university of houston essay deadline

UH Undergraduate Admissions

We're writing our legacy one student at a time.

And you need to be part of it. At the University of Houston, you'll find degree programs that will pave the way to the future you envision — whether you want to build the physical foundations of the future as an engineer or architect, shape young minds as an educator, or study how far humanity has already come as an anthropologist. These are just a few of the areas of study available, taught by world-renowned faculty members.

Not sure if you should apply as a freshman? Read up on our freshman requirements.  

• Apply Now with ApplyTexas
• Apply Now with CommonApp
• Request Info
• Speak with an admissions expert

110+ Undergraduate Majors

We have over 110 majors to choose from. But it’s about more than just choosing a major. It’s about finding a calling and using your passion to create change and carve out your place in the world.

• See all undergraduate majors

Important Dates and Deadlines

Summer 2024

Application Due: May 1, 2024 Supporting Information* Due: May 8, 2024

Spring 2024

Application Due: Dec. 4, 2023 Supporting Information* Due: Dec. 11, 2023

Application Due: June 3, 2024 Supporting Information* Due: June 10, 2024

Fall 2024 Scholarship Priority Deadline

Application Due: Nov. 1, 2023 Supporting Information* Due: Nov. 8. 2023

Use these codes to submit your FAFSA and send your test scores to us directly from the testing agency:

FAFSA: 003652

*Supporting information includes application fee, self-reporting transcript information, test scores (if applicable). If applying without test scores, supporting information also includes your essay and resume. You can request to change to admissions without a test score by submitting this form.

We're Test Optional

What exactly does test optional mean, you ask? Well, basically, freshman applicants now have the option to apply with or without test scores (like the ACT or SAT). Applicants are not disadvantaged by applying without a test score; they simply must meet a different set of requirements. Compare admission requirements with a test score and without a test score below:

Requirements With Test Score >

Requirements without a test score >.

If you don't meet the assured admissions requirements, we may consider additional factors in the admissions process. If we require additional documentation, we'll request those materials from you.

**This unweighted GPA will be calculated by the University of Houston (out of a 4.0 scale) using English, math, science and social studies grades on your transcript. Extracurricular classes will not be included.

Texas Education Code (TEC) 51.803-51.809 requires all students meet college readiness standards to be eligible for admission at a Texas Four-Year Public Institution. Read about the Texas Uniform Admission Policy.

To learn more about test optional admissions, visit our test optional webpage. You may also schedule a virtual appointment with an admissions representative for more guidance.

Majors with Additional Requirements

Some majors have additional requirements on top of the ones listed above (like supplementary applications, different GPA needs, essential high school coursework, etc.). Find out more information about majors with additional requirements for freshmen .

Application Process

 Expand All  Collapse All

Apply Online

Use ApplyTexas or the Common App to apply. Submit just one application. This is where you’ll indicate whether you want to be reviewed with a test score or without a test score. Be sure to complete the short admissions essay and tell us about your extracurricular activities.

Pay Application Fees

Pay the $75 application fee (It’s $90 for international students). You may qualify for an application fee waiver, which you can submit in your my.uh.edu self-service portal.

• Apply for a fee waiver

Self-Report Your Transcript

After you submit your ApplyTexas or CommonApp application, you’ll receive an email from us within a few business days that includes your myUH ID, which you'll use to access your my.uh.edu self-service portal — this is where you’ll self-report transcript information. You’ll see an option for it on your applicant to-do list. View our self-reporting guide or watch our video tutorial for step-by-step instructions.

• View all transcript submission options

Submit Test Scores

Admissions With Test Scores Have your ACT or SAT score(s) sent directly from the testing agency to us.

Admissions Without Test Scores If you applied for “admissions without a test score,” then skip this step.

• See full requirements

Check Your Status

Check your application status in your my.uh.edu self-service portal.

• Track Status

Become an #OfficialCoog

Applicants who are admitted will receive an admit packet in the mail and are encouraged to celebrate on social media using the hashtag #OfficialCoog! Then, register for Freshman Orientation in your my.uh.edu self-service portal . Learn more about orientation, when sessions are offered and other related topics on the orientation webpage . 

• Sign up for orientation

Admissions Essay

You will be asked to submit a short admissions essay with your Common App or ApplyTexas application. Remember, you need to respond to only one of the essay prompts listed:

Expand All Collapse All

ApplyTexas Essay Prompts

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Common App Essay Prompts

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Your myUH ID

Once you submit your ApplyTexas or CommonApp application,  you’ll receive an email from us   within a few business days   that includes your  my U H   ID. You'll need this ID  to access   your   myUH   self-service portal.  

Make sure to check and update your myUH account frequently. Within myUH you will find important information like a personalized To Do list, offered financial aid awards, and term balances. You'll also self-report your transcript there.

 Log into your myUH self-service portal

Applicant resources

Admissions appeals.

Freshman applicants to the University of Houston who do not meet regular admission requirements  may request further consideration by submitting a Freshman Admissions Appeal Form.

• Submit an appeal form

Transfer Credit Estimator

Meet our Transfer Credit Estimator, a new tool designed to help you estimate how many course credits may transfer to your chosen degree program at the University of Houston.

• Learn more about transferring credit

Change Your Application Term

Use our  application term change request form.  Please note the request is only available to applicants (not for students with decisions).  Applicants are not required to submit a new application and must submit a request before the new application term deadlines.  

• Submit the application term change request form

Test Optional Admissions

Still confused about applying without a test score? Go to our test optional admissions website to learn more.

• Read up on test optional admissions

Cost & Aid

Cougar promise.

We’ll cover tuition and fees for those with an adjusted gross family income at or below $65,000. Tuition support is provided for those with an adjusted gross family income between $65,001 and $125,000. You must be a Texas resident and submit the FAFSA by the priority deadline of April 15, 2024.

Out-of-State Tuition Waiver

Out-of-state and international students who receive $1,000 or more from various competitive University of Houston scholarships may qualify for an out-of-state tuition waiver. This means waiver recipients will pay in-state tuition rates.

Student Life

Get Involved

Guided Virtual Tours

Admissions representatives are experts when it comes to applying to the University of Houston. If you'd like to talk to an admissions representative for admissions support,  you can schedule a virtual admissions advising appointment , or contact us by phone at  713-743-1010 , option 4 or by email at  admissions@ uh .edu . Please note that admissions representatives  do not  provide support with course selection or registration.

Phone 713-743-1010, option 4

Email [email protected]

Follow Us on Social Media

View this post on Instagram A post shared by UH Office of Admissions (@uhadmissions)

You are a  freshman  if you:

• are a student without college credit or
• earned college credit prior to high school graduation (dual credit/early college high school)* or
• earned less than 15 transferable hours of college credit after earning a GED or high school diploma* and
• are a U.S. citizen, have applied for permanent residency, or qualify for Texas residency based on  Senate Bill 1528

*Only credit earned from an institution accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations will be accepted. 

You are an  international freshman  if you:

• are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and
• are not graduating from a Texas high school after three years in residence in Texas (please review  Senate Bill 1528 )

How to Apply

Visit the How to Apply page for step-by-step instructions.

Admissions Criteria

Texas Education Code (TEC) 51.803-51.809 requires all students meet college readiness standards to be eligible for admission at a Texas Four-Year Public Institution. Read about the Texas Uniform Admission Policy .

On your application, you will select whether you want your application to be reviewed with a test score or without a test score. The admission criteria for each choice is below. Once you submit your application, you will not be able to change your admissions review selection. 

WITH TEST SCORE

Without test score.

*If you don’t meet the assured admissions requirements, we may consider additional factors in the admissions process. Additional factors include, but are not limited to the following: college-level coursework completed, number of credit hours earned, core GPA, first-generation college attendance, socioeconomic background, special talents, abilities or awards earned, family responsibilities, leadership activities, public service, special talents and extra-curricular activities.

 **This unweighted GPA will be calculated by the University of Houston (out of a 4.0 scale) using the grades on your transcript. Extracurricular classes won’t be included.

Majors with Additional Requirements 

Some majors have additional requirements on top of the ones listed above.

Majors with additional requirements are indicated with a +.

For more information, visit www.uh.edu/freshman-majors-ar .

High School Graduation

Sixth semester grades.

The university will evaluate and admit applicants based on their record through six terms (end of junior year) of high school work.

Final/Seventh Semester Grades

Admitted freshmen, who intend to enroll at UH, must provide a final/seventh semester transcript showing completion of high school requirements. An official final/seventh semester transcript must be submitted to the Office of Admissions prior to enrollment. Failure to submit required documentation may result in rescinding admission.

Accredited High Schools

Applicants who have graduated from a high school accredited by either the Texas Education Agency or the appropriate Regional Association of Schools and Colleges will be admitted if they meet the outlined requirements.

Non-accredited High Schools

Applicants who have graduated from a high school not accredited by either the Texas Education Agency or the appropriate Regional Association of Schools and Colleges may be admitted through individual review.

General Education Development

The University recognizes GED tests as the equivalent of high school graduation. An applicant who has passed the GED tests and submits satisfactory SAT or ACT scores may be considered for general admission to the University of Houston. GED applicants may be admitted by individual review.

Home School Applicants

Documentation of non-accredited high school/home schooled students is required for admission in addition to official SAT/ACT scores. Home school applicants may be admitted through individual review.

Admission Option for Academically Talented High School Students

Special freshman admission options are available to academically talented students based on test scores, grade point average, and other criteria. The university offers dual (concurrent) enrollment and summer courses for students who wish to take college courses while still in high school. Early enrollment is available to a select group of students who have superior high school academic records and who wish to begin university level work after the completion of their junior year of high school. Please contact the Office of Admissions for details regarding these admission options.

Visit the Deadlines    page for a listing of when the admissions application and supporting materials are due.

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Assured Admissions Requirements

Undergraduate programs.

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Please note that the application process is completed by the UH Admissions Department to determine if applicants are admissible under UH Admissions requirements as well as C. T. Bauer College of Business' Admissions requirements which are higher than UH general requirements.

Application Process to UH and Bauer College

We've gone test optional.

Applicants have the option to apply for admission with or without a test score for the following fall 2023 academic term. Applicants are not disadvantaged by applying without a test score.

1. Apply Online

Complete the University of Houston application for admission using either the ApplyTexas Application or The Common Application . Submit just one application.

On your application, you will select whether you want your application to be reviewed with a test score or without a test score. Be sure to complete the short admissions essay and tell us about your extracurricular activities.

2. Application Fees

Pay the nonrefundable $75 application fee ($90 for international students) with a credit card or debit card. Payment can be made in your myUH self-service portal or before submitting the admissions application.

First-time freshmen may qualify for an application fee waiver. Simply complete the National Association for College Admissions Counseling Fee Waiver Form and submit a PDF copy through your myUH account .

3. Submit Your Transcript

Pick one of the following options to submit your most recent high school transcript information:

• Ask your school administrator to send your official transcript data electronically through an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) system, e.g. TREx (for Texas institutions) or
• Self-report your transcript information. Visit your task list in your my.uh.edu self-service portal to self-report your transcript information. You'll only report your math, science, English, and social studies classes.

View our self-reporting guide or watch our video tutorial for step-by-step instructions.

4. Submit Test Scores

If you are applying for admissions with a test score, have your ACT or SAT score(s) sent directly from the testing agency to us. Our code for ACT is 4236; SAT is 6870.

If you are applying for admissions without a test score, skip this step.

If you'd like to apply to The Honors College , please select the appropriate checkbox on the ApplyTexas application and submit the supplementary materials .

International Application Options

If you are an international student and have never been enrolled in post-secondary study and have completed the equivalent of 12 years of more of elementary and secondary schooling based on your country’s educational system, you should apply as an International Freshman student. International Freshman student . UH International Admissions Department is directly over the admissions process please contact them for more information about requirements, deadlines, and international admissions guidelines on the International Admissions page.

UH Undergraduate Admissions

• International Students

International Freshman

• Admissions Process

You'll apply as an international freshman student if you plan to attend the University of Houston with citizenship from a country outside the U.S. and have no college coursework (or are transferring less than 15 credit hours from an accredited university). 

Admissions Requirements

English language proficiency requirement.

All application documents MUST be submitted by the appropriate deadline to be considered for admission.

*Supporting information includes application fee, official secondary transcript(s) , English Language Requirement and test scores .  If applying without ACT or SAT test scores, supporting information also includes your essay and resume. You can request to change to admissions without a ACT or SAT test score by  submitting this form.  

Steps to Apply

Submit your application to using either the ApplyTexas Application or The Common Application . Submit just one application.

You must submit a nonrefundable $90 application fee with a credit or debit card. Payment can be made in your myUH self-service portal or before submitting the admissions application.

Test scores should be sent directly from the testing agency. Our code for ACT is 4236; SAT is 6870; TOEFL is 6870. The testing agency should mail official IELTS score reports to the University of Houston, Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

SAT/ACT scores are only required for special programs.

Send secondary or high school academic records (transcripts, mark sheets, graduation certificates, etc.) to process an admission decision. The University of Houston requires official transcripts but will accept  an uploaded copy of official transcripts  for any schools outside of the U.S. in order to complete your application. Uploaded copies submitted for an admission decision are not considered official copies. Please note that we require official copies of your final academic records should you be admitted.  

The transcripts can also be submitted electronically through your school counselor via email or the Common Application. *Official transcripts must either state "official," have your institution's seal, a signature by a school official, or an official watermark. It’s up to the Office of Admissions’ discretion to determine the transcript's validity, and the office reserves the right to request additional or different copies if needed.

All applicants are required to submit a copy of their passport ID page(s).

• F-1s in the U.S. are required to submit a copy of page 1 and 2 of the SEVIS I-20 and a copy of their I-94 record.
• J-1s in the U.S. are required to submit a copy of page 1 of the DS-2019 and a copy of their I-94 record.

Official bank statements issued no older than (6) months.

• Bank statements must have an original signature from the bank agent and or an official stamp/seal of the issuing bank.
• The amount should be at least $41,410.
• Multiple funding sources are acceptable as long as the sum of the funding available meets the academic year estimate.
• Multiple sponsors are acceptable. However, each sponsor must sign an Affidavit of Support. Students supporting themselves must also sign an Affidavit of Support.

Acceptable financial documents include:

• Statement from the bank signed by agent or bank stamp/seal
• Letter written from bank with the amount clearly indicated in U.S. dollars
• Checking, savings, or certificate of deposit statements
• Scholarship letters
• Letters showing government funding

Required Items for I-20 Form (F-1 Visa)

The following items are required to apply for an F-1 visa or maintain F-1 visa status. Upload your documents to your myUH self-service account at accessuh.uh.edu . (All documents must be uploaded as a PDF file.) Please note that the I-20 form and its required items do not need to be completed by application deadlines.

• Statement of Financial Support Form. The Statement of Financial Support Form must be less than six months old from the date of the sponsor(s)’ signature(s).
• Bank Statement . The bank statement must be less than six months old, and it must indicate a minimum balance of USD $41,410  or the equivalent. To upload: If you have more than one page, please save all pages into one PDF file before uploading.
• Copy of biometric page of current passport. Submit a copy of your biometric page of your current passport (and U.S. visa, if available).
• International Address Form . International students seeking an I-20 from the University of Houston must provide a physical address outside the United States in their home country using the International Address Form . 

International transfer students must contact your current International Advisor to complete the I-20/DS-2019 Transfer Form and request for your current school to release your SEVIS record to University of Houston-System.  

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University of Houston Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are University of Houston's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into University of Houston and build a strong application.

School location: Houston, TX

This school is also known as: U of H

Admissions Rate: 66.2%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at University of Houston is 66.2% . For every 100 applicants, 66 are admitted.

This means the school is moderately selective . The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

University of Houston GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.49

The average GPA at University of Houston is 3.49 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.49, University of Houston requires you to be around average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, and very few C's. If you have a lower GPA, you can compensate with harder courses like AP or IB classes. This will help boost your weighted GPA and show your ability to take college classes.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.49, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

University of Houston hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to University of Houston will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

University of Houston SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1225

The average SAT score composite at University of Houston is a 1225 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes University of Houston Competitive for SAT test scores.

University of Houston SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1170, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1330. In other words, a 1170 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1330 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

University of Houston has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Sitting."

This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider the SAT score from your single highest test date (the sum of math, reading, and writing).

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and University of Houston only considers your highest score on a single test date, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit your strongest score. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT score is currently below a 1225, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

University of Houston ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, University of Houston likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 26

The average ACT score at University of Houston is 26. This score makes University of Houston Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 23, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 29.

Even though University of Houston likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 23 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 26 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to University of Houston, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 26.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

University of Houston considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission . Scoring a 1330 SAT or a 29 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 66.2% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 3.49. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 1170 SAT or a 23 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of University of Houston here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $75
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office May 12

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language
• Social Studies 4

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes May 1 Rolling

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 4302 Houston, TX 77204
• Phone: (713) 743-1000 x1000
• Fax: (713) 743-9633
• Email: [email protected]

Our Expert's Notes

We did more detailed research into this school's admissions process and found the following information:

The scholarship priority admissions deadline is December 1, though the final deadline isn't until August 1 for fall entry. Letters of reference from high school teachers, counselors, supervisors and activity leaders along with personal statements can be sent but aren't required.

For Honors College admission, submit the separate application by December 1st for priority consideration, or by the final deadline of April 1st, unless all space fills first. Read more about Honors admissions here.

And for more on scholarships, including deadlines (some are earlier than others) and amounts, see this page.

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in University of Houston, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to University of Houston.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than University of Houston. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for University of Houston, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for University of Houston, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If University of Houston is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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• Areas of Interest/Supplemental Form  (uploaded not mailed)
• Essay (uploaded)
• $25 Application fee (cannot be waived) must be paid by credit card thru CollegeNet website

******ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY DEADLINE****** ONCE WE HAVE A STATUS ON YOUR APPLICATION, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED.

INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE APPLICATION

• CollegeNet Application

1 official transcript should be mailed to one of the following addresses below:

• 1 unofficial copy of transcript (uploaded)
• 3 References email addresses must be entered into the online application.
• Areas of Interest/Supplemental Form (uploaded not mailed)
• Essay (uploaded)
• $75 Application fee (cannot be waived) must be paid by credit card thru CollegeNet website
• Upload the copy of English Language Proficiency test (TOEFL or IELTS or Duolingo, see this page for more details)
• Passport Copy for I-20 (uploaded now or after admission)
• Letter of Financial Backing (uploaded now or after admission)

*******ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY DEADLINE******* ONCE WE HAVE A STATUS ON YOUR APPLICATION, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED.

*Priority applicants will be considered for admissions scholarships and other graduate research assistantship resources.

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Admissions Deadlines

If the application deadline falls on a non-business day or holiday, the deadline will be through the next business day. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding your application or about UHD. Apply online using the Apply Texas application by visiting  applytexas.org . You only need to submit one application.

Freshmen Student Admissions

• Tell Me More!

713-525-3500 [email protected]

• Pre-professional programs

Major degree plans  show courses you'll need to earn your degree.

If you want to add a minor,  minor plans  show courses you'll need for that minor.

You can also combine your major with a pre-professional track like pre-med or pre-law. The  pre-professional plans outline courses that will better prepare you for entering grad school, medical school, law school, etc. These courses may or may not be required for your application to those schools. Your academic adviser can assist with any questions you have.

Check Out the Plans

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HOUSTON’S CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY…

#USTHouston | @StThomasHouston

Copyright © 2023 University of St. Thomas. All rights reserved.

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Awesome! Please select one of the options below: Apply Now, Schedule Visit, or Request Info.

My Alma Maters:  

• Bachelor of Science, Texas State University
• Master of Education, James Madison University  

My favorite thing about UST: Being located in the heart of Houston is perfect! Not only is the location great, but I love the faith-based values that the university has.

Contact: 346-362-0837 [email protected] Book an appointment with me! 

Recruitment Territories Transfer Students (San Jacinto College, Engineering, Traditional BSN & Veterans)

• Pre-Professional
• Scholarships
• Financial Aid

If you’re admitted to UST and get awarded a scholarship but it’s not as much as you were hoping for, you can retest up until enrollment to try and secure a larger amount.

If your GPA goes up after you send in your original transcript, you can always send an updated transcript so we can reevaluate and potentially award you a larger scholarship.

Some of the scholarships we offer:

University Merit Scholarships for New Freshmen

Amount: $9,000 - $18,000 per academic year

The amount awarded is based on:

• High school GPA
• SAT/ACT scores (combined math and critical reading)

You’re automatically eligible upon completing your application for admission. Awarding begins on November 1. That’s a big reason why we encourage you to apply early.

Eagle Scout Scholarship for New Freshmen

Amount: $1,000 per academic year

Eligibility:

• High school GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Minimum SAT score of 1,100 (combined math and critical reading) - or - ACT score of 24 or higher

Deadline: April 15

Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship for New Freshmen

• You are a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient

V.J. Guinan Presidential Scholarship

Amount: Full tuition

You are eligible for this scholarship if you are an incoming freshman Catholic student who:

• Excels academically
• Wants to uphold the Catholic mission of the University
• Wishes to strengthen your Catholic identity and faith

Your application and materials must be submitted by January 18, 2019.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

If you are applying for the FAFSA, use UST school code 003654.

TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid)

This is for students who are not U.S. citizens, but who are Texas residents. If you fall into this category, you may apply for certain types of state financial aid but not federal financial aid. en Español

• Jobs and Internships
• Resume Assistance
• Job Fairs and Networking

The board lists available opportunities both on-campus and off-campus.

It also allows you to:

• Access employer profiles
• Post your resume for employers
• Schedule on-campus interviews with employers

• resume and cover letter development
• job search strategy
• interviewing skills
• salary negotiation

• Career Fair (September; on-campus)
• Nonprofit Fair (February; on-campus)
• Texas Job Fair (April; off-campus)
• On-campus interviews (throughout semester)​

​We also host fall and spring networking events to help you learn about opportunities and trends.

• Dual Credit

UST will normally grant 3 credit hours of elective credit for each Advanced Placement (AP) exam score of 3 or higher. If your exam score is higher than 3 , you will receive credit for specific courses at UST.

If the specific course is a core requirement then you will receive credit towards the core curriculum.

You can't receive credit for both AP courses and equivalent UST courses.

For more information, contact:

Office of Academic Advising phone: 713-831-7227 email: [email protected]

If your IB exam score is greater than 4 , you may receive credit for specific courses or elective credit at UST.

You can't receive credit for both IB exams and equivalent UST courses.

We accept authentic IB transcripts throughout the year at this address:

University of St. Thomas – Admissions Office 3800 Montrose Houston, TX 77006

If your CLEP exam score is 50 or higher , you may receive credit for specific courses or elective credit at UST.

You can't receive credit for both CLEP exams and equivalent UST courses.

• Taken at a regionally-accredited institution
• Academic/college-level
• Grade of "C" or higher & UST has equivalent course
• You must provide official transcript(s) from each college/university

Office of Undergraduate Admissions phone: 713-525-3500 email: [email protected]

A few key stats:

• Average first-year salary after graduating: $52,914 *
• 80+% of pre-med students land med school interview
• 80% of pre-law students are accepted into law school
• 95+% of certified School of Education grads find education jobs &/or gain grad school acceptance

* For all UST graduates. Source: Texas Higher Ed Coordinating Board, 2011-16

Freshmen Student Transcripts

Options for submitting your official transcript:

*U.S. mail:

University of St. Thomas 3800 Montrose Blvd, Box #7 Houston, Texas 77006

*Electronically:

From your school

In-person at admissions office, in a sealed envelope:

4101 Yoakum Blvd.

* Please allow 7-10 business days for your transcript to be received.

3800 Montrose Blvd. Houston, TX 77006

Where is that Exactly?:

Between Richmond Avenue and West Alabama next to Houston’s museum district, with quick access to 5 major highways.

​9 min. to downtown Houston (2.4 miles)

8 min. to Texas Medical Center (2.2 miles)

Get Directions

These evaluation agencies can convert your international high school grades and/or international college credits to the American 4.0 grade point average (GPA) scale. They also can provide a translation into English, if necessary.

When requesting an evaluation, please apply for a “full evaluation,” also known as a “course-by-course evaluation” of your transcript, which includes GPA. UST Admissions highly recommends that evaluations be sent from an agency that is NACES approved. Please visit NACES.org/members to select your agency of choice. If you do not utilize a NACES approved agency, your official transcript (non-translated) will be required in addition to the credential evaluation.

World Education Services (WES) ( http://www.wes.org ) Bowling Green Station, P.O. Box 5087, New York, NY 10274-5087, Phone: (800) 937–3895

SpanTran Evaluation Services ( http://www.spantran.com/ust ) 2400 Augusta Dr., Suite 451, Houston, TX 77057, Phone: (713) 266–8805

This is not a comprehensive list. Please visit NACES.org/members in order to see the full listing.

International Freshmen Student Transcripts

From your school and evaluation agency

All applicants are eligible to select Test Optional for their First-Year application. Two things should be noted if you select Test Optional:

• You may have to provide an additional essay explaining why test scores are not reflective of your academic ability.
• An interview in person or over the phone with an admissions counselor may be requested of you before an admissions decision can be rendered.

My Alma Mater:  Baylor University 

My favorite thing about UST:  I would have to say it is the strong community that we have and campus location. I love going to the museums in the area!

Contact: 713-525-3191 [email protected] Book an appointment with me! - Amy Rose

Recruitment Population: Transfer Students (All territories excluding: San Jacinto College, Nursing, Engineering and Veterans)

My Alma Mater:  The University of St. Thomas 

My favorite thing about UST:   The community and individualized care the professors provide for the students. The opportunities that are given to the students give a sense of true mentorship and ability to succeed.

Contact: 713-525-3502 [email protected] Book an appointment with me! - Caroline Berrios

Recruitment Territories

• HS Area: HISD territory (see below), Sante Fe, Dickinson, Texas City, Hitchcock, Galveston, Galena Park, Deer Park, Pasadena, Channel View and La Porte
• Texas Geo Markets: TX-10, 11 (Major Cities: Brownsville and Corpus Christi)
• Out of State: MN, IA, MO, IL, WI, MI, IN, OH, KY
• International Students: R-Z (Alpha)

Austin High School, Furr High School, Jones Futures Academy, Liberty High School, Middle College at HCC Fraga, Worthing High School, Kashmere High School, Wheatley High School, Mickey Leland College Prep, Yates High School, Chavez High School, East Early College High School, High School for Law and Justice, Eastwood Academy High School, Milby High School, Sterling High School, and all Yes Prep Campuses.

*For all other HISD schools, please contact Melissa Collins as your UST Admissions Counselor.

My Alma Mater:  Assumption University (Worcester, MA)

My favorite thing about UST:  The community and its people. Everyone here is always willing to offer a helping hand and make sure you feel at home!

Contact: 713-525-3551 [email protected] Book an appointment with me!

• HS Area: Cleveland, Crosby, Dayton, Devers, Hardin, Huffman, Hull-Daisett, Humble. Liberty, New Caney, Sheldon, Splendora, Tarkington, Goose Creek, Barbers Hill, East Chambers, and Anahuac.
• Houston: Catholic High Schools – Cristo Rey Jesuit, St. Thomas HS, Saint John XXIII, Strake Jesuit, St. Agnes, Frassati, Incarnate Word, St. Pius X, O’Connell, Duchesne, etc.
• Texas Geo Markets: TX-05, 08, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 (Major Cities-Dallas and Fort Worth)
• Out of State: ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI, NY, PA, NJ, DE, MD, PA, WV, VA, NC, SC
• International Students: J-M (Alpha)

My Alma Mater:  The University of St. Thomas

My favorite thing about UST:  The location and diversity of our campus! We're literally in the heart of Houston! There are so many fun activities to do within walking distance of campus and tons of opportunities to interact with individuals of different backgrounds!

Contact: 713-525-3505 [email protected] Book an appointment with me!

• HS Area: Aldine, CyFair, Klein, Magnolia, Montgomery, Navasota, Spring, Tomball, Waller, and Conroe
• Texas Geo Markets: TX-01, 02, 03 (Major City-El Paso)
• Out of State: MT, ID, WY, UT, AZ, NM, CO, WY, ND, SD, NE, KS
• International Students: E-I (Alpha)

My favorite thing about UST:  I would have to say there are two things that I love. One would be the great friendships that I created as a student. The second would be the strong community that is present on campus. This university is definitely my home away from home!

Contact: 713-525-3568 [email protected] Book an appointment with me! - Justin Montenegro

• HS Area : Katy, Lamar Consolidated, Alief, Spring Branch, Fort Bend, Pearland, Alvin, Friendswood and Clear Creek.
• Texas Geo Markets: TX-04, 13, 14 (Major City-San Antonio)
• Out of State: WA, OR, NV, CA, AK, HI​
• International Support: A-D (Alpha)

My Alma Mater:  The University of Texas at San Antonio

My favorite thing about UST:  The close-knit community and campus location. You truly get that quality family experience but are also right in the middle of the downtown area. You get the best of both worlds!

Contact: 713-525-3563 [email protected] Book an appointment with me! - Nicholas Hernandez

My Alma Mater:  The University of Houston - Clear Lake 

My favorite thing about UST :  The location. It's so rare that you can find a small college with a close-knit community like UST, in the geographic center of the of 4th largest city in the country. Everything a world-renowned city like Houston can offer is right on our doorstep, but when it's time for a break UST feels just like home. 

Contact: 713-525-3817 [email protected] Book an appointment with me!   

Recruitment Population:   All students who are interested in our Accelerated BSN program.

M y Alma Mater: The University of St. Thomas

My favorite thing about UST: As an alumna of UST, I remember how faculty and staff gave personalized attention for my success. I love that the UST community still has a united desire for the success of all students. Students can explore the Museum District while at UST and our very own Labyrinth next to the Chapel of St. Basil.

Contact: [email protected]

M y Alma Maters: 

• Assoc. of Arts in Vocal Performance, College of the Mainland
• Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Classical and Jazz Performance, Texas Southern University
• Master in Sacred Music in Vocal Performance, University of Saint Thomas

My favorite thing about UST: The ability to include prayer with working with our students. In a world full of uncertainty, the beauty of our campus provides a valuable support system, one that I experienced when achieving my master's degree. The brilliant faculty and staff prepare students for success after graduating and that is a practical way to educate! 

Contact: [email protected]

My Alma Mater: Texas State University

My favorite thing about UST:  UST is a close-knit community with many opportunities to make friends, build connections, and grow as individuals. There is something for everyone and everyone is welcome. For example, there are many opportunities to connect with faculty, staff, and students on campus through university sponsored events! 

Contact: 346-362-0839 [email protected] Book an appointment with me! 

• HS Area: HISD territory (see below) 
• Texas Geo Markets:  TX-06, 07, 09, 12 (Major Cities: Austin and Beaumont) 
• Out of State:  OK, AR, LA, MS, TN, AL, GA, FL  
• International Support:  N-Q (Alpha) 

Austin High School, Bellaire High School, Booker T. Washington High School, Carnegie Vanguard High School, Challenge Early College High School, Debakey High School, Energized for STEM Academy, HCC Lifeskills, Heights High School, Houston Academy for International Studies, James Madison, Jane Long Academy, Kinder HSPVA, Lamar High School, North Houston Early College High School, Northside High School, Sam Houston MSTC, Scarborough High School, Sharpstown High School, Sharpstown International School, South Early College High School , Young Women’s College Preparatory, Texas Connections Academy, Waltrip High School, Westbury High School, Westside High School, & Wisdom High School.

*For all other HISD schools, please contact C aroline Battel   as your UST Admissions Counselor.

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How to Apply as a Freshman

• Uniform Admission Policy

Ready to submit that application to University of Houston-Clear Lake? We might be even more excited than you are about this next stage of your life. In order to ensure that you understand the steps for applying to UHCL, we've created this handy outline that clearly describes the admissions requirements and application process.

Coming to UHCL as a Freshman with transfer credit. See how your credit will transfer before applying to the university. Our  Transfer Credit Estimator  lets you see how your credits may apply toward your desired major. 

Start Your Estimate Now

1) Submit Your Application

Visit Apply Texas   to complete your online application to UHCL.

2) Pay the Application Fee

We require that you pay a non-refundable application fee of $45. You can pay online through Apply Texas   or through   E-Services   using your institution issued student ID.

3) Send Your Transcripts

Official Transcripts are required to complete your admissions application. Transcripts are considered official if received directly from the school or provided in sealed envelopes. Here's how to send your transcripts to UHCL:

1. Send Electronically: Ask your school administrator to send your transcript data electronically through an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) system, e.g. TRex (for Texas institutions). Preferred method for faster service.

2. Send using an eDoc Service: Can't send it electronically? That's okay! Ask your school administrator to send us a PDF version of your official transcript through Naviance, Speede, or any other secure eDoc service. If a service asks for a university email address please use: [email protected] . Preferred method.

3. Send by mail: If neither of these options are available, ask your school to mail your transcript to the address below. Please understand there may be some processing delays for mailed transcripts as the university only permits a small number of employees on campus and postal services may be delayed.

Office of Admissions University of Houston-Clear Lake 2700 Bay Area Blvd. Box 13 Houston, Texas 77058

4. Hand Deliver: You can also hand-deliver your transcript to the UHCL Office of Admissions in a sealed envelope to the above address. Please check university hours and status prior to coming to campus. 

4) Send Your Scores

• Your official SAT or ACT scores should be sent to the Office of Admissions directly from the testing agency. UHCL's SAT code is 6916. UHCL's ACT code is 4171.
• We also require your 11th grade TAKS or STARR test scores. Please request that your school send these test scores to UHCL along with your high school transcript.
• Any college coursework you have already completed should be sent along with your Application for Admission in order to assist in determining college readiness standards and enrollment course selection.

After you have submitted all the necessary material, we will begin processing your application. You can check on the status of your application process through E-Services .

UHCL Freshman Admissions Requirements

UHCL has approved a test-optional policy to waive the ACT/SAT requirements. This means freshmen are not required to submit an ACT/SAT score to receive an admission decision, but are encouraged to submit scores if they have them. Applicants will not be penalized for not submitting ACT/SAT scores.

First-time college students applying to attend UHCL must have attended a recognized public or private high school, meet the Texas Uniform Admission Policy and fulfill the standardized requirements below.

Regular Admission Criteria

Admission criteria is review by Class Rank and Calculated Unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Submitting a SAT or ACT for admission is optional. If you take or submit the SAT or ACT multiple times, the best score from a single testing date will be used to process your file.

If you received a GED, were home-schooled, attended a non-accredited high school or do not meet UHCL's automatic or assured admissions criteria, you will be considered for admission through our Individual Review Process.

If you are a Texas resident attending an out-of-state school, you may also qualify under this option. You must submit a residency petition to determine your residency status.

• Freshman Deadlines

Priority - July 15  Final - August 1 

Priority - November 1 Final - December 1 

Priority - March 1 Final (Summer Session I & II) - May 1 

Admission Types and Processes

• Assured Admission – Applicants who meet the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy and meet UHCL requirements are assured admission.
• Individual Review – A holistic approach by the senior admissions office staff that reviews the applicant’s academic credentials (high school curriculum, course type, grades in cores courses), experiences, attributes, as well as the value an applicant would contribute to progressing through the academic curriculum.
• Conditional Admission - is offered to applicants that don’t meet regular admission criteria. Applicants are considered for conditional admission through the individual review process. In order to be admitted to UHCL for the fall semester, Conditional Admits will need to attend the Summer Engagement Academy Program and successfully complete 6 credit hours with a C or above.
• Secondary Admission - the following programs have secondary admission requirements; Mechanical Engineering, BS and RN-BSN Nursing, BSN.

High School Courses

If you attended a Texas public high school, you must complete the Texas Recommended or Distinguished High School Plan .

• Required High School Coursework
• English Language Arts 4 Credits
• Mathematics 4 Credits
• Science 4 Credits
• Social Studies 4 Credits
• Foreign Language 2 Credits
• Physical Education 1 Credits
• Speech 0.5 Credits
• Fine Arts 1 Credit
• Elective Courses 5.5 Credits
• Total 26 Credits or more

Equivalency Policy for Private and Out-Of-State High Schools

Students who attended Texas private schools, home school or out-of-state schools must successfully complete a curriculum that is equivalent* in content and rigor to the recommended or distinguished high school program. Equivalencies must be documented by the students' high school using one of the Texas Private High School Certification forms below.

• If you graduated in 2011 or after
• If you graduated before 2011

* UHCL’s admission requirements are in compliance with Texas Education Code section 51.803 and are subject to change. The State Board of Education adopted changes to the high school graduation requirements in January 2012. The new requirements are effective beginning with students who enter grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year.   View the new graduation requirements

If you are denied admission following an individual review, you may request an appeal. You may be required to submit the following information:

• Admissions Appeal Form, available on the Office of Admissions' website in the forms section .
• A Personal Statement indicating reasons for your past academic performance and plans for future success.
• Two letters of recommendation which address your academic ability and readiness for college level work.
• Updated official high school transcript or test scores (as applicable).

Office of Admissions

Phone: 281-283-2500 Fax: 281-283-2522 Email: [email protected] SSCB 1.101 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Box 13 Houston, TX 77058-1002 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Related Links

• Undergraduate Recruitment Calendar
• Transfer Credit Estimator
• Costs and Aid
• Orientation

Transfer Admission

You can apply for transfer admission if:

• You have already started studying at another college or university after graduating from high school or earning a GED.
• You have or will have earned 24 semester hours of required transferable coursework at another college or university. The option to use coursework in progress is not available for spring semester applicants.

Transfer Credit Resources

Required Application Materials Deadline Extension: Summer/Fall 2024

The Common App and ApplyTexas summer/fall application is due March 1 (11:59 p.m. Central). Students may submit all additional application materials until Friday, March 8 (11:59 p.m. Central).

For questions, email [email protected] .

If you are a transfer student who is not a U.S. citizen and who is not a U.S. resident, please visit our International Transfer page.

If you are a current UT Austin student looking to transfer to a different major, please visit our Internal Transfer page.

Key Transfer Admission Dates

Summer/fall enrollment.

• ApplyTexas Application Opens Aug 1
• Common App Opens Sep 1
• Deadline to Apply March 1
• Admission Decisions Released Mid to Late June

Spring Enrollment

• ApplyTexas Application Opens March 1
• Deadline to Apply September 1
• Admission Decisions Released Mid-December

Required Application Materials

Application.

Transfer applicants can submit an application through ApplyTexas. They can also use the Common App .

Application Fee

Pay the non-refundable $75 application fee when you submit your application. Fee waivers are available. Request a fee waiver when you apply for admission or submit the Request for Fee Waiver form in MyStatus via the Document Upload System.

Along with your application, submit one essay. Applicants to the School of Architecture and Studio Art, Art Education and Art History must submit an additional essay. We recommend submitting your essay in the application. You may also submit the essay using the Document Upload System in MyStatus or by mailing them to the Office of Admissions.

Essays and Short Answers

College Transcripts and/or High School Transcripts

Send official transcripts documenting all coursework you have attempted at any college or university you attended. If you have attended more than one college or university, we’ll need a transcript from each school, even if the credits earned at one school were transferred to another. If you are applying for automatic transfer admission, submit your official high school transcript, as well. We cannot accept transcripts via email.

Transcript Info

Submit your resume offering additional information about your achievements using the Document Upload System in MyStatus. Your resume should include your previous five years of academic, extracurricular, community and work activities as well as honors and awards. You can also include high school accomplishments if they took place within the last five years.

If you submit a resume, you should include:

• Details about what each activity involved rather than a general description.
• The number of hours per week and weeks per year spent on each activity.

Review Optional and Additional Materials

Certain majors may require additional materials after you have submitted your application. You may also wish to submit additional materials to strengthen your application, such as letters of recommendation or an expanded resume.

Additional Materials

If applicable, the following materials may be required. All required items must be received by the appropriate deadline.

Major-Specific Items

Certain majors have required prerequisites for transfer applicants. These items can be found on each college and school on our Colleges & Degrees page. Please be sure to review the prerequisites for your first and second choice majors.

Colleges & Degrees

Letters of Recommendation

You can submit up to two letters of recommendation with your application or after you’ve submitted your application. These letters may be from mentors or people who know you well and can include teachers or school counselors, although we encourage you to provide letters from sources outside of your high school. The letter should be able to give additional context or information to support your admission that is not already provided in your application or other submitted documents (resume, transcripts). Letters of recommendation are not required but are encouraged.

Submitting Your Recommendations

We do not accept recommendations via email. Submit your recommendations via:

• MyStatus using the Document Upload System
• Parchment or Scoir

Residency Affidavit

You may qualify for residency if you aren’t a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident but have established Texas residency. Both the Common App and ApplyTexas applications will prompt those who indicate they meet these criteria to download the appropriate form. You can submit the affidavit to the address listed on the form.

Residency FAQs

Automatic Transfer Admission Form

Some transfer applicants are able to apply for automatic transfer admission. If you are eligible and would like to apply, complete the Automatic Transfer Admission form. More details about applicability and application instructions can be found on our Appeals page.

Automatic Transfer Admission form

Once you’ve submitted your application, you can track the status and submit additional documents in MyStatus. Be sure to regularly monitor MyStatus until your application is listed as complete and submit any to-do items prior to the deadlines.

Check MyStatus

You may be asked for additional information after you submit your application. Check MyStatus to stay up to date.

Complete the FAFSA/TASFA

Completing the FAFSA/TASFA before January 15 will maximize your eligibility for financial aid awards.

Complete Your Housing Application

You can apply for housing before you receive an admission decision. Housing is offered on a first come, first served basis. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

Check Your Email

We’ll alert you about your admission decision, financial aid awards, housing contract and other important details via email. Check your email regularly.

• Share full article

Opinion Guest Essay

This Is Peak College Admissions Insanity

Credit... Illustrations by Pete Gamlen

Supported by

By Daniel Currell

Mr. Currell, a lawyer and consultant, was deputy under secretary and senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Education from 2018 to 2021. He is a trustee of Gustavus Adolphus College.

• May 1, 2024

Selective college admissions have been a vortex of anxiety and stress for what seems like forever, inducing panic in more top high school seniors each year. But the 2023-2024 admissions season was not just an incremental increase in the frantic posturing and high-pressure guesswork that make this annual ritual seem like academic Hunger Games. This year was different. A number of factors — some widely discussed, some little noticed — combined to push the process into a new realm in which the old rules didn’t apply and even the gatekeepers seemed not to know what the new rules were.

It happened, as these things often do, first gradually and then all at once.

It started with a precipitous rise in the number of people clamoring to get in. The so-called Ivy-Plus schools — the eight members of the Ivy League plus M.I.T., Duke, Chicago and Stanford — collectively received about 175,000 applications in 2002. In 2022, the most recent year for which totals are available, they got more than 590,000, with only a few thousand more available spots.

The quality of the applicants has risen also. In 2002, the nation produced 134 perfect ACT scores ; in 2023 there were 2,542 . Over the same period, the United States — and beyond it, the world — welcomed a great many more families into the ranks of the wealthy, who are by far the most likely to attend an elite college. Something had to give.

The first cracks appeared around the rules that had long governed the process and kept it civilized, obligating colleges to operate on the same calendar and to give students time to consider all offers before committing. A legal challenge swept the rules away, freeing the most powerful schools to do pretty much whatever they wanted.

One clear result was a drastic escalation in the formerly niche admissions practice known as Early Decision.

Then Covid swept through, forcing colleges to let students apply without standardized test scores — which, as the university consultant Ben Kennedy says, “tripled the number of kids who said to themselves, ‘Hey, I’ve got a shot at admission there.’” More applications, more market power for the schools, and for the students, an ever smaller chance of getting in.

Last year the Supreme Court’s historic decision ending race-based affirmative action left colleges scrambling for new ways to preserve diversity, and students groping in the dark to figure out what schools wanted.

Finally, this year the whole financial aid system exploded into spectacular disarray. Now, a month after most schools sent out the final round of acceptances, many students still don’t have the information they need to determine if they can afford college. Some will delay attending, and some will forgo it entirely, an outcome that would have lasting implications for them and, down the line, for the economy as a whole.

These disparate changes had one crucial thing in common: Almost all of them strengthened the hand of highly selective colleges, allowing them to push applicants into more constricted choices with less information and less leverage. The result is that elite admissions offices, which have always tried to reduce the uncertainty in each new year’s decisions, are now using their market power to all but eliminate it. This means taking no chances in pursuit of a high “yield,” the status-bestowing percentage of admitted students who enroll. But low uncertainty for elite colleges means the opposite for applicants — especially if they can’t pay the full tuition rate.

Canh Oxelson , executive director of college counseling at the Horace Mann School in New York, says: “This is as much uncertainty as we’ve ever seen. Affirmative action, the FAFSA debacle, test-optionality — it has shown itself in this one particular year. Colleges want certainty, and they are getting more. Families want certainty and they are getting less.”

In 2024, the only applicants who could be certain of an advantage were those whose parents had taken the wise precaution of being rich.

The Early Bird Gets the Dorm

For Ivy Wydler, an elite college seemed like an obvious destination and many of her classmates at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. were headed along the same trajectory. After her sophomore year of high school, she took the ACT and got a perfect score — on her first try, a true rarity. Her grades were stellar. So she set her sights high, favoring “medium to big schools, and not too cold.”

Touring campuses, she was dazzled by how great and exciting it all seemed. Then she visited Duke, and something clicked. She applied in the binding early decision round.

It’s a consequential choice. Students can do so at only one college, and they have to promise to attend if accepted, before knowing what the school’s financial aid offer will be. That means there is at least a chance an applicant will be on the hook for the full cost, which at Duke is $86,886 for the 2024-25 year. Students couldn’t be legally compelled to attend if they couldn’t afford it, but by the time they got the news, they would have already had to withdraw their other applications.

If full tuition isn’t a deal killer, as it wouldn’t be for Ivy’s family, the rewards are considerable. This year, just over 54,000 high school seniors vied to be one of only 1,750 members of Duke’s incoming class. The 6,000 who applied in the early decision round were three times more likely to get in as the 48,000 who applied later.

Until recently, early decision was a narrow pathway — an outlier governed, like the rest of this annual academic mating season, by a set of mandatory practices laid out by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, which is made up of college admissions officers and high school counselors. Those rules said, for example, that colleges couldn’t recruit a student who was already committed to another school or actively encourage someone to transfer. Crucially, the rules said that colleges needed to give students until May 1 to decide among offers (noting early decision, which begins and ends in the fall, as a “recognized exception”).

The Justice Department thought those rules ran afoul of the Sherman Antitrust Act, which bars powerful industries from colluding to restrain competition. At the end of 2019, NACAC agreed to a settlement mandating that the organization “promptly abolish” several of the rules and downgrade the rest to voluntary guidelines. Now if they chose to, colleges had license to lure students with special offers or benefits, to aggressively poach students at other schools and to tear up the traditional admissions calendar.

At that point, nothing restrained colleges from going all in on early decision, a strategy that allows them to lock in students early without making any particular commitments about financial aid. Of the 735 first-year students that Middlebury College enrolled last year, for example, 516 were admitted via binding early decision. Some schools have a second round of early decision, and even what amounts to an unofficial third round — along with an array of other application pathways, each with its own terms and conditions.

With the rules now abandoned, colleges got a whole new bag of tricks. For example, a school might call — at any time in the process — with a one-time offer of admission if you can commit on the spot to attend and let go of all other prospects. Hesitate and it’s gone, along with your chances in subsequent rounds. “We hear about colleges that are putting pressure on high school seniors to send in a deposit sooner to get better courses or housing options,” says Sara Harberson, the founder of Application Nation, a college advising service.

To inform these maneuvers, colleges lean on consultants who analyze applicant demographics, qualifications, financial status and more using econometric models. High school seniors think this is checkers, but the schools know it’s chess. This has all become frankly terrifying for students, who are first-time players in a game their opponents invented.

Application season can be particularly intimidating for students who, unlike Ivy, did not grow up on the elite college conveyor belt. When Rania Khan, a senior in Gorton High School in Yonkers, was in middle school, she and her mother spent two years in a shelter near Times Square. Since then she and her younger brother have been in the foster system. Despite these challenges, she has been a superb student. In ninth grade, Rania got an internship at Google and joined a research team at Regeneron, a biotechnology company. She won a national award for her study of how sewage treatment chemicals affect river ecosystems. Looking at colleges, she saw that her scores and credentials matched with those of students at the very top schools in the country.

One of the schools she was most drawn to was Barnard. “I like that it’s both a small college and” — because it’s part of Columbia — “a big university. There are a lot of resources, and it’s a positive environment for women,” she said. And it would keep her close to her little brother.

Barnard now fills around 60 percent of its incoming class in the early decision round, giving those students a massive admissions advantage. It would have been an obvious option for Rania, but she can’t take any chances financially. She applied via the general decision pool, when instead of having a one in three chance, her odds were one in 20.

Officially, anyone can apply for early decision. In practice it’s priority boarding for first-class passengers.

Unstandardized Testing

When selective colleges suspended the requirement for standardized testing, it didn’t really seem like a choice; because of the pandemic, a great many students simply couldn’t take the tests. The implications, however, went far beyond mere plague-year logistics.

The SAT was rolled out in 1926 as an objective measure of students’ ability, absent the cultural biases that had so strongly informed college admissions to date. It’s been the subject of debate almost ever since. In 1980, Ralph Nader published a study alleging that the standardized testing regimen actually reinforced racial and gender bias and favored people who could afford expensive test prep. Many educators have come back around to regarding the tests as a good predictor of academic success, but the matter is far from settled.

Remarkably, students still take the exams in the same numbers as before the pandemic, but far fewer disclose what they got. Cindy Zarzuela, an adviser with the nonprofit Yonkers Partners in Education who works with Rania and about 90 other students, said all her students took the SAT this year. None of them sent their scores to colleges.

These days Cornell, for example, admits roughly 40 percent of its incoming class without a test score. At schools like the University of Wisconsin or the University of Connecticut , the percentage is even higher. In California, schools rarely accept scores at all, being in many cases not only test-optional, but “test-blind.”

The high water mark of test-optionality, however, was also its undoing.

Applicants tended to submit their scores only if they were above the school’s reported median, a pattern that causes that median to be recalibrated higher and higher each year. When Cornell went test-optional, its 25th percentile score on the math SAT jumped from 720 to 750. Then it went to 760. The ceiling is 800, so standardized tests had begun to morph from a system of gradients into a yes/no question: Did you get a perfect score? If not, don’t mention it.

The irony, however, was that in the search for a diverse student body, many elite colleges view strong-but-not-stellar test scores as proof that a student from an underprivileged background could do well despite lacking the advantages of the kids from big suburban high schools and fancy prep schools. Without those scores, it might be harder to make the case .

Multiply that across the board, and the result was that “test-optional” policies made admission to an elite school less likely for some diverse or disadvantaged applicants. Georgetown and M.I.T. were first to reinstate test score requirements, and so far this year Harvard, Yale, Brown, Caltech, Dartmouth and Cornell have announced that they will follow. There may be more to come.

The Power of No

On Dec. 14, Ivy got an answer from Duke: She was rejected.

She was in extremely good company. It’s been a while since top students could assume they’d get into top schools, but today, they get rejected more often than not. It even happens at places like Northeastern, a school now ranked 53rd in the nation by U.S. News & World Report — and not long ago, more than 100 slots lower than that — and which spends less per student on instruction than the Boston public schools .

“There’s no target school any more and no safety school,” says Stef Mauler , a private admissions coach in Texas. “You have to have a strategy for every school you apply to.”

Northeastern was one of the 18 other schools Ivy applied to, carefully sifting through various deadlines and conditions, mapping out her strategy. With Duke out of the way, her thoughts kept returning to one of them in particular: Dartmouth, her father’s alma mater. “My mom said, ‘Ivy, you love New Hampshire. Look at Dartmouth.’ She was right.” She had wanted to go someplace warm, but the idea of cold weather seemed to be bothering her less and less.

Meanwhile Rania watched as early decision day came and went, and thousands of high school seniors across the country got the best news of their lives. For Rania, it was just another Friday.

A Free Market in Financial Aid

In 2003, a consortium of about 20 elite colleges agreed to follow a shared formula for financial aid, to ensure that they were competing for students on the merits, not on mere dollars and cents. It sounds civilized, but pricing agreements are generally illegal for commercial ventures. (Imagine if car companies agreed not to underbid each other.) The colleges believed they were exempt from that prohibition, however, because they practiced “ need-blind ” admissions, meaning they don’t discriminate based on a student’s ability to pay.

In 2022, nine current and former students from an array of prestigious colleges filed a class action antitrust lawsuit — later backed by the Justice Department — arguing that the consortium’s gentlemanly agreement was depriving applicants of the benefits of a free market. And to defang the defense, they produced a brilliant argument: No, these wealthy colleges didn’t discriminate against students who were poor, but they sure did discriminate in favor of students who were rich. They favored the children of alumni and devoted whole development offices to luring the kinds of ultra-rich families that affix their names to shiny new buildings. It worked: early this year, Brown, Columbia, Duke, Emory and Yale joined the University of Chicago in conceding , and paying out a nine-figure settlement. (They deny any wrongdoing.) Several other schools are playing on, but the consortium and its rules have evaporated.

This set schools free to undercut one another on price in order to get their preferred students. It also gave the schools a further incentive to push for early decision, when students don’t have the ability to compare offers.

For almost anyone seeking financial aid, from the most sought-after first round pick to the kid who just slid under the wire, the first step remained the same: They had to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, or FAFSA.

As anyone knows who’s been through it — or looked into the glassy eyes of someone else who has — applying for financial aid can be torture at the best of times. This year was the worst of times, because FAFSA was broken. The form, used by the government to determine who qualifies for federal grants or student loans, and by many colleges to determine their in-house financial aid, had gotten a much-needed overhaul. But the new version didn’t work , causing endless frustration for many families, and convincing many others not even to bother. At mid-April, finished FAFSA applications were down 29 percent compared to last year.

“The FAFSA catastrophe is bigger than people realize,” says Casey Sacks , a former U.S. Department of Education official, now President of BridgeValley Community and Technical College in West Virginia, where 70 percent of students receive federal funds.

Abigail Garcia , Rania’s classmate and the 2024 valedictorian of their school, applied to in-state public colleges as well as Ivies. She couldn’t complete the FAFSA, however, because it rejected her parents’ information, the most common glitch. She has financial aid offers from elite schools, all of which use a private alternative to the government form, but she can’t weigh them against the public institutions, because they are so severely delayed.

For most students, 2024’s FAFSA crisis looks set to take the uncertainty that began last fall and drag it into the summer or beyond. “That’s going to reduce the work force in two to four years.” Ms. Sacks says. “FAFSA completions are a pretty good leading indicator of how many people will be able to start doing the kinds of jobs that are in highest demand — registered nurses, manufacturing engineers, those kinds of jobs.”

As the FAFSA problem rolls on, it could be that for the system as a whole, the worst is still to come.

Can Any of This Be Fixed?

On the numbers, elite college applicants’ problems are a footnote to the story of college access. The Ivy-Plus schools enroll less than 1 percent of America’s roughly 15 million undergraduates . If you expand the pool to include all colleges that are selective enough to accept less than a quarter of applicants, we’re still talking about only 6 percent of undergraduates. The easiest way to alleviate the traffic jam at the top is to shift our cultural focus toward the hundreds of schools that offer an excellent education but are not luxury brands.

Luxury-brand schools, however, have real power. In 2023, 15 of 32 Rhodes scholars came from the Ivies, nine from Harvard alone. Twenty of this year’s 38 Supreme Court clerks came from Harvard or Yale. If elite colleges’ selection process is broken, what should we do to fix it?

Here’s what we can’t do: let them go off and agree on their own solution. Antitrust law exists to prevent dominant players from setting their own rules to the detriment of consumers and competitors.

Here’s what we won’t do: legislate national rules that govern admissions. Our systems are decentralized and it would take a miracle for Congress not to make things worse.

But here’s what we can do: Hold the schools accountable for their processes and their decisions.

Institutions that receive federal funds — which includes all elite colleges — should be required to clearly state their admissions criteria. Admissions as currently practiced is designed to let schools whose budgets run on billions of taxpayers dollars do whatever they want. Consider Stanford’s guidance to applicants: “In a holistic review, we seek to understand how you, as a whole person, would grow, contribute and thrive at Stanford, and how Stanford would, in turn, be changed by you.” This perfectly encapsulates the current system, because it is meaningless.

Colleges should also not be allowed to make anyone decide whether to attend without knowing what it will actually cost, and they should not be allowed to offer better odds to those who forgo that information. They should not offer admissions pathways tilted to favor the rich, any more than they should offer pathways favoring people who are white.

It just shouldn’t be this hard. Really.

The Envelope Please …

Ivy has the highest academic qualifications available inside the conventional system, and her family can pay full tuition. Once upon a time, she would have had her pick of top colleges. Not this year.

Over the course of the whole crazy admissions season, the school she had come to care about most was Dartmouth.

Along with the other seven Ivies, Dartmouth released this year’s admissions decisions online on March 28, at 7 p.m. Eastern. Ivy was traveling that day, and as the moment approached, she said, “I was on the bed in my hotel room, just repeating, ‘People love me for who I am, not what I do. People love me for who I am, not what I do.’”

She was rejected by Duke, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Columbia and the University of Southern California, where Varsity Blues shenanigans could once guarantee acceptance but, as Ivy discovered, a perfect score on the ACT will not. She landed on the wait list at Northeastern. She was accepted by Michigan and Johns Hopkins. And Ivy was accepted at both her parents’ alma maters: the University of Virginia and Dartmouth, where she will start in September.

For Rania, the star student with an extraordinary story of personal resilience, the news was not so good. At Barnard, she was remanded to the wait list. Last year only 4 percent of students in that position were eventually let in. The same thing happened at N.Y.U. and at the City University of New York’s medical college.

A spot on a wait list tells applicants that they were good enough to get in. By the time Rania applied to these schools, there just wasn’t any room. “It was definitely a shock,” she said. “What was I missing? They just ran out of space — there are so many people trying to get into these places. It took two weeks to adjust to it.”

She did get lots of other good news, a sheaf of acceptances from schools like Fordham and the University at Albany. But then came the hardest question of all: How to pay for them? Some offered her a financial aid package that would leave her on the hook for more money than undergraduates are allowed to take out in federal student loans. Even now, some colleges haven’t been able to provide her with financial aid information at all.

Rania had all but settled on Hunter College, part of the City University system. It’s an excellent school, but a world away from the elite colleges she was thinking about when she started her search. Then at almost the last moment, Wesleyan came through with a full ride and even threw in some extra for expenses. Rania accepted, gratefully.

For Rania, the whole painful roller coaster of a year was over. For so many other high school seniors, the year of broken college admissions continues.

Daniel Currell, a lawyer and consultant, was deputy under secretary and senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Education from 2018 to 2021. He is a trustee of Gustavus Adolphus College.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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UTA receives significant gift for Athletics Department

Wednesday, May 01, 2024 • Neph Rivera : contact

Alumnus Raymond Matthews ('68 BS, Political Science) has pledged a significant investment in support of The University of Texas at Arlington’s Athletics Department.

Matthews’ transformative gift is the largest unrestricted contribution ever received by UTA Athletics, marking a meaningful milestone in the University's pursuit of excellence in intercollegiate athletics.

“I am eternally grateful to UTA Athletics for providing me a great education, enduring friendships and the discipline to be successful in life,” Matthews said.

Matthews, fondly known as "Wings," holds a special place in UTA Athletics’ history. Arriving on campus in 1964, he established himself as a talented football student-athlete, earning recognition as team MVP in both 1965 and 1966. Matthews’ exceptional skills on the field also led to his selection to the preseason All-American Team in 1967. Following graduation, he returned to his hometown of Houston, where he pursued a distinguished career in law, working more than three decades as a successful corporate lawyer before retiring at the age of 59.

Matthews’ generous gift is a testament to his unwavering commitment to supporting the next generation of Mavericks by ensuring they have the resources and opportunities to excel both athletically and academically.

“We are immensely grateful to Raymond Matthews for his extraordinary generosity and dedication to UTA Athletics," said Jon Fagg, UTA athletics director. "This milestone gift will have a lasting impact on our student-athletes, coaches and entire Athletics Department."

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Essay contest: nappert prize in international arbitration 2024.

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Thanks to the generosity of Sophie Nappert (BCL’86, LLB’86), the Nappert Prize in International Arbitration is celebrating 10 years since its inauguration in 2014. The prize will be awarded by McGill University for the sixth time in 2024.

Eligibility Requirements:

The competition is open to law students, junior scholars and junior practitioners from around the world. To be eligible for the prize, the authors must:

• be either currently enrolled in a B.C.L, LL.B., J.D., LL.M., D.C.L., or Ph.D. program (or their local equivalents), or
• have taken their most recent law degree within the last three years; or
• have been admitted to the practice of law for no more than three years.

Co-authored submissions are permissible, but each author must meet the eligibility criteria. (Kindly note that only one author will be flown to Montreal for the symposium.)

Previous winners of the Nappert Prize (2020 and 2022) are not eligible to submit their essays for this edition.

• First place: CAN $4,000
• Second place: CAN $2,000
• Third place: CAN $1,000

Winners of all three awards will be required to present their essays at a symposium to be held at McGill University’s Faculty of Law in Autumn 2024 (the expenses of the winners for attending the symposium will be covered).

The best oralist will receive an award of CAN $1,000.

The precise date of the symposium will be announced in the coming months.

Deadline and Submission Mode:

All essays must be submitted by 30 th April 2024 11:59PM Eastern Time. Essays can be submitted using this form .

Submission Requirements:

Essays for the prize can be submitted in English, French or Spanish.

Please make sure that your essay:

• must relate to commercial or investment arbitration;
• must be unpublished (not yet submitted for publication) as of April 30 th ;
• must be a maximum of 15,000 words (including footnotes);
• must be formatted to Times New Roman Size 12 with 1.5 line spacing.
• should use OSCOLA or any other well-established legal citation guide (e.g. McGill Red Book; Bluebook);
• should be in MS Word format;
• should not contain your name or other information about your identity.

Submitted essays should not contain any text generated through advanced automated tools (artificial intelligence or machine learning tools such as ChatGPT), unless specifically required because of the subject matter of the essay and cited as mentioned below. Use of AI-generated text will be considered plagiarism, and any essay containing such text will be disqualified.

If the subject matter of the essay necessitates it, any AI-generated text in the submission should be properly cited. For example, text generated using ChatGPT-3 should include a citation such as:

Chat-GPT-3. (YYYY, Month DD of query). “Text of your query.” Generated using OpenAI. https://chat.openai.com/

Material generated using other tools should follow a similar citation format.

Jurors for the 2024 will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

For more information, kindly email Ms. Tanya Oberoi at nappertprize.law [at] mcgill.ca .

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