<p>Thanks for your time.</p>
<p>I am number 4 in my class at a very large, highly ranked high school. All A's in all AP classes. High SAT and mucho volunteer hours. I have applied to Texas A&M, University of Texas, and The University of Houston.</p>
<p>Due to the top 8% rule I have been accepted to all three. Chances are my grades and resume are good enough to get admission even without the 8% thing.</p>
<p>So far the only one that has sent me a letter specifically in reference to engineering school is Texas AM. They specifically say that I have been admitted to The Dwight Look School of Engineering. I received this in September. The letter does say that my major is not assured and that this determination will be made after the first semester.</p>
<p>What does all this mean? Is there nos such thing as a "you're accepted" or "you didn't make it" letter anymore? Or after acceptance into the college itself is the acceptance into the engineering school made later in all cases?</p>
<p>What I'm wondering is if all the schools do the same thing and will my determination be made after they see how I do over a semester? </p>
<p>In reality, I am at the same place at all 3 schools even though AM has specifically admitted me to their engineering school?</p>
<p>Again, thanks for your time in advance.</p>
<p>It’s not uncommon that some universities require potential engineering majors to essentially re-apply to a specific engineering department and/or pass a basic engineering curriculum during their first year, prior to being permitted to enroll in a specific engineering department. It sounds like that’s what you’ve run into at TAMU.</p>
<p>Not every university does it this way but some of the large engineering schools do so; particularly public ones.</p>
<p>To sum up, in reality you may not be offered a seat in the department of your choice, or in engineering school at all. I recommend that you investigate the typical scenario at each university when a freshman does not earn admission to the engineering school on his/her first attempt. In other words, is ENGR admission guaranteed if you pass the basic first-year ENGR curriculum or attain a minimum GPA? At some ENGR schools I understand there is no such guarantee. At other ENGR schools it’s no problem at all. In fact, I recall that some CC posters have said that their ENGR schools admitted freshmen who scored below the stated GPA minimum. Find out!!!</p>
<p>Thank you Lake. Your response is exactly what I think is happening here in Texas. </p>
<p>It is enough to make someone a little bit nervous from both a money and a time standpoint. I’d be much more comfortable with some kind of guarantee of what is required to actually be admitted to one of these engineering programs. Of course if they tell you what is required and you can’t do it well such is life.</p>
<p>As we all know there is a lot of shenanigans that can’t/won’t be explained in these admissions processes. I really hate to go spend the time and money only to have to go elsewhere to get the degree.</p>
<p>Again thanks - hope you have a great weekend!</p>
<p>Well, we’ve got the straight skinny on the system at AM and it is exactly as you said. However,our attempt to discover exactly what numbers WILL get a student into the major of their choice cannot be discovered!</p>
<p>It is troubling that this “magic black box” system is so guarded. If you know what the requirement is then OK - you know where you’re going.</p>
<p>However, the way it is being presented to us there is no way to know what this is. </p>
<p>Lets face it - the way this is structured there could be 200 spots - 1000 qualified applicants - and the school only accepts 200 students from their old alumni.</p>
<p>Hmmm…</p>