The Ultimate Insider’s Guide

to UT Admissions

Get it FREE Now on Amazon!

My friend, Kevin Martin, just published this guide, Your Ticket to the Forty Acres: The Unofficial Guide for UT Undergraduate Admissions, on Amazon (Kindle) to help students quickly figure out what they need to do to game the admissions scene at the University of Texas, especially its Austin campus.

What I love about this book is that Kevin was a first-gen student who graduated top of his class, and then went on to to work for their admissions department as a counselor.

So he has experienced both sides of the process.

In the book, Kevin shares his personal experience and stories as well as advice and tips on figuring out what you need to increase your chances of getting accepted.

The best news?

You can download this book
for FREE through Saturday, June 17!

Just go to Amazon and get your copy—and then do your homework.

This is from the review I left for his book on Amazon:

“Unlike many guides for gaming the college admissions industry, Kevin has his priorities straight: It’s all about finding the right fit.

And this book offers everything you need to give it your personal best shot, from his insights on the psychology of the process to deciphering the actual algorithms used for deciding who gets in.”

Kevin also was kind enough to let me share with you some of his best advice on the University of Texas essays.

Kevin Martin

Here’s an excerpt from his book on how to brainstorm and write about what’s known as Essay A:

18 Questions

to Help Guide

Your Apply Texas Essay A

The English Department professor who conducted our UT-Austin essay review training would say, “Think of a college essay prompt not as box to trap students but as an invitation to write.”

It is up to the student to define what they want to write. Many essay prompts are broad, and Apply Texas Essay A is no exception.

“What was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood, or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person.”

Colleges and universities note a trend that primary and secondary school teachers have observed for decades.

A student’s home life heavily influences their ability to succeed or fail.

UT wants to learn about important people in your life, organizations that impact you, or the atmosphere of your household or high school.

I hear students say, “I don’t have anything interesting to discuss. My home life is boring, suburban, and predictable.”

Remember, you’re not writing your autobiography. You’re submitting at most 650 words making one or two observations.

If you’re having trouble getting started, consider asking yourself some of these questions to narrow down the prompt:

Were you raised in a household that encouraged reading?
What food did your parents put on the table?
Do you eat dinner together each night?
Do your parents support your interests and curiosities?
Do they attend your sports games or choir concerts?
Do you play outside?
What do your parents do for work, and does this inform your future goals?
Do you feel pressure to excel in the classroom?
Where does that pressure come from?
What are your days like before and after school, on the weekends, and in the summers?
Do you have any siblings who have influenced you?
What about grandparents?
Is there one memory or experience that sticks out among the rest?
What does your family do over the holidays?
Have you taken a memorable vacation?
What are your friends like?
Are your parents divorced?
How do you think living in Austin or attending UT will differ from your current environment?