Admissions

• ApplyTexas.org will open Fall 2025 Freshman admissions on August 1st. Students may also use the Common Application. UT Admissions Instructions can be found here.                                                                                                                                                                                        
• Being in the Liberal Arts Honors program at UT is not necessarily more difficult. If anything, it gives you more opportunities. We encourage applicants interested in a Liberal Arts education to apply! LAH reviews applications holistically and for ‘fit’ to the program. You can complete the honors application within the UT Admissions application, or if you aren’t ready to submit the honors portion, you can access it after you have submitted your UT application through your UT ‘MyStatus’ page. Additional information about the application can be found here. Make sure to check your UT Status Page so that all parts of your application are marked as 'complete'.                                                                 
• October 15 - EARLY ACTION for UT AUSTIN -  This optional deadline will require UT Austin application submission by October 15, with a guaranteed decision regarding their university admission communicated to applicants by January 15.
• The regular deadline for applications will remain December 1st, with a guaranteed decision communicated by February 15. 
• Liberal Arts Honors will notify students of their program decision by March 1. Please note that some decisions may be delivered earlier, but not earlier than January 15th. 
• Students applying for Liberal Arts Honors and other honors programs at UT Austin are strongly encouraged to complete their application by October 15. 
• You may apply and be admitted to more than one honors program, but depending on the combination, you may have to choose.
• Students who apply to LAH may also be considered for an invitation to apply to the Dedman Distinguished Scholars Scholarship for LAH or Plan II students.
• Students not admitted to UT Austin are no longer in consideration for Liberal Arts Honors.

• Complete the Common App or ApplyTexas Application
• Pay the $75 Application Fee
• Send Official High School Transcript and Rank
  • Send College Transcripts if applicable
• Send SAT or ACT scores 
• Upload an Expanded Resume
• Complete Essays:
  • Complete UT Admissions Essay Prompts
  • Complete UT Short Answer Prompts
  • Complete the Liberal Arts Honors Admissions Essay Prompt and the Liberal Arts Honors Personal statement (5 sentences)

• LAH conducts a holistic review of all applications.
• A commitment to a liberal arts education is central to all students of LAH. We believe that the critical thinking and writing skills afforded to you by a liberal arts education facilitate your success. A desire for this type of education should show in your application.
• As writing is key to our program, we thoroughly read the essays submitted with the UT application. We encourage applicants to submit their best writing.
• LAH looks for students who challenge themselves academically throughout high school by taking AP/IB classes where offered and who maintain a full senior year course load.
• LAH also looks for leadership amongst its applicants. We would prefer to see that you participated in one or two organizations throughout high school and earned leadership positions instead of the "senior blitz" where you took parts in many organizations but were not committed to any of them.

Below you will find the writing prompt that LAH will ask for on the Honors Application. Because writing is key to our program, so you should carefully and thoroughly prepare your responses.

Liberal Arts Honors 2025 Prompt:

Prospective students cite many reasons for pursuing education in the liberal arts, and we would like to know why you want to do so.  In 250 words or less, tell us why you want to study the liberal arts. Consider (but don’t feel obligated to answer all) questions like: Why should anyone study liberal arts at all? Why does the world need the liberal arts? What does your liberal arts degree get you? What will you do with your liberal arts education? 

Personal Statement(s): 


Please write five sentences describing yourself, your life, and your experiences that taken together form an accurate view of who you are. Be creative!  

Do not list what was provided in the extracurricular activities section or on your résumé. 

Please number the sentences 1 through 5.