Applying for Admission Checklist

Both the Common App and ApplyTexas summer/fall applications open August 1. The spring application opens no later than March 1.

Common App: Applicants submitting through Common App in August will receive an email from us that includes their UT EID and MyStatus information no later than September 1. Applicants who submit through Common App after September 1 should expect to receive their UT EID and MyStatus information within 2-3 business days.

ApplyTexas: Applicants submitting through ApplyTexas will receive an email from us that includes their UT EID and MyStatus information within 2-3 business days.

After September 1, if you do not receive your UT EID within 2-3 days of submitting your admissions application, please contact us for assistance.

Within MyStatus you will find a personalized application checklist, be able to track application items as they are received and upload items such as transcripts and letters of recommendation through the Document Upload System.

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and will not graduate from a Texas high school, select the option to apply for freshman admission as an international applicant.

If you have additional questions, please contact intladm@austin.utexas.edu. 

Students may request a fee waiver by indicating their eligibility on the online application. A separate request form is not required, however, students may be required to submit documentation in support of a request.

Request a fee waiver when you apply for admission or submit the Request for Fee Waiver form within MyStatus using the Document Upload System after you submit your application.

International applicants who do not qualify for Texas residency are not eligible for a fee waiver.

If you are an international applicant and are not able to pay your fee online using a credit card, mail your payment in the form of a cashier’s check, bank money order or bank draft in U.S. dollars to:

The University of Texas at Austin
Graduate and International Admissions Center
P.O. Box 7608
Austin, TX 78713-7608

Make checks payable to The University of Texas at Austin, and write your six-digit Application ID number, UT EID or UT Assigned Student ID number on your check or money order. Do not send cash or personal checks.

If you have additional questions, please contact intlam@austin.utexas.edu.

All freshman applicants must submit a required essay: Topic A in ApplyTexas, or the UT Austin Required Essay in the Common App 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?

Generally, you should plan to submit your essay in conjunction with your admissions application.

You may also submit your essay within MyStatus using the Document Upload System.

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

Required Short Answers (250-300 words each)

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

Optional Short Answer (250-300 words)
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.

Required Short Answers (250-300 words each)

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

You should plan to submit your essays in conjunction with your ApplyTexas or Common App application. You will be required to complete the short answer responses in order to complete and submit your admissions application.

Transcripts must include your class rank in addition to information about high school coursework.

Rank should be indicated as your numerical position out of the total number of students in the class. For example, if you’re fifth in your class of 130, your transcript should report your rank as 5/130. Applicants should submit transcripts indicating rank for the latest completed semester prior to the application deadline.

If you attend a Texas public school, your transcript should indicate the high school diploma program you will be graduating under, as defined in the state's Uniform Admission Policy.

Non Ranking Schools

If your high school does not rank students, include a statement from your school describing its policy, a copy of your school’s profile and a GPA or grade distribution report.

Foreign High Schools

If you attended a foreign high school, submit an official record or transcript (mark sheet) that shows all your secondary school work and grades (or marks) starting with ninth grade and continuing through at least the end of 11th grade. You should also include copies of your official final examinations taken at the end of the secondary school program, including external exams such as the General Certificate of Education (GCE) “O” and “A” level examinations, school leaving certificates and matriculation exams.

High schools and school districts have their own protocols for submitting transcripts and UT accepts transcripts in a variety of ways to accommodate this. Contact your high school to determine which of the following methods should be used to submit your transcript: 

• TRex
• MyStatus document upload system accessible after application submission
• Edocs/Naviance/Parchment
• By mail

Note regarding MyStatus: Once you have submitted your application and gain access to MyStatus, you can use Document Upload to submit your high school transcript or send a request for your school to upload it on your behalf. Please do not create a UT EID prior to the application. 
Note regarding transcripts: Upon receipt, all transcripts require review and processing that during peak periods may take 7-10 business days.

Home-Schooled Applicants

Applicants who were home-schooled must submit a transcript that:

• Lists all courses undertaken at each grade level, along with a brief description of the course content and information about the format of the course (in a classroom, via correspondence, online, etc.)
• Is signed by a school official, defined as the adult person who was primarily responsible for the education of the student

Special GED Requirements

Applicants who earned a GED must submit high school transcript(s) showing any coursework completed, along with a copy of the GED certificate.

Rank Will Be Assigned

In accordance with Texas Senate Bill 1543, applicants who present evidence of obtaining a non-traditional secondary education (for example, those who were home-schooled or earned a GED in lieu of a high school diploma) will be assigned a percentile rank comparable to the average class rank of students from traditional schools who have equivalent SAT or ACT test scores.  

If you are an international applicant, you must submit documentation showing that you have completed an accredited secondary school series equivalent to that of a U.S. high school.

Submit an official record or transcript (mark sheet) that shows all your secondary school work and grades (or marks) starting with ninth grade and continuing through at least the end of 11th grade. You should also include copies of your official final examinations taken at the end of the secondary school program, including external exams such as the General Certificate of Education (GCE) “O” and “A” level examinations, school leaving certificates and matriculation exams.

If the documents you are submitting are written in a language other than English, you must also submit complete and official English translations together with the original-language records.

If you have questions please contact intlam@austin.utexas.edu.

You must report your entire academic record, including all college credit earned. Such coursework must be detailed on your admissions application, and you must submit official transcripts documenting the coursework.

Some colleges are able to submit transcripts to UT Austin on your behalf using our SPEEDE server or Parchment. If SPEEDE or Parchment is not available, submit transcripts using the Document Upload System. The uploaded document must be a digital scan or PDF version of an official transcript. (Be sure to include both the front and back!) Any document labeled “unofficial,” grade reports or advising reports, photos (i.e., images taken with a smartphone) and screen shots are not acceptable.

Track upload status by logging in to the Document Upload System.

Mail or Hand Delivery

You may also mail or hand deliver official transcripts to the Office of Admissions, although mailing and hand-delivery are not preferred and may result in processing delays.

We cannot accept transcripts submitted via email.

If your college or university can only send transcripts via e-mail, have an official transcript sent directly to your email address. You can then download it and upload it to our Document Upload System.

The colleges that have major-specific requirements are listed below.

Cockrell School of Engineering

• Meet the calculus readiness requirement, and demonstrate it by submitting an appropriate test score or transcript.

College of Fine Arts

Butler School of Music

• Submit the Butler School of Music application.
• Complete an audition or interview.

Department of Art and Art History

• In 500 words or less, please tell us about a time when an artwork, artist or art teacher impacted your life. How did this inspire you to pursue an education in the arts?
• Studio Art or Art Education: Submit a portfolio.

Department of Theatre and Dance

All applicants wishing to be considered for admission to the Department of Theatre and Dance must submit a departmental application by the admissions deadline. Read below for details by major:

• Acting (BFA): Complete an audition.
• Dance (BFA): Complete an audition. 
• Theatre and Dance (BA): Complete an audition or submit a portfolio, depending on your emphasis.
• Theatre Education (BFA): Take part in an interview.

School of Design and Creative Technologies

• Design (BA/BFA): Submit a response to the creative design prompt.
  To learn more and submit your materials, please visit the Design Admissions Page.
• Arts and Entertainment Technologies (BS): no additional materials required.

College of Liberal Arts

• Meet the calculus readiness requirement to be considered for Environmental Science (Geographical Sciences), and demonstrate it by submitting an appropriate test score or transcript.

College of Natural Sciences

• Meet the calculus readiness requirement to be considered for Environmental Science (Biological Sciences), and demonstrate it by submitting an appropriate test score or transcript.

Jackson School of Geosciences

• Meet the calculus readiness requirement, and demonstrate it by submitting an appropriate test score or transcript.

Moody College of Communication

Department of Radio, Television, and Film (RTF)

• If you wish, you may submit either a video/short film or a written review/critique to support your application. This may be something you did for school or on your own. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your creative and artistic voice and show us your potential as an RTF student. The duration of the video should be no more than 5 minutes OR the review/critique should be no more than 500 words. Either item will be submitted within MyStatus after you have submitted your application.

School of Architecture

• Inherent in the design disciplines the capacity to impact the world around us. What does the opportunity to develop such capacity mean to you and you approach to your college education? Please limit your response to 250-300 words.
• Please provide and upload three images total that demonstrate your creativity. The three images may all be of one option type, or varied amongst the two following options: 
  • Option 1 - Either an original photograph or photographs from a camera, smart phone/mobile device, OR
  • Option 2 - Images of an original art or design project that you have produced and authored yourself.
  • For all, describe how the three images are representative of how you see creativity as a way to describe, reflect on, or change the world. 
  • Please limit your response to 50-75 words. 

School of Nursing

If applying first-choice, submit responses to the following short answer prompts:

• 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?

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.

Other Colleges and Schools

Colleges and schools not listed above do not have major-specific application requirements.

Messages prompting you to submit additional items to meet major-specific requirements post to MyStatus following submission of your online application.

The permanent resident card requirement applies only to non-U.S. citizens who have permanent resident status in the United States. 

If the requirement applies to you, submit a copy of the front of your permanent resident card using the Document Upload System with MyStatus after you submit your admissions application.

International applicants must submit either an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English. The TOEFL iBT is preferred over the IELTS. We cannot accept institutional TOEFL (ITP) scores or IELTS General Training scores.

International applicants are exempt from this requirement if they:

•  Are from a a qualifying country; or
•  Graduate from a high school in the United States or in a country where English is the only official language after completing at least three years of study.
• Minimum scores acceptable for admission are:
  • TOEFL: 79 (internet-based test)
  • IELTS: An overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination

The university’s TOEFL code is 6882. There is no institutional code for the IELTS examination. To fulfill the requirement with scores from the IELTS, please use the IELTS electronic score delivery service to send your scores to the "University of Texas at Austin" account.

Most applicants don't need to submit the Student Information Form. MyStatus will prompt those who are required to complete the form.

The Student Information Form is used to streamline our processes, allowing us to confirm that you meet our high school coursework requirements and move your application into review. 

To complete the form, you’ll probably need a reference copy of your high-school transcript. 

Most applicants don’t need to submit a coursework exemption form. Those who do include Texas private-schooled students who do not satisfy test score requirements — either an SAT score of at least 1070 (combined critical reading and math) with a minimum SAT score of 480 on evidence-based reading and writing and 530 on math or an ACT score that meets ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks. Students who attend a Department of Defense high school who are not exempt based on test scores should also submit a form. It will be used in determining qualification for automatic admission.

If you believe you need to submit the coursework exemption form do so within MyStatus using the Document Upload System after you have submitted your application. Note that within Document Upload you can also request for someone to submit the form on your behalf.

Most applicants don’t need to submit the residency affidavit. If you aren’t a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident but graduated or will graduate from a Texas high school, you may qualify for residency for tuition purposes and should submit the affidavit. Students who may qualify will be prompted to download the Residency Affidavit within their admissions application or within MyStatus

Email the completed, notarized residency affidavit to residency@austin.utexas.edu.

Students who indicated on their application that they would like their SAT or ACT scores considered in the holistic review process should submit at least one set of scores directly from the testing agency. (We do not require the SAT Essay or ACT Writing scores.) Scores included in transcripts and copies of score reports don’t meet this requirement.

When you ask the testing agency to send your scores, use the codes the agencies have designated for UT Austin:

SAT — 6882

ACT — 4240

Multiple Score Reports

If multiple scores are submitted we will consider the strongest composite score submitted.

You are not required to submit SAT Subject Test scores as part of a complete application for admission. Some students may choose to submit these scores—for instance, home-schooled students may send them if they feel they reflect academic potential, or those hoping to earn course credit by examination may submit them for consideration after the application cycle is complete.

Your résumé should include all your achievements, not just those that didn’t fit on the ApplyTexas or Common App application. That said, if you’re able to list everything on your admissions application, there’s no need to submit a separate résumé. 

If you submit a résumé, you should include:

• Details about what each activity involved rather than a general description
• The number of hours per week and weeks per year you spent on each activity

Submit your resume within MyStatus using the Document Upload System after you have submitted your admissions application.

Letters of recommendation are helpful only when they provide meaningful information about you, offered by someone who can speak of you in an unbiased way. If you choose to submit a letter of recommendation, select someone who is capable of providing a well-written, sincere, personal account. Avoid recommendations from those who know you too well to be unbiased—family members, for instance.

Submit your recommendations within MyStatus using the Document Upload System after you have submitted your admissions application. Within Document Upload you can upload recommendations on your own or you can formally request for someone to submit one on your behalf electronically.

Letters of recommendation are also accepted directly from your school via Naviance/Edocs.