<p>
</p>
<p>I agree. A&M is a really nice school, highly respected…it’s just that it’s made that way by its students…a very unique situation. That student body is the kind of guys and gals that aren’t going to go to a prestigious “Public Ivy” because it’s a prestigious “Public Ivy”…but instead because they feel born to be Aggies and know what the hell it means to “Gig 'Em”. If anyone can explain that, feel free.</p>
<p>A&M is more of a lifestyle than it is a university…they also do education on the side. That appeals to some. It would appeal to me more if I’d been raised in that culture.</p>
<p>A while ago, someone mentioned TT, and other person responded: “Well…it’s West Texas”</p>
<p>Can you explain that? I’m not from Texas, so I don’t get it…</p>
<p>Many states participate in regional consortiums that allow residents of neighboring states to attend their public schools at special discounted tuition rates (lower than the regular out-of-state rate). Examples are the Western Undergraduate Exchange, the Midwest Student Exchange Program, and the Southern Regional Education Board’s Academic Common Market. </p>
<p>Texas participates in the last of these programs – but only at the graduate level. So this doesn’t help a prospective undergrad from Texas.</p>
<p>But in general, if you are looking at public schools, it’s worth checking to see if your state is a regional consortium member. The downside is that the most popular public schools within a given state are often excluded. In California, for example, this program cannot be used at the UC campuses, or at the Cal Poly campuses; it only works at certain Cal State campuses.</p>
<p>You can go to the University of Minnesota for practically instate tuition. It’s a great big ten school with an amazing campus right next to downtown Minneapolis. Although the OOS tuition of $14K is slightly higher than instate, it is still cheaper than instate tuition to a lot of flagships.</p>
<p>Dook, Texas Tech is not a flagship university, so a lot of people just look at it and see a school on the level of the University of Houston, University of North Texas, UT-Dallas, etc. And Texas Tech IS out there in West Texas. There is nothing out there.</p>
<p>Interesting. While I consider them to be two very similar universities. So much so, that Oklahoma State hired former Tech administrators to replicate the Texas Tech system at their university.</p>
<p>Most people consider Texas Tech to be bigger and better than Oklahoma State. It’s a larger school, with higher scores, Phi Beta Kappa, more selective, and it has a larger endowment. Tech also has a Law School, Pharmacy School, Nursing and Med Schools. Strong in Business, Engineering and Architecture. Most Tech students come from the Metroplex and the other major Metro areas in Texas. Tech’s enrollment is now surpassing the 30,000 student mark making it the 3rd or 4th largest university in the Big 12 conference. They plan to grow the campus to 40,000 students by 2020 and are currently ahead of schedule.</p>
<p>The Texas Legislature paved the way for more “Tier One” universities in Texas with new legislation that will send more money. Tech outpaced nearly all competitors in the competition for TIRP funds and is expected to become the next Tier One school in Texas.</p>
<p>EDIT: Tech nearly out-raised all of the other competitors (combined) for the TRIP funds and is expected to become the State’s next Tier One University.</p>
<p>[THE</a> EDUCATION FRONT Blog | The Dallas Morning News](<a href=“http://educationfrontblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/09/tier-one-university-cash-grab.html]THE”>http://educationfrontblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/09/tier-one-university-cash-grab.html)</p>
<p>[House</a> Speaker Straus visits Lubbock, says Tech tops for Tier One | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL](<a href=“http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/092509/loc_497020792.shtml]House”>http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/092509/loc_497020792.shtml)</p>
<p>“And Texas Tech IS out there in West Texas. There is nothing out there.”</p>
<p>LOL!
OSU is in STILLWATER, OK!!! Which is 1/5th the size of Lubbock. If you want to talk about “nothing out there”…talk about OSU.</p>
<p>Typical Dookie response of your moral superiority. OSU’s point is this is a system that rewards mediocrity. There are cases where parents will move a kid into a school just to “game” the system due to the top 10% rule. You have exceptional students who would be accepted at Duke who are excluded from attending. Now students have to be in the top 8% while they are attending highly competitive exemplary high schools. The top 8% at a school like Highland Park or TAMS is pretty rare air. A top 8% student in some school districts in Texas will not be academically prepared for Texas or A&M, but they receive automatic admission.
So I recommend you get off your pedestal of moral superiority about a subject you have no knowledge. In this case physician heal thyself of your pretentious attitude.</p>
<p>Let me explain the “affirmative action” comment. Here is why many feel it is not fair and many consider it to be affirmative action. You CANNOT compare a school like Highland Park ISD or Plano ISD to a school in DISD- except maybe the magnet schools or, a small 1A school out in the sticks. It doesn’t matter, Top 10% is Top 10% no matter how academically challenging your school is or not. It was designed to give poor inter-city and rural kids the opportunity to get into schools like UT or A&M where they would not otherwise have been admitted. And, this has nothing to do with test scores. It is a flat auto acceptance. So, you can be in the Top 10% at Crappy School, TX and score a 24 on the ACT (average score) and get in ahead of an Honors Student with a 30 ACT (that score is in the 95%) and who is in the top 11%. In districts like Plano the top rankings are often 100ths of a point difference. THAT is why it is not fair.</p>
<p>Please use old threads for information only</p>