Maximizing Your Chances of Admission to UT-Austin for Fall 2025

Are you considering applying to the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) for Fall 2025 admission? If so, you’re not alone. With its stellar academic programs and vibrant campus life, UT-Austin has become a top choice for students across Texas and beyond. However, gaining admission to this prestigious institution has become no easy feat, and UT-Austin has announced some of the biggest changes to its application in the past several years. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the admission statistics, strategies, and changes you need to know to maximize your chances of acceptance.

The Surge in Applications Continues

While things change from year to year — and no two students are alike — here are some insights into the Class of 2024’s experience with UT-Austin admissions this year.

UT-Austin has seen a surge in applications the last two years, leading to increased competition for limited spots. For students applying for Fall 2024 admission, the university received a staggering 71,000 first-time freshman applications for only 9,000 available seats — and that translates to a 33% increase in applications over the past three years (applications in 2022 were at approximately 57,000).

Several factors contribute to this application inflation, including:

• UT’s adoption of the Common App platform (2024 was UT’s second year on the platform).
• The growing popularity of UT-Austin on a national basis. According to the Princeton Review, UT-Austin is now the 10th most popular school among students nationally.
• The test-optional policy. Before the pandemic, many students may not have applied to UT-Austin because their test scores weren’t on par with the UT academic profile. Note: UT’s test-optional policy has been eliminated for Fall 2025 admission.
• 67% of Texas students are applying to UT-Austin.
• Students in Texas are applying to more schools overall — in and out of Texas. This year, Texas saw another significant increase in applications from high school students — and more out-of-state students are choosing to apply.

The Impact of Automatic Admission

Another reason for this application inflation? Automatic admission. Texas high school students ranked in the top 6% of their class are guaranteed admission to the College of Liberal Arts at UT-Austin (they aren’t, however, guaranteed admission to the school of their choice). And that means auto-admits make up a disproportionately large percentage of students applying to UT-Austin, with 75% of accepted students falling under the auto-admit category.

And that translated into roughly a 11% acceptance rate for non-auto-admit students in 2024.

UT’s Holistic Review Process

UT employs a holistic review process to evaluate non-auto-admit applicants, considering factors beyond grades and test scores.

In addition to considering academic performance, UT considers the rigor of applicants’ high school coursework, extracurricular involvement, leadership experiences, essays, and letters of recommendation.

An encouraging note for those just under the auto-admit cutoff: In the last few cycles, it seems as though applicants right under the top 6% have tended to receive acceptances, but that’s by no means a given.

Tips for Submitting a Strong UT-Austin Application

If you want to submit your strongest UT-Austin application possible, it’s essential to start early in your high school career. Here are some tips on what you should focus on to build that strong application foundation — and a robust application itself.

Challenging Coursework Can Give You an Edge

Transcripts are crucial in UT’s admissions process, providing insights into your coursework’s grades and rigor.

Most students have different levels of courses available to them during their high school career. Here’s how we think UT ranks those, from most to least rigorous:

• AP courses
• Dual credit courses
• OnRamps and advanced courses
• Regular courses

So, one way to stand out is to take the most rigorous coursework available to you — and do well in it — starting freshman year and continuing through senior year.

Another important factor is whether your transcript matches up with your major. For example, a pre-med student needs AP biology, business students should have math all the way through calculus, and engineering students need AP Physics. If your transcript isn’t matching up, it might be time to re-evaluate your courseload for next semester or year.

Standardized Testing Will Again Be Required

While UT previously implemented a test-optional policy, this has changed for Fall 2025 admission. Standardized test scores will again be considered, emphasizing scores relevant to the intended major. For instance, math scores generally carry more weight for business majors, while reading scores are more significant for communications applicants.

Approximately 42% of UT-Austin applicants for Fall 2024 submitted test scores alongside their applications, which may be one reason UT-Austin is again requiring test scores. Another reason? The university has noticed a correlation between higher test scores and stronger first-semester GPAs.

In 2024, the median ACT was 32 and the SAT median was 1420 for accepted students. However, this is likely a somewhat inflated median because submitting test scores were optional.

Students are encouraged to focus on the test score that aligns with their major. For example, math scores are important to students applying to majors like business, engineering, and computer science.

Consider finishing your testing by September!

Your First-Choice Major Is Important

One key aspect of the application process is demonstrating a strong fit to your intended major. You shouldn’t be choosing a major because you hope it’s less competitive and can switch majors once at UT-Austin.

Every element of your application should highlight why you’re an ideal fit for your chosen field of study. To assist applicants in exploring potential majors and aligning their interests, UT offers resources such as Wayfinder, a valuable tool for navigating the university’s academic landscape.

But when top majors (like business and engineering) are heavily filled with top 6% students,  non-auto admits find it even more difficult to get into their top major.

Still, even auto-admit students must have their applications read competitively for their top major.

It’s important to note that UT is reporting an increased number of competitive (not just qualified) applicants to impacted majors — majors like computer science, engineering, business, architecture, psychology, economics, and nursing. (Hint: This is where the expanded resume and strong essays that show fit to major can support an applicant.)

For auto-admit students, the second-choice major you select can be important, because an increasing number of the top 6% of students are being admitted to their second-choice major. Second-choice majors are less important for holistic review students.

Important Note: If attending UT-Austin is your goal, know that many successful students make their major choices as early as the spring of their freshman year in high school and then get relevant experience to support that major.

I know that might feel overwhelming (after all, high school and college are often the times we encourage students to explore their interests). Unfortunately, this is the intense level of engagement UT-Austin is looking for.

Depth of Experience and Fit to Major

Beyond academic achievements, UT values applicants who demonstrate depth of experience in activities related to their chosen major. It might feel early, but students as early as freshmen and sophomores might start exploring potential first-choice majors and engaging in activities relevant to that potential major.

Overall, students can demonstrate fit to major in several ways in their application: through the expanded resume, letters, of recommendation, transcripts, essays, and test scores.

Engaging in 3-4 substantial activities beyond the classroom that are directly tied to your desired major can significantly strengthen your application. These activities may include participation in summer programs, interviewing people in the industry, taking summer courses, volunteer service, internships, research projects, taking relevant courses during the school year, getting involved in relevant extracurricular activities, or job shadowing. The key is to showcase initiative, impact, and a genuine passion for the field of study, with each activity building on the previous one.

Essentially, every component of your application (from the activities list and the essays to senior-year coursework and the resume) should be making a strong case for why you’re a good fit for the major you’re applying to.

Hint: Not sure what major you’re interested in? Check out Wayfinder, a major and career exploration tool that helps prospective and current Longhorns explore their options.

The Expanded Resume

The expanded resume lets applicants provide a comprehensive overview of their experiences and engagements. Unlike traditional resumes, which are typically limited to one page, the expanded resume spans multiple pages. This format allows students to delve deeper into their activities, defining roles and highlighting achievements. I suggest putting activities that demonstrate fit to the intended major at the top of the resume, emphasizing initiative and impact.

Now, this resume is very different from what people traditionally think of when you say “resume.” Perhaps the most obvious is the emphasis on expanded.

This means UT-Austin expects to see an exhaustive list of how students have engaged outside the classroom since the summer before ninth grade. This engagement will include things like traditional activities, sports, clubs, and random and innovative hobbies (like taking apart computers) — all the things you do when you’re not in a classroom to satisfy your curiosity.

And don’t be surprised if you expanded resume is 4-5 pages (or longer). It’s not just a list of achievements and measurable outcomes; instead, it’s a chance to show what you’ve done, how you’ve done it, and what you’ve learned. Instead of being outcome-oriented, the expanded resume is process-oriented. Your resume should be a story of engagement that also shows initiative and impact.

And initiative doesn’t need to be huge — it can be as simple as inviting someone to join a club or starting a study group or bringing new students together. Because when you take initiative, it impacts more than one person. Have you noticed, and then filled, a need around you? That counts!

A strong major-focused resume will have 3-4 activities students can list on their resume that directly relate to their top major. For many students, these are internships. And for high schoolers, this can be as simple as 1-2 weeks per year, 10-15 hours per week. These internships are often for a small company and can even be related to a family member’s business or professional networks. And often, it’s a lot of shadowing.

These shadowing and internship opportunities provide the student the chance to explore their desired major a little more deeply, develop some professional skills and experience in the workplace, and dig deeper into learning what it really means to be a [insert career]. For some students, it confirms their passion. For others, they learn something new they enjoy and/or are good at.

If you’re wondering if an activity “counts” and can be documented in the resume, the answer is usually a resounding YES.

If you’re applying to UT-Austin, don’t miss the opportunity to strengthen your application through the expanded resume.

Crafting Compelling Essays

Note: UT-Austin has announced they’re changing their main and supplemental essay prompts for students applying for Fall 2025 admission. As of this writing (April 1, 2024), those prompts haven’t been confirmed. This post will be updated when they are.

UT’s essay prompts allow you to showcase your unique qualities and experiences. Successful essays go beyond just rehashing information already present in your application and instead offer insights into your character, values, and personal growth. Reflection and introspection are key, and UT-Austin encourages you to explore how your experiences have shaped your identity.

The UT essays are designed to show your growth — showing both who you were at the beginning of the essay and who you are now.

The focus is not just on what you did but also on why it was important.

Authenticity and relatability are other key components of your essay — I want you to be able to connect with reviewers in your essays. That means using your voice and writing the way only you do, all while sharing personal anecdotes. Essays don’t need to be overly polished, and they shouldn’t sound like a professional writer. They should sound like you.

Each essay is an opportunity to cover a new angle of you, and each piece of your application will fit together to create a more comprehensive picture of who you are.

Writing the “Why Major” Essay

When writing the “Why Major” essay, ensure that the information aligns with what’s already in your application. State your intended major in your opening statement, then share some key experiences that have piqued your interest in that field as well as some unique opportunities UT offers that you’re excited to take advantage of.

Letters of Recommendation

Previously, I’ve encouraged UT applicants to get letters of recommendation from teachers of core classes and relevant-to-major electives. Beginning with the application that opens in August 2024, UT-Austin encourages students to obtain letters of recommendation from sources outside of the high school will be encouraged, alleviating the burden on teachers and counselors.

So whom else might you ask for letters of recommendation? Consider asking coaches of non-school sports teams, your work supervisor, your outside research project’s project manager, your Boy Scout troop leader or your National Charity League grade level advisor, or another individual who knows you well and can speak to your best qualities and fit to major.

Changes for Fall 2025 Applicants

For applicants vying for Fall 2025 admission, several changes will be implemented to the application process, some of which I’ve already mentioned:

• Standardized testing scores will once again be required., beginning with applications for the Fall 2025 semester.
• A new Early Action program offers an optional Oct. 15 application submission deadline with guaranteed decisions communicated by Jan. 15. (The regular application deadline will remain Dec. 1, with a guaranteed decision communicated by Feb. 15.)
• Changes have been made to the main essay prompt (personal statement) to allow for more flexibility and personalization.
• The number of short-answer responses is being reduced from 3 to 2. The currently used major-related question will remain, while adding a prompt that allows students to highlight a specific activity of their choice.
• A waitlist has been introduced for non-auto-admit students, with early notifications starting from March 1.
• Letters of recommendation from sources outside of the high school will be encouraged.

Navigating the UT-Austin admission process requires strategic planning and careful consideration of the university’s expectations and requirements. By understanding the admission statistics, strategies, and changes outlined here (as well as your own research), you can position yourself as a competitive applicant. Whether you’re choosing high school courses, showcasing fit to major activities, crafting compelling essays, or adapting to the evolving admissions landscape, your preparation will be the key to your success.

Thanks to College MatchPoint for presenting a super-informative webinar on this topic, and an updated webinar here, from which much of the data and information on upcoming changes has been sourced.