University of Texas C/O 18 Applicants Forum

[BVest]

I'm surprised they dinged you so early with a 173, 2.9 LSDAS GPA or not. Especially since you've probably got plenty of work experience being a little older.
Doesn't bode well for the rest of us..

I'm going to guess out-of-state? If so, it seems this year that they may be dinging folks who can get in pretty high up in the T14 who are out of state instead of playing the "Do you want to write a Why Texas?" game with them. They can do it because those who really want Texas will likely ignore the slight and go through the process of appealing.

[NimChimpsky]

Out of state, yup. I did write (I think there was a question on the app?) a 'Why UT' but state schools can be tricky like that. Oh well, onward and upward.

[p1921]

Could be. But whosinthehousejc wouldn't have even known about that if not for this thread (or at least he didn't know until he was referred to where he could find the info on it). Seems like an easy way to lose good applicants who have good reasons for wanting to go to UT. Just my 2 cents.

[lisjjen]

Hey, I'm a recent UT grad that just passed the bar. I'm happy to answer questions.

Just some free advice I give to all 0Ls, if you haven't had a little bit of time to work in the real world and know why you are going to law school, don't go. Not yet, anyways. If you're going because you want to make a lot of money, don't underestimate how hard it is to do that -if money is your only concern, you'll burn out. Also, international law is not a real thing.

ETA: If it sounds like I'm bitter, I'm not. UT Law was a life changing experience. This is a tough profession, but it's worth it if you go in for the right reasons.

[BVest]

Out of state, yup. I did write (I think there was a question on the app?) a 'Why UT' but state schools can be tricky like that. Oh well, onward and upward.

Unless they changed the app this year (which it doesn't sound like they have, there's not such a question, though you can always incorporate that into a PS. In past years with people on the edge, they'd contact them and ask if they would like to supplement their app with a short Why UT statement.

[Attax]

There's always the possible consideration that they abandoned the splitter-friendliness this year.

[NimChimpsky]

Out of state, yup. I did write (I think there was a question on the app?) a 'Why UT' but state schools can be tricky like that. Oh well, onward and upward.

Unless they changed the app this year (which it doesn't sound like they have, there's not such a question, though you can always incorporate that into a PS. In past years with people on the edge, they'd contact them and ask if they would like to supplement their app with a short Why UT statement.

You're right; I just checked and I was remembering the question that asked for your reasons for applying to UT, and it gives you like a tweet-length amount of room to tell them.

[bound]

To those who were dinged this am - when did you submit/go complete?

[whosinthehousejc]

Could be. But whosinthehousejc wouldn't have even known about that if not for this thread (or at least he didn't know until he was referred to where he could find the info on it). Seems like an easy way to lose good applicants who have good reasons for wanting to go to UT. Just my 2 cents.

Hey guys, sorry to hear about the rejections. I'm sure you've all got excellent options elsewhere.

FYI (for y'all's information), after my app was denied, because I had a slightly complicated history w/ the adcom (see p. 11 in thread), I sent a "request for reconsideration," which isn't necessarily the same as "Why Texas?"

The details on the RfR are here, 10 questions down: http://www.utexas.edu/law/admissions/jd/faqs.php

[IsThisForReal]

You were both ED?

I was RD.

Can I get your numbers please? PM if necessary. Much appreciated.

173/3.9, but I have an LSDAS gpa of 2.9 because I first tried college a few years ago and just whiffed (I'm older).

Well, shit. If that's at all representative of the trend for this year I'm doomed. UH here I come.

[NimChimpsky]

To those who were dinged this am - when did you submit/go complete?

Applied 10/07, complete 10/14.

[BVest]

There's always the possible consideration that they abandoned the splitter-friendliness this year.

Possible, but IME adcomms tend to sit on splitter they're considering until much later in the cycle when they have an idea of whether they're going to need more high LSATs (or high GPAs for reverse splitters). UT should be especially sensitive to these late-cycle needs considering that in 2012 they had to call several reverse splitters they'd previously rejected to extend offers in June/July.

[p1921]

There's always the possible consideration that they abandoned the splitter-friendliness this year.

Possible, but IME adcomms tend to sit on splitter they're considering until much later in the cycle when they have an idea of whether they're going to need more high LSATs (or high GPAs for reverse splitters). UT should be especially sensitive to these late-cycle needs considering that in 2012 they had to call several reverse splitters they'd previously rejected to extend offers in June/July.

This is more what I was thinking. Why send dings out so early for splitters like that, especially since in his case, he went back to school and showed the initial grades weren't an indication of his present ability?

[Attax]

Wasn't he also the guy who had been previously accepted twice but didn't attend?

[bound]

There's always the possible consideration that they abandoned the splitter-friendliness this year.

Possible, but IME adcomms tend to sit on splitter they're considering until much later in the cycle when they have an idea of whether they're going to need more high LSATs (or high GPAs for reverse splitters). UT should be especially sensitive to these late-cycle needs considering that in 2012 they had to call several reverse splitters they'd previously rejected to extend offers in June/July.

This is more what I was thinking. Why send dings out so early for splitters like that, especially since in his case, he went back to school and showed the initial grades weren't an indication of his present ability?

He wasn't in-state.

[p1921]

There's always the possible consideration that they abandoned the splitter-friendliness this year.

Possible, but IME adcomms tend to sit on splitter they're considering until much later in the cycle when they have an idea of whether they're going to need more high LSATs (or high GPAs for reverse splitters). UT should be especially sensitive to these late-cycle needs considering that in 2012 they had to call several reverse splitters they'd previously rejected to extend offers in June/July.

This is more what I was thinking. Why send dings out so early for splitters like that, especially since in his case, he went back to school and showed the initial grades weren't an indication of his present ability?

He wasn't in-state.

I was referring to NimChimpsky this morning in the last post, sorry I meant to make that clear.

[NimChimpsky]

Wasn't he also the guy who had been previously accepted twice but didn't attend?

This is my first cycle. So far, accepted at UCLA, dinged here. Waiting on others. :/

[rpetrowsky]

My application was RD. I received an email shortly after that explained they class size was smaller than usual and as a result the application was much more competitive. Sounds like if you want to get in from out of state you better have perfect numbers.

[lilith66]

In via voicemail a few minutes ago. RD, out of state, above both medians.

[Winston1984]

In via voicemail a few minutes ago. RD, out of state, above both medians.

Congrats!

[Lions1913]

...

[xylocarp]

So just got a request for a "Why Texas" from the school. Anyone know anything about this?

same. seems like YP

[Lions1913]

...

[rion91]

So just got a request for a "Why Texas" from the school. Anyone know anything about this?

same. seems like YP

yes, they did it last cycle. as long as you don't half donkey it, you're good

[cannibal ox]

Last year a good chunk of people got it, especially (exclusively?) OOS applicants. Just another hoop to jump through. I wrote about a page that explained my reasons and was admitted 24 hours later. Just don't half ass it, and definitely don't decline to do it (auto ding, basically).