Admissions

Admissions Some beginning writers think the present tense makes for more exciting reading. You’ll see this is a fallacy if you pay attention to how many suspenseful novels are written in past tense. THE EPIGRAPH Many essays start with a quote from another writer. If you wish, you may submit either a video/short film or a written review/critique to support your application. This may be something you did for school or on your own. This is an opportunity to show us your potential as an RTF student. The duration of the video should be no more than 5 minutes OR the review/critique should be no more than 500 words. Here’s how to share your story and set yourself apart. When writing about past events, the present tense doesn’t allow for reflection. This happens, then this happens, then this happens. Want to see what a successful admission essay looks like, proceed with an application, make sure to follow all steps below. If you find that your essay is too long, do not reformat it extensively to make it fit. Making readers deal with a nine-point font and quarter-inch margins will only irritate them. Get it out and revise it again (you can see why we said to start right awayâ€"this process may take time). A well-written, dramatic essay is much more memorable than one that fails to make an emotional impact on the reader. Good anecdotes and personal insights can really attract an audience’s attention. BUT be careful not to let your drama turn into melodrama. For strategies for meeting word limits, see our handout on writing concisely. After you’ve received feedback, revise the essay. You want your reader to see your choices motivated by passion and drive, not hyperbole and a lack of reality. Don’t invent drama where there isn’t any, and don’t let the drama take over. Getting someone else to read your drafts can help you figure out when you’ve gone too far. And, one more time, don’t write in cliches and platitudes. Every doctor wants to help save lives, every lawyer wants to work for justiceâ€"your reader has read these general cliches a million times. A separate request form is not required, however, students may be required to submit documentation in support of a request. If you have any questions about completing your application for admission, please contact the Office of Admissions at to speak with an admissions counselor. If you select a second-choice major other than the Division of General Studies on your application, write a second essay explaining your interest in this major, too. We want to give you enough time to craft the very best essays you canâ€"and the best way to do that is to tell you what they are now. desire to go to a particular school all within just a few hundred words feels overwhelming. Or maybe you’re stressed because you know a lot rides on this part of your application but you don’t consider yourself a strong writer. Writing the college application essay is stressful. If you have earned any college credit while in high school, request that the college or university send official transcripts to UT Austin. comparable to the average class rank of students from traditional schools who have equivalent SAT or ACT test scores. If your high school does not rank students, include a statement from your school describing its policy, a copy of your school’s profile and a GPA or grade distribution report. Rank should be indicated as your numerical position out of the total number of students in the class. For example, if you’re fifth in your class of 130, your transcript should report your rank as 5/130. Applicants should submit transcripts indicating rank for the latest completed semester prior to the application deadline. Work with your high school to send us your official transcript documenting all coursework undertaken during your high school career and your class rank. All applicants must submitthree required short answersand may submitone optional short answerresponding to prompts in your admissions application. Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250â€"300 words, typically the length of one paragraph. Students may request a fee waiver by indicating their eligibility on the online application.