So I just recieved a letter from TAMU saying I was denied but accepted into the PAS program. I’m most likely not going to participate becuase I was already accepted into other schools, but I was just wondering about their admissions. I got a 34 on the ACT, have a 3.7 unweighted GPA and a 4.2 weighted. I’ve taken 8 APs (Human Geography, Lit and Comp, Environmental Science, Studio Art (twice), Lang and Comp, Calculus AB, and Psychology). I’ve participated in numerous clubs, won/placed in multiple art competitions, and volunteered for many years. However I only rank 30% at my school. My high school is extremely competitive and very highly ranked. It has been placed in the top 100 high schools in the country and won awards such as the blue ribbon award. I was wondering if I was denied because of my ranking? Do you think that because others are automatically accepted into the top 10% admits and academic admits they filled up the spots quickly? I was accepted to UGA and UTK with scholarships already, and I am an OOS student to TAMU. I was just wondering because I’m waiting to hear back from other colleges I applied to, and this denial is making me worried about the other decisions.
UT and A&M have very few spots left after the auto admits. The instate students then get priority and there are only a few spots left for OSS students. I know alot of in-states who are in the same situation as you are in. Alot of them go to OU, Arkansas and Ole Miss because those schools really want them and give them merit aide. You have great stats but I am betting your high school rank is what killed you. Best of luck to whatever school to select.
As @Grainraiser pointed out, a large percentage of the student body is made up of the top 10% of Texas high schools and Acedemic admits from Tx high schools, OOS, and international. That leaves very little room for review admits for competitive majors.
This is from an admissions officer some time back regarding how they make admission decisions.
"When we look at the class rank and test scores, we determine a projected GPA here at TAMU. We use algorithms to combine a student’s rank and test scores and it produces 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, so on and so forth. Once we see what a student’s projected GPA is, we begin weighing all the other components. The rank and test scores are viewed together and they make up around 50% of the decision. The essays, personal achievement, etc. make up the other 50%.
TAMU does not consider where a student attends high school when making the admission decision.
It sounds like you have some great offers on the table. Congratulations. A&M is not very generous with scholarships for in state tuition waivers. This year, the amount in competitive A&M scholarships one must receive in total is $4K in order to qualify for a tuition waiver. In addition, OOS tuition just increased by $200 per semester hour, or an additional $6K per year, based on 15 credit hours per semester. Good Luck to you.