@Piknight , you can cherry-pick comments but it doesn’t take away from the fact that hardcore TAMU fans on this forum gang up against anyone that says anything even remotely against TAMU and this is only from my observation in the last 6-7 months. People threatening to sue the school are not picking on an individual parent/student so that’s that but grown up here have picked on a kid who was misled by admissions and question the kid like a prosecutor because TAMU can never be wrong, TAMU can never do wrong.
4 Likes
I believe the discussion is healthy and benefit many future applicants.
ETAM is a healthy process brought about (copied?) by the ex-dean of Purdue. The process is to filter out students admitted automatically by law but not really possess the capabilities in Math, Physics and Chemistry.
As mentioned many times, students should not dead-set on a school. If you are/have a high school student doing that, it is time to help them change their mindset. The biggest challenge is the student understanding oneself.
Points being if a student finds Calculus AB/BC too tough to handle, or particularly doubtful in Kinematics, or completely tanks AP Chemistry (in 12th grade), then ETAM is a highly risky process. So if the student gets offered major from UTD or Texas Tech, it should be a no-brainer to go for other schools.
From public scores perspective, top 15% of TAMU engineering freshmen (~380 students) have 1500+ SAT scores. If a student admitted engineering with a relatively low 1350 and wants computer science, the student should be aware of what he or she is up against. But then if a student is going for Nuclear Engineering, TAMU is the best option.
8 Likes
To add on to the benefits, a good amount really don’t know for sure what type of engineering they want to do. Freshman year, they get exposed to all of it. Think of it like a rotating internship of classes & projects.
My nephew for one, was dead seat on ME because he wants to be a patent lawyer. Once he started taking classes, he discovered Industrial systems Engineering. It’s more businessy (his term). AND he currently has a 3.85 so it’s not that he couldn’t get into ME.
So I agree with F Dad… the process is healthy.
7 Likes
For sure, I appreciate this advice! I got confirmation from the Transition Department Head at Mays (her title is something like that) and she stated that all the students who meet the requirements and want to transfer have been able to do so successfully. She stated this for every single student that applied (internally only). ECON offers way less opportunities which is the only issue, otherwise I’d consider it as ECON is a business school major in most colleges in the country (as far as I heard).
3 Likes
If you talked to Amber, she’s admin assistant.
My son change of major was from Econ to Mgmt. 30 hours 3.8 required gpa on classes and 3.7ish overall. He didn’t lose a single credit and made Econ his minor. So it can be a good major to change from to mays.
1 Like
@sk_420 be sure you let your advisor know at NSC that you want to do Change of Major. Print the Mays course requirements and follow them, and timeline, closely. Watch your hours carefully. If you have any AP, do NOT accept them yet! DC will automatically apply.
Despite what you’ve heard, I would definitely shoot for a 3.8 or better. Don’t take the specific Mays required courses (ex Acct 229) anywhere but A&M.
We have a friend who did 1 year at Blinn. She’ll be, be graduating in 4.5 years with a degree in Economics, minor in business and a masters in Econ. She’s already had one very cool summer job.
Both Econ and Mays have various certificates that can be earned, many opportunities with both majors.
And yes, Econ is a business major at most universities. Not sure why it isn’t at TAMU? 
Stick with hard copy, printed info-from the A&M website, material passed out from the college specific, don’t count on or rely on verbal info. What is printed on the Mays website is what’s required. And always be sure you’re looking at the current/correct school year, as degree plans and requirements can change slightly from year to year.
Be sure to HAVE FUN, too!! Get a Sports Pass, go to Midnight Yell, home football games, join an org.
Keep us posted!
1 Like
My son was PSA’d but he wants to eventually be in medical school. But he (and I) are not sure how with PSA. His major was Biology, which isn’t offered in PSA. He flat refuses to major in Chemistry which is offered as PSA. He was looking at Allied Health for PSA as well. But - I keep returning to what is going to work at Texas A&M College Station when he eventually ends up there in one or two years. What is the best major for pre-med at A&M that actually gets you accepted to medical school? Perhaps talk to an advisor, but of what department? Thanks.
@misterhemmings one of my Aggie’s closest friends is Business Honors, heading to medical school this Fall. Med School accepts any major, as long as prerequisites are met. They’re looking for a very high MCAT score, high gpa, lots of involvement, things that make the student stand out.
*Just found this link posted on a parent page. Parents said at least a 515 on MCAT, very high gpa, research done, jobs during college in the medical field, essays very important. It’s HIGHLY competitive.
1 Like
Does Mays fill up primarily with auto-admits? My son seems to be shifting his interest from Engineering to Mays, possibly MIS major. I don’t really know what his chances are. He can take the SAT and ACT again, he’s not great at doing test-prep though. Should I pay for a tutor?
Rank is top 20% from a highly competitive 6A HS.
GPA 3.8 UW/4.4 W
SAT is 1340 (740 math)
Main EC is 4 years marching band and non-school basketball
Job and volunteer hours, NHS
8 APs, 4 DCs
He will apply first week of August.
@ChristiR93 can answer this best.
I’d definitely sign him up to take both SAT and ACT again. Has he tried Khan Academy test prep?
@misterhemmings , any reason you’re not considering Biomedical Sciences (BIMS)? It’s not available for PSA, but it is a solid foundation for medical school.
Also, BIMS has a 2+2 Articulation Program with partnering community colleges. For example, if your son strongly desires to live in B/CS, then 2 years at Blinn + meeting certain requirements = automatic transfer to TAMU BIMS. I don’t know any more about 2+2 other than what’s written on the website, but it might be worth looking into.
2 Likes
He’s looked at it but he is not super self-motivated which is why I think a tutor would help. But $$$
I should clarify, he’s incredibly self-motivated in many many other areas, like class grades. It’s just SAT prep he doesn’t seem to make time for.
1 Like
I second Khan academy! The students can chose to work on a specific number of questions per day and over time, that really adds up. Perhaps if your son understood the importance of test scores as a review candidate, he might be more motivated. Try the ACT also
2 Likes
@Eggscapgoats agree! And Khan is FREE! We know many who have had GREAT success, just using Khan.
@sbhubbell current SAT is good, but needs to shoot for 1400+, especially if not Top Ten%.
Maybe offer to pay HIM, for an hour a day with Khan.
1 Like
Wish we would have known about Khan academy earlier, before junior year psat. We didn’t realize at the time the importance of it determining NMQ or even what that was.
1 Like
Also, there are different kinds of SAT prep. My son was not motivated to do prep on his own. I ended up purchasing a Boot Camp class that was just several hour long classes the week before the SAT. It didn’t really require any outside study time. That was more appealing to him.
Sounds like a solid resume for sure. He should really try to up that SAT score (which is already good). We saw many with similar stats get PSA this year. So please know it may be the same next year. Mays may not be in the picture, because while there some holistic reviews that got into Mays, you are right in saying the majority are top 10%.
Do Khan academy. Put it on him. Lay it out that he may not even get into tamu with this resume. I do think he would get into Engineering in some pathway tho if he were to stay on that path and maybe minor in Business.
3 Likes
Best majors are Biochemistry or BIMS for pre-med.
https://bims.tamu.edu/current/curriculum/
TAMU also has S2M and E2M for many students who change their mind after first year.
https://medicine.tamu.edu/admissions/early-assurance/s2m.html
https://medicine.tamu.edu/admissions/early-assurance/e2m.html
3 Likes