Thanks for the great advice!
So SRAR unweighted GPA needs to be accurate. My son’s friends with better stats may be not getting in because of this reason?
Yes, very likely.
SRAR accuracy is more concerned about over-reporting, not under-reporting though.
For example, a student report unweight GPA of 3.70 but in fact SRAR calculates 3.75 is ok. (under-reporting) Under-reporting is also very common as students don’t know some classes grade may not be used.
Another example, student A has SRAR calculated GPA of 3.60, while student B reporting 3.90 but SRAR calculated 3.80. Student B will be flagged. Student A will be favored without violating code of honor even though Student B GPA is higher.
Another example, Student A and B both have SRAR calculated GPA of 3.90, but student A submitted optional official high school transcript. Student A will be favored.
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Thanks! As for test optional why is that only for auto-admit?
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For test scores. Auto-admit can get in even with low or no scores in test optional year.
For review admit applicants, unless students strongly believe the SRAR alone can convince the reviewer that their maths, science and language are top notch (all As?), then they can try test optional. If you think of it, that’s quite contradictory. For those outside top 10%, SRAR may likely show some defect (B?) on core classes. So without test scores that will be hard to gauge the students. Essays and ECs only help on tie-breakers and won’t help in academic evaluations.
Why test scores are so important? Statistics show students scoring 660+ on M/R in SAT or 29+ in ACT components have 98.5% of graduating in/less than 4 years.
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So do you think taking a lot of AP good for admission?
From the 2026 discussion, a lot of people complained about confusing decisions and TAMU discussions the longest thread in CC do you think TAMU admission is very tricky?
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APs (with good grades) help boost ranking for sure. If you pay attention to SRAR, the form does differentiate different type of classes (on-level, AP, honor, college prep… ). SRAR provides course strength index to colleges so admission doesn’t need to look at a particular AP class. As admission becomes more competitive (e.g. engineering, business), you never know when they start using the strength indexes.
Personally, I don’t think admission is “tricky”. Problem is, a lot of applicants don’t give too much thought to the information stated clearly on the site. TAMU admission states clearly SRAR is very important, even created a video clip on application page. Many students still rush in SRAR thinking any “mistakes” can be fixed later. Supporters here didn’t mention the SRAR last few months because they don’t want to add stress to community as January (to March still waiting) is too late to fix mistakes on SRAR.
The reason why TAMU have so many comments in CC year after year is likely due to so many pathways TAMU offered. These pathways are clear as crystal if you visit their websites. Other colleges (e.g. UT, Rice) have very few to almost none pathways. UT PACE is very rare and CAP success rate is very low. TAMU has academies for engineering, Team, PSA, PTA and many pathways have achievable and high success rate.
At this early stage for class of 2027, it is important to understand different pathways, let the student know not to dead-set on a major or a college. Finding a good job (after graduation) is the ultimate goal.
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Another comment I would like to add about SRAR is that it can be started before the application opens in August. So once a student has their final junior year transcript, they can get started on their SRAR in July, at least this was the case in the summer of 2020. I agree with Frisco dad, it is pretty complicated and you want it to be right. My son submitted his and then somehow his rank was listed as unweighted as opposed to weighted and thankfully he called and got it fixed. You want to check and recheck and triple check before submitting lol. My son also submitted his transcript even though he was not top 10% and perhaps this helped him but who knows. We didn’t know at the time that if you were not top 10% you did not have to submit your transcript
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As Frisco dad mentioned, AP classes definitely improves the rigor of classes taken, which is very important to admissions according to the common data set info. What looks even better as if a student can get fours and fives on their AP tests. I believe the AP test scores can be noted in SRAR, at least that was the case in 2020. My son had a few threes and twos so we decided to keep those scores to ourselves lol but who knows.
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Here is info from the the common data set that tamu publishes regarding importance of application criteria. The one I find really interesting is under “very important” - talent/ability. The page below is part of a 34 page document that can be found by googling “tamu common data set”
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Thank you @FriscoDad and @Eggscapgoats for the detail!. Do you think it is a good idea to attend events like A&M Math Contest, EYH, Spark, STEM summer camp, Vet camp?
What about the Blinn Team and waitlist offer? Still the same?
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It is great you bring up these two points.
Attending events - It is always good to experience these events if transportation and stay are manageable, especially now you have other children already in TAMU. But one very important thing is - remind your student not to dead-set on TAMU or a particular major, that is not the intention of the events. To put it another way, before each trip, tell your student to pay attention (even ask around) what other pathways of achieving there besides straight admission.
Blinn Team and/or Waitlist - I think many people @ChristiR93 / @Eggscapgoats / @52AG82 mentioned many times that picking Waitlist (or Blinn+Waitlist) will get results late or even get PSA. I also mentioned last year that picking Waitlist by itself or combo (Blinn/Waitlist) tells admissions that the student have other (college) options. It is not a trick. Admission Office’s true end of cycle is when an accepted student registers and pays for NSC (even though one can still cancel and decline admission but historically that is very rare). Picking Blinn Team only will mean the applicant will go. It also means the student understands what Blinn Team is - same as full admission. Blinn Team / TEAB / TAMU Galveston-assigned/McAllen-assigned/Gateway are all in admitted numbers in TAMU admission report.
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There is a place on the application where you check off the various visits made. Soo…the more you can take credit for, the better! Unfortunately, some of the summer camps are limited in size or by invitation only after applying to the camp.
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@PlanoAggies we were always told TAMU does keep track of who attends official College Tour, Aggieland Saturday, Corps overnight-those kind of things. It shows you have true interest in A&M. Must be official, where student registers with the university. I would attend during Sophomore and/or Junior year, not waiting until Senior year, as obviously applications would already be submitted by the time student attends the events.
And yes, attend any other university camp, event, weekends possible…certainly can’t hurt!
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@Eggscapgoats Good to know.
@52AG82 My girl attended Math Contest last November, she also attended EYH and Spark Conference before. She also attended Aggieland Saturday last month with her brother.
I can tell she is anxious about her SAT school day score which will come out March 24th. She will definitely go to more events this summer and senior year.
My D23 has almost same goal as yours, also took school SAT test earlier this month. My girl also wants engineering. Are you from North Texas?
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I’ll just add for Homeschool/Private School students the SAT/ACT scores are critical components of your application. Very few homeschool students were chosen in the first waves and many of those who were had excellent SAT scores of 1500+ and/or National Merit Scholars. I tried to convince my DD to retake her SAT, but she thought it was “good enough” since it was higher than TAMUs average and would have been enough for auto admit if that were still an option. She was accepted in Dec., but I don’t believe her scores would have been high enough if she hadn’t had a 4.0 in rigorous dual enrollment courses. The competition to get into A&M, especially as a HS/PS, should not be underestimated.
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No idea what those evens are? Are they high school events held at A&M? Or true A&M events, like pre-college stuff?
TAMU events like Corps Overnight, official campus tour, Aggieland Saturday, Whoopin Weekend, Arch Camp (for Viz), invited scholar dinners, regional A&M events that require an RSVP-those are the type of things A&M keeps track of in their system.
Not sure attending Sr year will help too much, as you need to submit app early August, but if she’s borderline I guess it could help.
We attended a Mays regional event in Houston, which required an RSVP. They had a speaker from Mays, gave away Mays T-shirts, 2 $500 scholarships, had a dinner. I’m trying to remember if that was spring of junior year or start of fall freshman year. Very informative.
Work on getting SAT & ACT as high as possible!
It can all help!
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This is all really good and eye opening info regarding the SRAR. I’ve been puzzled by some of the odd admissions outcomes this year and this seems to explain some of them. We ordered the transcript from the high school registrar and used it to fill out my daughter’s SRAR very carefully. It is time consuming and a pain, but in the end worth it.
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Sorry if you have mentioned this, but has your daughter tried the ACT also? It might be that she does much better on one than the other. My youngest took the SAT numerous times, but his best score came from taking the ACT once. My oldest took the ACT once and did so much worse than his SAT score. you never know…
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@Eggscapgoats agree, definitely take both ACT and SAT.