university of texas at dallas essays

Transfer Admissions: Application Process

Applying to UT Dallas has the potential to change your life. Are you ready to begin your journey with us?

Transfer Application Opens

Domestic & international, submit your admission application.

Complete and submit the online application through ApplyTexas .

After you have submitted your application, you will receive an email from the Office of Admission and Enrollment that includes your unique, 10-digit UTD-ID and confirmation we have received your application. You will receive an additional email with your NetID and instructions on setting up your account for the first time. After your account is created, you will use your NetID and password to access the  Orion Applicant Center  inside Galaxy, where you can submit documentation and  check your application status .

Pay the Application Fee or Submit a Fee Waiver Request

Pay the $50 non-refundable application fee or submit an application fee waiver located in the  Orion Applicant Center  inside Galaxy under the  Admissions Forms  folder. Qualifying fee waivers can be obtained through NACAC, by providing proof of military services and/or attending either  Preview Friday  or a  Scholars’ Day event.

Submit Official Transcripts

Submit electronically, or mail sealed, official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended to the following address.

The University of Texas at Dallas The Office of Admission and Enrollment 800 W. Campbell Road Richardson, TX 75080-3021

Submitting Supplementary Documentation

While not required, all applicants are encouraged to submit supplemental materials, such as:

• ApplyTexas application essay (Option C)
• Letter(s) of recommendation (limited to a maximum of three)

Submit your supplementary documentation through the Applicant Center in  Galaxy  using the  Submit Supplemental Docs  option.  

Bachelor Degree Holders

The application process and requirements for admission to UT Dallas vary depending on your academic history and the courses you want to take. Review the applicant types to determine the best route to take.

International Students

Review our additional documentation requirements for applying as an international student.

Review the Veteran and Military-Affiliated Student Checklist for applying as a veteran or military-affiliated transfer applicant.

Admission Counseling

Our admission counselors are here to help guide you through the entire admission process — from choosing your school and submitting your application to preparing for enrollment.

Contact us or use our counselor locator tool to email your assigned UT Dallas admission counselor directly.

Transfer Admissions

Office of Admission and Enrollment [email protected] 972-883-2270 Meet with a Counselor

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Documents and Test Scores

Admission requirements, master’s and doctoral programs.

The minimum requirement for admission to any master’s or doctoral degree program at UT Dallas is an earned UT Dallas baccalaureate degree or its equivalent and a record indicative of readiness for graduate work. Some doctoral programs may require an earned master’s degree or its equivalent for admission.

Note: Applicants with three-year undergraduate degrees will be considered for admission into our master’s programs. Their candidacy will be reviewed holistically considering all of the following variables: admission test scores, English proficiency scores if applicable, undergraduate grade point average, official transcripts from all previous institutions, undergraduate degree major and awarding institution, resume, recommendations, and personal objective statement.

Graduate Certificate Programs

Admission to graduate-level certificate programs requires a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. Many certificate programs do not require admissions tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) unless or until a student seeks admission to a related master’s program.

Non-Degree Seeking Graduate Student

A student wishing to take graduate-level coursework without becoming a candidate for a graduate degree may apply for admission to UT Dallas as a non-degree-seeking graduate student. Admission as a non-degree-seeking student requires a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. 

Submitting Documents When You Apply

Upload copies of the following documents within your online application to avoid processing delays:

• Official transcript.
• Degree certificate — provide only if you graduated from an  international institution . 
• Official GRE/GMAT test score, if required.
• English Proficiency  exam score, if required. 
• Other supplemental documents include your essay, resume and letter of recommendation.

Transcripts and test scores submitted with your application are considered unofficial but will suffice to review your application for an admission decision. If you are granted admission, you will need to submit official copies of your documents to the Office of Admission and Enrollment before you are allowed to enroll in class.

If you upload a copy of your documents within your online application, you do not need to submit another copy within the application or in Galaxy – doing so will cause delays in processing your application. If you have submitted your application and still need to submit additional documents, such as your transcript, essay, resume or letter of recommendation, you may upload the documents through your Orion Applicant Center inside the  Admissions Forms folder  in Galaxy.

Applications and all supporting documents and transcripts must be postmarked by the  application and documentation deadline .

Additional Requirements

Individual graduate programs may require official GRE/GMAT test scores and other supplemental documents such as an essay, resume and letter of recommendation. To avoid processing delays, applicants should review additional program requirements to ensure the completion of their application.

Applicants applying from outside of the United States should also carefully review the requirements for international students .

After admission , there may also be additional requirements that must be met before you can register for classes.

File Requirements for Uploading Documents

• PDF file, scanned and saved. Photos are not acceptable.
• File size should be 10MB or less
• The resolution should be legible but no more than 300 dpi.
• Black and white scans only.
• Scans must be of your official and original document that was issued by the registrar. Online printouts, grade reports or unofficial transcripts are not acceptable.
• If you download a document (i.e., PDF) from an institution or testing agency, rescan it before uploading it, as these documents are typically encrypted.
• Transcripts with several pages should be uploaded as one file. Include all pages, front and back, in the correct order according to the transcript legend.
• Preview your documents during uploading to ensure the scan quality is readable.

Test Scores

Requirements.

Each degree program sets its own criteria for what constitutes a satisfactory score, and students should confer with the graduate adviser for each degree program to determine test score requirements. Scores must not be more than five years old. 

The GMAT or GRE scores are not the sole criterion for making an admission decision or terminating consideration of an application.

The  GRE revised General Test  may be required for admission to programs in the following schools:

• School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
• School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences
• Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
• School of Interdisciplinary Studies
• School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

The Graduate Management Admission Test ( GMAT ) or Graduate Record Examination ( GRE ) may be required for admission to the Naveen Jindal School of Management. Master’s level applicants interested in being considered for a GMAT/GRE waiver should review the  test waiver conditions  outlined in the admission requirements section. 

A GRE or GMAT score is not required for admission to the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. 

Submitting Documents After Admission

If admitted, you must submit your official, final academic documents and test scores to the Office of Admission and Enrollment. To be considered official, your documents must be delivered to UT Dallas directly from the sending institution or testing agency. Please visit our  steps after admission  page for more information.

©  The University of Texas at Dallas Office of Admission and Enrollment 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021 (972) 883-2270

UT Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its programs and activities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, admission and enrollment. For more information, contact the Office of Institutional Compliance .

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The Full-Time MBA starts a new class each fall. Applicants for the Full-Time MBA must complete the following application requirements to be considered for admission into the degree program. Incomplete files will not be reviewed. Please note applicants for the MS/MBA program apply following MS program admission requirements. Students interested in combining the Full-Time MBA Cohort with an MS degree will not apply to the MS program until they are already admitted to the MBA program.

Please email us at [email protected] or call (972) 883-5055 for assistance with your application.

Application Deadlines

The MBA Admission Committee reviews and considers applications for program admission in rounds. Applications received after May 1 will be considered on a rolling basis. All scholarships are merit-based, and recipients may receive resident tuition status. Candidates seeking scholarships are encouraged to apply in early rounds. To be eligible for scholarships, candidates must submit a GMAT or GRE score.

1. Application

Complete an online application and submit the application fee. An application is considered complete/ready for review once all supporting documents have been received by the Office of Admission and Enrollment.

• Domestic Application Fee: $100
• International Application Fee: $100 + $50 non-refundable international credential evaluation fee

2. Documentation

International applicants: Learn more about additional requirements, deadlines and fees that may affect you.

• Upload digital copies of your unofficial test scores and transcripts from all universities attended using the online application. Review documentation guidelines for instructions.
• Mail your official documents only after you are admitted, or processing delays may result and you will not be able to register for classes.
• Pay the application fee(s).
• Consult the program to which you are applying for additional admission and documentation requirements. Request letters of recommendation using the online application.

3. Entrance Exam

To ensure candidates are able to demonstrate their academic preparedness for the program, the admissions process requires candidates to submit official GMAT, GMAT Focus or GRE score results. GMAT/ GRE scores no more than five years old (Our GRE School Code is R6897). The UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management prefers the GMAT admission test; however, we accept the GRE test as well. GMAT codes can be found here . If official test scores are received at the university by the testing agency, the scores will be considered as part of the admission decision.

Any candidate who has obtained a PhD or a U.S.-based MD, JD or PharmD, or indicates a strong level of quantitative readiness through other aspects of their admission record may be exempt from the GMAT / GRE testing requirement for the Full Time program.

Waivers are not guaranteed. Candidates receiving an entrance exam waiver are ineligible for scholarship.

To apply for the waiver, please email your request to [email protected] with your applicable criteria and application ID number. Applications must be complete except for entrance exam (GMAT/GRE score) for consideration.

To be considered for an entrance exam waiver:

• Submit entire application including all supporting documents.
• Submit your official entrance exam waiver request using this form .

Please contact Jeff Taylor at [email protected] with any questions.

A waiver candidate’s file will be presented to the committee who then may:

• Require a test
• Deny admission
• Accept admission

A waiver in no way guarantees admission to the MBA program.

4. English Proficiency Exam

All international students are required to provide proof of English proficiency. Official English proficiency test (TOEFL or IELTS).

5.Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are required from current or past employers, community leaders, former professors, etc. At least one of the letters must be from a professional contact. Letters of recommendation may be submitted through the online letter of recommendation system in the online application, or you can submit a PDF copy via the Admissions Forms folder.

Note: Competitive application files may move forward in the review process before all letters are received.

5. Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required, but applicants with 2 or more years of post baccalaureate experience will only be required to submit one. At least one of the letters must be from a professional contact and that contact does not have to be an employer. Letters of recommendation may be submitted through the online letter of recommendation system in the online application, or you can submit a PDF copy via the Admission Forms folder.

Note: Competitive applicant files may be processed before all recommendation letters are received.

The Full-Time MBA program requires two essays. All essays are described in the online application system (300-500 words).

A detailed resume of all work history. This may be submitted with the online application, or you can upload a copy through the Admissions Forms folder in Galaxy. Post-baccalaureate work experience is required; however, exceptions/waivers are considered for prior internship experience or a strong academic record. If you have less than two years work experience, you will be considered for waiver automatically with the submission of your application.

A detailed resume of all work history. This may be submitted with the online application, or you can upload a copy through the Admissions Forms folder in Galaxy. Two years of post-baccalaureate work experience are required; however, exceptions considered for prior internship experience or a strong academic record.

At UT Dallas, we take a holistic approach to the MBA application review. Our applications are scored with a broad number of factors including past grades, competitive test scores, years of work experience, quality of experience, leadership, professionalism, communication skills, quantitative ability, interview, where applicable, and a number of other variables.

8. Interviews

Interviews are by invitation only for our Full-Time MBA candidates.

Scholarships

Accepted applicants who submit a GMAT or GRE score compete for full and partial academic scholarships and teaching assistantships. Your scholarship package may consist of one or more of the above forms of assistance. In recent years, 75% of our incoming class was awarded some form of scholarship based on merit. Out-of-state scholarship recipients may receive a reduction in the overall cost of their tuition from nonresident to resident status. The incoming class last year received an average award of approximately 50% of the total 18-month program cost.

In addition to scholarships, students may apply for financial aid through the UT Dallas Office of Financial Aid .

In addition, the UT Dallas Office of Financial Aid works closely with all admitted students who have completed a financial aid application and who may be eligible for loans, grants or a combination of the two, based on need. Short-term loan programs are available for international students as well.

Please visit UT Dallas Tuition Plans for the most up-to-date tuition and fee information.

Steps After Admission

• Log-in to Orion to accept or decline admission in the Student Center section.
• All Full-Time MBA candidates have 10 days after receiving your admission letter to accept or decline the offer and to submit payment of the $650 seat fee to reserve your seat in our class.
• The seat fee does not function as a deposit against tuition. It is a programming fee to pay for networking events, site visits and professional development sessions.

Review your Hold and To-Do List in Orion for any outstanding documents, required orientations and new student holds.

Full-Time MBA students will be advised during LEAD Camp , our two-week orientation. Your new student hold will be removed by our office prior to registration. We will register you in your classes.

Please e-mail [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

Ready to start your application?

Now that you know the admission and application requirements, you are ready to start your application to the UT Dallas MBA Program. You can save your progress and return to your application as needed until you are ready to submit it.

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Student Success Center The University of Texas at Dallas 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas 75080-3021 972-883-2111

Home — Application Essay — University — The University of Texas at Dallas

The University of Texas at Dallas Admission Essays

Being the boss of my own life.

Determination stems from the sincerity of ambition, the toughness of character and unwillingness to compromise in the face of difficulty, fear and uncertainty. Although I am a fledgling who graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas and majored in accounting and just worked in…

Chasing Justice

As a future lawyer, I have always been interested in advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves. I have been inspired to pursue a career in law by a particular event in my life that fueled my passion for justice and equity. Growing up,…

How I Learned to Laugh: College Admission Essay Sample

I woke up to the sound of my brother screaming. Worried, I rushed downstairs to the sight of ripped paper beneath his feet and a new iPad in his hands. It was Christmas. Giddy with excitement, I dove into the pile of gifts, searching for…

Programming Science as Art

As I began my search for the perfect university to attend, I came across The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), which immediately caught my attention. With its highly-regarded reputation in computer science and engineering, I knew UTD was the perfect place for me to…

The Art in Computer Science

When I was about eight years old, I stole for the very first and the very last time. It was a small drawing of the scrumptious Gingerbread House that Hansel and Gretel, the two lost kids, had been trapped inside by the evil cannibal witch….

Arms Covered in Cheddar: College Admission Essay Sample

Grasping the knife, I made deliberate cuts. Mumbling, I couldn’t focus on what I was doing. Looking outside at the bleak clouds and parched grass, I felt groggy. Gray cinderblock-like bags tugged on my haggard eyes. The leaky kitchen faucet’s “ka plunk, ka plunk” pierced…

A Journey Through Art: College Admission Essay Sample

An enchanted ticket, speckled with the paints of artists past and present, allows me to enter any museum at any time to study, engage, and feel the mastery of the artists’ paint brushes in an effort to expand the use of my own. I set…

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* If applying after the regular application deadline, please review the late application deadline reminders available on this page .

Graduate applicants must meet both The University of Texas at Dallas graduate school requirements as well as program-specific admission requirements.

We reserve the right to make an admission’s decision based on an incomplete application whereby the admission’s committee believes that the candidates is admissible.

Application Requirements

All applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee to guarantee the selection of the most qualified applicants based upon a holistic review of the items listed below.

Personal Objectives Statement

A one-page, double-spaced, typed essay outlining the applicant’s academic interests and goals.

A detailed resume must be submitted with the online application, or you can upload a copy through the Admissions Forms folder in Galaxy. Our admissions committee regularly reviews candidates with no work experience on a regular basis, even though work experience is required.

• Applicants with No Experience : Our programs accept a significant number of students without work experience. You can list your academic projects, internships, and extra co-curricular achievements from your previous degrees, which can help the admissions committee to evaluate your candidacy.
• Applicants with Work Experience : A detailed resume of all work history. Internship experiences can also be included here. Your resume can also list academic and extra co-curricular experiences from your previous degrees. Including details that can help the admissions committee evaluate your candidacy is recommended.

Transcripts

Domestic applicants must submit transcript copies from all U.S.-based colleges and universities attended, including any graduate program in which the applicant was enrolled for admission.

International applicants and U.S. citizen and permanent resident applicants with an international degree must submit copies of academic documents such as a transcript, diploma, mark sheets, provisional degree certificate and/or your final degree certificate. Applicants who have earned a three-year baccalaureate degree are eligible to apply for admission to UT Dallas graduate programs.

The applicant’s cumulative GPA will be used as a part of the admission committee’s review for competitiveness for admission (currently, the average admitted GPA is a 3.3).

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required but applicants with 2 or more years of post baccalaureate experience will only be required to submit one. At least one of the letters must be from a professional contact and that contact does not have to be an employer. Letters of recommendation may be submitted through the online letter of recommendation system in the online application, or you can submit a PDF copy via the Admissions Forms folder . Note: Competitive applicant files may be processed before all recommendation letters are received.

English Proficiency

The ability to read, write, speak and understand English is essential for success in graduate studies at UT Dallas. If your native language is not English and you have been educated outside the United States, you must demonstrate English proficiency

You have met the English proficiency requirement and do not need to submit an English proficiency exam for admission if:

• Your bachelor’s or master’s degree (or its equivalent) was earned through instruction and examination in English.
• Your native country’s primary language is English. UT Dallas recognizes English as the primary language of these countries .

Please review the requirements as outlined on the Graduate Admission at UT Dallas page for specifics on scores and potential waivers.

GRE/GMAT Test Score (Waivers Available)

Master’s candidates who have submitted all required application components except for GMAT/GRE are automatically considered for a GMAT/GRE test waiver. Most applicants receive an automatic GMAT/GRE test score waiver.

GMAT/GRE test score waivers are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and granted for applicants who:

• Have demonstrated satisfactory performance in undergraduate or graduate coursework that can be viewed as an indication of an ability to perform well in a graduate degree program in which they have applied.
• Have significant professional work experience in the discipline of the desired academic program.

A GMAT/GRE test score waiver does not guarantee admission to the program. The following page has details about the automatic GRE/GMAT test score waiver process.

Additional Considerations

While not required as part of the application, the following information may be useful as you move forward in the application process.

Optional GRE/GMAT Test Score

A GRE/GMAT test score is not required, and students have the option to submit a test score if desired. A GRE/GMAT test score will only be used for admission purposes if one is provided by the applicant.

To indicate where the official GMAT score should be sent, please follow the list of GMAT Program Codes or, if submitting the GRE, use our GRE School Code: R6897. (No department code is needed)

Scholarships

To be considered for a scholarship, please submit a Scholarship Application

Submitting Documents

To avoid processing delays, we recommend applying to UT Dallas with unofficial test scores and transcripts. Scanned unofficial copies of your documents can be uploaded using the online application. If you have exhausted your attempts to submit your essay, resume or letter of recommendation using the online application, you may upload a copy through the Admissions Forms folder under Orion Self-Service in Galaxy.

If you have already uploaded a copy using the online graduate application, you do not need to submit another copy in Galaxy .

File Requirements for Uploading Documents

• Format: Scanned and saved as a PDF file (photos not acceptable).
• If your transcript is issued to you via hard-copy format in a sealed envelope, it is acceptable for you to open it and scan to PDF for upload.
• File size should be 10MB or less.
• Files cannot be password-protected or have a digital signature.
• Upload each document separately.
• Resolution should be no more than 300dpi.
• Scan in black and white only.

Official copies of your documents should be sent to UT Dallas after admission.

Master’s Degree Program Prerequisites

Certain prerequisites are required for graduate programs. Applicants who have not satisfied such requirements may be admitted but will need to satisfy the prerequisites as required by their program.

Credit is not earned for program prerequisites; however, all grades achieved in prerequisites will count toward the student’s cumulative grade-point average (GPA) . Program prerequisites are outlined in the Catalog within each program’s degree requirements.

Non-Degree-Seeking Students

Students who desire admission as a non-degree-seeking student must meet all the admission requirements specified above for degree-seeking students. Students who decide to switch to degree-seeking status will have to apply to the degree program. If admitted, at most six semester credit hours taken as a non-degree-seeking student can be transferred to the degree program. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Students in the U.S. on an F1 or J1 Visa may only be admitted to degree-seeking status. Please consult with the International Student Services , if you are in doubt concerning your status.

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UT Dallas Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are UT Dallas's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into UT Dallas and build a strong application.

School location: Richardson, TX

This school is also known as: University of Texas at Dallas

Admissions Rate: 84.7%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at UT Dallas is 84.7% . For every 100 applicants, 85 are admitted.

This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet UT Dallas's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

UT Dallas GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.71

The average GPA at UT Dallas is 3.71 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. This school did not officially report its average GPA, but we've estimated it here using data from over 1,000 schools.)

With a GPA of 3.71, UT Dallas requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes. This will show that you're able to handle more difficult academics than the average high school student.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

UT Dallas hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to UT Dallas will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

UT Dallas SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1291

The average SAT score composite at UT Dallas is a 1291 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes UT Dallas Competitive for SAT test scores.

UT Dallas SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1180, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1410. In other words, a 1180 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1410 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

UT Dallas ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, UT Dallas likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 28

The average ACT score at UT Dallas is 28. This score makes UT Dallas Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 32.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 24 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to UT Dallas, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 24.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

UT Dallas considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 1180 SAT or a 24 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of UT Dallas here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation 3
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $50
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office None

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 3
• Electives 2

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes May 1 Rolling

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 800 Richardson, TX 75080
• Phone: (972) 883-2111 x2111
• Fax: (972) 883-2599
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in UT Dallas, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to UT Dallas.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than UT Dallas. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for UT Dallas, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for UT Dallas, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If UT Dallas is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

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Transfer Admission

You can apply for transfer admission if:

• You have already started studying at another college or university after graduating from high school or earning a GED.
• You have or will have earned 24 semester hours of required transferable coursework at another college or university. The option to use coursework in progress is not available for spring semester applicants.

Transfer Credit Resources

Required Application Materials Deadline Extension: Summer/Fall 2024

The Common App and ApplyTexas summer/fall application is due March 1 (11:59 p.m. Central). Students may submit all additional application materials until Friday, March 8 (11:59 p.m. Central).

For questions, email [email protected] .

If you are a transfer student who is not a U.S. citizen and who is not a U.S. resident, please visit our International Transfer page.

If you are a current UT Austin student looking to transfer to a different major, please visit our Internal Transfer page.

Key Transfer Admission Dates

Summer/fall enrollment.

• ApplyTexas Application Opens Aug 1
• Common App Opens Sep 1
• Deadline to Apply March 1
• Admission Decisions Released Mid to Late June

Spring Enrollment

• ApplyTexas Application Opens March 1
• Deadline to Apply September 1
• Admission Decisions Released Mid-December

Required Application Materials

Application.

Transfer applicants can submit an application through ApplyTexas. They can also use the Common App .

Application Fee

Pay the non-refundable $75 application fee when you submit your application. Fee waivers are available. Request a fee waiver when you apply for admission or submit the Request for Fee Waiver form in MyStatus via the Document Upload System.

Along with your application, submit one essay. Applicants to the School of Architecture and Studio Art, Art Education and Art History must submit an additional essay. We recommend submitting your essay in the application. You may also submit the essay using the Document Upload System in MyStatus or by mailing them to the Office of Admissions.

Essays and Short Answers

College Transcripts and/or High School Transcripts

Send official transcripts documenting all coursework you have attempted at any college or university you attended. If you have attended more than one college or university, we’ll need a transcript from each school, even if the credits earned at one school were transferred to another. If you are applying for automatic transfer admission, submit your official high school transcript, as well. We cannot accept transcripts via email.

Transcript Info

Submit your resume offering additional information about your achievements using the Document Upload System in MyStatus. Your resume should include your previous five years of academic, extracurricular, community and work activities as well as honors and awards. You can also include high school accomplishments if they took place within the last five years.

If you submit a resume, you should include:

• Details about what each activity involved rather than a general description.
• The number of hours per week and weeks per year spent on each activity.

Review Optional and Additional Materials

Certain majors may require additional materials after you have submitted your application. You may also wish to submit additional materials to strengthen your application, such as letters of recommendation or an expanded resume.

Additional Materials

If applicable, the following materials may be required. All required items must be received by the appropriate deadline.

Major-Specific Items

Certain majors have required prerequisites for transfer applicants. These items can be found on each college and school on our Colleges & Degrees page. Please be sure to review the prerequisites for your first and second choice majors.

Colleges & Degrees

Letters of Recommendation

You can submit up to two letters of recommendation with your application or after you’ve submitted your application. These letters may be from mentors or people who know you well and can include teachers or school counselors, although we encourage you to provide letters from sources outside of your high school. The letter should be able to give additional context or information to support your admission that is not already provided in your application or other submitted documents (resume, transcripts). Letters of recommendation are not required but are encouraged.

Submitting Your Recommendations

We do not accept recommendations via email. Submit your recommendations via:

• MyStatus using the Document Upload System
• Parchment or Scoir

Residency Affidavit

You may qualify for residency if you aren’t a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident but have established Texas residency. Both the Common App and ApplyTexas applications will prompt those who indicate they meet these criteria to download the appropriate form. You can submit the affidavit to the address listed on the form.

Residency FAQs

Automatic Transfer Admission Form

Some transfer applicants are able to apply for automatic transfer admission. If you are eligible and would like to apply, complete the Automatic Transfer Admission form. More details about applicability and application instructions can be found on our Appeals page.

Automatic Transfer Admission form

Once you’ve submitted your application, you can track the status and submit additional documents in MyStatus. Be sure to regularly monitor MyStatus until your application is listed as complete and submit any to-do items prior to the deadlines.

Check MyStatus

You may be asked for additional information after you submit your application. Check MyStatus to stay up to date.

Complete the FAFSA/TASFA

Completing the FAFSA/TASFA before January 15 will maximize your eligibility for financial aid awards.

Complete Your Housing Application

You can apply for housing before you receive an admission decision. Housing is offered on a first come, first served basis. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

Check Your Email

We’ll alert you about your admission decision, financial aid awards, housing contract and other important details via email. Check your email regularly.

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Dr. Vincent Ng Develops AI Essay Grading Program

For professors struggling to cope with stacks of papers to grade, new software — developed by a UT Dallas researcher and powered by artificial intelligence — may offer a long-term solution.

Dr. Vincent Ng , a computer science professor who works with UT Dallas Human Language Technology Research Institute , is developing an automated grading system for longform essays. Ng said the goal of the technology is to remove the need for human graders altogether.

“Essay grading is one of the very important applications of natural language processing,” Ng said. “For one, it has a lot of commercial value. Grading essays requires an enormous amount of human labor, and these are hours that can be spent elsewhere in the classroom.”

The software, he said, will read blocks of text and parse certain pieces of information. The parsing occurs on multiple levels. Lower levels might deal with spelling and grammar. Higher levels would evaluate coherence and overall organization, and even higher, the overall persuasiveness of an essay.

The Human Language Technology Research Institute consists of eight separate laboratories, each headed by a faculty member. The labs focus on different aspects of natural speech, including essay grading.

Luba Ketsler, a UT Dallas economics professor, has a total of 449 students in her classes, in addition to a handful of research students. She said in her field it can be difficult to assess knowledge using only scantrons.

“I do have tests that are multiple choice, because I do have to control my workload somehow,” Ketsler said. “But I also want them to get some detail, some data.”

For Ketsler, that means written quizzes, regular writing assignments and three major research papers, each with a minimum of seven pages.

“That adds up quickly,” she said.

Ketsler, who has been at UT Dallas for 11 years, said she’s witnessed a lot of growth, changing the way she has to approach teaching, including reducing the number of written assignments as her class sizes grew.

“The bigger the class size, the more disparity you’re going to see between each student’s knowledge,” she said.

Ketsler said more diverse classrooms can make for interesting discussions but creates a demand for grading that takes each student’s background into account. The objectivity of grading software powered by artificial intelligence is a big draw for Ketsler, who said she doesn’t like to rely on teaching assistants to grade everything.

“I don’t let the TAs grade the research papers. I let them do a lot of the technical work, like inputting grades and marking quizzes, because I want to stay consistent with the actual grading,” she said. “Everyone grades a little subjectively.”

Biology junior Sania Zeito, who recently transferred to UT Dallas, said she felt there was a lack of objectivity when it came to grading standards at her previous university in Dubai.

“I sometimes felt like there was injustice, like maybe the grade depended on the mood of the grader,” Zeito said. “A robot would put a standard on the grading system.”

Artificial intelligence systems are modeled on the human brain. Ng said it is necessary to teach AI software how to grade by feeding it examples — in this case, essays graded by other humans. Feeding examples, however, can propagate error. If the data set contains biased grading, then AI incorporates the bias, too.

“You’re only as good as your data set,” Ng said.

Automated essay grading software has been employed at other institutions, such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to grade student submissions in open-access online courses, which often have enrollments in the thousands.

While there aren’t any classes at UT Dallas making use of the software yet, students might have had essays graded by computers well before they enrolled at UT Dallas, as standardized exams such as the GRE and the TOEFL are scored by Criterion, an essay-grading software. Increasingly, the written portions of these standardized tests are making use of Criterion in preparation for an expected transition to fully automated grading.

Criminology freshman Giovanna Gonzalez said she is optimistic about the prospect of an automated grading system.

“It’s going to save a lot of time and money,” she said. “We’d also be able to get our grades faster.”

Gonzalez said she is concerned, however, that using automated grading software might mean that professors won’t have a complete picture of a student’s understanding of a concept.

“It would be better for the professors, maybe,” she said. “But I am not sure if it would be better for me as a student.”

Ng said the technology is still years away from grading higher-level assignments such as those in Ketsler’s classes, giving professors time to adjust.

“Professors will always find new ways to connect with their students as technology evolves,” Ng said.

Source | UT Dallas Mercury News | Megan Zerez  

ABOUT THE UT DALLAS COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

The UT Dallas Computer Science program is one of the largest Computer Science departments in the United States with over 2,800 bachelors-degree students, more than 1,000 master’s students, 190 Ph.D. students,  52 tenure-track faculty members, and 41 full-time senior lecturers, as of Fall 2018. With The University of Texas at Dallas’ unique history of starting as a graduate institution first, the CS Department is built on a legacy of valuing innovative research and providing advanced training for software engineers and computer scientists.

The Core is an opportunity to inquire into the fundamental aspects of being and our relationship with God, nature and our fellow human beings.

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Admission Requirements

Application requirements.

Are you one of the following? In order to be considered for admission to the University of Dallas, you must:

Incoming Freshman

• Complete the online Common Application , including the essay. (You may also use ApplyTexas .)
• Complete the counselor recommendation (via the Common Application).
• Complete the University of Dallas Short Answer Questions (via the Common Application).
• Send your official high school transcript.
• REQUIRED: Send your official ACT, SAT and/or CLT score reports.* ACT and/or SAT score reports appearing on official high school transcripts are acceptable. Our ACT school code is 04234. Our SAT code is 6868.
• If you have taken college or university courses during high school, have an official copy of your final transcript forwarded directly to the University of Dallas.
• Submit your $50 application fee or an official fee waiver form. When completing your online application, you may submit payment electronically.

Transfer Student

• Complete the online institutional application. This includes a completed essay of approximately 500-650 words on the topic of why you are interested in transferring to UD. If you have questions, please contact the Transfer Counselor,  German J. Lopez)
• Letter of recommendation from a college instructor. This letter must be submitted by the recommender, not by the student. If you are unable to provide a recommendation from an instructor, please email the Transfer Counselor to notify who will be providing a recommendation for you.
• Look over the Academic Advising Sheet to see what courses/credits will or will not transfer.
• Have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
• Submit official college transcripts for each institution attended. Transcripts must be sent directly by your institution to UD; transcripts submitted by the applicant will be considered unofficial and will not fulfill this requirement.  
• If you have fewer than 24 hours of college credit, you are required to send a final official high school transcript. 
• Submit your $50 application fee or an official fee waiver form . You may submit payment electronically.

Accredited Homeschool Student

If you use an accredited homeschool program, you must submit the following items in order to be considered for admission to the University of Dallas:

• Complete the online Common Application  or ApplyTexas application , including the essay. 
• Counselor recommendation (via the Common Application or ApplyTexas).
• OPTIONAL: Teacher recommendation (via the Common Application or ApplyTexas).
• University of Dallas Short Answer Questions (via the Common Application or ApplyTexas).
• Request a copy of your most recent high school transcript. The transcript is typically sent directly to the University of Dallas from the accredited high school, along with the counselor recommendation.
• REQUIRED: Send your official ACT, SAT and/or CLT score reports.* ACT and/or SAT score reports appearing on official high school transcripts are acceptable. Our ACT school code is 04234. Our SAT code is 6868. 
• If you have taken college or university courses during high school, you must have an official copy of your final transcript forwarded directly to the University of Dallas. 
• Submit your $50 application fee or an official fee waiver form . If completing an online application, you may submit payment electronically.

Common accredited programs include Kolbe Academy, Mother of Divine Grace, Seton Home Study, Regina Caeli Academy, Texas Tech ISD, Angelicum Academy and Our Lady of Victory.

Non-Accredited & Self-Designed Homeschool Student

• Complete the online Common Application , including the essay. (You may also use  ApplyTexas ) 
• Complete the counselor recommendation (via the Common Application or ApplyTexas).  Click here  for more information on the requirements and composition of this recommendation.
• OPTIONAL: Teacher recommendation (via the Common Application  or ApplyTexas).
• Complete the University of Dallas Short Answer Questions (via the Common Application or ApplyTexas).
• Use the one-page document provided by UD . (You can view a completed sample here .) Submit this document by printing, signing and mailing a sealed copy to: University of Dallas Office of Undergraduate Admission, 1845 E. Northgate Dr., Irving, TX 75062. This document can also be uploaded via the Common Application. 
• Use a self-designed template. (Beside the sample listed above, additional templates can be found on the HSLDA website.) This must be no more than one page and must include:
• Courses organized by year. (If organized by subject, the years in which the courses were completed must be clearly noted.)
• Place where course was taken (e.g., self-designed, co-op, dual-credit, private instructor, &c.).
• GPA -- must include GPA per year as well as cumulative. (100.0 or 4.0 scale accepted.)
• Basic demographic information of the student (DOB, contact address, phone number).
• Estimated graduation date. (If the transcript submitted is the student's final transcript, it must include the actual graduation date, not estimated.)
• Signature of the primary educator (most often a parent). 
• Use FastTranscripts.com to submit your one-page transcript easily and safely.

(Please note: the grading scale submitted on a student's original transcript will be used to calculate GPA throughout the entire application process. UD reserves the right to re-calculate a GPA as deemed necessary.)

• Send your  Book List & Course Description . The Book List & Course Description document helps UD to understand the academic background of the applicant. It must include the course name, place taken, synopsis of the course, list of texts used in the course and the final grade. There is no specified length, but this document typically ranges from 5-15 pages. Please see a completed sample here .

(Any transcripts or Book Lists that do not contain all the required information outlined above will be considered incomplete and returned to the applicant.)

• REQUIRED: Send your official ACT, SAT and/or CLT score reports.* Our ACT school code is 04234. Our SAT code is 6868. 
• Submit your $50 application fee or an official fee waiver form . If completing an online application, you may submit payment electronically. 

International Student

• The online  Common Application , including the essay. (You may also use ApplyTexas .)
• Counselor recommendation (via the Common Application).
• University of Dallas Short Answer Questions (via the Common Application).
• Official transcripts (with certified English translations), showing all secondary and post-secondary courses and grades. 
• Submit national examination results and/or official notification of successful school completion.
• Official transcripts showing all secondary and post-secondary courses and grades. International transcripts must be sent through an approved transcript evaluation service .
• TOEFL minimum scores for application review: 80 for Internet-based test only.
• IELTS minimum score for application review: 6.5.
• Duolingo English test minimum score for application review: 110
• Conditional admission not offered by the University of Dallas. Students must apply English-ready. 
• Note: If you are from a non-English speaking country and choose to submit SAT or ACT scores, this score will take the place of the English language proficiency exam requirement.
• Submit your $50 application fee or an official fee waiver form. If completing an online application, you may submit payment electronically.
• Submit a copy of your passport (if available).

If you still have questions about applying as an International student, visit our  International Student Frequently Asked Questions page or contact our admission office at [email protected]

Once admitted, international students must complete the Confirmation of Financial Resources Form , certified by a bank official (not required for lawful permanent residents or those of H-4, E-2, G-2, L-2 status).

Seminarian Student

The Undergraduate Admission Office processes applications for prospective seminarians for Holy Trinity Seminary, Redemptoris Mater Seminary and the Vietnamese Redemptorist Seminary. Typically, students wishing to enter one of these seminaries have already obtained approval from their diocese or the rector of the desired seminary or are in the process of doing so.

For Holy Trinity seminarians

If you are planning to begin the propaedeutic stage of formation in the upcoming academic year, you should apply here . If accepted, you will be a non-degree seeking student during the propaedeutic stage. In the following year you would apply for admission to UD as a full-time student.

If you are currently completing the propaedeutic stage of formation at Holy Trinity Seminary and you plan to begin the discipleship stage of formation at Holy Trinity Seminary in the upcoming academic year, you should apply here . If accepted, you will become a regular full-time student at UD as either an undergraduate or a pre-theologian.

If you will have completed the propaedeutic stage of formation at Holy Trinity Seminary prior to the upcoming academic year somewhere else besides Holy Trinity Seminary, you should apply to UD as:

• An incoming freshman, if you have not completed any college coursework after high school (please apply here , using the Common App). For a checklist of all the things needed to apply as an incoming freshman, click here ).
• A transfer student, if you have completed some college coursework after high school (please apply here . For a checklist of all the things needed to apply as a transfer, click here ).
• A pre-theologian, if you have completed a bachelor’s degree (please apply here ).

For all other seminarians

If you will be receiving formation at Redemptoris Mater Seminary or the Vietnamese Redemptorist seminary, you should apply as a regular freshman, a transfer student, or a pre-theologian, depending on your prior academic history. You should follow the usual procedures for doing so. Please speak to your rector or religious superior in order to clarify your classification and the right application process for you.

If you have any questions about applying to UD as a seminarian, please contact the Undergraduate Office of Admission or Matthew Walz , the Director of the Philosophy & Letters and Pre-Theology Programs.

Non-Degree Seeking Student

• Complete the non-degree seeking application .
• Submit your  $50 application fee .
• Submit official college transcripts for the most recent institution attended.

Readmission

• Students who have previously attended the University of Dallas and wish to re-enroll should complete the readmit application .

Send all documents to:

Office of Undergraduate Admission & Financial Aid 1845 E. Northgate Drive Irving, TX 75062

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Hobson Wildenthal Honors College

• The Story behind Collegium V’s Name? Just Ask Aristotle
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Second of six stories

By Rick Vacek | April 10, 2024

Newcomers to the cornerstone program of the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College often fail its first test.

They don’t know how to pronounce Collegium V , let alone understand what it implies.

Collegium V, the precursor to the Honors College, features smaller class sizes and more research, internship and extracurricular opportunities … plus an interesting name.

Most say koll-EEJ-ee-uhm, as in college. That’s what several dictionaries decree, too.

But that’s not correct at The University of Texas at Dallas .

Here, the pronunciation is koll-EEG-ee-uhm – as in colleague, with a hard g . The “V” is for the Roman numeral signifying the number 5, which explains why its acronym, CV, is pronounced see-five.

So why is that preferred, and what is the story behind it? It goes back to the classical training of Dr. Dennis Kratz , director of the Center for Asian Studies at UT Dallas.

Kratz was dean of the Office of Undergraduate Education in the early 1990s when he invited a new faculty member, Dr. Edward “Ted” Harpham , to a UT Dallas soccer match. The University had recently started enrolling freshmen, and Harpham was keen on starting an honors program to attract gifted students.

“I told him that if he ever got something going,” Harpham recalled, “he should talk to me.”

Kratz didn’t forget those words, and a few years later he invited Harpham to join a committee that would explore the idea further. There was only one problem: No one in the group truly understood what the components of an honors program should be, and a consultant from another university didn’t narrow it down.

“He basically said, ‘Do what you think you want to do for your students. There is no template. You can do a variety of things.’ It was basically, ‘Figure it out,’” Harpham said. “So, of course, we created an honors program that was going to be harder than all the jeebies.”

There was only one aspect of it that added heebies to Harpham’s jeebies: “I made it clear to everybody that I didn’t want to run it. I was going to teach public policy and political theory for the rest of my life and didn’t want to be an administrator.”

Nevertheless, he couldn’t say no in 1998 when he was asked to take over as manager of the new program. But what should it be called? That’s where Kratz’s knowledge of the classics ramped up.

Choosing “Collegium” was the easy part. It means “college” in Latin.

The meaning behind the “V” wasn’t as obvious. It goes back to the four elements (earth, water, air, fire) designated by the ancient Greeks. Aristotle added a fifth element – the quintessence, or the essence of the experience.

It struck a chord with the creative minds of Kratz and his wife, Dr. Abby Kratz, a former UT Dallas associate provost. The provost, Dr. Hobson Wildenthal , loved it, too. But Harpham said his first reaction was, “Are you crazy, Dennis?”

“This was a Latin scholar saying, ‘You have four undergraduate years. Collegium V will be the essence of your undergraduate education,’” Harpham said.

“The only problem is, I had to explain this to people at everything. They’d say, ‘What is Collegium V?’ I’d say, ‘Well, it’s a name from a classic scholar from Harvard.’ But it was really kind of neat because it was something different.”

As is the program itself. A key part of its allure is the opportunity to mix with students across a variety of majors and disciplines.

Neuroscience sophomore Giana Abraham, a member of the Collegium V Executive Council , has seen how that network feeds her passion for storytelling. “That’s the cool thing about CV: You get to meet people who build into your story,” she said.

That means a wide range of interests and passions.

“You’re exposed to people who are not doing the same thing you are,” biology junior Samar Ahmed said. “I think if I wasn’t in the Honors program, I wouldn’t have met physics majors, math majors, public policy majors. You meet a lot of unique people.”

But the student-to-student relationships aren’t the only reason undergraduates thrive in CV, she added:

“With a smaller class size, you can really get to know a professor more. It’s a little more personal. I feel like I know the material more in depth or I have a deeper understanding of it.”

If it hadn’t been for Collegium V, senior Aryan Verma wouldn’t have taken courses on neuropharmacology and cellular neuroscience with Dr. Eva LaDow , senior lecturer in neuroscience and one of six Honors College faculty members.

Her instruction and mentorship proved critical in Verma’s development as he prepares for a career in geriatrics.

“The small classes provided an opportunity to get to know other people in an intimate setting, and it turned out to be a discussion-based class,” he said. “It also allowed me to build a close relationship with Dr. LaDow. I used the information when I was volunteering and doing clinical research.”

But many students don’t enter college with a concrete career plan. Dr. Douglas Dow , associate dean of the Honors College and clinical professor of government and politics, likes to use the word “experiment” to describe everything they do at UT Dallas.

“They experiment in the classes they take, including the classes that they’re required to take, as well as their choice of major,” he said. “They experiment in determining, ‘Do I want to try to do research with a faculty member? Do I want to do an internship? Do I want to do a study abroad? Do I want to learn a language?’”

But first, they have to learn the language of Collegium V’s name.

Before he retired in 2023, Harpham kicked off his first lecture to incoming students each year by explaining the meaning behind Kratz’s classical brainstorm. “This makes you cool because no one really knows,” he would tell them.

No doubt many of them also needed a pronunciation lesson, which makes Kratz chuckle. All these years later, he’s still having fun with his idea.

He acknowledges that koll-EEJ-ee-uhm, as in college, is preferred by most linguists, adding, “And so, with the minimal powers invested in me as the founder, I hereby grant permission to use it.”

Next: Learning isn’t limited to classroom for National Merit Scholars, Terry Scholars. 

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• New Findings Reveal Clearer Picture of Expanding Universe

An astrophysicist from The University of Texas at Dallas and his colleagues from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaboration are at the forefront of an ambitious experiment to study the expansion of the universe and its acceleration.

Dr. Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki , professor of physics in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) at UT Dallas, is a member of the DESI collaboration, an international group of more than 900 researchers from over 70 institutions around the world engaged in a multiyear experiment to increase understanding of the history and fate of the cosmos.

On April 4, Ishak-Boushaki presented analyses of the first year of data collected by the DESI experiment at a meeting of the American Physical Society in Sacramento, California, along with two other DESI scientists. Ishak-Boushaki presented the cosmology results inferred from DESI data and their implications for the universe. Researchers also shared results from the first year of collected data in multiple papers posted on the preprint site arXiv.

DESI, located at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) in Arizona, gathers light from the most distant parts of the universe, which enables scientists to map the cosmos as it was in its youth and trace its evolution to what is observed today. Understanding how the universe has evolved is tied to how it ends and to one of the biggest mysteries in physics: What is behind the observation that the expansion of the universe is accelerating?

The analysis of DESI’s first year of data collection confirmed the basics of what scientists hold as the best model of the universe, but it also hints that there is more to learn about the underlying cause, or causes, of cosmic acceleration, the discovery of which led to the Nobel Prize in physics in 2011.

Cosmic acceleration is problematic because it counters how gravity, which causes objects with mass to be drawn together, is observed to work in our solar system and nearby space.

“Gravity pulls matter together, so that when we throw a ball in the air, the Earth’s gravity pulls it down toward the planet,” Ishak-Boushaki said. “But at the largest scales, the universe acts differently. It’s acting like there is something repulsive pushing the universe apart and accelerating its expansion. This is a big mystery, and we are investigating it on several fronts. Is it an unknown dark energy in the universe, or is it a modification of Albert Einstein’s theory of gravity at cosmological scales?”

“Our results show some interesting deviations from the standard model of the universe that could indicate that dark energy is evolving over time. … If it persists, such a result will shed some light on what is causing cosmic acceleration and provide a huge step in understanding the evolution of our universe.” Dr. Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki, professor of physics in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Dark energy is thought by many scientists to play a key role in cosmic acceleration, but it is not well understood. Some theorize that it is a cosmological constant — an intrinsic property of space that drives the acceleration.

To study dark energy’s effects over the past 11 billion years, the DESI group has created the largest 3D map of the cosmos ever constructed using the most precise measurements to date. This is the first time that scientists have measured the expansion history of the young universe with a precision better than 1%.

The leading model of the universe is known as Lambda-CDM. It includes both ordinary matter and a rarely interacting type of matter called cold dark matter (CDM), and dark energy, known as Lambda. Both matter and dark energy shape how the universe expands, but in opposing ways. Through gravitational attraction, matter and dark matter slow down the expansion, while dark energy speeds it up. The amount of each influences how the universe evolves. This model is effective at validating results from previous experiments and describing how the universe looks throughout time, Ishak-Boushaki said.

When DESI’s first-year results are combined with data from other studies, however, there are some subtle differences from what the Lambda-CDM model would predict.

“Our results show some interesting deviations from the standard model of the universe that could indicate that dark energy is evolving over time,” Ishak-Boushaki said. “The more data we collect, the better equipped we will be to determine whether this finding holds. With more data, we might identify different explanations for the result we observe or confirm it. If it persists, such a result will shed some light on what is causing cosmic acceleration and provide a huge step in understanding the evolution of our universe.”

To learn more about how UT Dallas is enhancing lives through transformative research, explore New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas .

More data also will improve DESI’s other early results, which weigh in on the Hubble constant — a measure of how fast the universe is expanding today — and the mass of particles called neutrinos.

DESI is the first spectroscopic experiment to perform a fully blinded analysis, which conceals the true result from the scientists to avoid any subconscious confirmation bias. Researchers work “blind” with modified data and write computer code to analyze their findings. Once everything is finalized, they apply their analysis to the original data to reveal the actual answer.

“Dr. Ishak-Boushaki’s research and his collaboration with scientists at some 70 institutions is revealing important insights about our universe, and the results are fascinating,” said Dr. David Hyndman , dean of NSM and the Francis S. and Maurine G. Johnson Distinguished University Chair. “It’s inspiring to have such world-class research programs at UT Dallas and to see our scientists play key roles in fundamental discoveries.”

DESI was constructed and is operated with funding from the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science and sits atop the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at KPNO, which is operated by the NSF’s NOIRLab. The DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory manages the DESI experiment.

DESI also is supported by the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, the primary computing facility for the DOE Office of Science. Additional support for DESI is provided by the NSF; the Science and Technology Facilities Council of the United Kingdom; the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; the Heising-Simons Foundation; the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission; the National Council of Humanities, Sciences, and Technologies of Mexico; the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain; and DESI member institutions.

The DESI collaboration is honored to be permitted to conduct scientific research on Iolkam Du’ag (Kitt Peak), a mountain with particular significance to the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Media Contact: Amanda Siegfried, UT Dallas, 972-883-4335, [email protected] , or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected] .

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Chiefs WR Rashee Rice surrenders to Glenn Heights PD after multi-vehicle Dallas crash

According to glenn heights, rice bonded out, by frank heinz and alicia barrera • published april 11, 2024 • updated on april 11, 2024 at 10:12 pm.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has surrendered to police in connection to his involvement in a multi-vehicle crash on U.S. 75 in Dallas in late March. 

According to online records, Rice turned himself in on Thursday to the Glenn Heights Police Department. His combined bond total is $40,000. According to Glenn Heights, Rice bonded out.

Southern Methodist University in Dallas says they've suspended a member of the school's football team who is accused alongside NFL player Rashee Rice of injuring four people in a car crash last month.

According to an email from SMU, the athletics department was notified by Dallas police that they had an arrest warrant for Theodore "Teddy" Knox, who is listed on the school's football roster as a sophomore cornerback out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Police allege that on March 30 Rice, in a Lamborghini SUV, and Knox, in a Corvette, were speeding along U.S. Highway 75 near University Boulevard when they caused a chain reaction crash involving four other vehicles that was recorded on a witness's dashcam video.

Both Rice, 23, and Knox, 21, have been charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury.

In addition to the crash, the dashcam video showed the occupants of the sports cars getting out of the vehicles and walking away.

UPDATE: Glenn Heights Police confirm Rashee Rice bonded out after he was booked earlier today in Desoto. Rice turned himself in after Dallas police issued arrest warrants related to a crash in Dallas that injured several people. https://t.co/4gI2hwiBrL @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/WODgSujj1J — Allie Spillyards (@AllieSpillyards) April 12, 2024

"The occupants of the Lamborghini and the Corvette all ran from the scene without stopping to determine if anyone needed medical help or providing their information," Dallas Police said after the crash. "Two of the involved drivers were treated at the scene by Dallas Fire-Rescue for minor injuries and two occupants of another vehicle were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries."

The school said Thursday afternoon that Knox has been suspended from the team and that they take the allegations seriously. SMU said federal student privacy laws prevented them from sharing further details about disciplinary proceedings.

Deandra Grant, an attorney representing Knox told NBC 5 on Wednesday that Knox has "cooperated fully with law enforcement" but that they had no further comment.

Rice's attorney, State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said last week that his client admitted to police he was driving the Lamborghini when it crashed. In a statement published on social media, Rice said he was taking full responsibility for his part in the matter.

As of Thursday afternoon, Dallas police confirmed to NBC 5 that neither Rice nor Knox have surrendered.

Rice, who grew up in North Richland Hills, played college football at SMU before being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023.

Theodore Knox, 21, is not in custody at this time.

Rashee Rice faces 8 charges in Central Expressway hit-and-run crash, Dallas Police say

Rashee rice admits to police to driving lambo suv in dallas crash, lawyer says.

Rashee Rice attorneys give update surrounding Dallas crash

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UT-Dallas to close Office of Campus Resources and Support, eliminate 20 jobs

The University of Texas at Dallas is closing its Office of Campus Resources and Support effective April 30 and eliminating about 20 associated jobs as part of the school's reevaluation of its services in light of Senate Bill 17, a state law that went into effect in January banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities, President Richard Benson announced Tuesday.

"I know that this decision will not be welcomed by many in our campus community," Benson said in an email to the campus. "I remain committed to ensuring that UT Dallas is a supportive community focused on developing the knowledge, the research and the people that are vital to our future. Thank you all for your ongoing work and commitment to these goals."

The Office of Campus Resources and Support was a new office the school opened Jan. 1 "to ensure UT Dallas can continue to meet the needs" of its students in a way that complied with SB 17 after the school closed its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Dec. 31, according to its website. The office's mission was to enhance "student community-building and supporting employees and employee resource groups."

Benson's announcement came exactly a week after the University of Texas at Austin announced it was closing its Division of Campus and Community Engagement, formerly the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. The American-Statesman confirmed last week that at least 60 staff members at UT who previously performed DEI-related duties, many in the new Campus and Community Engagement Division, had been notified that they would lose their positions effective in 90 days or more.

Others are reading: Sources: UT lays off at least 60 employees previously in DEI-related position, closes DCCE

Alexander De Jesus Colón, a senior at UT-Dallas who had heavily organized against SB 17 with Texas Students for DEI last year, said the news brought "rage and sadness."

"At first I kind of (took a) double take," De Jesus Colón said. "Like, is this a joke? A really bad joke?"

He said students had been assured that UT-Dallas had fully complied with SB 17 by Jan. 1. There was "no longer DEI" at the institution, and the Office of Campus Resources and Support was a community center, a place for cultural dialogue and support for students, from clothing to scholarships.

"We don't know what will survive and what will be dissolved," De Jesus Colón said.

Benson said in his email that the AccessAbility Resource Center as well as disability and accessibility services will be moved to different departments. Student workers affected by the cuts will keep their jobs through the end of the semester, he said.

"Employees whose positions are being eliminated may apply for any open position at UT Dallas, and I encourage hiring managers to give these experienced and talented individuals careful review when making their hiring decisions," Benson said.

The announcements by both UT System universities come after the law's author, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, sent a letter to all state university chancellors and boards of regents warning them to fully comply with SB 17 in advance of a Senate Education Committee hearing in May in which lawmakers are expected to hear from administrators how their universities are carrying out the intent of the law.

"Our actions ensured that we were fully compliant with SB 17 as of January 1, 2024, the effective date of the legislation," Benson said in his email. "Since then, we have continued to evaluate our SB 17 response and how to realign many of the programs impacted by the legislation."

Nandita Kumar, a second-year student at UT-Dallas and chair of the Student Government's Diversity, Equity and Belonging Committee, said she is leading a coalition with other student organizations to make up the resources lost by the support office's closure and other SB 17-related changes at the school.

"We need to all leverage the resources we have to ensure that this bill does not continue to drastically impact the student body and impact students all across Texas," Kumar said.

This decision took away remaining "critical support resources" that were deemed compliant with SB 17, such as safe spaces for marginalized students to gather, Kumar said. The coalition, launched Tuesday, is student-led and aims to connect with partners who can help student groups, who are exempt from the law, continue to support students.

Communication, understanding resources lost and establishing community partners, and creating a financial support plan for student groups are the three focuses of the Coalition of Agents for Student Advocacy, or CASA, she said.

"Casa also means 'home' in Spanish, and so we are trying to make this university a home for everyone," Kumar said. "That includes making sure they're supported with all their other identities, whatever that may look like."

UT-Dallas' communications office did not immediately return a Statesman request for comment Tuesday. On Wednesday, it directed all requests to Benson's announcement.

Editorial | The harsh consequences of the Texas GOP's fervor to crush DEI at UT

More: 'We did not see this coming': UT staff, students react to layoffs, DCCE closure after SB17

Both UT-Austin and UT-Dallas previously said they had taken all the steps necessary to be compliant with SB 17 before Jan. 1.

De Jesus Colón said the announcement was a "crushing blow" after already adapting to the legislation and changes.

"At the very least, people could feel a community, and now that's gone as well," De Jesus Colón said. "What's next?"

More: UT System sets rules to comply with new Texas tenure, anti-DEI laws

'Who's going to be fired next': Texas university, legislative leaders decry DEI ban layoffs

University professors and state legislative leaders say mass layoffs at the University of Texas at Dallas and UT Austin because of the state's new law prohibiting DEI offices in public colleges are having a "chilling effect."

Earlier this week UT Dallas announced it's shuttering the new Office of Campus Resources and Support and eliminating about 20 related jobs in order to comply with Senate Bill 17. The announcement came a week after UT Austin confirmed it was laying off 66 staff members for the same reason.

"We don't really know who's going to be fired next," said Brian Evans, incoming Texas Conference president of the American Association of University Professors. "And for what reason? I mean, these are staff legally working. ... I hope it is the last mass firing, but we're concerned it's not the last."

Evans was speaking after a press conference Wednesday put on by the Texas AAUP, Texas Legislative Black Caucus and the NAACP.

"We're really worried," Evans continued. "Also, students were fired. We're just concerned this is going to be the start of something."

UTD President Richard Benson said in August that no one would lose a job because of SB 17. In a message announcing the layoffs, however, he said since making “several organizational changes” to comply with the law, “we have continued to evaluate our SB 17 response and how to realign many of the programs impacted by the legislation.”

State Sen. Brandon Creighton, who authored the bill, sent a letter last month to Texas university systems requiring them to submit documentation of how they're complying with the law ahead of a May legislative hearing.

State Rep. Ron Reynolds, chairman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, said in a statement that the mass layoffs at UT Austin were "issued in haste" in response to Creighton's letter. Speaking Wednesday, he said assurances were made during the last legislative session that such layoffs wouldn't happen.

"This was a breach of trust," he said.

Employees at UTD whose jobs are being eliminated can apply for other roles at the school.

Bill Zeeble is KERA’s education reporter. Got a tip? Email Bill at  [email protected] . You can follow him on X  @bzeeble .

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Construction Kicks Off for New Student Union, Esports Center

January 12, 2024.

A new Student Success Center/Student Union will be built where the Cecil and Ida Green Center is located, and the former Pub dining area in the current Student Union will be renovated and become an esports center.

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‘An overreaction’: Black lawmakers, advocates denounce UT schools’ layoffs due to DEI ban

After university of texas system schools in austin and dallas laid off employees who used to work with dei, advocacy groups said it is a political move and demanded reinstatement..

By Marcela Rodrigues

6:16 PM on Apr 10, 2024 CDT — Updated at 9:11 PM on Apr 10, 2024 CDT

Laying off staff in the wake of Texas’ DEI ban is an overreaction and discriminatory, some legislators and advocacy groups said during a news conference Wednesday.

Some of Texas’ Black lawmakers joined two advocacy groups to speak out against recent layoffs that appear to be efforts to comply with Texas’ DEI ban, also known as Senate Bill 17.

UT laid off about 60 employees last week, and University of Texas at Dallas officials announced Tuesday that about 20 staffers would be cut at that school.

Related: 5 things to know about Texas’ DEI ban

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Many of these staffers had been in positions that supported diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. After the state’s ban went into effect Jan. 1, schools moved many such employees to different roles that supported students in various ways.

The Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors shared on social media late Wednesday evening documentation they said shows that university officials certified that employees reassigned jobs were in compliance with the law.

University officials could not be reached immediately Wednesday evening.

“This was MAGA politics at its worst,” Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, said of the DEI ban and its impact.

As a result, Reynolds, who’s chairman of the Texas Legislature Black Caucus, said students are suffering because of partisan politics. “It’s the worst kind of leadership where you use Black, brown and LGBT communities as political pawns.”

The cuts in Dallas and Austin came just weeks after Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, the Texas legislator who authored the DEI ban, sent a letter to university leaders reinforcing expectations of the new state law and the oversight process.

Creighton stressed in that letter that simply renaming offices and programs is unacceptable and emphasized that universities could lose millions in state funding if they fail to comply. He sent the letter weeks after secret recordings went public showing some Texas university staff suggesting they would continue DEI work under different names.

On Wednesday, the lawmakers and advocacy groups — which included the Texas chapters of the NAACP and of the American Association of University Professors — said that legislators pushing for the ban and university leaders promised no layoffs due to SB 17. That was the case until Creighton’s letter triggered an “overreaction,” they said.

Gary Bledsoe, president of Texas’ NAACP chapter, said the Austin cuts appeared to impact women of color most.

The wording of SB 17 is vague and unclear, and a law must be clear to be applied, Bledsoe said.

“The resources that were being provided and that are now being cut are the result of extensive and peer-reviewed academic research and study, and all of the programs developed as a result of it are being destroyed willy nilly,” he added.

Students and faculty are losing academic advising, counseling, health services, support for faculty to secure federal grants and other services and programs, said Brian Evans, president elect of the Texas chapter of the American Association of University. That organization sent UT President Jay Hartzell a letter demanding him to rescind the termination notices employees received.

Creighton did not respond Wednesday to requests for comments about whether the cuts were due to his letter.

In response to UT’s move last week, Creighton said in a statement recently that the university’s actions “demonstrate that they are taking steps to ensure compliance with SB 17 — the strongest ban on DEI in the nation.”

The Conroe Republican said that DEI “produced less diversity, divided students and mandated political loyalty oaths.” He emphasized that Texas higher education should return to a “merit-based framework.”

Reynolds said Wednesday that DEI programs remedy historical discrimination against communities of color and provide an inclusive atmosphere for all students to feel welcome.

In February, a video of hidden-camera footage of university employees discussing the DEI ban was published to YouTube. Some employees, not knowing they were being recorded, suggested that they would find “creative” ways to pursue DEI initiatives regardless of the new law.

Since the ban went into effect, some schools faced closures of programs beyond what was laid out in the DEI ban. For example, UT’s Monarch Program, which supported immigrant and undocumented students, was shut down unexpectedly at the beginning of the spring semester.

Related: How Texas’ DEI ban swallowed a UT program for undocumented students

The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.

The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.

Marcela Rodrigues , Staff writer . Marcela is a reporting fellow for the Education Lab at The Dallas Morning News. She has previously reported for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Chalkbeat, and The New York Times.

Duncanville homes evacuated after ‘live artillery shell’ found in backyard

Rashee rice, kansas city chiefs wr, surrenders after dallas hit-and-run crash, smu suspends football player accused in multivehicle hit-and-run involving rashee rice, ‘ordinary effort’ texas rangers fall victim to obscure baseball rule in loss to a’s, ‘a sex broker hiding in plain sight.’ plano spa accused of prostitution, human trafficking.