I have been accepted into Texas A&M (TEAB) - Engineering. I would like to major in Computer Science - Texas A&M. I have read about the Entry to major process where entry to major is guaranteed only if the GPA is more than 3.75. I currently have a GPA of 3.65 (UW) & 4.7(W) in High School (9AP subjects) with a C in AP Calculus BC. I would already have completed AP Physics (Electricity and Mechanics) and AP Calculus BC by the time I graduate HS , Is it easier to get 3.75 in first year engineering?
No. It’s not easy. ETaM requirements are for every single engineering student. You start general and if you earn a 3.75 then you’re guaranteed your first choice Eng major.
You’re up against very good students. Math readiness is key for first year.
With a C in AP Calc BC, you will need to work extra hard…Engineering is TOUGH. A 3.75 will not be easy, at all.
Be sure you’re aware of the MPE (Math Placement Exam), which must be taken prior to NSC.
https://engineering.tamu.edu/academics/undergraduate/math-placement-exam/preparation.html
Thank you. This is what I was looking for hence posted some of my grades as well. I do have other options but have narrowed it down to Penn State, Virginia Tech, Texas A &M and UT Dallas.
ETAM to CS is brutal. Last year, 96% of the CS admits got the auto entry, meaning that only 4% of the admits were allowed in with the lower GPA. A third of the CS applicants were placed in a different major.
Depending on your score on the AP calc test, you may need to retake it. Here’s what they recommend:
The College of Engineering recommends students make a conservative decision about accepting advanced placement credits in math. Students who earn a 4 or 5 on the Calculus AB exam are recommended to still begin in MATH 151. Students who earn a 5 on the Calculus BC exam are recommended to begin in MATH 151 or MATH 152.
I’d say that if you want to study CS, you should go where you are certain you’ll be allowed to major in CS.
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Agree @ColdWombat …if a student is dead set on a certain major, go to a school where they have direct admit.
CompSci is VERY difficult to get.
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Thank you for all the feedback. I did see the ETAM results from last year. My plan is to retake the AP calc BC and Physics courses in first year to boost my gpa. I do come from a very competitive high school. With this strategy will it be possible for a 3.75 as the room for error is very minimal.
I think it’s a good idea to retake those and not take the AP credit! You’ll need a good foundation and this will help.
It is what it is as far as the 3.75 goes. If youre only wanting 1 major and you’re risk adverse and have better options elsewhere, then seriously consider those options
However, say you don’t get your first choice major, you can always transfer to another university later. This isn’t a prison sentence. So be ready to pivot if necessary. And be ready to work harder than you did in high school.
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No one can predict that for you. If you notice, last year only 17 slots in CS were available to those without the 3.75. What will happen this year? Or next year when you’re there? What if more than 400 people who have the 3.75 apply to CS? That’s all their slots. Will they raise the auto-admit GPA threshold? Will they increase the number of slots? They’ve already done both those things in the past. Will they move to holistic review even if people have the 3.75?
You have to be at peace with the idea of doing a major other than CS at A&M. If you’re not at peace with that, choose a school where you’re directly admitted to CS.
is there any data anywhere that shows the percentages of students that get their chosen major/department (mechanical, civil, materials science, etc.) within engineering?
see the chart posted upthread
Duh 
Thank you
That’s the correct path, be conservative. Take 12-14 hours and essentially be retaking a lot of what you did Sr year. It’s good you have pushed yourself in HS but unless you are acing BC you don’t want to even think about taking 152.
You should be fine btw. The kids I know from competitive large HS’s in Texas taking lots of APs tend to do well so long as they don’t overextend. I know 4 in CS now who all were fine going through ETAM by playing it a little safe Freshman year.
My youngest is wanting to do BME which is almost as bad, more get in Holistic but they don’t have anyone from 2nd Round.
Is ETAM a 3.75 in 2 math, 2 science, and 2 engineering classes? Or a 3.75 in all classes, including core? S25 would rather retake Calc I and Chemistry than have to take core humanities classes. By retake, I mean not accept AP credit.
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Pretty sure it’s 3.75 overall… and DC could count towards that. @FriscoDad will know
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If you look at the target engineering degree plan, besides the basic requirement (2Math/2Science/2Engineering coding), it also includes English (103 or 104), government, one core curriculum, and an extra optional science. It will make up 13 to 16 hours per semester.
3.75 include all listed above. The emphasis on the 2Math/2Science/2Engineering is for holistic review, those getting A on the basic requirement will be preferred in holistic review.
In other words, if one picks two easy-A non-STEM core curriculum classes to boost GPA, it will help if the overall GPA is > 3.75. But it will do the opposite if the student ends up in holistic review (i.e. getting some Bs or Cs in basic requirement and counting on core curriculum to increase overall GPA but not making 3.75). This is the most common reason why some students give up hot majors such as MEEN, CHEN, CSCE, BMEN and AERO by the time they apply ETAM in March.
Also, if one chooses a tougher schedule, e.g.
2 Math: Math 152+Math 251, or MATH 308
3 or even 4 Science: CHEM 107/117+CHEM 119/120+ PHYS 206+ PHYS 207
2 Engineering coding: ENGR 102+ENGR 216
And if the students get all As in the tougher schedule while getting B in ENGL 104 or POLS 206, the student still likely gets first choice.
That’s why it is important to work with advisor, and students need to realistically gauge their own abilities to register classes accordingly.
Each year out of approximately 2800 engineering freshmen at College Station and Rellis, about 350 to 400 keep 4.0 throughout ETAM. Among them, about 180 students choose tougher schedule.
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Thanks for the stats. I was told by many students during campus visit to not take PHYS 207 (E&M) during ETAM process, as it is a GPA killer. I am having a tough time coming up with 27 frosh credit hours for son without declining AP credit.
Here is what a schedule would look like:
Calc I and Calc III (accept AP credit for Calc II), Chemistry (decline AP credit), Physics C (decline AP credit), 2 ENGR classes, 3 Core classes. Accept AP credit for USH, Gov, English. This would total 27 credit hours, and allow for 2 B’s in 3 credit classes and still maintain 3.77.
This ETAM process is a total pain!
If some of the core classes during ETAM come from dual credit, do they help contribute to the ETAM GPA?
The ETAM process is painful but that’s how TAMU tackles the auto-admit law. Before ETAM, the engineering drop out rate was almost 40%. With ETAM, it drops to close to 26%.
Math 251 (Calc III) is only slightly “easier” with 27% students A. But note that, these students getting A because of taking Math 151/152 at TAMU. Or put it this way, From Math 151 to 251 will be a challenge.
Math 172 is a tougher version of Math 152, but Holmes give 75% of students A. If your student is up to the challenge, taking Math 172 better prepares for Math 251 and Math 308.
Engineering challenge only begins after ETAM, starting sophomore year, the classes are a lot tougher and keeping 3.5 will be considered very good (78% average 3.21). From sophomore to senior year, research internship opportunities (not the same as study aboard) based solely on GPA.
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DC or AP won’t count towards GPA, or the GPA for ETAM calculation.
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