For future knowledge, just in case if one of my ‘23 twins does end up at TAMU, how and where do you “accept” AP credits?
At Tech, where my eldest is at, prior to his meeting with his Advisor in June, they were automatically applied in DegreeWorks when he logged in to start planning his schedule. I haven’t heard any chatter in the Tech parent groups about accepting or not accepting AP credits, accept for some engineering parents who said their kids went ahead and took Chem/Physics freshman year even though they had AP credit for it .
@Momof3B to be honest, I have no idea, I guesimg in their Howdy somewhere? My Aggie does it all, I’ve never looked at Howdy (other than Parent Howdy). The advisor could show your Aggie.
The students get a ‘Howdy’ portal for managing all of their academic and financial affairs with the university. Right in there is a dashboard that shows exactly which AP courses they have eligible for accepting, and what exact TAMU classes each one maps to. They can check box the ones they want to accept and can do so anytime between enrollment and graduation. So there is no rush to accept them at time of enrollment, they do not ‘expire’. (Obviously if you choose to retake a course at TAMU you would no longer be able to accept those credits).
Another reason not to accept AP credits till one needs them is that a student may reach the point of being charged out of state tuition if they have accrued significantly more credits than required to graduate. I am not sure what the credit limit is, but the state of texas will only give in state tuition up to a certain number of credits.
ETA this isn’t just a tamu thing, it is a texas thing. There is a limit to the number of credits a texas student can take at all 4 year texas colleges at instate rates.
@Piknight i know @ChristiR93 will have a better answer, but here’s what can happen in Mays, if you accept too many too soon. While it may help slightly to be classified as a sophomore vs freshman, for registration, it can also not be ideal. I know someone right now whose son accepted all his APs (quite a bit) as a freshman. He’s now classified as an upperclassman, and having to declare his major in Mays, as a freshman. He hasn’t even taken the required Basic 5 classes that give the overview of Mays. It’s a MESS.
Mays is small enough (tho is seems to be quickly getting too big…) that it usually isn’t a problem getting Mays specific classes.
Just wait for your student and advisor to go over them. Mays advisors are great, they know what they’re doing.
Only if you’re going to take enough to bump you! But it’s not that big of a deal. You’ll get your courses that are needed. People stress about classes but it works out. Having back ups and a solid fluid degree plan path is key.
Woke up this morning with 15 tabs in my son’s account for TAMU Galveston. I assume that means he’ll get an official offer soon? It’s been quite the journey for us. Now he has to decide if he wants to do Galveston for one semester up to one year, or insists on being in College Station this fall, even if it’s Blinn for 1-2 years. Correction: not exactly 15 tabs, 15 ‘icons’
Congrats. Semester will depend on bio requirements to change majors plus if you can get out of housing at the semester.
I would encourage a year there to get the full experience. All in for one year then change campuses. The second semester is always better anywhere you go (which is why I encourage it).
Keep us posted. And remember, this is a guaranteed pathway to cstat campus vs Blinn (unless do pta).
@misterhemmings fingers crossed he is getting the Galveston acceptance!
Why even mention only staying a semester? Won’t he need at least 12 hours to transfer to College Station? Those that transfer mid year really miss out, I think. Sure, there’s T-camp, but they never fully get acclimated, current freshman are finding their groove by then. Plus Housing would be an ordeal! Most likely you’ll need to commit to a full year in Galveston, and dorms aren’t readily available in College Station just for 2nd semester.
If he gets the Galveston offer, take it! He’s a real deal Aggie, can buy a Sports Pass, live on campus.
That sure beats going to community college.
He will miss out on so much, really be ‘lost’ (I think) if he doesn’t stay the full year. He won’t get a true freshman experience (at either campus), won’t make many friends.
Plus, you’ll be in a real bind, trying to find a place for him to live in January.
We only know one kid who stayed a semester at Galveston, he had tons of AP and dual credit, but he was sad to leave the Island.
Housing (dorm) contracts in College Station are for the whole year; I’d be surprised if Galveston didn’t require the same.
What did you think of your Galveston campus tour?
I am so happy to hear this! I have been following this page all year, and have been following your story. This is such great news for your son after all the ups and downs this year, and the crazy waitlist/team fiasco that TAMU unleashed. I hope that he is proud of this acceptance and will enjoy the Galveston campus.
I really do appreciate everyone’s kind words. Yes @ljs1 we are really happy as well. My son doesn’t even know yet. He’s at school right now and we doubt has checked his AIS. We’ll tell him tonight. The tricky thing is going to be – will he want it or will he insist on Blinn because he wants to be in Aggieland. We haven’t even visited Galveston yet, but we have a full tour scheduled for next week along with a visit with professors in the department. So I hope he falls in love.
I hope you will all fall in love with Galveston! It’s a fun town, great campus. We don’t know anyone who didn’t absolutely love TAMUG!
I can’t wrap my head around the fact that you/the parent know an acceptance is (hopefully) coming, but your son doesn’t? I never knew any log in stuff, and still don’t. Please don’t take this the wrong way-this is meant for all incoming college parents- wherever your son goes, please don’t get his log in info. In fact, they drill it during Aggie NSC, that if the server suspects more than 1 device/location is logging in, student is locked out.
Personally, I’d cut the log in cord now, and let your son take ownership of everything, from this point forward. He’s the one going to college, let him start checking portals & emails…he needs to be in the drivers seat. He’ll be the one to register for class, communicate with professors, etc. Let him check the portal to see change in AIS, then hand the log in reigns over to him.
Again, not directed towards you…promise! This is my PSA to all parents. But once a student has been admitted/makes a decision, they need to handle it all. I promise they can! You’ve done the hardest part…parenting for 18 years and getting him to this point😊
I expect a full report on TAMUG. Hope the weather is great, and that he will ‘know instantly’ if that’s where he’s supposed to be.
No we totally agree with you and fully plan for him to take total control over AIS once he makes a decision. Every student should be the main person doing that. Right now he is still considering other colleges he’s accepted to, at this point as well, and the AIS / Howdy was set up almost a year ago when he was 17. It’s a transition as well as he hates email, never checks it, barely checks AIS. And honestly not constantly checking AIS during this terrible admission journey is better for his mental health.
I hear ya.
Can’t speak for other schools, but TAMU only communicates via Howdy and TAMU email. Like, he’ll need to check daily+. He will miss out on a ton of things.
I think it’s pretty common for kids, especially boys, this age, to not be into email.
Once a child turns 18, no school, doctor, hospital, college advisor, etc will speak to the parent…unless your student has given permission. Even trying to get Meningitis shot records from the pediatrician we’d been going to for 21+ years, my daughter had to call and request. It’s crazy.
I am pulling for TAMUG!
Off handedly I wonder: does A&M have an AIS online training video? I’ll need to look around for that. Would help 17-18 year olds. I don’t think it works the way their brains work. (based on my son, he hates it)
