Class rank indicates your ability to keep up with your peers in your given academic environment. Rank is an important factor for all applicants, even those who are not eligible for automatic admission under Texas law.

If you graduate from a non-ranking high school or if you did not graduate from high school in the traditional manner (because you were home schooled, for example), it is still possible for you to be considered for admission. Your school will need to send us information about its ranking policy and provide us with a school profile to help us consider your academic achievement without an explicit rank for you.

Although test scores aren’t everything, considered with other academic information they can be a meaningful indicator of academic ability.

• No minimum test score is needed for an applicant to be considered for admission.
• No score by itself, no matter how high, guarantees admission to any applicant.
• If you submit more than one official score report, the Office of Admissions will use the score from a single test date that will benefit you the most when your application is reviewed.
• The Office of Admissions does not combine scores from different test dates (a critical reading score from one test date with a mathematics score from another test date, for example) to come up with a better score.

SAT Subject Test Scores

SAT Subject Test scores are not considered when admission decisions are made, except for applicants to the Cockrell School of Engineering who may need to submit scores for the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics to fulfill the Engineering Calculus Readiness Requirement.

The university does use certain SAT Subject Tests for placement testing. Scores are used to determine which university courses are appropriate for entering students.

When making admission decisions, we look positively upon students who show their commitment to academics by taking the recommended rather than the required high school courses in a given academic area.

Because not all applicants have access to advanced or honors courses, we do not, however, consider the level of coursework taken (regular, honors, advanced placement or AP, International Baccalaureate or IB, or other designation) during the admissions process.

Your two essays offer an opportunity for you to provide insight about what matters to you. Use the essays you submit to show off your skill as a writer but also to display your creativity and your ability to think through issues and problems.

Take the time needed to write clearly and reflectively. Your essays will be read and reviewed holistically (rather than with a red pen in hand) to evaluate the quality of your writing and to uncover personal information about you.

For help in writing your essays, visit the Hints & Tips page.

One indicator of likely college success is the extent of a student’s involvement in his or her community. As a result, it’s important for your resume information to show your long-term commitment to and leadership in extracurricular activities, community service, and work and employment experiences. Include details about your talents, honors and awards.

We encourage you to submit an expanded resume if you need to do so to provide us with a complete picture of your activities.

Although not required for a complete application, sometimes a well-written letter of recommendation from someone who knows you can enhance your application. Such letters can provide additional information about your personal and academic achievements or about things you may not have been able to tell us about yourself.

Applicants who don’t submit recommendation letters are not penalized.