Texas parent here. Your DS sounds a lot like mine. State qualifier in percussion, plays several instruments, National Merit commended with a 211 PSAT, and 2160 SAT (1480 new SAT) top 13%, 4 years PLTW engineering classes, 4 years foreign language, and he was one of 13 selected from over 100 invited to apply, for an internship at an aerospace engineering company that is government contracted, during his Sr year in high school and guaranteed every summer full time if he remains in an engineering program in college. He was offered admissions to UT but not to engineering, McCombs or any STEM major but to any open major, which was basically Liberal Arts.
Well, that wasn’t going to work.
He was an academic admit to Texas A&M and had been admitted already the past fall. It was the last year before they went holistic review for all engineering applicants. He accepted his admissions after he received his UT admissions decision in February.
Your son is also an academic admit to A&M, based on his rank and test scores.
Depending one what maths and physics your son has had, he will likely get into the engineering program in College Station. Most Auto Top 10% and Academic Admits do. That said, getting in and staying in are two different things. Many decide during/after their first year, that engineering isn’t for them or the toughness of the general engineering program decides it for them.
Make sure he checks the box on his application to be considered for scholarships. Know that Merit scholarships are few and far between and he likely won’t get any. Most don’t. It takes more than a high test score unless you are National Merit. High test scores at top public universities in competitive programs are a dime a dozen. My son wasn’t offered any Merit or other scholarships to offset the costs of tuition. He had two siblings already in college. He has received departmental ones and one from his internship and they help, but it doesn’t make a very big dent in the overall costs.
If your Son was an incoming freshman for fall 2019, on the fixed rate tuition plan, your cost would be $6,646.91 for each semester for tuition and fees. That is no housing costs, parking pass, sports pass or meal plan. https://tuition.tamu.edu/