enough to be a peer buddy and eventually the president of the local Best Buddies chapter at my high school. I expect the UT chapter will continue to fuel this passion.  

UT will prepare me for a successful career, allow me to continue my love of volunteering with individuals with special needs, and help me achieve my goal of creating my own medical device. Me and UT are the kind of dream team that can change the world.

“Change the World” Analysis

This question is, quite frankly, a lot. Unlike many other essay questions that colleges ask, it is hard to single out what exactly UT Austin is looking for when they pose this question. Of course some colleges delight in asking purposefully hard-to-answer questions (looking at you UChicago), but this does not seem to follow in that vein. Instead, this question simply does not read as well thought out. 

The goal of college essays generally is for schools to learn about a student; who they are, what they’ve done, and how they can contribute to campus. This question seems to be asking how you will contribute to campus, and to society at large, through what UT Austin gives you. 

Therefore, the easiest way we have found to answer this question is as a “Why Us” essay. These essays are quite popular, and inquire why a student wants to attend this school in particular. While you can attempt to divine enough of the future to describe your post-graduation career, we do not recommend doing so.

In the example above, the student clearly discusses why they wish to attend UT Austin, and what the school’s specific programs will allow them to accomplish. The author discusses several programs, and provides clear examples of why they like these programs in particular.

The specificity of examples is important here; there are many schools with good engineering programs, but only UT Austin has the Inventors Program or the Texas Inventionworks Makerspace. The more concretely you tie your desires to the specific offerings of UT Austin, the more convincing your essay will be.

The author also discusses a non-academic draw to UT Austin. You don’t need to include one of these, but it can help make your essay more personal, and show the breadth of your interests. Mentioning specific clubs also shows you’ve done your research on the school; admissions officers like to see that you take their school seriously. We recommend not discussing the school’s city or location generally, as this is too generic and non-specific to the institution.

While this is not the easiest question to answer, by treating it as a “Why Us” essay, you will be well equipped to answer the prompt, and tell UT Austin something important about you in the process. Remember that this essay is not just for singing the praises of the school, but discussing why specific aspects of UT Austin appeal to you, and how their unique offerings will allow you to succeed, and change the world.

Academic Interruptions Essay

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance, including the possible effects of COVID-19. (250-300)

Even though my junior year was going to be virtual, I was excited to return to school and some sense of normalcy. I had a full schedule, with a mix of AP and IB classes, and hoped my teachers would be as effective through Microsoft Teams as they were in-person. Being at the height of the presidential election season, I was especially looking forward to AP Government class discussions.

 It was my teacher’s first year at Lamar, but he seemed excited to teach the course and wanted lots of class interaction — a nice change from sitting behind the screen in silence. Unfortunately, after six weeks of school, the teacher abruptly quit. The administrators told us he did not enjoy teaching over an online platform. The class was upset that he couldn’t at least finish our semester. Many of us did not enjoy learning virtually, but we all pushed through for the rest of the year. In typical Lamar fashion, not having enough time to arrange a replacement, they introduced us to our new teacher: the football coach. It was a dreadful semester filled with incomprehensible powerpoints and fill-in-the blank worksheets. Most people successfully completed the class without having to unmute their microphone once. The class transformed from an experience I enjoyed to a grating waste of time. Countless emails were sent by many students and parents requesting a different teacher, but all were dismissed. The coach did not want to teach us; therefore the students did not want to listen. Worst of all, his poorly composed lessons were killing everyone’s desire to learn. I tried to stay motivated and teach myself as much as possible but, as you can imagine, a coach reading powerpoints to a class of 64 people left us completely unprepared for the AP test.

Academic Interruptions Analysis

While this question is more straightforward than the other, that does not necessarily make it easier to answer. Last year, UT Austin had a version of this question as an optional prompt, as did the Common App. We touched on these, and writing about Covid 19 generally, before .

This prompt, however, is mandatory. We do not understand this decision, as the students who suffered notable academic setbacks already had a place to discuss these, and students without them had no cause for concern. Now, all applicants will have to write about stumbling blocks, which leads immediately to a problem.

Not all students have suffered academic setbacks or struggles in high school. This is normal, some students struggle more than others; thus an optional essay on academic challenges makes sense. By making this question mandatory, UT Austin seems to penalize students who have not suffered any academic struggles at all during their studies. 

Of course, due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, most every student will be able to write about some kind of academic interruption they suffered, be it virtual classes, AP test issues, or SAT and ACT cancellations. This is what the author does in the example above. 

While the author’s setback is not major in terms of grades, a rough course, especially when it impacts an AP exam as well, is notable. This story is far from unique, but the context it provides for the student’s academic achievement is important. While you don’t have to report low AP scores, colleges will still see that you took an AP class, and not reporting an associated score will often make them assume you either felt unprepared for the test, or you did poorly on the test.

While this essay would not be worth including in the additional information section under normal circumstances, the new prompt from UT Austin gives it a place to live. Notable as well is the author’s clear desire to continue learning, and attempts to remedy their situation, though they proved futile. Colleges like to see that you have shown initiative when pursuing your education, especially in the face of setbacks. 

While you may not have a great story to tell here, or a particularly original one, that doesn’t mean you can’t answer this prompt. When doing so, avoid giving too many excuses. Instead explain what happened, how it impacted you, and what you did about it. You should always focus on the third step if possible, as your actions demonstrate your drive and capabilities.

Final Thoughts

College essays are always a challenge to write, and even more of one when they are unexpected. While UT Austin’s new essays caught many students by surprise, we hope that these examples will help you when trying to answer them. The unfortunate truth of college admissions is that universities have far more power than students in the relationship, and they get to set the terms for how the process works.

If you want more individualized guidance when writing your essays, or have further concerns about your admissions journey, schedule a free consultation with us. We have deep experience helping students get into their dream schools, and are always happy to share what we know.

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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 UT Austin Supplemental Essay Prompts

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The University of Texas at Austin requires all applicants to submit a set of UT Austin supplemental essays. These essays are a great way to utilize creative writing to make yourself memorable and unique. Take this chance to tell your story and run with it. In this article, we will be breaking down each prompt to make each one easier to understand. Let’s go!

See also: How to write a great supplemental essay

Before you begin

• Multiple writing samples are required, including a supplemental essay and then four short answers (one of the four is optional).
• UT Austin offers students the opportunity to submit additional materials to strengthen their applications, such as letters of recommendation or an expanded resume

The UT Austin supplemental essay prompt

“Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?” 

The traditional essay prompt is generally between 500 and 700 words. Compared to other supplemental essays, this is not all that long. In addition, this is an essay all about you. UT Austin wants to hear about your story and what makes you special. This is an easy topic to write about your personal experiences versus an essay that asks you to connect it back to the university. 

With that being said, you don’t have to connect it back to the university, but… it  is always a good idea to do so. This way, the people reading it are able to see what you have to offer the University of Texas, and what you bring to the table as a student. 

So, what makes you unique? If you are planning on talking about challenges for this question, we recommend thinking twice about writing about the Pandemic. This is because although you may have a unique experience, the pandemic was a challenge that everyone had to live through. Pick a challenge that is unique to you, one that makes you you . In addition to that, in the optional short answer, you have the opportunity to talk about the challenges that you were presented with during the Pandemic. 

Short answers

As mentioned above, you’ll need to write three short answer questions (and have the option to write one additional one). These can be quick and easy, but extremely influential to the college admissions process. Each response should be between 250 and 300 words.

Short answer #1

“Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?”

This is a simple question, and easy to answer in less than 300 words. Maybe you have always known what you wanted to study in college, or maybe you are still figuring it out– whatever the case may be, just be open, honest, and concise when you speak about this topic. 

Short answer #2

“Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.”

In this short answer, they are offered  the opportunity to talk about the things you are passionate about. Take this and run with it! This is one of the things that makes students stand out among the crowd– what they are passionate about and why. The trick here is connecting it back to how it currently benefits you as a student, and how it will continue to benefit you as a student. 

An example of this could be a student organization that taught you about accountability. From being in a leadership position in this organization, you learned accountability, which helped you to be a better student because you were more apt to be on time with assignments, get ahead on your schoolwork, and to hold yourself accountable. Learning these things early on helped you to build healthy learning habits that you will carry with you into college. 

Short answer #3

“The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT-Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate.”

This is arguably one of the more important short answers that UT – Austin asks you to write. They want to know that you hold similar values to their founders and the existing student body, and that you will be a good fit for their university holistically, not just academically. 

There are so many different directions that you could take this question. First, think about what you want to do with your degree after college. Then ask yourself, “What can I do at UT Austin that will not only transform my life, but how can what I learn from that experience that will help me be able to transform others’ lives as well”? This is a loaded question, and a lot more than you might be able to answer right now. Just try to be idealistic and think of your future. 

Optional short answer

“Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance. If your response to this question is similar to one of the Common App Personal Essays, feel free to simply copy and paste the important parts of your essay here. Please limit your response to 250-300 words.”

This one is quick, easy, and a short answer that everyone should answer if their situation warrants. This is your opportunity to let UT Austin know about your struggles and help them understand your story a bit better. 

Closing thoughts for students

It is completely understandable if you are feeling overwhelmed after reading through all of these prompts. The only thing that you can do is try your best and be honest about who you are–in other words, stay true to yourself. The college admissions professionals at the University of Texas – Austin simply want to get to know you as a person, and that is why they are asking you so many questions! Remember, the prompts are not meant to make you feel overwhelmed or scared by any means. 

Additional resources

At Scholarships360, we understand that the college admissions process is a long and strenuous process. We want to make things easier for you, so we’ve curated a pretty extensive list of tips and tricks to help you out. Learn how to write an essay about yourself and perfect writing both  250  or  500 word essays. We can help you figure out how many colleges to apply to , and after,  how to make your college application shine . We wish you luck, and remind you to apply for all the scholarships you are eligible for! 

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How to Write the UT Austin Supplemental Essays + Examples

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 10/23/23

Writing the UT Austin essays requires introspection, creativity, and time! To learn how to ace this application component, read on!

If you’re planning on applying to the University of Texas and are making your way down your application checklist, you may hit a roadblock when it comes to the supplemental essays . 

These essays often prove to be the most demanding aspect of college applications, as they call for transforming your thoughts into captivating words and leaving a lasting impression on the admissions committee. But fear not! This guide has got you covered! In it, we’ll break down each of the UT Austin essays. 

UT Austin Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

Before we delve into how to write the UT Austin supplemental essays , let’s go over the prompts. You’ll be required to answer one essay prompt and a few short answers. 

The required essay prompt should be around 500-700 words , typically two the three paragraphs. However, your responses to the short answer prompts should be no more than 40 lines or 250-300 words . 

Required Essay Prompt #1

“Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?”

Short Answer Prompt #2

“ Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?”

Short Answer Prompt #3

“ Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.”

Short Answer Prompt #4

“ The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is ‘To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.’ Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to ‘Change the World’ after you graduate.”

Optional Short Answer Prompt #5

Students may also answer the following short answer if it applies to them:

“Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.”

How to Write Each Essay Prompt for UT Austin

Now, we’ll delve into how to answer each of UT Austin’s prompts to ensure your responses are original, insightful, and interesting! We’ll go through specific UT Austin essay requirements and also provide successful essay examples to begin your creative process. 

How to Write UT Austin Required Essay #1 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of UT Austin’s required essay prompt : This prompt, by asking you to “tell your story,” calls for some personal reflection on your life so far. UT Austin wants to get to know you as a well-rounded person beyond your application materials. They want to know the things that have shaped and formed you in your life. 

The various opportunities and challenges you’ve experienced say a lot about who you are. By asking you to tell these anecdotes, the admissions committee wants to see you display humility, self-awareness, gratitude, and a desire to learn and grow. Think deeply about significant moments in your life and how they have made you different. 

To write a strong essay for UT Austin, consider following these tips:

Tip #1: Dig into Your High School Memories

Time for a little throwback session! Sit down with a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever else floats your boat, and start digging up all those unique experiences you had during high school. For most of you, you’re likely in your senior year, so this shouldn’t be too hard!

Remember those times when life threw something special at you or maybe even knocked you off your feet? Jot all of these memories down so you can go through them and pick the most meaningful ones to talk about. 

Tip #2: Find the Common Thread

Now that you've got a bunch of high school memories in front of you, see if there's a common theme or a big idea that ties them together. It could be a passion, a challenge you faced head-on, or a turning point that changed the game for you.

Tip #3: Be Descriptive!

Get creative with your writing! Paint a picture with your words. Make your essay engaging and fun to read. You want those admissions officers to be hooked from the start to the finish. 

Tip #4: Get Real and Vulnerable

No need to put on a show here to worry about what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. Be yourself! 

Share your stories and feelings with authenticity. The admissions committee wants to see the genuine you, not some perfectly polished version. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, share your feelings and emotions, and demonstrate your growth.

Tip #5: Talk About Unique Opportunities

Share those opportunities that set you apart from the crowd. Maybe it was an internship, a special extracurricular , a passion project , or a chance to travel. 

Show them how these experiences opened up new doors and helped you grow.

Tip #6: Face the Challenges, No Holding Back

Life's not always rainbows and sunshine. The admissions committee wants to hear about your struggles and your ability to overcome them. So, discuss those tough moments that you thought you’d never get through, how you pushed on, and what you learned along the way.

Show the committee how all these experiences—the good, the bad, and the ugly—shaped the awesome person you are today. 

Tip #7: End On a High Note

End your essay with a forward-looking approach. You’ve spent most of your essay reminiscing about high school and the lessons you learned from it. Now think about what’s next! 

Offer the admissions committee some insight into your academic and career aspirations. Talk about how you plan on fulfilling these goals at UT Austin and what you plan on contributing to this school!

How to Write UT Austin Short Answer #2 + Analysis and Tips

Short answer #1 analysis : The first short answer is relatively straightforward. There’s a reason you chose your intended major, and now’s your time to demonstrate your passion and explain why your selected program interests you! 

UT Austin is dedicated to making a real difference in the world, so it’s essential you take your essay beyond the realms of your immediate college career. Think about what you’ll do with your education and how you’ll impact those around you!

Keep these tips in mind to ensure you nail this short answer:

• Showcase your passion and genuine interest : Avoid essay topics that you think the committee wants to hear. Instead, ensure your sincere passion for the major you've selected is evident throughout your essay. Explain why it excites you and what specific aspects of the subject matter resonate with you.
• Connect to your background : Reflect on any relevant events, challenges, or opportunities that influenced your decision. Share one or two brief anecdotes or stories that demonstrate how your experiences have shaped your aspirations and academic path. This will make your essay personal and engaging. 
• Highlight your skills and alignment with UT Austin : Explain how your skills, strengths, and natural abilities align with the chosen major. Describe specific talents or aptitudes that you possess and how they complement the demands of your academic program and profession.
• Emphasise UT Austin's program and opportunities : Demonstrate your knowledge and interest in UT Austin's program. Research its offerings, faculty members, research opportunities, and distinctive features related to your chosen major. Explain how these aspects appeal to you and align with your goals.
• Discuss your future aspirations : Share your long-term aspirations and how pursuing this major will enable you to make a positive impact in your chosen field and beyond. Discuss how you envision using the knowledge and skills gained from this program to contribute to society or address real-world challenges. 

How to Write UT Austin Short Answer #3 + Analysis and Tips 

Short answer #2 analysis : With this prompt, UT Austin wants to see drive and commitment to make a difference in the university community as well as proof that you’ve made a difference in other spaces as well. 

This question should demonstrate self-awareness, passion, and motivation. UT Austin wants to know how your past experiences have brought you to where you are, and they also want to know more about your future aspirations. 

By demonstrating your potential to have a positive impact both in and out of the classroom, you can present yourself as a well-rounded candidate that will make great contributions to the UT community!

Implement these tips into your second short answer response:

• Highlight your key qualities and experiences : Provide an overview of the experiences, perspectives, talents, and leadership activities that define you as an individual but avoid listing them without adding context and depth. Explain how they contribute to your overall character and worldview.
• Emphasize leadership skills and potential : Discuss your involvement in leadership activities. Illustrate how you have taken initiative, influenced others, or demonstrated a commitment to creating positive change. All of these traits are highly valued by UT Austin!
• Talk about your future : Demonstrate how your specific attributes and experiences will allow you to make a positive impact both in and out of the classroom at UT Austin. Explain how your perspectives and background have shaped your understanding of different issues and will enrich class discussions.
• Connect back to UT Austin : Show that you have done your research on UT Austin's values, culture, and community. Explain how your experiences, perspectives, and talents align with the university's mission and how you plan to contribute to the campus environment. 
• Be genuine and specific : Throughout your essay, be authentic and avoid any vagueness. Share specific anecdotes and examples to illustrate your points, and be descriptive! Show, don't tell, and immerse your readers into your experiences so they connect to them better.

How to Write UT Austin Short Answer #4 + Analysis and Tips

Short answer #3 analysis : This short answer is one of the more challenging UT Austin essays. It requires students to look ahead past their college career and think critically about how they plan on bettering the world. 

While the previous questions are focused on your passions in a more general sense, this prompt asks you to think about your aspirations at UT Austin specifically. How does your desire to attend UT Austin connect to your dreams and goals? 

Here are some tips on how to approach this question:

Tip #1: Be Realistic

The admissions committee isn’t looking for any sappy or exaggerated goals. They aren’t expecting you to cure cancer or find life on Mars. 

Think about what realistic impact you want to have on the world. Whether it be changing the lives of your patients as a healthcare worker, helping address social issues, or simply being a strong advocate for the environment, any effort to better the lives of others counts!

Tip #2: Be Specific

Don’t make vague statements about your passion to change the world, healthcare, poverty, or any other broad topic. Be specific and clearly state your long-term aspirations and the specific ways you envision changing the world after graduation. 

Think about who exactly you want to help, what issue you aim to address, and the tools you’ll use to do so. 

Tip #3: Connect UT Austin's Offerings to Your Goals

Showcase your understanding of UT Austin's unique offerings and how they align with your ambitions. Discuss specific academic programs, research opportunities, clubs, or organizations that UT Austin offers and explain how they will support your personal and professional growth towards your goal of changing the world.

Tip #4: Discuss Your Commitment to Impact

Emphasize your dedication and commitment to creating a positive impact. Demonstrate that you are not just interested in pursuing your career for personal gain, but that you genuinely care about making a difference in the lives of others and improving society.

Tip #5: Be Ambitious

Be ambitious in your goals, but also be realistic about the steps you'll take to achieve them. Demonstrate that you have a clear plan for how your experience at UT Austin will serve as a stepping stone to creating a lasting impact on a broader scale. Demonstrate you have direction and know what it’ll take to reach your goals.

Tip #6: Wrap Up with Confidence and Gratitude

Conclude your essay with a strong and confident statement that reinforces your commitment to changing the world and your gratitude for the opportunity to do so at UT Austin. Leave a lasting impression on the reader that highlights your passion and determination.

How to Write UT Austin Optional Essay #6

Answering the optional essay is simple; stick to the facts and be honest. There is no need to be overly descriptive or create a compelling narrative out of your circumstances. 

This essay should only help the admissions committee learn more about the extent of your circumstances, how they prevented you from achieving your best, and how you attempted to overcome them. As such, you’ll want this essay to be relatively short. It should not exceed one to two paragraphs. 

Examples of UT Austin Supplemental Essays That Worked

It can be really helpful to look at examples of successful essays for inspiration. Below, you’ll find essay examples from accepted UT Austin applicants! We’ll look at each example closely to examine what worked about it. 

Sample Essay #1

Your UT Austin essays need to be concise, captivating, and creative to effectively answer this prompt:

Take a look at this example essay:

“‘Gone but never forgotten’---the solemn inscription on the plaque dedicated to my best friend, displayed prominently in our high school. A phrase intended to offer comfort, but one that will always ring hollow for me. The reality remains stark; gone is still gone. No matter how many times I replay his infectious smile or reminisce about our sunlit summers spent surfing until sundown, he remains forever confined to the realm of memories.

Losing my best friend to cancer was a heart-wrenching blow that shattered my world. We had shared dreams, laughter, and endless plans for our future. His untimely departure left an emptiness in my heart and a void in my life that seemed impossible to fill. Grief consumed me, and the once vibrant light of my high school years dimmed significantly. Coping with the loss of such a young, budding life was a challenge unlike any other, and it tested my emotional strength to its limits.

But, In the face of this overwhelming and seemingly unending pain, I found solace in the support of my family and friends. Their unwavering presence and understanding helped me navigate through the darkest times. I realized that I was not alone in my grief and that reaching out for support was not a sign of weakness but an act of bravery. This experience taught me the power of empathy and the significance of connection, shaping my understanding of the value of relationships in life.

While the loss of my best friend left a permanent scar, it also sparked an awakening within me. I became acutely aware of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. As I struggled to regain my sense of purpose, I sought solace in volunteer work at a local cancer support center. Being able to offer comfort and empathy to patients and their families on their own journeys was a cathartic experience that helped me heal and provided me with a newfound sense of direction.

Amidst the challenges, high school also offered unique opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. I found inspiration in the arts, particularly through music and painting. These creative outlets became my refuge, allowing me to express emotions that words could not convey. Art became a powerful medium through which I could heal and explore my own emotions, and it ignited a passion that continues to fuel my aspirations.

As I delved deeper into my artistic pursuits, I discovered my ability to inspire others through storytelling. I started sharing my experiences through writing and public speaking, aiming to bring hope and awareness to those facing similar struggles. This newfound purpose motivated me to excel academically and to embrace every opportunity for growth that high school offered.

With newfound resilience, I became an active member of various clubs and organizations that focused on cancer awareness and support. I initiated fundraisers and awareness campaigns, determined to make a difference in the lives of those affected by this dreadful disease. In doing so, I found strength in unity, as we came together as a community to support a common cause.

Through the highs and lows of high school, I have evolved into a compassionate, determined, and empathetic individual. The loss of my best friend has taught me that life is fragile and unpredictable, urging me to make the most of every opportunity and to embrace challenges with unwavering resolve.

As I prepare to embark on the next chapter of my journey at UT Austin, I am filled with a sense of purpose and determination. I aspire to study medicine, combining my love for the arts with my passion for healthcare to bring comfort and healing to those in need. The experiences of my high school years have shaped me into a resilient individual who values empathy, compassion, and the power of connection. I am confident that my journey through grief and self-discovery will not only enable me to excel academically but will also empower me to change lives and make a lasting impact both in and out of the classroom. So, while my best friend may be gone forever, his legacy will live on; through me, the sunsets I now surf through alone, the patients I will heal, and the grieving families I will support when all they have left to hold are intangible memories.”  

Why It Works

This essay stands out because of its deeply personal exploration of the writer's journey from grief to resilience, fueled by a passion for cancer awareness and healing. 

The unique fusion of art, medicine, and storytelling highlights the writer's distinct personality, aspirations, and well-roundedness. Their commitment to community engagement, coupled with a clear academic focus on medicine, also aligns well with the university's values. 

Short Answer #1 Example

Below, you’ll find an example essay answering the following prompt: 

“Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?”

Here’s another example essay to draw inspiration from:

“In 'The Alchemist,' Paulo Coelho writes, 'And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.' This profound sentiment resonates deeply with my decision to pursue an English major at UT Austin. For me, the study of English is a transformative journey of self-discovery and a pursuit of understanding the interconnectedness of humanity through the written word.

Like Santiago, the protagonist in 'The Alchemist,' I believe that our desires and dreams can shape our destinies. In the enchanting world of literature, I find myself constantly drawn to the power of storytelling, where words become vessels for ideas, emotions, and shared experiences. 

Choosing UT Austin as the home for my academic pursuits was an easy decision. The English program's reputation for fostering intellectual curiosity and nurturing creativity aligns perfectly with my academic goals. The diverse range of courses, from classic literature to contemporary poetry, promises to provide a comprehensive understanding of literary traditions, nurturing my ability to critically analyze and interpret texts.

Beyond the curriculum, I am excited about the vibrant literary community at UT Austin. Engaging with like-minded peers in literary clubs, workshops, and events will undoubtedly enrich my perspective and encourage meaningful discussions on the intricacies of literature. Moreover, I envision utilizing my passion for writing to contribute to UT Austin's literary publications and participate in creative writing workshops. Embracing opportunities to share my voice, whether through poetry or prose, is essential to my growth as a writer and communicator.

Ultimately, my decision to pursue an English major at UT Austin is driven by a deep-rooted passion for storytelling, a desire to understand the complexities of human existence, and a conviction that words possess the power to change lives.”

Why Essay #1 Worked

This essay begins with an interesting quote that intrigues the reader from the very first line. Then they artfully connect this quote to their personal and academic aspirations, which reflects a thoughtful consideration of the applicant's choice of major and resonates with the transformative power of education.

The alignment of their academic interests with UT Austin's English program also showcases a well-researched understanding of the university's offerings. 

Short Answer #2 Example 

You’ll need to do some serious brainstorming and reflecting to write an essay that answers this prompt well: 

“Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.”

You can use the following UT Austin essay to guide you in your brainstorming process:

“My journey leading up to UT has been shaped by a tapestry of experiences: my responsibilities at home, my passion for basketball, and my commitment to community service. Balancing two part-time jobs throughout high school to ease the financial burdens at home has instilled in me a strong work ethic and a determination to excel both academically and personally.

As a devoted basketball enthusiast, the court has become my sanctuary, teaching me invaluable lessons in teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The discipline and dedication required in sports have translated into my academic pursuits, where I strive for excellence with the same fervor I bring to the game.

My commitment to community service is deeply rooted in my family's legacy of veterans, who have instilled in me the importance of giving back. Volunteering at local animal shelters, soup kitchens, and hospitals and organizing charity events has allowed me to witness the transformative power of service firsthand. As such, I am driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others, both in and out of the classroom.

At UT, these experiences and perspectives will serve as my compass for engagement and leadership. As a student-athlete, I intend to contribute my skills to the campus basketball team, fostering a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship. On the academic front, my diverse background will enrich classroom discussions, bringing unique perspectives to the table.

Outside the classroom, I aspire to collaborate with service-oriented organizations, amplifying their impact on the community. Moreover, my leadership experience, gained from organizing charity events and coordinating community initiatives, will be instrumental in rallying fellow students to join forces for common causes. I am eager to embrace the enriching opportunities that UT has to offer, using my talents to foster a nurturing environment where empathy, determination, and teamwork thrive.”

Why Essay #2 Worked

The essay effectively highlights how all of this student’s experiences have shaped their character, instilling qualities like a strong work ethic, determination, teamwork, and leadership. 

Their commitment to community service reflects a genuine desire to give back, and their intention to bring this commitment to UT's campus showcases their dedication to making a positive difference in the university community. 

Short Answer #3 Example

For UT Austin’s third short answer essay, it’s important to include meaningful details. However, remember to be concise when answering the following prompt: 

“The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, ‘To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.’ Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to ‘Change the World’ after you graduate.”

Below is a sample essay to help you craft your own detailed and concise response: 

“Aspiring to become a nurse, I am driven by a profound sense of compassion and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on people's lives. The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin resonates deeply with my aspirations, and I believe my experience at UT Austin will empower me to change the world through the profession of nursing.

UT Austin's esteemed nursing program will provide me with a comprehensive and cutting-edge education, equipping me with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver high-quality care to diverse populations. The renowned faculty and state-of-the-art facilities will cultivate my clinical expertise, enabling me to make a tangible difference in patients' lives.

Through hands-on experiences and clinical rotations, UT Austin will offer me invaluable opportunities to work with real patients and understand their unique needs and challenges. These experiences will shape me into a compassionate and empathetic caregiver, dedicated to advocating for the well-being of each individual.

Additionally, UT Austin's commitment to community engagement and service aligns perfectly with my vision of making a difference in society. Participating in health outreach programs and volunteering at local clinics will provide me with a broader perspective on healthcare disparities and strengthen my commitment to serving underserved communities. The diverse and inclusive environment at UT Austin will enhance my cultural competence and foster my ability to provide patient-centered care to individuals from different backgrounds.

My experience at UT Austin as a nursing student will be transformative, preparing me to be a compassionate and skilled healthcare professional. Rooted in the university's core purpose of transforming lives for the benefit of society, I am confident that I will graduate as a competent nurse ready to embrace the challenges of the healthcare field and positively impact the lives of those I serve.”

Why Essay #3 Works

The student grounds their aspiration to become a nurse in a genuine compassion for others and a desire to create a positive impact, which resonates well with the university's core purpose. 

The essay also effectively outlines how UT Austin's nursing program is a perfect fit for the applicant, highlighting the comprehensive education, renowned faculty, and state-of-the-art facilities that will prepare them to deliver high-quality care. 

These points present a strong case for how UT Austin’s program will empower this student and how she will contribute to the university’s community. 

Optional Essay Example

Remember, you only need to respond to this prompt if it applies to you: 

For your reference, here’s a sample essay explaining the circumstances that prevented a student from achieving the GPA they intended to:

“During my high school years, I encountered a unique set of circumstances that significantly impacted my academic performance. After my single mother was unexpectedly fired from her job and faced challenges finding another, our family's financial stability became uncertain. In order to support my mother and contribute to household expenses, I took on multiple part-time jobs, which demanded a substantial portion of my time and energy. As I juggled work commitments alongside my academic responsibilities, I found it increasingly challenging to maintain the GPA I had envisioned, a 3.8. While my determination to succeed academically remained steadfast, the added responsibilities and time constraints hindered my ability to dedicate as much time to my studies as I desired.

Despite these challenges, I persevered, ensuring that I gave my best effort in every aspect of my life. Balancing work and studies taught me invaluable time management and prioritization skills, but it also meant sacrificing some extracurricular opportunities that could have enriched my high school experience further. While my academic performance may not have reflected the 3.8 GPA I initially aimed for, I am proud of the resilience I demonstrated in the face of adversity. The experiences I gained from shouldering responsibilities beyond academics have shaped me into a diligent and empathetic individual. I believe these life lessons will undoubtedly serve me well as I embrace new challenges and opportunities in the future.”

Why This Optional Essay Works

This answer sticks to the facts and clearly articulates the circumstances the student faced, how they tried to improve their situation, and what they learned from it. The student keeps a positive tone throughout and does not place blame or try to evoke pity from the admissions committee!

Get More Sample Essays Here!

Looking at sample essays can work wonders for your own inspiration and motivation. If you want to check out more college application essays written by admitted students, take a look at our college essay database down below! 

FAQs: UT Austin Essays

Below, you’ll find the answers to any remaining questions about the UT Austin essays!

1. How Many Essays Does UT Austin Require?

UT Austin requires all of its applicants to answer one long essay and three short essays. There is an additional optional essay for students that faced circumstances that negatively affected their high school experience. 

2. Does UT Look At the Common App Essay?

Yes, the Common App essay will be considered in the admissions committee’s evaluations. 

3. Does UT Look At Coalition Essays?

No, UT Austin only uses the Common Application or the Apply Texas application . 

4. How Long Does UT Austin Supplemental Essay Need to Be? 

The UT Austin required essay should be between 500-700 words. However, the short answer essays only need to be 250-300 words. 

5. How Important Are Essays for the University of Texas at Austin? 

According to UT Austin’s most recent common data set , the application essays are taken into consideration. This means that you’ll have make sure your essays are stellar so that your application stands out! 

Final Thoughts

Overall, your UT Austin essays are not just about showcasing your achievements, but also about how your unique journey has shaped you into the person you are today. Embrace the challenges you've faced and the lessons you've learned along the way. 

Be confident in your abilities and potential. Show them how you can make a positive impact both inside and outside the classroom at UT Austin. UT Austin is looking for a diverse array of individuals, so let your personality and potential shine brightly in your essays!

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How to write the 2021-22 Supplemental Essay for University of Texas at Austin?

UTA’s supplemental essays

With nearly 51,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, the Institution of Texas at Austin is a big public research university. UT Austin is the flagship of the University of Texas system and home to some of the nation’s greatest engineering, architecture, and business departments.

Because UT Austin does not accept the Common Application, students must apply through either the ApplyTexas or Coalition for College websites. One lengthy essay and three short essay questions make up the writing portion of the application, with extra writing requirements for students applying to these programs: Architecture, Art/Art History, Nursing, and Social work.

Topic A in ApplyTexas and the UT Austin Mandatory Essay in the Coalition application are required essays for all freshman candidates. Please limit your essay to 500–700 words in length (typically two to three paragraphs).

Prompts for the supplemental essays are as follows:

Topic A:  Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? (500-700 words)

How to write it?

This essay provides you with the ideal opportunity to tell UT something about yourself that goes beyond your GPA and test scores. This is the essay that people refer to when they talk about their personal statement or college essay.

Whether you apply to UT Austin through the Coalition or ApplyTexas, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to highlight your best high school achievements. As a result, it’s critical that you focus your essay on sharing a personal tale that doesn’t exist anywhere else on your application. What unique opportunities and difficulties did you face throughout your time in high school? Because the purpose isn’t to make a list, concentrate on one key tale that represents either an opportunity or a threat.

Keep in mind that your reflection on the incident or opportunity that moulded who you are now will be a source of valuable information for admissions officers as you assess your “opportunities.” As you go through your “challenges” course, keep virtues like resilience and tenacity in mind.

Whatever path you select, make sure admissions learns something fresh about you through personal tales and detailed information. 

Short Answer 1: Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? (250-300 words).

This is an essay on “Why major?” Many universities need it, which indicates they’re interested in hearing about your preparation for your desired major. But it’s really crucial for UT. Why?

Demonstrating that you (along with your hobbies and extracurricular activities) are a good match for your first-choice major is crucial for UT. In other words, more than most other colleges. This essay is an excellent opportunity to illustrate your compatibility.

Your personal connection to your chosen field of study should be highlighted in your tale. Don’t forget to bring up UT Austin! Your reader should understand not just why you are enthusiastic about your chosen major, but also what excites you about Austin’s program at the end of your essay. Concentrate on the various options available at UT Austin and how you intend to explore them after you come on campus. At the outset of college, it’s natural to want to explore new things.

 Short Answer 2: Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT. (250-300 words)

You’ve probably already made an influence on your school, family, and neighbourhood if you’re applying to UT. It’s time to go beyond your resume’s four corners and contemplate how you’ll leverage your history to influence your future. You’re not far off if you believe this seems like a “Why us?” essay. Instead than focusing on how UT would alter you, you’ll concentrate on how you’d make a lasting difference at UT.

While this question isn’t new, the language has been changed somewhat to include “your participation in leadership activities.”

 Short Answer 3: The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT-Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate. (250-300 words)

While this prompt invites you to think about the influence you’ll have during your time at UT, it also fast-forwards you four years in the future, Manifest-style. How will you apply what you’ve learned in college to make an impact in the real world when you graduate from UT? UT Austin is looking for movers and shakers, students who have a vision for a better tomorrow and a strategy to make it a reality. Admissions officers want to hear what kind of change you’d want to see in the world.

Admissions officials at UT are looking for critical thinkers and changemakers, not just students. Whatever way you choose to respond to this question, show admissions that you care about other people’s well-being. Also, let them know that you want to be a part of constructive change and that you will bring honour to UT Austin even after you graduate.

Required Short Answer 4: Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance, including the possible effects of COVID-19. (250-300 words)

This is UT Austin’s version of an Additional Info area, with an emphasis on anything that “affected your high school academic achievement” and the ability to report any COVID-19 effects. Was your involvement in clubs and activities harmed as a result of a COVID-19 infection during your junior year? Have you had a dip in your GPA due to a family emergency? A decline in grades or a void on your resume 

do not determine who you are. Remember to focus on the steps you made to improve the situation rather than the ones you couldn’t control. You don’t want to come across as a helpless victim, but rather as a strong someone who can make a difference in their circumstances.

How will Rostrum help you?

Every year, the admissions committee at UT Austin is confronted with a massive candidate pool; these writing assignments provide the ideal opportunity to stand out! These essays cover a wide range of topics, from personal to academic and occupational, and are intended to paint a complete image of you as a candidate. Make the most of the additional space if you have an extra essay or two to show that you will offer something special to the Texas Community. Fortunately, Rostrum’s team of experts, who have all graduated from prestigious universities, will assist you not only in writing the best supplemental essays, but also with the entire admissions process, which includes application, mock interview sessions, profile building, scholarships, test prep, and anything else that may arise. Book a free consultation with us to learn more and get started on your path to being accepted to your ideal institution.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, ut austin supplemental essays.

Hi everyone, I'm starting to work on my application for UT Austin and I was wondering if anyone knows what supplemental essays they require for the 2023-24 application season? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hello! You're in luck, because CollegeVine has a blog post that specifically breaks down UT Austin's supplemental essays, including the additional essays you'll need to write if you're applying to specific programs or majors. You can check out this post here: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-ut-austin-essays.

Additionally, remember that CollegeVine offers both free peer essay reviews and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors, which are both great resources if you're looking to get a second set of eyes on your writing.

Overall, make sure to answer each prompt thoughtfully, focusing on specific examples and experiences, and proofread your responses for clarity and grammar. Good luck with your application!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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2 Awesome UT Austin Essay Examples

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the hardest colleges to get into in Texas . With a competitive acceptance rate, the school is moderately selective. Writing strong essays, however, will certainly boost your chances. 

UT Austin requires one long essay and three short answers, with an additional optional short answer question. There are also a handful of program-specific prompts. 

In this post, we’ll analyze sample essays written by a real applicants, sharing what they did well and what could be improved.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our UT Austin essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Essay Example #1

Prompt: Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. Please write the quotation, title and author at the beginning of your essay (prompt from the 2020-2021 cycle). 

“Fortunately, among these people a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father.”

– Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart 

Like most children, I aspired to my father. 

I saw my dad as an image of whom I wanted to be. Charismatic, genuine, respected among his peers – he embodied the qualities I saw essential to being a successful person. 

The most appealing to me, however, was my father’s medical background. As the first person to attend university in our extended family, he had always been revered for his accomplishment of becoming a doctor. 

As a direct consequence, biology was a keen passion during my childhood. I remember how each evening, as I was being tucked into bed, I would unload an avalanche of questions on my dad, many of them amusingly simple such as: If my body is 70% water, why don’t I have water spilling out of my finger every time I get a papercut? In school, I’d stay after class to probe my teachers about the topics I had read of but did not yet comprehend. And anytime I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I, without a whiff of doubt, bolted out I was going to be a doctor. 

However, as I got older, I developed new interests – in particular, social science and leadership – which did not always align with my childhood goals of medicine and biology. 

With this dichotomy in my mind, I decided to spend my sophomore summer volunteering at a hospital. 

Once there, it suddenly dawned on me that, for my entire life, I had viewed being a doctor through rose-tinted glasses since the reality of being a medical professional differed wildly from my perceptions. The dozens of biology textbooks I had read had not prepared me for a single drop of blood, as seeing just one could send me into an exhausting realm of dizziness. With every additional day of volunteering, it became painfully clear – I could not follow in my father’s footsteps. 

Disappointed, I began contemplating what made my experience in the hospital so bad and if anything could be done to improve people’s – whether patients’, doctors’, or volunteers’ like myself – experience. Then, a light-bulb switched on: what if I could improve the look of the hospital? As it stood, the hospital was incredibly run-down and inspired depression rather than hope. 

With a goal to improve the hospital’s appearance and thus create a friendlier environment for the people inside, I started the Better Setting – Better Getting project, which was going to decorate the hospital with photographs of nature. Having done so, there was a question of financing ー with the hospital administration over-budget, I had to source the funding entirely from the private sector. It was challenging but, a few dozen cold-calls and a handful of live-pitches later, I found a corporate partner that recognised my vision. Finally, I was ready to make my goal a reality. Legal roadblocks and printing nuances still stood in the way, but, with the enthusiastic support of the hospital community, I was able to navigate my way through. Today, dozens of wall-sized nature photos emit joy and hope into the halls of the hospital. 

My hospital volunteering, which had begun with heartbreak and disillusion, turned out to be a defining experience of self-discovery. It helped me close my chapter on medicine, a chapter I had so often doubted, and helped me validate my passion for leadership; it allowed me to operate free of doubt, knowing that I don’t have to follow my father’s footsteps. Above all, it made me realise that, although I would never be a doctor, I could nonetheless have a positive impact on society in my very own way.

What the Essay Did Well

The author begins with a quote from a historical fiction novel that the author has read. Although their essay topic doesn’t tie directly in with the novel’s plot, the quote they chose is profound and serves as a hook that piques the reader’s interest about the essay subject. 

The author starts the essay by mentioning their father. Their use of first person and writing style makes their first lines seem like the narration at the beginning of a film. This introduction draws the reader in as it seems like the author is building up to something. Similarly, your introduction should start as if you are telling a story to provide the most engaging experience for the reader. 

The author then delves more into their father’s background and describes his medical prowess by showing, rather than telling, readers about it. Instead of saying that his father is exceptional, the author presents a specific detail about how he was the first in his family to attend university. Phrasing your writing like this allows the reader to infer through descriptive detail rather than simply absorbing your words at face value. Ensuring that you create this immersive writing style might take more time, but it is worth it as it will make your essay more memorable to admissions officers.

Eventually, the third-to-last paragraph is the climactic point the reader has been waiting for. It is the most important part of the essay ー it’s time for the author to describe how they grew from the incident. During this portion of your essay, you should take readers through your thought process as you begin to formulate a solution for your conflict. It is not enough to say that you learned something new or to merely state that you felt like a changed person. You must provide concrete examples of how you reached a solution and what that solution entailed. Here, the author mentions their distaste for the hospital, specifically, its aesthetic. This sets readers up to hear their solution. 

In the next paragraph, the author describes how they resolved part of their issues with the hospital and were able to grow into their new career path. When detailing your solution, make sure you are centering yourself as the agent of change and give specific details as to your specific impact in your environment. In this essay, the author doesn’t just say “I learned that I had a passion for business.” Rather, they show readers how their skills developed and mention specific steps they took, like live pitching and navigating legal roadblocks. 

The author concludes this essay by summarizing their journey and bringing their essay back to their chosen quote. By wrapping up their essay in this manner, they underscore their growth in a way that flows well and is easy to read. Furthermore, their open-ended, future-facing final thoughts demonstrate that they intend to continue growing. This inclusion is a key part of any good essay; ending your essay on a strong, future-facing note evokes confidence and illustrates a readiness for the challenges that come with college and beyond.

What Could Be Improved

One area of improvement for this essay is that the section on their transformation is relatively brief. The author spends multiple paragraphs giving context but only dedicates one to the actions behind their growth. The author might want to trim other areas of the essay in order to fully develop this paragraph. They could describe what they did more thoroughly, and really delve into the steps they took to carry out the mentioned processes like so:

Essay Example #2

Prompt: Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?

I woke up. The curtains filtered the sun rays, hitting my face directly. I got up, looked from the bathroom to the kitchen, but my dad wasn’t there. I plopped on the couch, then the door opened. My dad walked in, clutching a brown paper bag with ninety-nine cent breakfast tacos. After eating, we drove to a customer’s house. He sat me in a chair, lifted the floorboard, and crawled under the house to fix the pipes. As he emerged, he talked, but my mind drifted to the weight of the eleven-millimeter hex wrench in my hand. My interest in mechanical engineering originates from my dad, who was a plumber. When I was fifteen, my dad passed away from cancer that constricted his throat. Holding his calloused hand on his deathbed, I wanted to prevent the suffering of others from cancer. Two years later, when I was given a topic of choice for my chemistry research paper, I stumbled upon an article about gold nanoparticles used for HIV treatment. I decided to steer the topic of gold nanoparticles used for cancer treatment instead, entering the field of nanotechnology. After reading numerous articles and watching college lectures on YouTube, I was utterly captivated by topics like using miniscule devices to induce hyperthermia as a safe method of cancer treatment. Nanotechnology is multi-disciplinary, reinforcing my interest in pursuing mechanical engineering as a gateway to participate in nanoscience and nanotechnology research at the University of Texas at Austin. I have learned that nanotechnology is not limited to stories like mine, but to other issues such as sustainable energy and water development that I hope to work towards. It is important for me to continue helping others without forfeiting my interest in nanotechnology, working in collaboration with both engineering and the medical field.

The introduction of this essay stands out for its narrative style. The first sentences only give hints of the story to come, which builds intrigue and keeps the reader engaged. The introduction transitions seamlessly into a vivid, personal story that shows where the author’s academic interests come from. Using a short anecdote like the one in this essay is the most effective way to explain your major choice.

The author then guides readers through their intellectual journey of discovering their academic passions. They demonstrate their passion by discussing specific details about cancer treatments and nanotechnology. Indeed, “nerding out” over your intellectual interests is an excellent way to prove that you are highly motivated to learn about them in college.

Lastly, the end of the essay looks forward to the future. We learn that the author’s dream is to cure cancer, and they want to do it by gaining multidisciplinary knowledge about engineering and medicine. We learn too that UT Austin is a part of the author’s vision. They show their interest in the school by discussing more than the major they want to pursue at UT Austin, highlighting research and the opportunity to explore new applications of nanotechnology.

The main area for improvement in this essay is its formatting. While formatting is far less important than the content of an essay, it can do much more than you would think to make your essay more impactful. This essay only needs one formatting change — paragraph spacing. Here is an example of the improvements:

I woke up. 

The curtains filtered the sun rays, hitting my face directly. I got up, looked from the bathroom to the kitchen, but my dad wasn’t there. I plopped on the couch, then the door opened. My dad walked in, clutching a brown paper bag with ninety-nine cent breakfast tacos. 

After eating, we drove to a customer’s house. He sat me in a chair, lifted the floorboard, and crawled under the house to fix the pipes. As he emerged, he talked, but my mind drifted to the weight of the eleven-millimeter hex wrench in my hand. 

My interest in mechanical engineering originates from my dad, who was a plumber. When I was fifteen, my dad passed away from cancer that constricted his throat. Holding his calloused hand on his deathbed, I wanted to prevent the suffering of others from cancer. 

Two years later, when I was given a topic of choice for my chemistry research paper, I stumbled upon an article about gold nanoparticles used for HIV treatment. I decided to steer the topic of gold nanoparticles used for cancer treatment instead, entering the field of nanotechnology. After reading numerous articles and watching college lectures on YouTube, I was utterly captivated by topics like using miniscule devices to induce hyperthermia as a safe method of cancer treatment. 

Nanotechnology is multi-disciplinary, reinforcing my interest in pursuing mechanical engineering as a gateway to participate in nanoscience and nanotechnology research at the University of Texas at Austin. I have learned that nanotechnology is not limited to stories like mine, but to other issues such as sustainable energy and water development that I hope to work towards. 

It is important for me to continue helping others without forfeiting my interest in nanotechnology, working in collaboration with both engineering and the medical field.

This new paragraph spacing makes the essay much easier to read. Separating certain parts into paragraphs puts powerful emphasis on the ideas that need them; for example, turning the sentence “I woke up” into its own paragraph creates a captivating hook that intrigues readers into finding out what happens next.

With the new format, it is also easier to see that the fourth paragraph would benefit from a few transitional phrases. To connect the author’s interests in mechanical engineering and cancer solutions, the paragraph could be reworded like so: 

My interest in mechanical engineering originates from my dad, who was a plumber. My interest in finding solutions to cancer — and how mechanical engineering could create them — comes from my dad too. When I was fifteen, he passed away from cancer that constricted his throat. Holding his calloused hand on his deathbed, I wanted to prevent the suffering of others from cancer. 

Where to Get Your UT Austin Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your UT Austin essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. In fact,  Alexander Oddo , an essay expert on CollegeVine, provided commentary on the essays in this post. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Undergraduate Admission

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This is an archived copy of the 2021-22 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/ .

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Freshman Admission

Transfer admission, major-specific application requirements, readmission of former undergraduate students.

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 (visiting summer) students are outlined later in this chapter and details are available on Texas Admissions .

Application deadlines. For 2022-2023 undergraduate admission, application materials must be received in the Office of Admissions by the deadlines published on Applying for Admission .

Prospective students are encouraged to apply early for the enrollment period in which they are interested. Beginning the process early allows ample time for applicants to assure that their applications are complete by the deadline.

Application processing fees. A nonrefundable fee of $75 is required with each application for domestic undergraduate admission. (The undergraduate fee for transient admission, admission for visiting summer students, is $60.) Fee waivers based on financial need are available. International applicants (those who are not United States citizens or permanent residents) must submit a nonrefundable fee of $90; waivers are not available for international applicants.

Admission to requested majors. Although Texas law offers automatic admission to the University for eligible undergraduate applicants, it does not guarantee admission to an applicant's requested major. All undergraduate applicants are considered on a competitive basis through holistic review for admission to the majors they request.

Accepting admission. Applicants who are offered undergraduate admission to the University must take steps to accept the offer of admission. To accept admission, admitted students must pay a $200 enrollment deposit, which 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 not refundable.

Major changes following acceptance of admission. Undergraduate students are limited in their ability to change majors after accepting admission offers. Incoming undergraduates are not allowed to change majors from one college/school to another during summer or during orientation. Students interested in changing majors within their college/school should speak with an academic advisor about the requested change during orientation. Visit Internal Transfer for more information.

Rescinding offers of admission. The Office of Admissions has the authority to rescind an offer of admission to a student who, after being admitted to the University, fails to maintain the level of academic, achievement, or honor code standards that were displayed in the information the student submitted when applying for admission to the University. Applicants who falsify any part of their application or the documents required to complete the application process are subject to cancellation of their offer of admissions or disciplinary action. 

Students at the University are expected to conduct themselves in ways that reflect the University’s Student Honor Code .

Scholarship recipients. The executive director of admissions may admit recipients of bona fide scholarships.

Submitted application items. Official transcripts and test score reports submitted to the Office of Admissions will not be duplicated or returned to the student. Faxes of transcripts and applications are not accepted.

• Undergraduate Applicants with College Credit

Many undergraduate applicants come to the University after enrolling in college-level coursework or earning college credit.

Reporting previous college coursework. An applicant who has undertaken coursework at another collegiate institution (including freshman, transfer, reentry, and international applicants) must report all such coursework when applying for admission. 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.

Awarding college credit. The University awards college credit to some incoming undergraduate students for courses that are transferable from other colleges and universities, for designated scores on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, for OnRamps courses and for dual credit courses the student took while in high school.

Students seeking transferable credit must submit official transcripts of all coursework taken at all other institutions for evaluation by the Office of Admissions. This evaluation determines whether the coursework could in any circumstances qualify for transfer credit at UT Austin, but it does not constitute approval of the credit for use toward a degree; such approval is solely within the jurisdiction of a student's academic dean.

The following policies govern evaluation of credit:

• Institution types: Transfer credit is generally awarded for academic course credit earned from regionally accredited institutions or from institutions that are candidates for regional accreditation if the course credit was earned during the candidacy period. In rare circumstances, course credit earned at other institutions may be accepted.
• Courses that are not transferable: Workforce (vocational) courses, developmental and remedial courses, and courses classified as below freshman level by the institution at which the student took them are not transferable and will not count toward a degree.
• Credit for military training: Transfer credit is awarded for some kinds of military training. Credit awarded for military training usually does not count toward the 24 hours of transferable credit needed to apply for admission.
• Coursework level: Junior and community college courses transfer as lower-division (freshman or sophomore) credit. Undergraduate courses from senior colleges transfer at the level (lower- or upper-division) at which the student took them. Graduate-level coursework is not transferable as undergraduate credit.
• Limits on use of credit toward degree: No limit is placed on the total amount of course credit accepted in transfer from either junior- or senior-level institutions. However, use of transfer credit toward a degree may be limited by the student’s academic dean.
• Credit by exam at another institution: Credit earned by examination at another institution is treated as transfer credit only if the sending institution records the credit on the student’s transcript with regular catalog course numbers and with a grade of at least C- , the symbol CR , or a similar designation representing credit earned without letter grade.
• Computing an applicant’s GPA: When computing an applicant’s grade point average (GPA) for admissions purposes, the Office of Admissions includes grades earned in all academic courses (except developmental courses), whether passed, failed, or repeated, including those in which the student earned a grade of D+ , D , or D- . However, a course in which the student earned a grade of D+ , D , D- , or F is not transferable and will not count toward a degree. An  A  or  A+  earned on transferable coursework is awarded four points in admission GPA calculations. (See Academic Policies and Procedures for information about how the University computes GPA.)
• Transfer coursework and the University’s GPA: Grades earned at other institutions are not averaged with grades earned at the University to determine the student’s internal University grade point average.

Disputed credit: If the University refuses to accept lower-division credit earned at another Texas public institution of higher education, the student and the sending institution will be given written notice that transfer credit was refused. If nontransfer of credit is disputed, the University will attempt to resolve the matter with the student and the sending institution according to applicable rules and guidelines of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. If the dispute is not resolved to the student’s or the sending institution’s satisfaction within forty-five days of the initial notification, the University will notify the Coordinating Board of the refusal of the transfer credit and the reasons for refusal. The Coordinating Board will resolve the dispute and notify the parties of its findings.

College credit for earning an International Baccalaureate diploma. Students who are admitted to the University and have earned an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma during high school may qualify for 24 hours of college credit. Details about the program are available from Student Testing Services .

College credit for military service. Military veterans who enroll as entering undergraduates (freshman, transfer, or returning students) at UT Austin and meet certain requirements are eligible to receive up to 12 semester hours of undergraduate elective coursework credit for the time they spent in the service. Eligibility requirements are defined in Section 51.3042 of the Texas Education Code .

The credit is awarded for having served, not for any college-level courses that the veteran may have taken while in the military. To be eligible to receive credit for military service, a veteran must

• Have graduated from a public or private high school accredited by a generally recognized accrediting organization or from a high school operated by the United States Department of Defense.
• Have completed at least two years of service in the armed services (unless the veteran was discharged because of a disability).
• Have been honorably discharged from the armed forces.

Admitted students who may qualify for credit for military service should speak with a representative of the Office of Admissions upon enrollment at the University.

• Recruiting Students for Undergraduate Admission

The Office of Admissions offers a variety of services and resources to assist prospective students with the undergraduate admissions application process. Undergraduate applicants are encouraged to use all available resources, especially consultation with the University’s admissions representatives and counselors.

Admissions representatives work in communities throughout the state of Texas. The University’s admissions representatives provide detailed information about, and assistance with, the freshman and transfer admissions and enrollment processes through consultation, information sessions, and local events.

The Office of Admissions participates in a variety of activities and efforts designed to recruit prospective freshman and transfer students.

• Collaborating with high school counselors in Texas and in other states and with junior and community college officers across the state.
• Hosting counseling and information sessions and conducting campus tours for prospective freshman and transfer students.
• Hosting meetings with representatives from UT Austin admissions, student affairs, and academic affairs offices for prospective transfer students visiting the campus.
• Hosting on-campus events for prospective freshman and transfer students.
• Participating in community college recruiting events across the state and visiting community colleges and business and industry locations to provide information for prospective transfer students.
• Participating in college nights and college fairs across the state and the nation to provide information to prospective freshman and transfer students.
• Working with academic and student affairs offices and departments across campus to assist students in their transition to UT Austin.
• Working with alumni and outreach centers across the state and nation to facilitate student recruiting through information distribution, events, and activities.

Freshman applicants should take advantage of the detailed information and resources available through Texas Admissions - Freshman .

Eligibility to Apply

To be eligible to apply for freshman admission, an applicant must:

• Have graduated or be on track to graduate from high school or receive a GED and
• Not have enrolled in another college or university after graduating from high school or earning a GED.

To be eligible to apply for freshman admission, a Texas public high school applicant must also be on track to graduate under the high school coursework requirements defined in the state’s Uniform Admission Policy . Texas private high school applicants and applicants from Department of Defense schools must be on track to complete coursework that is equal in content and rigor to the requirements in the Uniform Admission Policy. See Admission Decisions below for information about requirements for automatic admission.

No student is exempt from the University’s minimum coursework requirements: four units of language arts, two units of a single foreign language, three units of mathematics at the level of Algebra I or higher, two units of science, three units of social studies, one and one-half units of electives, and one-half unit of fine arts. (Computer science/programming courses may be used to fulfill the admissions foreign language requirement.)

Meeting the minimum requirements makes a student eligible to apply for admission, but exceeding the minimum is often necessary for applicants to be competitive for admission to many of the University's academic programs.

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

Admission Deficiencies 

Some applicants may be required to complete the University’s deficiency process in order to meet UT Austin’s minimum coursework requirements. Applicants who appear to be deficient after applying for admission are notified by the Office of Admissions that they must submit additional information through an online process. Notified students who fail to complete the deficiency process will not be considered for admission.

Admitted students must complete the coursework required to remove a deficiency before they enroll at the University. A deficiency in foreign language must be removed by achieving first-year college-level credit in a foreign or classical language, by earning a passing score on the appropriate placement examination given by the University, or by taking computer science/programming coursework, when applicable. A deficiency in mathematics must be removed by earning credit for  Mathematics 301 , College Algebra , or  Mathematics 303D , Applicable Mathematics , or an equivalent transfer course. For all other subjects, one semester of college credit is required to remove a deficiency of one year or less of high school credit.

Freshman Application Procedures

To be considered for admission as a freshman, an applicant must submit all required items by the deadline published on Texas Admissions .

• Application.  A completed Freshman application .
• Transcript and rank.  An official high school transcript showing coursework information through the end of the junior year along with information about the applicant's class rank and high school class size (usually noted on the transcript). If your high school does not rank students, provide a statement from your school describing its policy, a copy of your school's profile, and a GPA or grade distribution report. 
• High school coursework or exemption information.  Documentation showing that the applicant is on track to meet high school coursework requirements or is requesting an exemption to meet the state's Uniform Admissions Policy; applicants who claim an exemption based on equivalent coursework must submit a certification/exemption form as described above.
• Test score.  An official test score report for the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Assessment. Scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to be considered official. For the 2022-2023 application, this requirement is suspended. More information may be found on Texas Admissions-Freshman . 
• Fee or waiver request.  The application processing fee or a request for a fee waiver.

Additional requirements for some applicants. In addition to the items required of all applicants, some applicants are required to submit additional items. Some applicants, for example, may be required to submit the online Student Information Form to provide details about high school coursework. In addition, international freshman applicants must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores as well as evidence of sufficient financial support while studying in the United States. In addition, some majors require applicants to submit major-specific application requirements .

Additional information about applying for freshman admission, including details about reporting rank, high school coursework requirements, and testing requirements, is available on Texas Admissions - Freshman .

Keeping prospective students informed: In accordance with the admissions policy adopted by the University of Texas System Board of Regents, the Office of Admissions works diligently to keep students informed about items needed to complete an admissions application and about the status of their individual applications throughout the process. MyStatus – a secure online portal for UT Austin applicants – provides detailed information about application status (incomplete, complete, in review, etc.) and about items needed to complete an application for admission. The Office of Admissions also notifies applicants by email of the need to visit MyStatus for application information.

Reporting dual credit.  A freshman applicant may not disregard any part of their academic record, including college credit earned as dual credit. Such coursework must be reported when applying for admission, and the applicant must submit official transcripts of the coursework.

Freshman Application Review Process

In keeping with the admissions policy adopted by the University of Texas System Board of Regents, the Office of Admissions uses an individualized, holistic review process to consider each completed freshman application. Annual file review training is conducted to assure that files are reviewed consistently and fairly based on admission criteria.

Applications from students who qualify for automatic admission are reviewed to determine majors. Applications from students who are not eligible for automatic admission are reviewed to determine admissibility and to make decisions about majors.

The following items are considered during holistic review:

• Strength of academic background
• SAT Reasoning Test or ACT scores
• Record of achievements, honors, and awards
• Special accomplishments, work, and service both in and out of school
• Essay(s) and required short answers
• Special circumstances that put the applicant’s academic achievements into context, including the applicant's 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
• Recommendations (although not required)
• Competitiveness of the major to which the student applies

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 or admission for top students from small Texas high school graduating classes—ensures admission.

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.

Admission Decisions

The Office of Admissions uses an individualized, holistic review process to consider each completed freshman application. Applications from students who do not qualify for automatic admission are reviewed to determine which students will be offered admission and to determine majors for those offered admission. Applications from students who do qualify for automatic admission are reviewed to make decisions about majors.

Texas applicants eligible for automatic admission.  Section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code defines the rules that govern automatic admission to Texas universities. Under these rules, the University is required to use automatic admission to fill at least 75 percent of the spaces available to Texas residents in each admitted freshman class.

Each September, the University informs school districts of the rank that will be required to earn automatic admission to the University in the next application cycle. On September 16, 2020, the University notified school districts that it will automatically admit students in the top 6 percent of their high school classes to summer/fall 2022 and to spring 2023.

In addition to graduating under the coursework requirements found in the state’s Uniform Admission Policy , to be eligible for automatic admission, applicants from Texas public high schools must complete the Foundation High School Program with the Distinguished Level of Achievement. High school coursework exemptions are available for applicants who may be eligible for automatic admission and who attend private high schools in Texas or Department of Defense high schools. Available exemptions are based on achieving certain benchmarks on either the SAT or the ACT or completing high school coursework that is equal in content and rigor to the state’s high school graduation requirements.

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.

To be considered for admission to the Cockrell School of Engineering, the Jackson School of Geosciences, and the Environmental Science major in the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Natural Sciences, applicants who are otherwise eligible for automatic admission to the University should meet the calculus-readiness requirement. To be considered for admission to other math-intensive majors (mathematics, business, physics, or computer science), an applicant who is otherwise eligible for automatic admission to the University should demonstrate math proficiency. 

Automatic admission for military/veteran applicants.  Students who qualify for automatic admission to UT Austin at the time they graduate from high school and who join the military after graduation maintain eligibility for automatic admission for the period of time they serve in the military. Military or veteran applicants interested in enrolling at UT Austin following military service who have not enrolled in college-level coursework since high school graduation should apply for freshman admission. Such applicants are reviewed holistically with the freshman applicant pool to determine the major to which they will be offered admission. Qualified applicants who have enrolled in college-level coursework since high school graduation should apply for  transfer admission .

Applicants not eligible for automatic admission.  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 or be on track to graduate from high school and have met the high school preparation requirements.

As a state-assisted institution, the University reserves 90 percent of its spaces for Texas residents per Texas law; 10 percent of the spaces are reserved for out-of-state and international students.

Notifying applicants of admission decisions. In keeping with the admissions policy adopted by the University of Texas System Board of Regents, the Office of Admissions notifies freshman applicants of their admission decisions as soon as possible. Summer/fall applicants who qualify for automatic admission are notified of their admissibility soon after their applications are complete. Decisions about majors for automatically admissible students and decisions about admission and majors for applicants who are not automatically admissible are made and delivered beginning in the fall. All freshman admissions decisions for summer/fall are communicated by the spring before the entry semester. The Office of Admissions also works to deliver spring decisions in a timely manner.

Alternative paths to admission.  The University works to identify and develop alternative admission programs that offer prospective students a clear path to completion of an undergraduate degree at the University. These programs include: Path to Admission through Co-Enrollment (PACE), a co-enrollment program with Austin Community College, and the Coordinated Admission Program (CAP), a University of Texas System program through which students enroll in a UT System university during their freshman year and then transfer to UT Austin—after successfully completing the program requirements—in order to complete their undergraduate studies.

Information about PACE requirements for the 2021-2022 academic year are available on Texas Admissions - Freshman . Information about CAP requirements for the 2021-2022 academic year is available on Texas Admissions - Freshman .

Prospective transfer applicants should take advantage of the detailed information and resources available on Texas Admissions - Transfer .

In most circumstances to be eligible for transfer admission consideration, an applicant must:

• Have graduated from high school or earned a GED
• Have enrolled in an institution of higher education following high school graduation or receipt of the GED
• Have earned 24 semester hours of transferable coursework at another college of university

While 30 semester hours of transfer credit is recommended for transfer applicants, students with at least 24 hours of credit will be considered based on the strength of their application and available spaces in the incoming class. In exceptional circumstances, students with fewer than 24 semester hours of credit may be considered for transfer admission under special review by appeal to the Executive Director of Admissions.

Ineligible at other institutions.  An applicant who is ineligible to continue at a previous institution for academic or disciplinary reasons is not eligible for admission to the University. There is no probationary or provisional admission for transfer applicants.

Degree holders.  Students who have obtained a degree at another college or university but are interested in working toward an undergraduate degree at UT Austin must apply for undergraduate transfer admission in the same way as students who have not yet earned a degree.

Former CAP and PACE participants.  Students who participated in the Coordinated Admission Program (CAP) or Path to Admission through Co-Enrollment (PACE) but did not complete the requirements or decided not to enroll at UT Austin despite successful completion of the requirements must apply for transfer admission if interested in attending UT Austin at a later date.

Additional situations requiring application for transfer.  UT Austin graduate students who are interested in taking undergraduate courses but who have never attended UT Austin as an undergraduate must apply for undergraduate transfer admission. The same is true for students who have taken only correspondence or extension courses at UT Austin as well as students who have taken only summer courses when enrolled as a visiting transient student.

Transfer Application Procedures

To be considered for transfer admission, an applicant must submit the items listed below by the application deadline . Official transcripts and test score reports submitted to the Office of Admissions will not be duplicated or returned to the student. Faxes of transcripts and applications are not accepted.

• Application and essays:  A completed Transfer application , including the required essays and statement of purpose.
• Transcripts:  Separate, official transcripts from each college attended, including any at which the applicant enrolled while in high school. Every college-level course the student took must be reported on a transcript from the institution at which the student enrolled in the course, even if it also appears on the transcript of another institution that accepted it for transfer credit. Summer and fall applicants must submit official transcripts of all coursework undertaken through the previous fall; spring applicants must submit official transcripts of all coursework undertaken through the previous summer.
• Fee (or exemption request):  The nonrefundable application fee or a request for an exemption, described in the section  Application Processing Fee .
• Résumé:  An expanded résumé that provides information about the applicant’s previous five years of academic, extracurricular, community, and work activities, honors, and awards.

The following items are required for some applicants:

• Permanent resident alien applicants must submit a photocopy of the front of the permanent resident card or temporary evidence of I-551 in the passport.
• Transfer applicants (including United States citizens and permanent residents) who have undertaken a significant amount of their college coursework in a country in which English is not the only language spoken must show proficiency in English by presenting a score on either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Details about possible exemptions are available on Texas Admissions - Transfer . 
• International transfer applicants must submit evidence of sufficient financial support while studying in the United States.

Required for enrollment.  Before enrolling at the University, admitted transfer students must submit an official high school transcript. The transcript is used to verify completion of the units in foreign language and mathematics that are requirements of many university degrees. Although the high school transcript is not required for admission, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit it with other admissions credentials by the deadline.

Automatic admission for eligible transfer applicants.  Section 51.8035 of the Texas Education Code establishes criteria for automatic admission to the University for qualifying transfer applicants who began their studies at a Texas community or junior college following high school graduation. Visit Automatic Transfer Admission for details.

Automatic admission for military/veteran applicants.  Students who qualify for automatic admission to UT Austin at the time they graduate from high school and who join the military after graduation maintain eligibility for automatic admission for the period of time they serve in the military. Qualified military or veteran applicants interested in enrolling at UT Austin following military service who have enrolled in any college-level coursework since high school graduation should apply for transfer admission. UT Austin waives the 24 semester-hour transfer coursework requirement for qualified military/veteran applicants. Such applicants are reviewed holistically with the transfer applicant pool to determine the major to which they will be offered admission. Applicants who have not enrolled in college-level coursework since high school graduation should apply for  freshman admission .

Transfer Application Review Process

All applications for transfer admission are reviewed and evaluated individually and holistically. Admission decisions are made after careful consideration of the strength of the applicant’s academic background; their record of achievement and accomplishment, both in and outside of the classroom; and related factors reported by the applicant in writing.

The Office of Admissions considers the following items when looking for evidence of a strong academic background:

• Substantial coursework from a challenging academic institution or program
• Evidence of relevant coursework and experiences related to requested field of study
• Required and appropriate courses for specific areas of study
• Evidence of a positive academic trend

The following items form the basis for evaluating an applicant’s record of achievement and accomplishment:

• Indications of a superior level of achievement in a particular area, or particular attributes that would be an asset to a department or college
• Letters from deans, department chairs, or faculty members that attest to the applicant’s qualifications for their respective programs
• Information on a personal résumé that attests to the applicant’s skills, abilities, experiences, or background
• Performance at an audition or the quality of a portfolio, when required for the applicant’s proposed major
• Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language or the International English Language Testing System, when required
• Other special circumstances, including socioeconomic standing; educational goals; cultural background; employment, internships, etc.; race or ethnicity; personal experiences and hardships; personal responsibilities; and any additional information submitted by the applicant

Enrollment pressures at the University may not permit admission of all who qualify for certain academic programs. When this occurs, the Office of Admissions, within applicable law, admits those students who are judged to be most able to contribute to and benefit from the University’s rich, diverse, and academically challenging environment. Additional admissions requirements for some undergraduate programs are described in  Major-Specific Application Requirements .

Grade point average computation.  A transfer applicant’s grade point average on transferable college coursework is a significant indicator of the applicant’s academic strength. Because the Office of Admissions considers academic background as a factor when making transfer decisions, the grade point average can play an important role in an applicant’s final admission decision.

The admission grade point average (GPA) is computed on all transferable college coursework the student has undertaken, whether passed, failed, or repeated. The Office of Admissions uses the University's numerical equivalents as described in  Academic Policies and Procedures  when computing GPA for transferable coursework.

• GPA is computed by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of semester hours pursued. (Credit hours and grade points earned on the quarter system carry 2/3, or .66, the numerical value of those on the semester system.)
• Transfer credit is not given for courses in which incoming students have earned a grade of  D+ ,  D ,  D- , or  F . However, if such courses would normally be eligible for transfer, they are included when GPA is calculated.
• During transfer GPA calculations, an  A  or  A+  earned on transferable coursework is awarded four points.
• Each instance in which a course is taken is counted when GPA is computed. For example, a course that a student takes twice in an effort to raise a grade is counted twice when the GPA is computed. However, transfer credit for a repeated course is counted only once.

Transfer and evaluation of credit.  Applicants for transfer admission must submit official transcripts of all coursework taken at all other institutions for evaluation by the Office of Admissions. This evaluation determines whether the coursework could in any circumstance qualify for transfer credit at the University, but it does not constitute approval of the credit for use toward a degree; such approval is solely within the jurisdiction of a student’s academic dean.

Additional information about evaluation of credit is available in  Undergraduate Applicants with College Credit .

Catalog eligibility for Texas transfer students.  A student who transfers from another Texas public institution of higher education has the same catalog choices that the student would have had if the dates of attendance at the University had been the same as the dates of attendance at the other institution. However, the student’s choice of major may affect whether or not transferable coursework may be counted toward a degree. Rules about catalog choice are given in the undergraduate catalog in the section  Graduation Under a Particular Catalog .

Coursework-in-residence requirement.  Candidates for all undergraduate degrees must complete at least 60 semester hours of coursework in residence at the University. A transfer student who has completed a substantial amount of transferable, degree-applicable coursework may be obliged to take more courses at the University than their degree program requires, in order to meet the residence requirement. Students considering transfer after earning more than 60 hours of transferable credit should carefully review their options and the possible ramifications of the coursework-in-residence requirement before transferring.  For more inform ation, r eview the  Non-Resident Tuition for Resident Students policy .  

Transient Admission (Summer Only)

Undergraduate students who are pursuing degrees at other U.S. colleges and universities and wish to continue their studies at the University during the summer only may be admitted to some undergraduate programs as visiting transient students. A transient student who then wishes to be admitted to the University on a regular basis must apply for admission as a transfer student.

Visiting transient students may not register in the Graduate School but may take graduate courses if qualified. If a visiting transient student is subsequently admitted to the University as a regular student, credit earned while enrolled as a transient student may be used to meet undergraduate degree requirements but may not be used to fulfill the requirements for a graduate degree.

Students who attend the University as transient students and then are admitted on a regular basis are immediately subject to the University’s academic regulations. In particular, such a student will be placed on scholastic probation upon enrollment if their grade point average for work undertaken as a transient student at the University is below 2.00.

Fresh Start

Section 51.931 of the Texas Education Code provides that a resident of Texas may apply for admission to the University as an undergraduate student without consideration of course credit or grades earned 10 or more years prior to the semester the applicant plans to enroll. To be admitted, the applicant must meet the admission standards in effect at the time of application. Students admitted under fresh start receive no credit for coursework taken 10 or more years before enrollment, even if a degree was earned.

Fresh start applicants must apply for transfer admission (or readmission if they attended UT Austin in the past), must submit transcripts for all college-level coursework taken and all required application items by the transfer deadline, and must have the minimum number of transferable courses.

Enrollment as a Nondegree Student

A student who holds a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, including UT Austin, may apply for admission as a nondegree student in one of the undergraduate colleges or schools. Students seeking nondegree admission follow the process for undergraduate transfer applicants and are considered on a competitive basis with transfer applicants for the same semester. Some undergraduate majors are not open to nondegree students; applicants must select from available nondegree majors.

Nondegree students are subject to the rules that apply to other undergraduates. With the approval of the Office of Admissions and the dean's office of the applicable college or school, nondegree students may change to degree-seeking status in an undergraduate college or school. Such students must meet the criteria required of all transfer applicants.

With the approval of the instructor and the graduate advisor, a nondegree student may take any graduate course for which they meet the prerequisite. However, graduate courses that a student takes while enrolled as an undergraduate nondegree student may not later be counted toward a graduate degree.

Exchange students.  A student who is admitted to the University through a reciprocal exchange program is also classified as a nondegree student. An exchange student may not register for more than two long-session semesters and one summer session. The transferability of academic credit to the student’s home institution is determined by the home institution.

An exchange student may later apply for admission to the University as a degree-seeking student, but only after completion of the exchange period. If the student is admitted as a degree-seeker, credit that they earned as an exchange student may be counted toward a university degree only on a limited basis and only with the approval of the student’s dean.

To be considered for admission to some undergraduate majors, applicants must submit additional information or meet additional requirements beyond those for applying to the University. Applicants who complete the University’s undergraduate application requirements but fail to submit these additional items or to meet these major-specific requirements may be considered for admission to other undergraduate majors based on academic interest and space availability. Undergraduate applicants may select both a first-choice and a second-choice major when applying for admission; however, preference may be given to first-choice applicants.

Foreign language requirement:  UT Austin undergraduate students are expected to have completed two years of a single foreign language in high school. Applicants who meet the University's foreign language high school coursework requirement with computer science coursework may be required to earn credit at the beginning level proficiency in a single foreign language to complete their undergraduate degree requirements. See  Foreign Language  in the Undergraduate Catalog.

The list below offers an overview of major-specific requirements. Additional information is available on  Texas Admissions  and to individual applicants through MyStatus, the University's secure admissions portal.

Architecture

Freshman requirements.

• Fall-only admission:  Entering students must begin their studies in a fall semester
• Short answer question:  Submit response to major specific short answer question

Transfer Requirements

• Essay D:  Submit a response to Essay D
• Portfolio and letter of recommendation:  Submit online portfolio and one letter of recommendation
• Minimum 3.25 grade point average:  Applicants must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average on transferable coursework
• Transfer from architecture/interior design programs:  Submit transfer credit from architecture or interior design programs
• Fall admission:  Entering business students must begin their studies in a fall semester; summer admission may be possible
• Canfield Business Honors Program:  Admission to the Canfield Business Honors Program requires completion of an additional application, criteria, and acceptance by the Canfield Business Honors Program
• Fall-only admission:  Entering business students must begin their studies in a fall semester
• Calculus II
• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Foreign language proficiency:  Before enrolling, admitted transfer students must verify completion of two years of a single foreign language in high school or one year of a single foreign language in college.

Communication

• Fall-only admission:  Entering students must begin their studies in a fall semester
• Fall-only admission:  Entering students must begin their studies in a fall semester (nondegree seekers may apply to speech, language, and hearing sciences for the spring semester)
• Essay:  Submit an essay response that focuses on how the intended major aligns with the student's educational/career goals
• Teacher certification:  Non-degree seekers planning to begin professional development classes in the fall semester should complete the application to the professional development sequence as part of the admissions application process.

Engineering

• Calculus readiness requirement:  To be considered for admission to the Cockrell School of Engineering, students must be  calculus ready .
• Summer/Fall admission:  Entering students must begin their studies in a summer or a fall semester
• Engineering Honors Program:  Admission to the Engineering Honors Program requires the completion of an additional application
• Mathematics 408L ,  408M , or  408D
• Physics 303K  and  103M
• A minimum of four technical courses. Technical courses include courses in math, physics, biology, chemistry, geology, computer science, and engineering.
• Fall admission:  Entering students must begin their studies in a fall semester

Fall-only admission:  Entering students in all majors must begin their studies in a fall semester.

• Submit response to major specific short answer question
• Submit art portfolio
• Submit additional Butler School of Music application
• Submit letters of recommendation
• Complete an audition for the Butler School
• Submit departmental application
• Complete additional steps such as audition or interview
• Submit Essay D
• Complete an audition for the Butler School 
• Submit resume to the department

Geosciences

• Calculus readiness requirement:  To be considered for admission to the Jackson School of Geosciences, students must be  calculus ready
• Chemistry 301
• Geological Sciences 401  or  303
• Mathematics 408C , or  408K , or equivalent
• Biology 311C

Transfer Recommendations

• Mathematics 408L  and  408M ,  408D , or equivalent
• Geological Sciences 401  or  303  with a grade of at least  B-

Liberal Arts

• Honors programs:  Plan II and Liberal Arts Honors applicants must complete the online Honors Program application and submit the additional materials.
• Environmental Science (geographical sciences):  To be considered for admission to environmental science, students must be  calculus ready
• Fall-only admission:  Plan II and environmental science students must begin their studies in a fall semester
• Plan II:  The Plan II major is not currently available to transfer applicants.
• Undeclared:  The Undeclared major in Liberal Arts is not available to transfer applicants.
• Transfer credit for  Biology 311C ,  Chemistry 301 , and  Mathematics 408C ,  408K , or  408N  with a grade of at least  C-  in each
• Transfer credit for  Geological Sciences 401  or  303  with a grade of at least  B-

Natural Sciences

• Honors programs:  Natural sciences honors program applicants must complete the online Honors Program application and submit the additional materials
• Environmental science (biological sciences):  To be considered for admission to environmental science, students must be  calculus ready
• Fall-only admission:  Environmental science students must begin their studies in a fall semester
• ​Fall-only admission:  Computer science and environmental science students must begin their studies in a fall semester.
• Undeclared:  The Undeclared major in Natural Sciences is not available to transfer applicants.
• Transfer credit for  Biology 311C ,  Chemistry 301 , and  Mathematics 408C ,  408K , or  408N  with a grade of at least a  C-  in each

Transfer Recommendations (to be competitive for all natural sciences majors):

• Minimum of 30 transferable semester hours
• GPA in math and science:  Minimum grade point average of 3.00 in mathematics and science coursework is preferred for consideration. A GPA above 3.00, however, is generally needed to be competitive for admission.
• First-choice major:  Preference is given to applicants who select a Natural Sciences major as their first-choice major and who have transfer credit for at least one college-level calculus course.
• ​ Mathematics 408C ,  408D ,  408K ,  408L ,  408M ,  408N , or  408S
• Statistics and Data Sciences 301
• ​ Biology 311C ,  311D
• Chemistry 301 ,  302
• Computer Science 311 ,  312
• Physics 303K ,  303L
• or majors level equivalents
• Essay A:  Submit Essay A describing how the intended major would impact achievement of the student's educational and career goals
• Short answer questions:  Submit responses to major specific short answer questions​
• Essay A:  Submit Essay A with a focus on goals of becoming a nurse and/or a career in nursing
• Recommended GPA:  To be competitive, applicants should have a minimum 3.5 transfer GPA
• 24 hours by deadline:  Submit transcript showing 24 hours of completed coursework by the application deadline.
• Chemistry 301 ,  Statistics and Data Sciences 301 , and  Biology 311C
• Additional documents:  ​ Additional documents  may be required for applicants with an associate's degree in nursing

Admission to the College of Pharmacy is not available to freshman applicants

Transfer Applicants

• Pharm CAS Application:  Apply to the professional pharmacy program (PharmD) by completing the PharmCAS application and the College of Pharmacy Supplemental Application

Social Work

• Essay:  Submit Essay A or E with a focus on how social work would prepare a student to achieve education and career goals.

Undergraduate Studies

There are no additional application requirements or recommendations for applicants to undergraduate studies. Only freshman applicants may apply to the undeclared major in the School of Undergraduate Studies.

Admission to upper-division work and requirements for continuing study:  Some undergraduate academic programs admit new students as undeclared or entry-level majors within a college or school. In such cases, students must meet certain requirements—earn a certain grade point average in specified coursework, for example—to move into upper-level study. In some cases, students must apply for admission to a concentration or to a professional program after meeting the specified requirements.

Additional Information:  Prospective undergraduate students and applicants should review online information provided by the  colleges and schools  that offer the majors in which they are interested and should consult the  Undergraduate Catalog  for details.

Former University students who were not enrolled the previous long-session semester must apply for readmission. Students who completed the requirements for a degree from the University in the previous semester or summer session must also apply for readmission. (Former graduate students who have never been enrolled at UT Austin as undergraduates and who wish to take undergraduate courses must apply for undergraduate transfer admission.) Application materials must be submitted by the deadline for former students . To be eligible to re-enroll, a former student who has subsequently attended another college must submit an official transcript from each college showing a grade point average of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale for all transferable coursework the student has undertaken since leaving the University. (Students who have taken only one transferable course in their absence must earn at least a 2.00 on that course.) This requirement does not apply to work taken during a summer session that falls between consecutive spring and fall semesters in which the student is enrolled at the University.

A student who leaves the University on scholastic probation will be on scholastic probation when readmitted, even if they have attended another institution in the interim.

Former students who wish to enter the School of Law, the Graduate School, or the graduate program of the McCombs School of Business for the first time must meet the requirements and deadlines given in the appropriate section of this chapter. Additional information about graduate and law programs is given in their respective catalogs.

Readmission Following Military Service

In accordance with section 51.9242 of the Texas Education Code, a student who withdraws from the University in order to perform required military service will be readmitted for any semester or summer session that begins within a year after the student’s release from required service. The student is not required to apply for readmission or pay an application fee. However, the student must submit the Notification of Intent to Re-Enroll. This form allows the University to prepare for the former student’s return. If the form is submitted late, the student’s registration may be delayed. To prevent a delay, the former student should submit the form at least two weeks before they expect to register for classes.

This policy applies to students who withdraw for service with the United States armed forces or the Texas National Guard; however, it does not apply to students who withdraw solely to perform one or more training exercises as members of the Texas National Guard.

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How to approach the UT Austin Personal Essay Prompt

The university of texas-austing essay topic, and how to nail it (2020-2021)..

What kind of sadist asks you to “Tell us your story?”

UT-Austin, that’s who. Their totally straight-forward personal statement is about as terrifying as they come. How can you get a handle on something so wide-open?

Don’t worry. With our complete guide we’ll walk you through all the essays step-by-step — with insights all drawn from our long experience at Prompt helping applicants get in.

And if you’d also like personalized guidance from people who’ve done this thousands of times, get started with us here .

University of Texas at Austin essay topics for Summer/Fall 2021

Required: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? (500-700 words)

Required short answers (250-300 words):

• Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?
• Leadership can be demonstrated in many ways. Please share how you have demonstrated leadership in either your school, job, community, and/or within your family responsibilities.
• Please share how you believe your experiences, perspectives, and/or talents have shaped your ability to contribute to and enrich the learning environment at UT Austin, both in and out of the classroom.

Optional: Please share background on events or special circumstances that may have impacted your high school academic performance.

University of Texas at Austin – UT Austin Essay Guide 2020-2021

In this UT Austin Essay Guide, we will cover how to approach the 2020-2021 Apply Texas prompt, as well as the three supplementary essays required to successfully apply for undergraduate admission. For more guidance on personal essays and the college application process in general, sign up for a monthly plan to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

Ranked highly across the board, the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is one of the best schools in the state of Texas and highly reputable around the nation for providing both an excellent education and great student life. This university is situated in Austin – the state capital – sometimes referred to as “The Silicon Valley of the South,” due to the growing number of tech companies situated in and around the area. Out of all the schools in the UT system for undergraduate education, the one in Austin is the flagship campus.

While the school guarantees admission to students within the top six percent of their graduating senior class, those who do not fall under this category must use honest and riveting essays in order to stand out amongst the crowd of accomplished applicants. The university has a fairly selective admissions process and only accepts approximately 38% of all applicants. This number lowers drastically for out-of-state applicants, as the University of Texas is a public school that is required to accept mostly in-state applicants.

Due to its status as a state public university, UT Austin requires individuals to apply through the Apply Texas application system. Within this application service are three prompts. By using the following techniques, I was able to gain admission into the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin.

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? (500-700 words)

UT Austin requires those applying for freshman admission to complete Topic A. This personal statement is arguably one of the most important essays in the UT–Austin application, as it gives you the opportunity to tell the admissions committee about yourself.

I advise getting as personal and in-depth as possible. Try your best to be authentic, open up, and don’t be afraid to get vulnerable (while maintaining a sense of professionalism). The potential topics to choose from are endless, but I recommend writing about a hardship or experience that will help show the most authentic version of yourself.

Keep in mind that writing about an experience that was not necessarily positive does not mean that you should create a negative tone throughout the entirety of your essay. Shed some light on the experience and discuss the good that has come from that situation. Explain what you learned or how it helped you to grow. Find the silver lining in your specific story and emphasize it as you are able to convey your optimism.

Short Answer

UT Austin requires applicants to submit three short answer prompts, as well as one optional short answer. These essays need to be between 250-300 words (usually around one paragraph each).

1. Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?

UT Austin asks this question in order to gain a better understanding of your academic interests. For this short essay, I recommend showcasing your genuine interest in the major, with quality extracurricular activities to further supplement your choice. Try not to mention that you need this major to get a specific job or go to graduate school as it will seem very transactional, and the school will believe that this is not your passion, but rather just a strategic career move to you. If you are unsure about your major in the long run, discuss the value that it could potentially bring you and how that can be applied to your future field of work or interests.

2. Leadership can be demonstrated in many ways. Please share how you have demonstrated leadership in either your school, job, community, and/or within your family responsibilities.

Be specific in this response. You should mention any leadership roles that you’ve had and explain the capacity and organizations in which you held them. Furthermore, you should mention how these significant roles have impacted you in terms of personal growth and change. Remember that it is always quality over quantity. The admissions committee would like to see meaningful extracurricular activities that you spent a significant amount of time and effort on. These types of ventures are the easiest to write about as your passion will organically blend with your writing.

3. Please share how you believe your experiences, perspectives, and/or talents have shaped your ability to contribute to and enrich the learning environment at UT Austin, both in and out of the classroom.

In this short answer, your job is to communicate what you can bring to the UT Austin campus. Discuss how your specific traits and talents can contribute positively to the community. For example, if a student is very interested in photography, they could talk about how they can bring their talents to the school through tangible means, such as setting up a photography club, or providing help to other aspiring photographers on campus. Be detailed in your approach and provide specific examples of your potential methods of contribution. In order to gain admission, the committee wants to see the unique value you can bring to the Forty Acres.

(Optional) Please share background on events or special circumstances that may have impacted your high school academic performance.

Only answer this question if you have something that you need to explain that is not currently represented in your application, such as health/mental health issues, family disruption, or having to make tough course choices based on something you really love (for example; you’ve been very involved in chorus, finally made honor’s choir, but it only meets during the period when French is so you had to drop a language, etc.). Be honest and explain your circumstances to the best of your ability. Do not consider any of this a fault in your application. On the contrary, it takes strength to own up to anything that might be considered out of the ordinary or a blemish on your application.

This UT Austin essay guide was written by Tanishk Gambhir, Texas A&M International University class of 2020. If you want to get more help writing your application essays from Tanishk or other CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

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The Admissions Strategist

How to write the university of texas essays 2020-2021: the applytexas guide.

The University of Texas is a public research university located in Austin, Texas, with an acceptance rate of 40%.

One of the largest schools in the nation , UT is divided into 18 schools and colleges. It offers over 900 clubs and organizations, hundreds of study abroad programs, nationally ranked sports teams, and more.

If that sounds like your kind of school, you’ll first have to make it past the admissions process. While your GPA, SAT scores, and other accomplishments are important, your essays also offer a great opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

In this article, we’ll help you capitalize on that opportunity by providing tips, ideas, and inspiration for writing the University of Texas essays.

Let’s get started!

What Are the University of Texas Supplemental Essays?

The University of Texas uses the ApplyTexas application, a common application accepted by Texas public universities and some private Texas universities.

Along with this application, you must submit at least one essay and three short answer questions.

UT’s required supplemental essay is fairly long, at 500-700 words or 2-3 paragraphs. All applicants must write their essay addressing this prompt:

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Some majors and schools within the University of Texas require additional supplemental essays. These prompts are listed below, along with the school or major they relate to:  

UT School of Art and Art History:

In 500 words or less, please tell us about a meaningful way in which an artwork, or artist, has changed your life. How has this prompted your ambitions for a life in the arts?

UT Nursing Majors:

Discuss the factors that have influenced your desire to pursue a career in Nursing. How have your academic and extracurricular activities prepared you to pursue a degree in Nursing?

UT School of Architecture:

What are the ways you explore and express your creativity? Please limit your response to 250-300 words. Take and upload up to three photographs from a camera, smart phone or mobile device that capture how you see the world. Describe what you are trying to evoke with these images. Please limit your response to 50–75 words.

Steve Hicks School of Social Work:

Discuss the reasons you chose Social Work as your first-choice major and how a Social Work degree from UT will prepare you for the future.

Once you’ve responded to your main essay as well as any applicable major or school-specific prompts, you will need to respond to three short-answer questions, and you’ll have the option to answer one more.

U Texas Required Short-Answer Questions:

These are listed as short-answer questions, but they are more similar to the regular essays required by most college applications. They should be no longer than 40 lines, which is equivalent to 1 paragraph or 250-300 words.

Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? Leadership can be demonstrated in many ways. Please share how you have demonstrated leadership in either your school, job, community, and/or within your family responsibilities. Please share how you believe your experiences, perspectives, and/or talents have shaped your ability to contribute to and enrich the learning environment at UT Austin, both in and out of the classroom.

U Texas Optional Supplemental Essay Question:

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance, including the possible effects of COVID-19. Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

General Tips for the University of Texas Supplemental Essays

When you look over most of your ApplyTexas application, you’ll see a lot of numbers. These numbers include SAT scores, GPA, your class rank, the years you’ve been involved in various activities, and so on.

Perhaps these numbers capture your achievements over the four years of high school, but do they form an accurate picture of you ?

Probably not; and that’s where the essays come in.

These essays will help admissions officers at UT get to know who you are beyond the numbers and statistics. They’ll get to know your personality, values, and goals. They’ll learn about where you come from and what has shaped or influenced you.

Keeping this purpose in mind, make sure that you’re honest in your essays and write in your own voice. The essays should “sound” like you and should address ideas and experiences that you find meaningful. Use specific details to make your essays interesting and memorable.

Try to be reflective and insightful, indicating that you’re a mature student who will thrive in a college environment.

Also, be sure to carefully edit and revise your essays, preferably getting feedback from a few trusted teachers, family members, or peers. You want to make a good impression; Spelling and grammar errors aren’t the way to accomplish that!

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s take an in-depth look at each of UT’s essays and short answer questions.

Get personalized advice!

Required university of texas supplemental essay.

When you first look into this prompt, you may feel surprised or overwhelmed by the required word count. UT states that this essay should be between 500 and 700 words, which is much longer than the typical college application essay.

However, instead of feeling uncertain, try to get excited. It may be a longer essay, but that means you’ve got more space to show the University of Texas admissions team who you are and why you belong in their upcoming freshman class.

It’s also an interesting prompt because it starts broad and later gets more specific. “Tell us your story” is about as broad as essays can get. Then, however, you find out what UT really wants to hear about is the challenges you’ve faced so far in life.

Take these two questions and bring them together into one; What are some challenges you’ve faced that have turned you into the person you are today?

UT doesn’t necessarily want to hear the happy, upbeat parts of your story, they want to hear the hard stuff. They want to see what you’ve overcome.

Start by brainstorming the aspects of your story you’d like to address.

• Have you gone through something challenging that significantly impacted your life?
• If not, think of some small things: Make a list of tough classes, write about when you moved to a new town and had to start over by making new friends in a new school, or even describe some of the difficult aspects of your life at home.

It doesn’t matter if these challenges are big or small; UT simply wants to see that you’ve overcome them and they’ve shaped you into the person you are today.

Once you have your challenges, take some time to examine yourself.

How did these difficulties affect your life? How did they change the person you’ve become?

• Did they make you more resilient?
• Did they teach you to never give up?
• Did they give you the motivation you need to work hard and make a difference in the world around you through your future career?

Look into who you are deeply, and don’t be afraid to be a little creative.

If you’re still stumped on how these events have changed you, ask a family member or close friend. If they watched you push through, they likely saw the change before you even began to notice it.

You may also be able to find inspiration by reading through old diaries, digging around in your attic or basement, or taking a drive through your neighborhood or town.

Use vivid, specific details to describe your experience. Allow the admissions team to feel as if they’re going through the challenge right alongside you.

Then, dig even deeper:

• How did you mature or grow as a result?
• What life lessons did you learn?
• What elements of your personality were shaped by this experience?

No matter what challenges you write about, be sure to write your essay from a meaningful and authentic point of view. Take time to show the University of texas admissions team who you are and what makes you special.

If you write from your heart and show UT who you are, your essay is sure to impress.

UT School of Art and Art History Supplemental Essay

For the first part of this prompt, you should showcase your passion for  art history, visual art, or another intended area of study.

• Have you had a powerful experience while viewing a specific art piece or artist’s work?
• How did this experience shape you as an individual and/or an artist?
• How did it change your life as a whole?

We’re talking about art here, so be descriptive!

Start by choosing your art piece or artist, and explain what you felt when you first saw or experienced it.

Then, explain the impact it has had on your life.

Maybe it’s affected who you are as an artist by compelling you to turn your hobby into a career:

• Have you taken studio classes, completed an internship, or independently worked on relevant projects?
• What do you plan to do at UT to continue exploring this interest?

Maybe it’s simply taught you about who you are.

No matter how the art piece or artist has changed your life, be sure to paint an image of your experience through your words. Be sincere, and show UT that you have a true passion for the arts.

They want to see that art has truly made you who you are today, and that you’re serious about your future in the creative world.

UT Nursing Majors

Prompt #1: Discuss the factors that have influenced your desire to pursue a career in Nursing.

For your first nursing-specific essay, think about experiences or other factors you’ve already had that have prepared you to be a good nurse.

• Have you always been interested in the Human Body and how it works?
• Did you have an amazing nurse at one point in your life, and you’ve wanted to follow in their footsteps ever since?
• Have you had a family member experience a medical challenge, and what to give back through a career in nursing?

You may want to tie UT’s Nursing program specifically into your answer:

• Research opportunities, professors, or classes you’d like to be part of, and mention how these specific programs or experiences can help you reach your goals.
• Be sure that your tone is enthusiastic and excited.

You should also take the time to clearly express your goals in nursing.

• Is there a specific population you’d like to work with or something in particular that you’d like to achieve? Why?

By showing UT that you’ve got good reason to desire a future as a nurse (and that you’re sure to make a good one) you’ve got a much better chance at being accepted into the program.

Prompt #2: How have your academic and extracurricular activities prepared you to pursue a degree in Nursing?

While brainstorming your response to this prompt, consider your past nursing-related academic or extracurricular experiences:

• Do you have clinical experience?
• Research experience?
• Volunteer work you’ve done?
• If not, any experience working with people and/or demonstrating compassion could suffice.

You’ll want to show UT that you’re dedicated to this career path, and show that you’ve already taken concrete steps to introduce yourself to the field.

U Texas School of Architecture

Prompt #1: What are the ways you explore and express your creativity? Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

This sounds like a simple question, but its broad origin makes it more challenging that other essay prompts.

Since this question is so broad, you’ll want to break it down to find your inspiration.

First, how do you explore your creativity?

• What gives you your inspiration?
• How do you come up with new ideas?
• Where does your passion for architecture lie?

Think hard about where your creativity comes from, and let UT know. Don’t worry if it’s not the most amazing place; they want you to be honest and authentic.

Next, talk about how you express your creativity.

Once you get a new idea, how do you get it out?

Does it steam for a while, or do you stay up all night until you have the entire plan on a page in front of your own eyes?

• Do you free-write to get all of your ideas down on paper?
• Do you grab a sketchbook and start to draw?
• Maybe you’re a 3D builder, and love creating models of future works you’d like to accomplish

Remember once again to be honest and authentic.

At the same time, be sure to fill your response with detail. Write in a way that gets the U admissions team excited about the creativity you’ve got inside of you. Show them how passionate you are and how you’re simply made for a future in architecture.

Prompt #2: Take and upload up to three photographs from a camera, smart phone or mobile device that capture how you see the world. Describe what you are trying to evoke with these images. Please limit your response to 50–75 words.

This is an interesting prompt because it requires photos, so it’s almost more similar to a portfolio submission.

However, it includes a write-up, so we want to support you through your response.

When you set out to take your pictures, be intentional. Keep in mind that you’ll have to write something that is both short and impressive when your done (and it needs to relate specifically to the pictures you take).

When you start writing, try a free-write to get the process going.

Write down everything you have to say about your images, and underlying the best things that come to you.

Take those best pieces of information, and make them as direct and compact as possible.

With only 50-75 words, everything you put on that final page needs to count.

Steve Hicks School of Social Work

This question is simple: Why social work, and why UT?

• Have you had experiences working with others to help them overcome challenges, such as being a tutor or volunteering at a soup kitchen?
• Can you demonstrate that you’re an empathetic, compassionate, and resilient individual?
• Try using an anecdote to describe why you’re so interested in social work—and why you would make a great social worker.

For the second half of the question, you may need to do some research on UT’s social work program.

• Look into classes, professors, opportunities, and other resources.
• What most excites you about this program?
• What opportunities will you take advantage of?
• How will these experiences prepare you for a career as a social worker?

An essay that shows passion for social work and commitment through understanding UT’s social work program is sure to stand out.

UT Supplemental Required Short Answers

Remember, every UT applicant will answer at least three short-answer questions. Responses are limited to 250-300 words.

Short Answer #1: Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?

Don’t panic if you’re not completely sure what you want to do after college yet.

• Is there a field you’re interested in exploring?
• A career path you think you want to pursue?
• Just choose something that interests you, and explain why you can see yourself working in this field.

Even if you have several possible careers in mind, remember that you only have 300 words. It’s best if you choose just one to focus on for the purpose of this essay. Get right to the point.

Even though you’ve only got 300 words, you still want to make sure UT has the chance to get to know you better through this essay. Be sure to include some information that sheds light on who you are and why you’re passionate about your potential future major:

• Can you think of one particular moment or event that helped you decide on a career or academic path?
• If so, this is a perfect place to narrate that anecdote for admissions officers.
• Alternatively, perhaps there are several reasons you’ve become fascinated with a certain career. You can mention them here, but be sure to include specific details!

If you’ve spent time outside of school volunteering, researching, or exploring your selected career, mention it. Your essay should convey passion, excitement, and genuine interest in the career you’ve chosen to discuss.

Short Answer #2: Leadership can be demonstrated in many ways. Please share how you have demonstrated leadership in either your school, job, community, and/or within your family responsibilities.

Colleges these days aren’t looking for just any student, and UT is no exception. This essay prompt shows that the University of Texas is seeking leaders to join their upcoming freshman class.

What have you done to lead in the past?

• Have you held a chair position in Student Council?
• Were you the captain of the basketball team?
• Maybe you started and lead your own language learning club

Remember that these leadership roles do not have to relate directly to school or academics:

• Are you an older sibling who has helped raise your brothers and sisters?
• Have you filled in for your manager at your weekend job?

It doesn’t matter where the role was, UT just wants to see that you’ve got it in you to be a leader.

They want to know that you’re capable of taking things into your own hands and making a difference in the world around you.

Remember to be authentic, fill your essay with specific details, and show UT a little bit more about who you are. They want to see a leader, but they also want to see you.

Short Answer #3: Please share how you believe your experiences, perspectives, and/or talents have shaped your ability to contribute to and enrich the learning environment at UT Austin, both in and out of the classroom.

This is a typical “Diversity” essay; it shows that UT wants to know about the unique pieces of you that will both benefit their campus and add to the diversity of their next freshman class.

Take it as an opportunity to show UT why and how you stand out.

When you begin brainstorming how you’ll respond to this prompt, be sure to consider all of the areas listed:

• What unique experiences have shaped your learning venture so far? Have you attended specialty camps or had what you consider to be the best science teacher in existence?
• What about perspectives? What are some interesting ways you have of viewing certain subjects? Have you had first-hand experiences to shape these views?
• Don’t forget about talents; what are you good at? Don’t be afraid to brag! UT sincerely wants to know.

Once you’ve got your experiences, perspectives, and/or talents listed, consider how they’ll add to UT’s classrooms.

What do you have to offer to your future classmates and teachers?

What will make you stand out in class?

Take this essay as a chance to show UT what you’ve really got to offer in the classroom, even if it doesn’t show up in your GPA or test scores.

UT Supplemental: Optional Short Answer

As we’re living in unprecedented times, you’ve got what appears to be an unprecedented opportunity; an optional short answer essay that relates to COVID-19.

Your response to this prompt is, of course, optional, but we suggest every applicant takes the time to respond. Why? Because they more you write in your application, the more UT will get to know who you really are.

When writing this essay, consider anything and everything that has impacted your academic performance throughout high school. COVID-19 almost certainly has made a mark on your high school experience, but include other factors when necessary:

• Maybe you were ill throughout most of your Freshman year, causing you to miss a significant amount of school
• You may have moved schools with every starting year, causing you to have trouble settling into each new schedule and routine.
• You could have had a family emergency or tragedy that affected your academic performance at a specific time.

This is a unique opportunity, because it gives you the chance to explain something that may make your application look less than ideal.

Give your reason, and then go beyond the prompt.

Show UT how you grew through that challenge and what it taught you.

Show the admissions team how strong you are, and how you’re capable and ready to leave your mark at the University of Texas.

Conclusion: How to Write the University of Texas Supplemental Essays

As you write your UT essays, remember that the goal is to give admissions officers a glimpse into your background, personality, and goals.

Be enthusiastic, open, and honest. Instead of trying to impress, simply try to convey who you are. Genuine answers will be more interesting and memorable than forced answers.

Start working well in advance, giving yourself plenty of time to proofread and edit , and be sure to use the tips and inspiration we’ve provided here.

Strong essays will definitely increase your chances of joining the Longhorns in the fall. Good luck!

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UT Austin retains the same supplemental essay requirements for Fall 2024

The University of Texas has decided to accept the Common App, but the required platform essay will still be the ApplyTex Topic A prompt. If you're planning to apply to UT Austin using the Common App, please read our update on Facebook . 

Update: Aug 1, 2023. UT Austin continues the same supplemental essay requirements for the Fall 2024 admit year as Fall 2023. Only three essays are now required, reminiscent of the Fall 2021 cycle.

The first three essays remain unchanged from Fall 2022. 

The last essay (pandemic) is now optional. The word length for each is unchanged at 250-300 words.

• Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? This is unchanged from Fall 2021. A good way to discuss this is to start with what triggered your interest and then pivot forward to what your intended career after college would be. To research careers, check out the U.S. Department of Labor's website, ONET, which contains detailed job descriptions for over 575 careers. Consider using those themes and some buzzwords back into your essay making sure not to copy content verbatim. Here's the ONET listing for Aersopace Engineers as an example. Also, don't forget to examine related careers.
• Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT. This prompt now combines the "Experience" essay from Fall 2021 (Please share how you believe your experiences, perspectives, and/or talents have shaped your ability to contribute to and enrich the learning environment at UT Austin, both in and out of the classroom) with the "Leadership" essay (Leadership can be demonstrated in many ways. Please share how you have demonstrated leadership in either your school, job, community, and/or within your family responsibilities). The verb "Describe" now replaces the verb "Share."
• Pick up from your response to UT #1 above
• How do you see yourself in the world? What specific problem do you want to solve? What burning public health/social/scientific/artistic issue bothers you?
• Once you have identified the problem, if you had a magic wand, what would you do to solve it?
• What resources at UT would help you to meet your goal? Academics, networking, peer brilliance, interdisciplinary nature of education, internship opportunities, clubs, volunteer opportunities, access to venture capital, chance to go to grad school, Austin being a vibrant center, etc?
• OPTIONAL. Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance, including the possible effects of COVID-19. We encourage students to take advantage of this prompt only if you have met with real adversity, such as a loss of job of a parent, impact to family income, perhaps, loss of life. The reasons are not limited to Covid-19, although, the prompt reflects UT's belief that despite the aggressive pace of vaccinations in many countries, the effects of Covid are real and continue to plague students worldwide. You should not use this essay as one more attempt to market yourself. Sorry, the stress that you encountered because Covid-19 made you stay home and miss extracurricular activities doesn't count. The whole world went through such disruptions, so colleges are tired of hearing those stories over and over again. For the full list of official prompts, visit UT's Freshman Admissions website. For a primer on how to write essays and how we can help, click here . To learn how we help high school seniors navigate the college admissions process, click here . 

A Note About Rao Advisors Premium Services Our promise is to empower you with high-quality, ethical and free advice via this website.  But parents and students often ask us if they can engage with us for individual counseling sessions. Individual counseling is part of the Premium Offering of Rao Advisors and involves a fee.  Please  contact us for more information.

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University of Texas at Austin 2023-24 Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Dec 1

You Have: 

University of Texas at Austin 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations 

The Requirements: 1 essay of 500-700 words; 3 essays of 250-300 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community , Why , Additional Info , Personal statement

All freshman applicants must submit a required essay, Topic A in ApplyTexas and the UT Austin Required Essay in the Coalition application. Please keep your essay between 500–700 words (typically two to three paragraphs).

Tell us your story. what unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today (500-700 words).

Whether you’re using the Coalition or ApplyTexas to apply to UT Austin, you’ll have many opportunities to document your greatest high school achievements. So for this essay, it’s important that you focus on telling a personal story (it’s right there in the prompt!) that doesn’t appear elsewhere on your application. What opportunities and challenges were specific to your high school experience? The goal isn’t to craft a list, so aim to focus on one central story that describes either an opportunity or a challenge. When brainstorming , on the other hand, we recommend writing the longest list you can think of: two columns or a Venn diagram documenting every hurtle or special chance you got throughout high school. 

As you consider your “opportunities,” keep in mind that your reflection on the event or opportunity that shaped who you are today will be a source of great insight for admissions. Maybe being fluent in Tagalog opened up a unique opportunity for you to start an online exchange between your school and a school in the Philippines.  Or were you invited to perform with your dance group at a community event? Did this experience launch you to seek out other performance opportunities, spurring your interest in entrepreneurship? As you sift through your “challenges” route, aim to showcase qualities like resilience, perseverance, or simply an ability to turn lemons into lemonade. Perhaps the long commutes on the bus between home, school, and your internship taught you about time management or inspired an interest in urban planning. The challenges you choose to write about can be serious (dealing with bullies or discovering a learning disability) or seemingly banal (a public speaking #fail). While the possibilities are almost endless, students should be careful not to choose challenges that may seem trite (getting a B on a big project or winning lottery tickets to Hamilton). 

Regardless of the direction you choose to pursue, remember to make sure that admissions is learning something new about you through personal anecdotes and specific details. 

All applicants must submit three required short answers responding to prompts in your admissions application. Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250–300 words, typically the length of one paragraph.

Note special requirements: architecture, art and art history, nursing, and social work require additional short answer questions of their applicants. , required short answer 1: , why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major.

This prompt sounds simple enough: describe what you want to study and why you like it so much that you’re willing to dedicate four years of your life to it (at the very least). While you might be tempted to get technical or poetic in your response, your reader will expect you to connect your intended major to some prior experience and/or passion. In other words, tell a story. Lucky for you, we would have advised you to start with an anecdote anyway. The most memorable essays spring from concrete descriptions of your experiences. What excites you and why? When was the last time you got drawn down a Reddit rabbit hole – and what was the topic? While you don’t need to pinpoint the exact moment you became interested in ancient history or calculus, try to zero in on some inspiring experience. What was the best TED Talk you ever watched? The first time you spoke to your new friend in ASL? Your story should showcase your unique connection to your chosen course of study. And don’t forget to talk about UT Austin! By the end of your essay, your reader should not only know why you are passionate about your chosen major, but also what excites you about Austin’s program. In admissions, we call that your fit!

Oh and a quick shoutout to all the undecideds out there: don’t worry! If you can’t decide, then tell a story that demonstrates your wide range of interests or natural curiosity. Focus on the opportunities UT Austin offers across departments and how you plan to explore once you arrive on campus. It’s normal to want to try new things at the start of college!

Required Short Answer 2:

Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at ut..

In short, this is an essay about diversity and the aspects of your life and experience that distinguish you from your peers. For some applicants, the answer might be obvious: you might have been the only one at your school with a certain background, belief system, or inherited skill set. But whether this prompt seems like it was made for you or just a total head-scratcher, we encourage you to dig a little deeper than your first thought. What about your history, experiences, perspectives, or talents might be worth highlighting for an admissions officer? And how can the experience, perspective, or talent you choose enrich the learning environment at UT Austin?

Maybe you grew up in a military family that moved around a lot, and you want to write about how this experience has shaped your ability to make new connections super quickly. Perhaps you’ll teach your floor-mates about what makes for a great ice breaker. Maybe you were raised on a farm and developed a strong work ethic at a young age as you helped your parents tend to the fields. Perhaps you will be a natural leader in group projects and take initiative in the many clubs you’d like to join. Be sure to connect your personal story to a future vision of yourself at UT Austin. The most important thing to remember for this prompt is that your experience, perspective, or talent is dynamic and specific to you and who you are, and no one else.

Required Short Answer 3:

The core purpose of the university of texas at austin is, “to transform lives for the benefit of society.” please share how you believe your experience at ut-austin will prepare you to “change the world” after you graduate..

UT Austin seeks to invite movers and shakers to campus, students who dream of a better tomorrow and have a plan to make it happen. Admissions wants to know what change you would like to effect in the world. Maybe you want to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change and global warming. How do you plan to contribute and how will your time at UT Austin set you up for carbon neutral success? Perhaps you would like to see more reparations in place for marginalized and historically deprived communities in the United States. Will UT Austin’s Race, Indigeneity, and Migration major help prepare you for a career in public service?

However you decide to answer this prompt, be sure to show admissions that you care about the wellbeing of others. And make sure they know you want to be part of positive change and will make UT Austin proud long after graduation.

Optional Short Answer 4:

Please share background on events or special circumstances that may have impacted your high school academic performance..

T his essay is perfect for students who have encountered outstanding challenges, and need an opportunity to explain them. In fact, we recommend saving those details for an Additional Info essay, so that you can use the rest of your application to highlight other parts of your amazing personality. So, if something has happened that affected your academic performance, this is a great opportunity to explain the circumstances. Did a COVID-19 infection during your junior year cause your participation in clubs and activities to take a hit? Did a family emergency cause an overall drop in your GPA? A drop in grades or a gap in your resume does not define you. Remember to make this essay not about the things you couldn’t control, but the actions you took to improve the situation. You don’t want to come off as a victim of circumstance, but as a resilient person who can take steps to positively affect their situation.

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