@DEATHSLAMS
From an engineering department staff member on Aggie Parents of Engineering Students Facebook page:
“For the engineering short answer question I recommend drawing from personal experience if possible. Courses taken, clubs/organizations in which a student’s been involved, shadowing/internship/work experience related to engineering are all potential items to discuss. What’s leading the student down the engineering career path? What does the student bring to the table and what does he/she hope to get out of the experience at TAMU?”
In addition, the department member goes on to say:
" the Office of Admissions is making official SAT/ACT scores OPTIONAL for the fall 2021 application cycle.
The Office of Admissions has assured us that there will be NO advantage or disadvantage in submitting official test scores. However, I will still encourage every student I speak with to submit an official test score if possible."
What I find interesting in the wording is that there is no advantage or disadvantage in submitting official test scores. I tend to look at what people don’t say. No where is it said that there is no advantage or disadvantage to those who DON’T submit an official test score. While it is optional, meaning your application will not be thrown out as being incomplete, applying to a highly competitive university is going to be competitive. Those without scores won’t be as competitive as those with really good scores. Competitive applicants will likely have them.
From A&M Website:Does Texas A&M prefer that I provide test scores?
Texas A&M encourages you to send your test scores
if you have them. Test scores will only be used to benefit you in the admission process. You will not be penalized for low test scores or no test scores.
“What is the last date I can take the SAT or ACT and still have it considered as part of my admission
file? Due to recent SAT and ACT scheduling issues, we will accept December test scores as part of your
admission file. You should request scores to be sent to us at the time of testing. We must receive your
December test scores January 15 for consideration.”
“https://admissions.tamu.edu/getattachment/freshman/apply/Test-optional-FAQ.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US”
A&M offers an ACT that is taken in College Station. You would have to call for dates. http://testing.tamu.edu/Exams/ACT
If you are not an auto admit (top 10%), you likely will not receive an admission decision to the university nor engineering major before January. The admissions officer on the TexAgs forum has stated this. All auto admits must be placed first before review admits.
Deadline for supporting documents is December 15. Very little time to process all of the auto admits prior to January when there are only 16 days left in the year and many of those are during the winter break.