UT-Austin recently announced some significant changes for the upcoming (2024-25) admission season. Juniors, this affects you!

First, UT-Austin will return to requiring standardized test scores from applicants. Here is the exact language:

“The University will continue to conduct a holistic review and will consider standardized test scores and other performance metrics in light of each applicant’s background, including the strength and rigor of their high school. Standardized test scores will not change the admissions decision for automatic admits, of course, but will be used to match applicants to their choice of majors and to indicate who might benefit most from the University’s student success programs.”

They also noted that their average SAT score was 1420; since last-year’s non-auto-admit rate was 11%, UT-Austin hopefuls will ideally have scores that are even more competitive than the average, especially for STEM majors.

Requiring test scores isn’t the only change. Here are the remaining updates:

Introduction of a new Early Action program. This optional deadline will require application submission by Oct. 15, with a guaranteed decision communicated to applicants by Jan. 15. The regular deadline for applications will remain Dec. 1, with a guaranteed decision communicated by Feb. 15.

In the past, UT’s priority deadline didn’t mean any increased boost in admission chances, and it is still unclear whether this deadline change is in name only or if the Early Action deadline will also have an admission advantage. I’ll be recommending that my students hit the Oct. 15th deadline regardless.

Modification of the required essay. This will provide greater flexibility in topic choice and enable students to leverage responses used on other applications, while expanding opportunity for a more personalized response.

This means students can use their Common App personal statement or any other essay of their choosing to reply to a general essay prompt. Most students were using the same essay anyway, but this eliminates any confusion--a welcome change!

Reduction in the number of short answer responses. This reduction from three responses to two will maintain the currently used major-related question, while creating a new prompt that allows students to highlight a specific activity of their choice.

UT-Austin cares deeply about a student’s “fit for major”--as evidenced by the retention of the Why Major essay (arguably the most important one). What’s getting cut are the “Leadership” and “Change the World” essays (the last being one of the most challenging for many students). Students will want to use this essay to highlight a trait or strength that hasn’t been mentioned elsewhere in the student’s application. As with most “Activity” essays, a strong response will focus more on what your participation reveals about you and less on the actual activity itself. More to come when we have specific essay language!

Introduction of a waitlist. Applies to students who are not automatically admitted. Most students will be notified as early as March 1 if they are admitted from the waitlist.

Will students on the waitlist be allowed to update the college with new grades, Letters of Continued Interest, etc.? What, if anything, students on the new waitlist can do to improve their chances remains to be seen.

Narrowed scope for letters of recommendation. Applicants submitting letters of recommendation will be strongly encouraged to provide those letters from sources outside of their high school. This reduces the burden of this work on high school teachers and counselors and allows University staff to better leverage other materials.

First, letters of rec will remain optional for UT-Austin, and they have always accepted letters from non-teachers. It’s unclear why students will be specifically encouraged to submit non-teacher letters, except many generic letters offer little insight into students. This more explicit language may help students choose recommenders who really know them well, though it also means students will likely have to ask (and keep track of) more recommenders than usual.

You can read the official update from UT-Austin here.