how many essays does texas a&m require

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Entry to a Major Essays

Instructions & guidance.

There are three essay portions to the application: “Statement of Purpose,” “Outstanding Achievements” and “Additional Information.” Although “Outstanding Achievements" and “Additional Information” are optional, it is highly recommended that you complete these essays.

This application uses plain text formatting. You are encouraged to use a word processor like Microsoft Word to compose your essays and to check your word count (250 words for each essay), spelling and grammar. You can then copy and paste your text onto the application text area. 

Do not use AI text generators such as ChatGPT to complete your ETAM application. Using AI text generators may be considered plagiarism and/or cheating according to Student Rule: 20.1.2.3. Suspected use of generative AI may constitute a violation of the Texas A&M Honor Code and will be referred to the Aggie Honor System Office for investigation. More information may be found through the Aggie Honor System Office.

The University Writing Center  is a resource available to help prepare and/or review your essays. View this brief video with ETAM essay tips and information about ETAM-related services from the University Writing Center.

Essay Topics

Additional information for each essay topic is provided below:

• Statement of Purpose:  You will write one “Statement of Purpose” for each major you select. Your statement of purpose should explain your reason for selecting this major and include academic areas of interest, future professional career goals and strengths you would bring to the department. You should clearly articulate why you are interested in a specific major. You can also write about student organizations you have joined within the major or faculty you have met from this major and include all accomplishments related to the major.
• Outstanding Achievements:  Avoid using major-specific language. All majors you apply to will have access to read this essay. Use complete sentences; do not use bullet points. This section gives you an opportunity to discuss any outstanding achievements you feel are notable for departments to consider. Outstanding achievements should include leadership roles, major projects related to engineering, work or internship experience and scholarships you have received. You may use awards from your time in high school — particularly if they are related to engineering, science, math, or any leadership or extracurricular activities such as band, UIL, etc. This is also a great space to discuss AP credit and other academic qualifications.
• Additional Information:  Avoid major-specific language. All majors you apply to will have access to read this essay. This section allows you the opportunity to give additional information you want the committee to consider. You can include extenuating circumstances or other factors influencing your academic performance.
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• Placement Outcomes

How to Get Into Texas A&M: Acceptance Rate and Strategies

July 14, 2023

The oldest university in the state of Texas, A&M has long outgrown the “Agricultural & Mechanical” portion of its name. More than 40,000 students applicants have applied for the opportunity to attend the College Station campus in each of the past six admissions cycles; back in the year 2000, fewer than 17,000 applied. The Texas A&M acceptance rate has remained steadily under 65%, but this is not a particularly strong indicator of just how selective A&M is in 2023.

Due to a policy that grants Texas residents who finish in the top 10% of their high school class automatic admission, roughly two-thirds of attendees hail from the top decile. As a result, competition for the remaining spots tends to be fierce.

Given the increasing level of competition in the quest to become an Aggie, students really need to do their homework before submitting the application. Toward that aim, this article will provide applicants with:

• Texas A&M’s Class of 2026 acceptance rate
• SAT, ACT, and class rank of accepted A&M applicants
• Admissions trends from the Class of 2026
• The demographics of current Texas A&M undergraduates
• Texas A&M’s yield rate
• How A&M’s admissions officers evaluate candidates
• Tips for applying to Texas A&M
• How to assess whether applying to A&M is even worth the $75 application fee (for you)

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

Texas A&M: Acceptance Rate – 2023

A&M received 43,422 applications for a place in the Class of 2026, one of the highest totals in school history; 27,203 were admitted for an acceptance rate of 63%. For the Class of 2025 (most recent data available), the in-state acceptance rate was 66% compared with a 56% acceptance rate for out-of-state applications.

All students must apply by December 1st at the very latest, but students can apply as early as August 1. Engineering students should always aim to meet the early action deadline of 10/15.

Texas A&M Admissions – SAT, ACT, and Class Rank

The middle-50% SAT scores for the Class of 2026 were 1160-1380; the math range was 580-700. SATs were submitted by 76% of applicants. ACTs were submitted by 24% of applicants and the middle-50% ACT Composite score was 25-31. The median ACT Composite score was 28 and the median SAT score was 1270. An impressive 61% of those attending placed in the top 10% of their high school class while 88% were in the top quartile.

Admissions Trends & Notes

• Students who are in the top 10% of the high school class earn automatic admission into A&M. Prior to 2021, students could be in the top 25%.
• 25% of those presently attending Texas A&M are the first member of their family to attend college.
• 21% of incoming students were awarded Pell Grants.
• Just 1% of current undergrads are international students.
• In a typical year, there are 250 National Merit Finalists in the freshman class.

Who Gets Into Texas A&M?

Let’s look at the demographics of the Aggie undergraduate student body.

Most A&M students hailed from the Lone Star State and paid in-state tuition. In fact, 96% of the student body are Texas residents.

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown is:

• Asian American: 10%
• Hispanic: 25%
• African American: 2%
• International: 1%
• Multiracial: 4%

Texas A&M Acceptance Rate (Continued)

International students came from the following countries in the greatest numbers:

• South Korea

The breakdown by gender shows more men than women enrolled at A&M:

• Female: 48%

Students in one recent class came from the following locations:

• Number of US high schools: 1,281
• Number of Texas counties: 192
• Number of US States: 44

Texas A&M’s Yield Rate

A&M’s yield rate was 46% last year. To compare this school to other top-notch public STEM-focused institutions, Georgia Tech is at roughly 40%, Virginia Tech has a 33% yield, and Purdue is at just 23%.

How Texas A&M Rates Applicants

There are five factors that Texas A&M ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, extracurricular activities, and talent/ability. Essays, first-generation status, geographical residence, state residency, volunteer work, and work experience are rated as “important”.

In the admissions office’s own words: “If you do not qualify for top 10% , but meet the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy, your application file, which includes all factors you noted, will be reviewed in a holistic manner. Academic factors include all high school courses attempted and grades earned, rigor of coursework, GPA and class rank. Non-academic factors include involvement in extracurricular activities, community service, leadership, employment and summer activities as well as extraordinary opportunities, challenges and hardships experienced during high school career.”

Possessing a top-notch athletic program, it most definitely helps if you are recruited as an athlete to join one of A&M’s 20 Division I sports teams . There are roughly 650 student athletes competing at A&M and 75% receive some level of scholarship. In general, recruited athletes possessed GPAs and SATs far below the average for the pool of general admits.

Tips for Applying to Texas A&M

If you plan on joining the 43,000+ Aggie hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• While a holistic process, A&M does not offer interviews.
• Texas A&M does consider “demonstrated interest” so be sure to take steps toward that aim .
• Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental essays required by Texas A&M. In the 2023-24 cycle, you will encounter a number of essays prompts, so save plenty of time prior to the deadline to write, revise, and polish your responses.

This year’s prompts are as follows:

• Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? (Required, 500 – 750 words)
• Describe your academic and career goals in the broad field of engineering (including computer science, industrial distribution and engineering technology). What and/or who has influenced you either inside or outside the classroom that contributed to these goals? (for engineering)
• Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college. (Required)
• You have selected a major in the College of Engineering for either your first or second choice major; therefore, please address the following prompt: Describe your academic and career goals in the broad field of engineering (including computer science, industrial distribution, and engineering technology). What and/or who has influenced you either inside or outside the classroom that contributed to these goals? It is important to spend time addressing this question as it will be considered as part of the engineering review process. If you have chosen an engineering major for both your first and second choice majors, you will see the same question twice and may provide the same response to both questions. (Required for Engineering applicants)

Texas A&M Acceptance Rate – Final Thoughts 

Getting into Texas A&M has never been more of a selective process, as it now requires either a) finishing in the top 10% of your Texas-based high school class or b) possessing other supremely impressive attributes that blow away admissions committee. As such, all students need to make sure that they formulate an appropriate college list , containing a complement of “target” and “safety” schools. You’ll definitely want to do this in collaboration with an admissions professional who is aware of the latest trends and strategies associated with your prospective colleges.

• Application Strategies
• College Search/Knowledge

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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Texas A&M University 2020-21 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Texas A&M University 2020-21 Application Essay Question Explanation

The Requirements: 1 essay of roughly 1-1.5 pages

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community , Common App overlap

First and foremost, don’t freak out when you see all of the prompts listed on the ApplyTexas application. There’s one essay for Texas A&M applicants on both the ApplyTexas and Coalition applications. Yes, you read that correctly. Texas A&M does not accept the Common App, so make sure you budget your time accordingly to get this supplement done. Anyone who plans to apply via the ApplyTexas platform should also check out our video on UT-Austin , which covers many additional ApplyTexas questions.

Average length is about a page to a page and a half.

Essay a – required, tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it..

This is what we call a wide open playing field. You could literally write about anything here because, let’s get real, if you’re not writing an essay that showcases your character, we’d better have a long chat . Since this prompt is so broad, we’d encourage you to recycle one of your best essays from another supplement or application that fits the criteria, so you’re not straining to wring the last drops of creativity from your brain. The only real requirement is that you tell a story that demonstrates who you are, so just make sure your essay has a clear personal narrative arc with a beginning, middle, and end. And of course: make sure you tell admissions something they don’t already know about your character and life experiences! 

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Texas A&M University Catalogs

Application information.

Students can apply for undergraduate admission to Texas A&M University by using any one of several application services.

You may access the appropriate undergraduate application from the Texas A&M University admissions website http://admissions.tamu.edu .

Texas A&M University has several conveniently located Prospective Student Centers throughout the state, staffed with advisors ready to serve you. Please contact the center nearest you to learn more about admissions, financial aid, academic programs and student services. Texas A&M also has advisors who serve the Brazos Valley, Central Texas and El Paso areas as well as advisors throughout the U.S. to assist out-of-state applicants.  Visit the website admissions.tamu.edu/connect for more details.

Aggieland Admission Center 1 Texas A&M University 109 John J. Koldus Building 1265 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-1265 (979) 458-0950

Corpus Christi Regional Prospective Student Center 1 5350 South Staples, Suite 442 Corpus Christi, TX 78411 (361) 289-7905

Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Prospective Student Center 1 3900 Arlington Highlands Blvd., Suite 273 Arlington, TX 76018 (817) 375-0960

Houston Regional Prospective Student Center 1 1225 North Loop West, Suite 200 Houston, TX 77008 (713) 454-1990

Laredo Regional Prospective Student Center 1 6401 Arena Road, Suite 5A Laredo, TX 78041 (956) 795-0412

Rio Grande Valley Regional Prospective Student Center 1 500 N Jackson Rd, Suite A-7 Pharr, TX 78577 (956) 683-8647

40 NE Loop 410, Suite 605 San Antonio, TX 78216 (210) 212-7016

Se habla español. 

The admission guidelines presented here are for admission to the Spring, Summer or Fall 2023 semester. While they are the best guide available, admission criteria are subject to change. The Office of Admissions website ( http://admissions.tamu.edu ) contains the admission policies and procedures in effect for 2023 admission.

Types of Admission and Application Calendars

An applicant who has enrolled in a post-secondary institution since high school graduation, with or without credit earned, must apply as a transfer applicant.

Items Necessary to Complete an Application File

Please see the Readmission, Post-baccalaureate or Non-degree sections for other items required to complete the transfer application for those types of admission. U.S. citizens completing a non-U.S. high school program should refer to International Admissions for questions concerning transcripts, examination results, and foreign credentials.

An application is reviewed to make a decision about admission after all items listed below have been received. The items must be received by the appropriate closing date to qualify for consideration for admission.

In addition, freshman applicants must show proof of meeting the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy to qualify for review. If you attend an out-of-state high school or are a home schooled student, you are exempt from the Uniform Admission Policy.

Application submitted electronically via ApplyTexas or the Common Application 

Application fee (check, money order, visa, mastercard, discover or american express)—all fees are nonrefundable.

• Domestic Undergraduate - $75
• International - $90

Guidelines for requesting application fee waivers:

• Fee waivers are not available for international students.

Freshman Waivers

Applicants who qualify for federally funded free/reduced lunch programs may qualify for a fee waiver. Students must certify their eligibility on the application by answering Texas A&M's fee waiver question.  Please see our admissions website,  http://admissions.tamu.edu/apply/freshman , for additional  instructions for requesting a waiver.  Checking the fee waiver box on the application will not satisfy the fee waiver requirement.

Transfer or Readmit Waivers

To request a fee waiver, please provide your Student Aid Report (SAR), found within your current FAFSA, or a copy of an award letter from your current institution. The Office of Admissions does not have access to your FAFSA or SAR, you must provide a copy as part of your application file.  Checking the fee waiver box on the application will not satisfy the fee waiver requirement.

Please see our admissions website,  http://admissions.tamu.edu/apply/transfer , for additional information.

• Freshman applicants are required to complete Essay Topic A.
• Transfer applicants are required to complete Essay Topic A.

SAT or ACT Scores

• Required of all freshman applicants, including all international freshman applicants. **
• Scores should be sent directly from the testing agency and must be received by the posted deadline to be considered.
• The SAT code is 6003; the ACT code is 4198.
• Test scores must be from a test date within five years of the date of planned enrollment.
• The highest test score from one test date will be used in our review for admission. Texas A&M does not combine test scores from different test dates.  ** Due to the continued lack of availability of in-person testing opportunities, Texas A&M University will not require ACT or SAT scores for freshman applicants in the fall or spring of 2023. The submission of test scores will not create any unfair advantage or disadvantage for those students who provide them but may help satisfy TSI requirements if admitted.

Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR)

• Domestic freshman applicants must fill out and submit the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) indicating coursework, credits earned, grades, graduation plan/diploma type, grade point average and a numerical class rank (if available) at least through their junior year. Students should have a copy of their high school transcript available to use as a reference when filling out the SRAR. If admitted, the applicant will be required to submit a final transcript with graduation date by August 15 . Discrepancies between a student's SRAR and official final transcript will be thoroughly reviewed; depending on findings, this could result in a student's admission being rescinded. Freshman applicants who have already graduated from high school must also provide an official high school transcript with a graduation date as part of the application file.
• Access to the SRAR will be available on our admissions website when the application opens.
• Domestic applicants attending an international school which follows an academic curriculum patterned after the U.S. education system may fill out the SRAR.
• International students studying in the U.S. may fill out the SRAR.
• International students studying outside the U.S. must provide official academic records, see International Admission Criteria for details.
• The Office of Admissions reserves the right to require official transcripts from any student; students should check the Applicant Information System to ensure completion of their file.
• Freshman and transfer applicants who have graduated from high school at the time of application should submit an official high school transcript that includes grades and credits for all completed coursework, a numerical class rank (if available), date of graduation and graduation plan completed, or a certificate verifying completion of a GED program. 
• Post-baccalaureate applicants are not required to submit a high school transcript as part of the application file. Readmit applicants may be required to submit a final high school transcript if one is not currently on file with the university.
• To be considered official, a transcript must bear an original signature of a school official or an original school seal.
• Applicants who have attended high school both in the U.S. and out of the U.S. may complete the SRAR provided the courses and grades are present on the U.S. transcript; otherwise, official transcripts are required. Details for providing international transcripts can be found under International Admission Criteria.
• For students enrolled in the U.S., copies of official transcripts from other countries will be accepted provided the copies are on file and verified by the U.S. institution. 
• Faxed or emailed copies are not official and will not be accepted.
• Students graduating from a Texas high school who rank in the top ten percent must provide both the Self-Reported Academic Record and a high school transcript noting the student’s rank and class size or a transcript with a letter from the school on school letterhead signed by a school official noting the student's rank and class size to qualify for automatic admission. Documents may be uploaded in the Applicant Information System for processing. 
• Texas A&M's Office of Admission will assign a ranking to students from non-ranking high schools.

Official College Transcripts

• An official transcript is required from every post-secondary institution attended even if the applicant did not earn credit, receive a course grade or the course is not transferable. Coursework from one college posted on the transcript of another college will not satisfy this requirement. Failure to acknowledge attendance and provide transcripts from all schools attended may be considered a fraudulent admissions application resulting in a denial of the application. A college transcript for dual credit coursework earned in high school must also be provided.
• Official paper transcripts are to be sent by the sending institution in a sealed envelope. The transcript will not be considered official if the student has had access to the transcript.
• Requirements for submitting international transcripts can be found under International Admission Criteria.
• Faxed copies are not official and will not be accepted.
• For students enrolled in the U.S., copies of official transcripts from other countries will be accepted provided the copies are on file and verified by the U.S. institution.

Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States

An applicant who has applied for or been granted Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is eligible to submit an application as a Domestic Applicant. To qualify, you must include one of the following with the application:

• a copy of both sides of the DHS-issued Permanent Resident Card, or
• the I-551 Entry Stamp and Immigrant Visa in the passport, or
• an approved I-797 Notice of Action or I-797C Notice of Receipt.

If your parent is also a permanent resident, a copy of the parent’s proof of LPR status will be necessary to determine in-state residency for tuition purposes.

Note: If you have applied for adjustment of status to Lawful Permanent Residency and have not received your LPR card or Notice of Action that says Notice Type: Approval Notice, you will be considered an international student once you are admitted to the University. There are certain requirements that international students must fulfill in order to enroll. Please contact International Student Services at [email protected] for more information about these requirements.

Required Immunizations

Texas Education Code (TEC) 51.9192 requires all entering students (under the age of 22) to provide evidence of vaccination against bacterial meningitis received within the last 5 years or a signed affidavit declining the vaccine at least 10 days prior to the start of classes for any given semester. Learn more about bacterial meningitis at http://admissions.tamu.edu/meningitis .

Notification of Application Status

Check the Applicant Information System (AIS) at applicant.tamu.edu to verify your application has been received and to determine if any credentials are missing or are incomplete. Please allow at least two weeks to process credentials.

The Office of Admissions will make every effort to inform applicants of incomplete files through AIS. If incomplete credentials are received within one month of the closing date, there may not be sufficient time for the Office of Admissions to notify applicants. All items necessary to complete an admission file must be received by the Office of Admissions by the closing date (not postmarked) to assure consideration for admission.

Required Coursework

Applicants who graduate from an accredited Texas public or private high school applying to Texas A&M University must have completed the Foundation High School Program preferably with the Distinguished Level of Achievement and at least one endorsement.  The high school curriculum should be noted on the official high school transcript. Please visit https://admissions.tamu.edu/resources/future-students/college-readiness for a complete description of coursework including information for home-schooled and out-of-state applicants.

State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy

Texas Education Code (TEC) 51.803-51.809 ( State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy ) requires that all freshman applicants meet one of the following college readiness standards in order to be eligible to be considered for admission at a Texas four-year public institution.

• SAT – 480 EBRW and 530 Math for tests taken after February 2016
• ACT – 18 English, 22 Reading, 22 Mathematics and 23 Science
• Successfully complete the State of Texas foundation, recommended or advanced/distinguished high school program or complete the portion of the program that was available to them; or
• Successfully complete a curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor to the foundation, recommended or advanced/distinguished high school program at a high school that is exempt from offering such programs.

Students attending an out-of-state/out-of-country high school or home school are exempt from the Uniform Admission Policy.

Additional Information for Freshman Applicants

• Extracurricular activities including time commitment and duration of involvement
• Leadership and/or exceptional talent as shown in extracurricular activities and/or work
• Community/volunteer work including time commitment and duration of involvement
• Awards and achievements earned while in high school
• Employment and/or internships including dates of work and hours per week
• Family educational background and household income
• Number of people in household
• Essay Topic A

Topic A on the application is required. 

Freshman Admissions

When all credentials necessary to complete a freshman applicant’s file are received during the admission application period, one of the following criteria will be used to determine who will be offered admission:

• Top 10% Applicants from Texas High Schools Applicants who are Texas residents or who are enrolled in recognized public or private high schools in Texas with a rank in the top 10% of their high school graduating class, on or before the admissions deadline, will be automatically admitted to Texas A&M University if they have successfully met the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy and have successfully completed the recommended or distinguished graduation plan or the foundation distinguished plan. Choice of major is not guaranteed. Applicants must submit all required credentials and a high school transcript verifying top ten percent ranking by the closing date in order to qualify for automatic admission.
• Review Applicants Applicants not meeting the above requirements for automatic admission but who have met the state of Texas Uniform Admission Policy will be considered for admission by holistic review of their application file, provided they submitted all required credentials by the closing date.

Information for all Freshman Applicants

• All applicants should use the application questions and the essay to present their academic background and personal strengths as well as personal circumstances.
• Letters of recommendation are optional. If an applicant chooses to submit letters of recommendation, only the first two received will be considered. The most helpful letters are from individuals who know the applicant well and who can write about what distinguishes the individual from other applicants in the areas of leadership, exceptional talent or special circumstances. Photocopies are acceptable.
• A competitive applicant who cannot be admitted to a major due to restricted enrollment will be offered admission to their second major choice. If the second major choice is full, then an alternate major must be chosen by the applicant after admission to the university.

Notice of Admission Decision

Texas A&M University receives many more academically prepared applicants for admission than we can accommodate. Admission decisions are made beginning September 1 and continue throughout the application period. A final decision may not be announced until early December for spring admission or late March for summer or fall admission. A limited number of applicants may be offered provisional admission that requires the successful completion of a summer school program at Texas A&M. In addition, some applicants may be considered for the Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen , Texas A&M Blinn TEAM Program ,  Texas A&M Engineering at Blinn ,  Texas A&M Engineering at Galveston , Texas A&M Engineering at McAllen , or the Program for System Admission .

Opportunity Admission Program 

The Opportunity Major initiative will allow for additional offers of admission to under-enrolled majors. A list of majors below the average student-to-faculty ratios or whose scheduled credit hours are below the student-to-faculty ratios will be known as “opportunity majors” to facilitate this process.   Students admitted into an opportunity major will follow the catalog of the year they are enrolled in the opportunity major. Opportunity majors will be updated each year to reflect changes to the list and offer maximum opportunity for students to enroll. The Opportunity Majors for the 2023-2024 academic year and general terms and conditions of participation are listed the  appendices  of this catalog. Students admitted to an opportunity major will only be allowed to change majors to another opportunity major with one exception. Students who complete 40 hours with a 3.75 GPA after one year with at least 30 hours in Texas A&M enrolled courses, will be provided the opportunity to apply to change major to a non-opportunity major based on the availability and selective process of the college/department.

Suspected Fraudulent Admission Applications

Applicants for admission to Texas A&M University should be aware that the information submitted as part of the application process will be relied upon by University officials to determine their status for admission and residency for tuition purposes. By signing and submitting an admission application, the applicant certifies that the information in, and submitted with, the application is complete and correct and may be verified by Texas A&M University.

All students applying to Texas A&M University are expected to follow the Aggie Code of Honor which states “An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal nor tolerate those who do.” Applicants found to have misrepresented themselves or submitted false information on the application will receive appropriate disciplinary action which may include rejection of the application, withdrawal of any offer of acceptance, cancellation of enrollment or any other appropriate disciplinary action. In all instances of disciplinary action, the application fee is non-refundable.

Pursuant to Texas A&M Student Rule 24.4.1 , acts of dishonesty include but are not limited to:

• Withholding material information from the  University , misrepresenting the truth during a  University  investigation  or student conduct conference, and/or making false statements to any  University officials  or law enforcement officers in the course of their duties.
•  Furnishing false information to and/or withholding information from any  University official ,  faculty member , office, or law enforcement officers in the course of their duties.
•  Forgery, alteration, possession, or misuse of any  University  document, record, or instrument of identification.
•  The submission of false information at the time of admission or readmission is grounds for rejection of the application, withdrawal of any offer of acceptance, cancellation of enrollment, dismissal or other appropriate disciplinary action.

For prospective undergraduate students (admitted but not enrolled), the initial determination of whether an individual has submitted a fraudulent application will be made by the Director of Admissions Operations, with a right of appeal to the Executive Director of Admissions. All appeals will be considered by the Admissions Decisions Appeals Committee and a recommendation made to the Executive Director of Admissions.  For prospective graduate students, initial appeals will be made to the Dean of the Graduate and Professional School.

Enrolled students suspected of violating Student Rules will be reported to the Student Conduct Office.

Any University official who suspects that a prospective student or enrolled student has submitted a fraudulent admission application must notify the Executive Director of Admissions. 

Residence Requirement for Baccalaureate Degree

A student must complete at least 25% of semester credit hours applied to a baccalaureate degree in residence at Texas A&M University. 

Upper-level Residence Requirement: A minimum of 36 semester credit hours of 300-level and/or 400-level coursework must be successfully completed in residence at Texas A&M University to obtain a baccalaureate degree.  For the Bachelor of Science in Nursing - RN to BSN Track, a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of 300-level and/or 400-level coursework must be successfully completed in residence at Texas A&M University.  In all cases, a minimum of 12 of these 300-level and/or 400-level semester hours must be in the major.

Abbreviations for Texas A&M Colleges and Majors

See this catalog pertaining to your major for the specific science.

Choice available for transfer applicants only. Nursing and Dental Hygiene applicants must have completed or be enrolled in pre-requisite courses at the time of application. Courses may be completed at any accredited college or university.

All new students to the Schools of Architecture, Business, and Public Health enter the lower level.

Requires CHEM 120 ; MATH 168 , MATH 151 .

The curriculum leading to a professional degree in Architecture begins in the four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree program. This degree provides entry to the Master of Architecture program.

No spring transfer admission.

Choice not available for transfer applicants.

All students seeking elementary teacher certification will complete a baccalaureate degree in Education. There is no major in Secondary Teacher Education. All students seeking secondary certification (except those preparing to teach physical education or health) will major in an academic discipline other than Education (i.e., mathematics, English, computer science, biology, etc.) and take appropriate coursework for teacher certification in the School of Education and Human Development.

Apply through College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Pre-veterinary medicine is not offered at Texas A&M. If you plan to apply to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program, you should select a major that would be a good vocational choice if you do not later enter the DVM program. Any major may be selected; however, some curricula more closely parallel courses that must be completed before applying to the DVM program than others.

Change of Curriculum to Another Campus

In addition to main campus, Texas A&M offers certain undergraduate degrees at its branch campuses, Galveston and Qatar, and the Higher Education Center at McAllen.  While enrolled as a student in residence at any one of the Texas A&M locations, students may apply for a change of curriculum to another location for a future semester. Students must comply with the established change of curriculum procedures and requirements of their desired major, department, and college, and space must be available. Final approval is granted by the academic dean or departmental advisor for that major.

Transfer Admissions

Transfer applicants will be reviewed and receive a decision from the Office of Admissions provided they submit all required credentials by the closing date. 

Recommended/required coursework for all majors is available on the Transfer Course Sheets at http://admissions.tamu.edu/transfer/majors . Students are strongly encouraged to follow the guidelines and complete both the required and recommended courses as outlined on the Transfer Course Sheets and in the catalog. Applicants who begin a set of courses which have a two-semester sequence are encouraged to complete both courses in the sequence before planning to transfer to Texas A&M.

Admission Criteria

• Transfer applicants should have at least a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) on at least 24 graded semester hours of transferable coursework at the time of application to be competitive for admission.
• Transfer admission decisions are made based on the college or major requested and are competitive; thus, admission standards may change from one semester to another. Preference is given to the applicant with the highest grade point average (GPA) and the most courses completed for the major designated on the application. 
• Applicants who drop or withdraw from courses frequently and who do not routinely achieve satisfactory grades will be at a disadvantage in the review for admission.
• Spring grades may be used in the fall admission decision if requested by the Review Committee or in instances where the student did not meet the university requirements for review. Spring transcripts must be received by June 1 for review with spring grades. A complete application must be on file by March 1 to be considered for fall admission and to qualify for spring grade review. Spring grade review is not available for all applicants and is not an option for students studying outside the U.S.
• The entire application, including essay topic A, is considered in the review process.
• Some colleges consider second choice majors and some do   not  consider second choice majors. This is noted on the Transfer Course Sheets. The admission decisions follow the guidelines presented in the Transfer Course Sheets and the College Specific Information provided in the catalog. Space may be limited for those being reviewed for their second choice.   

Automatic Transfer Admission through SB 175

A transfer applicant who graduated from a Texas high school and ranked in the top 10% of their high school qualifies for automatic transfer admission to a 4-year university under the provisions of SB 175 if they meet the following guidelines:

• The applicant must have graduated in the top 10% of his or her high school graduating class from a Texas high school not more than 4 years prior to the semester for which the student is applying. The top 10% ranking must be stated on the final high school transcript, or the applicant must have been previously offered admission under the Top 10% rule to the institution to which the applicant seeks admission as a transfer student.
• The applicant must complete the core curriculum at a public junior college or other public or private lower-division institution with a 2.5 GPA on a four-point scale or equivalent.
• Transcript should note core completion.
• The applicant must expressly and clearly claim in the application that he or she is seeking admission under the transfer Top 10% rule (SB 175).
• The applicant must provide all of the documents required for transfer admission to Texas A&M by the posted deadline. Transfer requirements can be found at http://admissions.tamu.edu/apply/transfer .

Applicants qualifying for transfer Top 10% admission under SB 175 will be admitted to Texas A&M but the choice of major is not guaranteed. Students desiring admission to Business or Engineering are encouraged to select a second choice major of interest due to the limited enrollment capacity in these colleges.

For information concerning the Transfer Top 10% Admission, please see www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/doc/SB00175F.doc .

College Specific Information

College of agriculture and life sciences.

Transfer admission requirements vary for the different academic programs offered by the College. Transfer admission decisions are made by major and are competitive. Most majors have required and recommended coursework to be completed by the student prior to application. It is highly recommended that prospective students contact the academic advisor for the major of interest to inquire about specific transfer admission requirements. Students should also refer to the Texas A&M University Admissions website  to review the Transfer Course Sheets for each major. Also, note that transfer admission GPA requirements vary by major and several exceed the minimum 2.5 GPA. Completion of the essay indicating why the major was selected and how a degree in this major will help meet career goals is required. For more information on transfer guidelines, coursework and contact information for all academic advisors, refer to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences website .

School of Architecture

Applicants must have completed 24 hours of transferable coursework at the time of application, and it is recommended that these courses be selected from the degree program electives described elsewhere in this catalog. The essay is an important component in the review process and should explain why the applicant is interested in either the Architecture, Construction Science, Landscape Architecture or Urban and Regional Planning degree. Depending on the program of interest, applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA are rarely admitted. For more information, visit the School of Architecture  website .

Enrollment in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban and Regional Planning is driven by available studio space. Additionally, there are eight sequential studios in those degree programs which makes it difficult for students that transfer with more than 36 hours to graduate in a timely manner.

MATH 1324 from some colleges will not be a direct equivalent to MATH 140 at Texas A&M University but will satisfy the core math requirement for this major.

College of Arts and Sciences

Competitive applicants will apply with at least 24 hours of graded transferable coursework and a minimum GPA of 2.5 at the time of application. Transfer admission GPA requirements vary by major, with the majority requiring at least a 3.0 to be competitive for transfer admission consideration. Applicants should complete the essay indicating why they are interested in admission into their selected major. Applicants who have special or extenuating circumstances they wish to share are encouraged to address these within the essay(s) as well.  Academic performance in courses relevant to the student’s prospective major are considered in admissions decisions. STEM majors pay close attention to performance in required math and science courses. Majors may have prerequisites that must be met prior to admission. The College of Arts and Sciences will consider second-choice majors. Students with 90 hours of college credit may not be considered for transfer admission to some majors. Refer to this catalog for all electives in each curriculum. For more information about majors, programs and curricular requirements, please refer to this catalog, the Transfer Course Sheets , and the College of Arts and Sciences  website .

See below for courses required for STEM related majors:

Mathematics

 statistics.

A grade of B or better is required on all courses. Requirements also include a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better.

 Must be completed with a C or better.

Meets major requirement. May be taken as time permits.

Mays Business School

Mays Business School offers transfer admission to the most competitive applicants. The transfer admission process identifies applications that evidence outstanding accomplishments, including academic credentials using the following guidelines.

Transfer admission to Mays generally requires excellence in the following set of ten specific courses. Applicants desiring to major in business are encouraged to plan early, and incorporate this entire body of coursework into their curriculum prior to applying. It is especially important to have credit for both required math courses before applying.

Mays admits transfer applicants for summer or fall admission. No spring transfer admission is available. Applicants are expected to have completed and excelled in substantially all of the 30 credit hours of Required Coursework. Applicants need a grade of A in most courses and a high overall GPA to be competitive. 

The entire record is reviewed for consistency in coursework and grades. Successful applicants include carefully written essays that demonstrate clarity of purpose, creativity, and an advanced writing style. Applicants are encouraged to use the required essay as an opportunity identify their past accomplishments, discuss what they hope to study at Texas A&M University, and describe how their undergraduate business education will help them meet goals after graduation. Applicants who have special circumstances they wish to have considered are urged to share all pertinent information, with appropriate documentation, in their essay(s).

REQUIRED COURSEWORK FOR ADMISSION:  Priority courses to be completed before transfer application to Mays Business School are:

Take Public Speaking in a classroom setting.

In lieu of MATH 1324 and MATH 1325, Mays accepts MATH 2414 and MATH 2413, respectively.

School of Education and Human Development

Transfer admission requirements vary for the different academic programs offered by the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD). Transfer admission decisions are made by major and are competitive. All majors have required coursework to be completed by the student prior to application. It is highly recommended that prospective students contact the SEHD Undergraduate Prospective Student Office to inquire about specific transfer admission requirements. Students should also refer to the Texas A&M University Admissions website at  http://admissions.tamu.edu/transfer/majors to review the Transfer Course Sheets for each major. Also, note that transfer admission GPA requirements vary by major and several exceed the minimum 2.5 GPA. Completion of the essay indicating why the major was selected and how a degree in this major will help meet career goals is required. For more information on transfer guidelines, coursework and contact information for the SEHD Undergraduate Prospective Student Office refer to the following website  https://education.tamu.edu/contact-us/  or email [email protected] .

College of Engineering

Applicants should complete at least 24 hours of graded, transferable coursework at the time of submitting their application, all with a grade of C or better. Transfer admission GPA requirements vary by major, with the majority exceeding the minimum requirements for transfer admission consideration to Texas A&M. Transfer admission course requirements also vary by major. 

Prospective transfer students should review the College of Engineering website for more information about each major. Transfer Course Sheets are available for each major in the College of Engineering to provide guidance on specific transfer admission requirements.

Field of Study Curricula

A Field of Study Curriculum is a set of courses that will satisfy lower-division requirements for a baccalaureate degree in a specific academic area at a general academic teaching institution. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board publishes information about Board-approved Field of Study Curricula ( www.highered.texas.gov/ ). Texas A&M University complies with requirements outlined in 19 Texas Administrative Code §4.32 regarding transfer of course credit for completed or partially-completed Field of Study Curricula. Per 19 Texas Administrative Code §4.32, following the receipt of credit, “the student may be required to satisfy the remaining course requirements in the field of study curriculum of the receiving institution, or to complete additional requirements in the receiving institution's program, as long as those requirements do not duplicate course content already completed through the field of study curriculum.”

Notification of Admission Decisions

Transfer admission decisions are made through a competitive review process. Applicants are notified of the admission decision on a rolling basis throughout the application season. For those applicants requested to submit spring grades for fall consideration, decisions should be announced by early July.

Additional Information for Transfer Applicants

• All applicants are encouraged to view the  Transfer Course Sheets  posted on the admissions website for information concerning required courses and GPA requirements for admission to a specific major. 
• A 2.0 GPA or better on coursework in progress during the semester (excluding summer terms) immediately prior to enrollment at Texas A&M is a condition of admission.
• Failing grades, repeated courses, WF, Incomplete, etc.
• Grades reported as Incomplete are computed as Fs.
• Plus and minus grade designations are not used; C+ is computed as a C, B- as a B, etc.
• Credit by examination courses which are transcripted from other colleges or universities may be transferred if sequential coursework with credit is also indicated. If there is evidence that the credit by examination courses are part of the student’s program of study at that institution, credit will be awarded for those courses that meet the transfer guidelines. Note: Credit by examination will not count toward the 24 hours required for consideration for admission.
• Coursework taken as credit-by-exam must be listed as a specific course and course number on an official college transcript to be considered for transfer of credit.

Transfer Course Credit Policies

Transfer credit on coursework complete at the time of application to Texas A&M University is determined when an official transcript from the originating institution is presented as part of the application for admission or readmission process. An official transcript is required from every post-secondary institution attended (including dual credit earned in high school) even if the applicant did not earn credit, receive a course grade or the course is not transferable.

The transfer of course credit is determined by the Office of Admissions on a course-by-course basis by application of policies set under the guidance of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and under the guidance of faculty within the academic colleges. Credit submitted for transfer must be on an official transcript received by the Office of Admissions from the Registrar of the institution where the credit was earned. Course content will be determined from the catalog description or the syllabus. The transferability of courses will be based on the criteria below. All criteria are intended to be considered together; for example, criteria 10 may be qualified by criteria 7.

Undergraduate course credit will only be evaluated and posted for undergraduate applicants and undergraduate students, not for graduate level applicants.

Credit from Institutions Accredited by One of the Institutional Accrediting Agencies

• The course is applicable to a bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M.
• The course is similar to a course or courses offered for degree credit by Texas A&M.
• The course content is at or above the level of the beginning course in the subject matter offered by Texas A&M.
• A course that is intended for use in a vocational, technical or occupational program will not typically transfer. In certain cases, credit for occupational skill courses will be considered. Transfer of this credit requires that the student’s Texas A&M major is engineering technology or industrial distribution or that the student’s major department and dean approve the course for use in the student’s degree program after enrollment.
• Credit for support courses such as Math, Science and English intended specifically for use in an occupational program will not be transferred.
• Credit for courses must be shown on the official transcript in semester hours or in units that are readily converted to semester hours.
• A graduate-level course will not be transferred for undergraduate credit unless approved for use in the student’s undergraduate degree program by the student’s major department and Dean. This also applies for a course offered in a professional degree program such as Nursing, Law, or Medicine.
• Credit by examination courses which are transcripted from other colleges or universities may be transferred if sequential coursework with credit is also indicated. If there is evidence that the credit by examination courses are part of the student’s program of study at that institution, credit will be awarded for those courses that meet our transfer guidelines.
• Courses similar to ones offered by Texas A&M at the junior or senior level transfer by title only. Such courses may be used in the student’s degree program only if approved by the Department Head and Dean of the student’s major field. Validation of such credit, either by examination or the completion of a higher level course, may be required.
• A field experience, internship or student teaching course may be transferred by title only.
• Credit for cooperative education will not be transferred.
• A course that is substantially equivalent to a Texas A&M lower level course transfers as an equivalent course. Two or more courses may be combined to form one or more equivalent courses. If there is doubt about the equivalency of a course, the Texas A&M department offering the course subject matter may be asked to determine if the course is equivalent. STEM courses are often referred to the departments for evaluation.
• As a general policy, credit for admission will be given for transfer work satisfactorily completed with a passing grade at another properly accredited institution.
• Grade Point Average (GPA) for any period shall be computed by dividing the total number of semester hours of transferable courses for which the student received grades into the total number of grade points earned in that period. Credit hours to which grades equivalent to Texas A&M grades of W, WF, F, I or U are assigned shall be included; those having grades equivalent to Texas A&M grades of WP, Q, S, X and NG shall be excluded.
• In any case where a decision cannot be made using the above criteria, the Office of Admissions will determine the transfer of credit based on University policy, previous actions of the University and prior experience.

Resolution of Transfer Disputes for Lower Division Courses Between Public Institutions in Texas

The following procedures shall be followed by public institutions of higher education in the resolution of transfer credit disputes involving lower-division courses:

• If an institution of higher education does not accept course credit earned by a student at another institution of higher education, the receiving institution shall give written notice to the student and to the sending institution that transfer of the course credit is denied. A receiving institution shall also provide written notice of the reasons for denying credit for a particular course or set of courses at the request of the sending institution.
• A student who receives notice as specified in subsection 1 may dispute the denial of credit by contacting a designated official at either the sending or the receiving institution.
• The two institutions and the student shall attempt to resolve the transfer of the course credit in accordance with the rules and guidelines of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
• If the transfer dispute is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student or the sending institution within 45 days after the date the student received written notice of denial, the institution that denies the course credit for transfer shall notify the Commissioner of its denial and the reasons for the denial.

The Commissioner of Higher Education or the Commissioner’s designee shall make the final determination about the dispute concerning the transfer of course credit and give written notice of the determination to the involved student and institutions.

Credit from Non-accredited Schools

Students who transfer to Texas A&M from an institution of higher education that is not accredited by one of the institutional accrediting agencies may validate the work taken at the institution by one of the following methods upon admission:

• Successful completion of a comprehensive departmental examination or nationally standardized examination that is approved by the department.
• Successful completion of a higher level course in the same subject area when approved by the Department Head and the Dean of the college or school.

Credit will be given to students transferring from non-accredited public colleges in Texas for work completed with grades of C or better if they earn a grade point of 2.0 (C average) on the first 30 hours of residence work at Texas A&M.

Credit from Foreign Institutions

Transfer work from institutions that do not follow the United States educational system with instruction in English will be evaluated on an individual basis. A-level examinations with a grade of C or better will result in the award of transfer credit. We do not award credit for Baccalaureate II examinations. Credit will be given for work satisfactorily completed at international institutions offering programs recognized by Texas A&M. Official credentials submitted directly from the Office of the Registrar and a listing of courses completed and grades awarded must accompany any request for transfer credit. Transfer work will be awarded by course title unless previous arrangements have been made using the Texas A&M University Transfer Credit Study Abroad Pre-Approval Form. Courses must be equivalent in character and content to courses offered at Texas A&M. Credit will not be awarded from international institutions which are not academically accredited by the Ministry of Education or other appropriate authority in the home country.

No English composition courses will be transferred from institutions located in non-English speaking countries. American history and American political science (government) courses will not transfer from foreign institutions.

Courses taken at language training centers or language institutes are generally not awarded transfer credit. A transcript from such an institution must be issued through the Office of the Registrar at a Texas A&M recognized university, institute or language training center. Credentials of all language training centers and institutes are carefully reviewed.

Credit for Military Experience

State law (Texas Education Code Section 51.3042) and Texas A&M University policy awards credit for military service to eligible veterans. To receive credit, student veterans must submit proof of eligibility to the Office of Admissions.  Up to 12 hours of general elective credits may be awarded, as needed for the student’s degree plan.

Proof of eligibility includes:

• DD Form 214 showing 1 year active duty and an honorable discharge OR
• Military orders OR
• Disability discharge documentation AND
• Documentation of high school completion (final high school transcript or General Educational Development certificate)

Military transcripts are evaluated at the time of application and credit for military experience/training is awarded based on recommendations contained within the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services published by the American Council on Education (ACE).  Texas A&M University will award KINE 198 and KINE 199 credit for completion of Basic Training if applicable to a student's degree plan.  Credit under this policy does not prohibit Texas A&M University from awarding additional credit.  The Military Transcript Credit Appeal form shall be provided to the Office of Admissions with approval of the academic advisor and veteran. 

• Official military transcript (JST or CCAF)

Military Service Credits are irrevocable once awarded. Potential consequences should be identified and understood before a request is submitted. Students must consult their academic advisor for advice on the number of credits from military service that can be used in their degree program to avoid excess credit accumulation and possible negative effects.

Extension and Correspondence Courses

Students may apply a maximum of 30 semester hours of approved extension class work and correspondence study toward a degree. Students may apply up to 12 hours of correspondence credit earned through an accredited institution toward the requirements for an undergraduate degree, even though Texas A&M does not offer courses by correspondence.

Correspondence courses taken through the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) may be accepted and included in the 12 hours allowed.

In order for a student in residence at Texas A&M to receive credit for correspondence work toward a bachelor’s degree, he or she should:

• obtain advance written permission from the Dean of their college or school;
• present appropriate evidence of having completed the course.

Testing Services is authorized to act as an agent to receive correspondence courses.

International Admission Criteria

Transcripts/examination results.

Official academic records (transcripts, marksheets, diplomas, etc.) are required for all secondary and any university coursework completed. Records should include all courses taken in high school and every college or university the applicant has attended.

Official records require the original school seal or an original signature of a school official (Registrar, Principal, Headmaster or Director of Student Records, Controller of Examinations, or the Ministry of Education). Official records should be mailed from the school directly to Texas A&M University, Office of Admissions. Examination results should be sent directly from the examination agency. In addition to the original records in a language other than English, Texas A&M requires official translations in English. Translations sent directly from the institution attended or from a recognized translator will be accepted. Transcript evaluations that include a certified copy of the original transcript and a word-for-word translation from an evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services are strongly recommended and will allow faster processing of files. We recommend a document-by-document evaluation (with a GPA) for high school credentials and a course-by-course evaluation for college/university transcripts from non-U.S. institutions. Credential evaluations that include a word-for-word translation will be considered as an official translation but will NOT  be accepted as a substitute for required transcripts. For students enrolled in the United States, we will accept copies of official transcripts from other countries that are on file and verified by the U.S. institution. Unofficial photocopies, fax copies, and notarized copies of records, examination results, or translations will not be accepted. Uploaded transcripts and diplomas indicating graduation from secondary school (final high school transcripts) will not be accepted. These transcripts must be mailed. 

Admission Criteria for International Applicants with U.S. Based Credentials

International applicants who are completing their education at an institution that is accredited by the U.S. will be reviewed in accordance with the guidelines determined for domestic admission. However, these applicants must still meet international deadlines and testing requirements. (See item 2 below.)

Admission Criteria for International Applicants with Foreign Credentials

International applicants who are completing their education at an institution that is not accredited by the U.S. will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• International applicants are expected to complete an educational program that will allow them to be considered for admission to a university in their home country. Examples include the completion of Grade 13, Form 6 or 3 A-level exams following the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). Predicted A-level exam results must be received by the application closing date.
• Applicants must submit proof of high school graduation, typically a diploma, leaving certificate, or official examination results. Students that complete the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exam must provide the necessary information for Texas A&M to verify the WAEC results, typically a WAEC scratch card or results checker, by the application closing date.
• Successful applicants will rank near the top of their country’s educational system (B average or better) and score well above average on national exams.
• Secondary school courses: Appropriate college preparatory coursework is required.
• TOEFL internet-based test score of 80 or higher (taken within two years of date of intended enrollment)
• IELTS with a 6.0 overall band score (taken within two years of date of intended enrollment)
• SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score of 560 or higher 
• ACT English score of 21 or higher
• Completed all four years of high school within the U.S.
• Transfer from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education with at least 30 semester credit hours including the equivalent to Texas A&M’s ENGL 103 or ENGL 104 with a grade of C or better. 
• Please view the admissions website for information concerning acceptable English language testing for 2023.
• Leadership positions held
• Honors/awards received
• Major national, state or Texas A&M scholarships received

Additional Requirements for International Applicants After Admission

If admitted, international students should review the International Student Services Channel, howdy.tamu.edu - Applicant tab, for next steps concerning enrollment at Texas A&M University. Additional information is available on the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) website.

Scholarship Information for International Students

There are a limited number of scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans available to international students, both in the admission process and throughout their enrollment. Some of these come from academic departments, particularly for graduate applicants, but there are also forms of financial aid available through International Student Services and Scholarships & Financial Aid. International applicants with financial need are encouraged to complete the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) . This form must be resubmitted annually for continued consideration for aid.

One special opportunity that a student may be eligible for upon admission to Texas A&M University is the Texas/Mexico Education Scholarship. Texas law allows a limited number of admitted applicants who are citizens of Mexico, and who can document financial need, to pay the same tuition as the residents of the State of Texas. For more information regarding how to apply for this scholarship, please refer to International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) website.

For additional information regarding financial assistance and other scholarships available to International Students, please contact:

Scholarships & Financial Aid Texas A&M University P. O. Box 30016 College Station, TX 77842-3016 (979) 845-3236 [email protected] http://financialaid.tamu.edu

For additional information, please contact:

International Student and Scholar Services Office Pavilion Room 110 Texas A&M University 1226 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-1226 USA (979) 845-1824 Fax (979) 862-4633 [email protected] http://iss.tamu.edu

Admission Criteria for Other Application Types

Readmission criteria.

Admission decisions for readmission are based on the following:

• GPA on Texas A&M coursework;
• GPA on coursework since leaving Texas A&M;
• desired major; and
• information presented in the application and essay/statement of purpose.

If you were previously admitted but did not enroll and attend class through the official census date, you do not qualify as a readmit, and you must apply as either a freshman or transfer student.

If you were previously enrolled at Texas A&M but did not attend class through the official census date of the previous long semester, then you must apply for readmission.

Transcripts from institutions attended since the last enrollment at Texas A&M are required as follows:

Post-baccalaureate Undergraduate Criteria

Admission is limited and intended for applicants with a degree who wish to apply for further study at the undergraduate level to pursue a second bachelor’s degree.

Additional requirements to complete a post-baccalaureate application:

• an official transcript indicating the receipt of a recognized baccalaureate degree
• a statement of purpose explaining why enrollment at Texas A&M is necessary
• official transcripts from all colleges attended (official high school transcript not required)

Admission decisions for post-baccalaureate undergraduates consider:

• GPA on transferable college coursework
• completion of prerequisite coursework
• information presented in the application

Priority is given to qualified applicants for their initial degree; therefore, post-baccalaureate undergraduate admission may be limited or may not be available . Mays Business School and the School of Public Health  do not  consider applicants for post-baccalaureate study. Students are encouraged to contact the major to determine if post-baccalaureate study is allowed. See the Classification section of this catalog for the enrollment rights and privileges of this classification.

Undergraduate Non-degree Criteria

Admission is limited and intended for applicants with a high school diploma (with the exception of High School Enrichment Program participants) or for degree applicants who do not intend to pursue a baccalaureate degree at Texas A&M. This includes:

• local residents or University employees taking courses on a part-time basis
• applicants completing established Texas A&M University requirements for teacher or other certification
• applicants completing a prescribed set of courses as preparation for application to graduate study or professional programs (i.e., medical school, veterinary school, law school or CPA exam)
• others as deemed appropriate by the Office of Admissions and the college or program of admission

Additional requirements to complete an undergraduate non-degree application:

• a statement of purpose explaining why enrollment at Texas A&M is desired
• an official college transcript showing the latest collegiate coursework attempted or a complete, official high school transcript if no college work has been attempted after high school graduation
• additional information presented in the application may be considered

Priority is given to qualified applicants for their initial bachelor’s degree; therefore, non-degree admission may be limited or not available. Students are encouraged to contact the major to determine if non-degree seeking study is allowed for any given semester. See the Classification section of this catalog for the enrollment rights and privileges of this classification.

Transient Session Only Criteria

Admission is considered for applicants who wish to attend summer only, present appropriate credentials for the level of specified coursework, and apply within the processing period for the specific session. The School of Public Health does not allow transient admission. Students are encouraged to contact the major to determine if transient study is allowed.

Additional requirements to complete transient session only application:

High School Enrichment Program

Texas A&M University is pleased to offer the High School Enrichment Program (HSEP) for qualified high school students in the Bryan/College Station area that will provide college credit and may also provide credit toward high school graduation. Admission for this program is on a space-available basis. The applicant pool is competitive, and admission into this program is not guaranteed.

This program provides a chance to further your knowledge in a subject you have completed in high school and earn valuable credit for graduation at both levels. For example, if you are interested in Physics and you have completed all of the classes your high school offers, you may qualify to continue to study Physics at the college level.

To be considered for this program, students must have completed all levels of related coursework offered at their high school. Each student is eligible to take one course per fall or spring semester, and course registration will be completed by the Texas A&M departmental advisor. No summer classes are offered at this time. Classes will be held on the Texas A&M campus, and students and their parents/guardians will be responsible for any transportation considerations.

Eligibility requirements:

• You must be a junior or senior in high school in the Bryan/College Station area.
• You must have a minimum SAT score of 1270 or an ACT score of 27.
• You must provide a recommendation form from your high school counselor to participate.

Academic Fresh Start Policy

Applicants for admission or readmission to Texas A&M may choose to have academic coursework that was completed at least 10 years prior to their term of application removed from consideration in the admission decision (Texas residents only). All other admission requirements apply. Should a Fresh Start applicant be admitted, he or she will forfeit all credit earned prior to 10 years from the term of admission. Academic Fresh Start must be requested as part of the application process. It cannot be requested after an applicant is admitted or enrolled. 

Academic work done subsequent to ten years will be used in the evaluation of the applicant for admission.  Applicants with subsequent coursework are required to submit the transfer application along with transcripts for all college level coursework as well as all additional required documents by the posted deadline. If a student does not have coursework subsequent to ten years, he or she will be considered for admission based on the guidelines for new entering freshmen.  See https://admissions.tamu.edu/apply/academic-fresh-start for additional requirements. 

Admitted Fresh Start applicants have “Academic Fresh Start” indicated on their official Texas A&M transcript, are required to satisfy TSI requirements, and will follow the academic requirements of the Undergraduate Catalog of record for the term of admission.

Forfeited coursework cannot be considered as prerequisites but placement examinations are allowed for courses which were not considered for admission because of the Fresh Start Policy. Once admitted on Academic Fresh Start, the applicant or student cannot subsequently request that the Fresh Start policy restrictions be removed.

If an applicant has used the Academic Fresh Start Policy at a previous school, the Academic Fresh Start will remain in effect at Texas A&M upon transfer.

Note: For financial aid purposes all previously taken coursework will be included when evaluating aid eligibility.  In addition, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not recognize the Academic Fresh Start program.  Students cannot be certified for courses they have successfully completed.  Students using VA educational benefits should coordinate with the Veterans Services Office.  

Entry to a Major – College of Engineering

Students in General Engineering , Texas A&M Engineering at Blinn ,  Engineering at Galveston , Engineering at McAllen , or the Texas A&M Engineering Academy Programs  pursue a common first year engineering curriculum to provide them opportunities to explore the various engineering  majors . Students are introduced to the different engineering majors in the first year engineering courses, ENGR 102 , ENGR 216/PHYS 216 and ENGR 217/PHYS 217 . Additionally, students are encouraged to leverage additional resources, including the Career Center, faculty, and academic advisors, to gain more information about engineering majors. Students must complete the following first year engineering curriculum requirements over the course of at least two semesters before applying to an engineering major: two engineering courses, two math courses, and two science courses. 

The entry-to-a-major (ETAM) process  enables students to take ownership of their future by identifying at least three majors that are a good match for their academic and career goals. The ETAM process is designed to place students in the highest rank major possible based upon academic performance, ETAM application content, and program capacities.  Students are encouraged to be in a major as early as possible. Students in  General Engineering ,  Texas A&M Engineering at Blinn ,  Engineering at Galveston ,  Engineering at McAllen , or the  Texas A&M Engineering Academy Programs must be in a major by the end of the fourth semester.

Transfer students are admitted directly to a degree granting major through the admissions process.

Upper-Level Entry to the Schools of Architecture and Business

Transfer students.

Transfer students, who meet the University entrance requirements and who desire to enter a major field of study in the School of Architecture, will be admitted based on available space and current School of Architecture entrance criteria. Following admission, some departments place transfer students on a 2.5 GPA probation for a minimum of 12 credit hours to substantiate competency in required lower-level courses. Departments with lower-level classification will admit transfer students into the school with a lower-level classification. Students may apply for upper-level status after at least one semester at Texas A&M University.

Change of Major

Students currently enrolled in another major at Texas A&M University with fewer than 60 hours who desire to change their major field of study into the School of Architecture must fill out a Change of Curriculum application found on the Howdy portal under the "My Record" tab. See Student Rule 5. 

The best-qualified applicants will be admitted based on the number of spaces available in their program of choice . Enrollment in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban and Regional Planning is driven by available studio space. Additionally, there are eight sequential studios in those degree programs which makes it difficult for students that transfer with more than 36 hours to graduate in a timely manner.

Lower-level business (BUAD) students are encouraged to complete the freshman and sophomore sequence of courses as listed under Program Requirements.

The BBA Upper-Level (UL) entry requirements and application procedures are as follows:

• Submitted application for UL admission no later than preregistration for the expected UL entry term. NOTE:  For summer UL entry, all requirements must be completed BEFORE the first class day of the FIRST SUMMER SESSION.
• BUAD students may preregister for UL business courses in the semester for which they have applied for UL. However, students who fail to complete UL requirements shall not be permitted to remain registered in UL business classes.
• Transfer Students:  Transfer students admitted to Mays Business School enter as lower-level business (BUAD) students until they complete all requirements listed previously in item 1, at which time they may apply for admission to an UL BBA major. Transfer students may immediately apply for UL when admitted to Mays Business School if, and only if, they meet all UL requirements at that time.
• On-Campus Change of Major Students:  Texas A&M students who change major into Mays Business School from another college or department at the University will enter as lower-level business (BUAD) students until they complete all requirements listed previously in item 1. Change of major students who, when admitted to the business school, qualify to apply for admission to an UL BBA major may do so.
• Junior- and Senior-Level Business Courses: Preference for available seats in junior- and senior-level business courses will be given to students who have been admitted to a BBA granting major in Mays Business School. All ineligible students who preregister for UL business classes are subject to cancellation of their registration in these courses.

Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) was instituted to ensure that students enrolled in Texas public colleges and universities possess the necessary academic skills to perform effectively in college and to provide diagnostic information about reading, writing and mathematics skills of each student. All undergraduate students who did not meet one of the allowed exemptions must take the approved TSI Assessment.

Students who do not meet established cutoff scores or other approved exemptions for the TSI Assessment are required by Texas law to be enrolled in, and actively attend, an academic skills course and/or program each semester prior to completing all TSI requirements. Academic skills courses in each of the three TSI areas are offered by Texas A&M. Failure to meet the attendance requirements of the academic skills course will result in withdrawal from Texas A&M. The hours for these courses will not count toward any degree program but may count toward determining full-time status.  See  https://asc.tamu.edu/TX-Success-Initiative for specific information.

Students required to take the TSI Assessment should provide their score reports to the Academic Success Center at Texas A&M University at the address below.

Academic Success Center 1133 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-1133

Email score reports to:  [email protected]  

More information can be obtained from testing centers at most Texas public colleges and universities or by contacting:

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board P.O. Box 12788 Austin, TX 78711-2788

Undergraduate Studies’ units have modified services available to students enrolled via distance education, at branch campuses, or at other instructional locations.

School of Dentistry – Caruth School of Dental Hygiene

Basis for acceptance.

All applicants will be considered using the following criteria. In addition, the applicant must be able to perform the essential functions required in the curriculum. The quality of the applicant’s academic achievement is a prime consideration. A grade point average (GPA) is computed based on all courses taken in college.

Preference for admission is given to students with:

• A cumulative GPA and Science GPA indicating ability to succeed in the program.
• Attention given to detail when completing the application.
• A comprehensive biographical sketch that includes information that will help the Admissions Committee know the applicant better. Details about the dental hygiene procedures that have been observed, a description of the community service projects in which you have participated and information concerning your interests, abilities and attitudes that have motivated you to make the commitment required for a career in dental hygiene are examples of information that might be included.

The application deadline is January 5. The Office of Recruitment and Admissions encourages applicants to submit the online application forms by December 1. All materials related to the application must be received in the Office of Recruitment and Admissions by February 1.

• Application for Admission
• Secondary Application
• List of courses in progress and those planned prior to enrollment in the dental hygiene program
• Biographical sketch
• Application Fee ($35.00)
• Photograph sized 2 X 2 (does not have to be a passport picture - can be regular photograph cut down)
• Transcripts from high school and all colleges attended (if you attended a foreign high school, you do not have to submit a copy)
• Scores from Texas Success Initiative (TSI). (Or if exempt, SAT/ACT or TAAS– usually scores are listed on high school transcript; you do not have to submit scores separately.)
• Observation Verification Form (minimum 16 hours required)
• Recommendations: these evaluation forms should be completed by 1) a college instructor, 2) a dental hygienist and 3) an individual who has known applicant for some time; for example, an employer or supervisor.
• An application is valid for one academic year only.
• Official transcripts are required and will be accepted only when sent directly from each school the applicant has attended.
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to keep the application file current. Failure to supply grades, transcripts or recommendations may be perceived as an indication that the applicant is no longer interested in admission.

Processing of applications begins the year prior to entrance into the professional program and continues until the class is filled. The applications are evaluated, and an invitation for an interview may be extended. The purpose of the interview is to determine the applicant’s knowledge of the dental hygiene profession. It also provides an opportunity for the applicant to see the facility, meet with the Admissions Committee and to ask questions about the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene program.

All prospective students are encouraged to contact the college with questions regarding prerequisite courses or the program.

To Access the Dental Hygiene Application Forms:

The applicant will need to create an account on the Banner Admissions Management Framework (BAMF) website . The applicant will be required to complete and submit the School of Dentistry Dental Hygiene Application, the Secondary Application and the Ethnicity Form.

The application for the Dental Hygiene Program will be available on the BAMF website from July 15 to January 5.

Download Forms (Adobe PDF files):

The Evaluation Form and Observation Verification Form are available for download. You will need to print these forms and submit them with signatures through regular mail.

• Evaluation Form – top section to be filled in by applicant
• Observation Verification Form

Mail forms and transcripts to:

Office of Recruitment and Admissions Texas A&M University School of Dentistry 3302 Gaston Avenue, Room 525 Dallas, TX 75246-2013 USA

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit will be determined by each component in conjunction with the staff of the college on a course-by-course basis from official transcripts submitted in the competitive admissions process. Course content will be determined by the catalog course description or course syllabus.

Course acceptability is guided by these criteria:

• They are acceptable as credit for a bachelor’s degree at a regionally accredited institution.
• Course content is at or above the level of courses specified in the requirements for admission.
• Courses intended for use in a vocational, technical or occupational program normally do not transfer; general courses within this type of program may transfer.
• Credit on the transcript must appear in semester hours or credits that may be converted to semester hours.
• Credit by examination courses may be transferred if accepted by another college and followed by sequenced coursework.
• Equivalency of coursework is determined by content found in catalog course descriptions or syllabi of courses. In case of doubt, departmental faculty will determine equivalency. The final determination is left to the Program Director.
• As a general policy, coursework with a passing grade may be transferred, but the applicant must keep in mind that admission to the hygiene program is on a competitive basis and grades of F are calculated into the grade point average.
• Course hours will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis but will be transferred as a block of hours, and the grades do not calculate into the GPA for the hygiene program.
• Online courses are accepted.
• Typically, credit will not be given for courses completed at institutions not accredited by a regional accrediting agency.
• The school does not accept non-credit coursework to be used in lieu of coursework taken for academic credit.

Dental Hygiene Program (BS)

School of nursing.

Three different tracks lead to a baccalaureate degree in nursing. The traditional BSN track is for students seeking their first degree in college. The second-degree BSN track (post-baccalaureate) is for individuals who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field of study. The RN to BSN track is for registered nurses who hold an associate degree in nursing. Prerequisite courses, which are the essential foundation for nursing, must be completed before entry into upper-division nursing courses through a competitive admission process. In addition, all students must meet the core curriculum requirements for Texas A&M University if not already completed at another institution. 

The following documents are required for an application to be considered complete and eligible for review:  

Application  

Application fee  

Official college transcript(s)  

Timed verbal and written assessment  

Completion of prerequisite courses by the time of enrollment with a grade of C or better  

Admissions Assessment (HESI A2) entrance exam required for traditional and second-degree BSN applicants only 

Reference and professional resume required for RN to BSN applicants only  

RN to BSN applicants must provide proof of RN licensure in good standing  

Copy of permanent resident card, if applicable  

Official TOEFL Scores are required for international applicants and must be taken within the past two years. Test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to be considered official.  

The most current information regarding application to nursing can be found on the  School of Nursing   (SON) website. Applications must be received by the posted deadline. No late documents will be accepted. Admission to the school is competitive. At the time of application, students must be enrolled in or have completed all prerequisite course requirements which includes University Core Curriculum and nursing prerequisites. Admission offers may be made to students finalizing courses and will be contingent upon successful completion of all prerequisite requirements and students presenting a clear criminal background check and a negative drug screen.  

If the student completed a core curriculum from another Texas public institution in a previous degree program, they are not required to complete the school’s Core Curriculum. Students transferring from out of state, from a private institution, those with an international degree or anyone with concerns about this requirement, please contact an academic advisor at the School of Nursing for further clarification. Students will not be considered for admission unless the required coursework will be completed by the time of enrollment.  

Additional Requirements for International Applicants and Applicants with Foreign Credentials

In addition to each program's stated application requirements, applicants with foreign transcripts must also include a transcript evaluation from an evaluation service which is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. A course-by-course listing that reflects U.S. grade point equivalencies and semester credits is required. These reports must be sent directly from the evaluation agency in the original sealed envelope to NursingCAS. Send to: NursingCAS, P.O. Box 9201, Watertown, MA 02471. If sent via UPS or FEDEX, send to NursingCAS Transcript Department, 311 Arsenal Street, Suite #15, Watertown, MA 02472. Students may wish to speak with an advisor to determine transfer credits based on results of the evaluation.  

If admitted to the School of Nursing, applicants with foreign transcripts must submit the native language transcript along with an official English translation. These documents must include all original seals and/or signatures and be approved by the Texas A&M Office of Admissions prior to enrollment in the program.  

English Proficiency and other Requirements for International Applicants

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit proof of English proficiency to be eligible for review. English proficiency can be demonstrated through various criteria. See more on this requirement on the  international admissions website . International applicants will be expected to present declaration of finances, F-1 travel documents and additional documentation upon acceptance to the School of Nursing. All deadlines required by the Office of International Student Services must be met.  

School of Nursing (Health Science Center)

Traditional, second degree and rn to bsn, course credit, testing services.

Testing Services serves as the center for credit by examination, placement testing and correspondence testing, as well as national standardized testing. Other services include posting of test scores and evaluation of tests for college credit.

Credit by Examination

Undergraduate students at Texas A&M may earn course credits by demonstrating superior achievement on tests offered through several examination programs. Credit by examination is available to freshmen who plan to enter the University and to students who are currently enrolled. Credit earned by examination does not contribute to a student’s grade point ratio. The University awards credit for scores on certain tests published by the Advanced Placement Program (AP), the College Level Examination Program Computer-Based Testing (CLEP CBT), the SAT Subject Tests, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Texas A&M also offers qualified students opportunities to earn credits by taking departmental examinations prepared by the faculty. Information concerning credit by examination may be obtained from Testing Services , (979) 845-0532.

Please note these regulations concerning credit by examination:

• Test scores and/or credit eligibility must be reported formally to Testing Services for credit by examination to be awarded. Credit is posted to the academic record once appropriate scores are received by Testing Services, the student has officially enrolled in the University and the student has accepted the credit. For information regarding current procedures for accepting credit, please visit the Testing Services website.
• Students may not receive credit by examination for courses that are prerequisites to courses for which they already have credit except with the approval of the department authorizing the examination.
• A student may not have credit posted for credit by examination for a course in which he or she is currently registered. If a student has acquired a grade or exercised First-Year Grade Exclusion on a course, then the student will not be eligible to take the equivalent departmental exam. Eligibility will not be affected if a student has a Q, W or NG in a course.
• Please note that once any credit has been accepted it cannot be removed.

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

Examinations offered by the AP Program are administered during late spring by high schools. Students usually take the examinations after completing Advanced Placement courses, although experience in an AP course is not required. Interested students should contact their high school counselors for information concerning registration and test sites. High school students and currently enrolled students should have the College Board forward their scores to Testing Services, institution code: 6003. Advanced Placement scores of entering freshmen are generally received in July. Students will need to log onto their Howdy portal under My Records and then Credit by Exam to accept the credit earned via AP tests. Testing Services suggests visiting with your advisor before you accept credit.

The following list includes all AP examinations currently accepted for credit.

Students must consult their academic advisor for advice on the number of credits that can be used in their degree program to avoid excessive credit accumulation and possible negative effects.

Variable credits up to a maximum of 3 credit hours.  Students must consult their academic advisor for advice on the number of credits that can be used in their degree program to avoid excessive credit accumulation and possible negative effects.

Engineering majors should accept credit for PHYS 206 and PHYS 207 only, (not 226 and 227) a 2 hour lab is required for their degree plan

For instructions on accepting AP credit, please visit T esting Services .

College Level Examination Program Computer-Based Testing (CLEP CBT)

CLEP CBT tests are designed to evaluate nontraditional college-level education such as independent study, correspondence work, etc. Both enrolled undergraduate students and entering freshmen may receive CLEP CBT credit for the courses which are listed below. Only examination titles below are currently accepted. The minimum scores listed below are based on the current version of CLEP CBT Examinations. Students will need to log onto their Howdy portal under My Records and then Credit by Exam to accept the credit earned via CLEP tests. Testing Services suggests visiting with your advisor before you accept credit.

For instructions on accepting CLEP credit, please visit Testing Services .

Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) Program

The DSST Program is available to all interested persons. Enrolled undergraduate students and entering freshmen may receive DSST credit for the courses listed below. For more information about the test, please contact Testing Services.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Texas A&M University, in compliance with SB111, will grant at least 24 semester credit hours of course-specific college credit in subject-appropriate areas on all International Baccalaureate (IB) exam scores of 4 or above as long as the incoming freshman has earned an IB diploma. While some course credit will be awarded regardless of a student’s IB diploma status, some course credit at Texas A&M University may be subject to the successful completion of the IB diploma.

Entering freshman students should submit their International Baccalaureate transcript to Texas A&M University, institution code: 01355, for review. Students should contact Testing Services regarding their eligibility for course credit. Students should work with an academic advisor to determine the use of the IB credits in their individual degree plan and the impact accepting the credit may have upon tuition rebate eligibility, tuition charges for excessive total hours, and preparedness for sequential coursework based on IB test scores. Students will need to log onto their Howdy portal under My Records and then Credit by Exam to accept the credit earned via IB tests. Testing Services suggests visiting with your advisor before you accept credit.

Texas A&M University will notify IB applicants of their eligibility to receive credit by posting information on the website,  Testing Services , and by establishing links to other web pages.

The evaluation of IB courses in order to identify the appropriate course credit is continuing and will be posted as it becomes available. The following list includes all IB examinations currently accepted for credit.

Credit for MATH 151 may be substituted for  MATH 142  or MATH 171 . 

For instructions on accepting IB credit, please visit Testing Services .

SAT Subject Tests

Credits are offered to entering freshmen who score high on the SAT Subject Tests. High school students who are interested in taking these tests should contact their school counselors or write College Board ATP, Box 592, Princeton, NJ 08541.

The minimum score required is based on the re-centered scale. Students who took tests before April 1, 1995, should contact Testing Services to determine the minimum score required. For instructions on accepting SAT Subject credit, please visit Testing Services .

Departmental Examinations for Entering Freshmen and Currently Enrolled Students

Qualified entering freshmen may take departmental tests after being officially admitted into Texas A&M University. Currently enrolled students can also take the exams throughout the year. Contact  Testing Services for registration information. The tests are prepared by participating Texas A&M departments. Current offerings include:

Graduate Admission

For information related to  graduate admission, please contact:

Office of Graduate Admissions Texas A&M University P.O. Box 40001 College Station, TX 77842-4001 (979) 845-1060 [email protected] http://admissions.tamu.edu/apply/graduate

Please reference the  Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional Catalog on this  website .

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the ApplyTexas Essays 2023-2024 + Examples

Born from the collaboration between the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and various public and private universities around the state, ApplyTexas is a wide-spanning application that allows its users to apply to hundreds of Texan colleges. Like the Common App, it offers a platform for students—natively Texan or not—to send off the same information to many schools, although each school may require differing additional information. 

Unlike the Common App, ApplyTexas may be used to apply to the community colleges, public four-years, participating private schools, graduate programs, and even scholarships within Texan borders. For this article’s purposes, we will be focusing primarily on ApplyTexas’s 150+ four-year colleges and universities. Check out our full list of Texan colleges .

Read this ApplyTexas essay example to inspire your own writing.

Which Colleges Require Which Essays?

As for the ApplyTexas essays, there are three main prompts — prompts A, B, and C — but some colleges will only require some, keep others optional, or not accept certain prompts at all. They may also have additional short answer questions and supplements of their own. Even the recommended word count varies between schools.

Here’s a quick snapshot into the unique essay requirements of a few top ApplyTexas colleges:

University of Texas at Austin:

• Topic A is required.
• 4 short answer responses, 1 of which is optional (250-300 words).
• Additional major-specific materials/requirements for art/art history, architecture, nursing, and social work programs .
• Also accepts the Common App.

Southern Methodist University:

• Topic A essay required, B is optional. 
• Also accepts the Common App, Coalition Application, and its own application.

Texas A&M University, College Station:

• Topic A is required. 
• 4 additional short answers for all applicants, 1 of which is optional.
• 1 short answer for applicants to the College of Engineering.

Baylor University, Waco:

• Choose between Topic A, B or C (optional). 
• Also accepts the Common App and its own application.

Texas Christian University:

• Any essay topic on the ApplyTexas application (optional)
• 3 additional short answer questions, 1 of which is optional.
• Any essay topic on the ApplyTexas application (optional).

Never ignore optional prompts! Taking the time to complete them shows that you truly care about the school. Ignoring them will make admissions officers wonder if you even like it enough to actually attend it if accepted.

If you are applying to any of these universities and feel you would rather use the Coalition Application or the Common Application, see our Coalition Application Essay Guide and our Common Application Essay Guide . Keep in mind that essay requirements will vary depending on which platform you use. For instance, some schools (SMU, TCU, Baylor) may have additional short essays if you use the Common App.

If you still feel ApplyTexas is the platform for you, read on!

Before You Begin

It’s important to verify that your desired schools are featured on the ApplyTexas platform. Certain private schools—Rice University, for example—use the Common Application instead of ApplyTexas.

And while all the public universities in Texas accept ApplyTexas, some of them also accept the Common Application and Coalition Application, as we’ve seen. The Common Application , Coalition Application , and ApplyTexas offer tools to determine whether a university is included in their platform. Be sure to verify which application is better suited to your college list. Many students can tackle all their schools with just the Common App, but others may have to use a couple different platforms.

Approaching the ApplyTexas Essays

So you’ve worked through the application form, requested copies of your transcript and recommendation letters, effectively described your extracurriculars, and sent in your scores, if any. All that remains now are the essays: your best shot at showing admissions officers how you think, who you are, what matters to you, and why!

As you may remember, ApplyTexas contains three essay prompts: Topics A, B, and C. Each school may have different essay requirements, so it is best to familiarize yourself with all of them. For instance, even if you’re bursting with knowledge about your future major, these essays are an opportunity to speak holistically with regards to your life and experience.

Essay-Writing Strategies

With few parameters aside from the word limit of approximately 800 words (and with each school often setting different word counts), the ApplyTexas essay may seem intimidating. Luckily, the prompts can act as a creative and procedural tether. Whereas students applying via Common Application may begin by shaping a central idea before matching it up to one of the various prompts, ApplyTexas essays grow from the prompt up . Because of this, the best brainstorming and organizational practices for each prompt are unique. The one factor that remains ubiquitously relevant is writing — good writing. Before we get into the details of ideation and organization for each prompt, we’ll review some ways to ensure your writing is clear, communicative, and evocative.

Tips for writing well:

• Show, don’t tell (you’ve heard it before, but it’s worth hearing again!)
• Use active, rather than passive, sentence construction.
• Write with precision.
• Avoid clichés

The somewhat hackneyed advice of “Show, don’t tell” is nevertheless crucial to writing a compelling application essay. The meaning of showing a reader rather than telling them is best interpreted literally. Imagine you’re outside your house and you see a dog skateboarding on it’s two front paws. You run inside, eager to { tell, show } whoever is home. You fling open the door and narrowly avoid a collision with your brother, still unlacing his shoes from basketball practice.

You tell him: “Aamir, I just saw a dog skateboarding on its two front paws!”

You show him: You grab Aamir by the corner of his Jersey. “Come quick” you squeal, and he stumbles out after you, tripping on his laces. Thankfully, the dog is still there. “Just look,” you breathe out, already mesmerized by the wind rushing through the schnauzer’s mustache. Wobbling ever so slightly, the pup remains confident as he shreds the inclined blacktop of the cul-de-sac. Then, a moment later, it’s over. Unaware of the scale of his accomplishment, the dog scratches behind his right ear. You look over at Aamir. “Whoa.”

Out of these two scenarios, we can be sure that Aamir will only remember the second. It’s much the same for admissions committees; they’re more likely to remember you if you show them what you want to communicate. Now, showing doesn’t need to be much longer than telling. In fact, succinct writing is just as important as descriptive writing. Abandoning the literal narrative of “showing,” we’re left with something like this: A schnauzer puppy from the cul-de-sac was balanced on his front paws—miraculously, on a skateboard. Man, that dog could shred.

Using active voice is another crucial component of clean, clear writing. It’s also pretty simple. Make sure your sentence’s subject performs the action indicated by the verb. For example, instead of writing “the skateboard was maneuvered by a schnauzer,” you would opt for, “the schnauzer maneuvered the skateboard.” The only exception to this rule is when you want to bring explicit attention to the person or thing affected by an action. Our story is actually a decent example. What’s more noteworthy? The skateboarding? Or the fact that a dog is doing it? An acceptable passive construction might look like this: “the skateboard—would you believe it—was being maneuvered by none other than the schnauzer from across the cul-de-sac.” In this instance, we’re able to use passive voice to create humor and suspense. That being said, the vast majority of your sentences should employ the active voice.

The active voice is also a big part of writing with precision , and word choice may also make writing precise or imprecise. For example, while “evasive” is a synonym of “oblique” in one sense, it would nevertheless be embarrassing to write that, “John sat in the armchair evasive to the television.” Rather than picturing a chair positioned diagonally (obliquely) from the television, readers are left wondering what in the world an evasive chair might be. So use your thesaurus — carefully. 

It is common for burgeoning writers to get a little too adjective-happy. Adjectives’ power correlates inversely with their use. If each of your sentences is flush with adjectives, you’re diluting their impact.

Finally, avoid any clichés, aphorisms, etc. that fail to add value to your essay. Admissions officers will read countless essays boasting “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  If you’re tempted to use a hackneyed phrase, find its seed instead. Clichés are cliché because they stem from important thoughts, universal truths, and romantic principles. In the case of “Be the change you want to see in the world,” the seed might be an individual’s ability to impact a community, or to transform outdated and unjust systems. The seed of a clichéd phrase may still be worth writing about, but it’s important that you write authentically and originally.

Dissecting the Prompts

ApplyTexas features two sets of prompts, one for incoming freshmen (both domestic and international) and one for transfer, transient, or readmit applications. In this article, we will cover the first set to help freshman applicants. Want to know your chances at an ApplyTexas school? Calculate your chances for free right now.

While different schools require different combinations of essays, most students should be prepared to deal with topics A, B, and C. Students intent on pursuing a degree related to art and design should also be ready to answer topic D. Check out this ApplyTexas database to scout out which schools will require which essays . 

Here are this year’s prompts:

• Topic A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
• Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.
• Topic C: You’ve got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?
• Topic D (specific to majors in architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education): Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Notice how you are encouraged to speak about an opportunity or a challenge. Many students believe that they must talk about a tragedy in order to grab the attention of admissions officers, but this isn’t true. An essay can easily be thoughtful, insightful, and an engaging read without utilizing this specific emotional appeal.

Still, stories about difficult circumstances are often memorable. They are most effective when focused primarily on the student’s journey of working through the challenge instead of the challenge itself. Check out Collegevine’s article if you would like more tips on writing about challenges .

You’re trying to stand out, so beware of overused tropes like the following:

• Mental illness: It takes enormous strength to heal from and learn to manage a mental illness. Still, they may be tricky to write about. Read our article for more information on covering mental illness and disabilities within your application .
• Getting a bad grade in a class but then working hard to raise it.
• Sports stories such as winning/losing the “big game” or getting injured.
• Death of a pet or family member.
• Mission trip which made you realize how lucky and privileged you are.

Side note : Sometimes students face challenges that are outside of their control and which have negatively impacted their academic and/or extracurricular performance. If this has been your experience, and you don’t plan to explain them within this essay response, you may ask one of your recommenders to do so through their letter of recommendation.

Now, there’s no such thing as a “bad” or “good” essay topic; students have gotten into top schools with essays about Costco, pizza deliveries, and sparkling water. It often matters less so what you write about than how you write about it! 

These common essay topics are only doable when well-written, specific, and featuring a fresh take. The story of how fixing your Calculus grade taught you the value of hard work is not nearly as interesting as that of a student who is diagnosed with dyscalculia—a disability which creates a difficulty in understanding and working with math and numbers—and then opens up a dyscalculia awareness club with plans to become a special education teacher. The latter story would demonstrate the student’s ability to turn preconceived weaknesses into strengths, and admissions officers will quickly see that though he may initially struggle with long division, this student is nonetheless a creative problem-solver.

Please be aware that although it is possible to make a “common” topic interesting, it is easier to write about a situation that is unique to begin with. Also, don’t feel pressured to write about a challenge, especially if the situation has happened so recently that you haven’t fully finished processing or growing from it.

With all of this in mind, let’s get into brainstorming! Many people begin their ideation process through writing long lists or even talking into their phones in an untethered stream-of-consciousness. Do whatever it takes to get your creative juices flowing! 

As you reflect, you may consider these questions:

• Which values and skills do you hold closest to your heart? Honesty? Hard work? Clear communication? Diversity? Environmental stewardship? Activism? Where did these priorities come from?
• What are you most grateful for? What are you most proud of? What risks have you taken which have paid off?
• What do you like to do? When and how did you get into it?
• How would your family and friends say you have changed for the better over the years, and why?
• Look back at your list of extracurricular activities. Which ones were challenging and/or special opportunities? When have you tried something new?

Practice self-compassion while considering topics, and know that none are too big or too small. You can write about anything from taking a summer math class (even though you’re more of an English person) to being a camp counselor to giving your first speech in front of a crowd.

Overall, the admissions officers are looking for growth. They want to see the circumstances you turned into opportunities for improvement. You may even reflect upon a situation that initially seemed like an unpleasant challenge but later revealed itself as a hidden opportunity. For example, you may have reluctantly let your friend drag you to a business club meeting before discovering a passion for economics and rising as a club leader.

Ideally, your story will be unique and offer a fresh perspective. Be specific about the challenge or opportunity you were presented with, and think about how it changed you for the better. 

Remember, they are literally asking for you to “tell [them] your story,” so consider using a narrative format, especially if storytelling is a talent of yours. 

Here’s a general outline: 

• If you choose to go with a traditional storytelling format, we recommend beginning with a vivid anecdote featuring rich imagery to draw the reader in or an unexpected premise which makes one have to read on in order to fully understand. 
• From there, you may dive into who you were at the time, how you felt and how you acted, before moving towards your turning point—the challenge or opportunity—from which you decided to grow. 
• Explain how, exactly, the turning point influenced you. Ask yourself: How did it make you feel? Excited and ready for more, or initially anxious? How did it impact you? Perhaps you learned something new about yourself, or maybe now you’re kinder, more confident, or a harder worker. 
• To mix it up a bit, you could even play with sequencing, perhaps starting with a moment of success before reflecting on all of the growth you had to complete to get to that point.

Finally, you are human, so you don’t have to portray yourself as perfect in the end. You are using this essay to talk about what may be one of your greatest strengths or sources of pride, but make sure to stay balanced with a humble tone.

Here’s an Example Essay for Topic A:

The morning of the Model United Nation conference, I walked into Committee feeling confident  about my research. We were simulating the Nuremberg Trials – a series of post-World War II  proceedings for war crimes – and my portfolio was of the Soviet Judge Major General Iona  Nikitchenko. Until that day, the infamous Nazi regime had only been a chapter in my history  textbook; however, the conference’s unveiling of each defendant’s crimes brought those horrors  to life. The previous night, I had organized my research, proofread my position paper and gone  over Judge Nikitchenko’s pertinent statements. I aimed to find the perfect balance between his  stance and my own.

As I walked into committee anticipating a battle of wits, my director abruptly called out to me.  “I’m afraid we’ve received a late confirmation from another delegate who will be representing  Judge Nikitchenko. You, on the other hand, are now the defense attorney, Otto Stahmer.”  Everyone around me buzzed around the room in excitement, coordinating with their allies and  developing strategies against their enemies, oblivious to the bomb that had just dropped on me.  I felt frozen in my tracks, and it seemed that only rage against the careless delegate who had  confirmed her presence so late could pull me out of my trance. After having spent a month  painstakingly crafting my verdicts and gathering evidence against the Nazis, I now needed to  reverse my stance only three hours before the first session.

Gradually, anger gave way to utter panic. My research was fundamental to my performance, and without it, I knew I could add little to the Trials. But confident in my ability, my director  optimistically recommended constructing an impromptu defense. Nervously, I began my  research anew. Despite feeling hopeless, as I read through the prosecution’s arguments, I  uncovered substantial loopholes. I noticed a lack of conclusive evidence against the defendants  and certain inconsistencies in testimonies.

My discovery energized me, inspiring me to revisit  the historical overview in my conference “Background Guide” and to search the web for other  relevant articles. Some Nazi prisoners had been treated as “guilty” before their court dates.  While I had brushed this information under the carpet while developing my position as a judge,  it now became the focus of my defense. I began scratching out a new argument, centered on the premise that the allied countries had violated the fundamental rule that, a defendant was “not guilty” until proven otherwise.

At the end of the three hours, I felt better prepared. The first session began, and with bravado, I  raised my placard to speak. Microphone in hand, I turned to face my audience. “Greetings  delegates. I, Otto Stahmer would like to…….” I suddenly blanked. Utter dread permeated my  body as I tried to recall my thoughts in vain. “Defence Attorney, Stahmer we’ll come back to  you,” my Committee Director broke the silence as I tottered back to my seat, flushed with  embarrassment. Despite my shame, I was undeterred. I needed to vindicate my director’s faith  in me. I pulled out my notes, refocused, and began outlining my arguments in a more clear and  direct manner. Thereafter, I spoke articulately, confidently putting forth my points. I was  overjoyed when Secretariat members congratulated me on my fine performance.

Going into the conference, I believed that preparation was the key to success. I wouldn’t say I  disagree with that statement now, but I believe adaptability is equally important. My ability to  problem-solve in the face of an unforeseen challenge proved advantageous in the art of  diplomacy. Not only did this experience transform me into a confident and eloquent delegate at  that conference, but it also helped me become a more flexible and creative thinker in a variety of other capacities. Now that I know I can adapt under pressure, I look forward to engaging in  activities that will push me to be even quicker on my feet.

Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.

This prompt is a more varied than the first one, and gives you more leeway in choosing what you’ll actually be talking about. Someone’s identity, talents, and interests, might be linked together but they just as easily might not. Either way, don’t worry. With regards to this prompt, there is no ideal angle. Let’s break down what it could mean to address each of these categories.

Identity can refer to any number of traits that you feel define you. This includes race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and other more community-based identities such as gamer, athlete, artist, weaver, dancer, Democrat, etc. Your identity is simply what makes you, you. Essays about identity are a great opportunity to demonstrate your critical and political acuity, personal convictions, and social history. However, they also pose certain risks. The premise of writing about identity is that you’ll demonstrate what makes you unique as a person. Even though many of us share certain identity traits, we’ve all experienced them differently. It’s especially important to focus on those details. Essays about identity that lack individual texture risk making you appear almost clone-like. That being said, there is no topic that is inherently cliché for this prompt.

Talent is a topic that will surely feel familiar to you as a prospective college applicant. Frankly, that’s what can make it tricky to write an essay about your talents—it risks echoing the several other parts of an application that are designed to draw out and display your talents for an admissions committee. Even so, if you believe that you have gained an especially insightful lesson or reflection from one of your listed activities, it may still be worth writing about. Just make sure you’re elaborating on your talents rather than reiterating them. Beyond the talents already featured in your application, many applicants have a talent that stands out from their formal talents and activities. One might be a master bird-caller, for example, but not have it listed as an extracurricular. Often times, writing about a wild-card talent is a way to introduce a facet of your personality that would otherwise remain invisible. The topic of talent also gives you the opportunity to write about certain interpersonal skills that might be especially important to you but impossible to express on a resume. For example, if you cultivate your skills as a listener and have a well-formulated political or philosophical imperative for doing so, that could make a great topic.

Interests are unique from talents in that you need not necessarily be good at them. They might not even be skills-related to begin with. For example, you might be supremely interested in pigeons but unable to include that interest in any other part of the application. Interests can make for especially unique, quirky, and fascinating essays. That being said, such essays also risk missing the whole point of the prompt. You need to tell the committee about yourself. If you choose to write about an obscure interest, it’ll be crucial to relate it back to your personality, outlook, or identity.

Now that we’ve addressed the differences between the subsections of this prompt, let’s review some ways in which you can brainstorm. While writing about identity, talents, or interests will result in slightly different essays, the goal is the same: to show the admissions committee—through your own eyes—who exactly you are.

The first step in brainstorming for this prompt is making a list of your defining characteristics. As you do this, you’ll want to prioritize characteristics that paint you in a generally positive light. While you don’t want to brag, you definitely want to be optimistic about who you are.

Second , you should make a sort of genealogy for each characteristic. How did they come to be so important to you? What experiences built up to the point where you’d consider a trait to be essential to your personality?

Finally , you’re going to need to rank your traits and their accompanying genealogies. For some students, who have a very central and defining trait, this won’t be tricky at all. But for students who are less certain what to write about, it will be important to prioritize the traits with the most interesting genealogies. Seeing as you want to show the committee rather than tell them, it’s crucial that you pick a trait that has a compelling history—that fits into a narrative or intellectual picture of yourself. This is especially essential for students intent on taking a more creative tone with this prompt. While an obscure interest can be interesting and endearing, it needs to have a compelling genesis and impact within your personal history.

Here’s an Example Essay for Topic B:

In one of the side streets of Rabat, one of the many winding corridors in the Medina, a long-abandoned house is standing, dilapidated from its years of neglect. The windows have been smashed; valuable materials have been ripped out of the floor and graffiti smears peeling walls. Yet remnants of its old life still remain intact; photo albums clutch family moments as cobwebs dangle from their spines. A mini plastic basketball hoop clings to a wall and a handmade poster above it reads “Senior League: Armond – Junior: Sasha and Lucy” but the faded yellow of the net suggests that no games have been played here for a long time. Not since we left. Mom left him just as I was turning four. The relationship had been emotionally stressful for the past few years and the threat of physical danger forced her to make a secret escape with us. We left everything behind.

Thousands of miles away and thirteen years later, I have never been back. I have never met him. As young as I was, I have not been oblivious to his absence. Even now, there are moments when I experience this emptiness inside of me. A sensation so overwhelming, I can’t believe I have managed to ignore it for so long. I lie down, close my eyes and grieve. Not just for him but for the life I never had, or at least, the one I left behind and can no longer remember. As the tears stop, I slowly drift to sleep. Sometimes I dream that he has unexpectedly turned up on the doorstep of our Chicago house especially for me. I open the door and immediately recognize him. I jump into his arms, simultaneously crying and laughing. I wake up, the empty feeling has passed and I know that he will never come. But I can’t help romanticizing the first time we meet.

However, going on eighteen, reality is soon catching up with me. Four years ago at the age of eighteen my brother, Armond, travelled to Morocco to meet him. Last year my sister, Sasha, did the same. So now, it is my turn; my own rite of passage awaits me. I have been waiting for this opportunity my whole life, even imagined it ten times over. But the more I thought about it, the more I doubted it. As the youngest in the family, I have striven to emulate my siblings in many ways. I could feel the assumption that I would go to meet him just as they did. However, I know that I am not yet ready. Unlike Sasha and Armond, my memories of Rabat are just a haze. I do not know whether they are real, or dreams or stories I have been told. I don’t understand any Arabic, and his English is very broken. And most of all, I cannot remember his face. The emptiness still comes back every now and then. But I know that the hole is not father-shaped, and if I meet him now, he might think it is. What I need to do first is to find out who I am before I can know what shape that hole really is. And when I know, I will understand what it would mean to meet him. For now at least, that tired old home stays suspended; a three-dimensional snapshot of my forgotten childhood. I like to think it’s waiting for me; waiting for when I’m ready to go back.

You’ve got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

Topic C stands opposed to Topics A and B in that it is almost entirely oriented towards the future. While each of your essays should demonstrate a degree of imagination, this prompt also carries the most overt call for creativity. There are two main genres of responses to prompts like this. The first genre adds to the forecasting effort found throughout your whole application. The second represents a creative departure from the path of your ambitions.

Choosing a Genre:

Forecasting is what you do when you make promises or predictions about what you’ll do with an educational opportunity. You’re forecasting when you tell UT Austin that you want to attend their engineering program in order to realize your dream of developing clean, public transportation. You’re forecasting when you draw conclusions from your past accomplishments to predict your future success. The act of applying to a school is inherently future-oriented. That being said, good applications demand cohesion and balance. An application that is too future-oriented will leave the admissions officers wondering who exactly you are . An application that is too auto-ethnographic will leave them wondering about your ambitions .

A forecast oriented answer to topic C will likely link-up with other parts of your application. For example, the engineering student from the example above might write that they’re holding a ticket for the very first 100% green, interstate transportation system—a system that they’ve spent the past 15 years building from the ground up. In this case, the essay looks back from a future point in which the student has fulfilled the ambitions they forecasted. It’s also possible to write this essay looking forward. Students that hope to attend medical school or law school might write about holding a “ticket” to their tertiary degree. These essays would go on to imagine the important, transformative work that those students would accomplish when they get to medical/law school.

Here’s an Example Essay for Topic C:

I’m holding a flyer that declares the date and time—this coming Tuesday at 7:30 PM—for a meeting of the Low Carbon Emissions Workers’ Union. Twelve years ago, when I started my undergraduate degree in public policy, the union was only a flicker of a thought, housed somewhere in the back of my mind. Still, those years were crucial. With every class I took, whether in policy studies, environmental science, or history, that flicker grew stronger. Following my interest in labor, I developed a rapport with the university employees that kept things rolling on campus—the people that took care of us, really. For my senior thesis, I made it my mission to collect and present an oral history of labor on campus. Many university workers expressed a sense of relief at being employed by the university. It allowed for decent wages and preserved the dignity of it’s workforce through open dialogue and worker representation. Through this sense of relief—or rather, through its negative—my thesis became invested in the alternatives for these laborers, in what lay on the other side of their relief. Though they were specifically skilled in care work, janitorial work, landscaping, and more, most of them told me that outside the university there was little opportunity for the advancement of worker’s interests. Finding work on a free-lance basis or through predatory placement companies, these care-laborers were largely on their own.

After graduating, I stayed in touch with my contacts at the university. Throughout law school, I made time to continue coordinating with them. We were hatching a revolutionary idea. Our goal was to create a union that could unite the various forms of under-the-radar care-work that was so often left out of organized bargaining units. The plan that we finally realized was even bigger than that. Not only would it unite domestic workers, janitors, and landscapers, its umbrella would extend to cover teachers, day-care supervisors, nurses, artists, and agricultural workers. This was the Low Carbon Emissions Workers’ Union. While it contained specifically oriented compartments, each aimed at advancing the rights of a particular sub-group of laborers, its superstructure was perhaps the more significant. In the same way that my senior thesis became invested in its negative all those years ago, this union stood as a foil to the socially and environmentally destructive tendencies of so many economic giants. We mobilized and housed research regarding Green-GDP, environmentally adjusted Gini coefficients, and other methods aimed at illuminating the real cost of having an economy predicated on environmental exploitation. As a political and intellectual force, the union gained ground in reevaluating the ways in which we value certain kinds of labor over others.

I’m smiling as I tack the flyer to the community board at my old university. I step back to look at it. “I can’t believe this is where it all started,” I think to myself. “Well, see you all this Tuesday.”

The genre of creative departure allows you to focus more on your personality, imagination, and capacity for critical thought. If you feel that your application already does enough to forecast your ambitions, you may opt to write about something completely unrelated. Especially for students applying to creative programs such as theatre or studio art, this can be a good moment to demonstrate your fit. Students who pick this genre can write about almost literally anything. The ticket in your hand could be for a time-machine to the Renaissance, a one-way expedition to Mars, or a mysterious back-alley puppet show. The important thing is that you use the premise of your essay to reflect on the world in a mature and thoughtful manner.

Here’s another example essay for Topic C:

“Take a number” buzzes an automated voice from somewhere inside the ticket booth. I reach out and tear off a slip of blue paper. 96. “Great,” I snort, “might as well settle in for the long haul.”

Someone behind me notices my annoyance and pipes up.

“I know right? I’ve never seen the time machines so crowded in my life.”

“Me neither,” I respond, “application season I guess.”

“Must be. Damn ticket prompts.”

I turn around to address my queue-compatriot. He’s a tall guy, pretty built for our age—probably a football player or something. He looks anxiously down the line, craning his neck to see something or someone just out of view.

“What’s got your nerves up?” I ask, “where are you headed?”

“You know,” he shrugged, “the usual. Off to 1904 to encourage Hitler to pursue his passion for painting. I’m just worried she’s gonna get there first.” I stepped out of line to see where he was looking. Fourth in line was a girl decked out in all black, determination etched into her features.

“Is she carrying a rail-gun?” I ask, stepping back into line. Football nods. “Yeesh…that’s a bit extreme but to each their own I guess. Wonder how the AdComms are gonna feel about that.”

Football fidgets for a few minutes before asking, “And you? What’s your plan?”

“Way back. Off to the early fifth-century to help Pelagius argue against St. Augustine.”

“Pelagius. He was an early theologian that rallied against Augustine’s notion of original sin.”

Football nods. “So all that with Eve and the apple, yeah?”

“Exactly. The doctrine of original sin says that because Adam and Eve had the apple, every human from then on was infected with their sin. That’s one of the reasons babies are baptized, to cleanse them. It’s behind a whole host of other things too. All the indulgences that people paid into the church, our long-standing association of sexuality with guilt and impurity, not to mention most of the pessimistic philosophies surrounding human depravity.”

Football chuckles. “So let’s say you win” he proposes, “then what? Babies don’t get baptized? There are still nineteen people ahead of us. You might want to change plans.”

My brow furrows a bit as I consider his suggestion. “I don’t know,” I say, “Pelagius argued for a whole lot of things. He was a big proponent of free will and accountability. He thought we should do good for the sake of good, not for salvation. He even countered a lot of hang-ups that endure to this day—bedroom stuff, bathroom stuff, all of it. Where Augustine saw sin and depravity, Pelagius saw beauty and Grace.” I continue. “I mean, I’m not even religious. I just think we could use a sort of ‘reset’ for our collective psyche. People are too caught up in hating themselves. We’re subconsciously misanthropic and it hurts. It hurts when a corporation takes advantage of a mining community because profit is the only legitimate motive in a world that seems like a lost cause. It hurts all the young people who hate their bodies and strive for an unrealistic ‘cleanliness’ from deformity and irregularity. It hurts women who get told they’ll be ‘second-hand stock’ if they have sex before marriage. It hurts when the police open fire in a neighborhood because they’re scared a kid might do it first.”

“Yeah” he nods, “hey, do you mind if I tag along? Mine might be a lost cause anyways—that girl was scary.”

Just then my number comes up on the time machine’s display. I look up at Football. “Sure. Why not. Oh, and I don’t think I caught your name.”

“It’s Bryan.”

“Well Bryan, we’re off.”

Please Note: The essay in this section is specific to certain college majors and is not required by all colleges/universities that accept the Apply Texas Application. If you are not applying for a major in Architecture, Art, Art History, Design, Studio Art, Visual Art Studies/Art Education, you are not required to write this essay.

Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space affected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?”

Topic D is a situational prompt for students looking to engage with art, design, and image. Unlike topics A and B, topic D is specifically asking you to tell a story. Regardless of the mode of narrative you employ, your essay should start with a moment of confrontation, observation, and reaction. Whether you engage with a piece of art or a lecture from design class, this step is crucial. It is here that you will demonstrate your ability to sift through your feelings about art, pulling out the concrete variables and specific vocabularies to describe why the art made you feel that way in the first place. It’s unsurprising that the prompt is so intent on drawing this out from you—understanding how art has impacted you is the first step towards creating art to impact others.

The second part of this process should move you beyond the moment of interaction detailed in step one, either to the present or the future. In this section, you’ll want to set your compass, so to speak. Using the lessons from part one, you should forecast the ways in which your future ambitions will be uniquely impactful. This can include anything from aperture to allegory. Whether technical or philosophical, your art is largely a product of your inspiration—being able to trace and predict this link demonstrates your maturity as a budding artist or designer.

Here’s an Example Essay for Topic D:

Standing in the Musée de l’Orangerie, surrounded on all sides by Monet’s Water Lilies, I felt myself melt away. The noise of the room seemed to dim, even as my perception heightened. I was somewhere else. The water lilies had swallowed me whole. They were beautiful, certainly, but also tense. One of the lesser-known iterations, flush with the purples, golds, and oranges of autumn, reminded me of the fluttering dance of falling leaves. And yet, its leaves were static—not because they weren’t real; they were real to me in that moment—but because of the water’s tension. Tethered to the surface of the pond, equally unable to float up or down, the leaves were trapped in a planar prison. The painting was practically bursting with the energy of an infinite autumn, but the water held it all together with its sticky buoyancy. Surface tension is far crueler than gravity, I thought to myself. My throat tightened and I felt paralyzed, peacefully imprisoned along with the lilies and leaves.

“Huh.” My brother stepped up beside me. “Look, you can see the canvas poking through,” he whispered, nudging me. He was right. As my eyes latched onto those bare fibers I felt a gust of release; I was back in the room.

To this day, that remains one of my most intense experiences with art. While it wasn’t exactly euphoric, it was transformative. Spanning the whole wall, the water lilies are all you can see; they colonize your reality. It was that quality—the quality of transportation out of time and space—that has stayed with me most. Monet’s techniques, brushstrokes that infuse the canvas with texture and momentum, allowed for a sort of virtual reality. VR before VR. It was the power of that experience that prompted me to combine my art with contemporary VR techniques. My first VR project pays homage to the water lilies. Putting on the headset, you find yourself in a blue green film, replete with flowers of every kind. It’s peaceful but when you try to move you find that the further you stray, the slower you get. A few feet out and you’re snapped back to the start. The piece explores movement and energy through anxiety and ensnarement.

As I continue my education in fine art, I’m primed to explore the range of possibilities allowed by VR technology. I’m eager to create landscape experiences that more directly implicate art and embodiment. My current project also takes inspiration from Monet’s impressionism. Entering the reality, one finds oneself on the top of flower-freckled hillside, umbrella in hand despite the blue skies. It is windy and the grasses sway around you. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, you begin to blow away, to disperse, until there’s nothing left. The viewer is utterly gone, yet utterly present.

Want to learn more about how to write the ApplyTexas essays? Check out one of our popular recorded live streams on this topic.

Where to Get Your ApplyTexas Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your ApplyTexas essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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How Captains And Harbor Pilots Safely Guide Ships Into Port

Details are still emerging about the disaster that happened in the early morning of March 26, 2024, when the Dali, a large cargo ship on its way out of the port of Baltimore,  hit a major bridge and caused it to collapse .

The Conversation’s senior politics and democracy editor, Naomi Schalit, spoke with Captain Allan Post, a veteran ship’s officer, about the role a ship pilot plays in bringing a large ship in and out of a harbor.  Post, who now directs  Marine Education Support and Safety Operations at Texas A&M University at Galveston and is also deputy superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, said the disaster was “absolutely” every crew member’s nightmare.

What was your first thought when you heard about the accident?

Post: My first thought was, thank God it happened at night, because of the low amount of traffic on the bridge. If that had happened during the daytime, casualties would be in the thousands. My heart aches for those lives lost.

There were two ship pilots aboard the ship as it left its berth in the Port of Baltimore. Can you tell us what ship pilots do?

Post: Ship pilots are brought on board in what are considered restricted maneuverability or navigation areas. They are local experts who are usually certified by the state or federal government  to provide advice to the master of the vessel as to how to control the vessel , safely and adequately, through the pilotage waters, which in this case would be down the river from the Port of Baltimore.

Pilots are well practiced in close-quarters maneuvering, especially with tugboats and docking the vessel alongside the assigned berth.

But a pilot doesn’t come aboard the ship and take control of it, do they?

Post: They are just  advisers to the captain , who is known as the “master.” The master still has full responsibility for the safe navigation of the vessel. So the pilot will meet the ship out at sea or at the dock if it’s in port and leaving to go to sea. They proceed up to the bridge. Usually they exchange greetings, and usually a little bit of ship’s swag is given, either a hat or something else, or at least a cup of coffee.

They then set up their gear. With the electronics that we now have, they plug into the ship’s electronic chart data information system. And then they conduct the pilot exchange with the master of the vessel, where the master of the vessel describes where they are going, what the characteristics of the ship are, who’s on the bridge, what their first language is and the air draft of the vessel, which refers to how high out of the water the vessel is, so that you know whether you can take the ship under a bridge safely.

Once that’s completed, the pilot then starts instructing the officer of the watch or the captain – those are usually the same person – in how to get to where they need to be to dock the ship, or undock the ship and bring it to sea. This instructing is done during complex maneuvers, not all the time. The pilot can also say he’s not going to do it, and can shut down their operations if conditions are unsafe or if they feel that the vessel is not in condition to be able to transit safely. That happens a lot, especially in fog.

The ship pilot also interacts with the Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service and other ships in the area, and coordinates with the tugboats and line handlers to be able to safely maneuver the vessel close to the pier or when a ship is leaving the berth.

Can you describe the training of a ship pilot?

Post: Most of them start out at a maritime academy and have to spend many years at sea in command or as a bridge watch-stander on a vessel. From there, they start into the pilot apprentice program that each one of the pilot associations has, and those programs last years. What they do in those programs is use simulators and real, actual hands-on training, so that they can see how the different ships maneuver, how different places along the route have different currents and tides, and how the channels affect the ships.

It’s not something that you can go to a sea school for three weeks to learn and then come out and be a pilot.  It’s many years long . They’re really the surgeons of the sea.

So when a ship’s pilot shows up, they’re going to be someone with a minimum of how many years training before they even get onto your ship?

Post: Many have 10-plus years before they are allowed to work on their own.

They have to be specialists in the place where they work, don’t they?

Post: Most of them are ship’s officers licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard, and they’re licensed for unlimited tonnage vessels. But that’s not the end of training. From there, they are hired into the pilot apprentice programs for the area in which they’re going to gain their pilot endorsement or credentials. One pilot may not be credentialed in another area. They spend many years under the guidance of senior pilots who teach them basically everything that they need to know about the local waterways, about the navigation, current tides, where all the berths are. They become absolute experts in how to do this. And then, when most of them end up taking the pilotage exam, they have to draw the charts that they would be using in the pilotage waters – from memory.

Are there legal requirements for ship pilots to be present both going out of and coming in these restricted areas?

Post: Yes, there are – state law, federal law or both.

This is an almost 1,000-foot-long vessel. Is that big, small or medium?

Post: That’s about standard size these days. Ship sizes have absolutely grown monstrous over the years. But 1,000 feet is just about normal.

Has ship piloting been around for a long time?

Post: It’s been around for almost as long as man has been using the sea for commerce. In the early years of sea travel, and even now, a captain is not going to know every port, so he would bring on a person with local knowledge. It started out a lot of times as local fishermen. In the U.S., the  Sandy Hook Pilots Association  has been piloting ships  in and out of New York Harbor for about 300 years .

Was what happened in Baltimore every captain, pilot and crew’s nightmare?

Post: Absolutely. My initial assumption is that I think it’s going to come down to an electrical fault on the ship that was just terrible timing.

This article originally appeared on The Conversation .

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How to Get Into Texas A&M University Guide

How to get into Texas A&M – General Information

Texas A&M is a public research university in College Station, Texas. It was founded in 1876 as the state’s first public institution of higher learning. Its student population lives within the Houston, Dallas, and Austin triangle. The undergraduate Texas A&M enrollment is around 50,000 . 

What we’ll cover in this How to Get Into Texas A&M guide: 

• The informal Texas A&M GPA requirements and Texas A&M SAT requirements
• Meeting the Texas A&M application deadline 
• Interpreting the Texas A&M acceptance rate
• Writing a top tier Texas A&M essay
• Texas A&M enrollment statistics 
• And many more tips on acing Texas A&M admissions!

Want to know how to get into Texas A&M? It will take strategy to impress Texas A&M admissions with your Texas A&M application.

Even though the Texas A&M enrollment is large, the Texas A&M acceptance rate is low and Texas A&M admissions is competitive. Therefore, make sure you research the informal Texas A&M GPA requirements and Texas A&M SAT requirements. This will increase your chances of making the Texas A&M enrollment. Ensure every part of your “How to Get Into Texas A&M” plan is up to scratch, including the Texas A&M essay. This is how to get into Texas A&M successfully! 

Figuring out how to get into Texas A&M takes strategy. We can help. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes graduates from some of the country’s top schools. Want to maximize your Texas A&M admissions odds? Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272. 

How can I get into Texas A&M?

So, you want to know how to get into Texas A&M? Ranked #68 in the U.S. News National Colleges list, it’s no wonder you’re intrigued. Working out how to get into Texas A&M will take planning to ensure that you have an impressive Texas A&M application before the Texas A&M application deadlines.

Want to make Texas A&M enrollment? Meeting the informal Texas A&M SAT requirements and assumed Texas A&M GPA requirements is key. If you don’t think you can meet the Texas A&M GPA requirements, you can still impress Texas A&M admissions with your Texas A&M essay. 

Still, if you really want to know how to get into Texas A&M, you should strive to meet those unofficial Texas A&M GPA requirements and Texas A&M SAT requirements. The low Texas A&M acceptance rate means academics should be a key part of your “how to get into Texas A&M” strategy.

How hard is it to get into Texas A&M?

If you want to know how to get into Texas A&M, then it’s good to know the Texas A&M acceptance rate. This can tell you something about the caliber of the Texas A&M enrollment. The Texas A&M acceptance rate is 57.8% , which makes it a more selective school. 

Ranking as #50 on Forbes Top Colleges 2021 list, it’s no surprise that more and more students are making a “how to get into Texas A&M” plan. So, try to exceed the assumed Texas A&M GPA requirements and Texas A&M SAT requirements. Texas A&M admissions values your class rank or GPA , so keep your grades high. 

You might worry about your ability to meet the informal Texas A&M GPA requirements and Texas A&M SAT requirements. In this case, take extra care to plan your Texas A&M application narrative. You can show Texas A&M admissions why you should make the Texas A&M enrollment through your Texas A&M essay and extracurriculars. 

What are the Texas A&M GPA requirements?

Texas A&M admissions does not give formal Texas A&M GPA requirements. However, since the Texas A&M acceptance rate is 57.8%, we can assume Texas A&M admissions looks for a higher GPA. Texas A&M admissions uses academic achievement, specifically class rank, when evaluating students. Therefore, you should aim to have a competitive GPA—3.5 or above. 

Set a GPA goal at the beginning of your school year, semester, or grading period, and make a plan to get there. Take challenging courses that you can succeed in, especially advanced classes (IB or AP courses). This will show Texas A&M admissions that you are motivated and not afraid of an academic challenge. 

For the fall and spring 2023 semesters, Texas A&M admissions has not issued Texas A&M SAT requirements. Texas A&M admissions is temporarily test-optional. While they encourage students to submit their test scores, your decision to withhold test scores will not negatively impact your application. 

Based on past Texas A&M enrollment statistics, we expect the informal Texas A&M SAT requirements to fall around 1250. If your scores stand up to the informal Texas A&M SAT requirements, send them in. Remember, Texas A&M admissions values your grades and scores. So, if your scores match the informal Texas A&M SAT requirements, they can only increase your chances of making the Texas A&M enrollment. 

What does the Texas A&M application look like?

If you want to know how to get into Texas A&M, the answer lies in crafting an excellent Texas A&M application.  In order to have the best shot at beating the Texas A&M acceptance rate and making Texas A&M enrollment, start early ! Don’t wait until the week before the December 1 st Texas A&M application deadline to get started. 

Your Texas A&M application requires:

• A completed Texas A&M application through ApplyTexas or The Coalition Application
• Your Texas A&M essay
• $75 processing fee
• Self Reported Academic Record ( SRAR )
• Recommended coursework
• Optional: resume, standardized test scores, letters of recommendations (up to two)

While there are no Texas A&M SAT requirements, sending in high scores is a great way to stand out. Texas A&M admissions cares about things like the informal Texas A&M GPA requirements, but they also want to know what else you’d bring to Texas A&M enrollment. The Texas A&M essay is a great way to show your personality and writing style, especially if you’re worried about the estimated Texas A&M GPA requirements. 

With the undergraduate Texas A&M enrollment at about 50,000, many hopeful applicants are working out how to get into Texas A&M. So, to make the Texas A&M enrollment despite the low Texas A&M acceptance rate, prepare early .

Here are some extra tips from Texas A&M admissions on how to ace your Texas A&M application.

What extracurriculars do I need for Texas A&M?

The undergraduate Texas A&M enrollment is around 50,000, and the total Texas A&M enrollment is about 70,000. So, it will come as no surprise that there are endless ways to get involved on campus. Aggieland has over 1,100 organizations that students can join. 

So, what does that mean for your “how to get into Texas A&M” strategy? While academic achievement is critical, extracurriculars are still important given that low Texas A&M acceptance rate.  

Texas A&M admissions looks for students who are involved in their communities and show leadership . That said, your extracurriculars should reflect who you are. Avoid choosing them for the sole purpose of college admissions. 

Passion and consistency are key in extracurriculars. Choose activities that you enjoy, and commit to them. Being in one club for four years looks much better than signing up to something different each semester. Finally, be sure to write about your endeavors in your Texas A&M application and Texas A&M essay. 

Find more tips on nailing the Texas A&M essay later in this “how to get into Texas A&M” guide. 

What is the Texas A&M acceptance rate?

Understanding the Texas A&M acceptance rate is a good place to start when thinking about how to get into Texas A&M. The undergraduate Texas A&M enrollment is about 50,000. So, what exactly is the Texas A&M acceptance rate? 

The Texas A&M acceptance rate is 57.8% which makes it a more competitive university. 

Here’s how to increase your chances of making Texas A&M enrollment despite the Texas A&M acceptance rate:

• Academic success. The informal Texas A&M GPA requirements are likely to be high. So, take challenging courses in high school that you can excel in. 
• Meaningful extracurriculars. Get involved in extracurriculars that are important to you. Show that you have strong leadership skills and give back to your community.
• Impressive essay. Use the Texas A&M essay as another way to make your Texas A&M application stand out. Show admissions who you are through your Texas A&M essay writing style, thoughtful responses, and impeccable grammar and mechanics. 

Texas A&M Essay—Tips & Tricks

Writing an impressive Texas A&M essay is key when planning how to get into Texas A&M. While the assumed high Texas A&M GPA requirements are important, they are not the only factor in Texas A&M admissions. 

Are you relieved there are no formal Texas A&M SAT requirements or worried about the informal Texas A&M GPA requirements? Then, the Texas A&M essay is a great way to boost your Texas A&M application. 

You must choose one Texas A&M essay prompt out of two for your Texas A&M application. Engineering applicants must complete both. The Texas A&M essay has no word limit, but we recommend keeping it to 500-700 words. 

Texas A&M essay tips: 

• Start early. Brainstorm, draft, revise, and rewrite to ensure you impress Texas A&M admissions. Don’t wait until just before the Texas A&M application deadline to get started. 
• Make it unique. The Texas A&M essay is a chance to show Texas A&M admissions who you are. Forget the informal Texas A&M GPA requirements and the Texas A&M SAT requirements and tell your unique story. 
• Write impeccably. Texas A&M admissions won’t want to see a Texas A&M essay with endless spelling and grammatical errors. If writing isn’t your strong suit, get another pair of eyes to check your draft for errors.

Check out our full guide to writing your Texas A&M essay. 

How does Texas A&M admissions review applications?

Want to know how to get into Texas A&M? Then, it’s important to understand what Texas A&M admissions looks for. This will give you the best chances of making the Texas A&M enrollment despite the Texas A&M acceptance rate. 

Academics are the most important part of your Texas A&M application. Do all you can to meet the informal Texas A&M GPA requirements. 

Class rank is also important. Texas residents who rank in the top 10% of their graduating class qualify for automatic admission .  

While there are no formal Texas A&M SAT requirements or ACT requirements for the 2023 application, submitting test scores above 1250 will certainly help your application. 

Texas A&M admissions also considers your extracurriculars and Texas A&M essay. Therefore, use them to show Texas A&M admissions who you are and why you would make a great addition to campus. 

Check out these application tips from a former TX college advisor. They’ll help you perfect your Texas A&M application and make Texas A&M enrollment despite the low Texas A&M acceptance rate. 

Will Texas A&M look at my social media accounts?

Worried your social media accounts could undermine your “how to get into Texas A&M” plan? While Texas A&M admissions doesn’t officially review students’ personal social media accounts, you shouldn’t post irresponsibly. 

Texas A&M admissions officers likely will not review your accounts. However, social media could have an impact on potential internship or job opportunities. Always post responsibly .

Is Texas A&M a good school for me?

It’s easy to get caught up in working out how to get into Texas A&M. Remember to consider whether the school is a good match for you!

Don’t let obsessive research of the Texas A&M GPA requirements, Texas A&M SAT requirements, and the Texas A&M acceptance rate cloud your vision. The most important factor in the Texas A&M application process is you. There’s no shame in deciding that a popular and competitive university just isn’t a fit.

As you make your “how to get into Texas A&M” plan, think about what you want from a university. Consider factors such as size, academics, and campus life. Think about your future goals. Then, make sure your top schools have everything you need to achieve those goals. 

The Texas A&M enrollment is about 70,000, and the undergraduate Texas A&M enrollment is about 50,000. There are over 1,100 student organizations on campus. Athletics are also a huge part of the school’s culture. 

Check out this student’s personal experience in a BS/MD program. It will help you understand what life on campus might be like if you make Texas A&M enrollment.

Additional tips to get into Texas A&M

A strong  “how to get into Texas A&M” plan consists of more than just meeting the assumed Texas GPA requirements. To beat the Texas A&M acceptance rate, each part of your Texas A&M application must shine. 

Extra tips on how to get into Texas A&M: 

• Prepare early. Start your Texas A&M application process well before the December 1 st Texas A&M application deadline to make sure you aren’t rushing through the process. 
• Succeed academically. Academics are the biggest factor in the Texas A&M admissions process. Take challenging courses in high school and set academic goals in order to meet the assumed Texas A&M GPA requirements. Even though there aren’t any Texas A&M SAT requirements for 2023, an above average score could help your Texas A&M application. 
• Write passionately. Use your Texas A&M essay to show who you are and why you would be a great addition to Aggieland. Make sure your writing style comes through and that your mechanics are impeccable. 
• Get involved. Extracurriculars are another great way to show Texas A&M admissions who you are. Show that you are a passionate, talented, committed leader through your activities. Highlight those qualities on the Texas A&M application.

This guide was written by Sarah Kaminski. If you want to know how to get into Texas A&M, we’ve got you covered. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes graduates from some of the country’s top schools. Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272. 

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