Essay Requirement Changes and November 1 Priority Deadline

Hot off the press, UT has sent out their counselor e-mail notifying applicants and families of two important changes.

Essay Changes

Essay A from Apply Texas is still required, which asks students to discuss the environment they were raised. Three short answer questions to be determined will also be required. It isn't clear if students will have the options to submit essays B, C, or S.

"All freshman applicants will be required to submit one essay — in response to Topic A — in ApplyTexas. Other long-form essays in ApplyTexas (B, C, D, S, etc.) will no longer be needed for freshman applicants.

As part of ApplyTexas all freshman applicants will also respond to three short-answer questions to provide UT Austin with information about the applicant’s major/career interests, academics and leadership. Responses to short answers are required items in UT Austin’s ApplyTexas freshman admissions application.

Applicants to a few majors will have additional requirements. Nursing applicants will submit an additional long-form essay (Essay N) outside the ApplyTexas process. Applicants to Social Work and Art/Art History will also submit an additional short answer response in ApplyTexas."

November 1 Priority Deadline

UT has finally clarified its policy on submitting applications early. The priority deadline for Honors has changed from October 15 to coincide with a university-wide first-time freshman deadline of November 1.

"November 1 – Priority Application Deadline (notification no later than February 1)

December 1 – Regular Application Deadline (notification no later than March 1)

The Office of Admissions and each freshman honors program will notify students who meet the priority application deadline no later than February 1. Priority notifications will include offers of admission to majors and acceptance to honors programs as well as deferrals. A deferral is a notification saying that a little more time is needed for the student’s final decision. Students who are deferred will receive final decisions no later than March 1."

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