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Some of my friends at school once told me that you are automatically accepted to any Texas University if you are in the top 10% of your class OR you score a 1300 or higher on the SAT. I have heard of the 10% rule from quite a few sources, so I believe it is correct.

However, I have never read any official documentation (ie newspaper, admission website) confirming this. DOes this 1300 rule really exist or is it BS?

By Meagan404 (Meagan404) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 11:15 am: Edit

I visited both UT-Austin and A&M, A&M said that they use the 1300 as a rule of thumb. When excepting applications they pick out the 1300 and admitt those first. UT on the other hand didn't say they did that. I think it was just a general rule A&M uses to make the admissions process a little easier.

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 01:03 pm: Edit

With a SAT of 1300, you should be admitted at UT-Austin and Texas A&M, unless something in your application would dictate a REJECTION. The 10% rule is pretty straightforward but the 1300 rule is not an AUTOMATIC but an EXCELLENT indication. However, you need to remember that the guaranteed admission does not guarantee your choice of program. Programs like Business and Engineering have additional requirements. For instance, the Honors programs-like the Mitte School- are extremely competitive

Quoted from:

http://www.utexas.edu/student/research/reports/admissions/FaulknerStatement.htm

The Top 10 Percent Law (officially House Bill 588) guarantees that Texas high school graduates who rank in the top 10 percent of their senior class be admitted to any state institution of higher learning. Two years ago, 42 percent of UT Austin freshmen were top 10 percent graduates. This year, the figure is 47 percent. So, more than half the spaces in the freshman class remain available to non-top-10-percent graduates. Furthermore, because the freshman class has increased in size to more than 7,600, there are about as many spaces for non-top 10 percent graduates as in past years

For further research-and plenty of numbers-, check the UT site at

http://www.utexas.edu/student/research/reports/admissions/ResearchHome.htm

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 01:17 pm: Edit

This is why the 1300 will get you in:

2002 SAT Ranges of Students entering with 10% rule:

<900 3%
900-990 6%
1000-1090 13%
1100-1190 19%
1200-1290 24%
1300-1390 22% <===== Top 37%
1400-1490 12%
1500+ 3%
SAT Mean 1226

2002 SAT Ranges for Regular admissions
<900 1%
900-990 3%
1000-1090 11%
1100-1190 24%
1200-1290 33%
1300-1390 20% <===== Top 28%
1400-1490 7%
1500+ 1%

SAT Mean 1222

By Orangeclock (Orangeclock) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 04:29 pm: Edit

Would a 3.1 GPA and a class rank of 272/540 be somethings that would dictate a rejection? ALso, I am not particularly strong on ECs. Thanks.

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 04:37 pm: Edit

No. You are already penalized by the GPA/Rank since you did not make the top 10%.

The higher SAT will make the adcom look at the circumstances of your lower GPA/Rank. As I said before, this is where your counselor can explain the reasons behind the discrepancy. If I remember well, your change of school caused the average rank.

If your EC are not brilliant, I would recommend to work really hard on your essays and make sure to get high grades in your senior year. Finally, good AP scores will help a lot.

By Orangeclock (Orangeclock) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 06:58 pm: Edit

I got five 5's and two 4's so far on my APs. Will this help a lot?

WHere can I find a book or website that will tell me how to write a good essay?

By Xiggi (Xiggi) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 09:14 pm: Edit

Orange, you are in

By Orangeclock (Orangeclock) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 09:52 pm: Edit

I know how to send AP score officially to the college through the collegeboard. But will the admissions officer see them, or should I send them a copy of the score report so they won't overlook it. SHould I mention the AP scores in an essay?