FAQs for Undergrad Applicants

Students apply to The University of Texas at Austin through the university's undergraduate application and select a major in the College of Natural Sciences. Application materials, deadlines and official admission requirements are managed by the Office of Admissions.

Students interested in CNS should pursue strong academic preparation in mathematics and science and take appropriately challenging coursework when available. We also encourage students to explore the majors they are genuinely interested in and use the application to communicate their academic interests, experiences, and goals. These are general recommendations, not a formula for admission. Please visit the main Office of Admissions’ review and decision process page for further information.

* The College of Natural Sciences does not review undergraduate applications, make admission decisions, or evaluate individual applicants’ likelihood of admission. Our Recruitment & Outreach team can provide general guidance about CNS majors, programs, and the application process.

No. Our Recruitment & Outreach team does not review applications or provide individual assessments of a student's admission chances. Admission is based on a holistic review conducted through the university's admission process.*

* The College of Natural Sciences does not review undergraduate applications, make admission decisions, or evaluate individual applicants’ likelihood of admission. Our Recruitment & Outreach team can provide general guidance about CNS majors, programs, and the application process.

Early Action provides an earlier decision timeline but does not provide a competitive advantage in the admission review. Students should use the current Office of Admissions deadlines and submit a complete application by the appropriate deadline.

Application materials are submitted to the Office of Admissions. Applicants should use MyStatus to monitor required materials, upload eligible documents, and review updates to their application.

Major change requests for applicants are handled through MyStatus and the Office of Admissions. Whether a change can be considered may depend on the timing of the request.

Admission decisions and major updates are communicated through MyStatus according to the university's current decision timeline. Because dates and processes can change by cycle, applicants should refer to the Office of Admissions and their website for the most current information.

Students who enroll at UT Austin in another college or school may later explore the CNS internal transfer process. Internal transfer is competitive and requirements vary by major; admission is not guaranteed.

Students may consider applying in a future cycle, including as an external transfer applicant after completing college coursework. The Office of Admissions provides the official requirements for the external transfer process. CNS also publishes additional information for students seeking external transfer to a CNS major. Please see the links above and transfer details below for further clarification.

No. Eligibility for automatic admission to the university does not guarantee placement in a particular college or major. Please keep in mind you may select more than one major on your application. Applicants should review the university's current information about major selection and admission. Visit the Office of Admissions FAQs for those details.

CNS does not have a minimum test score that guarantees admission to a major. Your SAT/ACT score is part of the holistic review. Applicants should follow UT Austin's current standardized testing requirements and submit scores according to the Office of Admissions instructions. Please see the Office of Admissions FAQs for those details.

Choose a major that genuinely reflects your academic interests and the subjects you would be excited to study in-depth. Prospective students can compare CNS majors, degree plans, research areas, and career pathways before applying through exploring our webpage.

No. At UT, pre-med is a pathway, not a major. Students may choose any major at UT while completing the prerequisite coursework required to apply to medical school. CNS students interested in health professions can work with their academic advisor and the Health Professions Office.

Yes, but in most cases, it is not necessary. Current UT students may discuss this option with their academic advisor once enrolled.  Most students interested in a double major will begin in one admitted major and pursue the additional major later through the appropriate internal transfer or simultaneous-major process. Both options are available on the Internal Transfer Application, which you may find here. You may find specific CNS Internal Transfer details here.

Competitive transfer applicants should demonstrate strong academic performance and clear preparation for their intended CNS major, particularly in relevant mathematics and science coursework. Applicants should review the current CNS external transfer requirements for their intended major before applying.

Transfer eligibility and minimum-hour requirements are governed by current university and CNS policies. Because these requirements may change, applicants should confirm the current minimum and any major-specific prerequisites before applying.

Students attending Texas colleges and universities can use UT Austin's transfer-credit resources to review many course equivalencies. Coursework from institutions outside Texas is evaluated according to university transfer-credit procedures.

No. CNS academic advisors serve currently enrolled CNS students and do not provide individualized pre-admission transcript evaluations. Prospective transfer students should use the university's transfer resources and published CNS requirements when planning coursework.

No. CAP provides a pathway to UT Austin under the terms of the Coordinated Admission Program, but admission to a CNS major is not guaranteed. Students seeking a CNS major should review the current external transfer process and CNS requirements. Please see the Admissions CAP FAQs and webpage for more details.

CNS offers a range of undergraduate majors and degree plans. Depending on the major, students may have options such as a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA). The BS generally emphasizes greater depth in science and mathematics, while the BSA can provide additional flexibility for coursework outside the major.

For majors that offer both options, students work with their academic advisor after enrollment to determine which degree best supports their academic and professional goals. Students do not need to make degree-plan decisions before applying to UT. This happens upon successful admission to UT after enrolling at the university, and you may discuss this with your advisor once enrolled. 

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary program with participation from multiple colleges and schools at UT Austin. Applicants should review the current program structure, available tracks and admission requirements before selecting it as a major. Find EVS FAQs.

Credit policies depend on the exam, score, and UT course equivalency. Students should review Student Testing Services for current credit-by-exam information and discuss whether claiming certain credits supports their degree plan with an academic advisor during orientation. Students may also review the UT Automatic Transfer Equivalency System (ATES) website to see which dual credit classes may be claimed.

CNS offers programs that help students build relationships with peers, faculty and staff. Every incoming student in CNS participates in a small community program. We also host many student organizations that are sponsored by our college.

CNS offers multiple pathways into undergraduate research. The Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) gives many first-year students early access to authentic, credit-bearing research, while other opportunities are available to continuing and transfer students through faculty laboratories, research programs, and university resources. More information can be found on the Experiential Learning website.

FRI gives first-year students early access to authentic, credit-bearing research. Students build foundational skills and then join a specialized research stream, working on questions whose answers are not already known. Research areas span the natural sciences, computing and related fields.

Students interested in pharmacy should explore the prerequisite coursework and application expectations for the pharmacy programs they may eventually pursue. Plans can change, so students should also select an undergraduate major that fits their broader academic interests and goals, since some Pharmacy graduate degrees do not require a 4-year undergraduate degree.

Pre-health is an academic and professional pathway rather than a major. Students complete prerequisite coursework for their intended health profession while pursuing a major that interests them. The Health Professions Office supports students across UT Austin with pre-health coaching, workshops, application guidance, and preparation resources.

Prospective students should review the current CNS and university scholarship information for the admission cycle in which they apply. Students applying to CNS are immediately considered for college-wide scholarships. UT Scholarship processes and eligibility requirements can change and can also be found on the Scholarship Interest Form once the main UT application is submitted. Some awards may use information from the admission application, financial-aid materials, or both.

The process for incoming-student scholarships should be confirmed on the current CNS scholarship and university financial-aid pages. Students should also complete any required financial aid materials (FAFSA) by the published deadlines to be considered for available aid.

Yes. Continuing CNS students may have access to college, departmental and university scholarship opportunities during their time at UT Austin. Eligibility and application periods vary by award.

Notification timing can vary by award and admission cycle. Students should refer to current CNS scholarship information and MyStatus for the most accurate timeline.

CNS offers three college-wide honors communities: Dean's Scholars, Health Science Scholars and Polymathic Scholars. CNS also has major or department-specific honors opportunities, including programs in Computer Science and the School of Health and Human Services. Students should use the respective Honors website for the current list of programs and requirements.

Requirements vary by program. College-wide CNS honors programs serve students across many CNS majors, while departmental honors programs are tied to specific majors or academic areas.

Participation rules depend on the programs involved. Students may be able to combine certain CNS honors experiences with departmental or university honors programs but should review each program's requirements and consult the appropriate honors staff.

Some CNS honors programs accept applications from current or transfer students, subject to program-specific eligibility, timing and space. Applicants should review the current requirements for the honors program they are interested in.

Because requirements and timelines vary by program and admission cycle, detailed questions about honors applications, essays, recommendations, decisions, and program expectations should be directed to the CNS Honors website and the individual honors program.