Undergraduate Admission
The Office of Admissions is responsible for the admission and readmission of undergraduate students to the University. Application procedures for freshman, transfer, former, international, and transient students are outlined later in this chapter and details are available on the Be a Longhorn Web site.
Application deadlines. For 2014-2015 undergraduate admission, application materials must be received in the Office of Admissions by the deadlines listed below.
Prospective students are encouraged to apply early for the enrollment period in which they are interested. Beginning the process early allows ample time for applicants to assure that their applications are complete by the deadline.
| Summer Session 2014 | Fall Semester 2014 | Spring Semester 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US and international freshmen | December 1, 2013 | December 1, 2013 | October 1, 2014 |
| US and International transfer students | March 1, 2014 | March 1, 2014 | October 1, 2014 |
| Former students | May 1, 2014 | July 1, 2014 | December 1, 2014 |
| Transient students | May 1, 2014 | not applicable | not applicable |
Application processing fees. A nonrefundable fee of $75 is required with each application for domestic undergraduate admission. (The undergraduate fee for transient admission is $60.) International applicants (those who are not United States citizens or permanent residents) must submit a nonrefundable fee of $90.
To request an exemption from the application processing fee, an applicant must submit a copy of one of the following:
- A financial award letter (for undergraduate transfer applicants and Graduate School applicants)
- An approved test fee waiver from the ACT, SAT, GRE, or GMAT
- The applicant’s parent’s or guardian’s most recent income tax returns or the applicant’s own returns, if he or she was not claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer
- A financial aid transcript from an institution the applicant previously attended
- Documentation from a high school counselor showing financial need. For example, the counselor might submit a statement that indicates the applicant’s free-lunch status.
Admission to selected majors. Although Texas law offers automatic admission to the University for eligible undergraduate applicants, it does not guarantee admission to an applicant's selected major. All undergraduate applicants are considered on a competitive basis for admission to their requested majors.
Accepting admission. Applicants who are offered undergraduate admission to the University for the summer or fall must take steps to accept the offer of admission. To accept admission, most admitted students must pay a $200 enrollment deposit, which is applied to the payment of tuition when the student enrolls. Students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for assistance to cover the amount of the deposit. Enrollment deposits are refundable only until the May 1 enrollment deposit deadline.
Rescinding offers of admission. The director of admissions has the authority to rescind an offer of admission to a student who, after being admitted to the University, fails to maintain the level of academic and achievement standards that were displayed in the information the student submitted when applying for admission to the University.
Scholarship recipients. The director of admissions may admit recipients of bona fide scholarships designated by the president.
Undergraduate Applicants with College Credit
Many undergraduate applicants come to the University after enrolling in college-level coursework or earning college credit.
Reporting previous college coursework. An applicant who has undertaken coursework at another collegiate institution (including freshman, transfer, reentry, and international applicants) must report all such coursework on the appropriate section of the ApplyTexas application. Applicants who fail to report all college coursework or who otherwise falsify any part of their application or the documents required to complete the application process are subject to disciplinary action. Disciplinary action will include a one-year ban on enrollment and a permanent statement on the student’s record about the failure or falsification. Action may include expulsion and loss of credit for work taken subsequently at the University, as well as appropriate action by the dean of students.
Awarding college credit. The University awards college credit to some incoming undergraduate students for designated scores on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, for dual credit courses the student took while in high school, and for courses that are transferable from other colleges and universities. More information about transfer credit is given in the section Transfer Application Review Process .
College credit for military service. Military veterans who enroll at UT Austin and meet certain requirements are eligible to receive undergraduate college credit for the time they spent in the service. Eligible veterans who enroll at the University receive college credit for up to twelve semester hours of elective coursework. Eligibility requirements are defined in section 51.3042 of the Texas Education Code.
To be eligible to receive credit for military service, a veteran must:
- Have graduated from a public or private high school accredited by a generally recognized accrediting organization or from a high school operated by the United States Department of Defense,
- Have completed at least two years of service in the armed services (unless he or she was discharged because of a disability), and
- Have been honorably discharged from the armed forces.
Credit for military service is available to all entering undergraduates—those applying for transfer admission, freshman admission, or readmission. The credit is awarded for having served, not for any college-level courses that the veteran may have taken while in the military.
Admitted students who may qualify for credit for military service should speak with a representative of the Office of Admissions upon enrollment at the University.
Online coursework resources and tools. The University provides several online resources and tools to help prospective students make sound decisions about college coursework that they may submit for transfer credit.
- Transfer guides provide detailed information about how transfer coursework from Texas community colleges applies to UT Austin degree requirements.
- The Automated Transfer Equivalency system lets prospective students from higher education institutions across Texas search for equivalent coursework at their current institutions or at UT Austin.
- The IDA Planner allows prospective students to estimate how courses from other institutions might apply to UT Austin degrees.
Recruiting Students and Promoting Undergraduate Admission
The Office of Admissions offers a variety of services and resources to assist prospective students with the undergraduate admissions application process. Undergraduate applicants are encouraged to use all available resources, especially consultation with the University’s admissions representatives and counselors and the resources of the University’s admissions centers.
Admissions representatives work and live in communities throughout the state of Texas. The University’s regional admissions centers provide detailed information about and assistance with the freshman and transfer admissions and enrollment processes through consultation, information sessions, and local events. Regional admissions centers are located in Dallas, El Paso, Harlingen, Houston, Longview, Lubbock, and San Antonio. In addition, regional admissions staff are located in the Abilene-San Angelo, Amarillo, Laredo, and Midland-Odessa areas. Admissions representatives are also designated to serve the university’s constituents outside the state.
The Undergraduate Admissions Center is located in John Hargis Hall on the University campus. Each day the center welcomes prospective undergraduate students and their families for campus visits, information sessions, and on-campus events. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors come through the UAC and through the university’s Visitor Center, which also serves prospective students. Admissions counselors serving the Austin area are also housed in the UAC.
The Office of Admissions participates in a variety of activities and efforts designed to recruit prospective freshman and transfer students.
- Collaborating with high school counselors in Texas and in other states and with junior and community college officers across the state.
- Hosting counseling and information sessions and conducting campus tours for prospective freshman and transfer students.
- Hosting meetings with representatives from UT Austin admissions, student affairs, and academic affairs offices for prospective transfer students visiting the campus.
- Hosting on-campus events for prospective freshman and transfer students.
- Participating in community college recruiting events across the state and visiting community colleges and business and industry locations to provide information for prospective transfer students.
- Participating in college nights and college fairs across the state and the nation to provide information to prospective freshman and transfer students.
- Working with academic and student affairs offices and departments across campus to assist students in their transition to UT Austin.
- Working with alumni and outreach centers across the state and nation to facilitate student recruiting through information distribution, events, and activities.