fbpx
Book Your Complimentary Consultation →
(713) 714-6949
Complimentary Consultation

Texas A&M University Guide

The Ivy Scholars guide to Texas A&M University’s culture, admissions, and other essential information for prospective students and their families.

Location: College, Station Texas

Mascot: Reveille the Dog

Type: Public Research Institution

Population: 70,000 (54,500 undergrads)

About Texas A&M University

Texas A&M’s 5,200 acre campus located in College Station, Texas is the largest campus in the United States. The school’s students, athletes, and alumni are known as “Aggies” – a name which references the university’s former name – “The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.” Texas A&M is the only institution in Texas to hold the title of land grant, sea grant, and space grant.

Texas A&M University Statistics

Year Founded: 1876

4 Year Graduation Rate: 51.0%

Gender Distribution: 53% male, 47% female

Acceptance Rate: 71%

Residency: 85% in state, 6% out of state, 9% international

Location Type: College Town

Schedule System: Semesters

Student/Faculty Ratio: 6:1

Average Class Size: 14

Demographics: 62% Caucasian, 7% Asian, 3% Black, 23% Hispanic, 5% Other

National Rankings

US News Rankings:

  • #27 Top public schools
  • #44 Undergraduate research
  • #52 Most Innovative Schools
  • #70 Best Nationally
  • #76 Best Undergraduate Teaching

Independent Rankings:

  • #1 Most Affordable College in Texas per Business Insider
  • #2 Best Master’s in Human Resources per College Choice
  • #13 Best Value for Public School per Forbes
  • #18 Best Value College per Money Magazine
  • #22 Best Public University per Wall Street Journal
  • #94 Best College per Wall Street Journal

Texas A&M University Admissions Statistics

Application Deadlines:

  • Regular Decision: December 1st
  • Transfer Deadline: March 15th

Notification Dates:

  • Regular Decision: April 1st

Acceptance Rates:

  • RA: 71%
  • Transfer: 53%

Average Applicant Pool: 37,000

Average Number of Applicants Accepted: 26,000

Average Number Enrolled: 11,500

Application Systems: Coalition App, Apply Texas

Average GPA: 3.68 weighted

SAT Scores: 25th percentile – 1180, 75th percentile -1390

ACT Scores: 25th percentile – 26, 75th percentile – 31

*Test mandatory. Writing sections optional.

Subject Test Requirements:  No Subject Tests are required, but high scores in some subject tests may be substituted for credit.

Demonstrated Interest: Texas A&M does consider demonstrated interest.

Click here for tips on demonstrating interest in a university.

Recommendation Letter Policies: You may submit up to two letters of recommendation, more than this are not reviewed. Letters of recommendation are not required, and are not strongly considered. 

Texas A&M University Essay Prompts for 2020: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? (650 words maximum)

Texas A&M Essay Writing Tips

Special Notes:

You may qualify for automatic admission in one of three ways:

1. Graduate in the top 10% of your class at a public high school in Texas

2. Graduate in the top quarter of your graduating class and score a total of 1360 on your SAT (minimum 630 Math, 660 English) or a composite of 30 on your ACT (minimum 27 English, 27 Math)

3. You may also qualify under the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy.

Please click here for college application help from Ivy Scholars.

Texas A&M University Academics

Schools:

Core Requirements:

  • 42 Semester Credit Hours (SCH) total (6 SCH Communications, 6 SCH Mathematics, 9 SCH Life and Physical Sciences, 3 SCH Language, Philosophy, and Culture, 3 SCH Creative Arts, 6 SCH American History, 6 SCH Government and Political Science, 3 SCH of Social and Behavioral Sciences)
  • Comprehensive Core Requirements Information

What Majors Does Texas A&M University Offer?

  • 90 Majors Offered
  • Option to double major
  • Popular majors include Interdisciplinary Studies, Biology, Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, and Psychology. 

What Minors Does Texas A&M University Offer? 

Texas A&M University AP Credit Policy:

  • Texas A&M accepts credit for scores of 4 or 5 on most AP exams and scores of 4 or above on IB higher-level exams, as long as the student was awarded an IB diploma.
  • Comprehensive AP Credit Information

Honors Programs:

Research Availability:

  • LAUNCH gets undergraduates involved in university research initiatives. 

Study Abroad: 

Business Options: 

  • Mays Business School has nine undergraduate majors as well as a business minor. The program is very prestigious more competitive than Texas A&M generally.

Pre-Med Options:

Pre-Law Options:

Additional Specialty Programs: 

Student Life at Texas A&M University

School Motto:  Through Unity, Strength

Mission and Values:

  • Mission: Texas A&M University is dedicated to the discovery, development, communication, and application of knowledge in a wide range of academic and professional fields.
  • Values: Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service
  • Additional Information
  • Student Testimonials: (Niche, Unigo, Grad Reports)

Texas A&M’s Housing:

  • A subset of on campus housing, Living Learning Communities (LLCs) “provide an ideal learning environment as most students spend more collective hours in their living environment than any other location on campus, including the classroom.” 
  • Students are not required to live on-campus, although there are a large number of dormitories and residence halls. There are also off-campus apartments available to rent through the university for upperclassmen and graduate students.

Housing Statistics:

  • 20% of students live on campus
  • 80% of students live off campus

Campus & Surrounding Area:  

Transportation:

  • The university operates both on and off campus shuttles, which are free to ride with a student ID. Students can use these to get to class or head downtown. Weekday hours of operation are 7AM-6PM, with variant hours for nights, weekends, and gamedays.
  • There are bike and car share programs available on campus. 
  • Parking Information

Traditions:

  • Orientation – Each year, new students attend a 4-day “Fish Camp” to learn about the school and its traditions.
  • Pennies on Sully – Students put pennies on the statue of the school’s former president for good luck on exams.
  • The Corps’ Traditions – The corps of cadets has a number of traditions to promote unity and their legacy.
  • Game Day – There are numerous game day traditions including band performances and Midnight Yell rallies, which occur before home games at Kyle Field. All the lights are turned off, and couples kiss in the dark. Singles hold up lighters to show their position to other singles.
  • Remembrance – Traditions honoring people associated with the University who have passed away. 

Student-Run Organizations: 

Sports:

Greek Life:

Around 10% of the student body at Texas A&M participates in Greek Life. There are 58 organizations on campus, including social, academic, and service oriented groups. 

Nightlife:

  • There are many nightlife options in College Station.
  • A&M is the #9 party school in Texas according to Niche. 
  • There are over 1,200 performances and sporting events on campus each year.

Financial Information

Yearly Cost of Attending Texas A&M University in 2020:

  • Total: $31,428
  • Tuition and Fees: $12,744
  • Room & Board: $11,400
  • Books: $1,222
  • Travel: $2,498
  • Personal Expenses: $3,500

Scholarships and Financial Aid: 

All admitted students must complete applications to be considered for both scholarships and financial aid. There are plenty of work-study opportunities on campus, and students can also apply for State and Federal funds by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Fun Facts

  • Since 1931, Reveille – the school’s canine mascot – has held the highest rank in the cadet corps.
  • All former Reveilles are buried under the North end of the Kyle Field football stadium, with their heads facing the scoreboard.
  • Kyle Field football stadium is the tallest structure in College Station Texas.
  • Notable Alumni include former Texas Governor Rick Perry, and former Bolivian President Jorge Quiroga.
  • 7 Aggies won a Medal of Honor in WWII.

(713) 714-6949

call us now

77 Sugar Creek Center Blvd
#375, Sugar Land, TX 77478

subscribe for updates

© 2021 Ivy Scholars College Admissions Consulting

5/5
Wendy Y.
Parent
Below is my son's review. He was accepted to his dream Ivy League school!

From an admitted student's perspective, I am incredibly grateful to have met Sasha - he has been instrumental in helping me achieve my educational dreams (Ivy League), all while being an absolute joy (he's a walking encyclopedia, only funnier!) to work with.

Many people are dissuaded from seeking a college counselor because they think they can get into their desired college(s) either way. Honestly, going that route is a bit short-sighted and can jeopardize your odds of acceptances after years of hard work. The sad truth is, the American education system (even if you attend a fancy private school and ESPECIALLY if you go to a public school) doesn't really tell students how to write a compelling and authentic application. Going into the admissions process alone, without speaking with an advisor, is like going to court without a lawyer - you put yourself at a significant disadvantage because you don't have all the facts in front of you, or the help you need to negotiate the system.

That said, you need a good lawyer just like you need a good college counselor. And that's where Sasha distinguishes himself from the crowd of people claiming they'll get you into Harvard. I came to Sasha worried about and frankly dumbfounded by the college admissions process. I was unsure what to write about and how to go about drafting the essay that perfectly captured my passion, interests, and self. And I was highly skeptical that anyone could really help me. But, damn, did Sasha prove me wrong. From the beginning, Sasha amazed me with his understanding of the process, and ability to lend clarity and direction to me when I desperate needed it. After interviewing me about my background, experiences, activities, outlook, and vision, he helped me see qualities about myself I had not previously considered 'unique' or 'stand-out.' This process of understanding myself was so incredibly important in laying the groundwork for the essays I eventually wrote, and I'm certain I would've drafted boring, inauthentic essays without it.

Looking back, Sasha's talent is that he can see where your strengths lie, even when you don't see them. The truth is, although we don't always realize it, everyone has a unique story to tell. Sasha helped me see mine, and with his big-picture insight I was able to write the application that truly encapsulated my life and vision. He inspired me to dig deeper and write better, challenging me to revise and revise until my essays were the most passionate and authentic work I had ever written. As clichéd as that sounds, that's really what universities are looking for. In retrospect, it makes sense - in the real world passionate (not simply intelligent) individuals are the ones who make a difference in the world, and those are the individuals colleges would like to have associated with their brand.

In the end, I was accepted to the college of my dreams, a feat I could not have achieved without the direction Sasha lent to me. Essays (and the personal narrative you develop through your application) matter so much, and can literally make or break your application. I have seen so many of my 'qualified' friends receive rejections because they wrote contrived essays that didn't truly represent who they were; conversely, I have also seen so many friends with shorter resumes accepted because they were able to articulate their story in a genuinely passionate and authentic way - I fall into the latter category.

As a former admissions officer at Johns Hopkins, Sasha knows what types of essays jibe well with universities, an invaluable asset to have in the admissions process. He is responsive, flexible, creative, positive, and witty. For anyone who is serious about going into the college admissions process informed and prepared, I highly recommend Sasha.
( close )
5/5
Arda E.
Student
I used Ivy Scholars to mainly help me with college applications. Within weeks of using this service, Sasha was able to simplify the already complex process. When it came to writing the Common App essay, Sasha didn’t just help with grammar and syntax, he brought my essays to life. Sasha also worked tirelessly to help solidify my extracurricular activities, including research and internship opportunities. Without his help, I would have never had an impressive resume.

Sasha is not only an extremely knowledgeable tutor, but also a genuine brother figure. His guidance, throughout my last two years of high school, was everything I needed to get me an acceptance letter from my dream schools (UC Berkeley, Tufts, Emory).

When it came to testing, Ivy Scholars worked like a charm. Sasha offered a very comprehensive plan when it came to completely acing my standardized tests. Without his test taking strategies I would have never gotten straight 5s on my AP tests and a 35 on the ACT.

Working with Sasha, I didn’t just become a good student, I became a genuine scholar.
( close )
5/5
Samson S.
Parent
We worked with Ivy Scholars during my son's senior year. I was concerned that we may be too late to take advantage of college advising but the Ivy Scholars team quickly and confidently directed us through the steps to ensure no deadlines were missed. Sasha's knowledge about schools, what they looked for in candidates, and how to maneuver the application process was invaluable. Mateo and Ryan worked with my son to help him create an essay that would get noticed and I am so appreciative he had their guidance.

Prior to securing Ivy Scholars, we tried using a less-expensive online service which was a terrible experience. As a parent, Ivy Scholars brought peace of mind to an area that was frankly overwhelming. This service was invaluable in the knowledge that we gained throughout the process. He has also met with my freshman daughter to provide guidance for her high school courses, career paths, extracurricular activities, and more.

Prior to signing with Ivy Scholars, I tried a less expensive online service and was very disappointed.

As a result of our work with Ivy Scholars, I am pleased to say that my son will be attending Stern Business School at New York University this fall! I highly recommend Ivy Scholars. Highly recommend!
( close )