How do I get cords at UT Austin?

To get cords at UT Austin, you typically earn them through departmental/college honors, specific honor societies, or ** service hours (like 400+ on GivePulse for a service cord)**; you'll usually find out via email from your college or organization, or need to apply or purchase them through specific providers like Hand & Hammer for societies, with pick-up details varying by honor.

How to get cords UT Austin?

Students who complete 400 or more verified service hours during their undergraduate degree at UT Austin are eligible to receive a Graduation Cord for Outstanding Service. This distinction honors students who have made a long-term commitment to community engagement and allows them to celebrate that impact at graduation.

What is the 90% rule at UT Austin?

The "UT Austin 90 rule" refers to the state law requiring University of Texas at Austin to reserve about 90% of its freshman spots for Texas residents, with the remaining 10% for out-of-state/international students, making it harder for non-residents to get in. For in-state students, a separate rule, the Top 10 Percent Law, guarantees automatic admission to the top percentage of their high school class, a threshold UT Austin sets annually (currently the top 5% for Fall 2026, previously 6%) to meet the 90% residency requirement and the 75% auto-admit target for residents.
 

What cord do you get for a 4.0 GPA?

For a 4.0 GPA, you typically earn the highest academic honor, Summa Cum Laude, which usually corresponds to a gold or gold/color braided honor cord, though colors (like blue/gold) and specific GPA cutoffs (around 3.9-4.0) vary by university, so always check your specific school's policy. 

How do you receive cords?

One might receive an honor cord for maintaining an impressive GPA, excelling in a specific area of academic discipline, being a member of an honor society or Greek association, or achieving a particular number of volunteer hours.

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What GPA gets you a cord?

To get graduation cords, you typically need a cumulative GPA of around 3.25 to 3.5 or higher, with different cords (like white for Cum Laude, purple/maroon for Magna Cum Laude, gold for Summa Cum Laude) awarded for progressively higher GPAs (e.g., 3.25-3.49, 3.5-3.79, 3.8-4.0), but requirements vary significantly by institution, sometimes including departmental or specific honor society cords. 

What cord do you get for a 3.5 GPA?

Cum Laude cords (silver) are for students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better. Magna Cum Laude cords (maroon) are for students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or better. Summa Cum Laude cords (silver and maroon) are for students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or better.

What is a 101.6 GPA on a 4.0 scale?

A 101.6% GPA is essentially a perfect or near-perfect score, translating to a 4.0 GPA on a standard scale, possibly even exceeding it slightly on weighted systems, but the maximum on an unweighted 4.0 scale is 4.0, meaning a 101.6% is likely an "A" (90-100%). A GPA above 4.0 usually happens with weighted scales for AP/IB classes, where an A can earn more than 4 points (e.g., 4.5 or 5.0), making 101.6% a strong indicator of top-tier performance.
 

Do you get a cord for Dean's List?

The green, gold, and white graduation cord is most often associated with those school colors, and might be worn by students who are on the deans' list or the honor roll at their school, or are graduating with other special school honors.

What GPA do I need for a cord?

Undergraduate Students

Associate degree and diploma students who have a 3.50 or higher cumulative grade point average will receive Honors (Red Cords) at Commencement.

What is the 6% rule at UT?

The UT Austin Top 6% Rule guarantees automatic admission for eligible Texas residents who graduate in the top 6% of their high school class (this is changing to the top 5% for Fall 2026 applicants) under a state law promoting diversity, but it doesn't guarantee entry into specific competitive majors, which still require meeting additional requirements through holistic review. This rule, derived from the statewide Top 10% Law, allows UT Austin to fill 75% of its freshman class with auto-admit students, adjusting the percentage based on application volume. 

Can a guy and girl share a dorm at UT Austin?

Yes, UT Austin, through its "Family & Friend Expanded Roommate Option," offers gender-inclusive housing in specific residence halls like Blanton, Duren, Dobie Twenty21, Jester East/West, San Jacinto, and Moore-Hill where students can live with roommates of any gender identity, a program started as a pilot but now a standard option in those halls. This allows for coed living arrangements in rooms or suites with private bathrooms, differing from traditional gender-separated floors.
 

Is a 3.9 GPA good for UT Austin?

To be competitive for admission, transfer students need to have an outstanding GPA as most applicants who are admitted have a 3.9 out of 4.0 GPA (or higher).

Is UT Austin an ivy now?

No, UT Austin is not part of the official Ivy League, but it is widely recognized as a "Public Ivy," a term for top public universities, and was recently included in Forbes' "New Ivies" list for its academic quality and selectivity. While the traditional Ivy League refers to eight specific private universities in the Northeast, UT Austin is considered in the same elite tier by many publications, making it an Ivy-caliber institution in terms of prestige and outcomes.
 

What is considered honors at UT Austin?

University Honors

To be included, a student must earn at least 45 grade points and a grade point average of at least 3.50 on courses completed in residence and must have no incomplete grades (symbol X).

Is making Dean's List a big deal?

Yes, the Dean's List is a big deal because it's a prestigious recognition of high academic achievement, appearing on your permanent transcript, and serving as a valuable credential on resumes and applications for internships, graduate school, and jobs, demonstrating dedication and a strong work ethic to employers and admissions committees.
 

Can I buy my own cords for graduation?

Yes, you can often buy your own graduation cords, especially for personal achievements like club memberships or Greek life, but you must check your school's specific rules first, as they provide official academic honor cords, while you typically purchase cords for other affiliations through vendors like Gradshop, Tassel Depot, GraduationSource.com, Amazon.com, or Etsy. 

What color cord for 4.0 GPA?

For a 4.0 GPA, you typically earn gold cords, often paired with other colors like blue (Summa Cum Laude), or sometimes a special double gold cord, signifying top academic honors, though colors can vary by institution, with some schools using single gold, white, or even medallions for a perfect 4.0. 

Is Dean's list straight A's?

Not necessarily straight A's, but the Dean's List requires a very high GPA, typically 3.5 or above, for a single semester, often with a minimum course load (e.g., 12 credits) and no failing or incomplete grades, though some schools reserve straight A's (4.0) for a higher honor like the President's List. Requirements vary, so check your specific college's policy, as some might award it to the top percentage of students instead of a fixed GPA.
 

Is 85% a 3.5 GPA?

An 85% is often around a 3.0 to 3.3 GPA, not a 3.5, because a 3.5 GPA typically starts at 90% (A-) in many common scales, though it varies by school; an 85% usually falls into the 'B' range (80-89%) which converts to a 3.0-3.3, with 85% being a solid 'B' or B- (around 3.0-3.2) on most standard charts. 

Is a 93% a 4.0 GPA?

A 93% is often a 4.0 GPA (an "A"), but it depends entirely on your specific school's grading scale, as some might set the cutoff for a 4.0 at 90%, 93%, or even 94% or higher. You need to check your school's official grading chart to be certain; a 93% is usually an A (4.0) or an A- (3.7). 

Is a 4.7 GPA good on a 5.0 scale?

That is, if the GPA scale is out of 4.5, they should have a 4.4 or higher, a 4.9 or higher for a 5.0 scale, and so on. Just as with unweighted GPAs, admissions officers are looking for good grades in honors, advanced, and AP courses.

Are graduation cords a new tradition?

Like most traditions in academia, the origins of graduation cords stem from Catholic and Anglican practices. Multi-colored cords were used to distinguish clergymen's status. Since the majority of early universities in the United States were founded by clergymen, many practices were transferred over.

Do you get a cord for being a student athlete?

To be eligible for an Athletic Cord as a graduating senior, student-athletes must meet at least two of the following four criteria: Academic All-State First Team – Student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.60 or higher and lettered in a varsity sport.

Who decides graduation cord colors?

There are a variety of graduation cord colors, which have been codified by the Association of College Honor Societies. Some institutions also develop their own color-specific traditions with graduation honor cords as well.