Information about high school coursework Admission Deficiencies
When you apply for freshman admission to UT Austin, the Office of Admissions will review the information you submit to determine whether you will have all the university’s required high school courses by the time you graduate from high school. Students who don’t have all the required courses are considered “deficient” and must submit information to the university that explains the deficiency or how the student plans to take the required courses.
Two kinds of deficiencies
Perceived deficiencies
Some applicants who appear to be missing coursework when we initially review their information may not really be deficient. In such situations, we may simply need additional information from the applicant to clear up the situation.
For example, if we received an incomplete senior year course schedule from an applicant, the Office of Admissions may believe that a student is deficient simply because we don’t yet know all the courses he or she will be taking as a senior.
Actual deficiencies
Other applicants are actually missing one or more courses to complete our requirements. For example, a student who plans to take only two mathematics courses at the required level during all four years of high school will not meet our requirement for at least three math courses.
What Deficient Students Must Do
If the Office of Admissions determines that you have either a perceived or an actual deficiency when you apply for freshman admission, you will receive a deficiency notice through your Application Status Check page. The notice will point you to the online High School Credit Deficiency Form.
Every student who receives a deficiency notice must complete and submit the form.
- If you have a “perceived” deficiency, the form gives you the opportunity to report information that you think will clear up the issue. For example, if you plan to take a missing course during your senior year, you’ll use the form to tell us about the course you plan to take.
- If you have an actual deficiency, the form gives you the opportunity to report how you plan to make up for the missing courses. For example, if you plan to take a course at a local community college during your senior year or during the summer after you graduate, you’ll use the form to report your intentions.
Once we receive your High School Credit Deficiency Form, your application will continue through the admissions review process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Application Status Check Page showing my application as deficient?
The information submitted on your Freshman Application and/or your high school transcript indicates that you haven’t completed or don’t have in progress all the high school courses required for admission to UT Austin. To be considered for admission, you must let us know how you intend to make up for the deficiency. (See the questions that follow for details.)
What high school preparation coursework is required for freshman admission to The University of Texas at Austin?
A list of required courses (new window) is available online.
I am showing a deficiency because I didn't report current or future coursework through dual credit, high school correspondence, high school credit by exam, or summer school work. How do I report this to UT?
Please use our High School Credit Deficiency Form to report all coursework that helps you to meet our requirements.
The total number of high school credits completed or in progress was reported incorrectly. How can I fix this?
If you believe the information that we have about the high school courses you've taken or are taking is incorrect, please compare your courses with our list of requirements (new window). To submit corrected information, complete and submit the High School Credit Deficiency Form.
I am truly deficient. How do I make up for the deficiency?
To clear up your deficiency, you must complete a course that will make up for the course(s) you’re missing.
You have three options to clear up your deficiency:
- Time permitting, you can make up your deficiency by enrolling in a course at your high school.
- You can take a course that will fulfill the requirement at a college or university in your area (either while you’re still in high school or during the summer after you graduate).
- You can plan to take a course that will fulfill the requirement after enrolling at UT Austin. (This option is available to summer/fall 2010 applicants only and is contingent upon an offer of admission.)
Most students with deficiencies correct them by taking a course that will transfer to UT Austin at a local community college during the summer after high school. See the High School Credit Deficiency Form for details about deficiencies in specific subject areas. Then use the form to report your plan for removing your deficiency.
Do ESL classes count toward my language arts requirement?
English as a second language (ESL) classes may count at the level of English I or II. However, ESL classes will not be counted as required credits for English III or IV, even if your high school accepts ESL courses at this level to fulfill high school graduation requirements.
In general, which courses do not count toward the Required High School Preparation?
See our list of required courses (new window) for details.
What happens if I fail/drop a class during my senior year?
If you fail or drop a class during your senior year, you should notify the Office of Admissions at UT Austin in writing. The Admissions Committee will determine if you are still eligible for admittance.
Is there a deadline for submitting my High School Credit Deficiency Form?
There is no set deadline for submitting the form. However, your application for admission will not proceed through the review process until we receive your submitted form. So you should return the High School Credit Deficiency Form to our office as soon as possible so your decision will not be delayed. If we do not receive your form in time for your application to be reviewed with the applications submitted by other students applying for the same entry term, your application will be cancelled.
I attended more than one high school, and my last high school does not list my transferred work on my transcript. What should I do to report my previous work?
Ask your current high school to submit an official letter to the Office of Admissions at UT Austin describing exactly what courses were transferred from your old school. If you prefer, you may submit an official high school transcript from every high school you attended.