You’ve decided to pursue a degree or certificate online from UT Permian Basin. You complete your application, hit “submit,” and cross your fingers. But what happens next? We spoke with two directors from the University’s admissions team to get an answer to that question. Along the way, we learned the differences between the undergraduate and graduate admissions experience, how soon you can expect an admissions decision, and other information every applicant wants to know. 

Before we delve into those topics, first consider these key points: 

  • UT Permian Basin’s application can be completed entirely online
  • From the applicant’s standpoint, the process is the same for degree and certificate programs. 
  • It usually takes one day for the University to receive a submitted application. 

Applying to a UTPB Undergraduate Program 

For the story on undergraduate admissions, we turned to Lorinda Tercero, director of undergraduate admissions for the University. 

Important: You Must Submit Official Transcripts  

“On the undergraduate side, we can get a transcript from the school, if they’ll send it electronically to us through the Parchment national clearinghouse,” Tercero explained. “Or the school will mail it to us in a sealed envelope.  Undergraduate admissions does not accept unofficial copies of transcripts, so students can’t just upload them when applying.”  

What Happens During the Admissions Process 

“When the student applies, they’re going to get an email saying, ‘Thank you for applying. Sign into the applicant portal to see the progress of your application,’” Tercero continued. “From there, they’re going to start getting emails listing materials that we need to complete their file, so those students know what to turn in. As they turn them in, they get checked off. As the file becomes complete, they go into a pending status, and they should see that on the admitted student portal. Then we have freshman counselors and transfer counselors review the application files and make sure they meet the entrance requirements for undergraduate admission.”  

Decision Time: How You’ll be Notified 

Now that the admissions team has reviewed your application, how will you find out whether you’ll be a part of the Falcon Family? Tercero walked us through the process: 

 “When we make a decision in Slate, [the application and communication platform the admissions team uses], applicants are automatically emailed. It says, ‘There’s been an update to your file. Please log in to see your status.’ If [the applicant] did get admitted, they get the whole confetti experience. They see a digital letter from me, congratulating them. We still send out communications to the students about the next steps once admitted, signing up for orientation, etc. In the admitted student experience, there’s a tab for the next steps. If they’re international, there’s a tab there for them. And then there’s a tab for financial aid. It’s really important that they log in just to see if they missed anything and check their email.” 

Timeline for an Admissions Decision 

Eagerly awaiting your email? Tercero outlined the typical timeline from application submission to “admitted” status:  

“It really depends on the student. If the student is very proactive and tries to get their transcripts, they can get their file completed within a week, a week and a half, because they have to contact each individual school they attended and have those transcripts sent to us … The ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is very quick. In undergraduate admissions we mail them an admissions packet. They get a certificate and stickers. That will take about two weeks for them to receive.” 

Applying to a UTPB Graduate Program 

Graduate admissions are overseen by Phumara Cox, director of graduate admissions and interim director of graduate studies.  

Important: You Must Submit Official Transcripts Before Enrollment 

“We require an official transcript,” Cox said, “but let’s say it’s one of our international students: We will still process their unofficial transcript so that there’s no delay as far as the application decision. And once they’ve been admitted, we’ll place a hold on their record for the official transcript, and they will not be able to enroll until we’ve received the official documents.” 

What Happens During the Admissions Process 

“I would say the beginning part is pretty similar to the undergrad side,” Cox explained. “Whenever [the application is] loaded into our system, it’s considered in ‘awaiting materials’ [status] because the file is not complete. Either we’re missing transcripts, or it depends on what program they’re applying to. For example, if it’s … the MBA program, at the very beginning we just need an application and their transcript.” 

You’ve officially submitted your application and transcripts. Congratulations! But where are they headed next? Cox explained the process: 

“It moves over to our grad first review—basically, our enrollment counselors. They’re going to calculate based off of the last 60 undergrad credit hours, making sure [the applicant] meets the GPA requirements. If it’s regular admission, then they route it to the program coordinator for their review and application decision. For all our grad programs, we have a program coordinator that’s in charge of reviewing applications and also routing [them] to the next reviewer.”  

Decision Time: How You’ll be Notified 

Next, it’s time for grad final review. As Cox told us, “In the grad final review, the enrollment counselor will review the application decision and they will release it and also send out the admission letter. The admission letter is of course sent from Slate, and it basically says, ‘Congratulations! This is your advisor, this is how to contact them, and basically here are the next steps and let’s get you enrolled.’ In the next steps, it outlines how to access your myUTPB portal. It also outlines how to access the grad catalog and how to enroll in courses.” 

Timeline for an Admissions Decision 

If you’ve made it this far and your excitement is outweighing your patience, we understand! Fortunately, you won’t have to wait long to hear back on your graduate admissions decision:  

“Grad programs require immediate turnaround time,” Cox emphasized. “[Students] want to know the next steps, and the faster the better, honestly. Most of them will be admitted within 24 hours … and they can enroll in classes for that same semester. We’ve had instances where the applicant [was admitted] on the last day to enroll in courses … and then they were able to enroll and honestly start the program that same day.”  

Cox did caution that other factors may delay the admissions decision: “If there are other supporting documents, then that means there’s going to be additional approvals, right? So, let’s say the application is not considered regular admission, it’s going to be a conditional admission. That means it’s going to go through multiple approval paths: from the program coordinator to the college dean to the grad studies dean. Once it has all of the approvals and all of the justifications and the conditions for that specific student, then it’s going to the grad final review, and we’ll release the decision.” 

View UTPB’s admissions requirements here. 

You’ve already mastered the ins and outs of UTPB’s admissions process. Ready to get started on your online program? Apply now!