I already know how the entry to major works. But my question was mostly about the application. Is the Engineering essay new this year or has it always been there? Also, how big of a role does it play in major selection compared to GPA (which, if I’m not mistaken, is like the lottery for engineering, especially for Mechanical). Do they really take it into consideration?
I’m not going to put it off (applications in actually)…just wondering.
@NpHighTeK - My engineering son is a junior now and the process has changed since he applied. There were no separate requirements for applying to engineering three years ago. Now, engineering admission requires a holistic review in addition to the university admission. And all engineering admissions are to General Engineering. http://admissions.tamu.edu/freshman/apply-engineering
Admission to a specific major requires a second application in the second semester of freshman year or later.
@Beaudreau -Thank you very much. So that second application is separate from the first? also, don’t they pretty much tell you which majors you can pick depending on your GPA.
@NpHighTek - to be admitted to Engineering, you must answer the additional education questions. So, Engineering admission is a two-step process: admission to TAMU and, after a second holistic review by Engineering, admission to Engineering. The link I provided above gives more details. " Applicants are encouraged to select engineering majors as their first and second choice on the application." Engineering admission includes a preference for a departmental major (Mechanical, Chemical, etc.)
Then actual departmental admission is a separate process during freshman or sophomore years. Here’s the information about TAMU Entry-to-a-Major: https://engineering.tamu.edu/academics/advisors-procedures/entry-to-a-major
@Beaudreau thank you very much
Good luck!