r/UTK Oct 31 '24

Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions One Admissions Post to End Them All

50 Upvotes

Hello Class of 2031!

This is my 4th update to this post, and I hope my information remains helpful to this day! 🙌

The following information compiles both my experiences and departmental knowledge over my time at UT. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

If you want the TL;DR version:

  • Instate students who do not receive guaranteed admission will need a UT GPA of at least 3.9 or an ACT above 28. It has become incredibly difficult for instate students... so get that 4.0 and ACT score up!

  • Out of State students... you damn near need to be the best of the best these days. I cannot promise anything obviously but if you have a weighted GPA above 4.3ish and a ACT composite of 30 or so... you should get a pretty good amount of money and feel comfortable with admissions (so long as you have half rate essays)!

Firstly, I feel obligated to state my qualifications to give the opinions and facts in this post:

  1. I am a current Senior at UT (will not graduate until 2028) Applied out of state

  2. I am affiliated with two organizations who monitor admission cycles each year across all universities (one MAY or may not be directly affiliated with MIT's admission office).

Not to name names... lol.

But I think this discussion should be broken up into 6 parts. (Yes long post OH NOOOOO!!!) But if you really want the honest truth and plan on... ya know... going to college... then reading should be in your best interest my friend.

Part One: The In-state vs. Out-of-State War

It is well known that many universities favor instate students in order to keep future generations... well... "in state." At many uni's this can be seen through more scholarship opportunities, cheaper base tuition, and in many cases: EASIER ADMISSIONS.

It is no secret that UT MUCH prefers instate students... especially seen in the 64% acceptance rate of instate students in the 2026 cycle vs the Out of state 28% acceptance rate (apparently going up!).

My current roommate is an instate student with a truck ton of scholarship (only has to pay for housing atp). Where as I am actively dropping a cool 17 grand a semester! YIPPEEE!

But outside of the money and the distribution between 64% and 28% what does that actually look like in terms of admission criteria? We will look at that next.

Part Two: Instate Admission Criteria

Straight from the guaranteed admission website...

Score a 28+ ACT composite (SAT 1300+)

AND

Achieve one of the following: Earn a 4.0+ UT Core GPA Be among the Top 10% of their high school graduating class

Honestly not terrible, most people I know who came here instate got guaranteed admission!

So to my instate students... good luck!

Part Three: One of these things is not like the other... (Out of State Admission Criteria)

This section is going to be rather long and probably the most sought after... so grab your reading glasses!

There are many misconceptions about college admissions that I feel you ought to know. The idea of a holistic review is very, very loose. Holistic reviews of your class schedule and your GPA/ACT score.

At most, your essays and activities in high-school will boost your case for admission by about 5 ACT score (but this would be for like the president of the student body with an entire page of Sh... Stuff they have done in high-school).

Good essays help admissions counselors like you as a person and it helps them want to want you!

Good resumes help this as well.

However... how long do you think it takes to read a single application? 30 seconds? A minute? Two minutes? The average amount of time it would take someone to read all of the information you provide would take around 6 minutes without skimming. Considering that means a single counselor could only go through 10 per hour...

We can assume (and I know for a fact) they do not read everything.

They look for 5 things while going through your app (no particular order): 1. GPA Weighted and Unweighted 2. SAT and ACT 3. AP classes (at a glance) 4. Some prose in your essays 5. Just a bunch of stuff on your activities in high-school

Quantity over quality often helps ngl...

Now that we understand the idea that they ain't gonna be looking at EVERYTHING with minute detail, what do they actually numerically look for?

Generally, for the sake of time and fair arguments, here are some basic numbers:

These are middle of the road so if you are above them then you should be fine...

SAT Score at or above 1340

ACT at or above 30

GPA 4.3 UT Weighted

If you don't match or beat those requirements... you better write the cure to cancer on your essays!

that was a joke

But it kind of wasn't... those scores and values are pretty standard nowadays, and you kind of have to be a pretty good student to earn your spot here.

SIDE NOTE: I had many friends apply here out of state and I was the only one who was not waitlisted. And they had some insane resumes (president of stuco with 4.3 GPA for example).

Part Four: Each college is different.

I don't mean reach university, because like... yeah no crap. I mean reach academic college is different.

If you are applying to be an engineer, you should expect to NEED a pretty decent math SAT Score. If you push below a 640 on the math... you aren't getting in to the tickle college of engineering.

Nursing is different and hard to get into.

Business is business... but it is still difficult to get into cause... ya know... it's highly ranked.

So on and so forth.

Do keep in mind that each college can only allow so much of one category. So engineering has a different acceptance rate than business (often not talked about).

There are no hard facts online about what it is... but I am pretty sure the Out of state engineering acceptance rate was about 15% of so... (don't take my word for it).

Part Five: You've already applied... what should you do?

Don't fail out your senior year. UT is very unforgiving (understandably) is you fall off the face of the earth senior year.

My senior year was actually my best academic year! Plus I...

  1. Was the captain of the volleyball team
  2. Was the yearbook president
  3. Senior class president
  4. Student Ambassador
  5. Robotics Captain
  6. Math Team Captain
  7. BLAH BLAH BLAH

All that to say... DONT BOG DOWN you are not done with high-school. UT will chew you and spit you out like it is nothing if your GPA tanks.

Also, just wait and follow UT's instructions. (Crazy right?)

Part Six: If you have any questions... please drop them below!

I'm an open book and will tell you pretty much anything so long as it's appropriate obviously!

Thanks for reading... And GO VOLS!!


r/UTK 40m ago

UTK Parking Madness Park and Ride

Upvotes

How bad would commuter Park and Ride be? I’ll only have one class in person this semester. So, I feel like this is a no brainer… Would love to hear some opinions/personal experiences though!


r/UTK 1h ago

College of Arts & Sciences Bio Credits

Upvotes

I'm a transfer student and if I go in this semester I'd only have about 4 semesters to finish my classes in order to graduate on time. I have a lot to take with some vol core and BCMB bio requirements, does anybody know how common it is for someone to take 3-4 bio classes a semester? Especially in their Junior or Senior year?


r/UTK 2h ago

UT Alumni Get out of the rain tonight and come laugh with us!

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0 Upvotes

r/UTK 12h ago

UTK Parking Madness Best parking pass for grad student living off campus

4 Upvotes

Hi y’all, I’m an incoming grad student, and will be living about 10 miles off campus. I’m wondering if anyone has tips and tricks about the parking situation, or any insight into the best choice for a campus parking pass. I never got a parking pass at my undergrad university, so I’m a bit lost! Any help is appreciated!


r/UTK 5h ago

UTK Parking Madness best parking near the mark

1 Upvotes

i’ll be living in the mark this semester, and unfortunately I wasn’t able to get a parking spot, i’m currently on the waitlist. I’m trying to figure out what would be the best place to park that would be close by. I work every day, so I need my car to be somewhat easily accessible. please let me know if you have any ideas, i’m pretty worried.


r/UTK 6h ago

Miscellaneous & Random What productivity habit genuinely helped you survive school while working full-time?

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1 Upvotes

r/UTK 20h ago

UT Alumni Moving Help - 1 hr tops - 7/22/26 AM

4 Upvotes

Need 1-2 dependable helpers to move a room of furniture up an elevator between 10-11A out of a U-Haul trailer. Cash + breakfast. River Towne condos across the Henley St bridge from campus. Interested? Let me know! Thank you!


r/UTK 18h ago

College of Arts & Sciences Vol Core overlaps

2 Upvotes

I'm a transfer student that just confirmed enrollment and a lot of my vol cores are not completed, would anybody have any suggestions of classes that would count for two or more vol core requirements? I'm pretty sure my advisor told me that if a class counts for two vol cores under the same category they'll only accept it for one if that's true, but if it's for different categories it'll count for both? PLEASE HELP


r/UTK 1d ago

Student Housing and Leasing Should i get To campus right at the start of my move in time slot, or when should i look To be there?

5 Upvotes

r/UTK 1d ago

UTK Parking Madness Worried about Commuter pass

2 Upvotes

Hello! I am going to be a sophomore and Im really nervous about getting a commuter parking pass. I will be living in a house about 10 minutes away from campus in a normal neighborhood, not many students so carpool won't be an option for me. What are the chances I actually get a commuter pass?? Im very nervous about it, considering I need one. If there is anyone who can answer more questions, feel free to DM me!! Thanks!!!


r/UTK 1d ago

Student Housing and Leasing Looking for Lease Takeover for this August

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2 Upvotes

DM for more info!


r/UTK 1d ago

A Vol In Need Vol Hall Help With Measurements

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7 Upvotes

Hello! I was wondering if anybody had any info on the desk height for Vol Hall quad private? I am essentially wondering if I brought a full sized office chair (libernovo Maxis) if I can use that, or if it will sit too tall. I’m nervous since I’m 6ft 3 but have bad scoliosis and the plastic chairs make it worse so I’m bringing my own this year.

Also if anybody has any general info about the quad private dorm you think I should know, whether it’s any advice or measurements, please let me know!

Thank you for any help. I really appreciate it.


r/UTK 1d ago

UT Alumni The Roast Battle Champ, Frank Castillo, is in the house this Friday!!!!

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1 Upvotes

r/UTK 1d ago

UTK Office of Information Technology (OIT) Database access

2 Upvotes

Not sure where to ask this, but I am having trouble with UTK's library database access.

For every other journal I have tried, it works, except springer.

When I go directly from UTK it does nothing. If I sign-in through springer institutional access, it brings me back to the home page, I can access anything on the homepage, but if I search up anything I lose the access.

I am not sure what to do or who to ask.


r/UTK 1d ago

Undergraduate Student Bursar's Office Number/e-mail

2 Upvotes

I had an issue with paying my summer classes fee of around $5,000, and I was supposed to get a private loan which fell through. I'm able to pay my bill.. just not by the deadline of July 31st. I called onestop about the potential of my the deadline being extended/keeping my class schedule for the next semester, and they gave me super generic information that anyone could find online. So basically #1, does anyone have an email or phone number for the Bursar's office so I can speak with them one-on-one, and #2, has anyone had an experience like this and did they allow you to keep your schedule for the next semester? I'm supposed to graduate in December, and if I can't I would be a changed woman for the worse.. I'm also taking an English class that will definitely fill up instantly if my classes are dropped. Any insight will be helpful, thank you!


r/UTK 1d ago

Undergraduate Student Scooters on Campus

0 Upvotes

This fall will have classes all over the campus, going from Ayers Hall to the Ag Campus. Time is short between some of them. Was thinking about using a scooter as an option. Questions:

Lime/Bird scooters are an option. But how available are they? If there are 20 minutes to get from Ayers to the Ag Campus, do you want to spend 10 minutes looking for a scooter.

I am thinking of the option to purchase a scooter, but the dorms dont allow scooters in them. How do students charge and store their scooters on campus? Are bike racks covered? Are there places to charge the battery (looking at scooters with removable batteries)? Can you bring the battery in to the dorm to charge it?


r/UTK 2d ago

Professor/TA/Class Course Has anyone taken PYED 211 Golf recently?

4 Upvotes

I have it on my schedule now and from what I’ve seen the professors are relatively hands off in terms of driving range. What does the class look like? I enjoy golfing and figure it would be a good experience, but I don’t want it to be something where I’m just getting the basis taught to me again. Would love advice, suggestions, etc. I know it’s off-campus and have made arrangements.


r/UTK 2d ago

Student Housing and Leasing Lease relet?

2 Upvotes

Hey, looking for someone male to take over my lease at the villas Knox. You’d be living with 2 other male roommates, rent is 1282 a month including a parking pass for the garage, dm asap if interested


r/UTK 2d ago

Miscellaneous & Random Fun activity for able bodied people!

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54 Upvotes

Yooooo! My name is Jonathan and I run Tenn Tours, a non traditional caving company. We offer wild cave tours which, unlike normal tours, are not done in caves with paved paths or installed lighting. We give you the safety and lighting gear for the trip and take you into a completely wild cave. This isnt for everyone, but if youre into it or think you might be, hit us up! We offer 10% for students and compound discounts the bigger the group!


r/UTK 2d ago

College of Architecture & Design Sublease available at University Walk 1B1B in a 4B4B Apartment

4 Upvotes

1B 1B available in a modern apartment, walk to UTK, with gated surroundings. The price would be $944 instead of the current price of $ 1,349.

You can look up the price on the website, so you're getting this at a discount.

I am transferring to another school so I won't be needing the apartment,

All Amenities are available

18-min walk to UTK

Fitness center
Pool, Study room, gated premises
Bus available that moves wvery 10 mins

Early move-in as from 30th July

Kindly send me a message if interested OR get in touch with the leasing officers at University Work THROUGH THEIR CONTACT.


r/UTK 1d ago

Meme/Joke help

0 Upvotes

need advise on what to do. i’m 24 and just now decided im going to try college i had a hard time in school and not very smart to be 100% real should i choose school based on dropout rate ? i’m also torn on online or in person i work full time but mom said i could do whatever i wanted and quit. i heard you can cheat online basically but when i look it up their drop out rates are even higher so im very confused on what to do.


r/UTK 2d ago

UT Alumni Free open mic comedy in West Knoxville!

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2 Upvotes

r/UTK 2d ago

College of Law Law School Calendar and Orientation

1 Upvotes

Hey I'm an incoming 1L law student, I was wondering if anyone had any idea where to find the academic calendar for 2026-2027 and knows when orientation is. I can find last years calendar and the year before that as well as the general academic calendar on UTK's website but I can't find one specific for the law school.


r/UTK 2d ago

Student Housing and Leasing URGENT - Apartment Reletting

4 Upvotes

Hello! I am in urgent need of a girl to take over my lease at University Walk. The property is super nice, it’s a 2 bed/2 bath, fully furnished, with in unit washer/dryer apartment. It’s also super close to campus, and has garunteed parking with my lease in particular at 35/month. However, I am willing to pay for it monthly if someone is interested. The rent comes out to $1223 a month. Please let me know if anyone is interested. I really need someone to take this lease off my hands!!