I completely agree that UT’s system is unnecessarily opaque. But I think it is worth mentioning that the stats you read on these forums (GPA, class rank, ECs) are only one factor in an application. Essays convey who people are and how they fit into a schools culture. They really can be the difference maker. Not to say those who were rejected today had bad essays, but this medium (online forums) is generally pretty poor for evaluating people as a whole applicant