The 3 Steps To Submitting Your Transfer Application to the University of Texas at Austin

Students decide to transfer colleges for a number of reasons. Whether your student aspires to transfer from a four year institution or community college, if they have their eye on UT-Austin, here are a 3 things to keep in mind: 



1. Establish/Confirm your Eligibility Requirements


Prospective students are classified as transfers for admissions purposes if they’ve both: 


  • Graduated from high school or completed a GED 
  • Earned or will have earned 24 semester hours of required transferable coursework at another college or university (this includes 2 year and community colleges)


Transfer applicants typically have a few college coursework credits under their belt. Before beginning an application, take stock of the transferable credits your student has completed. You can verify if completed coursework credits can be transferred here. 


2. Prepare your Application Materials


In addition to completing an online application for admission through ApplyTexas or the Coalition for College, prospective transfer students must also submit the following application materials: 



LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TRANSFER COACHING PROGRAM

3. UT-Austin Transfer Essay Topic A


All Transfer Applicants must submit two application essays to UT Austin. 


The first essay, Topic A, is required by all applicants, regardless of major. 


Topic A, also known as a Statement of Purpose should in 500-650 words, address the following prompt: 


The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application. You may also want to explain unique aspects of your academic background or valued experiences you may have had that relate to your academic discipline. The statement of purpose is not meant to be a listing of accomplishments in high school or a record of your participation in school-related activities. Rather, this is your opportunity to address the admissions committee directly and to let us know more about you as an individual, in a manner that your transcripts and other information cannot convey. 


As your student drafts their Statement of Purpose for Topic A, be sure to address the following: 


  1. Your previous academic experiences and development
  2. Your current studies
  3. Your future academic and professional goals 
  4. How a UT education can help you achieve your goals in specific and concrete ways 
  5. Any special or extenuating circumstances 


For students transferring from four year colleges: Be sure to stay tasteful and respectful when sharing your reasons for transferring from your current institution! 


Additional Application Essays


In addition to a Statement of Purpose, prospective transfer students are required to submit at least one additional essay addressing Topic C, D or E. Unless applying to a a special program like Architecture or Fine Arts, the majority of transfer applicants’ second essay responds to Topic E: 


Choose an issue of importance to you--it could be personal, school-related, local, political or international in scope--and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community or your generation. 


Students should approach Topic E as an opportunity to demonstrate how they think, write, and communicate ideas that are important to them. Pick an issue that is meaningful to you, not something you think an admissions reader wants to hear. You can use Topic E to highlight your fit-to-major experiences that you touched on in Topic A or use this space to showcase a different side of yourself! 





Click here for more information about UT’s Transfer process.


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