Thanks! Yes, he checks daily. I’m hoping it’s a good sign that he didn’t get the PSA offer last week, but who knows at this point? He told me the other day he’s just ready to know where he’s going to go to college. Everyone keeps asking him, and he has no answer.
I heard that about the housing issue. Thankfully he’s a boy and doesn’t care where he lives, so he’s super flexible. I was hoping for the on campus experience for him for the social aspect, but we’ll cross that bridge if we get there.
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For people that have to choose outside A&M system (After receiving the notice from A&M AO), I thought Texas Tech would be the logical alternative. However I see a lot of people mentioning UTD or UArk. Any thoughts?
I think it depends on budget, major, scores/stats, social life, Greek life, athletics and so much more.
Tech is a great school.
I guess I was referring primarily at campus experience. UTD is nothing like A&M thought Tech is very similar. Not sure about UArk.
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U of Ark is pretty well rounded in academics. Students receiving NRTA scholarship can be a good affordable option.
UTD is the most expensive public university in Texas, unless students are from DFW or receiving AES it can be a $36K a year expense for in-state. (google cost of attendance results are out of date, currently UTD is $10K tuition per semester.)
Texas Tech is a very good option. Tuition is lower and the university is very willing to work with students and regional advisors to make sure it is financially feasible.
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@College2729 , here’s a post from a parent of both schools (11 yrs ago).
Thanks, that was very informative !
Thanks to all who responded to my question yesterday. As luck would have it (being Saint Paddie’s and all) my daughter was finally given a PSA option today. She had decided before that she would go to Arkansas if given a PSA, so now she can move on. This late in the game, she wasn’t expecting a full admission, but she did hold out a tiny glimmer of hope. After a few tears, she completely changed her attitude is now so happy to finally be able to set her sights on Fayetteville. BTW, we visited there two weeks ago and were blown away by the campus and the friendly people we met! I still have a soft spot for TAMU, as my son has had a great experience at Mays, but we are super excited for our daughter to forge new experiences at UArk. And now, our four kids will all have a different college to support!
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@Torye I’m bummed y’all had to wait so late to get PSA offer. But yay for UArk! Campus beauty beats A&M anyday! Plus it’s minutes from every kind of outdoor activity you can imagine.
Bust out the plastic Hog Hat 
!
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UTD references are mostly by north Texans and many will commute. My friend’s son chose commuting to UTD business over A&M econ and has a PT job in his major with an AES scholarship.
Arkansas is possibly our Dallas area high school’s #2 enrolled school in a tie with A&M and OU. Students may get in state tuition or a big break in cost. However, Arkansas is supposedly cutting back on Texas residents because they had so many. Fayetteville is equal distance from Dallas as Lubbock but in a much prettier location.
Overall, Arkansas is quite a bit higher ranked than Tech (roughly 150 vs. 220 in USN) but TTU has the honors program and in state tuition. Arkansas has a much higher Greek population than TTU or A&M. OU is high as well and even higher ranked (~#130).
We loved U of Arkansas when we were there this summer. My in laws live in Bentonville just outside Fayetteville. Beautiful campus, giant sorority mansions if your kiddos is into that, super cute downtown, crazy razorback fans if you love sports. Very much a college town feel and experience. A lot of kids from my daughter’s high school end up going there or OU if they leave Texas and most have loved it.
Can anyone outline the benefits or drawbacks of PTA vs. just a plain old, regular transfer attempt? We are considering enrolling in a community college to take care of the transfer requirements for Biology (1 year looks like), and we also are considering doing a ‘PTA’ with department. I have seen conflicting pieces of information. Is PTA more of a guarantee of admission, but a higher GPA required and more hours? Or is it really the same chances either way of being accepted? Is there no real benefit to PTA?
Straight transfer provides minimum GPA requirement, while PTA is a contract with higher “automatic” admission requirement, that’s the main difference.
If your student is strong in Biology and confident in getting 3.2 GPA and the rest of the requirement, PTA is better as it is automatic (guaranteed). https://admissions.tamu.edu/getmedia/f9a9f4b3-a8ff-4206-b413-c8eaf979783e/BIOL-21-22-PTA_LRJ_MA_Final_08172021.pdf
Common sense is the bold courses in the list above must be A or B. When meeting with a PTA advisor there will be more information.
thank you. Do you think PTA is more of a ‘guarantee’ in terms of - you do the grades they accept you? Whereas transfer is more ‘up to how they feel about you’
That’s what frisco dad said. It is a guaranteed admission
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If you click through all PTA transfer sheets, not all has “automatic” transfer. Those with automatic transfer (like Biology) is guaranteed.
When signing PTA contract, there will be more to it. Obviously as you can imagine, student can’t get a “C” in BIO1406/1407 even though they get 3.2. And a “B” or better must be via first attempt. Note that 30 consecutive hours AFTER high school is not negotiable. If students have a lot of DCs it is still best to retake the BOLD list of courses if not having “A” in the DC, and definitely not taking credit via AP. PTA student can transfer to TAMU with more than 30 TAMU accepted hours.
The documents require after PTA is fulfilled are the same as regular transfer. ((application fee, transcripts, essay -statement of purpose,…)
Some students may find PTA stricter, but easier. The “strict” part is more designed to force the students to take it easy and not rushing the core classes (e.g. For BIO, 2 BIOL classes, 2 CHEM classes, 2 Calculus classes.)
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How hard will it be to transfer to Mays from Blinn if I have all A’s? Are they looking at transfers based on GPA?
If you have a 4.0, required courses completed, solid essay, and apply as soon as apps open, then you’ll be good!!! Have a good back up major just in case.
If I don’t get accepted into Mays will they look at my backup major or is it just a denial?
If mays denies them it’s sent to 2nd choice major. It’s always good to mention both majors in your essay. Just a nod basically to your 2nd choice so they don’t think they’re second best and that you won’t switch.
You’ll need to make sure 2nd choice major allows for 2nd choice and that you have fulfilled those major transfer requirements.