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Breaking News: UT Austin Updates Their Application
Here’s What That Means for Your Family
UT Austin has just released its admissions requirements for the Class of 2026. These updates reflect major shifts in how applications will be reviewed. With over 90,000 applicants, UT is now one of the most competitive public universities in the country. This year’s changes raise the bar for what it takes to stand out.
The rules have changed. UT Austin is no longer just looking for strong students. They are looking for students who clearly fit the major they are applying to.
Here’s what that means for your family:
Grades and test scores are just the starting point
UT wants to see purpose, initiative, and direction
Every part of the application will be read through a major-specific lens
Students need to show they are ready to thrive in their chosen field on day one
If your student is applying to Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or any other competitive major, the stakes are even higher.
This is the moment to get clear on what matters. Join us August 6 and learn how to help your student build a standout application this fall.
CHANGES TO UT ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
UT Austin has confirmed that students will now submit one personal statement and two short answer essays as part of their application:
Personal ESSAY Prompt
"Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design." (650 Word Maximum)
Short Answer Prompt#1
Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? (300 Word Maximum)
Short Answer Prompt#2
Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? (300 Word Maximum)
These new prompts give students a valuable opportunity to share their personality, interests, and goals in their own voice. We encourage students to start early so they have time to reflect, revise, and write with clarity and purpose.
Additional changes for this cycle include:
So, what do these changes mean for students who dream of becoming Longhorns? It means that every part of the application matters, and students who take the time to tell a focused, major-aligned story will have the strongest chance to stand out.
WHAT THIS YEAR’S UT ADMISSIONS RESULTS MEAN FOR STUDENTS WHO DREAM OF BEING LONGHORNS
The Class of 2025 faced the most competitive admissions cycle in UT Austin’s history. With over 90,000 applicants and the new 5 percent auto-admit threshold, the process was more selective and more focused on major alignment than ever before. Students who stood out were not just high-achieving—they showed a clear, compelling story of academic fit and personal direction.
Here’s what we learned from this year’s results:
- Strong test scores helped applicants stand out, especially in math-heavy majors like Business and Engineering
- Students who aligned their activities and essays with their intended major were far more likely to be admitted
- The Expanded Résumé played a major role in demonstrating initiative, impact, and growth over time
- Top-ranked students were not guaranteed admission to competitive majors without clear academic preparation and purpose
The path to UT is still open, but it is no longer about checking boxes. Students need a thoughtful, strategic game plan to turn their strengths into a standout application.