<p>Hey guys. Congratulations to everyone who has gotten accepted! If you’re still waiting because you’re a review applicant, I have some advice for you.</p>
<p>I’m currently a freshman at Cornell University. I applied to Texas A&M for Fall 2013 as a high school senior, and was offered PSA, which essentially means I was rejected. I applied with a 3.4 GPA, ranked 169/600+, and had an ACT score of 34. I also graduated high school with an Associate’s degree in Computer Science, and had a college GPA of 3.9. I waited about three months before I actually received a decision from TAMU. I was crushed when I saw my application was no longer active. I decided I would attend the University of Houston, then transfer into TAMU in the Spring or Fall of 2014. </p>
<p>Then I received an envelope in the mail from Cornell in March. The envelope contained a congratulations letter, and an invitation to a few events for incoming freshmen in April. I called Cornell, and the lady said that only some students who were accepted for the fall had received that letter. I had been accepted into Cornell. I wasn’t very happy. I was still down over the TAMU rejection. A&M was my top choice school. The only reason I had applied to Cornell was because one of my professors at my community college had graduated from there, and encouraged me to apply. </p>
<p>In late March, things began to settle. I received my official acceptance letter from Cornell, my financial aid award package, and some graduation gifts from students at Cornell. I slowly began to process the fact that I had gotten rejected from TAMU and accepted at an Ivy League School. TAMU was now in the past.</p>
<p>I’m currently doing great at Cornell! Ithaca is a beautiful place, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet excellent people from all over the world. I’ve also realized that an education is valuable no matter where you get your degree from. I’ve spoken to a few people about Texas House Bill 588 (“Top Ten Percent Rule”), and they’ve all been surprised at Texas’ way of determining students’ success.</p>
<p>So, if you’re still waiting for Texas A&M to make a decision on your enrollment, I strongly suggest you create a plan B. If you’re a review applicant who has been admitted, I applaud you for being admitted based on your actual skills and talents, not on some number that means nothing after high school.</p>
<p>I still love Texas A&M. I just don’t think the Top Ten Percent Rule is a fair way to admit students; especially those who come from small or competitive schools. </p>
<p>I wish you all the best of luck. I know senior year of high school can be stressful. Please have a solid backup plan. And parents, this is the time your student needs the most support. I know I had several emotional breakdowns (pathetic, I know) throughout my senior year. Don’t be constantly asking your student about his plans, as this can be somewhat pressurizing. If your kid decides community college is for him/her, great! The important thing is to get a degree; it does not matter from where. Parents, you’re all the best!</p>
<p>If anyone has any questions for a 19 year old college freshman who was rejected from TAMU, feel free to contact me! I’ll be glad to answer some of your questions.</p>
<p>I apologize for the long post. I have no homework tonight and I miss Texas.</p>