Freshman Admissions

40,027 Views | 139 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by wxmanX
FIDO*98*
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Yep. Top 13%, full AP/Dual credit schedule, Spanish immersion bilingual, 4H leader, 4-year varsity athlete, 100+ CS hours. Not A&M material
NomadicAggie
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In the same boat here. I know A&M doesn't care and the system is specifically set up to discriminate against kids like mine (suburban high school), but it cuts both ways.

12th man foundation - Not another dollar
School donations - Not another dollar
Recruitment - I work for an iconic Texas energy company (everyone here would know it) and am in charge of recruitment. I am making zero effort to come back to campus to interview anyone again.

I'm sure A&M understands, it's just business.
BoDog
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NomadicAggie said:

In the same boat here. I know A&M doesn't care and the system is specifically set up to discriminate against kids like mine (suburban high school), but it cuts both ways.

12th man foundation - Not another dollar
School donations - Not another dollar
Recruitment - I work for an iconic Texas energy company (everyone here would know it) and am in charge of recruitment. I am making zero effort to come back to campus to interview anyone again.

I'm sure A&M understands, it's just business.
The recruitment part seems a little drastic. Dont take your (and mine) frustration out on the kids.

Some of you need to come to the same realization I did during COVID and the "summer of love" that A&M isnt anything like it used to be. To say otherwise, you are either a liar or stupid. Like most academic institutions it is run by marxist who have a very warped sense of reality. John Sharp is just collecting a check and the damage Michael Young did is probably beyond repair. Bottom line, I love A&M but it is not that shining city on a hill that some of us think it is.
NomadicAggie
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Well, here's the thing. We can hire from just about anywhere we want. We get tons of resumes from schools with much better academic reputations than A&M. Typically we like Aggies not only because they are great students, but they're also generally more well rounded and are well suited for our industry.

I won't hold it against A&M in the future, we just may not be back there anytime soon and if another resume comes across it better have better grades and scores than their competition (or other "attributes" we may need to satisfy) since that's all that A&M screens for now. Just another school.

bmks270
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University admissions are very subjective.
I know of lots of great students that didn't get accepted to places that is a bit shocking. All ended up doing great however, because they make themselves, not the particular university.

double b
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bmks270 said:

University admissions are very subjective.
I know of lots of great students that didn't get accepted to places that is a bit shocking. All ended up doing great however, because they make themselves, not the particular university.



That is mainly true for the very selective institutions (less than 20% acceptance rates), but those students typically possess very impressive academic resumes and test scores. Their essays and unique backgrounds essentially separate one candidate from another.

Texas A&M is not in that category of schools. Historically, we've admitted more than 60% of our applicants, although Blinn Team primarily inflates those numbers. So traditionally, a solid academic student coupled with equally good test scores and essays could feel confident about their admissions chances. At the very least, receive Blinn Team.

I think what happened this year is that Texas A&M admitted way too many students last year and a larger percentage matriculated than expected. The main campus welcomed 11,100 new students this Fall 2021 semester. For the Fall 2020 semester, TAMU enrolled 10,039 students, and that's an 11% increase from the previous year. No school plans to increase their enrollment by that much.

Overall, I don't think TAMU was expecting such an increase from the following year, coupled with a continued rise in applications due to Test-Optional policies, and you have this calamity of admission decisions this year. Texas A&M was going to continue to recruit their designated populations in hopes of increasing those numbers, which unfortunately, came at the sacrifice of suburban schools for this admission cycle.
wxmanX
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Hook'em. Glad my son got into Texas.

NomadicAggie
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I dare this school to come beg me for money again....they're not going to like the response they get.
Leander - Ag
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double b said:

bmks270 said:

University admissions are very subjective.
I know of lots of great students that didn't get accepted to places that is a bit shocking. All ended up doing great however, because they make themselves, not the particular university.



That is mainly true for the very selective institutions (less than 20% acceptance rates), but those students typically possess very impressive academic resumes and test scores. Their essays and unique backgrounds essentially separate one candidate from another.

Texas A&M is not in that category of schools. Historically, we've admitted more than 60% of our applicants, although Blinn Team primarily inflates those numbers. So traditionally, a solid academic student coupled with equally good test scores and essays could feel confident about their admissions chances. At the very least, receive Blinn Team.

I think what happened this year is that Texas A&M admitted way too many students last year and a larger percentage matriculated than expected. The main campus welcomed 11,100 new students this Fall 2021 semester. For the Fall 2020 semester, TAMU enrolled 10,039 students, and that's an 11% increase from the previous year. No school plans to increase their enrollment by that much.

Overall, I don't think TAMU was expecting such an increase from the following year, coupled with a continued rise in applications due to Test-Optional policies, and you have this calamity of admission decisions this year. Texas A&M was going to continue to recruit their designated populations in hopes of increasing those numbers, which unfortunately, came at the sacrifice of suburban schools for this admission cycle.



So after 100+ yrs they don't know how to plan enrollment capacity. Texas and other universities don't seem to have this disconnect.
ag97tx
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What is our admission rate if you only look at the fully admitted straight in A&M?

And what percentage of spots in the freshman class go to top 10% auto admits?

For those that had children offered options that weren't full admission what majors were they applying into? Were they outside of the top 10% of their class?
wxmanX
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Explain how you can't get in with a 30 ACT score, when the average is 28-29?

Makes no sense.
Joseph in Cypress
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We applied end of October and found out this past weekend he was accepted PSA. We were surprised he did not get blinn team but excited there is a way for him to be an Aggie. He and about five of his friends will all be going to prairie view this next year. Not judging but for those whose kids were accepted psa why are you upset, why allow kids to go some place else instead of waiting a year to fulfill their dream? Just curious on the different points of views
Joseph George '92
FIDO*98*
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I think it's spelled out pretty well in this thread. I'm upset because there is zero transparency to the process. Why are kids who are objectively less qualified getting in? Why did the school eliminate the most level common denominator as part of the admission criteria? I know the answer. It just disgusts me
BoDog
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wxmanX said:

30 ACT, 31 Science ACT, and can't get into geoscience at A&M.

BS.

Yeah this seems odd to me as well....
wxmanX
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No clue, but anyone who scores 30 ACT, 1350 SAT should be automatically allowed in. They have the brains to get 'er done.

NomadicAggie
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Not the type of student they are looking for....if you know what I mean.
wxmanX
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Joseph

I was hoping for Blinn Team, but my kid got accepted to Texas.

My other friend's son going to OU, after waiting on A&M.
Joseph in Cypress
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I understand the anger and frustration. If it's been your kids dream to be an Aggie then why not go the extra step My son only applied to A&M, could not convince him to apply to others, because that is where he wanted to go. He is good with spending a year at Prairie View to reach his goal. The selection process has been messed up for a long time and I keep hearing about the qualified legacy kids not getting in so I don't think it will be fixed anytime soon. For what it's worth I have longhorn friends just as frustrated with their results. I hope things change and your kids end up going to A&M no matter the path it takes.
Joseph George '92
Leander - Ag
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Joseph in Cypress said:

We applied end of October and found out this past weekend he was accepted PSA. We were surprised he did not get blinn team but excited there is a way for him to be an Aggie. He and about five of his friends will all be going to prairie view this next year. Not judging but for those whose kids were accepted psa why are you upset, why allow kids to go some place else instead of waiting a year to fulfill their dream? Just curious on the different points of views


I think pretty much everyone is offered PSA…..

Our basketball coaches presser last night about the NCAA sums up A&M admissions process. Same thing - it's corrupt. Period.
Joseph in Cypress
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Can't argue with you on either one….
Joseph George '92
DannyDuberstein
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Test Optional needs to go. I feel like it is over-complicating the process. HS GPA is a slightly better predictor of college success than SAT scores (when evaluated standalone), but demonstrated success on both together provide a significant boost in predicting collegiate success. We should be evaluating based on both.
500,000ags
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Found some interesting stats after googling. This is all back of the envelope math from two different sources. So, in 2021, TAMU received 43.3k applications and admitted 27.3k (63%). But, that is really deceptive because of PSA, BT, etc. Looks like the last several years, full-admits are 9-11k freshmen with 2/3 being top 10%. And the other 1/3 have been around 3-4k freshman per year. TAMU's acceptance rate would be a minimum of ~30% just including top 10% admits. Full-admits that are outside the top 10% (that 3-4k) are really competing with 35k+ applicants for admission. Pretty rough if your goal is full-admit outside of top 10%.
Joseph in Cypress
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Those numbers are impressive and scary at the same time. It seems like the PSA program is going to make the system schools that are a part of PAS to really grow at an accelerated rate. I think an unintended consequence will start showing up as more cypress kids start going to Prairie View like my son and his friends. If they don't grow they are going to squeeze out those who normally would go there.
Joseph George '92
500,000ags
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The numbers tell a story that TAMU is both a diploma mill and highly selective at the same time. The problem is that kids that are really good, just outside that 3-4k head somewhere else because they get accepted to other good schools. Meanwhile, some of the last accepted students entering thru other pathways are nowhere near the caliber of those choosing elsewhere.
Leander - Ag
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500,000ags said:

Found some interesting stats after googling. This is all back of the envelope math from two different sources. So, in 2021, TAMU received 43.3k applications and admitted 27.3k (63%). But, that is really deceptive because of PSA, BT, etc. Looks like the last several years, full-admits are 9-11k freshmen with 2/3 being top 10%. And the other 1/3 have been around 3-4k freshman per year. TAMU's acceptance rate would be a minimum of ~30% just including top 10% admits. Full-admits that are outside the top 10% (that 3-4k) are really competing with 35k+ applicants for admission. Pretty rough if your goal is full-admit outside of top 10%.


I don't see how PSA is in the acceptance total for A&M college station as it's definitely a rejection option. You are not considered accepted.
500,000ags
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Holy smokes - you are correct. I saw the amount offered PSA and assumed it was in the acceptance rate (since the rate is so high). The "accepted" pathways are gateway, BT, engineering specific thru BLINN and Galveston, and something called HECM. Man, when you consider PSA, ~80% of applicants had a route to TAMU in the graphic I used. That's so nuts.
Leander - Ag
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500,000ags said:

Holy smokes - you are correct. I saw the amount offered PSA and assumed it was in the acceptance rate (since the rate is so high). The "accepted" pathways are gateway, BT, engineering specific thru BLINN and Galveston, and something called HECM. Man, when you consider PSA, ~80% of applicants had a route to TAMU in the graphic I used. That's so nuts.


Makes sense. At least up to second quartile are offered PSA. Could be all applicants, not sure.
whytho987654
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500,000ags said:

Found some interesting stats after googling. This is all back of the envelope math from two different sources. So, in 2021, TAMU received 43.3k applications and admitted 27.3k (63%). But, that is really deceptive because of PSA, BT, etc. Looks like the last several years, full-admits are 9-11k freshmen with 2/3 being top 10%. And the other 1/3 have been around 3-4k freshman per year. TAMU's acceptance rate would be a minimum of ~30% just including top 10% admits. Full-admits that are outside the top 10% (that 3-4k) are really competing with 35k+ applicants for admission. Pretty rough if your goal is full-admit outside of top 10%.
Whoever runs tamu PR needs to publish the "acceptance" rate as true acceptances, not including acceptances into entry pathways
NomadicAggie
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This school is dead to me. Checking out and off the site for good.

Adios…
Leander - Ag
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NomadicAggie said:

This school is dead to me. Checking out and off the site for good.

Adios…
BoDog
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Nomadic, I share similar sentiments but take a deep breath and put things into perspective....I love A&M but really dont give a damn if my kids attend there or not. I have no doubt my SMU freshman will still follow the football team more than 95% of the A&M students. Its still ok to be a fan.
DannyDuberstein
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A&M is dealing with a problem created by the state. Namely the top 10% rule and the lack of developing more desirable 3rd and 4th choices as flagship type institutions. As a result, the volume they are wading thru is ridiculous, and ultimately, very major/college focused where different criteria end up being applied by necessity and can certainly appear unfair (and likely is in some cases). End result is a lot of frustrated people.
maroonblood
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I would really like to know the graduation rate among those admitted via the state's 10% program.

500,000ags
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The hate on the top 10% rule is understandable, but it's not all the problem. I graduated last in the top 10% from a small, rural 2A high school (9th out of 92). I went to TAMU and graduated summa cum laude in Finance (not the hardest degree, but certainly not the easiest). My gf graduated valedictorian in a class of 75 from the same high school - she graduated magma cum laude in business too. A chunk of the issue is that TAMU has made the decision to build infrastructure around admitting kids willing to spend FR and SO years at Blinn, Galveston, and system schools instead of allowing for more full-admit freshmen. You don't get to 70k+ enrollment by admitting ~11k of full-admit freshmen. That's a choice that passes on many high quality students IMO.
HECUBUS
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Looking back, that hs to university transition was rough. Good news is your kids will find their path and they are smarter than you (hopefully). Congratulations on getting your spawn to this point. It's up to them and there is no limit. At this point as parents you should be rejoicing and you will be when they find their grove.

They are who they are and you provided every opportunity. I wish I had the opportunity your kids have. Bravo.
 
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