If a kid was applying to A&M wanting to major in Construction Science and he was outside the top 10%, with a 4.2 GPA from a competitive private school and a full slate of honors & AP courses (only took one course that was not honors or AP and that was world history), is a 1290 gonna cut it?
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SAT score for A&M outside top 10%?
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Last: 10 days ago by aggie93
My kid is a fish this year. When she went thru the process, the most candid advisor advice was that 1400/31 were the target scores to be safe on full admittance. Thankfully, she got a 33 and was an October holistic admit. That said, I'd say that with the right EC's and a solid essay, 1290 stands a solid chance at Blinn Team. She had a few HS friends in that range and they are all Blinn team. But it does keep getting more competitive every year. So I'd say solid chance at Blinn Team but not a lock
DannyDuberstein said:
My kid is a fish this year. When she went thru the process, the most candid advisor advice was that 1400/31 were the target scores to be safe on full admittance. Thankfully, she got a 33 and was an October holistic admit. That said, I'd say that with the right EC's and a solid essay, 1290 stands a solid chance at Blinn Team. She had a few HS friends in that range and they are all Blinn team. But it does keep getting more competitive every year. So I'd say solid chance at Blinn Team but not a lock
Blinn Team is the best.
It is a very good option. Now it isn't necessarily available for all majors, or in the case of Mays for example, you'll need a 3.8 so no messing around. But it is a good path for sure.
I'd also add to apply in the in the first couple weeks of August. You hear various stories as when is early enough to maximize your odds, like any time in August (likely true) or some portion of September being fine. But my best advice is to knock that thing out when it opens in early August before their senior year starts. Focus on it, get it done, and then enjoy that last trip around HS.
Get him on the waiting list. Go on the Blinn Team. There's a very good chance he will get accepted in May or June when lots of the guaranteed admits drop out and go to other schools.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But, it's still on the list.
So the next time he can take the SAT is 8/22. He can have everything else ready but wont get his score back until late August. I believe he can hit a 1350 based on some recent practice tests. Is a 60 point swing worth the later application?
I would recommend sending in the app with the 1290 and then send in the other test score when available if it's even just 10 points better. It will update. Score release date is usually 2 weeks after the exam, so between getting the score, submitting it, etc, it's pushing him decently into mid-Sept if he waits whereas he can go ahead and get it all in, then it updates quickly before any decisions are being made for folks in his range. With the new SAT, I'm hearing test to test jumps have been tougher, so get that best one in while it's August and follow it if better.
Also, there's a very good chance decisions in his range won't ultimately get made until December/Jan or later, so I wouldn't necessarily stop with the August one if he's still borderline. Again, you can always submit a better score by Dec 15
Also, there's a very good chance decisions in his range won't ultimately get made until December/Jan or later, so I wouldn't necessarily stop with the August one if he's still borderline. Again, you can always submit a better score by Dec 15
DannyDuberstein said:
My kid is a fish this year. When she went thru the process, the most candid advisor advice was that 1400/31 were the target scores to be safe on full admittance. Thankfully, she got a 33 and was an October holistic admit. That said, I'd say that with the right EC's and a solid essay, 1290 stands a solid chance at Blinn Team. She had a few HS friends in that range and they are all Blinn team. But it does keep getting more competitive every year. So I'd say solid chance at Blinn Team but not a lock
Is she construction science or a different major?
Kines, which seems to be similar to CS on when it fills up, if not sooner. She wants to go to PT school after. But A&M evaluates admission first - you're either in or not, then you get first choice major if it is still open. If not, then 2nd choice, and if not that, eventually an "opportunity" major (this is what many of those who choose waitlist in Jan/Feb end up with if they eventually get full admission). My advice for people who get the Blinn Team and/or waitlist option, choose Team.
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malenurse said:
Get him on the waiting list. Go on the Blinn Team. There's a very good chance he will get accepted in May or June when lots of the guaranteed admits drop out and go to other schools.
If given the choice of waitlist/Blinn team, DO NOT choose waitlist!! Choose BT only!!!
Please elaborate. Is it because if they are not accepted from the waitlist they will be completely left out?
From what I have seen the past several years, those that chose the Team Only when given the choice got accepted to Team fairly quickly; I have not personally known anyone that chose Team Only and didn't get in. On the flipside, a number of those that chose both either got PSA or if full acceptance, it was to an "opportunity major". I'd say this holds up with folks I know personally as well as on the A&M admission message boards out there. Not to say no one got Team or full acceptance to their major of choice if they chose options, but there definitely seems to be a higher rate where it doesn't work out vs Team Only. So overall, if you are sure you want A&M and a path to your major, choosing Team Only seems to be the best bet when given the options.
I imagine it's a combination of (1) those willing to pick Team Only seem to be dedicated to actually coming here and (2) choosing options means it's going to take time, and time means spots start filling up in the meantime.
I imagine it's a combination of (1) those willing to pick Team Only seem to be dedicated to actually coming here and (2) choosing options means it's going to take time, and time means spots start filling up in the meantime.
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Essentially, from what I understand by not indicating interest in Team you are just on the waitlist.
If you indicate Team then from what I observed they will make a Blinn Team offer within a week or so of your selection and then the stress is over. If you select BOTH, the timeline is unclear to me. There is not really a point to choosing both IMO because at that point the odds of full admission from the Waitlist are very low.
Our daughter was admitted directly to Blinn Team without getting the choices. I am not sure what that was based on, possibly letters of rec or something in her holistic app. Others were getting the 2 options and if they want to be an Aggie chose Team.
If you indicate Team then from what I observed they will make a Blinn Team offer within a week or so of your selection and then the stress is over. If you select BOTH, the timeline is unclear to me. There is not really a point to choosing both IMO because at that point the odds of full admission from the Waitlist are very low.
Our daughter was admitted directly to Blinn Team without getting the choices. I am not sure what that was based on, possibly letters of rec or something in her holistic app. Others were getting the 2 options and if they want to be an Aggie chose Team.
Friend's son checked both and found out in mid March he was accepted to Blinn team, which was too late for on campus housing. I do wonder if he had only selected Team if he would have heard earlier.
FWIW I'm a firm believer that in most cases a kid who is on the edge and could get full admit or Blinn Team is usually better off with Blinn Team. All of the kids I know that didn't make it in recent years were surprised to get full admit and ended up struggling, all of the Blinn Team kids are doing fine. It's anecdotal but my assumption is that you end up with kids who are smart but have to take those Freshman weed out classes with a few hundred people, many of which are basically retaking the class from High School, and they get hammered. Also they sometimes think they are good to go and get caught up in the social atmosphere and distractions of the Fall of Freshman year a little more easily, a Blinn kid knows they have to make grades and are in those small classes generally with profs that want them to succeed.
The hard thing is some kids look at getting in to college as the end goal and not just a mile marker on the marathon. Everything in High School for many of them is about getting in to X or Y school. Often they aren't really ready for what that can mean at a place like A&M that can be very unforgiving to a Freshman who doesn't have their head on straight from the beginning and there isn't much breathing room to adjust. You really need to know the game (which classes to take, what profs to avoid, how many hours you can handle, figuring out how to balance studying and social) very quickly or else they can drown.
It's definitely an individual thing, plenty of kids who are Blinn could easily make it as a regular admit and thrive. I just look at Blinn as being a nice buffer to help a kid adjust and increase their chances of success, the only negative is a mental one that some kids like the idea of feeling like a regular admit even though in reality it means nothing long term. The Ring and the Paper are what matters.
The hard thing is some kids look at getting in to college as the end goal and not just a mile marker on the marathon. Everything in High School for many of them is about getting in to X or Y school. Often they aren't really ready for what that can mean at a place like A&M that can be very unforgiving to a Freshman who doesn't have their head on straight from the beginning and there isn't much breathing room to adjust. You really need to know the game (which classes to take, what profs to avoid, how many hours you can handle, figuring out how to balance studying and social) very quickly or else they can drown.
It's definitely an individual thing, plenty of kids who are Blinn could easily make it as a regular admit and thrive. I just look at Blinn as being a nice buffer to help a kid adjust and increase their chances of success, the only negative is a mental one that some kids like the idea of feeling like a regular admit even though in reality it means nothing long term. The Ring and the Paper are what matters.
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