It’s confirmed. We homeschool and I have the letter. Commended cutoff is for all of the US. The SF and Finalists won’t be announced until much later and those are different depending on your state.
I can also confirm that I received the letter for my homeschooled student.
I attended an online admission session so wanted to share a few things. May be old news to most of you! 
- Mid-late September when they start reviewing apps (didn’t get clarification if this is all apps or only holistic reviews but guessing holistic)
- Even though Test optional, scores can help admission chances but won’t hurt them (said they were “discarded” if they don’t help)
- Auto admits can upload transcript themselves or have school send it to verify rank
- Auto admits will be notified of acceptance 2 weeks after completed app and verification of rank.
- Holistic reviews notified between January and March
There was other info too so happy to share if anyone has specific questions!
it’s not letting me edit so wanted to clarify that #5 was final decision between January and March (I understand in previous years many do hear back sooner so didn’t want to alarm anyone that it was different this year!)
Thanks for the info. Yes.. as for #5, some do hear back from Oct-Dec. but only a small amount of holistics (non engineering).
Was curious to see if they were maintaining test optional for this cycle. Now we know for sure. I’m assuming they’d need to share mandatory testing prior to now anyway though, so that makes sense.
I will say I believe Tests scores do in fact help those that submit them assuming they’re good. While test scores can’t hurt you, we did have many “hurt” feelings last year (current class cycle) because of the misunderstanding that it truly does hurt you if you are being compared to someone that submitted good scores and you submitted none. So while your score doesn’t hurt you, your competition’s score can.
Agreed on the test scores. He did clearly say that test scores can help with getting admitted and recommended they be taken and submitted. I think only schools that are “test blind” can truly claim they have no impact.
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We are considering applying for engineering. can somebody explain how competitive engineering admission is for OOS students?
I am aware that secondary admission to major is needed.
With there being so many pathways to engineering, the percentage of admitted students is favorable.
High test scores (over 1400) solid class rank and course rigor…. And applying early is key. Being OOS shouldn’t hurt if the stats are there!
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The Texas A&M ETAM process for Engineering is really causing me to look for other schools for S25. I get that it is super important for CS, Aero, Mech, BioMed and maybe one or two other majors, but the rest of the majors will basically absorb the rest of the students.
I have heard that some students retake Calc I and take AP Credit for Calc II, and take Calc III second semester, but I also heard that Physics E&M is a bear. Most students who can get in to the program (S25 is OOS without ranking) will have AP Credit for Calc I-II, Chem 119/120, Physics C, US Hist I-II, English I, Poli Sci, and or Human Geography. There are not enough classes to take without pulling second year major classes into the first year class load.
Am I missing something here, or do students just leave all the AP credits in the trash?
Is there any way to start the less popular majors early? Petroleum Engineering especially.
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@FriscoDad can give solid advice, stats etc on engineering process and the whole AP question of to accept or not accept.
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ETAM results for last cycle.
Majors that accept in 2nd and 3rd choices are considered easy to get in. So Petroleum should have low barrier for ETAM.
Students find MATH 152 and PHYS 207 tough because AP Calc BC and AP Physics C are not exactly covering those two classes. Last few cycles there are quite a number (~25 per year) of students who claimed away MATH 152 (implies they got 4 or 5 in AP Calc BC tests) ended up failing (Qdrop) MATH 308/MATH 251. Parents need to let students know that they are not “repeating” the AP classes, but making sure they receive solid foundation of their math skills as engineering series in Junior and Senior years are far more unforgiving.
If your student doesn’t enjoy government/history classes go ahead claim them away. Leave at least one core curriculum per semester to alleviate the tough schedule.
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My son is finishing Calc AB and Physics I and about to take the AP’s for both, he has gotten what should be 5’s on the Practice tests. Next year he’s taking BC and Physics C. Don’t want to screw around with ETAM though so he plans to be conservative even though he should be fine. He wants to do BME and he knows he needs a 3.75 or better but he’s also a very strong student, just not much room for error. So he may just take 151 and 206 but I don’t know if that’s too conservative. He will already be able to place out of virtually all of the Core Curriculum (13 APs and a few DCs).
Love for him to get ahead but I know the importance of GPA and that it is easier to take more hours as you go along than starting out.
For core curriculum, there is no hurry to claim them. Submit the AP scores and students have 4 years to claim.
Calc BC scoring 4 or 5 will make MATH 151 easier, not necessarily MATH 152. Having AP PHYSICS 1/2/C will make PHYS 206 easier. Engineering coding classes can also be challenging to new programmers. Going ETAM needs to be open minded about majors.
Another mindset is don’t rush to graduate. If you review BMEN degree plan, take below Sophomore Spring semester as example. The suggested course load is not very impractical. Many top students still take out one class and substitute with an easier core curriculum (it doesn’t even need to be matching the AP class). Research internship is also very common, so many BMEN graduate in 4.5 to 5 years. For your student info, from freshmen to second year in BMEN will be another big jump of rigor in terms of course difficulties.
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Can you point me to this same data set for 2019?
Thanks! Would you suggest any programming to focus on prior to entry? Python or more general programming skills? He’s not a CS kid and is more Mechanical/Industrial besides the Biomed so he has only done light programming. Essentially thinking of some short course or self study that could make sure he is prepared. Not terribly worried as the outcomes for kids from his HS have been very solid from kids with lower grades and less rigor but don’t want to take anything for granted.
Your student can start with searching Python coding in youtube.
There are a lot of paying on line classes as well. Make sure your student has AP Chem as the choice of two science classes are likely CHEM 107/120. PHYS 206 will be the tough one.
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So Python is the main language they work in or it is just a good baseline? I know it’s a very flexible language.
He’s taking AP Chem next year, he found Advanced Chem pretty easy even though many of his friends really struggled. Chemistry came pretty naturally to him. Other STEM APs are Physics 1 and C, Biology, and Calc AB and BC. He’s also taken PLTW classes in Intro to Biomed, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions, Intro to Engineering, and Digital Electronics. All A’s and Top 5% of a highly competitive large Public HS. 1460 SAT (770 Math).
Is there a good place to find a Syllabus for those classes btw?
Your student should be fine in admission and ETAM year. Note that AP Chem is much harder than regular Chem (Honor/Advanced Chem). And Organic Chem in BMEN is another level.
In TAMU you can search for BMEN degree plan, than click on each course code to its detail.
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Yes, many freshman engineers have AP credit for chem and phys BUT retake those classes to ensure a successful ETAM and to build a strong foundation.
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