I am currently trying to narrow down my college options. My grades aren’t horrible but my rank lands me in the 2ns quartile of my class. My test scores are about a 1350 new sat and 27 act. My test scores are not where I want them and I will continue to take them until I get higher scores. I think I would like to major in political science or international studies/relations and it is a must that I study abroad. Two colleges I am looking at are Texas State and Texas a&m.I would like to graduate in 4 years and from my research Texas a&m doesn’t seem like a place that I can do that at, unless I have priority picking for classes. Texas state on the other hand I know that I can get into their honers program and have priority everything from class to study abroad and will most likely be offered financial aid. I think Texas state makes more logical sense even if it has a lesser reputation than Texas a&m. Am I on the right track? Any suggestions? Any other colleges I should look into?
Thanks 
Have you been accepted to the honors program or are you making an assumption. You can graduate from either school in 4 years because it is done every year. A&M is clearly the better school of the two. Texas State will likely offer you a better financial pkg than A&M. You could get study aboard opportunities at both schools. I suggest to visit both campuses and get a feel for which is the better fit for you.
Texas State sounds like the best option for you but is far from the only option. What about UH? Its honors college is excellent.
Run the NPC on St Edward’s, Austin college, Trinity university, Texas Lutheran, too.
I also recommend the UH Honors College. Is it too late to apply? They have priority registration, lots of Honors specific study abroad and a top ranked political science department. Visit the schools and decide.
My daughter didn’t like either! She would have picked Texas State first though!
If she was forced to go to a Texas school (Texas resident here) it would go like this:
UTD>Trinity>Texas State>UT>Rice…
Yes, very much not a normal list, but that is hers (if she had to pick Texas schools).