If you want to bleed orange and look out at the Austin skyline from the tower, you need to understand one critical fact: The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is one of the most fiercely competitive public universities in the nation. With tens of thousands of top-tier applicants fighting for limited spots outside the top 6% automatic admission rule, a generic application simply will not cut it. UT Austin looks for specific, deeply defined traits in its applicants, and they evaluate portfolios with an incredibly fine-toothed comb. When the Common App opens on August 1, 2026, the students who get accepted aren't just starting to brainstorm. Their essays are already polished, their short answers are locked in, and their expanded resumes are ready to send. Waiting until your senior year fall semester to begin means competing under immense academic stress. Here is how to use your summer weeks to build an undeniable UT Austin application strategy. The Summer Roadmap for Longhorn Admissions UT Austin utilizes a holistic review process, but they place an extraordinary amount of weight on First-Choice Major Fit. Every element of your application must prove why you belong in your specific major. Use your summer to perfect these UT-specific requirements: 1. Perfect the Longhorn Main Essay (Prompt A) UT Austin requires the main essay (Common App Prompt A), which asks you to share your story and how your unique experiences will influence your contributions to the university. The Summer Strategy: Do not treat this like a standard English paper. Admissions counselors want to see your internal drive, resilience, and curiosity. Use June and July to write an authentic, vulnerable narrative that highlights your unique perspective, giving yourself plenty of time to edit and rewrite until it is flawless. 2. Nail the UT-Specific Short Answers UT Austin requires three to four highly targeted short-answer responses (typically around 250–300 words each). These prompts cover: Why your first-choice major matches your goals and past experiences. How you will contribute to a diverse and collaborative campus environment. A description of your leadership experiences and impact. An optional (but highly recommended) prompt to explain any special circumstances or academic gaps. The Summer Strategy: The "Why Major" short answer is arguably the most important sentence you will write for UT. Spend your summer collecting evidence from your past—classes, projects, or volunteering—and link them directly to UT's specific faculty, labs, or curriculum. 3. Expand Your Resume to UT Standards Unlike universities that prefer a brief, one-page summary, UT Austin strongly encourages an expanded resume. They want to see the full scope of your commitments, including exact hours per week, weeks per year, and detailed descriptions of your responsibilities. The Summer Strategy: Use the summer to map out every single activity since freshman year. Detail your leadership roles, job responsibilities, internships, or family commitments. Use data and metrics (e.g., "managed a $500 budget" or "organized an event for 150 students") to prove your real-world impact. 4. Prepare Your High-Value Testing Profile UT Austin has reinstated its standardized testing requirement. Your SAT or ACT score is a vital metric that contextualizes your high school GPA and class rank. The Summer Strategy: Dedicate consistent summer hours to targeted test prep. Aim to lock in your target scores during the late summer test dates so your score reports are finalized and ready to attach to your application the second the portal opens. The Power of the Priority Deadline UT Austin utilizes a November 1st Priority Deadline. While it is technically non-binding, historical trends show that submitting by the priority deadline signals high interest and places you in the earliest evaluation waves. Top students aim to submit even earlier—by mid-August or early September—to ensure their transcripts, test scores, and expanded resumes are processed cleanly without system delays. If you wait until October to begin writing, your voice will likely feel rushed, and you risk falling behind the wave of early, hyper-prepared applicants. Hook Your Admission with Expert Guidance Securing your spot on the Forty Acres requires an airtight narrative where your essay, short answers, and expanded resume all sing the same tune: unmatched major fit. A single weak short answer or a generic description can push your file into the rejection stack. At Kathe Lee Advising, we know exactly what UT Austin admissions officers look for during holistic review. From brainstorming your "Why Major" prompt to structuring a powerhouse expanded resume and securing top-tier scholarships, we give Texas students the ultimate competitive edge. Don't let the summer slip away into a fall scramble. Visit Kathe Lee Advising today to schedule your strategy session, and let's start building your path to UT Austin.

If you are a rising high school senior aiming for selective universities, the countdown hasn't just begun—you are already in the critical execution window. Many students believe the college application process starts when senior year classes begin or right around the major winter deadlines. But if you are targeting highly competitive schools like The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Texas A&M University (TAMU), or prestigious out-of-state universities, waiting until the fall is a recipe for absolute chaos. When major application portals officially open on August 1, 2026, the admissions landscape immediately splits into three distinct tiers of students: The Top-Tier Strategists: These students submit polished, flawless applications within weeks—if not days—of the portals opening. The Decent Students: They wait for the school year to start, get buried under AP classes and extracurriculars, and feel lucky to frantically scramble across the finish line by the November 1st Early Action deadline. The Average Students: They wait too long, rush through the prompts, write sloppy essays, and either turn in subpar work or miss the priority deadlines completely. To win the admissions game at selective universities, you must avoid the scramble at all costs. The secret to standing out isn't working harder in October; it is optimizing your summer right now so you are completely finished before senior year even begins. Your Summer College Application Blueprint To secure a real shot at highly selective universities, your summer checklist must cover four non-negotiable pillars. 1. Draft and Refine Your Master Essay Your personal statement is the emotional core of your application. You cannot write a deeply reflective, impactful narrative in a weekend while managing a full high school course load. Use June and July to write your core Common Application master essay. Give yourself the breathing room to write an initial draft, walk away from it, and edit it over multiple iterations until your unique voice leaps off the page. 2. Request Letters of Recommendation Early Do not wait until September to ask your teachers and mentors for letters of recommendation. The best recommenders are popular, and their capacity fills up fast. Reach out to them early this summer. Provide them with a polished student resume or a "brag sheet" outlining your specific achievements so they have the exact talking points they need to write a compelling letter on your behalf. 3. Strategic Resume Expansion and Wording The way you present your extracurricular activities can make or break your application. Take the summer to flesh out your resume and decide exactly how you will report your activities within the strict character limits of the Common Application. Every description needs punchy, impact-driven verbs that highlight your leadership, initiative, and measurable results. 4. Conquer Last-Minute SAT & ACT Prep If you need to boost your standardized test scores to match the mid-50% averages of your target schools, summer is your prime window. Dedicate focused hours to test prep without the daily exhaustion of high school homework. Aim to finalize your target scores during the late summer or early fall test dates so your metrics are ready the moment your applications go live. Don't Navigate the Chaos Alone The difference between a stressful senior year and an early acceptance letter comes down to early, expert guidance. Rushing through your applications results in silly mistakes, weak essays, and missed scholarship opportunities. At Kathe Lee Advising, we specialize in transforming the overwhelming college admissions process into a structured, stress-free victory lap. From brainstorming your master essay to strategically auditing your resume and identifying high-value scholarships, we ensure your application stands out to elite admissions committees. Don't let summer slip away. Visit Kathe Lee Advising today to schedule a personalized strategy session, and let's build an application that gets you noticed.

If Texas A&M University is at the top of your list, the time to act is right now. TAMU remains one of the most popular and highly selective institutions in the country. Because the university handles hundreds of thousands of credentials every admissions cycle, navigating their process requires precision, strategy, and above all, speed. When the ApplyTexas and Common App portals open on August 1, 2026, top-tier applicants won't be starting their applications—they will be submitting them. If you want a real shot at wearing the Aggie ring, you must spend your summer mastering TAMU’s specific admissions requirements. Waiting until high school classes resume in the fall will put you behind the curve. Here is exactly how to optimize your summer to build a flawless Texas A&M application. The Summer Blueprint for Texas A&M Admissions Texas A&M evaluates applicants holistically, but they place immense value on structural readiness, clear writing, and early submission. Your summer checklist must cover these TAMU essentials: 1. Master Essay Prompt A (The Personal Statement) Texas A&M requires Essay Prompt A on both the Common App and ApplyTexas. This essay focuses on your unique perspective, background, or identity. The Summer Strategy: Do not rush this narrative. Spend June and July drafting, stepping away, and refining your story. Aggie admissions officers look for authenticity, resilience, and core values that align with TAMU’s leadership culture. Having this fully polished before August 1st ensures you don't stall at launch. 2. Craft Your Short Answers (Engineering & Specialized Colleges) If you are applying to competitive majors—especially within the Dwight Look College of Engineering—you will face additional required short-answer prompts. Engineering applicants must write a specific essay detailing their intentional interest in engineering and their academic goals. The Summer Strategy: Use the quiet summer weeks to research TAMU's specific departments, labs, or professors. Tailoring your short answers with specific details proves to the admissions committee that you are genuinely invested in their programs. 3. Optimize Your SRAR (Self-Reported Academic Record) Texas A&M does not use your official high school transcript for initial evaluation; instead, they require you to manually input every single high school course and grade into the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) system. The Summer Strategy: Gathering your unofficial transcript and entering this data is tedious and prone to typos when rushed. Complete your SRAR layout over the summer. A single discrepancy between your SRAR and your final transcript can jeopardize your admission offer, so accuracy is paramount. 4. Align Your Resume with TAMU's Core Values Texas A&M explicitly looks for students who embody their six core values: Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service. The Summer Strategy: Review the activity section of your application. Don't just list your club titles—rewrite your descriptions using impact-driven verbs that highlight community service, team leadership, and personal responsibility. Prove to the committee that you are already acting like an Aggie before you ever step foot on campus. 5. Secure an Early Test Score (SAT / ACT) While testing policies can shift, having a competitive standardized test score strongly reinforces your academic profile at selective state schools. The Summer Strategy: Treat your summer prep like a part-time job. Finalize your study routines so you can maximize your scores on the late summer or early autumn test dates, ensuring your scores land on the admissions desk right as portals open. Why the Timeline Predicts Your Success Texas A&M uses rolling admission for many of its programs, meaning they review applications as they arrive. Popular majors like Engineering, Business, and Biomedical Sciences fill up incredibly fast. The "Top-Tier Strategists" will submit their completed applications, essays, and SRAR within the first two weeks of August. If you delay your submission until the official October or November priority deadlines, you are competing for a significantly smaller pool of available seats. Give Your Application the Competitive Aggie Edge Standing out in a pool of tens of thousands of applicants requires an insider strategy. Small formatting mistakes, weak essays, or a late submission can completely derail your hard work. At Kathe Lee Advising, we specialize in guiding Texas students through the nuanced requirements of major state universities. From perfecting your Essay Prompt A to auditing your SRAR and highlighting your leadership potential, we make sure your TAMU application is flawless and submitted ahead of the crowd. Don't leave your college future to a last-minute scramble. Visit Kathe Lee Advising today to schedule your strategy session and let's secure your spot in Aggieland.

Meet our team! LeeWay Academy Staff: Kathe Lee, Kelsey, Mary, Ying, Candace, Chloe, Sofia, Tracy and John. School Profile LeeWay Academy Collegiate Prep LeeWay Academy is a private school in Dallas, Texas. Our students need a customized schedule so we curate all of our classes from TEA & SACS accredited partners. This includes: Colleges, Universities, Online Schools, and local public and private schools. For homeschoolers, we provide an umbrella of advising, documentation, and college planning. Download Our School Profile

A Bespoke Highschool: LeeWay Academy Academic Guidance For Athletes, Artists, Entrepeneurs and More... Thrive academically while pursuing your dream! Elite, Personalized, Proven LeeWay Academy Individually Curated Classes In Person or Online High School Only Low Stress High Success GET STARTED LeeWay Academy High School, Reimagined! No busywork. No Stress. Just a clear path to success! LEEWAY IS... 100% Custom Live or Online Affordable Accepted Stress-Free. Future-ready. Universally respected. Welcome to LeeWay Academy -- high school reimagined. We personalize every student’s academic journey with a custom plan built around their goals, pace, and lifestyle. By removing outdated classroom models and using research-backed micro-learning, we eliminate academic gaps and accelerate mastery. Our students don’t just catch up — they get ahead. LeeWay prepares each student for top-tier college admissions and competitive scholarships by integrating real college courses during high school. LeeWay students thrive . . .and colleges take notice. Limited openings – Apply now Global - Local | Online - In Person Our students live anywhere & school everywhere. Choose classes online or in-person, group or one-on-one, structured or self-paced. Work 100% on your own, Tests out of subjects, Earn AP credit, or Complete college coursework! Each student's program is tailor-made to their situation and needs. Courses are designed to optimize learning and impress college admissions while adhering to state regulations for graduating with honors. Parents are the authority but we are with you every step of the way. We remove the intimidation from parent-controlled education. Our vetted classes are flexible, affordable, accredited, and effective! Accepted by NCAA & Top Colleges LeeWay athletes are approved by NCAA and accepted by every major university. Based in Texas, our students live & school anywhere. We curate classes/teachers/internships from carefully vetted and accredited, accessible partners that assure optimal learning. Our process frees up time for you to go do you! If needed, we handle NCAA/NCEA documentation, and we provide colleges with your School Report, Counselor's Recommendation, and Official High School Transcript. Our graduates have been accepted by Princeton, West Point, Cornell, USAF, UCLA, and Oxford --- with very competitive scholarships! Uniquely Affordable LeeWay is 50% less than the average private school. Tuition covers year-round Academic Advising, Course Facilitation, and Recordkeeping & Document Management. Plus: Annual Aptitude Testing, SAT/ACT Planning, Resume Development, and Extracurriculars (Volunteerism, Clubs, and Honor Societies). Plus, each student can earn up to two full years of college credits for 75% less than at a University! Not only affordable but uniquely successful. LeeWay consistently produces well-rounded graduates who are prepared for college, career, and life success. Skip the busywork and enjoy learning again! Each student has their own personal College Concierge! Your Pathway to Academic Excellence & Personal Freedom Our proprietary micro-learning creates time for your priorities. ADMISSIONS LeeWay admissions is ongoing to allow a smooth and seamless transition between schools. April and October are ideal times to register for Fall and Spring start dates. Email a request at least 6 weeks before you hope to start. Admission is by invitation only! Read More CURRICULUM Colleges love our NCAA approved Honors Degree Plan. We use the TEA Honor Degree Plan. Read More GRADUATION Our graduates attend Stanford, Cornell, Oxford, Princeton, UCLA, USAF, West Point, Baylor, Oxford, and nearly every Ivy. LA Graduates attend top colleges! Read More EQUESTRIANS Hunter-Jumper, Dressage, or Eventing, we work wtih USEF & IEA, plus NCEA, USHJA, IHSA, FEI. We believe every student should be able to achieve their maximum potential. An education is more than just math and science. If riding is your passion then your school should give you the time and resources to succeed academically while also pursuing your dream. We provide a program where you can also learn to express yourself creatively, learn to act responsibility, build your self-esteem, and develop leadership skills. Read More HOMESCHOOLERS You do you! We provide the umbrella: We facilitate, guide, and document. Then we provide the School Report, Counselor's Recommendation, and Official High School Transcript to colleges for admissions. We also provide the most recognized college admissions advising service in the US. We can umbrella a homeschool for college admissions. Read More ADMISSIONS LeeWay admissions is ongoing to allow a smooth and seamless transition between schools. April and October are ideal times to register for Fall and Spring start dates. Email a request at least 6 weeks before you hope to start. Admission is by invitation only! Read More CURRICULUM Colleges love our NCAA approved Honors Degree Plan. We use the TEA Honor Degree Plan. Read More GRADUATION Our graduates attend Stanford, Cornell, Oxford, Princeton, UCLA, USAF, West Point, Baylor, Oxford, and nearly every Ivy. LA Graduates attend top colleges! Read More EQUESTRIANS Hunter-Jumper, Dressage, or Eventing, we work wtih USEF & IEA, plus NCEA, USHJA, IHSA, FEI. We believe every student should be able to achieve their maximum potential. An education is more than just math and science. If riding is your passion then your school should give you the time and resources to succeed academically while also pursuing your dream. We provide a program where you can also learn to express yourself creatively, learn to act responsibility, build your self-esteem, and develop leadership skills. Read More HOMESCHOOLERS You do you! We provide the umbrella: We facilitate, guide, and document. Then we provide the School Report, Counselor's Recommendation, and Official High School Transcript to colleges for admissions. We also provide the most recognized college admissions advising service in the US. We can umbrella a homeschool for college admissions. Read More ADMISSIONS LeeWay admissions is ongoing to allow a smooth and seamless transition between schools. April and October are ideal times to register for Fall and Spring start dates. Email a request at least 6 weeks before you hope to start. Admission is by invitation only! Read More CURRICULUM Colleges love our NCAA approved Honors Degree Plan. We use the TEA Honor Degree Plan. Read More GRADUATION Our graduates attend Stanford, Cornell, Oxford, Princeton, UCLA, USAF, West Point, Baylor, Oxford, and nearly every Ivy. LA Graduates attend top colleges! Read More EQUESTRIANS Hunter-Jumper, Dressage, or Eventing, we work wtih USEF & IEA, plus NCEA, USHJA, IHSA, FEI. We believe every student should be able to achieve their maximum potential. An education is more than just math and science. If riding is your passion then your school should give you the time and resources to succeed academically while also pursuing your dream. We provide a program where you can also learn to express yourself creatively, learn to act responsibility, build your self-esteem, and develop leadership skills. Read More HOMESCHOOLERS You do you! We provide the umbrella: We facilitate, guide, and document. Then we provide the School Report, Counselor's Recommendation, and Official High School Transcript to colleges for admissions. We also provide the most recognized college admissions advising service in the US. We can umbrella a homeschool for college admissions. Read More ADMISSIONS LeeWay admissions is ongoing to allow a smooth and seamless transition between schools. April and October are ideal times to register for Fall and Spring start dates. Email a request at least 6 weeks before you hope to start. Admission is by invitation only! Read More CURRICULUM Colleges love our NCAA approved Honors Degree Plan. We use the TEA Honor Degree Plan. Read More GRADUATION Our graduates attend Stanford, Cornell, Oxford, Princeton, UCLA, USAF, West Point, Baylor, Oxford, and nearly every Ivy. LA Graduates attend top colleges! Read More EQUESTRIANS Hunter-Jumper, Dressage, or Eventing, we work wtih USEF & IEA, plus NCEA, USHJA, IHSA, FEI. We believe every student should be able to achieve their maximum potential. An education is more than just math and science. If riding is your passion then your school should give you the time and resources to succeed academically while also pursuing your dream. We provide a program where you can also learn to express yourself creatively, learn to act responsibility, build your self-esteem, and develop leadership skills. Read More HOMESCHOOLERS You do you! We provide the umbrella: We facilitate, guide, and document. Then we provide the School Report, Counselor's Recommendation, and Official High School Transcript to colleges for admissions. We also provide the most recognized college admissions advising service in the US. We can umbrella a homeschool for college admissions. Read More ADMISSIONS LeeWay admissions is ongoing to allow a smooth and seamless transition between schools. April and October are ideal times to register for Fall and Spring start dates. Email a request at least 6 weeks before you hope to start. Admission is by invitation only! Read More CURRICULUM Colleges love our NCAA approved Honors Degree Plan. We use the TEA Honor Degree Plan. Read More GRADUATION Our graduates attend Stanford, Cornell, Oxford, Princeton, UCLA, USAF, West Point, Baylor, Oxford, and nearly every Ivy. LA Graduates attend top colleges! Read More EQUESTRIANS Hunter-Jumper, Dressage, or Eventing, we work wtih USEF & IEA, plus NCEA, USHJA, IHSA, FEI. We believe every student should be able to achieve their maximum potential. An education is more than just math and science. If riding is your passion then your school should give you the time and resources to succeed academically while also pursuing your dream. We provide a program where you can also learn to express yourself creatively, learn to act responsibility, build your self-esteem, and develop leadership skills. Read More HOMESCHOOLERS You do you! We provide the umbrella: We facilitate, guide, and document. Then we provide the School Report, Counselor's Recommendation, and Official High School Transcript to colleges for admissions. We also provide the most recognized college admissions advising service in the US. We can umbrella a homeschool for college admissions. Read More ADMISSIONS LeeWay admissions is ongoing to allow a smooth and seamless transition between schools. April and October are ideal times to register for Fall and Spring start dates. Email a request at least 6 weeks before you hope to start. Admission is by invitation only! Read More CURRICULUM Colleges love our NCAA approved Honors Degree Plan. We use the TEA Honor Degree Plan. Read More GRADUATION Our graduates attend Stanford, Cornell, Oxford, Princeton, UCLA, USAF, West Point, Baylor, Oxford, and nearly every Ivy. LA Graduates attend top colleges! Read More EQUESTRIANS Hunter-Jumper, Dressage, or Eventing, we work wtih USEF & IEA, plus NCEA, USHJA, IHSA, FEI. We believe every student should be able to achieve their maximum potential. An education is more than just math and science. If riding is your passion then your school should give you the time and resources to succeed academically while also pursuing your dream. We provide a program where you can also learn to express yourself creatively, learn to act responsibility, build your self-esteem, and develop leadership skills. Read More HOMESCHOOLERS You do you! We provide the umbrella: We facilitate, guide, and document. Then we provide the School Report, Counselor's Recommendation, and Official High School Transcript to colleges for admissions. We also provide the most recognized college admissions advising service in the US. We can umbrella a homeschool for college admissions. Read More Academic Mastery Personal Goals College Admissions ★ ★ "I learned more in 1 month at LeeWay than all of last year." - Rory M. " Built Around Your Child. Focused On Their Future. Hi Kathe Lee, our LeeWay Academy intake was the best session I ever attended. I wish I could have this session a year back. This program is absolutely Awesome. Riyaz F. Thank you so much for everything you all do, you’re a wealth of information and change lives for the better every day. Kathy L. Today with Mrs. Kathe was epic. Eye opening. I could cry tears of joy. Brad said "she crawled inside my brain". Thank you! Jennifer M. My junior was failing HS and you put him straight into college classes. I was shocked. But he made straight 'A's and just got into Duke! So so grateful!!! Solly J. LeeWay Media An Education Without Limit Starts With LeeWay Education without compromise. Who knew such things were even possible! LeeWay Play Video Class of 2025: Tyler Cruse Play Video Class of 2025: Riley Freddo Play Video Class of 2025: Olivia Gardner Play Video Watch Now Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Close

LeeWay Academy's calendar of events. LeeWay | School Calendar We are a private high school with both full time and part time staff. Offices located in Dallas, Texas ★ Classes In-Person or Virtual Download PDF