University of Texas at Austin 2022-23 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 four 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.
Required Short Answer 4:
Please share background on events or special circ*mstances that may have impacted your high school academic performance, including the possible effects of COVID-19.
This 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 circ*mstances. 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 circ*mstance, but as a resilient person who can take steps to positively affect their situation.
If you haven’t encountered an unforeseen emergency or special circ*mstance, then use this space as an opportunity to share a story that showcases your resilience. Maybe you were struggling in Physics class, so you employed the help of a tutor for one-on-one help. Did your grades improve? Did you learn something about yourself?
About Sofia Newgren
View all posts by Sofia Newgren »
We try our best to make sure our guides are as up to date as possible, but we still recommend confirming each prompt and word count with the school in question.
Want more where this came from? We have school-specific prompt guides for almost 100 schools.CHECK IT OUT »
FAQs
The student shouldn't go into every detail of what happened. Instead, they should state the basic facts—just enough to convey the relevant circ*mstances—and then explain the impact and what they learned from the experience (at least a third of the answer should be about what the student has learned).
What essays do you need to write for UT Austin? ›
What's Required. All freshman applicants must submit a required essay: Topic A in ApplyTexas, or the UT Austin Required Essay in the Common App application.
How many essays do you need for UT Austin? ›
And to show how serious school officials are about getting to know each of their applicants, the main application requires four essays, plus an option to write a fifth, and an optional (but highly recommended) extended resume.
Does UT Austin have supplemental essays? ›
But before you make your way to Texas, you'll need to complete UT's supplemental essays. You can apply to the University of Texas at Austin through ApplyTexas or the Coalition College application -- NOT the Common App. UT requires three short supplemental essays and one optional short essay.
What is the UT essay prompt? ›
1) Essay (500-700 words): Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? It's hard to conjure up a more open-ended prompt than this invitation to “tell your story”.
What is the acceptance rate at UT Austin? ›
Does UT Austin look at senior grades? ›
For the regular admissions process at most schools, they will look at your senior fall grades.
What GPA is required for UT Austin? ›
With a GPA of 3.83, UT Austin requires you to be near the top of your class, and well above average. You'll need mostly A's, ideally with several AP or IB classes to help show your preparation at a college level. If you're a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change from this point on.
Is UT test optional 2023? ›
High school students who apply to The University of Texas at Austin for fall 2023 undergraduate admission will not be required to submit an ACT or SAT test score as part of their application.
Why is UT Austin so hard to get into? ›
Because this school is very selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission. If you're able to score a 1470 SAT or a 33 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in. For a school as selective as UT Austin, rounding out the rest of your application will also help.
In 1997, Texas adopted a policy that granted automatic admission to any resident who finished in the top 10% of their class into any state university. However, due to the popularity of UT-Austin, the threshold changed to the top 7% before falling to the top 6%, where it currently stands.
How many students get capped at UT Austin? ›
Each year, more than a thousand students participate in CAP. About a third of them complete the CAP requirements and return to UT Austin for their sophom*ore year. If you've received an offer to participate in CAP and are weighing your options, here are some things you might want to consider.
Does UT Austin look at coalition essay? ›
UT Austin: Does have a personal statement, but it is located in the supplemental application for UT Austin, not the main Coalition Application. The Coalition Essay will be omitted. This prompt can be answered in 700 words or less and is often your Common Application personal statement.
What does UT Austin look for? ›
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.
What are the Common App prompts? ›
Tackling the Common App Essay Prompts
- Prompt #1: Share your story.
- Prompt #2: Learning from obstacles.
- Prompt #3: Challenging a belief.
- Prompt #4: Solving a problem.
- Prompt #5: Personal growth.
- Prompt #6: What captivates you?
- Prompt #7: Topic of your choice.
- Describe a person you admire.
The university typically prefers applicants in the top 23 percent of the SAT test-takers. Therefore, to fulfill UT Austin admission requirements of SAT scores, applicants need to have at least a 1470 score on a scale of 1600. Applicants with an SAT score below 1340 have a hard chance of getting into the university.
What is the minimum SAT score for UT Austin? ›
What ACT score is needed for University of Texas Austin? ›
University of Texas at Austin admissions is most selective with an acceptance rate of 29%. Half the applicants admitted to University of Texas at Austin have an SAT score between 1230 and 1500 or an ACT score of 29 and 34.
What is the most competitive major at UT Austin? ›
The most competitive majors at UT Austin are Business Schools, Engineering, Architecture, Computer Sciences, and Physical Sciences. All these are the most competitive majors at UT Austin.
What majors is UT Austin known for? ›
The most popular majors at University of Texas at Austin include: Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Engineering; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Health Professions and Related Programs; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; ...
How Hard Is It to Get Into UT Austin? Getting into UT Austin takes hard work – last year, only 32 percent of applicants were admitted. The university received a record 57,241 applications for the fall of 2020 and accepted 18,290 students. Of those, 8,459 actually enrolled.
How many people get rejected from UT Austin? ›
In 2020, 4,500 students were admitted to UT Austin through the holistic admissions process while 13,700 were automatically admitted. 39,500 students were rejected.
What is failing at UT? ›
A passing grade for undergraduates is D- or better; for graduates it is C or better. If a student takes a course on the Pass/Fail basis, undergraduates earn either the symbol CR (credit) or a grade of F; graduate students earn either the symbol CR or the symbol NC (no credit).
Can I get into UT with a 3.5 GPA? ›
What stands out the most is that, with one or two notable exceptions, no students who earned less than a 3.5 GPA gained admission to UT for any major. Therefore, if you're applying with a lower GPA, UT should be considered a high reach.
Can you get into UT without being top 6? ›
Texas law offers eligible applicants automatic admission to public colleges and universities. Automatic admission to UT Austin is available to top 6% freshman applicants from Texas high schools for summer/fall 2023 and spring 2024. Open each tab for additional information.
Can I get into UT with a 3.0 GPA? ›
A. Familiarizing yourself with prerequisites and eligibility
Applicants need to have 24 hours completed or in progress by the deadline with a minimum 3.0 GPA for to be considered. Without either of these, your application will be thrown out.
Is UT Austin an Ivy League school? ›
The University of Texas at Austin is a public research university and the flagship institution of The University of Texas System. UT at Austin is not an Ivy League school but it still offers quality education just as any other Ivy League school.
Does Class of 2023 require test scores? ›
For the class of 2023 and beyond, expect that you WILL have to take either the SAT or ACT for your college admissions. Yes, as always, you will need to see which schools you wish to apply to and check out their specific admissions processes and requirements at the time you apply.
Does SAT score Matter 2023? ›
More than 1,700 colleges and universities so far are not requiring students to submit SAT and ACT scores when they apply for admission for fall 2023, only a slightly lower number of institutions than the previous admissions cycle.
Does 2023 require SAT? ›
Harvard, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Penn, Dartmouth, and Stanford have all recently announced that they will remain test optional through the high school class of 2023, with Cornell going a step further remaining test optional through the high school class of 2024, and Harvard through 2026!
You should aim to take 7-8 AP® classes as a minimum to be considered a competitive candidate for admission.
What University has the lowest acceptance rate? ›
Top 100 - Lowest Acceptance Rates
| School | Location | Fall 2021 Acceptance Rate |
|---|
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 4% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | 4% |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 4% |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 4% |
17 more rows- Earn Good Grades in Challenging Courses. ...
- Get a High SAT/ACT Score. ...
- Write a Compelling Personal Statement. ...
- Demonstrate Interest. ...
- Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation. ...
- Apply to a Diverse Selection of Colleges. ...
- Opt for an Early Admission Plan. ...
- Manage Your Online Reputation.
Conclusion: Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and Class Rank
Your class rank is determined based on your GPA. Your school may calculate class rank using either your unweighted or your weighted GPA.
Which is better A&M or UT? ›
The University of Texas at Austin is a much better academic institution than Texas A&M University. UT is ranked No. 52 in U.S. News' National University rankings, while A&M is No. 70.
What is the top 10 rule in Texas? ›
Top 10% Rule
To meet the requirements, you must graduate in the top 10% of your class at a recognized public or private high school in Texas or a high school operated by the U.S. Department of Defense and be a Texas resident or eligible to pay resident tuition.
Why do people get capped from UT? ›
When you hear someone say they got "capped" at UT, it means they were offered the opportunity to participate in this program.
What GPA is required for Harvard? ›
In truth, you need close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA to get into Harvard. That means nearly straight As in every class.
What does it mean to get capped? ›
To get capped means to be shot.
Does UT consider second choice Major? ›
In short, no. On Apply Texas, you are offered the options of a first and second choice major. In 98% of cases, UT will only consider your first choice.
Submitting the Coalition Application does not confer any admissions advantage. No preference is given to either application. It merely gives applicants more options. For most students, submitting Apply Texas may suit them better if they're applying to schools mostly in Texas.
Is UT Austin priority deadline binding? ›
If I submit my UT Austin application by the priority deadline(Nov. 1), is this restrictive/binding? No, it's not.
How many essays does UT Austin require? ›
And to show how serious school officials are about getting to know each of their applicants, the main application requires four essays, plus an option to write a fifth, and an optional (but highly recommended) extended resume.
Does UT Austin look at extracurriculars? ›
UT Austin admissions uses a holistic review process. They consider your academic strengths as reflected in your transcripts, honors/awards, class rank, and test scores. They also look at your achievements and personal qualities reflected in your extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations.
Does UT Austin care about class rank? ›
No specific class rank, test score, or other qualification by itself—other than automatic admission based on section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code—ensures admission.
What should you not talk about in a college essay? ›
College Essay Topics to Avoid
- Controversial Topics. Controversial topics, such as current political hot buttons, should be avoided at all costs. ...
- Highly Personal Topics. ...
- Personal Achievements and Accomplishments. ...
- Most Important Place or a Role Model. ...
- Creative Writing. ...
- Athletic Topics. ...
- Humorous Topics or Jokes. ...
- Tragic Events.
Common App has announced the 2022-2023 essay prompts.
Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking?
What are good topics for essays? ›
Some great ideas for your essay topic are:
- Your favorite childhood memory.
- Most recent travel experience.
- The death of a friend or relative that influenced you.
- The loss of a pet that changed your life.
- Your best friend and how you met.
- Your first time on a plane.
- The first book you read.
- The worst memory you have.
Here are some tips to help you ace your short answers:
- Don't repeat the question.
- Don't use unnecessarily large words. ...
- Answer honestly. ...
- Supplement your résumé. ...
- Always use details to bring even a short story to life.
- Don't be afraid of the word limit. ...
- Describe your personal growth. ...
- Be specific about each institution.
Short Answer: The answer format for a short answer will usually be a single sentence or paragraph. Short answers are concise and word selection is important to maximize effect.
Tackling the Common App Essay Prompts
- Prompt #1: Share your story.
- Prompt #2: Learning from obstacles.
- Prompt #3: Challenging a belief.
- Prompt #4: Solving a problem.
- Prompt #5: Personal growth.
- Prompt #6: What captivates you?
- Prompt #7: Topic of your choice.
- Describe a person you admire.
While not required, all applicants are encouraged to submit supplemental materials, such as: An application essay response from either ApplyTexas or CommonApp. Letter(s) of recommendation (limited to a maximum of three)
What should you not talk about in a college essay? ›
College Essay Topics to Avoid
- Controversial Topics. Controversial topics, such as current political hot buttons, should be avoided at all costs. ...
- Highly Personal Topics. ...
- Personal Achievements and Accomplishments. ...
- Most Important Place or a Role Model. ...
- Creative Writing. ...
- Athletic Topics. ...
- Humorous Topics or Jokes. ...
- Tragic Events.
General Rules:
- Analyze the question by circling all the important words. ...
- Collect and sort your information. ...
- Develop your thesis. ...
- Write your introduction. ...
- In the body of your essay, write several paragraphs that present, prove, and support your thesis. ...
- Write your conclusion. ...
- Read over your essay.
Some great ideas for your essay topic are:
- Your favorite childhood memory.
- Most recent travel experience.
- The death of a friend or relative that influenced you.
- The loss of a pet that changed your life.
- Your best friend and how you met.
- Your first time on a plane.
- The first book you read.
- The worst memory you have.
Constructing an Effective Essay Question
- Begin with the lesson objectives in mind. ...
- Decide if your goal requires a restricted or extended response. ...
- If you are including more than one essay, be cognizant of time constraints. ...
- Write the question in a novel or interesting manner to help motivate the student.
5 Rules for Answering ESSAY Questions on Exams - YouTube
How long should an essay answer be on a test? ›
It is generally best to be as concise as possible. If you provide numerous facts or details, be sure they're related to the question. A typical essay answer should be between 200 and 800 words (2-8 paragraphs) but more isn't necessarily better.
What is the Common App essay for 2022? ›
Common App has announced the 2022-2023 essay prompts.
Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking?
How many Common App essays are required 2022? ›
You'll submit one essay through the Common Application for all your schools. Some colleges may ask you to also answer a few supplemental questions.
The common app essay prompts mostly stay the same year-to-year, with one or two new options every couple of years. However, these prompts have already been released for the 21-22 admissions cycle ( https://www.commonapp.org/blog/2021-2022-common-app-essay-prompts ), so you can go ahead and start drafting that essay!
How long should apply Texas essays be? ›
ApplyTexas recommends that you keep your essay to between 350 and 500 words in length, with no more than 650 words. I recommend heeding their advice, especially if you're applying to a school requiring more than one of their prompts.
What GPA do you need for UT Dallas? ›
With a GPA of 3.83, UT Dallas requires you to be near the top of your class, and well above average. You'll need mostly A's, ideally with several AP or IB classes to help show your preparation at a college level. If you're a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change from this point on.
What major is UT Dallas known for? ›
The most popular majors at The University of Texas at Dallas include: Computer and Information Sciences, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Psychology, General; Digital Arts; Information Technology; Accounting; Finance, General; Mechanical Engineering; Neuroscience; and Health/Health Care Administration/ ...
