The University of Texas at Austin (UT) is a public research university in Austin, TX. It’s got one of the best undergrad business schools, and because of its proximity to a growing tech scene, a pretty good comp sci program, too. UT is highly ranked in tons of majors, and students who are drawn to UT love the culture, the vibe, and the location. If you’re here, we bet your parents went to UT, and you want to head to Austin too.
UT Austin (and all UT’s) haven’t utilized legacy admissions since the mid-90s, but that doesn’t mean being a legacy hurts you. Generations of families have been Longhorns before, and you can too – so let’s talk about what you need to do to have the strongest application possible.
What’s up with Legacy Admissions?
After the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, legacy admissions have come under a lot of scrutiny – but at UT, it’s not a factor. The state of Texas actually banned “affirmative action” for public universities back in the 90s, and legacy admission was folded into that. UT also has auto-admission for public school students in the top 6% of their graduating class (it was 10% prior to 2018, but the second-most populated state has a lot of kids in public school, as you can imagine), and in a lot of ways, that can work in your favor as a legacy.
Here’s what UT has to say about legacy:
“Does UT-Austin consider legacy status for children of alumni?
No. That is against state law.
Managing the admissions process at the public flagship University of Texas is a tremendous responsibility. Each day, I witness the transformative educational experience here on campus, and this institution’s ability to unlock student potential. My focus is to ensure we meet our public obligation to all Texans by recruiting and admitting talented students from across the state in accordance with the law and in meeting the high standards we have set.”
Well, you might be thinking you’re out of luck, but you’re not. Because legacy isn’t a factor, you need to be one of those “talented students” they’re talking about. Let’s get into it.
What Can You Do?
A lot of families think UT Austin should be a safety school for their kids – and if you attend a public school in Texas and are in the top 6% of your class, then yes, it’s a safety for you. But if that doesn’t apply to you, it’s almost certainly not. If you are out of state, interested in their top business, communications, or various honors programs, or attend private school, UT is very competitive. It’s considered an extremely top-tier public university and is often grouped with other “public Ivies” like Berkeley, UCLA, Michigan, UNC, and UVA.
Now, let’s talk about what you can do to stand out as a legacy without that legacy boost.
Grades
Each year, we work with the children of Longhorns who want to follow in their parents’ footsteps, and most of them have near-perfect GPAs. That’s not shocking – a lot of legacy students come from environments with access to top-tier schools, academic coaching, and well-connected extracurricular opportunities. If you want to stand out in this crowd, the formula is simple: take the most challenging classes your school offers and aim for straight As. If you’re at public school, that’s an easy way to auto-admission, and if you’re not, that’s the baseline.
Scores
Starting in fall of 2025, applicants to UT must submit a test score. A lot of colleges have brought this back recently, but we’re surprised to see a public university like UT follow in the footsteps of Ivies on this one.
UT is pretty coy with their testing stats, and they have been for a while – but we can tell you from experience that you need to have a 1500+ or 34+ to be a competitive applicant – higher, even, if you’re out of state or shooting for their more competitive programs and schools, like McCombs.
Extracurriculars
Look, being in a few clubs or leading your soccer team to the state champs is not enough. If you claim you're passionate about government or public policy but haven’t volunteered on a campaign, attended a leadership program, or done anything hands-on, your application won’t make much of an impact. The same goes for any major – communications, engineering, business, biology – you’ve got to show, not just tell. That’s why we work with UT legacy hopefuls as early as freshman year, helping them build a track record of real engagement that supports their story.
Apply Early
If UT Austin is your top choice – especially as a legacy – applying early is a smart strategic move. While UT doesn’t offer Early Decision, applying through the priority deadline sends a clear message: you’re serious. In such a competitive admissions landscape, showing strong interest matters. Submitting early, with a polished, intentional application, helps reinforce that commitment and puts you in the best possible position from the start.
If you’re a UT Austin legacy and seriously aiming to get in, your application needs to be bulletproof. That means perfect grades, solid test scores, and activities that show real drive and direction. Your goal? Leave no doubt in the admissions office’s mind that you’re ready to be a Longhorn.
If you need help crafting an application that helps you stand out among the crowd, reach out to us today. We can help.