UT Austin Forty Acres: automatic consideration and the optional interest form
Applying to UT Austin through Common App or ApplyTexas now places eligible students in the Forty Acres Scholars consideration pool; the old standalone scholarship application is no longer required. For 2027-28 entry, the final university application deadline is December 1, 2026.
There is also an optional way to indicate interest in the MyStatus portal, involving an expanded résumé and an additional essay. Automatic consideration does not mean a guaranteed scholarship, and the optional interest route does not create a second, easier selection process.
Know which step you are completing
On a smaller screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Step | Current instructions | Common confusion |
|---|---|---|
| University application | Common App or ApplyTexas by December 1, 2026 | Do not search for the retired standalone Forty Acres application. |
| Optional interest indication | MyStatus Scholarship Interest Form, with résumé and essay by January 15 | This signals interest; it is not a condition for every applicant to enter consideration. |
| Advancement | Selected students receive instructions for additional steps | A university application confirmation is not a scholarship award. |
Source: Texas Exes Forty Acres application instructions, checked October 29, 2026. The page identifies the 2027-28 admission cycle; check your portal for the full interest-form instructions.
A UT application does not make every student eligible
The program is for high-school seniors applying to UT Austin who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents at application. Both Texas residents and out-of-state students can qualify; international and transfer students are excluded from this particular program. That restriction should be checked before spending time on an additional essay.
The Texas Exes FAQ says a family connection to UT is not required and neither Common App nor ApplyTexas receives preference. Applicants need not submit both platforms to improve their chances.
The application page says McCombs applicants should also apply to Canfield Business Honors. The FAQ explains that honors admission is not a general requirement for Forty Acres; read the specific guidance for your intended college. Admission testing requirements also remain separate; scholarship consideration is not a reason to omit materials UT requires.
Missing October early action is not the same as missing Forty Acres
The October 15, 2026 early-action date has passed, but the provider says applications submitted before the final December 1 deadline receive equal merit consideration for Forty Acres. A student who is still preparing an application should not abandon this scholarship solely because the early-action date is over.
Use the remaining time to make the admission file coherent and complete. If you choose the optional interest form, allow for portal access, which the application page says becomes available about 48 hours after submitting to UT. Keep the admission deadline and the optional form deadline separate in your calendar.
Compare the funded experience, not an invented cash total
The scholar experience page lists full tuition, living and book/supply stipends, and enrichment funding. This guide does not invent a fixed stipend amount or assume every personal expense is covered. Read the current award agreement if selected.
The enrichment description describes approved uses and a global experience of at least fourteen days. Consider whether that structured opportunity fits your interests and responsibilities, not simply the scholarship’s headline value.
Forty Acres is worth pursuing when UT itself fits and you can show academic curiosity and meaningful contribution. Keep an affordable alternative while the competition is unresolved, and compare actual packages with the offer-comparison guide.