But that had little success in weeding out students. Applications have continued to soar, though, making competition for the limited number of spots more and more fierce. Grade-point averages in the program have soared as well, rising nearly half a point to 3.18 since enrollment restrictions were begun. Raising the bar also has dramatically reduced the number of students who don't complete the program. Now only 30 to 40 students are asked to leave each semester.
Schools use a number of factors in deciding who gets admitted.
For other applicants, admissions officials look at class rank, test scores, curriculum and grades along with more subjective characteristics, such as essays and extracurricular activities. Only the top-performing applicants to the business program fill the available slots. Requirements for transfers are more brutal than they are for freshmen. UT requires a 3.25 GPA to apply for a transfer to the business school, but no grade-point requirement for freshmen applicants. And there are fewer slots for transfers.