Big Public Universities
How to Get Into Big US Public Universities
Admission walkthroughs for the largest, most-searched US public universities — each with its own application system, direct-to-major admission and published criteria.
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What this hub covers
- How to Get Into the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD)What makes UTD's admission process distinct · Texas Top 10% automatic admission — who qualifies · How holistic review works for everyone else
- How to Get Into Purdue UniversityHow Purdue admission is structured · The First-Year Engineering program at West Lafayette · What Purdue reviews in your application
- How to Get Into Arizona State University (ASU)Why ASU's admission works differently · ASU's assured-admission benchmarks · Competency courses and how deficiencies work
- How to Get Into the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)The one thing to understand about UIUC admission · Why major choice drives your odds · First-choice-only majors and the undeclared trap
- How to Get Into the University of Texas at AustinWhat makes UT Austin admission its own system · The Texas top-6% automatic-admission law · Required testing is back
- How to Get Into the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)Why Michigan admission works school-by-school · The application system: Common App plus U-M questions · The two U-M supplemental essays
- How to Get Into the University of WashingtonWhy the University of Washington is a major target — and how major choice works · The application: Common App and the personal essay · How holistic review works at UW
- How to Get Into Stony Brook University (SUNY)Stony Brook: a high-value SUNY research university · Which application to use: SUNY Application or Common App · Holistic review and test-optional policy
- How to Get Into the University at Buffalo (SUNY)Why the University at Buffalo is a popular value target · Three ways to apply: ApplySUNY, Common App, or Coalition · How UB reviews your coursework
- How to Get Into Texas A&M and Texas Public Universities: ApplyTexas and ETAMThe Texas system: one application, a top-10% law, and major-level entry · The application: ApplyTexas (and Common App at some campuses) · Top 10% automatic admission (and how holistic review fills the rest)
- How to Get Into Penn State UniversityWhat makes applying to Penn State different · MyPennState, the Common App, and the STARS record · First-choice campus, alternate campus, and how review works
- How to Get Into Rutgers UniversityHow Rutgers admission actually works · The Common App and choosing your schools · The STARS self-reported academic record
- How to Get Into the University of Maryland (College Park)Why UMD's process is different: LEPs and two-stage review · Application platforms and the early action deadline · How the two-stage review works
- How to Get Into San Jose State UniversityWhy SJSU is different: Cal State Apply and impaction · Applying through Cal State Apply · CSU eligibility: the baseline you must meet
- How to Get Into a University of California Campus (UCSD, UCI, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara)One UC application, many campuses · The A-G subject requirement and GPA · Filling out the application: majors and personal insight questions
- How to Get Into Ohio State UniversityStart with the Common Application — the one system Ohio State uses · How Ohio State reads a competitive, holistic file · The distinctive choice: Honors vs Scholars
- How to Get Into the University of Wisconsin-MadisonTwo application options — and UW-Madison does not prefer one · The writing UW-Madison actually asks for · Direct-entry majors — the mechanic that sets UW-Madison apart
- How to Get Into the University of Minnesota Twin CitiesA surprisingly short application — and no essays · The core mechanic: you are admitted to a college, not just the university · The College of Science and Engineering (CSE) is a distinct, more-selective track
- How to Get Into the University of FloridaUF is Common App only — and self-reports your record · A highly selective flagship with comprehensive holistic review · Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Decision
- How to Get Into Indiana University BloomingtonHow to apply to IU — and why the direct-admit model is different · Kelley School of Business: the KPI is the key step · Luddy School: direct admission for CS, data science, informatics, and more
Guides for United States
20 of 20 guides in this hub are for the United States.
How to Get Into the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD)
UT Dallas undergraduate admission: ApplyTexas vs Common App, Texas Top 10% automatic admission, holistic review, and the AES scholarship that links to in-state tuition.
Read guideHow to Get Into Purdue University
Purdue University admission: the Common App, admission by declared major, the First-Year Engineering program at West Lafayette, deadlines, and how to change majors through CODO.
Read guideHow to Get Into Arizona State University (ASU)
Arizona State University admission: the ASU or Common App application and MyASU portal, ASU's assured-admission benchmarks, competency courses and deficiency rules, direct admission to your major, and rolling review.
Read guideHow to Get Into the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
UIUC admission: applying directly to a major and college, why Grainger Engineering (especially Computer Science) is far more selective, first-choice-only majors, and second-choice strategy.
Read guideHow to Get Into the University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin admission: the ApplyTexas application, the Texas top-6% automatic-admission law, reinstated required testing, holistic major-specific review, and McCombs/Cockrell rules.
Read guideHow to Get Into the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
How to apply to the University of Michigan Ann Arbor: Common App, choosing a school or college (LSA, Engineering, Ross first-year BBA and Preferred Admission), supplemental essays, and holistic review.
Read guideHow to Get Into the University of Washington
How to apply to the University of Washington (Seattle): the Common App, holistic review, choosing a first-choice major, and the far-more-selective Allen School Direct-to-Major CS track.
Read guideHow to Get Into Stony Brook University (SUNY)
How to apply to Stony Brook University: the SUNY Application or Common App, holistic review, restricted majors like engineering and business, honors tracks, and international requirements.
Read guideHow to Get Into the University at Buffalo (SUNY)
How to apply to the University at Buffalo (SUNY): the ApplySUNY, Common App, or Coalition application, holistic review, indicating your major, and affordable-value international admission.
Read guideHow to Get Into Texas A&M and Texas Public Universities: ApplyTexas and ETAM
How to apply to Texas A&M and Texas public universities: the ApplyTexas application, the top 10% automatic-admission law, holistic review, and the engineering Entry to a Major (ETAM) process.
Read guideHow to Get Into Penn State University
How to apply to Penn State: MyPennState vs Common App, the STARS record, first-choice and alternate campus review, the University Park summer option, the 2+2 plan, and entrance to major.
Read guideHow to Get Into Rutgers University
How to apply to Rutgers: school-based admission (School of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Business), the STARS self-reported record, multi-campus structure, Early Action vs Regular Decision, and holistic review.
Read guideHow to Get Into the University of Maryland (College Park)
How to apply to UMD College Park: Common App vs StandOut Admissions Network, the two-stage review, holistic review factors, and Limited Enrollment Programs (LEPs) with direct admission to majors like Computer Science.
Read guideHow to Get Into San Jose State University
How to apply to SJSU in the heart of Silicon Valley: the Cal State Apply system, CSU eligibility, impaction and impacted majors, the alternate major, local vs non-local applicants, and international/F-1 steps.
Read guideHow to Get Into a University of California Campus (UCSD, UCI, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara)
How to get into a UC campus such as UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Davis, or UC Santa Barbara: one UC application for many campuses, the A-G courses, personal insight questions, comprehensive review, and major impaction.
Read guideHow to Get Into Ohio State University
How to apply to Ohio State's Columbus campus: the Common App route, superscored SAT/ACT, non-binding Early Action, and the Honors vs Scholars decision. A process guide for international students.
Read guideHow to Get Into the University of Wisconsin-Madison
UW-Madison admission explained: Common App or the Universities of Wisconsin Application, the 'why UW / why your major' writing, and direct-entry majors in Engineering and Business. A process guide for international students.
Read guideHow to Get Into the University of Minnesota Twin Cities
UMN Twin Cities admission explained: its short three-item application (no essays or recommendation letters), how you are admitted to a ranked freshman-admitting college, and CSE direct entry. A process guide for international students.
Read guideHow to Get Into the University of Florida
How to apply to UF, a highly selective public flagship: the Common App route, the STARS self-reported transcript, holistic comprehensive review, and Early Action vs Regular Decision. A process guide for international students.
Read guideHow to Get Into Indiana University Bloomington
IU Bloomington admission explained: the Apply IU or Common App route, the distinctive direct-admit model for the Kelley School of Business (via the KPI) and the Luddy School (CS, data science, informatics), and how to apply. A process guide for international students.
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