Non-Auto Admit high school junior | Hopeful for UT Austin (Intl Relations) | How can I stand out?
Hey everyone! UT Austin has been my dream school forever. I know my stats are a reach for non-auto, but I’ve had a major upward trend and want to know how to maximize my holistic review this fall.
Rank: 159/492 (from freshman & sophomore yr)
GPA: 3.3 UW / 4.0 W (Freshman year was a wash, but it's been straight A's/B+’s since)
SAT: 1110 (Retaking this weekend, grinding for 1250+)
Coursework: AP World, AP Spanish, AP Lang, AP Psych, APUSH, Senior year: AP lit Dual Enrollment (Gov/Econ, Stats, Public Speaking).
My freshman year was rough due to some personal stuff and bullying, which made my GPA flop. Since then, I've had a huge upgrades and got involved in StuCo, NHS, Student Visionary for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society and Mock Trial. I also raised over $1k for cancer research. I really want to major in International Relations. My main "hook" is my passion for foreign cultures and building community bridges, basically turning my experience with isolation into a career helping people feel like they belong.
Here’s a few questions I had:
Does UT actually care about an "upward trend" if the freshman year was bad?
How do I make my ECs (like the fundraising and StuCo) stand out so I don't just look like every other applicant?
I'm retaking the SAT this weekend (currently at an 1110, aiming for 1200+ Any honest advice is appreciated, Hook ‘em!🤘