Blinn to A&M transfer question.

[Michael]

All three of my daughters were accepted to the PSA program. The oldest attended A&M Commerce for a year and then was automatically admitted to TAMU and graduated from there in 2017. The youngest did the same, except she attended A&M Corpus. She is currently a junior at TAMU.

The middle daughter wanted to be in Cstat with her friends and decided to forego the "automatic" route (assuming minimum requirements are met) via PSA and to attend Blinn in Bryan, with hopes of later being admitted via normal competitive transfer. Of course, I tried to encourage her to choose the PSA, but she's fairly hard headed and persistent. My question to her was "Do you want to start in College Station or finish in College Station (at A&M?)"

After a somewhat rough first year, she didn't get accepted to TAMU. She had to take somewhat of a circuitous route to her RN degree from Blinn, and has excelled in her program. It is fairly likely, if she chooses, that she would get accepted to TAMU for her BSN, but the process could have been a whole lot easier if she had accepted the PSA opportunity, initially.

While I was typing this, Courtney called and we discussed your post and question. She said, without a doubt, she would recommend the PSA over competitive transfer from Blinn. There is so much more support and guidance from the system schools in positioning the student to meet the transfer requirements (although they also encourage students to stay and earn a degree from the system schools.)

Honestly, I don't know if Courtney would have succeeded in the PSA program (as a 17 year old freshman) anymore than she did at Blinn, but it's definitely more of a "guaranteed" opportunity with better support at a smaller school. I also think, in the long term, Courtney benefitted from the hardship she created for herself, and is in better position to succeed (in school and career) because of it, but she will be the first to tell you if she had it all to do over again she would have chosen the PSA option.

[Michael]

To add to the above...

My oldest daughter was devastated and cried when she didn't get accepted for freshman admission to the big school, but after we talked to advisors she (still reluctantly) decided to go to Commerce for a year.

The youngest was also really disappointed when she didn't get accepted to TAMU via freshman admission, but she had the benefit of seeing the choices that her older sisters had made, and it made the automatic decision much easier for her.

BTW, PSA guarantees automatic entry to TAMU if you take at least 12 hours each of the fall and spring semesters and maintain a 3.0 gpa in applicable classes. Blinn Team is a 2 year program, and there is no guarantee of entry to TAMU (although I'm sure if you maintain similar standards it's pretty much automatic.) There is, of course, no guarantee if via competitive transfer.

[Burnadell]

OK gotcha. Like I said...two of my kids went straight to Blinn out of high school without Blinn TEAM. My son got in to TAMU after 2 years at Blinn and graduated in 4 years (Ag Communications).

My daughter went to Blinn and got into TAMU after one year (Communications). She's a Junior at TAMU now.

I think going into Blinn motivates them to get into the big school. Classes transferred right in so they didn't lose credits.

I have another daughter (senior in high school) who will be attending Blinn in the fall and follow the same path into TAMU. Both my Blinn kids picked majors that allowed for easier acceptance into TAMU.

Congratulations on your 3 kiddos in aspiring to be Aggie graduates. Curiously, what job does your son have withe the Ag Communications degree. Is that like a writing job?

[jmac24]

That is what my son did three years ago. Lived in the Barracks and attended Blinn in Bryan for a year. Reapplied to A&M after one year with good grades at Blinn and got into A&M. He also got accepted into one of their other campuses, I think Corpus Chisti, but he wanted to be with all of his buddies.

[lck90]

I went to Blinn for two years then transferred to A&M. GPA at Blinn was high enough to get into Construction Science with no issues. I had no prior contact with A&M before I applied.

[TexasLongball]

I feel the situation you're in. My son was notified that he is on the waitlist for A&M and consideration for Blinn TEAM. He's heard of other kids flat out lying on their applications with worse GPAs and SAT scores and getting accepted. It was hard for him to swallow that. He took engineering classes for all of his electives in HS and was in a few service organizations, as well as playing football. It was a shot to learn that he didn't make the cut. He's taking it in stride and awaiting the TEAM verdict. Best of luck to your daughter OP.

[CEO]

I feel the situation you're in. My son was notified that he is on the waitlist for A&M and consideration for Blinn TEAM. He's heard of other kids flat out lying on their applications with worse GPAs and SAT scores and getting accepted. It was hard for him to swallow that. He took engineering classes for all of his electives in HS and was in a few service organizations, as well as playing football. It was a shot to learn that he didn't make the cut. He's taking it in stride and awaiting the TEAM verdict. Best of luck to your daughter OP.

Yeah it was kind of a gut punch for her when she got the letter. Giving her a few days to let it sink in then time to make a plan. Good luck to your son as well.

[ORIONTHEHUNTER]

I feel the situation you're in. My son was notified that he is on the waitlist for A&M and consideration for Blinn TEAM. He's heard of other kids flat out lying on their applications with worse GPAs and SAT scores and getting accepted. It was hard for him to swallow that. He took engineering classes for all of his electives in HS and was in a few service organizations, as well as playing football. It was a shot to learn that he didn't make the cut. He's taking it in stride and awaiting the TEAM verdict. Best of luck to your daughter OP.

How do you lie about your GPA and SAT scores, don't you have to submit an official transcript and SAT as part of your application?

[JTeLarkin08]

I just went to Blinn and then transffered over based on my grades at blinn.. A semester before I was ready to transfer I made an appointment with the admissions ladies at A&M in the major I was wanting to get into to ask about transferring and to just get my name in front of them. I almost went into it as a "Job" interview you could say.. They are the people letting students in. So if your close on grades with another student but they recognize your name and you made an impression on them it cant hurt. I am 100% sure to this day that is the only reason I got into A&M. Because I was on the bottom side, grade wise of the people they let in.

[Dusty Britches]

As a university system employee, I feel obliged to advise you and your daughter to knock out the first 60 hours at Blinn (or high school to college courses) then transfer. Over 60% of freshman and sophomores quit or get kicked out, which leaves a lot of space for those who want to seriously get a bachelor's degree.

I like the advice to visit with the A&M college that she wants to transfer into for name recognition. It shows the dean and others that you are serious about your goals and your ability to plan your route goes a long way. It helps you to stand out.

[TexasLongball]

How do you lie about your GPA and SAT scores, don't you have to submit an official transcript and SAT as part of your application?

I see where my post was confusing. There was a group of 6 boys that lied about the groups they were in with some stating they were in up to 16 student groups...they were in 0. PLUS their GPAs and SATs were lower than my son's. Evidently there is a rumor that the groups listed on an application aren't fact-checked. Who knows? I just see it as a parenting moment and one that he will come out stronger on the other side.

[ORIONTHEHUNTER]

oh gotcha yeah i thought they lied about their GPAs and SATs

[RCDuck]

I feel the situation you're in. My son was notified that he is on the waitlist for A&M and consideration for Blinn TEAM. He's heard of other kids flat out lying on their applications with worse GPAs and SAT scores and getting accepted. It was hard for him to swallow that. He took engineering classes for all of his electives in HS and was in a few service organizations, as well as playing football. It was a shot to learn that he didn't make the cut. He's taking it in stride and awaiting the TEAM verdict. Best of luck to your daughter OP.

Basically the same situation with my son... he was given the same options and is currently up for consideration for waitlist and Blinn TEAM. One thing we didn't know when he received notice was that if you chose Blinn TEAM only and not waitlist, you would hear back sooner on the Blinn TEAM consideration. Apparently those who selected Blinn Team only have gotten responses this week while my son (and yours) still wait.... frustrating process to say the least. It sounds like it will be at least March 1st or later before we hear anything.

[CaptainDave]

As a university system employee, I feel obliged to advise you and your daughter to knock out the first 60 hours at Blinn (or high school to college courses) then transfer. Over 60% of freshman and sophomores quit or get kicked out, which leaves a lot of space for those who want to seriously get a bachelor's degree.

I like the advice to visit with the A&M college that she wants to transfer into for name recognition. It shows the dean and others that you are serious about your goals and your ability to plan your route goes a long way. It helps you to stand out.

Although not what everyone wants to do or have their child do, this advice is spot on. Many State schools are bottom heavy; with the largest student populations being freshman and sophmores. A large percentage of these students for a multitude of reasons don't make it to upper classman. That leaves a lot of space for students wanting to transfer in. At the end of the day, the degree will say A&M or fill in the blank. The fact that you took freshman English, world history, etc., at Blinn or any other Juco doesn't change that. The only negative with transferring in my mind is you may not get the full college experience as some might point out.

[Dusty Britches]

True, but the best college experience was in our junior and senior years. I don't keep in touch with anyone I met in my first 2 years, but those last 2 year friends and associates are still on my contacts list.