essay questions for ut austin

Essays & Short Answers

Summer/Fall 2025 Essay

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Please keep your essay between 500–650 words (typically two to three paragraphs).

The Common App personal essay will complete the UT Austin essay requirement.

Spring 2025 Essays

All freshman Spring 2025 applicants must submit Topic A in ApplyTexas.

Please keep your essay between 500–700 words (typically two to three paragraphs).

Spring 2025 Essay Topic

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

Submitting Your Essay

You can submit your essays:

• In conjunction with your application.
• Using the Document Upload System in MyStatus.

*Students do not need to submit other Common App essays. We’ll only review what is required.

Short Answers

Submit the required short answers to prompts in your admission application. Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250–300 words per prompt, typically the length of one paragraph.

Summer/Fall 2025 Prompts

• Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?
• Think of all the activities — both in and outside of school — that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why? ( Guidance for student s: This can include an extracurricular activity, a club/organization, volunteer activity, work or a family responsibility.)

Optional Short Answer

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.

Spring 2025 Prompts

• Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.
• The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate.

Submitting Your Short Answers

You can submit your short answers with either your Common App or Apply Texas application. Short answer responses must be completed in order to submit your application.

Transfer applicants must submit one essay responding to Topic A. Applicants to the School of Architecture are required to upload Topic D in addition to Topic A. 

Essay Topics

Topic a (required).

The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application. You may also want to explain unique aspects of your academic background or valued experiences you may have had that relate to your academic discipline. The statement of purpose is not meant to be a listing of accomplishments in high school/college or a record of your participation in school-related activities. Rather, this is your opportunity to address the admission committee directly and to let us know more about you as an individual, in a manner that your transcripts and the other application information cannot convey.

Topic D (School of Architecture majors only)

Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study, describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?

Submitting Your Essay(s)

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

UT Austin Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts and Advice

June 26, 2024

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the top public universities in the United States, and its ultra-elite business, engineering, and computer science programs attract brilliant teen minds from all over the world. It’s no wonder that close to 73,000 students applied for a chance to join the Longhorn Class of 2028. This enthusiasm has caused the annual acceptance rate to drop significantly. Thanks to a state policy that guarantees admission to Texas high schoolers who finish in the top 6% of their class, close to 90% of UT Austin’s 40,000+ undergraduate students placed in the top decile of their high school cohort. Additionally, the mean SAT for entering freshmen is over 1400. That brings us to the immense importance of the UT Austin supplemental essay prompts.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into UT Austin? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into UT Austin: Admissions Data and Strategies for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

In a rare move, UT Austin reduced the number of supplemental essays that students need to write for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. However, the UT Austin supplemental section still affords applicants an excellent opportunity to showcase what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below are the University of Texas at Austin’s three supplemental prompts for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with advice on how to address each one.

UT Austin Supplemental Essay — 2024-25

1. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (500-650 words)

It doesn’t get more open-ended prompt than “topic of your choice.” Feel free to take this in whatever direction produces the most compelling and personal essay you can compose. What do you want the admissions office to know that they couldn’t possibly glean from anywhere else in your application? Don’t be afraid to share your struggles just as freely as your triumphs. An emotionally honest essay that showcases your unique personality is the desired product here.

One additional tip from an essay writing efficiency standpoint…if you are applying to a number of schools through the Common and/or Coalition App, you can “recycle” your Common App essay here (or vice versa).

UT Austin Short Answer Prompts — 2024-25

Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250–300 words per prompt, typically the length of one paragraph.

1. Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?

Share your authentic story of why you are interested in a particular discipline. For example, what books have you read on the subject? What documentaries have you watched? Which podcasts have you listened to? What subtopics most intrigue you? Did a teacher excite you about a topic or was it a parent or outside mentor? Do you know where you want to take this knowledge post-bachelor’s degree? Do you aim to one day go on to pursue a graduate/professional degree or is there an occupation you are shooting for right out of undergrad? Include as much detail as possible.

You can structure the narrative of this essay as a soup-to-nuts chronicling of your entire journey toward your discipline of interest or you could share one or two vignettes that illustrate your burgeoning passion for engineering, history, French, computer science, business, psychology, etc.

UT Austin Essay Prompts (Continued)

 2. Think of all the activities — both in and outside of school — that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why? (Guidance for students: This can include an extracurricular activity, a club/organization, volunteer activity, work, or a family responsibility.)

Perhaps you are the captain of a team, the editor-in-chief of your school paper, or the president of a club. On the other hand, you may simply be a valuable contributing member. Regardless of whether you are a leading man/woman or a still-essential bit player, make sure that you use your writing ability to show the admissions officer what type of involved team member you are and why you are proud of your contributions.

You can also discuss how you have engaged with your high school local/community. Share what you have learned from interacting with people of a different ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual identity, etc. Draw on past evidence of your commitment to being a positive force in the context of your activity/activities. Finally, you can draw a link between your past efforts and future aims by researching and citing UT Austin organizations or initiatives. The admissions committee wants to understand precisely how you will contribute to their campus community.

Optional Short Answer

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.

This section functions similarly to the Additional Information section of the Common App . Feel free to use this space if you encountered any hardships that impacted your academic performance. This could be anything from dealing with a divorce to challenges faced from a learning disability.

However, this prompt is truly optional and you should only take advantage of the space if you need it. If your high school performance has not been majorly impacted by special circumstances or events, you do not need to write this essay.

How important are the essays at UT Austin?

In essence, UT Austin’s admission staff “uses an individualized, holistic review process to consider each completed freshman application. Applications from students who qualify for automatic admission are reviewed to determine admission to specific colleges, schools, and majors. Applications from students who are not eligible for automatic admission are reviewed to determine admissibility and to make decisions about admission to specific colleges, schools, and majors.”

The following items are considered during the holistic review:

• Strength of academic background
• Test scores
• Record of achievements, honors, and awards
• Special accomplishments, work, and service both in and out of school
• Special circumstances that put the applicant’s academic achievements into context, including his or her socioeconomic status, experience in a single-parent home, family responsibilities, experience overcoming adversity, cultural background, race and ethnicity, the language spoken in the applicant’s home, and other information in the applicant’s file
• Recommendations (although not required)
• Competitiveness of the major to which the student applies

UT Austin Essay Prompts – Want Personalized Assistance?

To conclude, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your UT Austin supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

Need more writing-related resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

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How to Write the UT Austin Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is known as a trailblazing research institution ranked in the top ten of U.S. public universities. In addition, UT Austin’s vibrant student life and impressive athletics attract over 70,000 applicants . UT Austin can also count accomplished individuals like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Durant, and Stacey Abrams among their alumni. Hoping to join their ranks? You’ll need to nail your UT Austin supplemental essays. Let’s dive in.

UT Austin’s Spring 2024-2025 Prompts

Ut austin long essay question, tell us your story. what unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today (500–700 words), ut austin short essay questions.

Each of the following prompts has a maximum length of 300 words.

• Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?
• Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.
• The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate.

UT Austin Optional Short Essay Question

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance. (300 words or fewer).

General Tips

Your story is yours . In other words, these essays will benefit from your personal touch. Bring your own unique experiences, personality, and identities to the page. If you’re vulnerable without specificity, it’s hard to make heads or tails of your story. But if you share the concrete details underpinning your experiences, your UT Austin supplemental essays will leave a lasting mark upon the reader.

What does this look like in practice? Here are a few ways you can make your essays more personal and vivid:

• Focus on the details. Without sharing the concrete details of your experience and the specifics of your worldview and experiences, your story could sound like anyone else’s. Therefore, try to write an essay that could only be written by you. Being specific will make the difference between a general experience that many people have had and a personal story that is special to you. Even if you feel like you’ve lived a boring life, your story is still not the same as anyone else’s.
• Outline, outline, outline. An organized essay is easy to read and easy to follow. If your reader is puzzling over how your points connect and your plot comes together, then they won’t remember all the details you included (as mentioned in the point above, these are crucial to the success of your essay).
• Pretend you’re talking to a friend. If you’re having trouble writing a vulnerable, personal, or even humorous essay, then perhaps try brainstorming out loud or imagine you’re writing the essay as a letter to a friend. This exercise will force you to tell the story naturally, without any of the usual essay-writing inhibitions. Although this version of the essay may not be submission-ready, it’s a draft that can be revised until it’s something you’re proud of.

This essay prompt is akin to a Common App personal essay question. In this longer essay, you’re expected to share your academic journey, with a focus on your high school experience. If you had an untraditional high school experience, this might be a great place to write about it. If not, you’ve likely had some very formative experiences that have made you who you are today. This essay is your opportunity to share your story so that the admissions team sees who you are as a whole person.

The prompt specifically mentions “unique opportunities or challenges.” Therefore, these are the types of topics you should focus your essay on. If you’re stuck on what to write about, try to list five unique opportunities you’ve had while in high school, and five unique challenges. These opportunities and challenges should be distinctive: most of your peers haven’t had these opportunities or challenges, or your experience of them was somehow particular to you.

Once you’ve got your list, consider if you can pair one opportunity with one challenge in your essay. Perhaps you faced an obstacle in your life that you managed to turn into an opportunity by learning and growing from the experience. If so, this would make for an optimistic and even inspiring essay. Alternatively, maybe life presented you with an opportunity that ended up backfiring and causing more challenges in your life. Whatever direction you take this story, be sure to focus on the ways you’ve grown, learned, and developed resilience.

Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? (300 words or fewer)

This is a relatively straightforward prompt, but it’s important that you provide a compelling answer. Consider the following questions:

• Have you been interested in this subject since childhood?
• Are you seeking a career that is linked to this major?
• Does this degree provide you with a jumping-off point for graduate school?
• Are you an activist seeking to enact change by learning more about the subject of your activism?
• Are you a natural creative looking to further your creative endeavors?

You can also zero in on the opportunities UT Austin uniquely provides to students in your prospective major. In other words, add on why you’d like to pursue this particular major at UT Austin . How would pursuing this major at UT Austin bring you closer to your goals?

In sum, try to list at least five reasons to pursue this particular major. Then, focus on providing detailed explanations of your reasons in your essay response.

Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT. (300 words or fewer)

This prompt often trips students up because they focus on past experiences while neglecting future experiences. This essay requires a balance between past, present, and future leadership activities. In other words, be sure to write descriptively and clearly about your past leadership roles and experiences. Feel free to consider leadership roles you’ve had in a variety of contexts. Then, describe how you currently act as a leader in certain contexts. Finally, comment on how these past or present experiences influence the way you’d like to be a leader in the future, specifically while at UT Austin.

When describing your future intended impact at UT Austin, though, you need not limit yourself to discussing leadership roles you hope to fill. The prompt only asks how your past and present experiences in leadership activities will influence your future impact on the UT Austin community. Be specific in this response. How will you interact with teammates, classmates, roommates, and others you meet on campus? Lastly, remember to maintain humility. While telling the reader about times when you have served as a leader and how you intend to serve the UT Austin community in the future, stay modest.

The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate. (300 words or fewer)

This is perhaps the most challenging of the UT Austin supplemental essays. This is because it requires you to not only envision your future at UT Austin, but also your future beyond graduation from UT Austin. In addition, you may want to research the origins of UT Austin’s “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society” motto. Understanding the university’s mission may help you see how your ambitions fit in to the UT Austin community, goals, and context.

You may want to try beginning your writing process by brainstorming the ways you hope to change the world after you graduate from college. Then, work backward to understand the steps you’d need to take at UT Austin so you’re ready to pursue your goals upon graduation. Alternatively, you can first focus on what you’d like to do at UT Austin and then explore the possibilities enabled by that education.

This prompt is optional for students to respond to, as there may be no “events or special circumstances… [that] have impacted your high school academic performance.” If you don’t relate to this prompt, you should feel no pressure or expectation to respond to it.

That said, if there are some lower grades, interrupted semesters, school transfers, transcript discrepancies, or the like in your history, UT Austin won’t hold these against you. That said, you’ll first need to explain why those discrepancies or other special circumstances came to be in your academic history. Here’s your opportunity to do so.

The key in this essay is to be specific and to-the-point. Don’t try to downplay situations or avoid providing proper context. The UT Austin admissions officers are experienced application reviewers able to identify any lies or obfuscations, so honesty is the best policy. You’re a high school student, and you’re human. If you share the proper context for your academic history, the admissions team will understand.

If you need help polishing up your UT Austin supplemental essay, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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Students Also Read

How to Answer The UT Austin Honors Essays

• Sasha Chada
• November 12, 2021

Table of Contents

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UT Austin offers a number of prestigious honors programs, which many students eagerly want to get into. We give an overview of these programs in another article , so in this one, we’ll focus on how you can get into these programs. Because honors programs are so competitive, they require more than the standard application materials.

UT Austin’s honors programs require separate essays, on top of the ones the school asks for from all applicants. In this article, we’ll give you examples of these essays from past Ivy Scholars students, and discuss how you should go about answering these essay questions.

Plan II Honors

The Plan II Honors Program is UT Austin’s honors college. They require a separate personal statement and a short response. Both of these are meant to get to know you better and to see how you would fit into their program.

Personal Statement

The Plan II PERSONAL STATEMENT: What do you see as the largest problem facing society today? What do you see as the negative effects of this problem and how would an interdisciplinary education in Plan II Honors give you tools to begin to solve this challenge to the greater good? (250 words)

Our country takes pride in the unbiased, democratic principles it was founded upon; in order to prosper in this nation, one must only work hard and strive for success. This founding principle has fallen to the wayside in the midst of career politician melodrama and unethical business practices.

Economic power rests in the hands of an elite few. Since the explosion of big business in the early 1900s, the government has passed antitrust laws to limit the power of corporations, but these companies quickly found loopholes that enabled them to amass exorbitant amounts of capital. Just how much action the government can take without obstructing the very freedom it seeks to preserve, however, remains an open question.

The best way to answer this question is through “multispection” (seeing from many angles). While government interference is clearly needed to curb the growing inequality gap, discovering the right approach requires extensive knowledge in a variety of fields. Modern politicians, however, regularly tout a single-minded, overly simplistic approach that favors temporary economic boosts and the associated bump in approval ratings.

The current state of the world is living proof of the need for interdisciplinary action. A just and equal world requires our leaders to engage not only with economics and political science, but with philosophy, history, psychology, government, and untold other subjects. Plan II will enable me to make cross-disciplinary connections that transcend the confines of a single perspective, preparing me to be one of the well-rounded leaders the world so desperately needs.

Personal Statement Analysis

UT Austin as a whole wants smart and capable students who will contribute to the campus community. The honors program wants students who go the extra mile, those who excel academically, and want to use their knowledge and capabilities to contribute to the world as a whole.

This question has three parts. The first is naming the problem and explaining how it negatively impacts the world. Naming the problem is the easy part, but any explanation should be based on sound reasoning and evidence. There are many contenders for the world’s biggest problem; you don’t get points for picking the “right” one, but for clearly and logically explaining your choice.

The final part of the question asks how the Plan II program specifically will give you the tools to confront this problem. Here, you may want to consider what your stated major of interest is, and how someone studying that topic may combat the problem in question. Some major and problem pairs are more difficult to write about than others. Again though, the logic and skill of argumentation you use are the most important part.

The essay above does a good job explaining why the issue they chose is dire, how it is affecting the world, and why plan II specifically will help them combat it. Notice that the essay does not dive deeply into specific classes or programs, but instead focuses on the philosophy of the honors program in their answer.

You should do the same in your response. The specific classes you will take should be discussed in your why major essay. The honors program offers benefits besides advanced courses, and it is these that you should focus on. The philosophy and spirit of the program are good to include but are not necessary for your own essay. You should discuss whichever offering of the program will help you most on your own quest to better the world.

Short Responses

Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1 – 5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests, and your experiences. There are no right answers–feel free to be creative and think outside the box.

I have this recurring dream where I’m with Harry Styles in the woods playing Candy Crush, and after having the dream five times, I took it as a sign and got my nails painted blue and pink to match his.

I’m totally baffled by the fact that Socrates was allowed to preach his teachings for decades without objection only to be put on trial a few years before his natural death.

At home, my dad (who is a professor and teaches in English) pretends he doesn’t speak English, so my brother and I have been forced to be fluent in Hindi.

While I’ve had Tik Tok videos go viral and won Homecoming Queen this year, I secretly love math and compulsively do 1st-grade level multiplication and division worksheets when I’m stressed out.

My favorite show is Glee, not only because the music is poppin’, but because it reminds me of sitting on the couch with my mom eating Cherry Garcia ice cream as a sassy tween.

Short Responses Analysis

This question has much in common with the ones asked by institutions such as Harvard and Yale. This is not an accident, as the honors program wants to attract the same caliber of students as those schools.

The purpose of this question is to get to know you better, and they state right in the prompt that there is no single “right” answer. There are wrong answers, however. The worst way to answer this prompt is by being inauthentic, and writing what you think admissions officers want to hear, rather than being your genuine self. These responses come across as stilted and hollow and will do nothing to aid your chances of admission.

When answering, consider five interesting things about yourself. Facts you might use when forced into an icebreaker activity, or which you could share and laugh about with friends. What makes you you , rather than someone else. Paint a portrait of yourself with words and ideas. The student writing above is multilingual, something of a nerd who doesn’t take herself too seriously, enjoys attempts at humor, and asks interesting questions.

This is a lot to pack into five sentences, but information density is your friend. Don’t abuse semicolons to overly extending the sentences, but make sure each is a complete thought, able to stand on its own.

Canfield Business Honors

The Canfield Business Honors program asks for a single essay on why you need high-quality business education. They want to know why you want to make use of their program, and what benefit will come to you from it.

Discuss a single piece of business news in the last year that has affected your view on the need for a high-quality business education, and tell us why this has affected or reinforced your desire for a business education. You do not need to go into detail about this piece of business news — a quick reference to the event will suffice. It can be something that occurred in your community, in the U.S., or internationally. Spend the majority of your response on how this event affected your views. Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.

As a Professional Engineer, my dad can design, build, and install HVAC systems, but he struggled to navigate the complicated business repercussions of the recent U.S. trade war with China. Traveling to Asia repeatedly over the past six months, my father has focused on helping HVAC component suppliers move factories from China to other countries to reduce costs.

I have watched my dad take calls from China at the dinner table, then head to the airport to catch the midnight flight to Asia. Each trip has only reinforced my realization that business cuts across all professions. A seemingly small policy decision, like imposing a tariff, can have worldwide consequences – creating a chain reaction that affects consumers, suppliers, and the industries that surround them.

The Canfield Business Honors Program will give me the statistical analysis, business communication, and corporate finance skills I will need to be able to understand and navigate these global, nuanced, and multifaceted problems. As an aspiring healthcare professional, I will learn all of the knowledge and skills Canfield offers to fully prepare me to organize and direct healthcare operations at scale. In courses like Professional Development & Career Planning, for example, l will learn how to ethically run a business with leadership and integrity.

Whether as the owner of a private practice or the president of a hospital, the Canfield Business Honors Program at UT Austin will provide me with the skills and knowledge I need to ensure my healthcare team is ready to overcome any obstacle.

This is a complex question and asks for three separate but related things. The first is to briefly go over a piece of business news from this year. The second is to discuss why this particular piece of news made you want to get a business education. Finally, they want to know how their program specifically will help you fulfill that desire.

What admissions officers are looking for is thoughtful analysis. There is no single “correct” piece of business news they want to see you respond to. Whatever news article you are responding to should deliberately position your application, and tie into your personal experience. The best pieces of news are ones that impact you directly in some way, as the author does in the example above.

The final part of the essay is much more focused on the program itself. How have the new revelations you’ve had about the world of business made you want an honors education? Here, you want to directly address what Canfield can offer. This can be through philosophical views, special programs, classes, or professors. The more concrete examples you provide, the more believable and impactful this part will be. Admissions officers like to see enthusiastic students, who care about what they’re going to study, and the school they’re going to study at.

Thoughtful analysis is important. While they don’t expect you to be an expert at business before you enter the program, demonstrating the capability to analyze trends and patterns in business is valuable to them. They want to see what you know already, and how good your analysis is. Further, they want to know what you consider important, both in the business world at large, and when pursuing a business education.

Final Thoughts

UT’s honors programs ask for more than the requirements for general admissions because they want students who are higher-achieving, more ambitious, and willing to go the extra mile. High academic achievement is necessary of course, but it is the essays that truly separate the students who will thrive in an honors program from those who won’t.

If you want help with writing your own honors essays, or want to know how you can best ensure your entry into a UT Honors program, schedule a free consultation with us. We have a depth of experience with both helping students write the perfect essays, and with every stage of applications. We’re always eager to hear from you.

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Academic Affairs

Students entering UT Austin as freshmen or transfer students who do not have a qualifying score on one of the exams listed below, or who do not have transfer credit for RHE 306 may take the TSI Essay to attempt to earn credit for RHE 306 during their first two long semesters of enrollment . For information about the course RHE 306 (Rhetoric and Writing), please visit the RHE 306 FAQs page .

If a student has one of the scores listed below that qualifies them for credit for RHE 306 and has not yet sent the score to UT Austin, they should do so as soon as possible. Click here for information on how to send test scores to UT.

ACT Writing: score of 9 or higher

SAT Writing and Language: score of 33 or higher

AP English Language and Composition: score of 3 or higher

The range of scores for the essay is one through eight. Students who earn a score of seven or eight will be able to claim credit for RHE 306. If you have sent your scores to UT (or think you have had your scores sent to UT) but are unable to locate them, please contact Student Testing Services for assistance.

Where and When to Take the Test

The TSI Essay must be taken on the UT Austin campus. It will be offered on various dates throughout the Summer 2024 semester and continue monthly during the 2024-2025 academic year. Visit the Test Registration System to view and register for upcoming test dates. Because this option is only available for students during their first two long semesters of enrollment, they should take the TSI Essay as soon as they are able, as the deadline will not be extended. 

• Students entering UT Austin as freshmen or transfer students for Summer 2024 or Fall 2024 have until the end of the Spring 2025 semester to complete the exam. This includes the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 long semesters.
• Students entering UT Austin as freshmen or transfer students for Spring 2025 have until the end of the Fall 2025 semester to complete the exam. This includes the Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 long semesters.

Students for Whom the Test is Recommended or Appropriate

Students who wish to attempt to earn credit for RHE 306 (Rhetoric and Writing) and do not have a qualifying score on another exam that awards credit for the course (listed below) may take the exam during their first two long semesters of enrollment. If you have one or more of the scores below, you should not take this exam, but rather send your qualifying score to UT as soon as possible:

Once received, test scores that can be used for credit by exam can be found on the Course Petitioning Page . If you have sent your scores to UT (or think you have had your scores sent to UT) but are unable to locate them, please contact Student Testing Services for assistance. If you have taken a course equivalent to RHE 306 at another institution, such as ENGL 1301, you should have your transcript showing the course sent to UT Admissions to ensure you receive credit for the course if you have not already done so.

Registration Fee: 

The total of the fees for the test is $45. When you register for a test, you will immediately be billed for the non-refundable test registration fee of $25. After you take the test, you will be billed for the test fee of $20. Payments are due within 14 days of the billing date. All fees are subject to change.

Study Aids:  

There are no multiple-choice questions on this exam. It is a single essay, and the prompt will be provided. You can learn more about the format of the test and review sample essays and scoring here (PDF Download) .

Test Results and Retakes: 

Results are typically available within 24 hours after completing the test.

You may take the TSI Essay to attempt to earn credit for RHE 306 twice . 

Testing and Evaluation Services The University of Texas at Austin Sanchez Building (SZB), Room 5.102 1912 Speedway Street Austin, TX 78712

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As a transfer student, it is extremely important to make sure prior coursework transfers properly to your degree plan at UT Austin. Check out these resources and answers to common transfer credit questions .

To start transferring credits, submit official transcript of all attempted coursework from each of your prior institutions.

The Automated Transfer Equivalency System is a database of all courses offered at Texas institutions and can help students understand which courses automatically transfer into UT Austin.

Once you are admitted to the university, the Interactive Degree Audit tool allows you to see how you are progressing through your degree plan. This tool provides an estimate of how your credits apply to your required coursework. It can also help you plan for future classes and understand additional requirements for minors and certificates.

For classes that do not transfer automatically but may meet the requirement for a certain course, there are petition processes in place. There are separate petition processes depending on which degree requirement you feel the course fulfills:

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To petition a class for your major, minor, and/or certificate, ask your academic or program advisor.

Thriving During Your First Year on the Forty

You’re all moved in, classes are starting and campus is buzzing with activity. Your first (or next) year as a Longhorn has officially begun. As you settle in, we have a handful of tips to set you up for success while you are home on the Forty Acres.

Tip #1 – Take advantage of our dining options  If you live in an on-campus residence hall, your unlimited meal plan gives you access to convenient and delicious dining options including our dining halls , restaurants , coffee shops and convenience stores . With unlimited swipes at our three all-you-care-to-eat dining halls ( J2 , Jester City Limits and Kins Dining ), $600 Dine In Dollars ($300 per term) and $200 in Bevo Pay ($100 per term), you’ll be full and energized to power through your first year. For additional information about Dobie Twenty21 and commuter meal plans, visit our Meal Plans page.

Tip #2 – Get to know the students in your residence hall If you live in an on-campus residence hall, your hall will have welcome event(s) for students to get to know each other. This is a great opportunity to meet new friends and fellow hall mates. If you miss a welcome event, don’t fret. Your hall will continue to hold social events throughout the year.

Tip #3 – Get involved early With over 1,200 on-campus clubs and student organizations, there is something for every Longhorn at UT. Along with being involved in something you enjoy, you may also meet like-minded people. Be sure to attend the Party on the Plaza , a student organization and campus resource fair during the second week of school with fun activities, giveaways and more. Longhorn Welcome events are more opportunities to participate in exciting activities, meet your peers and immerse yourself in UT’s culture and tradition. For more information on UHD events to attend, visit the Events page on our website. You can also check HornsLink for a list of organizations to join.

Tip #4 – Connect to campus and participate in Home on the Forty Day To celebrate your arrival on campus and the start of the academic year, we are declaring Wednesday, Sept. 18 Home on the Forty Day. We have a special t-shirt and welcome gift for you, so please visit your residence hall front desk Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. to pick up your gifts. * Brackenridge, Roberts, Prather, Moore-Hill, San Jacinto and Dobie Twenty21 residents will receive their Home on the Forty shirts and welcome gift at the Waller Creek welcome events on Sept. 3 – 6 .

As a first year student, participating in Home on the Forty Day is a great way to connect to the campus community. Join fellow UHD residents and staff wearing your shirt on Home on the Forty Day to show how great it is to be on the Forty Acres.

Tip #5 – Attend your professors‘ office hours Attending your professors’ office hours is a great way to form a connection with them. As a first-year student (and beyond), asking for help is a key skill to master. Remember, your professors are there to provide guidance. Even if you don’t need assistance with class content, talking to your professor will share valuable insights that will benefit you throughout your time as a Longhorn.

Tip #6 – Utilize University resources Knowing and utilizing University resources will help you thrive on the Forty. Below are a few key websites and organizations to know as you become accustomed to campus life:

• Submit a maintenance request if something needs to be fixed in your residence hall and UHD staff will respond as quickly as they can. 
• If you’re studying on campus late at night and need a ride to your residence hall, catch a free ride with UT Night Rides or have a Sure Walker accompany you with UT SURE Walk .
• Explore Austin and hop on the Austin CapMetro buses and MetroRail for free with your UT ID. 
• Need one-on-one or drop-in tutoring? Stop by the Sanger Learning Center .  

Your first year (and every year) at UT will be full of growth and change, so make sure to breathe and get excited for your college journey. Take advantage of all the support and resources available on campus and remember, you’re not alone. Here’s to a great year on the Forty.  

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12 Tips for Answer Georgia College and State University Personal Essay Questions

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Writing a strong personal essay is an essential component of the application process when you apply to Georgia College and State University (GCSU).  In the personal essay questions , the  themes of career goals, personal growth, and community service are often emphasised. The university asks the students to elaborate on why they are interested in a particular field of study or recount a challenging situation they went through and how they managed to resolve it. 

Students can demonstrate their skills, achievements, and values by using real-life experiences as examples. In addition, the university’s personal essay questions require students to strike a balance between self-reflection and storytelling. Students must also present clear knowledge of how their experiences and prospective goals relate to the institution’s values. 

However, some students do not have enough skills to effectively answer such questions while  applying to university. So, this guide is for such students. Here,  we will provide tips on  writing a personal statement and answering such essay questions in your university application. 

How to Answer Georgia College and State University Personal Essay Questions?

Georgia College aims to extend education outside of the classroom to support students' critical thinking abilities. Thus, they have incorporated such questions into the enrolment applications. Below are the 12 tips that will provide  assistance with your essay  questions and improve your chances of having your application accepted.

1. Know the Best Ideas for Your Essay

The personal essay questions Georgia College and State University are meant to add more insight into your application. In addition, the response to such personal essay topics helps the admission committee to know more about you. To write a strong essay, make sure that your thoughts are coherent and reflect your own experiences. 

Here, we are providing you with some tricks to come up with amazing ideas:

• Understand the prompt.
• Read the question carefully.
• Get the core ideas.

Ideas Brainstorming

• Recall life events that have shaped who you are today.
• Think about how your social, academic or cultural backgrounds have influenced you.
• Remember times when you overcame challenges or achieved milestones in life.
• Focus on strengths or areas of passion for you.

Your ideas must:

• Be relevant to the prompt.
• Be realistic.
• In line with what the university stands for.

2. Reflect on Your Experiences

As you prepare to apply to university, remember the experiences that have contributed to shaping you the way you are now. Your essay should show how these developments, interests, and objectives align with the university's mission and values.

Think about the following points while you reflect on your experiences:

Obstacles and Challenges

What barriers or hurdles have hindered your progress in the past, and what methods did you capitalise on to go beyond them? Which abilities were sharpened from these experiences? How did these experiences affect your outlook towards life and your goals?

Positions and Duties in Leadership

Retrace your steps and recount what you acquired. Restate lessons you learned from playing a leading role.

Academic Accomplishments and Interests

Reverse the positions, think about yourself, and concentrate on your various achievements in class. How did you develop an interest in these areas, and what have they done to help you reach your goals?

Development of the Self and Self-Awareness

Apart from considering one’s personal developments, consider the times when challenges or disappointments were faced and dealt with. When and how did you confront these challenges? What did you learn about yourself while doing so?

As you think about these events, think about the following questions:

• What skills did this encounter assist me in developing or improving?
• What changes has this encounter brought to my ambitions and goals?
• In what way does this experience relate to my aspirations and objectives?
• What values or principles did this experience instil or reinforce in me?
• What precise moments or stories can I draw on?

3. Don't Tell them a Story They Want; Tell them What You Want

When crafting your essays for applications, it is easy to get into the comfort zone of writing in a way that seems pleasant to the members of the admissions committee. This approach, however, often fails to showcase your point. Instead, it is advisable to be unapologetically bold and tell the story you want to tell, regardless of who it will appeal to. Understand that it is very important to be real in your essay.

When writing your personal statement, consider these points:

• Focus on how the engagement aspects of your essay have been drawn from your unique experiences. 
• Explain how being unique comes from expressing yourself on your own rather than what you believe the college would prefer to hear.
• Explain why authentic stories are more interesting as they are true and emotional.
• Argue that for your essay to capture attention, it is important to be free, vulnerable, and take risks in your narrative.
• Expressing your wishes reveals more about your true self, and that is what the college is looking for.

4. Be Authentic

Finding one’s values, beliefs, and passions is the heart of authenticity. This starts in the inner space where you try so hard to know yourself and decide which of your values are the most important. There is authenticity in overcoming the temptation to conform to other people’s expectations or remain true to one’s core beliefs. This offered a foundation of integrity and formed the basis of all other forms of honest living.

Here are some remarkable aspects of authenticity:

5. Keep it Concise

A well-developed statement is probably an important component of your university application. Therefore, this comprehensive guide is an opportunity to demonstrate your unique features, life history and aspirations to the admission committee.

Moreover, when it comes to providing an essay that stands out, there is a need to ensure that it is written interestingly and coherently and let it remain on topic. Here are some of the suggestions that can help you achieve this:

• Ensure that there is no room for ambiguity.
• Provide your readers with relevant examples.
• Avoid needless information.
• Choose simple and straight-to-the-point words.

6. Think Outside the Box!

Do not restrict yourself with commonly known details about yourself but be brave and include little more creativity in your paper.

Here are a few helpful hints that will assist you in doing so:

• Refusal may be miserable, but reluctantly tell the admissions committee your fabulous and unique achievements.
• In ways that are explosive to emotions or stretch one's imagination, draw a picture on the spare part of the essay and tell a story instead of better structuring it.

Most people approach the task of doing something different as a way of trying to succeed personally and professionally.

7. Use Proper Grammar and Spelling

In a personal statement, an applicant must pay attention to the structure of the essay, including spelling and grammatical conventions. To eliminate such mistakes, it is recommended to:

• Carry out a basic form to improve the writing of the essay.
• Utilise online resources for grammar and spell check.
• Seek feedback.

With these guidelines, students make sure that there will be no errors in answers to personal essay questions about grammar. It is also necessary to organise the document properly to be favourable to the admission board. In addition, you can also get samples from  legit essay writing firms in the UK   to understand the structure of personal essays for university applications. 

8. Revise Often and Edit

Here, we are going to look into the need to edit and revise the answers we have written for the personal essay questions. By following these strategies, you can make your essay stand out.

• Remove unnecessary elements and improve the organisation of your work.
• Make your arguments and their supporting evidence stronger.
• Improve grammatical errors and sentence fluency.
• Express more of who you are through words and speech.
• Rectify gaps and inconsistencies in your narratives.

Editing your essay requires you to also look at the spelling, grammar or punctuation of the essay. When doing so, particularly pay attention to grammar, punctuation, length of sentences, word choice, and consistency. 

How to start Editing your Essay?

Essay revision is checking the content, structure, and flow of the essay. While undertaking this process, take into consideration the following:

• Am I clear and focused in my thesis statement?
• Does the flow of my answers make sense?
• Do my anecdotes and examples of work support my points?
• Am I able to use the same voice/tone throughout the essay?
• Is there anything else that I could include to give more details?

9. Highlight Your Strengths

To stand out from other applicants, highlight your strengths in the essay. Before you put your pen on paper, spare a minute or two and try to recall particular events, achievements, and traits. To focus on your academic achievements, ask yourself:

• What are the specific achievements I have attained and the strong skills I possess in university?
• What are the objectives and aspirations I have about my career?
• What factors make me different from other people?

To highlight the strong points in your answer to personal essay questions, you can use examples and narratives. In addition, it is also advisable to highlight your soft skills and let your readers feel your passion and excitement.

10. Demonstrate Your Fit

A powerful piece detailing your personal experiences only works when you show how you fit into Georgia College and State University, its beliefs, and its aim. In addition, add the following salient features to your response to personal essay questions:

Background in Academia 

Talk about your academic history first, highlighting any academic projects that show your readiness for the school you are applying to. Give details of any awards, competitions, or activities that underscore your achievements in your area of study.

Experience That Matters

Mention any planned internships or previous work experience which is relevant to the degree or course you are looking for. Explain how these experiences shaped your career goals.

Link to the University

Why do you want to study at Georgia College and State University? Justify why you believe this particular university is the most suitable for you. Explain how you will be useful to the school community considering the faculty members, research facilities and university culture. 

Long-term Vision

Explain what the future is going to hold for you, particularly how you see the contribution you will make to the field of your choice after you finish the degree. Mention how your university education and experiences will create opportunities for you to achieve these goals and promote positive change as well. You may make arguments that positively reinforce yourself in terms of why you are a strong prospect for the program you are applying to. 

11. Get Started Early

It is very important to start dealing with the Georgia College and State University personal essay questions as soon as possible. If you plan early, you will have sufficient time to arrange and write the essay content and predictably proofread it. This is why it is necessary to commence at the earliest point.

Why, then, should you get started early? Here are some of the reasons:

• Stress is decreased when you start early!
• You'll generate more ideas if you give yourself more time to brainstorm!
• You may demonstrate to the admissions committee that you are serious about attending the university.  
• You are prepared to put in the time and effort to learn more about it by researching it and its core values.
• You'll have more time to proofread, edit, and refine your responses.

12. Seek Help When Needed

Assistance seeking is very important, particularly when responding to a personal essay question. One can feel immense pressure to perform well, and this is understandable. Furthermore, it’s important to recognise when you are stuck and need help. 

A teacher, mentor, or guidance counsellor offers support to craft a good paper. You can also  purchase your essay  from online resources that will lead to successful admission to your desired university. 

How to answer Georgia College and State University Personal Essay Questions?

Here are the tips for answering these question types;

• Do not be afraid of making your voice heard. 
• Structure a clear and interesting essay.
• Make use of the words and writing skills that you already have.
• Write about yourself. But don't try to encapsulate your whole life!
• Answer the question that has been asked.
• Read it over again!
• Write on the internet in a networked word processor.

What should be included in College and State University Personal Essay Questions?

It is best to talk about both positive and negative matters, a humiliating experience, or a quality or interest that exemplifies your values. If you are honest about the issue, character flaws, or sad childhood events, the reader will find it far more credible. 

In addition, it will exhibit your personal life experiences that the admission panel wants to know. So, by including all the information, you can fulfil the true objective of such essay types in application forms. 

The importance of the personal essay questions in the Georgia College and State University application process enables candidates to make the best impression and talk more about themselves. An effective essay can provide a student’s perspective to the admission committees, which are usually standardised, and help to distinguish them from everyone else. 

Moreover, students can show in their essays how well they will integrate themselves into the programs by spinning a good and well-organised narrative. Finally, submitting an excellent personal essay shows that the candidate is open and honest. In addition, the applicant understands what the university is all about and its values. 

Students who follow such practice can write a good manuscript, which allows them to develop their competencies and increase their chances of being accepted into university. Thus, they can begin their developmental, educational, and achievement-oriented journey and fulfil all their academic and career ambitions.

Chris Bates

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University of Rochester 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

University of Rochester 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 Essay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community

The University of Rochester benefactor, entrepreneur, photography pioneer and philanthropist George Eastman said, “The progress of the world depends almost entirely upon education.” In what ways do you envision using the curricular flexibility and co-curricular opportunities at the University of Rochester to promote progress and change within the communities you inhabit? (250 word limit)

The University of Rochester wants to know two things here: 1) how you will take advantage of the resources and academic flexibility they offer and 2) how you will use that to improve your communities. Your “community” can be just about anything, from your neighborhood to your gender identity to rugby fans worldwide. Think about what kind of advancements you’d like to see in the world and how those relate to one of your communities. Then spend some time on University of Rochester’s website to understand how you might use their courses, research opportunities, student clubs, or other unique offerings to start making those changes. Maybe you’ll major in Politics and pair a Language and Cognition cluster with a Russian Literature and Culture cluster to prepare for a future career as a diplomat to your grandmother’s native country. Perhaps with a double major in International Theater and Black Studies, you will study abroad through the Theatre in England program, gaining insight into how different cultures express cultural clashes on stage with the aim to found your own theater promoting Black creatives. Show admissions that you have an idea of how your time at U of R will help you promote progress in your communities. 

Note that while you have the option to write an essay for this question, you may send in a work of art or an abstract describing your related research instead. This is a great option for students who express themselves more authentically through outlets other than writing. However, if you choose one of these options, you’ll still have to send in a short explanation of how your response relates to creating positive change within your community. 

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Dr. Ross Margitza is a distinguished pianist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, he began his musical journey under the guidance of his father and grandfather, both professional pianists. He started playing piano at age six and trumpet at age ten. Inspired by Oscar Peterson's recording of “West Side Story,” Ross pursued a career in jazz.  He holds a Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University, a Master of Music from Northern Illinois University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin.   

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• Algorithm Raises New Questions About...

Algorithm Raises New Questions About Cascadia Earthquake Record

August 27, 2024

The Cascadia subduction zone in the Pacific Northwest has a history of producing powerful and destructive earthquakes that have sunk forests and spawned tsunamis that reached all the way to the shores of Japan.

The most recent great earthquake was in 1700. But it probably won’t be the last. And the area that stands to be affected is now bustling metropolises that are home to millions of people.

Figuring out the frequency of earthquakes – and when the next “big one” will happen – is an active scientific question that involves looking for signs of past earthquakes in the geologic record in the form of shaken up rocks, sediment and landscapes.

However, a study by scientists at The University of Texas at Austin and collaborators is calling into question the reliability of an earthquake record that covers thousands of years – a type of geologic deposit called a turbidite that’s found in the strata of the seafloor.

The researchers analyzed a selection of turbidite layers from the Cascadia subduction zone dating back about 12,000 years ago with an algorithm that assessed how well turbidite layers correlated with one another.

They found that, in most cases, the correlation between the turbidite samples was no better than random. Since turbidites can be caused by a range of phenomena, and not just earthquakes, the results suggest that the turbidite record’s connection to past earthquakes is more uncertain than previously thought.

“We would like everyone citing the intervals of Cascadia subduction earthquakes to understand that these timelines are being questioned by this study,” said Joan Gomberg, a research geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey and study co-author. “It’s important to conduct further research to refine these intervals. What we do know is that Cascadia was seismically active in the past and will be in the future, so ultimately, people need to be prepared.”

The results don’t necessarily change the estimated earthquake frequency in Cascadia, which is about every 500 years, said the researchers. The current frequency estimate is based on a range of data and interpretations, not just the turbidites analyzed in this study. However, the results do highlight the need for more research on turbidite layers, specifically, and how they relate to each other and large earthquakes.

Co-author Jacob Covault, a research professor at the UT Jackson School of Geosciences, said the algorithm offers a quantitative tool that that provides a replicable method for interpreting ancient earthquake record, which are usually based on more qualitative descriptions of the geology and their potential associations.

“This tool provides a repeatable result, so everybody can see the same thing,” said Covault, the co-principal investigator of the Quantitative Clastics lab at the Jackson School’s Bureau of Economic Geology. “You can potentially argue with that result, but at least you have a baseline, an approach that is reproducible.”

The results were published in the journal GSA Bulletin . The study includes researchers from the USGS, Stanford University and the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys.

Turbidites are the remnants of underwater landslides. They’re made of sediments that settled back down to the seafloor after being flung into the water by the turbulent motion of sediment rushing across the ocean floor. The sediment in these layers have a distinctive gradation, with coarser grains at the bottom and finer ones at the top.

But there’s more than one way to make a turbidite layer. Earthquakes can cause landslides when they shake up the seafloor. But so can storms, floods and a range of other natural phenomena, albeit on a geographic smaller scale.

Currently, connecting turbidites to past earthquakes usually involves finding them in geologic cores taken from the seafloor. If a turbidite shows up in roughly the same spot in multiple samples across a relatively large area, it’s counted as a remnant of a past earthquake, according to the researchers.

Although carbon dating samples can help narrow down timing, there’s still a lot of uncertainty in interpreting if samples that appear at about the same time and place are connected by the same event.

Getting a better handle on how different turbidite samples relate to one another inspired the researchers to apply a more quantitative method – an algorithm called “dynamic time warping” – to the turbidite data. The algorithmic method dates back to the 1970s and has a wide range of applications, from voice recognition to smoothing out graphics in dynamic VR environments.

This is the first time it has been applied to analyzing turbidites, said co-author Zoltán Sylvester, a research professor at the Jackson School and co-principal investigator of the Quantitative Clastics Lab, who led the adaption of the algorithm for analyzing turbidites.

“This algorithm has been a key component of a lot of the projects I have worked on,” said Sylvester. “But it’s still very much underused in the geosciences.”

The algorithm detects similarity between two samples that may vary over time, and determines how closely the data between them matches.

For voice recognition software, that means recognizing key words even though they might be spoken at different speeds or pitches. For the turbidites, it involves recognizing shared magnetic properties between different turbidite samples that may look different from location to location despite originating from the same event.

“Correlating turbidites is no simple task,” said co-author Nora Nieminski, the coastal hazards program manager for the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys. “Turbidites commonly demonstrate significant lateral variability that reflect their variable flow dynamics. Therefore, it is not expected for turbidites to preserve the same depositional character over great distances, or even small distances in many cases, particularly along active margins like Cascadia or across various depositional environments.”

The researchers also subjected the correlations produced by the algorithm to another level of scrutiny. They compared the results to correlation data calculated using synthetic data made by comparing 10,000 pairs of random turbidite layers. This synthetic comparison served as a control against coincidental matches in the actual samples.

The researchers applied their technique to magnetic susceptibility logs for turbidite layers in nine geologic cores that were collected during a scientific cruise in 1999. They found that in most cases, the connection between turbidite layers that had been previously correlated was no better than random.  The only exception to this trend was for turbidite layers that were relatively close together – no more than about 15 miles apart.

The researchers emphasize that the algorithm is just one way of analyzing turbidities, and that the inclusion of other data could change the degree of correlation between the cores one way or another. But according to these results, the presence of turbidities at the same time and general area in the geologic record is not enough to definitively connect them to one another.

And although algorithms and machine learning approaches can help with that task, it’s up to geoscientists to interpret the results and see where the research leads.

“We are here for answering questions not just applying the tool,” Sylvester said. “But at the same time, if you are doing this kind of work, then it forces you to think very carefully.”

For more information, contact:  Anton Caputo , Jackson School of Geosciences, 512-232-9623;  Monica Kortsha , Jackson School of Geosciences, 512-471-2241;  Constantino Panagopulos , University of Texas Institute for Geophysics .

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UT-Austin student sues over arrest during pro-Palestinian demonstrations

Ammer Qaddumi alleges UT-Austin violated his First Amendment rights. He still faces potential disciplinary action from the school.

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A University of Texas at Austin student has sued the university, President Jay Hartzell and Vice President and Provost Sharon Wood, claiming that the university violated his First Amendment rights when he was arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration on campus this spring.

Ammer Qaddumi filed the lawsuit in U.S. federal court Tuesday, which was first reported by KXAN.

On Thursday, he also requested the judge prevent UT-Austin from moving forward with a disciplinary hearing against him while the lawsuit makes its way through the courts. The court denied that request Thursday afternoon.

According to the lawsuit, UT-Austin is scheduled to hold a hearing Friday to determine whether Qaddumi should be suspended for three semesters for his participation in the protests, barring him from campus or from completing any academic work during that time.

Here’s what you need to know:

What the lawsuit says: On April 23, the Palestine Solidarity Committee, a student group at UT-Austin, called on students to protest the university and its investment into companies that support Israel in response to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The protest was scheduled for the next day.

That evening, according to the lawsuit, the university emailed the student group’s leaders letting them know they would not be allowed to hold the event; two university staffers repeated the message the next day when Qaddumi arrived on campus.

As students started to gather, police called on them to disperse and sought out a student mediator to communicate their directives to the group. Qaddumi volunteered, the lawsuit states, but when he rushed to the front of the crowd to encourage them to disperse and avoid arrest, UT-Austin police arrested him.

Over the summer, Qaddumi received a notice from UT-Austin saying he violated university policy for his involvement in the April 24 protest. Qaddumi tried to dispute the university’s accusations, arguing that it erroneously attributed social media posts from another student group to him. But the university rejected his defense, scheduling a hearing on Aug. 30.

In the lawsuit, Qaddumi argues that the university’s attempt to cancel the event before the students expressed themselves violates their First Amendment rights. He argues the university’s decision to discipline him is retaliation for his beliefs and asks the court to prevent the university from pursuing any further disciplinary action.

UT officials did not respond to The Texas Tribune’s request for comment.

“[T]he University’s response to the lawsuit and claims will be set out in our court filings,” university spokesperson Mike Rosen wrote in an email to KUT . “Until then, no further comment.”

Broader impact: The lawsuit is the latest after multiple protests rocked the UT-Austin campus this spring. University administrators called on law enforcement to intervene, leading to the arrest of 130 individuals who were charged with criminal trespass. Travis County District Attorney Delia Garza has since dropped the charges against all of those arrested.

UT-Austin has issued disciplinary punishments against the students who were arrested, including probation and suspension. While UT-Austin has defended its actions, faculty have criticized the university’s actions. This summer, a university committee alleged administrators violated the university’s rules with their handling of the protests.

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Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here .

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Correction, Aug. 29, 2024 at 4:39 p.m. : An earlier version of this story incorrectly named University of Austin Provost Sharon Wood.

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• Northern Illinois University
• Thursday, September 12

2024 Lincoln Lecture - A discussion with award-winning author Clint Smith

Thursday, September 12, 2024 7:30 PM

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About this Event

595 College Ave, DeKalb, IL 60115

This conversation, moderated by Christina Abreu, Director of the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies, draws on Smith’s 2021 book , How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, which was a #1 New York Times bestseller, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction and selected by the New York Times as one of the 10 best books of 2021.

Smith’s bestselling books include  How the Word Is Passed , which  Publishers Weekly  called “an essential consideration of how America’s past informs its present.” It has won numerous awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, and was named one of the best books of the year by  TIME ,  The New York Times ,  The Economist and  The Washington Post .

His latest book,  Above Ground , was named to  TIME  magazine’s 100 Must-Read Books and  NPR ‘s Books We Love. Smith’s first book,  Counting Descent , won the 2017 Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. In his forthcoming book,  Just Beneath the Soil , he will explore the little-known stories behind World War II sites and discuss how they shape our collective memory of the war.

His essays, poems, and scholarly writing have been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine , The New Republic, Poetry Magazine, The Paris Review, the Harvard Educational Review and elsewhere. He is a staff writer at The Atlantic .

The W. Bruce Lincoln Endowed Lecture Series brings to campus distinguished scholars who address topics of interest to both the academic community and the general public. The lectures engage key issues and are often interdisciplinary, in the spirit of Professor Lincoln’s research, writing and teaching.

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