Understanding the Saturday Morning Science Program

The first thing to note is that this program is run by the Baylor College of Medicine, rather than Baylor University. These schools are not related, despite having the same name and both being based in Texas (and having a very popular jointly administered BS/MD program). Yes, this is confusing. No, there isn’t anything anyone can do about it. 

This program specifically serves students in grades 6-12 who live in the Houston area (And surrounding suburbs). The primary goal of the program is to increase student access to medicine, and to inspire underrepresented students and populations to consider and pursue careers in the field. 

The program itself has three branches: Spring, Summer, and Fall programs. We’ll cover each individually.

This is a virtual program, hosted on Zoom, for students in grades 6-12. While it has alternated between in person and virtual in previous years, it seems that they are committing to virtual in 2026; future years remain to be seen. While this program is primarily intended for students in the Houston area, due to its virtual nature, students from other states who are interested in healthcare are also invited to attend. 

The program consists of two-and-a-half hour sessions on Zoom on four Saturdays in April and May. The first half of each session is a large group lecture from a guest lecturer, and the second half will be small group activities directed by BCM faculty and staff. You need to commit to attend at least three of the sessions, and participate in the group discussion, in order to be eligible for the program. 

The application to participate in this program is due in April. To apply, you must complete a statement (at least a few sentences in length, but up to half a page) on your career goals and interest in the SMS program. If you have previously participated in SMS, you should include a few sentences about what you gained from it previously, and what you hope to gain from it this year. 

This is a summer program which allows students who have already participated in one of SMS’s other programs to take part in an intensive eight week research project with a BCM researcher. This program requires around forty hours of work each week, and also gives students access to weekly professional development sessions, where you learn more about the process of research and careers in healthcare generally. 

At the conclusion of the program, you will get to present your research to other program participants at a symposium. You will have other chances to share your research during the following school year. Note that some of the specifics of this program are determined by individual researchers and labs, but that you must commit to the full eight weeks if you are accepted. 

This program is only open to students who are 18 or older by the program’s start date. You must also be a US citizen or permanent resident, and legally eligible to work in the US. This program is incredibly popular, and has a limited number of seats available, due to the number of participating researchers. 

In order to apply, you must have your school complete a nomination form, and must complete and submit their application. This includes a personal statement of your research interests and career goals, which can highlight past research experiences. You must also include a resume. 

The Fall program is in many ways similar to the Spring program. It consists of virtual, two-and-a-half hour sessions hosted via Zoom, held on Saturday mornings. Each session begins with a lecture, and concludes with students breaking into small groups for discussion. Like the Spring session, this is open to students in grades 6-12. It is open to both Texas residents and those from other states, due to its virtual nature. 

The main difference between the Fall and Spring programs is the number of total sessions; there are six in Fall, compared to just four in Spring. You must commit to attending at least four of the sessions when you apply to the Fall program. Aside from this, the application components and requirements are exactly the same as the Spring program.

Is Saturday Morning Science Right for You?

The answer to this depends on your interests of course, but SMS does have a number of features to recommend it. The first is how broadly available it is, especially to younger students. High school students always have more and better options to explore subjects than their peers in middle school, and so those students in grades 6-8 should make note of programs like this one. 

The Fall and Spring programs are not capstone or headlining activities. They are quite nice, yes, but they give little in the way of practical experience. They are, however, also low commitment, and even older students generally lose very little if they want to participate in them. We do advise younger students to focus more heavily on these, while older students look to more serious undertakings, but these programs won’t cost anything. 

The Summer program is a capstone, the kind of intensive research experience that highly benefits all students who participate, and which admissions officers love to see. This is somewhat more limited than many programs of this sort, due in large part to the age requirement; you must be 18 by the start date of the program. Thus some students may be able to participate in this program in the summer after their junior year, but others will have to wait until the summer after their senior year. 

For college admissions, understandably, participating in the summer after your junior year is far more beneficial; colleges are unable to notice programs you take part in after your application is submitted. That said, it can be useful even if you are participating in the summer after your senior year; lab experience once helps you gain lab experience again, and if you are planning on a career in medicine, then getting this kind of experience early is always a good idea. 

Local Outreach Programs

Saturday Morning Science is just one example of a local outreach program, something pretty much all colleges and universities take part in. These are often distinct from their summer programs and other offerings, tailored specifically to the communities they are in. Here are some key traits of these programs (not every program has every trait, but these are commonalities for many of them): 

• Framed as outreach programs. The goal of these programs is to get students interested in various fields generally, often but not always STEM.
• Free. These programs are free of charge.
• During the school year. These programs take place during the school year, often on weekends, and are generally quite short in duration; a day or two, or a few weekends in a row.
• Location dependent. These programs are only for students who are local to a particular college. Some partner programs are only for students at a particular school.

These programs exist for many reasons, but a major one is that colleges want to give back to the communities they are part of. Colleges are often a major employer and business, and they want to stay on good terms with the locals. Providing opportunities like this is a great way to start.

If you are interested in STEM, or really any subject, you should begin by looking at the outreach programs offered by colleges near you. Many of these are less serious or intensive (though there are sometimes higher level internships offered), but are a great introduction to these fields, and since they are often free, can be explored with little risk. This is especially true for younger students, those in middle school or underclassmen in high school, who often have fewer opportunities. 

Final Thoughts

You may or may not know that you want to be a doctor in middle school, but you may be considering it, and all the more so as you enter high school. In those circumstances it is best to pursue that curiosity, to see if this field is really the kind of thing you are interested in engaging with long term. Saturday Morning Science is just one program to enable that, but it is an excellent option for students in Houston.

If you are looking for help applying to SMS, or in finding programs that will enable you to explore your passions, then ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø can help. Our mentors are skilled at helping you discover the right opportunities to support your interests, and pursuing them to great heights. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more; we’re always happy to hear from you.

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The Honors Academy is Texas A&M’s university-wide honors program. This is a classic honors college, where students have their own housing, advising program, and coursework. While most of the courses you take for the program are non-honors, students in the program either take or an ; in both students take additional honors-level coursework, and receive additional recognition at graduation.

Honors students get additional mentorship and networking opportunities with professors, and honors classes tend to be smaller and more discussion based. While they are more challenging, they allow for a deeper level of exploration of the material at hand. Honors students are encouraged to complete , but these are not required. 

The Honors Academy is open to students in any major. Students may participate in both this program and department or major specific honors programs; indeed, this is often encouraged. Students are also encouraged to join honors societies on campus, though this is not compulsory. 

The Honors Academy does not provide any additional scholarships of its own. Many students in the academy do receive scholarships from A&M, but this is correlation, and getting into the Honors Academy does not guarantee additional scholarship funding. Honors housing has the same costs as any other university housing. 

Applying to the Honors Academy

Applications to this program are available both to incoming freshmen, and to current students at Texas A&M. This program requires a separate application; you can indicate interest on the Common App, and once you apply, you will be sent an email with a link to the Honors application. 

Of note is that there are no set minimum eligibility requirements to apply to the honors academy. While academic excellence is expected, they don’t set a firm bar for where that is; instead they admit the best students in each incoming class of applicants to the honors program.

Now, Texas A&M unfortunately doesn’t make their full honors application available online to view. We don’t know in full what it contains, but much like other honors applications, the goal is to assess whether or not you’re prepared academically and socially to be part of their program, by analyzing your grades, extracurriculars, and essay submissions. For advice on answering honors program essays generally, see our article here. 

This program is specifically for engineering students, and offers them access to a small and supportive community within the broader Engineering College. The primary benefit is access to honors courses; these tend to be smaller than regular courses, and are presented at a higher level, letting students get a better overall grasp of the material and explore it in more depth. Unlike the general Honors Academy, engineering honors students do not automatically get access to honors housing.

All honors students take part in a research experience, and have an advisor for the program specifically to help connect them with research projects aligned with their interests. In addition to this, students have access to additional networking events and opportunities, and more chances to connect with those in industry and graduate programs.

The final benefit is priority registration for courses. This is a small thing, but in a field of study as popular as engineering, does make getting all of your required coursework done just a little bit easier. This program is ideal for students who want to push themselves in their engineering coursework.

Both incoming freshmen and current students may apply to the honors program. There are no hard eligibility requirements, but a high GPA is expected. The application for incoming freshmen is open November 3 to January 15, and may be completed fully . 

Once you are in the engineering honors program, you must meet certain requirements to maintain your status. These vary by , but generally involve maintaining a certain GPA (generally 3.5 or above), attending honors events during the year, and participating in honors coursework. They want to be sure that students in the program are actively partaking in the program. 

Business honors is a specific major within Mays Business School. Like, the primary benefit of this is the advanced coursework provided to honors students, which generally features smaller class sizes and more access to professors. Honors classes are taught at a slightly higher level as well. Like the engineering honors program, business honors does not provide specific honors housing to its students. 

While business honors is itself a major, most students in the program choose to take on an additional major within Mays; the program is designed to facilitate exactly this. In addition to coursework, the business honors program has a significant focus on networking and career placement opportunities, over and above those already hosted by Mays. 

The program admits 100 students each year; these cohorts generally form a close-knit group within the larger business school, and are supported by a range of specific advisors and program supports. Applications to the program are competitive, though both incoming freshmen and current students are eligible to apply. 

The program does have strict academic eligibility requirements, namely that you must be in the top 25% of your high school class. They do note that academic standards are simply there as a benchmark; they are something you must surpass, but students aren’t admitted to the program on the basis of academic excellence alone. In order to apply, you must select Business Administration as your first choice major, and select YES on the honors program application question. You will then be invited to apply once your A&M application is processed.

Your base Common App and Texas A&M supplementals are available to the Business Honors admissions team. In addition they recommend (but do not require) submitting standardized test scores and a letter of recommendation from an academic source. This application is reviewed and processed separately from your admission to A&M and the business program as a whole. 

Departmental Honors Programs at Texas A&M

In addition to the university-wide and college-wide programs, some academic departments have their own honors programs as well, solely open to students in those departments. What these offer specifically varies, but it tends to be increased resources, access to professors, and networking opportunities, along with recognition at graduation. We won’t go through each of these in detail, but here’s an overview of them: 

Note that none of the departmental honors programs allow you to live in honors housing, though many students who are in the honors college also pursue departmental honors; indeed, this is highly encouraged. 

Are Texas A&M Honors a Good Option for You?

Honors colleges can offer a lot of benefits to college students, and A&M is no exception. We will note, however, that one of the primary benefits offered by many schools isn’t offered here, as there are no honors-specific scholarships. While many honors students do also earn merit scholarships, there are no specific funding options for honors students. 

So what does Texas A&M honors offer? Each program has its own unique suite of options, but they all have some commonalities; we’ll go through each of them, and how they may or may not benefit you. 

Honors Classes

This is the big appeal of honors programs, and the main thing mentioned. These courses are smaller, offered at a higher level, and tend to take a more in-depth approach to content. These do give you better access to professors, and can help you better master content. On the other hand, taking honors courses or graduating with honors alone doesn’t necessarily lead to better career outcomes. These courses do tend to be more demanding in terms of the work required, and can make maintaining a high GPA difficult. These courses can be a great resource, but there are tradeoffs when taking them. College isn’t high school, and honors courses are neither expected or required. 

Research Opportunities

Texas A&M is a big school, with a lot of students. While there are plenty of professors doing research, there are far more students who want to be involved than there are spots. While all students who want research can generally find something, students in honors programs get to build closer relationships with professors, and have set pathways to participate in research. 

If you are interested in pursuing research, especially with an eye towards graduate school or medical school, then honors programs are an excellent way to do this. In addition to increased research opportunities, these programs often let you build much closer relationships with professors, which helps greatly when getting letters of recommendation.

Networking

How much of a focus networking has varies a great deal by program; it is most prominent in business, but is offered in all of them. Again, networking and recruiting events are something offered and open to all students at A&M, but honors programs offer unique opportunities that aren’t open to all students. 

Many companies do like recruiting students from honors programs specifically. There is a sense that these students are more motivated, and more likely to succeed at a high level. In many ways, this is akin to how students from more prestigious universities are viewed, which is part of what honors programs are trying to emulate. It is unclear how advantageous these extra opportunities are, but finding a career is always easier with more networking opportunities. 

Honors Housing

This is one of the smaller benefits provided by the honors program, and is indeed only available through the campus-wide honors program, rather than the college or departmental offerings. The honors dorm is nice, and being in a community of similarly high-achieving scholars can be beneficial, both socially and from a networking perspective. 

This is more of a minor perk however, and you don’t lose very much if you choose not to live in honors housing. While this is worth considering, it should not be the deciding factor on whether you want to take part in the honors program. 

The Honors Community

This is the most nebulous benefit of taking part in honors programs, the community they afford you access to. College is a time to make new friends and meet new people, through your dorm, classes, clubs, campus activities, or even happenstance. The honors program at Texas A&M proposes that you will become part of a broader community through participation in it. 

This is often the case, and you can make excellent friendships through an honors program. This is quite good for students who need peer motivation in their school work, or who work best in groups. Being constantly surrounded by and hanging out with smart and motivated people can rub off on you, and give you the motivation to go farther and do more than you would on your own. This may be one of the best benefits of joining an honors program, and if this kind of community would materially help you, we highly recommend it. 

Final Thoughts

Texas A&M is a great college, one many students from Texas attend and enjoy. Like all large colleges, it has a lot of programs and options for students, enough to feel somewhat overwhelming to grasp or explore. We hope that this article gave you a good sense of one such program, and what it can offer to prospective students interested in a higher level of academic achievement and commitment. 

Applying to honors programs can be quite competitive, intentionally of course, a means to winnow the field of candidates to only those best able to make use of the resources the program provides. If you are looking for advice on your own honors applications for Texas A&M, or want help finding the right program to match your needs and interests, then ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø can help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how our mentors can make your college applications journey an easier and more enjoyable experience; we’re always happy to hear from you. 

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What is the High School Emerging Researcher Experience?

Houston Methodist has long run a research summer program for undergraduate students, which serves to introduce them to medical research, and the realities of the discipline. Recently, they have added on to this for particularly advanced high school students, to give them access to the same opportunities. 

High school students in this program will work under research mentors, who are part of the staff and faculty at the hospital. They will be on teams with the undergraduate members and actively contribute to research projects. The scope and subject of these projects is chosen by the research mentors. In addition to research itself, interns will take part in seminars, lecture series, discussions, and social events over the course of the program.

The program lasts for ten weeks, scheduled for June-July this upcoming summer. At the end of the program, interns have a chance to present their research and findings to each other at a symposium, both to have a chance to learn from each other, and to gain experience in presenting research findings. 

Students must commit to the full duration, and for a full workday five days a week (with July 4 off). The internship is in person at the hospital in Houston; students are responsible for arranging their own transportation. There is no fee to participate in this program. Undergraduate students are awarded a stipend, but this is not available to high school students who are participating. 

Applying to the High School Emerging Researcher Experience

This program is somewhat competitive for admissions, because they want to be sure that all students admitted are fully capable academically, and will be able to contribute to and benefit from the program’s offerings. Applications for the program open in early December, and are due by the end of January. Applications may be completed entirely online. 

In order to apply, you must be a current high school junior or senior, and 16 years of age or older. You do not need to live near the program, or even in the state of Texas, but no housing or transportation is provided. For this reason, we advise applying only if you live near enough to the program to get there for the entire duration. You must have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5.

The application itself may be found . Note that there is a single application for all positions and internships, and you must indicate you are specifically applying for the high school one. Each program requires different application essays. You must upload both a resume and a transcript. We advise getting an official transcript from your high school to upload. 

The program asks that you answer the following essay prompts: 

1. Explain why you would be a great candidate for the summer undergraduate research internship program and how it would benefit your career goals. (250 words)
2. Please describe any previous research or laboratory experience you may have. (250 words)
3. (Optional) Please explain any challenges you have experienced in your academic career and how you overcame them. (250 words)

These essays are of key importance. Your grades and resume are how you demonstrate your preparation and intellectual fitness for the program as a whole, but the essays are what will differentiate you from all of the other applicants. We’ll give some brief notes on how to answer each, and what they’re looking for when they ask these questions.

The first essay addresses the undergraduate research internship program because the high school program is technically a subordinate part of that. When answering this question, you should focus on your interests in science, research, and medicine. The first half of the essay should focus on the first part; why you are a great candidate, based on any past experiences you have in the field. 

You do not need to have done medical research before to be a great candidate (though you should certainly share if you have done so). Instead, you can discuss other opportunities you have taken part in related to science or medicine. Then, show how this program is the logical next step for you, and neatly complements your interests in the field. 

The second prompt is less of an essay, and more of a factual recounting. If you have worked in labs in any other summer programs prior to this one, detail that. If you have learned the basics of lab safety and techniques in high school, detail that. Do not overstate or downplay your experience. 

The final essay is optional, but should add context to your transcript that they might not otherwise have. If your school doesn’t offer AP courses for example, or they do not have the most advanced math work available, or if personal events interfered with your work earlier in high school. You don’t need to explain away every bad grade, but to give them the needed context (if any) to make sense of your transcript. 

Finally, the application asks for two letters of recommendation. There are no requirements on who these are from. We recommend both come from teachers at your high school, or one from a teacher and one from a research mentor if you have undertaken a previous research project. These letters must be submitted by the 31 of January. You should ask your recommenders prior to requesting letters from them, that’s just polite. 

Is This Program Right for You?

This program is a wonderful opportunity, but somewhat narrow in who it is tailored for. An ideal student is interested in medicine and research, possibly with an eye towards medical school in the future. They live in Houston, and are willing to devote a significant amount of time in their summer to doing something very interesting but quite difficult. 

This is, of course, not going to be the right choice for everyone, or even necessarily a good idea for everyone to partake in. Only if you meet most of the above criteria should you seriously consider applying for this program; otherwise it may be a less than optimal use of your time. 

If that description does sound like you, however, then we highly recommend applying for the High School Emerging Researcher Experience. This program offers things few others do in terms of access to hands-on research in a laboratory, and for free. If you are interested in medical school or medical research, and you qualify for this program, you should definitely consider applying.

Final Thoughts

It can be hard to find summer programs that exactly match your needs and desires, or which complement how you want to spend your time while also preparing you to apply to a top-notch college. We hope that this article has shown you one such excellent program, and given you a sense of what kind of opportunities are out there for you to fill your summers with.

If you are looking for help finding opportunities that are perfectly suited to your needs and interests, then ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø can help. Our mentors help students find the right opportunities to meet their needs, from research opportunities like this or wherever else their passions lead them. If you’re looking for help planning out your summer, or want advice on applying to one of these competitive programs, then we can help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you.

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How the Texas A&M-Blinn TEAM Program Works

The TEAM program is a dual-enrollment program. Students take a majority of their coursework at Blinn, but also take courses at A&M, and have access to A&M’s community and opportunities, everything from advising and extracurriculars to the Corps of Cadets. This is a two year program, and students who successfully complete it are automatically enrolled in their chosen major at A&M.

Students take at least 60 credit hours at Blinn, and at least 15 at A&M over the course of the program. Each semester, they take the majority of their coursework at Blinn, and a few courses at A&M. Each potential major you may transfer into has their own required courses you must take to qualify; we’ll cover these in more detail in a later section. 

Students in the program are permitted to live in A&M dorms and eat in A&M’s dining halls (Blinn, being a community college, doesn’t offer dorms). You do not have to do this, but many students do, seeking to be part of the broader community at A&M, even if they aren’t full students at the school yet. This is one of the major advantages the TEAM program offers over related programs, allowing you to begin integrating into A&M’s community before you fully transfer. 

You will have advisors at each school, and be required to pay tuition separately to each school. Tuition is dependent on credit hours taken by school. You will need separate parking passes for each campus. While you may join many opportunities at A&M, including Greek life, you will not enroll in enough credits there to qualify to compete on A&M’s official sports teams under NCAA regulations. You may still partake in club sports however.

Admissions

There is no separate application or admissions track for the TEAM program. Instead, students who apply to Texas A&M may be offered admission to TEAM in place of simply being accepted to Texas A&M itself. In this way, it is similar to the CAP program at UT Austin, though slightly different in overall structure. You must apply to Texas A&M and not Blinn for this program.

There is no way to apply for this program specifically, it is simply a decision which admissions makes and which may be offered to you. It offers students who A&M may not otherwise have room for a chance to graduate from the school, or students who may need a bit more academic preparation time to get it before enrolling in A&M fully. 

The Major Transfer Process

You do not need to apply for transfer admissions or otherwise when moving from the TEAM program to enrolling full time at Texas A&M if you meet both the program requirements and your specific major’s requirements. The program requirements at base are quite simple: 

• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5
• Have at least 60 credit hours at Blinn and at least 15 at Texas A&M

The major requirements, however, are far more varied. The requirements for TEAM students are the same as those interested in a , the internal process through which Texas A&M students apply for a major change. These are set by individual departments, and include everything from GPA minimums to courses you are required to have taken and passed. 

The reason for these requirements is twofold. First, they want to be sure you are qualified for the major you are entering. If you have spent all your time in the Blinn program taking business courses, and then attempt to transfer into engineering, they may worry you don’t have the experience needed to succeed in the major. 

The second concern is that you will be able to graduate on time. Universities love having you around, but they still want all students to graduate on a reasonable timescale, generally within the standard four years. These requirements, particularly the courses, are ones required for the major, and ensure you will have enough credits to graduate in four years if everything remains on track. 

Particular Major Requirements

The base requirements are easy, those for particular schools or majors on the other hand, are much more involved. We won’t go through each of the hundreds of majors at A&M, but we will illustrate a few common examples, so you get a better sense of what this process really entails. 

Mays College of Business

Unlike every other program, the Mays requirements are specifically different from what’s on the website, and exist for the entire college, rather than being differentiated by major. are the requirements for 2025, the most recent year they have available at time of writing. Here is what they require of students to transfer successfully: 

• A 3.80 GPA for all Blinn course, all A&M courses, and all ten qualifying courses, both overall and for each qualifying segment individually
• Ten specific qualifying courses in business and economics. These may be taken at Blinn or A&M

In addition, you are expected to fulfill certain core credit requirements for A&M during this time, courses all students must take to graduate as part of their distribution requirements. These too may be taken at A&M or Blinn. The GPA requirement is the hardest part of this, and is the highest GPA requirement for any TEAM transfer major; this is in large part due to the popularity of the business major, and is set in place purposefully as a stumbling block. 

Engineering Majors

Engineering uses the same general guidelines for TEAM as it does for . They have some general guidelines for all students, and then specific requirements for each subsidiary major. The general guidelines are: 

• You must have a minimum grade of C in all science and math courses
• Grades of D or F in non-science courses, or retaking science or math courses for higher grades, can negatively impact how competitive you are
• The more engineering courses you complete, and the more math and science courses are completed at A&M, the more competitive you are

These aren’t exactly hard requirements, but are rather a look into their evaluation process; what they weight and how they weight it when making an admissions decision. Note that for TEAM students, transfer is usually automatic if you meet the major’s specific requirements, so you need to worry about these less; though there is some overlap. We will note that many majors in engineering have capacity limits, and when this happens, more competitive applicants are more likely to get the seats. 

Each major then has their own requirements. Here are the ones for Computer Science, as an example:

• An overall GPA of 3.5
• Required math and science coursework, where you must earn a C or better
• Required programming coursework, which must have an average GPA of 3.75 or better

The GPA requirements vary by major; many are 3.5, and we recommend as high a GPA as you can achieve. The course requirements, of course, are fully dependent on the major, but are generally a number of prerequisite math and science courses, plus a number of courses specific to the major’s material.

Note that there is also a separate program for students interested in Engineering specifically: . This is what you will be placed into instead of TEAM in most cases if you applied to an engineering major at A&M. It functions similarly to TEAM, but is a different program. These students are prioritised for engineering transfers, while students who are simply in the TEAM program are less likely to be offered admission.

Economics Majors

Economics is in the College of Arts & Sciences, and is among the more popular majors in that college. This school has no universal requirements; each major is fully distinct in what it asks for from students (though there are of course similarities; having some minimum GPA and some list of coursework to complete). This makes sense; when majors are divergent as chemistry and English are under one roof, each is going to want very different things from incoming students.

Here is what the economics major asks for specifically: 

• A minimum GPA of 2.75
• Completing ECON 203 and 323 with a C or better
• A minimum GPA average of 3.0 for all economics coursework

They do not have a strict requirement for how many economics courses or other prerequisite courses you complete, beyond the two mandated, but we do recommend you take a number of math and introductory economics courses, just to make your transition to the major smoother. 

To compare this to another popular major at A&M, here are the requirements for Biology: 

• A minimum total GPA of 2.65
• Completing BIOL 111 and CHEM 119 with a B or better
• Completing MATH 147 with a C or better

They also note that if you have AP credit for the biology or chemistry courses, you will instead need to take the next level of coursework (BIOL 112 and CHEM 120, or other higher level courses in either) at A&M. AP credits are accepted, but you then need to prove your ability to do the work at a collegiate level. 

A Note on Readmissions

TEAM requires you to meet specific requirements to be admitted. If you fall short of these, you can apply for waivers, but these may be rejected. In these cases, you may find yourself without other options. If this is the case, Texas A&M allows students to apply for .

This is for Texas A&M students who left before getting a degree, and who wish to return to the school. It is akin to the transfer process, but with higher acceptance rates than the standard transfer admissions process. Students who apply through readmissions do often get the major they desire, though of course some are far more competitive than others. 

This isn’t a core component of the program, but we thought it worth noting, to show how it handles the cases where things don’t work out exactly according to plan. 

Is the TEAMs Program Right for You?

This program is something of a consolation prize for students who were not admitted directly to Texas A&M. That doesn’t make the program bad necessarily, but may not be your best option. It all depends on what your goals are, and what other options are available to you. 

If Texas A&M is your dream school, and perhaps a bit of a reach, then this program is an excellent choice; indeed, it is designed for students in this exact scenario. It gives you a guaranteed place at Texas A&M if you prove you can handle the coursework, and lets you experience the environment there while making the transition.

The program is also lower cost than simply enrolling in A&M from the get-go, though it is more expensive than the CAP program at UT Austin. Community college coursework is just less expensive, though the cost to live in A&M’s dorms (should you choose to) remains the same. It isn’t a major savings compared to some other transfer programs, but if cost is something you’re sensitive to, this may be something worth considering. 

If Texas A&M is not your top choice school, then this program may not be right for you, especially if you received admissions to another comparable school. There are many factors to consider of course, but some students want the full college experience for all four years. TEAM is a great program, and gets closer to delivering that then many other transfer pathways, but still falls short. 

Final Thoughts

Transfer pathway programs are a feature of many large and respected public universities, and for good reason. The goal of public universities is to serve the public in a particular state, and transfer pathways contribute significantly to that goal. The TEAM pathway offered by Texas A&M offers a number of benefits other pathway programs don’t, and we hope that this article serves as a proper introduction to it for you, and let you know if it is right for your needs. 

Finding the right college can be tricky, and so can navigating acceptance offers. This isn’t made easier by colleges themselves, many of whom invite students to join programs they may have never heard of, or send purposefully confusing financial aid packages. If you need help with this, or any other aspect of the admissions process, then ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø can help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you. 

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In this article, we’re going to be taking a deep dive into one particular high school: , one of the best public schools in Houston. We’ve written about its stats before, but this article is meant to be a deeper dive, to give you a sense of what the school is like as a whole, and what you might expect if you attend. Let’s jump right in!

DeBakey’s Academics and Curriculum

As the name of the school suggests, DeBakey has a strong emphasis on helping students prepare for a future in the medical field, and this is reflected in their curriculum. Now, Texas has its own requirements that all high school students must complete, and DeBakey adheres to these as well, they just also add their own requirements on top of that.

The most notable required courses are their health sciences sequence, one of which is required each year. The first two years are introductory, while your junior and senior years introduce you to various fields within medicine. Coursework at the school is generally offered at a high level, and is rigorous, with teachers expecting students to be competent and capable. 

They require students take a standard sequence of science coursework; chemistry, physics, and biology, and have additional science courses you may take as electives. They offer a full suite of AP coursework; you are not required to take these of course, but many students choose to, both for the sciences and for non-science courses. 

While you do not need to take AP courses, even their non-APs are offered at an advanced level, and focus on preparing students for college. Every course curriculum exceeds both state and district standards. 

The Houston Premedical Academy

We would be remiss if we discussed the academic offerings at DeBakey without also covering the . This is a tripoint program where students at DeBakey may apply to the at the University of Houston and to the directly out of high school, for a single eight-year program which combines undergraduate study and medical school.

This is a BS/MD program, the kind of thing which is often quite sought after by pre-med students, as it simplifies and makes far easier the process of getting into medical school, setting you on a sure track through the entirety of your time in undergrad. We’ve written about this program before, and we recommend checking out that article if you want an in-depth guide to the program and how it works (plus advice on applying). Here, we’re going to talk about it in the context of DeBakey as a school. 

BS/MD programs are known for both the intensity of their curriculums, and how difficult it is to get in. DeBakey, with its STEM focus and bent towards health sciences generally, does a good job at preparing students for the first part of this. The fact that only DeBakey students are allowed to apply for the Houston Premedical Academy also means this is one of the BS/MD programs with the highest overall acceptance rates. 

Attending DeBakey does not guarantee you will be able to take advantage of this program. It is still very competitive, and you are competing against the very bright students you are in classes with each day. It is, however, a unique opportunity presented by the school, and one worth noting for students who may be interested in pursuing medical school in the future.

Applying to DeBakey

DeBakey is a magnet school, one you must apply to specifically. The curriculum is specialized and advanced, and the students who attend the school are there because of that specifically. There are other schools in Houston with great academic opportunities, but only DeBakey has such a focus on the health sciences, even when compared to private schools. 

This sets it apart, and is the most important thing to consider when deciding whether or not to apply to DeBakey. While its academic curriculum is strong overall, it is not a particularly well-rounded school, primarily devoted to its singular focus. If you are not also devoted to this focus, then DeBakey likely isn’t a good fit for you. 

In some cases, you may think being a doctor is what you want, only to change your mind later. DeBakey can help you determine this, though you should be ready for the amount of work the school requires when you decide to attend. It is much easier to go from DeBakey to another school in Houston than the other way around. 

You must apply to DeBakey . The application opens in December and is due in February; when you submit your application doesn’t impact your chances of admission, but we do suggest getting it done early, just in case of technical errors. Admission is determined by lottery; there are more students who want to attend than spots, and that is considered the fairest way to do it. 

Student Life at DeBakey

High schools are more than coursework alone (even if that is what you spend most of your time doing), offering swathes of extracurricular activities. Like every high school, DeBakey has a . They are a somewhat smaller school by enrollment than others in Houston, and have fewer clubs and student groups than some of their peers because of that, but they still have a good range of options. 

As with academics, there are a significant number of clubs devoted to healthcare and the health professions. Now, these clubs exist at most every high school, but they are remarkably popular at DeBakey. This is perhaps unsurprising, but does speak to the school’s character and focus. Of course, you don’t have to join any of these clubs, but you’ll find plenty of friends if you do. 

There are sports offered at DeBakey, but athletics certainly isn’t the focus of the high school. You can join sports there, though they offer fewer than most of the schools in the district, and are far less competitive in terms of athletics. This is certainly not the norm for a high school in Texas, but makes sense for a school as focused as DeBakey is. Students who are particularly passionate about sports may have more luck pursuing rec leagues or club teams instead of the options at DeBakey.

The arts are similarly offered at DeBakey, but are again far from a focus or a priority for the school. You are required to take a fine arts course as part of the curriculum, but arts are not the focus for most students. There are opportunities to create art and perform, but for those students for whom art is a major part of their lives, they may be better pursuing opportunities outside of DeBakey itself. 

The Atmosphere at DeBakey

This is one of the hardest elements of a school to quantify and describe, but is also among the most important, and one we are often asked about the most. This makes sense, this mysterious idea of fit is often what separates a good high school experience from a bad one, and what can make a school a place students look forward to going every day. We can’t capture every element of DeBakey of course, but we’re going to share as much as we can, based on conversations with ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø students who attended the school, reviews online, and what we’ve heard from the school themself when we called. 

Academic Pressure

The school is very academically focused; there is a lot of work and it’s offered at a high level. The teachers all have high expectations of the students there, in terms of both the quality of the work they do, and how they behave in class. There is more work assigned than in other high schools, even in classes that are generally commensurate.

You can expect to do a significant amount of homework outside of school, and be expected to devote a lot of your time to your school work generally. There is often an atmosphere of shared suffering in this, camaraderie and commiseration as all students are suffering under the same academic burden. 

STEM Bias

The school is heavily focused on STEM and medicine, and this fills both the curriculum and atmosphere at DeBakey. This does provide a good emphasis for students interested in medicine, but students interested in other fields will be less happy here. 

Competition and Collaboration

Most of the students we talked to said that the atmosphere at DeBakey tended to be cooperative, though reviews are mixed, with some speaking of a feeling of competition between students. All students we talked to confirmed there is an intense sense of academic pressure at the school, both in terms of the work load and the expectations placed on them by the environment.

A significant number of the students leave the school during or after their first year there, due to this pressure and the workload. The ones who stay often make close friends with their peers, but it is not always the most enjoyable high school experience, even if most students look back on it positively overall. 

Final Thoughts

DeBakey is regularly ranked as one of the best high schools in the US, and for good reason. It offers a number of courses and opportunities that are rare to see for high schoolers, especially in terms of research and hands-on experience with medicine. Like many top performing schools, however, much of its strength as an institution comes from the talents of its students, who are all quite bright and academically inclined. 

If you have a strong interest in medicine and are willing to commit to a rigorous academic environment, then DeBakey may be a good fit for you. Like all specialized schools, it isn’t the right choice or place for every student. We recommend only attending if this environment fits with your goals; for many students, a more standard high school environment will serve them better.

If you are looking for help making the right choice for your high school, or want help planning out these four years to get you into a top college at the end of it all, then ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø is right for you. Our mentors are well experienced at guiding students to the high school that best supports their needs, regardless of what those are. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can make your life easier, we’re always happy to hear from you. 

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In this article then, we’re going to try and distill all of our knowledge of one particular school, the esteemed in Houston, into a single easy to read guide. We’re going to cover the academic strengths of the school of course, but we’re also going to go over the other factors which make a school the right fit for a student; the atmosphere, the values, and the community. We won’t be able to cover every single aspect of the school, but we hope to give you a sense of it, and whether it’s the right place for you. Let’s jump in!

Academics at St. John’s School

The stated goal of the academic program at St. John’s is to prepare students for college. This is what we expect of schools of this caliber, and their curriculum back up these goals. They offer 19 AP courses, fewer than some schools, but still a broad selection. Where APs aren’t offered, they have their own home-grown honors coursework. 

In many cases, St. John’s prefers their own honors courses to AP because of the constrictions of AP coursework. AP courses are highly standardized; this ensures they are all offered at the same level, but prevents schools from exploring other advanced topics. Thus, in history for example, students can take AP US History, or they can take courses such as Black Lives in Post Reconstruction America or History, Geopolitics, and Economics of Energy, two honors courses offered by St. John’s. 

Notable amongst St. John’s offerings are . These are, as the name suggests, independent and self-guided projects that students take on of their own volition, and pursue over the course of a school year. This requires you to find a faculty member to supervise your project, and that you present your project in May. This is an incredible opportunity for students to pursue something of note that they otherwise could not in school. 

St. John’s School also offers students a chance to pursue independent scientific research as an elective course. If a student is already interested in pursuing scientific research, then this couples with that quite well, giving them access to the school’s resources and support while they work on their project. 

Overall, academics at St. John’s are offered at a high level and fast pace, but with plenty of built in support for students. Students are expected to be enthusiastic about learning, and to take responsibility for their work. Students are given many opportunities to take the initiative in their academic work, and are supported when they do. This is a challenging environment, and purposefully so, but students are given all the tools they need to succeed in it. 

Extracurriculars at St. John’s School

A school is more than just classrooms and academic work, but forms a whole interconnected ecosystem that a student participates in. A large part of this are the extracurriculars a school offers, which can also shape the spirit of a school; many schools in Texas are football-centric for example, which shapes the entire nature of the experience there. 

St. John’s is not a school like this, though they do have a robust sports program; we’re now going to go through the core features of their extracurricular offerings, and how each impacts the community at St. John’s. 

Athletics

Unlike many schools in Texas, athletics is not the sole concern of the school, though they do have a dedicated . Sports are something that many students do participate in, but athletics is always subordinate to academics, not the other way around. Their teams are good, and frequently competitive, but aren’t major winners the way some private school teams are. 

Students may count participation in a sports team as their PE requirement, but they may also pursue cheerleading or dance to fulfill this obligation. Sports teams do form social groups at the school, and students who are interested in sports often find a strong community amongst them. This can get cliquey at times, but this is the case at most schools with sports teams; they are not purposefully insular, but the amount of time they spend together makes friendships and camaraderie inevitable. 

The Arts

The yin to athletics’ yang, arts are one of the other extracurricular mainstays of schools, and St. John’s is no exception. Their encompasses both coursework and extracurriculars (as is the case at most high schools). You can take orchestra or acting or dance as a class, and also participate in productions put on by the school. St. John’s doesn’t have a particular focus on arts; it is still an academics-first institution. Nevertheless, they do have a strong artistic program, and many opportunities for interested students to get involved.

The arts form their own cultural block at St. John’s, as is the case at many schools. They aren’t fully insular; this isn’t High School Musical, and there are plenty of students who pursue both arts and athletics. That said, arts does form a distinct social group at the school, especially for the most involved students. 

Extracurriculars

Beyond the primary draws of arts and athletics, there are many niche communities and secondary aspects to life at St. John’s. As with many schools, they have a of student organizations, ones to meet most any interest or background. Social groups generally form through clubs like this; you need to actively seek out friends at the school, but students tend to be welcoming once you find your peer group. 

Students are also encouraged to take part in during their time at the school. This is part of St. John’s social mission, and goal of getting them involved in the city outside of the insular school environment. There are both school-sponsored events and individual projects for students to pursue in this.

Chapel

St. John’s was founded as a religiously affiliated school, and it still has some religious affiliations and trappings. Part of this is , which all students are required to attend (though they do not have to participate in prayer or other religious aspects of the experience). Their religious tradition is based in the Episcopalian rite. Students of all religions are encouraged to apply to and attend St. John’s, and the school goes to great lengths to make sure students of all backgrounds feel welcomed. 

The Atmosphere at St. John’s School

The final aspect we want to talk about is also the most nebulous, what the atmosphere is like at St. John’s School. This is a collection of smaller things and experiences that contribute to what life is like for students at the school. We’ve talked to the school itself, as well as read a large assortment of reviews of the school on a variety of sites, plus some students at the school who have worked with ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø.

The main thing we have learned from all of this is that St. John’s as a school is very focused on academics above all else. They are a very rigorous school, and students are expected to complete significant amounts of work. This is true both for the classwork, and homework, and both are held to high standards. 

There are significant opportunities for students who are advanced and who excel in their coursework, but it can be more difficult for less advanced students to keep up with the pace and the demands. This can create a great deal of stress for students in the school, especially during finals or other exams. The school does have a to promote healthy study habits and approaches amongst students, but this is not always effective. 

The student body at St. John’s tends to be quite welcoming. It can be cliqueish, but this is the case with many high schools, with students self-grouping based on interests. This tends to align with extracurriculars; so students on sports teams or in the musical end up in friend groups. Students are rarely exclusionary, and there are places for every student, you just need to find the peers who share your interests. 

The school does support diversity, and does offer financial aid, but it is still a private school, and many of the students come from quite similar economic and demographic backgrounds. There is support for students who are less well off, but they can end up feeling overwhelmed by the school as a whole. 

Students who are particularly interested in a single niche (arts, athletics, a single academic discipline), may be better served by a more specialized school. St. John’s is very strong overall, but is also very generalist, and is primarily concerned with academically preparing students for college. They are very good at this, but this is not what all students are looking for from their high school experience.

Final Thoughts

There are many factors that go into deciding whether or not a particular school is right for you. You want a school that will prepare you for college and life after high school, yes, but you also want one that will support you in the here and now, and ensure that your time in high school is enjoyable. This is a difficult balance to strike, and not all schools are well suited for all students. 

We hope this article has shown you what you need to know about St. John’s, and let you determine if it is the right school to meet your needs. It is an excellent school, and does a very good job preparing students for college. It may not be the right choice for all students, but there’s good reason it is ranked as one of the best private high schools nationally, and that its admissions process is as competitive as it is.

If you are looking for help evaluating your own high school options, and determining which is the best fit for you and your needs, ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø can help. There are many things to consider when choosing a high school, and applications to some, including St. John’s can be quite involved. Our mentors support and guide you every step of the way, to make sure you have the best possible chance of success. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can help; we’re always happy to hear from you. 

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This is a legitimate concern, and one we hear often as we help families search for the right high school. In this article, we’re going to break down what Strake Jesuit is really like, from their academic offerings, to the school’s culture, to what life is really like for students at the school. Our goal is that you are well informed, and can determine if Strake will provide the right atmosphere for you to thrive and grow. 

Academics at Strake Jesuit

Strake Jesuit is purely a high school, serving students in grades 9-12. Their curriculum is designed to prepare students for college, and is designed to be exceptionally academically rigorous in the traditions set out by St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuit order. They prioritize experiential learning and critical reflection in students, pushing them to think deeply about their studies and the world around them. 

They offer a full suite of AP courses, but all courses at the school are offered at an advanced level, AP or no. They want to push their students to excel in academic disciplines, and structure their courses accordingly. Students do have course options outside of AP courses offered at an advanced level, and some which exceed the limits of what is taught in AP courses. 

While there is a broad flexibility in the courses students take, there is less opportunity for independent study or research. Students have access to advanced classes, many of which promote independent learning and have research projects, but the school does not offer specific independent research coursework opportunities.

Strake is a Catholic school, and students must take four years of theology coursework, though there is some flexibility in which courses they take. These courses do not demand belief in Catholic doctrine (though many of them are presented from a Catholic perspective), and non-Catholic students are welcomed at Strake, even if the school’s population is majority Catholic. This is a core part of the curriculum, and cannot be avoided at the school. 

Strake’s coursework is intended to create thoughtful and intellectual students. There isn’t a direct focus on preparing for college, but students do end up well equipped to succeed in college as a result; this is a side effect of a strong intellectual focus, rather than an end unto itself for Strake. Their students tend to see significant successes in their college applications, both within Texas and across the country. 

Strake is very committed academically, and very rigorous. They do have a counseling center for students who struggle, and those with learning differences work one-on-one with a counselor to address them. Their goal is that all students have the opportunity for success, though the rigors of the curriculum may prove challenging or stressful for some students.

Extracurriculars at Strake Jesuit

A school is not just what you do in the classroom, but everything else as well, the activities they allow you to partake in and what they promote and sponsor. We’re going to break down the core activities at Strake, how much they promote and focus on each, and how each impacts life at the school, and the options available to students there. 

Athletics

are secondary to academics at Strake, but they are important to the school’s fabric and culture, as is the case at so many high schools in Texas. Football especially is a major part of social life at the school, and game days are major social events. Students are not required to attend of course, but many do, and community is grown through collectively cheering for the team. 

Many students at Strake participate in the athletics program. It is not required, but approximately 80% of students participate in the school’s teams year-to-year. Many teams form close-knit social groups as well, as athletes spend so much time together, honing their craft. There is still a strong focus on the school’s values in athletics, and an emphasis on respect and sportsmanship which is good to see. 

The Arts

Strake Jesuit does have an , as most schools do, but the arts are not a major focus at the school, and do not receive the same focus as athletics or academics. They do have performance opportunities, and partner with St. Agnes (an all girls school) for theatre productions. 

Students who are interested in the arts will have options at Strake, but less than at some other schools. If you are majorly focused on the arts, then you may want to pursue them outside of school entirely, or to consider schools besides Strake. While there are options here, it is underdeveloped compared to other programs. It is not looked down on to participate in the arts, but it is not a major focus of the school. 

Student Organizations

Like most high schools, Strake has a plethora of which you can explore and join. Many of these are academic in nature, but they cover a broad array of interests. Students often find close friends and communities through these organizations, and explore passions they hold dear. 

The House System

Like many British schools, Strake uses a to build community amongst students. Houses are 15-20 students, and cross grade levels and interests, forming welcoming communities that let students interact with peers of all kinds from throughout the school. These are usually tight-knit groups, and serve to welcome new students into the school and its traditions. 

These form a significant portion of student life when it comes to school events and activities, things like prom and homecoming, and through house specific activities, which students are empowered to take part in planning and putting on. STrake itself is quite proud of this system, and students who’ve attended usually point to it as a major part of the school’s welcoming atmosphere. 

Religious Life

Strake Jesuit is a Catholic school, and is a very important component of what they offer. There is daily mass students are welcome (but not mandated) to attend, and monthly mass that students are required to attend. There is no requirement students be Catholic themselves, but they must attend mass, even if they do not pray or participate otherwise. 

The school’s identity and mission are firmly shaped by Catholic religious teachings, and by Jesuit teachings specifically. Many classes, sporting events, advisories, and other school activities begin with a prayer. You can attend this school if you are not Catholic, but you need to be okay with the religious character of the school, and how they interweave religion with much of daily life at the school.

The Atmosphere at Strake Jesuit

Now that we’ve covered what the school does, we’re going to get into the thornier and harder to define matter of what the school is. This comes from reviews, talking to the school itself, and what we’ve heard from ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø students who attended the school. This should all be taken with a grain of salt; every experience at a school is different, but we are aiming to give you a sense of what it’s like, to judge if it’s right for you.

The school is very academically focused (as you might expect and want from a Jesuit school). Classes are all presented at a high level, and there is a significant workload for students. They are expected to be able to keep up with the work, and to work at a very fast pace. 

There is a significant amount of support for students at the school, but they are much better suited for students who are studious and academically advanced. They can and do work to support the students who need it, but those students can struggle in their classwork, and enjoy their time at school less. 

The student body is quite welcoming, and there are many close friendships. The male-only nature of the school does alter the dynamic from coed schools, but the students seem to enjoy this on the whole. The school has a focus on helping boys become men in a healthy way, and many students and alumni speak positively of this aspect of the experience.

Social groups in the school are fluid; students find community in their classes, through sports, through their house, and through extracurriculars. It is generally quite easy to find peers with similar interests, and the school doesn’t suffer much from cliqueishness. You are expected to put in the work of finding and joining the activities that appeal to you, but you will be easily able to find peers who share your interests. 

Religion is a major part of life at the school, but many ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø students who are not Catholic still enjoyed their time there. The school is welcoming to non-Catholics, but religion is an important part of their character, and a majority of students at the school are Catholic. While faith does inform the curriculum in some ways, they are Jesuit, and still teach a science backed curriculum, including on evolution. 

Overall, the school seeks to have a welcoming community, and generally succeeds. There is a degree of self-selection at work here; the school’s strong Catholic nature discourages many families from applying, and that is on purpose. Strake does, however, do a good job at providing a welcoming and nurturing environment for students who do attend. 

Final Thoughts

Strake Jesuit is a great school, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for every student. The all male student body, Catholic focus, academic rigor, and lack of art options are certainly things some students will not enjoy, nor benefit from. Other students, however, are looking for just such an environment. Those that are often thrive at Strake, which sends a significant number of students to great colleges each year.

We hope that this article has served as a good introduction to Strake Jesuit, and let you know whether or not it’s the kind of school which will properly serve your needs. Every high school is distinct, with its own strengths and offerings, and finding the right one to fit your needs can be a real challenge. ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø is well equipped to help with this, as our mentors help guide students to find the right high schools to meet their needs and passions. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you.

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We’ve written about UT Austin’s honors programs before, but colleges aren’t static, and UT Austin has updated its offerings over time. Over the past few years, UT Austin has added a number of all new honors programs, ones which offer a number of new opportunities for students. In this article, we’re going to break each of these down, explaining what they offer, how they compare to existing programs, and how you can apply to them. Let’s jump right in!

This honors program is specifically its own major, rather than an additional program like Liberal Arts Honors. Students apply to and study in the School of Civic Leadership, and earn a BA in Civics Honors. This can be used towards any number of careers, but is particularly for those who want to pursue public service in the future, be that through law school, public health, governmental service, or education. 

Many students in the major pursue a minor or certificate program in their secondary field; thus a student interested in public health would complete the pre-med track, or one interested in technology might pursue a . The major is designed to complement other interests you have. 

The major is specifically focused on American politics and history, and the roots of the American experiment in western civilization. The core courses for the major all focus on these, a mix of humanities and social sciences coursework. The major requires both a final thesis, and the completion of an internship. 

Applying to Civics Honors:

You may apply to this program online, as is the case with all honors programs. Civics Honors is specifically only open to incoming freshmen, and not to current UT Austin students to transfer into. The application requires students to answer two essay questions: 

1. Your study at UT Austin would enable you to think deeply about serious questions that arise as we consider what it means to live well and lead well.  What is one significant question you want to answer through your study in UT Austin Civics Honors?  Why does this question matter? Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.
2. The American founders thought carefully about what it means to build a legacy.  The legacies they built have shaped American culture and law.  How can a person build a worthy legacy today?  How do you want people to remember you? Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.

This program is specifically an addition to the Electrical and Computer Engineering major, and adds new courses, resources, and options for students interested in that major. It does not count as a major itself, but rather serves to complement the existing program for interested students. 

This course is open to both freshman and internal transfer students. Students who are not in the honors program may contend for seats in honors courses, but the number of spaces set aside for non-honors students in these is limited, and students in the honors program get priority for enrollment. 

Freshmen applicants to the program must have calculus credit, either via examination or by taking an equivalent course at another institution. Both AP and IB exams can allow you to earn this credit. Beyond this, you must submit a resume, a letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher, and the answer to the following prompt: 

• Describe your significant activities, employment, and achievements, particularly those relevant to the study of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Also describe your educational and career goals. Please limit your response to no more than 500 words.
  

This program is ideal for students who want to study computer engineering rather than computer science, but who still want the honors experience. It is newer and less developed than the Turing Scholars program, with fewer resources, but is still expanding. If you are curious about the differences between computer science and computer engineering more generally, see our article on the subject.Ìý

This honors program, as the name suggests, is specifically devoted to the study of robotics. This is open to students in a few selective majors, though you do not need to have any prior experience in robotics to apply. Specifically, you must be in one of these majors to apply: 

• Aerospace Engineering, Computational Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering
• Computer Science in the College of Natural Sciences

This program is not a major itself, but counts as a minor. Students in the program are automatically enrolled in the , and given a chance to immediately begin doing research with professors. They also have the opportunity to join a specific honors housing community, though this isn’t mandated.

You can apply to join this program as either an incoming freshman, or as a current UT student, though you must always be in one of the associated majors. There is limited space in this program, and it is quite popular. If you are applying as a freshman, you must answer the following prompt: 

• Why are you interested in robotics? How will this undergraduate robotics program help you achieve your personal and/or career goals? What impact do you hope to make in the field of robotics? Please limit your response to 500 words.
  

The application does not have additional components beyond this essay. Though this is only a minor, it generally cannot be combined with other honors programs, such as Turing scholars. You must choose which to attend, if you apply to and are admitted to both.Ìý

Should You Apply to UT Austin’s Honors Programs?

UT Austin has a wide variety of honors programs, especially with these new additions; there are twelve total honors programs at the university. This, of course, raises an obvious question: whether or not you should bother applying to these programs (and if so, which one you should apply to). 

In general, we recommend many students apply to these honors programs, especially if they are using UT Austin as a safety school thanks to their class rank. Many students do this, applying to UT Austin while also looking at colleges out of state, the Ivy Leagues or other big name schools. As these colleges get more expensive however, many students see a clear benefit in UT Austin’s programs, especially if they are paying in-state tuition rates. 

UT Austin’s honors programs offer many of the same benefits as a more traditional Ivy League college. Smaller class sizes, more access to professors and research, better networking opportunities, and more support in exploring your chosen field. You also gain access to more advanced topics than in standard coursework, the chance to go deeper into your particular field. 

This is why these programs are so good for students who are using UT Austin as a safety while applying to more competitive schools. If you are applying to an Ivy League school, then you are the exact sort of student these programs are intended for, and they can make your experience far more valuable at UT Austin if you do choose to attend. 

How to Apply to UT Austin’s Honors Programs

Applying to these programs is fortunately quite straightforward. You have two options for doing so as a freshman applicant to UT Austin: 

1. You apply directly through the Common App. This must specifically be done for programs which serve as your major, like Civics Honors.
2. You apply through a secondary honors program application you gain access to once your application to UT Austin is processed. 

Certain honors programs require you to apply for specific schools or majors. For example, Business Honors may only be applied to by students who have unspecified business as their first choice major. You may apply to multiple honors programs you are qualified for based on this, such as both the Canfield Business Honors and the Computer Science and Business Programs. 

These applications generally require essay responses; each has their own. You can find a full list of these prompts . These are akin to any other college essay, but are far more unique prompts than you are liable to encounter. We discuss how to deal with questions like this in our article on writing honors essays.

Some of these programs have additional requirements. Most commonly they’ll want you to submit a resume, but they may also ask for letters of recommendation.These can also be found on the site. These are not meant to trip you up or present an insurmountable barrier, but to give admissions officers the context they need to evaluate you. Note that these programs will also receive your UT Austin application as a whole, so you should not reuse those essays when applying. 

Final Thoughts

Colleges are forever changing their offerings, trying to better serve the students who apply to them. We can see that clearly in what UT Austin has done here, expanding their range of honors programs as more students choose to attend them instead of the more expensive private options. We hope that this article has given you a good understanding of UT Austin’s honors programs, and whether they might be a good fit for you. 

These are very competitive programs, and for good reason. Official statistics are rarely released, but programs like Turing Scholars or Computer Science and Business have acceptance rates below 10%. That’s where ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø can help. If you’re looking for advice on applying to one of these programs, or crafting the perfect essays to complement your application, then schedule a free consultation with us today. We’re always happy to hear from you.

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What’s Different ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø AP and Dual Enrollment Courses?

Both AP and dual enrollment courses are more advanced than regular high school courses, but have some key differences. To help compare them, here’s a table to help compare and contrast: 

These programs also have a number of similarities; both often require an additional fee, they generally require counselor approval to register for, and the exact courses which are offered depend greatly on the high school in question. In addition, the level of work is expected to be higher than is generally required of high school students.

Texas school districts are required to provide students with some way of earning college credit by law, however, this may be done through AP courses, IB courses, dual enrollment, or some combination thereof. Most high schools in Texas offer both AP and dual enrollment courses, though this is not universal. See our guide to finding the right high school for more information on evaluating the offerings of different schools, and seeing if they’re right for you.

A Note on Mechanical and Structural Differences

As a final note, AP Courses are at their core high school courses. They are meant to offer material at a similar level to an introductory college course, but they are still high school courses, with all that brings (as we’ve covered before). Dual enrollment courses are college courses, and have a different set of structures and expectations. 

These do not make one inherently better than the other, but can be a bit of a shock to experience if you aren’t expecting it. Dual enrollment courses generally have higher expectations and requirements for late or make-up work, offer no extra credit, and expect the high school students who enroll in them to comport themselves like any other college student in the course. This early taste of a collegiate experience can be extremely beneficial, but be aware of what you are in for.

College Credit for AP and Dual Enrollment

One of the primary benefits of either of these classes, and why they are favored by the state government in Texas, is that they allow students to earn college credits while still in high school. This not only helps prepare you for college, but can enable students to graduate faster, possibly accumulating less debt align the way. How colleges handle these credits differs greatly, however; we’ll look at the differences now.

AP Credits

AP credits are accepted by most US Colleges; a full list is maintained by . All of these colleges, however, have score requirements; you must get at least a 3 to earn credit, and many require you to earn a 4 or even a 5 to receive any. While the exact policies differ by school, there are some common trends to this pattern:

• The more competitive a college is, the higher their requirements for AP credits
• There are caps on how much total credit you can earn from AP courses
• AP credits may not be used for major-required courses, though in some limited cases may stand in for pre-req coursework; this usually requires you to also take a qualifying exam at the college however
• AP credits may or may not count for general education requirements; mostly, they count as elective credit

Thus AP credits can earn you some credit, but it’s rarely enough to graduate early, even by a semester, unless you also take very heavy courseloads your entire time in college. They are still useful, and the extra credits can give you more flexibility, but the benefits, especially at top colleges, are often overstated.

Dual Enrollment Credit

Dual enrollment credits come from the college awarding them, and are thus generally treated as transfer credits by universities. This can get messy quickly, as each college has their own policy for transfer credits. In many cases, however, this works far better when you stay in the same state. 

In almost all cases, dual enrollment courses are provided by a local community college. These colleges are generally already well known by public universities in the same state, which see many transfer applications from students going from two-year to four-year degree programs. They are very likely to know all of these courses well, and have set credit equivalencies. 

Going out of state becomes dicier; not impossible, but you may receive less generous interpretations or less credit. This, however, depends entirely on the college in question, and how they end up interpreting the courses offered by the community college. 

As transfer credits, these can often offer far more flexibility than AP credits if they are accepted, standing in for required pre-requisite courses or general education requirements. This does depend a lot on the college in question however, since each has their own credit policies. In general, however, you see slightly more flexibility with these credits. There is still a cap on the number you can enter with, especially as a first year, but it is higher than the cap on AP credits.

AP Courses, Dual Enrollment and You

Now that we’ve covered what these different options are, and how they apply to colleges, it leads to an obvious question: which of these different course types is the right choice for you? This depends on several different factors, which we will go through in turn.

What Your School Offers

Texas high schools are required to offer courses which can award college credit. These can be AP courses, dual enrollment, or both. They are not, however, specifically required to offer either. Thus your first point of reference should be whether or not your school offers these courses. 

If you are currently choosing between high schools, then their offerings of AP courses and dual enrollment courses can impact whether or not you choose to attend a particular school. It likely won’t be the only factor, but is definitely worth taking into account. Most top-performing public high schools in Texas offer both AP and dual enrollment courses.

Course Variation

There is also generally a divide in the courses that are offered as dual enrollment, and those that are offered as AP. in Houston, for example, is a good example of this. They offer many more AP than dual enrollment courses; there is some overlap as well, but many subjects are only offered as AP. There is only one dual enrollment history course, for example. 

When you have a choice, as at Clements between dual enrollment US History and AP US History, you should take whichever course you feel best equipped to succeed in. Both courses are seen by colleges as a way for students to push themselves academically; thus the major difference to admissions officers is how you perform in the option you choose. For more on course selection, see our guide here.

Your Future Plans

If you want to graduate college early, and are looking to stay in state and minimize the cost of college, then dual enrollment courses are a great way to do so. They simply offer more flexibility with course credits, and do not face the same caps that AP courses often do. If you are less certain about your plans, then AP courses can fill a similar niche, even if not as well.

Final Thoughts

The courses you take in high school matter for college applications, all the more so when those courses offer the chance to earn actual college credit. The two most common ways students have access to this are through AP courses and dual enrollment courses, and we hope this article has given you clear insight into how these different options work, and which might be the right choice for you to pursue.

We focused on Texas examples for this, but we work with students from across the country; if you’re looking for help navigating your local schools, or advice on your particular high school options, then we can help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more; we’re always happy to help students achieve their educational goals. 

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Texas Residency for Students

The first time your residency matters for these schools is when you apply to them in the first place. Both UT Austin and Texas A&M evaluate in-state and out-of-state applicants differently, though each has their own system. We’ll go through each school in turn, and how they evaluate and handle residency in admissions. 

UT Austin bases residency requirements on legal guidelines set by Texas state law. They determine your state residency based on the information you include on your application. If they decide based on this you are not a state resident, you may submit a form to appeal this, if you perhaps made a mistake on your application or if admissions missed something. There are two ways residency can be established. 

The first is by graduating high school in Texas. This specifically has the three following components: 

• Either graduate from a Texas high school or earn your GED in Texas
• Live in Texas for the 36 months (three years) prior to that graduation
• Live in Texas for the 12 months immediately before the census date of the semester in which you enroll in the university

Note that this method is available to both US citizens and noncitizens who have graduated from high school in Texas. 

The second option is by establishing domicile in Texas, and is more commonly done after applying. Thai is open to US citizens and non-citizens alike, though non-citizens must have an application for permanent residency on file with Citizenship and Immigration Service. If you are filing your taxes as an independent, you may establish a domicile in the state; if you are listed as a dependent on your parent’s taxes, then they must establish domicile in the state to claim residency. 

Establishing a domicile requires you (or possibly your parents) to do the following:

• Live in Texas for 12 consecutive months
• Establish that residence as your legal domicile; this may be evidenced by
  • Gainful employment in the state of Texas (note that student employment does not count for this)
  • Sole or joint (through marriage) ownership of a residential property in which you reside
  • Ownership or operation of a business in Texas, or
  • Marriage of at least one year to a person who has established domicile in Texas

Note that this is intentionally difficult, and is intended to ensure that only people who live in and pay taxes in Texas get to benefit from their public education system at in-state prices. 

As this system is also based on the exact same Texas laws, it is pretty much exactly the same as the one used by UT Austin, though they present the information differently. They do have a few useful notes that UT Austin lacks. The most important is for military service members, which states that if your home of record with the military is in Texas, then you and your spouse count as Texas residents. 

Currently enrolled students who have a change in residency status may apply to have this changed by submitting a form to the registrar. The registrar may request additional information from you to verify what you submit on this form.

Note that there are some waivers available to select groups of students to allow them to pay in-state tuition despite not having established Texas residency. These may be found on .

California Residency for Students

California residency matters for both applying to UC schools, and for the tuition you pay once you get there. They do have quotas for how many students must come from California, and there are significant scholarships only open to residents of the state. As a unified system, all UC schools use the same system for determining if students are residents. 

This is established when students apply based on their Statement of Legal Residence, a form all new students are required to submit to the registrar. Each campus has their own instructions on how to file this, but the form is the same across the system. Students returning from leave of absence or who are transferring in must also complete and submit one of these forms. 

After an initial review of this form, the office may ask for additional documentation to verify the status of your residency. These can include: 

• Driver’s license (or other government issued ID card which verify residency)
• Tax returns or bank statements
• Voter or selective service registration
• Employment or housing verification

Note that residency determinations are final; you have one opportunity to prove to the residency deputy that you are a resident. If they request documentation and you do not provide it, they will make this decision based solely on the information they currently have. For this reason, if you receive one of these requests, therefore, we very much recommend submitting all the documentation they ask for.

There are four requirements the school is looking for to determine residency within California for the purpose of determining in-state UC tuition. All four of these requirements must be met by the time you begin your studies at UC. These requirements are: 

1. Physical presence. You must be physically present and living in California for more than one year (366 days minimum) of the date on which you request residency.
2. Intent to remain in California. You must establish your intention to remain in California as a permanent resident more than one year before you request residency.
3. Financial independence. For undergraduate students under the age of 24, and your parents are not California residents, then you must verify financial independence for at least one year before requesting residency. This includes not being listed as a dependent on their taxes.
4. Immigration status. You must have the legal ability to establish a permanent domicile in the US, meaning you must be a citizen, permanent non-citizen resident, or hold an eligible visa.

They establish whether or not you fulfill these requirements through the form; if there are any questions they ask for additional forms, as we discuss above.

They begin by warning that establishing California residency once you are enrolled as an undergraduate student is incredibly difficult, and almost all students who enroll as non-residents graduate as non-residents as well. This isn’t to say that this is impossible, merely that it is very difficult to the point of being prohibitive. 

The way they determine if you deserve residency status is by seeing if you demonstrate physical presence and intent. That is, you must be physically present in California for at least a full year (366 days), and clearly establish your intent to remain in California after you graduate. This involves losing your legal ties to your former state, and establishing those ties to California. 

Here are their guidelines for establishing intent to remain in California: 

• Remain in California when school is not in session. If you leave for more than one month your intent will be questioned; absences of more than 6 weeks are disqualifying. 
• Register to vote in California, and vote in Californian elections.
• Designate your California residence as your primary residence on all documentation, both governmental and commercial.
• Obtain a California driver’s license within 10 days of settling in California. Note that this one may take some legwork prior to moving to campus; we advise scheduling a DMV appointment well in advance, especially if moving to a major metro area.
• If you have a car, you must also register that within 20 days of establishing residency in the state.
• Work in California, and file income taxes in California on this income. Earned income from outside of California must also be declared in California after the date of establishing residency.
• Establish a permanent home in California where your belongings are stored.

Beyond this, you must also demonstrate either financial independence, or that you are a dependent of California residents, and this is the hardest part for most undergraduate students. If you are under 24 and unmarried, you must demonstrate through tax returns or other financial documentation that you have been financially independent and self-sufficient for at least a full year before applying to residency. You must show your ability to support yourself through earned income, financial aid, savings in your name, or loans in your name. You may not have been claimed as a dependent or received gifts or support from others during this period.

Note that there are some exceptions to this requirement. The following groups can be exempted from fulfilling this requirement: 

• Veterans of the US armed forces
• Wards of the court, or students where both parents are deceased
• Students with legal dependents other than a spouse
• Students who are married and who are not claimed as a dependent by their parents or anyone else for a one year period prior to requesting residency
• Graduate students are automatically considered to be financially independent

Needless to say, most undergraduates cannot meet all of these requirements. It is a path some students undertake, but should be done deliberately, and with careful consideration. 

Final Thoughts

College is expensive, incredibly so, and many students look to public universities for the major cost savings they offer. Those savings, however, are reserved for students within a specific state; all others end up paying nearly as much as they would at a private college. This can lead to students looking for loopholes, and finding a way to establish residency, and receive those same discounts, even in a state they may be far from. 

Now, in some cases, there are ways to do this. Certain states have reciprocity agreements, allowing students to transit between states and still pay in-state tuition. These are limited agreements, and negotiated on a state-by-state basis. Other times a waiver is provided, though these are done on a college level, and tend to be exceptionally rare. In most cases, if you want the lower tuition, you will need to focus on public colleges within your state. 

We hope that you have found this article helpful; while we could not cover every state, Texas and California are both popular choices for out of state applicants, and give insight into how these colleges often approach residency requirements. If you are looking for help building a college list to meet your own financial needs, or gain insights into application strategy, then schedule a free consultation with us today. We have a long experience helping students navigate the troubled waters of college admissions, and are always happy to hear from you.

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