Confused by Academic requirments at TX State San Marcos

State Forums
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<p>Hi there! My daughter is hoping to apply to Texas State (San Marcos) and looking at their website for admission requirements, we are directed to this form called the "High School Certification," in which are listed all the requirements in a "check box" format. She is an OOS student.</p>

<p>So I'm curious about a few things. </p>

<p>First: It seems they require 4 years of science, including specifically:
1 year of Biology
2 years of either Physics, Chemistry or Integrated Physics/Chem
1 year of another lab science (chosen from a long list).</p>

<p>So, to begin with, D has only had 3 years of science: Physical Science (considered at her school to be a lab science), Biology (Lab) and Anatomy/Physiology (Lab). So that's 3 lab sciences, but no Physics or Chemistry and only 3, not 4 years.</p>

<p>Second: They seem to require
World History
U.S. History
Government
Geography
So, while D will have had the first 3, she will not have had Geography. She chose Philosophy as her other Social Studies class,</p>

<p>Third: They require a class called Communication Application (Speech). This is a class she has not had. She will have had 4 years of Drama, but no speech.</p>

<p>So, with such very specific requirements, I'm wondering if any out of state students ever get in to this school. It's the only school I've seen (among her choices) that require 4 years of science at all, and even those that require 3 aren't so specific as to which classes. And I've never seen any school REQUIRE Geography or Speech before! </p>

<p>Her English and History classes were all Honors level, her GPA is 3.85 and her SAT score (she doesn't test well) is 1680. I'm wondering whether she should bother to apply at all. I don't want to waste the application fee or her time if she won't get in based on her H.S. classes. Should she pass on this school?</p>

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<p>Could very well be this is part of the “Uniform Admissions Policy” implemented by the state for public universities. Students need to meet certain standard requirements before the university-designated requirements–sort of a two stage process. The state’s interest is that every entering freshman has completed a standard high school curriculum. </p>

<p>From what I understand if the student is coming form out of state, there is an affadavit or form that the student can have their high school counselor sign to certify that the other state’s high school curriculum is equivalent to the Texas curriculum. Easy enough and done. Most admissions websites have a copy of the form to download and use. Still, it is confusing a lot of people.</p>