Located in the heart of Austin, the University of Texas at Austin is a top-tier public research university known for academic excellence, school spirit, and a culture that blends innovation with tradition. Founded in 1883, UT has grown into a national powerhouse, especially renowned for its business, communications, engineering, and computer science programs. With its rising prestige and increasingly competitive admissions, UT Austin isn’t just a Texas favorite, it’s quickly become one of the most popular colleges among our clients.
UT Austin offers Early Action, which means you should absolutely apply early. They used to call it “priority” but that means the same thing. Applying early to UT is the best way to signal to the university that you have a heightened interest in the school, want to attend, and will probably attend if you get in.
What is EA?
Early Action is a non-binding admissions decision that allows you to send in your application before the regular decision round and typically has a higher acceptance rate than regular decision. Early action is great for the non-committal students, but it doesn’t come with that same guarantee that ED holds. The great thing about it though, especially since UT is a public school, you can apply EA to any other school and potentially apply ED or REA to another.
The vast majority of our clients get into their early application schools, and 100% of our long-term clients get into one of their top three schools. If you think you want to apply early to UT, reach out to us today.
Students who get into UT Austin – especially for competitive majors, like comp sci – are often applying to other top public and private universities. So if you’re the kind of student UT really wants, applying through their early admissions timeline is a smart move.
Why Should I EA?
Applying EA, to us, is a no-brainer. It’s non-binding, which means you can do as many as possible, you get it out of the way sooner, and you’ll find out if you get in earlier than if you apply RD, typically around February.
In 2024, UT’s EA acceptance rate was 32%, compared to their 29% regular decision acceptance rate. You might think this means you’re good either way, but that’s not the case. UT auto-admits in-state students who are in the top 6% of their class, and if you look closer at the non-top 6% and out-of-state students, you see an acceptance rate closer to 10%.
Applying early to UT Austin, especially as an out-of-state-student, won’t make up for a weak application. A low GPA, average test scores, an undeclared major, or minimal extracurricular involvement won’t cut it. UT’s applicant pool gets more competitive every year, and applying early signals that you're serious about attending. However, it only makes a difference if the rest of your application is strong enough to compete.
What Can You Do?
To get into UT Austin, you need outstanding stats. Your path to admission starts the moment you walk into your first high school class freshman year. But the good news? While UT’s admissions are competitive, there are key parts of the process that are absolutely within your control.
Grades
Every year, we work with students applying early to UT Austin and other top public universities, and the one thing they all have in common: impeccable grades. That’s no surprise. The vast majority of students admitted to UT, especially into competitive majors, are straight-A students. If you want to stand out (or even just stay in the running) you need to take the hardest classes available at your school and excel in every single one.
At UT Austin, you’re also facing another obstacle, grade-wise. If you are in-state, you’re competing against public school students in the top 6% of their class who have been given automatic admission to UT. For students not in that top 6%, the acceptance rates plummet to around 10%, so if you’re a private school student or in the 7% or lower category, you need to make sure you have as perfect of grades as possible.
Scores
Tests are no longer optional at UT Austin. We won’t lie, this surprised us. A lot of Ivies and other similarly rigorous schools have brought back the requirement, but it’s less common for public schools. That being said, if you want to be a competitive applicant to UT, you need to have the best test scores possible. As an out-of-state or not-6%-er, high test scores signal your readiness for college and schools care about that.
Extracurriculars
Being class president, a varsity athlete, and doing some volunteer work might look good on paper, but for a school like UT Austin, it's not enough. Admissions officers have seen that exact combo a thousand times. They’re looking for more than just well-rounded students. They want applicants with a clear sense of direction and the initiative to back it up.
If you say you’re interested in business but haven’t done anything to show it, like participating in DECA, taking a business-related summer course, getting real-world experience through an internship, or even starting your own small business, it’s going to feel hollow.
That’s why it’s smart to start early. If UT is your goal, you should be building a track record of genuine interest and impact starting as early as freshman year. That kind of focused, intentional work is what makes your application stand out in a competitive pool.
Essays
The summer before senior year is the time to get serious about your essays. First up: crafting a standout Common App essay – one that’s thoughtful, original, and doesn’t sound like anyone else’s. Once that’s locked in, shift your focus to the UT supplement. It’s your chance to show them not just what you’ve done, but why you’d be a great fit for their campus and culture.
UT has a number of school-specfic prompts, most based on your academic goals and what you hope to achieve after graduation. There are more if you’re choosing to apply to Liberal Arts Honors, McCombs, Plan II, or other specific or honors-based colleges.
Apply Early
As we said, applying EA to UT Austin is a no-brainer. There are literally no downsides. You’re not locked in if you get into an Ivy or Ivy+ school, and you can apply EA to UT even if you’re applying REA to a private college or ED somewhere else. Seriously, just apply early to UT.
Work With Us
The students who start early with us see incredible results. Most of our clients have their college decisions in hand by mid-December, and our long-term students? They consistently get into one of their top three choices – including competitive schools like UT Austin. We’re hard pressed to think of a longterm client who didn’t get into UT Austin.
We know what UT is looking for, especially when it comes to high-demand majors like Business, Engineering, and Computer Science. From building a resume that reflects real passion to writing essays that actually stand out, we’re here to help every step of the way.
If you’re aiming for UT Austin and want your application to reflect your best self, let’s make it happen.
Applying EA to UT Austin is the best strategic move you can make for that school. We strongly encourage it – not just because it boosts your chances, but it also means you’re done sooner. We do not recommend sending out your UT application RD, it’s just too much of a gamble. TL;DR: apply early to UT. It’s worth it.
Need help strategizing or working on your UT Austin EA application? Reach out to us today.