We Need a Lower Number for Top 10% Rule

As a college student that is planning to transfer into a major four-year university, I want to know my chances at enrollment before applying. My goal is to attend UT-Austin, but with the Top Ten Percent Rule in affect, my acceptance rate is looking fairly low. Even with a 4.0 GPA, it is highly probable that I will not be accepted because of the Top Ten Rule.

Originally, the law was enacted in 1997 to help Texas public colleges create a more diverse student body. Meaning the minority schools would receive equal representation. Although recent studies have shown that the Top Ten Rule has increased minority population on campuses, the student population doesn’t match the demographics of Texas. The law has good intentions, but for somebody like me, the consequences are damaging to my academic endeavors.

Next fall, 75 percent of the incoming students will be students admitted by the Top Ten Rule. That leaves a small 25 percent for everyone else. UT has recently altered the rule, now only admitting the top 7 percent but still, the opportunity for admission for those not in the top 7 percent are still minimal.

In one case, a student was denied admission at UT but was accepted to Stanford, which is college that many would suggest is harder to enroll at. How is that possible? This happened because UT had already met its cap of students admitted by the law. If a student attends a highly competitive high school but falls in the top 11 percent, and another student is in the top 10 percent at a less competitive school, the student in the top ten will be accepted. Not fair if you ask me.

I propose that the number be lowered. If this law only admitted the top 5 percent we would still see equal representation of the minority schools and a higher acceptance rate for students looking to transfer from a community college.

           
           There is no doubt that a student with exceptional high school credentials should be granted superior benefits. However, there are students that equally or more qualified, that are not being accepted ever since the Top Ten Percent Rule was enacted.