10000% agree. The best decisions I made in HS was to take the SAT for the first time in Spring of Somphmore year. It gave me an extra year to figure everything out before I had to take it the last time.
I’ve learned so much going through this with my first daughter. She showed up to take the ACT without looking at a single test or preparing at all. I didn’t pressure her to prepare because she is ‘smart.’ Scored a 28. I thought to myself ‘that’s fine for A&M’ Ha! She may not get in because I was just clueless about how to work the system. Imagine her score if she prepped even a little. Our next daughter is starting test prep as a sophomore!
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The problem is that TAMU’s advisors tell you that going test optional won’t hurt you — what they don’t tell you is that having a good score will definitely help you and put you over another student if all things equal. So inadvertently it does hurt you. I spent the last few months of my sophomore year and all of junior year doing online learning during covid. Telling a young person test optional won’t hurt them, and during such a difficult time, was like a gift. I went test optional with a 3.8 gpa, bio major, first quarter, part-time job, AP courses, school leadership, good ECs and great essays (as told by my mom’s writer friend). I got PSA. I completed it and am now in my second semester at TAMU, and doing great with a 3.75 gpa. I’ve been telling any high-school kid that will listen not to go test optional.
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Did any Engineering applicants heard from TAMU recently , i.e in last one week ? Either acceptance / deferred / rejection … Please share it here …I am still waiting from TAMU for CE Major… UIUC results are coming on 26th i.e day after tomorrow. I am Out of State Student …
Glad your older son is loving Bama. I’m sure he would have done great at TAMU/TEAB, as well. I’ve come to believe that most students in the top quarter of the most competitive TX high schools would thrive at TAMU or other similar schools. On the other hand; there are a lot of students currently in first year Engineering, auto-admitted from less competitive schools, that seem ill-prepared for the rigors at TAMU and are in the process of transferring/dropping out. I understand some of the reasons behind the top 10% admission law but there’s a lot that could be done to improve the process.
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Same here! Younger son is starting SAT prep as a sophomore. Older son was one & done with a 1400 last year and was lucky he got offered TEAB. I’d say shoot for at least a 1450 but preferably 1500 for Engineering.
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Thank you for sharing your inspirational story, @Tee2 . If there’s a will, there’s a way! Keep up the good work! 
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Thank you so much!
Does anyone know if TEAB and Galveston offers go out at the same time, or is it one before the other? My 1430 SAT (710 Math), first quarter, 3.7 UW GPA, all in Aggie is still waiting. Yes, he’s had AP Calc AB with a high A, also had AP Physics-C also with a high A.
Do I have a chance for MEEN?
1410 sat (710 verbal 700 math)
All classes are engineering oriented (AP Chem, AP Physics, AP Calc AB)
92.99 average weighted
taking 4 ap’s during my senior year, 10 total
Out of state
Top 40% (Super Competitive School)
@BracksBro20 top 40%? What quarter did A&M give you? When did you apply?
All incoming freshman are General Engineering.
Applied 11/7/23. Where might I find my quarter?
How do you know if your school is a century scholar school or how it ranks in competitiveness in the college’s view?
did engineering applicants receive their decision yet?
Your AIS portal
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Thank you - was looking in my test scores - whoops! 1st quarter.
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@mere33 that I don’t know. Your school counselor will know.
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The 3 Engineering options popped up at the same time in my son’s AIS on 1/28 last year. The options were TEAB, Galveston, McAllen. Waitlist was not an option for Engineering then (only for TEAM). He didn’t receive an email about it, so it’s important to check AIS regularly. He chose TEAB and got his acceptance with the 7 tabs exactly a week later. He loves being a TEAB student!
A friend of his only got the Galveston option which he accepted and he’s very happy with his experience in Galveston, as well. Both TEAB and Galveston are amazing programs!
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Is it possible for public health to be full by now? Cause I saw on Reddit someone said they called TAMU admission and were told that PH is full and you’ll receive a notification to choose another major or defer to 2nd choice.
@Henry91 easily many majors are most likely full by now, the admission cycle is wrapping up. Reddit tends to be a crapshoot-can’t always believe everything posted tho. And even if you called Admissions, you could get a different answer, depending on who you speak to.
Auto admit is the only admission guarantee.
Housing has said on-campus housing only guaranteed thru mid February, which is earlier than previous years. Students need to be familiar with the pathways-TEAM/TEAB, Gateway, Galveston, McAllen, Opportunity Majors and PSA-and need to be checking their portal at least once a day.
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