<p>I'm having trouble deciding between the two schools. I'm a Texas residence and love that I'll be relatively close to both. I'm majoring in engineering and know that A&M has the better program but the size worries me. I went to a smaller private high school so TCU is more in my comfort zone. Yet everyone still talks about the huge reputation of A&M. Im having so much trouble making up my mind!</p>
<p>I wanted to be a Horned Frog since I was 10, been a football fan since LT. I ended up here at Blinn and A&M. Best thing, its way cheaper and more recognized. Me and my girlfriend are from 2A high schools and we haven’t had a problem.</p>
<p>Definitely A&M</p>
<p>TCU and A&M are both great schools. They are very different. TCU is a small private school, very social, very rich kids go to TCU. Sorority-Fraternity life is huge.
A&M has a better Engineering program hands down.<br>
My daughter came from a very small school too - I thought A&M might overwhelm her by its sheer size. It has not, she is doing very well.
It’s a big decision and I understand being conflicted. I can’t imagine a better place to be than A&M - I am a Ft.Worth girl, so TCU has always been near & dear to my heart - its a good place too. But as far as an engineering career - Be and Aggie & Gig’em!</p>
<p>My family LOVES TCU. Some of my older kids applied and were accepted. None attended, despite huge scholarships – no reflection on TCU at all. There were other non-TCU-related reasons that each kid chose to attend competing schools, also with huge scholarships.</p>
<p>My one kid who wants to be an engineer (the one who’s graduating from high school this year), decided not to apply to TCU at all, despite how much we all love that school (including him). It just doesn’t have the engineering program he wanted. Isn’t the engineering degree kind of a general engineering degree, versus a degree in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering, etc? (Can’t remember if that’s right. It’s been a while since we looked at it.) My son decided that their engineering program was just too small, that internship and career opportunities (job fairs, etc) were comparitively too limited. Etc. So, for engineering-related reasons, he did not apply.</p>
<p>For engineering, there is no doubt that A&M has a superior program.</p>
<p>On the other hand, is TCU’s engineering program “good enough?” I’m not really sure! 
My son didn’t think so. But there are others out there who obviously think it is, because they fill their ranks with engineering students each year.</p>
<p>Good luck to you on your decision. I empathize with the desire to attend a smaller, private school! You’ve got a tough choice on your hands. :)</p>
<p>Texas A&M is a LOT harder to get into than TCU. I live in the Dallas area and the joke is “Have you ever heard of anyone NOT getting into TCU?” Also, TAMU is one of the top engineering programs in the country! But, having said all that, you have to go where you will feel comfortable and fit in. Good luck and Gig 'em!</p>
<p>^Actually, that’s not true. TCU is more selective than A&M. TAMU accepts almost 70% of its applicants. TCU is closer to 50-55%.</p>
<p>However, it is definitely true that the engineering program at TAMU is far superior to that at A&M. Texas A&M is one of the best engineering schools in the country. TCU is not.</p>
<p>70%? Tell that to the business, engineering, and architecture students and see the response. Lol…</p>
<p>hmmmm 30,000+ applicants for 8,000 spots.
derekallen2009 is correct - some colleges are very selective. Some not so much.</p>
<p>^Hey, I’m not quoting stats for specific departments. I’m quoting what I’ve read from several different sources for TAMU acceptanace rates – anywhere from 65% to 69%. I believe Texas A&M itself publishes such a rate … at least last time I looked.</p>
<p>I’ve already acknowledged: nobody can refute that Texas A&M is a much better engineering school than TCU. Out of 9 excellent schools, my son chose Texas A&M. We know it’s great.</p>
<p>^^klparker, you’re talking about yield rates, not acceptance rates.</p>
<p>I do understand that
TCU is becoming more selective - prior years it was near 90% acceptance. Transfer rate is close to 70% and freshman acceptance is more like 60% A&M is more like 67%. Not a lot of difference. </p>
<p>You will find some of the colleges at A&M much more selective than that as derekallen2009 said.
Mays College of Business 30%
Architecture 26%
Engineering 38%</p>
<p>^Curious. Where’d you get the 67% acceptance rate for A&M? (Not that I’m arguing. It’s basically what I quoted.) And the 60% rate for TCU? It’s been in the 50-55% each year that my kids have applied.</p>
<p>I just googled both - [Texas</a> Christian University Guide](<a href=“http://www.enotes.com/texas-christian-university-guide]Texas”>http://www.enotes.com/texas-christian-university-guide)</p>
<p>went to A&M college web sites for college acceptance rates.</p>
<p>^^I just now understood what you meant in post #9, klparker. I thought you were saying that derkallen was correct that A&M is more selective than TCU, and that “some colleges are very selective. Some not so much,” as in A&M is very selective and TCU is not so much. But NOW I get it. You were agreeing with derkallen that some colleges on the A&M campus are very selective and some are not so much. I totally agree. We’re all on the same page with that.</p>
<p>Whoops. We cross-posted. You’re right. 60%-ish for TCU. College Board and a US News and World (I have printouts from last year) had 53% and 55% for TCU. But I just looked at a recent US News and World, and it had 59%. Not much of a difference between A&M and TCU at all. (On the other hand, it’s not as bandnerd said – A&M is NOT a lot harder to get into than TCU in general. It may well be for engineering. Not making any claims there. Wouldn’t know. Haven’t looked. I just know my son is very happy about his choice to attend A&M in the fall! :))</p>
<p>When you consider that A&M has to take the top 10% of all high school seniors in the state of Texas - A&M does get pretty selective for the non top 10%.
Univeristy of Texas is so tied by the top 10% they got a waver to go top 8%. A&M may not be far from asking for that same waiver.
It acutally makes it much tougher for the kids lets say that are in the 11-25% ratio to get in to A&M.
AND, In this particular case - I think it is tougher to get into A&M than TCU.
It is definantly harder to get into the college of Business, the college of Architecture, and the college of Engineering at A&M - even the top 10% dont get automatic admission to the college of their choice - only to the University.</p>
<p>If you are going for engineering, TAMU is an obvious choice however, if for some reason you are like me and change your mind about that major, you need to be sure that your school of choice has a backup plan with also decent reputation. If you want a 4 year degree and a job in industry, it won’t really matter which school you choose as far as quality of education, but if you want to go to graduate school then reputation and who you meet along the way are huge. That’s where the major public research university offers more than a school like TCU. More opportunities and highly reputable profs with highly funded research > small university with easier one on one access to profs- just my opinion.</p>