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Applying for College

How to Apply

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Admission Requirements

Each college or university has specific admission requirements which will indicate which high school credits are required and which college entrance exams students must take.  Many require a specific test score along with class rank and/or GPA when determining admissions.  For more information on admissions requirements, visit the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, and click on Texas Colleges and Universities under Quick Links to find the institution you are interested in.  Also, check out Shmoop's College 101. It has all types of useful information about going to college.

Each university has specific deadlines and requirements. Students can find out more information about admissions by searching on the Office of Admissions web page for their chosen university. A good rule of thumb is to apply to major universities such as UT, A&M, Baylor, etc. by October 31.

Automatic Admission (Top 10% Rule)

If a student is in the top 10% of his/her graduating class, s/he is eligible for automatic admission to any public Texas university except UT-Austin. Students must be in the top 7% to be guaranteed admission there. To meet the requirements for automatic admission, a student must

  • graduate in the top 10% -enroll in college no more than two years after graduating from high school and
  • complete and submit all materials for an application to a Texas public university before the application deadline (check with the admissions department of the chosen university for deadlines)

The Common Application

Some private universities, such as TCU and Rice University require you to use The Common Application when applying for admission. More information can be found at https://www.commonapp.org.

Apply Texas

The majority of public colleges and universities in Texas require that you complete your application online to apply for admission. Many public colleges and universities request that you complete your application on www.applytexas.org. You must notify the Counselor's Office once you send your application so that your transcript can be sent to the college of your choice.

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Things to Do

  1. Apply for admission. Use the ApplyTexas website or the college's application web page to submit your college applications.
  2. Take a college entrance exam. Sign up for the SAT, ACT, or TSI as soon as possible. See our college entrance exams web page for more information.
  3. Get the meningitis vaccine. As of January 1, 2014, all entering students at an institution of higher education are required to show proof of an initial meningococcal vaccination or a booster dose during the five-year period prior to enrolling. They must get the vaccine at least 10 days before the semester begins. See the Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for College Entry site for complete details.
  4. Complete the FAFSA. This must be done using your parent's income tax return and can be completed beginning on October 1 of your senior year. See your financial aid advisor at your college of choice for help completing the application.
  5. Apply for Scholarships. Local scholarship applications will be handed out in February and due to the Counselor's Office before spring break. In the meantime, look for scholarships on your own or through our scholarships page. Make sure you also apply for scholarships through your college.
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Learn More

Coalition for College - Free college planning tools to learn about, prepare for, and apply to college

They Loved Your GPA & Then They Saw Your Tweets - Learn how your social media presence can affect your admission

Automatic Admission in Texas - Get information regarding automatic admission to colleges and universities in the state of Texas

Applying 101 - Tips from the College Board on applying to college

Admissions Advice - Insider advice on college admissions and interviews