UT-Austin Computer Science Acceptance Rate and Application Tips
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Studying Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin is a tremendous opportunity. That means there are many applicants competing for a limited number of admissions spaces. UTCS sees a record number of applicants each year not just from Texas but from out-of-state and foreign applicants.
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UT Computer Science and Turing Scholars Admissions Statistics
Applicant numbers to Computer Science have skyrocketed since 2010. Assuming a similar rate of increase, it's possible that more than 10,000 students attempted to gain admission for about 600 spaces in Fall 2022.
My clients have found success in gaining admission to UTCS including six Turing Scholars. 26 out of 50 CS clients have gained admission (52%) since 2017.
It's safe to assume that less than 10% of UT Computer Science applicants will gain admission for Fall 2022 first-time freshman applicants and onward. That makes UTCS on par with some of the most selective programs nationwide.
There's no getting around it, admission to UT Computer Science is ridiculously difficult.
Data requested and received from the Office of Admissions, December 2016. 2022 projections based on admissions rates at similarly competitive programs like UIUC and Berkeley.
Competitive applicants to Computer Science at a minimum come from the top 10% of their senior class scoring at least 1450 on the SAT. I've seen applicants with stronger credentials than this who routinely get denied.
Turing Scholars is Extraordinarily Competitive
Applicants interested in Turing Scholars Honors should have almost perfect academics meaning a ranking higher than 2% in your senior class scoring around a 1550/34 on the SAT/ACT. A Turing admitted student reported that in their welcome orientation session, Turing staff said they admitted only 14 out of 80 valedictorians (82% denied).
Being number 1 in your class and/or scoring perfect on the ACT/SAT unfortunately won't be enough for most Turing applicants. Reviewers are looking for a particularly deep interest in computer science with a demonstrated track of independent study, personal projects, and/or succeeding at the national/international level. Taking AP Computer Science and even scoring a 5 isn't enough.
Gaining admission to Turing is comparable to getting into most selective programs like UC-Berkeley, Georgia Tech, Cal Tech, and MIT.
If you have below average rank or test scores, it may be possible to gain admission if you submit a particularly compelling application that will bring a different perspective to the classroom and Honors community.
I present this data not to discourage you but to provide context for your chances of gaining admission. It's important that you submit your strongest application possible.
Maximizing your UT-Austin Computer Science admissions chances
Reviewers are looking for a demonstrated commitment to activities and interests related to computer science. Because so many students apply, they can be selective about who they choose. Although CS/Programming/Robotics experience is not necessary to get in, it definitely helps.
The reality is that, with access to a ton of independent study and resource options that are either free or inexpensive, today's teenager has access to way more opportunities than when I was applying to college. Admissions staff regularly sees applicants with a high level of competency, so it's important that you set yourself apart.
Even though applicants may be doing really neat things, they're not always good at expanding upon their activities in their resume or elaborating on their interests and showing how they're a good fit for computer science in their essays.
Like any other program, reviewers are looking for self-starters, students who can work independently and/or in groups, curiosity and passion about their future studies. Reviewers want to see that you spend your free time tinkering and exploring just because it will help your admissions chances but because you can't imagine doing anything else.
There is a huge range of successful kinds of Computer Science applicants, and most of them won't have a typical resume of leadership experience, volunteer hours, or your standard list of extracurricular activities.
All things equal, independent study will almost always look more impressive than joining an organization or contributing to an already established project.
Possible activities and information to include in your Apply Texas Essay A, UT Short Answers, and your expanded resume
This is not an exhaustive list, but it should give you an idea of some things to consider in your own portfolio based on what I've seen other successful applicants submit. You need to be as explicit as possible about:
Which programming languages and software you know
What resources you've used to learn and your level of competency (elementary, intermediate, proficient, expert)
Any independent projects, applications, or games you've developed
Leadership positions in niche or underrepresented communities like women in STEM or a Hispanic robotics team
Advanced mathematics beyond high school calculus like linear algebra or differential equations
STEM extracurricular activities like robotics, Technology Student Association, Science Olympiad, Intel ISEF, etc.
Consider including your personal site if you want to give reviewers the chance to look at your work (they won't always do so)
If you've conducted research with a professor, note any publications that may be in progress, the journal, and if you're a sole or co-author
Unpaid internships or paid employment with technology companies or start-ups
Certificates, open-source courses, or university credits you have earned and the approximate number of hours it took for completion
Related community service or volunteer projects (like building a website for a non-profit, creating a record keeping software for an animal shelter, constructing and managing a mailing list, etc)
Experience and/or demonstrated competency in graphic design, video editing, search engine optimization, online marketing, digital publishing, cryptocurrency, architectural/engineering/statistics software, music production, 3D printing
Unconventional activities that are important to you but may be unfamiliar to your reviewers yet are important to you
Special circumstances or obstacles you've overcome, i.e. not having AP Computer Science at your school, no access to mentors with relevant experience, starting your own club, not having internet at home
For activities or interests that are most interesting to you, consider spending at least some parts of your essays providing context why they interest you, how it helps shape your current and future academic/professional goals, and why you would be a good fit for your choice of major.
You should also consider discussing why UT-Austin specifically is a great fit for you. I suggest that you explicitly identify at least a few resources, student organizations, professors, research labs, upper-division coursework, and professional opportunities in Austin and why you are uniquely interested in UT.
Many applicants competing for spaces at most selective universities nationwide don't do enough to say why they are applying besides just "it's ranked really high" and "it might make me a lot of money in the future."
Relevant UT Computer Science/Robotics Research Opportunities, Courses, and Student Organizations
Robotics is one of the most popular fields of study. Its interdisciplinary nature means that it doesn’t live neatly within a single department. Robotics students may be interested in pursuing Mechanical Engineering rather than Computer Science.
A client of mine helpfully compiled a list of relevant opportunities that may be worth researching and including in your admissions essays:
Engineering Chamber Orchestra (EChO)
Student Engineering Council
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Red Cross Club at The University of Texas at Austin
IEEE Robotics and Automation Society
Engineers Without Borders
Women in Engineering
Research:
1. Human Centered Robotics Lab
2. Autonomous Mobile Robotics Laboratory
4. Personal Autonomous Robotics Lab
5. Learning Agents Research Group
8. Socially Intelligent Machines Lab
9. u-t autonomous Research Lab
10. Advanced Robotic Technologies for Surgery Lab
General Undergraduate Courses in Robotics
· M E 350R. Robot Mechanism Design
· M E 360C. Cyber Vehicle Systems
· M E 372J. Robotics and Automation
· M E 340. Mechatronics
· M E 140L. Mechatronics Laboratory
· M E 348E. Advanced Mechatronics I
· M E 348F. Advanced Mechatronics II
· M E 360C. Cyber Vehicle Systems
· M E 374D. Automotive Engineering Laboratory
Mechatronics Pathway
Required Courses
· ME348C Introduction to Mechatronics I
· ME348D Introduction to Mechatronics II
Additional Courses (choose one) (Other courses approved by area faculty members)
· ME364L Automatic Control System Design
· ME372J Robotics and Automation
· ME379M Theory and Design for Mechanical Measurements
· EE445L Embedded Systems Design Lab
UT-AUSTIN COMPUTER SCIENCE ACCELERATED TRANSFER PROGRAM (ATP)
Starting for Fall 2021 enrollees, UT-Austin released a pilot program for the only direct-admission pathway into Computer Science, ATP. Fall Fall 2022, they seem to have expanded the offering to significantly more students. It seems that select Texas residents ranking in the top 6% who were not offered CS have the opportunity to complete three core CS classes freshmen year with guaranteed admission into CS as a sophomore.
It’s unclear for the moment why some students are offered this program and others are not. It reminds me of PACE where a handful of applicants are randomly given the option without the university releasing the parameters for who is targeted. I suspect UT has some parameters (academics, diversity, first-gen, and/or low-income) for who they offer.
Unless UT CS is also significantly expanding the number of students they can accommodate - for a program that already has issues with overfilling classes and some students unable to get the ones they need - then I anticipate the new ATP program will make it harder or perhaps substantially more difficult to internal or external transfer. It is almost impossible to transfer into UT CS without straight A’s in very intensive STEM courses alongside a substantial STEM resume.
For students offered ATP, it seems like an awesome deal and one seriously worth considering. A client of mine whose parents do not have high school degrees and who has a tuition guarantee through Texas Advance, yet was in the top 2% of his class is, I imagine, the sort of student who is best served through this program. They’re deserving of a chance to enroll at their flagship university in their desired major. I appreciate that UT is making efforts toward increasing accessibility for their most in-demand majors.
This DOES NOT appear to be a program you can request or appeal into.
Relevant excerpt from the invitation:
“Through this program, you’ll have the opportunity to enroll in three major-level, computer science courses in your freshmen year – courses that are usually restricted to computer science majors. Once you successfully complete these three courses and a university calculus sequence, you’ll be an official computer science major! Please note that this offer is by invitation only. You’re receiving this email because you have been selected to participate based on your qualifications.
After two semesters, you’ll have completed all three of the lower-division, core courses, be on pace with students in your year, and be on target to complete your degree in four years.”
Alternatives to studying Computer Science in the College of Natural Sciences
Themes related to automation, robotics, data analysis, electronics, game design, and many other broadly related Computer Science fields often live in different UT departments or have interdisciplinary curricula. If you feel that Computer Science is too competitive, or your interests are more narrowly tailored, you might try related majors like:
Cockrell Computational Engineering (emphasis on data analysis and algorithms)
Cockrell Computer and Electrical Engineering (emphasis on hardware)
Cockrell Mechanical Engineering (emphasis on robotics and mechatronics)
Cockrell Aerospace Engineering (emphasis on drones and unmanned flight)
McCombs Management Information Systems (MIS)
College of Fine Arts, BS in Arts and Entertainment Technology
College of Natural Sciences, BS in Applied Mathematics or Actuarial Sciences
College of Natural Sciences, BS in Physics or Chemistry on the Computation stream
College of Natural Sciences, BS in Computational Biology
College of Natural Sciences, BS in Statistics and Data Science
Majoring in anything else and pursuing an 18-hour Computer Science Certificates on the following topics: Applied Statistical Modeling, The Elements of Computing, Scientific Computations and Data Sciences.
Bridging Disciplines Program Certificates in Design Strategies, Digital Arts and Media, Smart Cities, Innovation/Creativity/Entrepreneurship
I hope that you find this information helpful and constructive.