• Skip to Primary Navigation
  • Skip to Main Content

Access classroom materials

Web portal to Texas A&M Services

Access your student email

Access the faculty & staff portal

Human resources portal

Popular Searches

  • Where is Texas A&M University?
  • What are the Aggie war hymn lyrics?
  • What is the 12th Man?

Texas A&M University

  • How to Apply
  • Make a Gift
  • Visit Texas A&M

Discover who we are at Texas A&M University and learn what it means to be an Aggie.

We strive to carry out our university’s mission and live by six core values.

We’ve compiled important facts and statistics about Texas A&M.

Our president and governing bodies guide our university.

We remember Texas A&M’s roots and celebrate its milestones.

We’ve gathered a list of common questions about Texas A&M.

Our traditions celebrate the Aggie Family, past and present.

  • Rankings & Recognitions
  • Global Engagement
  • Campus Virtual Tour

Learn how to become the newest, loudest and proudest member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggies.

Learn how to apply as a first-time college student.

Learn how to apply as a student previously enrolled at another college.

Learn how to apply to our graduate and professional schools.

Learn how to apply if you are not a U.S. citizen.

We provided resources to help you understand Texas A&M’s costs and tuition.

Texas A&M offers a variety of financial aid, such as scholarships and grants.

  • Applicant Information Portal
  • Tuition Calculator
  • Info for Admitted Students

Pursue your education as part of the Aggie Family. We have options for all interests, life phases and learning styles.

Texas A&M is home to 16 colleges and schools.

Our students have a vast selection of study areas to choose from.

We offer programs that enable students to learn around the world.

Texas A&M extends beyond College Station to locations across the globe.

We offer resources to ensure students’ academic success.

  • Academic Calendar
  • Honors Program
  • University Libraries
  • Course Catalogs

Make a difference at one of the nation’s leading research institutions.

Our research is making an impact around the globe.

Students have opportunities to be a part of life-changing research.

Our colleges and schools continuously work on field-specific research.

Researchers at Texas A&M collaborate to maximize their work’s impact.

Our equipment, labs and facilities enable groundbreaking research.

  • Research @ Texas A&M
  • Division of Research
  • Council of Principal Investigators
  • Research Compliance & Biosafety
  • Find Funding

Discover what it’s like to live and learn in Aggieland. Our tight-knit community is rooted in tradition and service.

We have various options for parking and getting around campus.

Whether you plan to live on or off campus, we have resources for you.

Students have plenty of options for dining locations, menus and meal plans.

There is a lot to do and see in Bryan-College Station.

Students have many resources and ways to get plugged in.

We have resources and emergency services to keep students safe.

Texas A&M is rich in tradition that celebrates the Aggie Family, past and present.

  • Aggie Culture
  • Corps of Cadets
  • Orientation
  • Remembrance

Texas A&M University is the home of the 12th Man.

Texas A&M University athletics teams and programs.

Schedule of all Aggie games.

The official Texas A&M store for gifts, football gear, apparel and Aggie merchandise.

Donate to Texas A&M Athletics.

TAM LoneStar Athletics

  • Student and Employee Directory
  • University Events Calendar
  • University News

Texas A&M University is home of the 12th Man.

TAM Lone Star Athletics

Apply as a Transfer Student

Every year, thousands of students make the life-changing choice to transfer to Texas A&M University. New Aggies get the entire student experience, from learning about our history and traditions to picking up Aggie Rings.

A transfer applicant is a student who has graduated high school and has enrolled in a post-secondary institution (with or without credits earned) during a fall or spring semester.

To Be Considered for Admission

Transfer applicants should have at least a 2.5 grade point average on at least 24 graded semester hours of transferable coursework at the time of application to be considered for admission.

Review the information on the Transfer Course Sheets to determine the specific coursework preferred by each major or department.

Admissions Terms and Conditions

Find transfer admissions requirements and related details on the Admissions site, including:

  • Grade point average
  • Specifying a major and major requirements
  • Credit by exam
  • Residency requirement for a baccalaureate degree

Important Transfer Resources

Check out our helpful resources to learn about transferring to Texas A&M University.

Transfer Course Sheets

Transfer Course Sheets are short, helpful guides that provide information about transferring to your department of choice at Texas A&M. They are meant to be used in addition to the Undergraduate Catalog and academic advisors.

Course Equivalency

The course equivalency website contains a searchable database of course equivalencies for U.S. colleges and universities. You can either search by the sending institution or by Texas A&M course.

Information Sessions

Texas A&M hosts several information sessions throughout the year to help you navigate the application and enrollment process and answer any questions you may have.

Undergraduate Catalog

Selecting a major is an important part of the transfer process. Each major has its own transfer admission requirements, so be sure to read the Undergraduate Catalog to find requirements for any majors you’re considering.

Transfer Admission Cycles

If you’re applying as a transfer student to Texas A&M, find the dates when you can apply for each semester and location.

College Station and Higher Education Center at McAllen

College station and higher education center at mcallen spring 2025 the application period is aug. 1, 2024 – oct. 15, 2024.

If the application deadline falls on a weekend, the Common Application and ApplyTexas will remain open until 11:59 p.m. CST on the following Monday. Required documents will be accepted until 5 p.m. CST on that Monday.

College Station and Higher Education Center at McAllen Summer/Fall 2025 The application period is Jan. 1, 2025 – March 1, 2025

College station and higher education center at mcallen spring 2026 the application period is aug. 1, 2025 – oct. 15, 2025, galveston spring apply from aug. 1 – dec. 1, galveston summer apply from aug. 1 – june 1, galveston fall apply from aug. 1 – july 1, choose which location you want to attend.

Admission deadlines and processes can vary depending on which campus you are applying to. Explore our locations and the application information for each one.

Aerial view of the Texas A&M University administration building at the heart of campus

College Station, Texas

Texas A&M University’s main campus in College Station is located in the heart of the Houston-Dallas-Austin triangle. Here, you’ll build lasting relationships with friends and professors. You’ll also find out about the traditions that bind all Aggies together and make this university so special. Not only that, you’ll receive a top-quality education that will prepare you for any career path you choose.

  • Programs offered in College Station
  • Apply to Texas A&M University at College Station

the Higher Education Center at McAllen campus

McAllen, Texas

One of our newest facilities is the Higher Education Center at McAllen, which opened in fall 2018. The center serves students in the Rio Grande Valley by providing access to top-tier academic programs close to home. Degree programs range from agricultural economics and engineering to public health and construction science.

  • Programs offered in McAllen
  • Apply to the Higher Education Center at McAllen
  • Higher Education Center at McAllen website

Texas A&M Galveston campus sign

Galveston, Texas

Texas A&M University at Galveston, known as the island campus, is leading the development of the blue economy in the Gulf of Mexico. This branch campus offers a unique blend of marine and maritime programs, including majors in science, business, engineering, liberal arts and transportation.

  • Programs offered in Galveston
  • Apply to Texas A&M University at Galveston
  • Texas A&M University at Galveston website

Texas A&M Qatar main building

Doha, Qatar

Texas A&M University at Qatar is our branch campus in Doha, Qatar. The university offers six undergraduate degrees — including Bachelor of Science degrees in several engineering concentrations — and a graduate program. Courses are taught in English in a coeducational setting.

  • Texas A&M University at Qatar website

Application Materials for Transfer Applicants

Find materials that you will need to apply as a transfer student.

Required Online Application

Prospective students can submit their applications through Common App or ApplyTexas. The application you choose will not affect your admission decision.

Processing Time

On average, it takes three to five business days from the time your application is successfully submitted for Texas A&M to receive it. Monitor the email address you provided on the application for the application acknowledgment communication.

Required Application Fee

A $75 nonrefundable application fee is required to complete your application. The application fee can be paid online through Common App or ApplyTexas , or by calling 979-458-5155.

Fee waivers

Required Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose should clearly demonstrate academic interests and career aspirations. It also provides an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application.

Required Official College Transcript

We require an official college transcript from every school you have previously attended, including dual/college credit courses taken in high school.

Circumstantial Other Materials to Include with Your Application

Finding out if you're admitted.

We make admission decisions on an ongoing basis throughout an admission cycle. When you will receive a decision depends on the type of admission process you're going through (domestic transfer or international transfer), which program you're applying to and other factors.

What Happens After I Apply?

Learn about tracking your application status or about admission decision appeals.

An academic advisor meets with two students.

Connect with an Advisor

Texas A&M University offers prospective students their own advisors, specific to where they call home. If you have questions about the application and admissions process, connect with the advisor closest to you.

Texas A and M University College of Liberal Arts Logo

Transfer FAQs

tamu transfer admissions essay

Texas A&M University

  • Cost & scholarships
  • Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at Texas A&M University?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Texas A&M University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Impactful person short response.

Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why.

Opportunities and Challenges Essay

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

Life Even Short Response

Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college.

Overcoming Challenges Short Response

If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including COVID related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about, please note them in the space below.

College of Engineering Essay

Describe your academic and career goals in the broad field of engineering (including computer science, industrial distribution, and engineering technology). What and/or who has influenced you either inside or outside the classroom that contributed to these goals? It is important to spend time addressing this question as it will be considered as part of engineering review process.

ApplyTexas Essays

Schools using ApplyTexas will have specific guidelines for how many of the following essays are required, if any. Some schools are also on the Common App, so you may respond to those prompts instead in that case.

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

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

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

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

tamu transfer admissions essay

Admissions and Aid

By student enrollment, we are one of the largest departments in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, with approximately 850 students, 40 faculty and post-doctoral researchers, professional service staff and five emeriti faculty. Our size doesn’t stop us from providing an inclusive, people-first environment in which our students can grow and learn. Our students receive world-class education that they can apply to a diverse array of career fields after graduation. From innovative classroom learning spaces to professional development opportunities like internships and faculty-led research projects, we teach our students to be critical thinkers and set them up to succeed in an increasingly competitive job market.

Undergraduate Student Admissions

Incoming freshman admissions.

Interested students must submit their application, along with required materials through ApplyTexas or The Coalition. A full list of program requirements can be found on each degree program page. For general inquiries, email [email protected] .

Change of Major Admissions

Current Texas A&M University students looking to transfer into our department through a change of major, must make a request to the major you want to transfer into by submitting a change of major request form. It is essential to review the requirements before submitting a change of major request. Those requirements can be found on the Change of Major form specific to your degree. You can find application deadlines and Change of Major Forms for our College on the Texas A&M Undergraduate Studies website.

Transfer Student Admissions

If you’re looking to transfer into one of our competitive programs from another university or community college, please refer to the following transfer course sheet guidelines and visit admissions.tamu.edu/apply/transfer for information on how to apply. In order to qualify for transfer, you must have the following by the deadlines listed below:

  • March 15—Summer/Fall
  • October 15—Spring

For questions about transfer admissions, email Reid Stavinoha on the transfer admissions team at [email protected] .

Essay Requirements

As a transfer applicant, you are required to complete Essay A as part of the application. Please address the following questions in your essay:

  • Why do you want this degree?
  • How will this degree help you meet your career goals?
  • Offer an explanation of excessive (three or more) grades of D, F Q, N/G and/or Ws, if applicable.

Transfer Partnerships

With the cost of higher education on the rise, we continue to provide students with affordable and accessible pathways to a college degree. To help us meet our land-grant mission, we are excited to announce new transfer partnerships with Blinn College and South Texas College. After completing an approved Associate of Science degree at one of these institutions, eligible students can seamlessly transfer into ALED or AGCJ. Students wanting to transfer into ASGSC need to speak with an academic advisor before they begin the transfer application. More information about these transfer partnerships can be found on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences website.

Graduate Student Admissions

Interested graduate students must submit their application, along with required materials through the Texas A&M University GraduateCAS . A full list of program requirements can be found on each degree program page. We also encourage you to reach out to the program coordinators for more information.

Readmission into Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

Students who were previously enrolled in a degree-granting program at Texas A&M and did not complete their program of study can apply for readmission to the university. For more information on readmission to Texas A&M University, visit  admissions.tamu.edu/apply/readmit .

  • Must select AGCJ, AGSC, or ALED as first choice major.
  • Must be within university academic thresholds based on classification.
  • Must be away from TAMU for 1 full academic year if TAMU GPA is < 2.0.
  • Must have at minimum a 2.5 GPA on coursework since leaving TAMU.
  • Must have completed all University Core Curriculum.
  • Must discuss interest in your intended major in the essay. For ALED please also discuss your desired minor(s).
  • Application will not be considered unless applicant has met with an advisor prior to application.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Students at Texas A&M get a world-class education at a reasonable cost—and graduate with far less college-related debt than their peers at other universities. We award scholarships annually to undergraduate students in the Department of Agricultural Economics and support graduate students through assistantships and fellowships, travel and research grants. This funding is made possible by donors and supporters of the department including former students, family and friends, former faculty and industry sponsors.

tamu transfer admissions essay

Academic Advising

In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences we have aligned our academic advising to better support students during their time at Texas A&M University. We have assembled a diverse and knowledgeable advisor community dedicated to providing our students with high-quality academic advising services. If you are a current student and have questions about your coursework, degree program or progress toward graduation, we encourage you to reach out to one of the  advisors in AGLS Advising Center 2 .

Have Questions?

For degrees or admissions questions:

For general questions:

A member of Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service | Texas A&M AgriLife Research | Texas A&M Forest Service | Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab | College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Duke University

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

tamu transfer admissions essay

How to Write the ApplyTexas Essays for Transfers, Re-admits, and Transient Students

tamu transfer admissions essay

Whether you’re transferring from another school, applying for readmission, or looking to supplement your ongoing degree with courses at an ApplyTexas school, this article gives you the information you need to craft stellar application essays.

If you have not read CollegeVine’s How to Write the ApplyTexas Essays (2019-2020) , check it out before you read this article. It offers great general advice for how to approach this application. Keep in mind that your essay prompts are different than those of most applicants. This article offers a detailed breakdown of how to write to the prompts specifically for transfer, re-admission, and transient students.

General Tips for Writing ApplyTexas Essays as a Transfer, Re-admit, or Transient Student

Determine which essays are required before you start writing. While you are welcome to respond to every prompt, only a few are required for each University of Texas school. Check out the requirements for schools on your list before beginning your essays.

Write your essays in a word processor. If you’re typing essays into the ApplyTexas portal directly, you may lose some of your work before you get the chance to submit it. Instead of drafting on the ApplyTexas portal, create a new file in a Word Document, Google Doc, or similar word processor. Many of these softwares have the added advantage of a grammar and spell checking tool.

Explain your unique path to this college application. As a special applicant, you have a little extra work to do in terms of persuading the university that you are a good fit for the school. Admissions officers want to know why you are applying to college now. Whatever your unconventional path to ApplyTexas has been, these essays should weave together your life story into one coherent narrative. You want both your past experience and reason for applying to make sense to those reviewing your application.

The great news is that, in many ways, you are better positioned to wow admissions officers than the typical applicant. While high school seniors are full of potential, you have the added benefit of age. Your dreams and ambitions have already been vetted by experience, and you have a better sense of what good your education will do for you in the long run. With that in mind, be sure to address how your additional life experience has prepared you to succeed.

How to Respond to the ApplyTexas Prompts

Notice that for topics A, B, C, and E (but not D), your prompt is different from that of a traditional applicant. See below for tips and examples on how to tackle each one.

Topic A (U.S. Transfer, Transient, Readmit, International Transfer) Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application. You may also want to explain unique aspects of your academic background or valued experiences you may have had that relate to your academic discipline. The statement of purpose is not meant to be a listing of accomplishments in high school or a record of your participation in school-related activities. Rather, this is your opportunity to address the admissions committee directly and to let us know more about you as an individual, in a manner that your transcripts and other application information cannot convey.

Explain your situation. For this essay, it’s critical that you address why you are applying at this time in your life. “Extenuating circumstances” refers to any aspect of your life story that does not fit the mold of a traditional college applicant. Maybe you’re applying after taking time off from school. Perhaps you have attended a few semesters of college only to realize it is not the school for you.

Frame your life as a narrative with an admissions theme. Your application presents a series of facts, but you are more than just facts. Use this essay to show how your life experience has made you into the person you are today. Whether you state it outright or imply it, your essay should fill in the blank for, “I am applying to college now because ______________.”

Good answers include:

  • …I have learned from my DUI and want to pursue a career in teaching to help others make better choices than I did.
  • …I discovered my love of science a bit later in life.
  • …the depression I experienced in my current environment has shown me that your school is a place where I can thrive.
  • …only your school provides the specific courses I need to complete my degree in physical therapy.

One thing that should stand out with these admissions themes is that they are very specific. Use the details of your application to weave together a narrative about why college, why now.

The scratch of pencils, a familiar sound, filled my high school gymnasium. Metal dividers separated one watchful student from another, such that for once I did not have to arch my arm over my paper to protect the knowledge I had worked tirelessly to obtain.

We fell into a rhythm as the twin scents of sweat and stress permeated the stale air.

I have always been a straight-A student, and taking that AP Chemistry exam felt like just another notch on my belt at the time. Back when I confused learning with the chronic headache I felt every test day, these moments made me feel like the king of my school. I was the only student in that room to get a five on the AP. When I learned, I was elated—I thought to myself, I deserve it.

Cut to Chemistry 201 at Cornell, and I am in a similar room again. The metal dividers have been replaced by empty air, as gaping holes between the modern desk designs assure students that their answers are protected. My eyes are itchy, as I read, “Draw the Lewis Structure for Isopropyl Acetate.”

I freeze. A jumble of Hs and Os, spills out of my head on the page, but none of it makes sense, even to me. I scribble it out and move on, figuring I can make up the lost points on another question. The next three questions receive similar gibberish, and then time’s up. I cannot make eye contact with my TA when I hand in the exam.

Better luck next time! scrawls an optimistic grader atop the test I have failed. I look down at the correct answers, which appear just as much like gibberish to me as my guesses. Study harder, I think to myself. You know you can do this!  

Eventually I ace the course, but even after I have crammed the right configuration of atoms into my skull, I come to find that this has not been my first taste of failure after all. I cannot remember the last time I called my mother. I cannot remember the last time I had a meal. Of the five hundred students in my class, I do not know the name of a single person. Each of my siblings has had a birthday since I started college, and I have not celebrated any of them. There is a world beyond Chemistry, and I have failed it with my obsession to be the best.

Transferring to Corpus Christi represents my next step in preparing for the only exam I care about anymore—the test of life. Two years ago, I never would have considered applying to a college a mere ten minutes away from my home. I would have flaunted its active student life and connections to the community I love in favor of fame and prestige. But I have learned that my real success was never leaving home. I want my legacy to be building up the people and places that have built me. 

Topic B (U.S. Transfer, Transient, Readmit, International Transfer)

If you are applying as a former student and were suspended for academic reason, describe briefly any actions you have taken to improve your academic abilities and give reason why you should be readmitted. If you are applying as a nondegree seeking or postbaccalaureate applicant, briefly describe the specific objectives you wish to accomplish if admitted, including the courses in which you would like to enroll.

Answer “Why now?” For readmission applicants, explain what will make you a better student now than previously. If your school has asked you to leave, chances are you know why they no longer wanted you on campus. Perhaps disciplinary action was involved for academic integrity, a criminal offence, or disruptive behavior due to an untreated mental illness. This is your opportunity to put the past behind you and move forward.

What have you learned during your time off? What past wrongs have you sought to amend and how? What gives you confidence that this time, your performance at the institution will be different?

For baccalaureate candidates, use the space to explain how you came to realize additional undergraduate coursework was necessary. How will this new degree prepare you for your future career? Why are you pursuing these courses now rather than as part of your undergraduate degree? Paint a picture for your readers about why it is important for you to return to school now.

Incorporate evidence, such as anecdotes and quantitative metrics of your success. This essay is one of the most important you will write, so it has to be polished. If you only request feedback for one essay, do it for this one.

Adopt a more formal tone for this essay. While many other essays invite creative, descriptive responses, this prompt is designed for a direct, persuasive entry.

I hit my personal rock bottom in October 2018, when a campus police officer at UT Austin apprehended me for attempting to sell marijuana to my fellow students at a party. That drug test was my bill come due for the drug abuse I had embraced, ironically, out of fear that I would not succeed at UT Austin. When I faced disciplinary action, it seemed I was on the fast track to a life of drugs and crime, but looking back with a year of perspective, I see that the incident proved to be a blessing in disguise. The past twelve months have provided me with opportunities to get sober, discover my interest in real estate through my first paid position, and address the underlying issues that made me turn to substance abuse in the first place.

Immediately upon vacating my undergraduate dormitory, I checked myself into a thirty-day rehabilitation program, where I experienced a combination of physical pain and mental breakthrough. My AA sponsor, transformed my life through the power of his example. Once mere hours away from losing custody of his children, my sponsor turned his life around and showed me that no one is beyond redemption.

With the help of my sponsor, I secured a position as an administrative assistant with a real estate agency in Houston. The satisfaction of a job well done became my new high as I scheduled meetings, researched listings, and coordinated with clients to help them find the perfect home. Clients fascinated me with the diverse life stories and priorities they brought to their search for a home, and I found myself staying late to conduct research and talk to our realtors about their experiences. As a social person, I loved discovering a profession in which I could be paid for listening carefully and helping someone achieve a dream. Over the summer, I earned my realtor’s license and recently closed escrow on my first deal. Even if I am readmitted to UT Austin, I will continue my real estate work part-time. I see my formal schooling as an opportunity to increase my impact in this sector in the long-term.

But life is more than what one does for a living. This past year gave me the space I needed to dive into the most important thing—my relationships. After ten years of not speaking to my father, I reconnected with him, going so far as to visit him three times in Minneapolis. My time in rehab showed me how much my reliance on substances was escapism from the pain of losing my relationship with my father during my parents’ divorce. I feel as though, in reconnecting with him, I have given myself and my family the gift of an emotionally healed version of me.

Returning to UT Austin next academic year would bring me full circle. My priorities have been upended entirely and in the best sense. Instead of dealing drugs, I would be a source of support and a potential mentor to students facing similar struggles with addiction. Instead of approaching my studies out of fear, I would strive academically, knowing that the foundation I lay now sets me up to have a stronger benefit on others in the real estate industry. Having reconciled with my father, I would enter the campus with a strength and wholeness that I could not even have dreamt I would bring this time last year. Leaving UT Austin has made me a new man, and it would be my honor to bring that new self to campus. Thank you for considering my reapplication.

Topic C (U.S. Transfer, Transient, Readmit, International Transfer)

There may be personal information that you want considered as part of your admissions application. Write an essay describing that information. You might include exceptional hardships, challenges, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, educational goals, or ways in which you might contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.

Highlight your unusual circumstance. Is there any way in which you do not feel like a typical college applicant? What has been different about your life relative to your peers? These are good questions to keep in mind as you draft your response to this prompt. What makes your application unique may be something negative, like a death in the family, or a positive development, such as an unusual talent you have pursued.

Emphasize your growth and maturity. Regardless of your essay topic, demonstrate how this exceptional circumstance has made you into the person you are today. If you cannot think of any way in which your circumstances have changed you, then that may be a sign you need to choose a different essay topic.

A bit about me: I’ll bet I am your only applicant this year who knows what pigeon meat tastes like, or how to make shoes out of cardboard boxes, how to concoct a Christmas feast out of old tortillas and canned tomato soup. For years after my family immigrated from Juarez, Mexico, I was the only student in my school who needed free or reduced lunch, the only person who could not afford to go on field trips, the only foreigner.

If, four years ago, you had told me I would breathe a word of these aspects of my identity in a college essay, I would not have believed it—me, go to college? Not with a track record like mine. As a stack of statistics, my record was not promising. But I am learning that poverty, ethnicity, and difficult life circumstances are what you make of them.

I have learned to prefer a different list of onlies: I am the only person who was taught to read before Kindergarten by my big sister. Thanks to my mom, I’m the only girl at my school who has met all my city council members, state representatives and congresspeople. I am the only student I know who has met every cousin, aunt, uncle, and been to every grandparent’s grave.

When my school district began an initiative to redraw the boundaries of which neighborhood it served, I was the only student to protest discriminatory redistricting. That led me to become the first student representative to serve on the school board. Though I began school doubting I would graduate from high school, I have gone on to write a bill proposing increased spending on community, which State Senator Juan Hinojosa recently sponsored.

My commitment to education equity is what draws me to apply to Texas A&M, where the degree I earn will empower me to help students in poverty to rise above their circumstances. On campus, I hope to be a first generation student serving in student government, the first Latinx student to earn presidential recognition for my service, the first undergraduate to run for student office.

Progress always starts with an only, a first, but it does not have to end there. Through my activism, I hope to build a legacy of getting involved and advocating for better treatment. My children and grandchildren will inherit a family tradition of strong women who speak up for the marginalized. Applying to Texas A&M is another first for me, but it’s only the beginning of my story.

Topic E (U.S. Transfer, Transient, Readmit, International Transfer)

Choose an issue of importance to you—the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope—and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.

Showcase your intellect. If you are drawn to this prompt, that probably means there are a few ideas that matter a lot to you. Your topic can be anything from how to bake the perfect pie to why the national debt crisis is the greatest concern facing our generation. Choose a topic about which you are knowledgeable, then write in such a way that demands your readers consider your point of view seriously.

Make a point. This prompt invites you to talk about something you care about, so don’t shy away from speaking your mind. Rather than summarize the views of others, try to insert your own voice and perspective into an ongoing debate.

Avoid divisive issues. This topic has a difficult balance to strike. On the one hand, you want to write about something that really matters to you. On the other hand, taking a strong stance on a polarizing issue could alienate your readers. Use your best judgement when it comes to selecting your area of interest. Share essay drafts with trusted friends and family members to get a sense of whether your topic will cause the admissions committee to react negatively.

Would you want to wake up to bed sores, feel the dull ache of blisters cracking under your weight? Or to have your only connection to the outside world be a plastic button that worked but sometimes? Would you want to subsist on a diet of mealy muffins served on teetering trays? To hear the demented ravings of your peers as they battled the demons standing between them and the grave?

Most of us don’t like to think about these questions—they make us uncomfortable. That’s why we don’t talk about the approximately 1.5 million Americans currently residing in assisted living facilities. Most do not know, or care, that the assisted living population is expected to double by 2030. We are too busy enjoying our own youth—or else nipping and tucking our own signs of aging—to confront the crisis of apathy we have created when it comes to the elderly.

“Growing old ain’t for sissies,” as my Nanna liked to say. At first as a visitor then as a volunteer at her assisted living facility, I learned about the thousand losses that make advanced aging so difficult. The young do not listen to you, diminishing your autonomy with daily restrictions on your freedom, while the old abandon you as, one by one, they pass away.

I was in the bed with my grandmother when she died. Though she could not form sentences of her own, she could still pray the Catholic prayers she had learned as a child, mouthing the “Hail Mary” with me into morning’s early light. I started another decade, but her voice was not humming to the rhythm of my words. By the time I found my mother and brought her in, my grandmother’s sallow face showed that the end had come.

Witnessing her death, and the grim days that preceded it, had a profound impact on me. Watching a woman who had led our family for so long become dependent and senile taught me that my own independence was fragile and temporary. It gave me a sense of perspective every time I had a setback at school.

But when I tried to talk about my experience with friends, nobody wanted to hear about it. That is not to say they did not want to listen, but they seemed unable to bear the discomfort even of hearing about end of life care. “Won’t you be surprised when it happens to you,” I remember thinking, a callous response even if it does raise a point.

I wish more people cared about the elderly the way I learned to from my time with Nanna. An elder used to mean someone you respected, not ignored. Our choice as a society to distance ourselves from that pain and suffering makes the plight of the elderly even worse. What is more, it denies the next generation the vital perspective that makes them good stewards of their own lives.

Dear reader, if I could persuade you of just one thing, I would ask you to read those first questions I posed to you again. If you live long enough, this will happen to you. And it’s happening to people who need you now. I ask you, if you had to grow old, would you want to go through it alone?

That’s everything you need to know to get started on your own unforgettable essays. Be sure to start early, write often, and review your work before sending it in. Your college essays may not be a walk in the park, but they give you a great opportunity to explain your special circumstance and showcase what makes you a strong candidate. Happy writing!

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

tamu transfer admissions essay

Get the Reddit app

Howdy! This sub is dedicated to A&M undergraduate and graduate admissions. Share information, ask questions, and post news. Please read our rules and guidelines before posting, and always include the relevant flair.

Transfer application and essay questions

Where can I find the questions for the transfer application and essay? Applytexas.org is not letting me start the Fall 2023 application yet and I'd like to think about the questions before applying.

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

IMAGES

  1. How To Write A Transfer Essay

    tamu transfer admissions essay

  2. With this good transfer essay example you will never have a bad essay

    tamu transfer admissions essay

  3. TAMU transfer application and essay tips and advice :) : r/TAMUAdmissions

    tamu transfer admissions essay

  4. Sample College Transfer Essay

    tamu transfer admissions essay

  5. College Transfer (300 Words)

    tamu transfer admissions essay

  6. TAMU transfer application and essay tips and advice :) : TAMUAdmissions

    tamu transfer admissions essay

COMMENTS

  1. Transfer

    Spring 2025 - Galveston. August 1, 2024. Deadline: December 1, 2024. . Dates are valid for applicants to Texas A&M College Station and the Higher Education Center at McAllen. Application dates differ for incoming International Transfer. If the deadline falls on a weekend, the application will remain open until 11:59 pm (Central Standard Time ...

  2. How to Write the Texas A&M University Essays 2023-2024

    Texas A&M University has three required essay prompts on its application. You are asked to write about your personal story, a life event that has prepared you for success in college, and a person who has profoundly impacted your life. There is also an optional essay prompt about any additional challenges or opportunities you have had to overcome.

  3. Transfer Students

    The Program for Transfer Admission (PTA) offers prospective transfer students a unique opportunity to be automatically admitted to Texas A&M University. PTA is designed for students attending Texas community colleges and offers more than 65 degree plans. Upon successful completion of the coursework outlined by the degree plan and additional ...

  4. Transfer Initiatives

    The Program for Transfer Admission (PTA) offers prospective transfer students a unique opportunity to be automatically admitted to Texas A&M University. PTA is designed for students attending Texas community colleges and offers more than 65 degree plans. Upon successful completion of the coursework outlined by the degree plan and additional ...

  5. 2 Terrific Texas A&M Essay Examples by an Accepted Student

    Essay Example 2 - A Teacher's Impact. Prompt: Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why. (250 words) Walking into my first class of senior year, Securities and Investments, I thought, "Just another class with just another basic teacher.". Mr. Anderson was standing outside the classroom, I walked in and saw no one ...

  6. How to Apply as a Transfer Student

    Transfer Course Sheets. Transfer applicants should have at least a 2.5 grade point average on at least 24 graded semester hours of transferable coursework at the time of application to be considered for admission. Review the information on the Transfer Course Sheets to determine the specific coursework preferred by each major or department.

  7. TAMU transfer essays

    Hi there! It's excellent that you're putting thought into your essays for the transfer application at Texas A&M University. Here are some tips to make your essays stand out: 1. Focus on your passion for engineering: Use your personal experiences, interests, and future goals to showcase your genuine passion for the field. Explain what initially sparked your interest in engineering, how you have ...

  8. Transfer Students

    The admission process for most students who transfer from institutions outside Texas A&M University is handled almost entirely by Texas A&M University Admissions. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the admissions website to view minimum transfer requirements and deadlines. Once the Office of Admissions determines that a transfer ...

  9. Transfer FAQs

    Activities, awards and accomplishments should be listed directly on the applytexas application for review. Documents needed for transfer admission are, transfer application completed on applytexas.org, essay topic A, application fee or fee waiver, and all college transcripts including dual credit.

  10. Texas A&M University's 2023-24 Essay Prompts

    College of Engineering Essay. Required. 500 Words. Describe your academic and career goals in the broad field of engineering (including computer science, industrial distribution, and engineering technology). What and/or who has influenced you either inside or outside the classroom that contributed to these goals?

  11. Readmit

    Transfer Programs and Initiatives ... Essay. Submit a statement explaining why you desire readmission to Texas A&M. Admissions Criteria ... Admissions Processing Texas A&M University General Services Complex 750 Agronomy Road, Suite 1601 0200 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-0200

  12. PDF Human Resource Development 2024-2025 Transfer ...

    Life and Physical Science 3 or 4 core.tamu.edu core.tamu.edu This transfer course sheet is applicable for applicants applying between August 1 st , 2024 and October 15 th , 2025. • Admission preference is given to applicants with the highest GPA and the most appropriate courses completed.

  13. International Transfer

    Admissions Processing. Texas A&M University. General Services Complex. 750 Agronomy Road, Suite 1601. 0200 TAMU. College Station, TX 77843-0200. (979) 845-1060. Items must be received by the closing date in order for the application to be considered complete. Texas A&M University is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

  14. PDF Biomedical Sciences 2024-2025 Transfer Course ...

    Biomedical Sciences 2024-2025 Transfer Course Sheet College of Arts and Sciences [email protected] ... The essay and supporting materials should reflect that the ... Course Sheet was supported in a partnership between the Office of Admissions and the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M University with the Undergraduate Catalog having the most ...

  15. PDF Ocean Engineering

    The essay and supporting mate rials should reflect that ... to accept transfer admission to any major with the expectation of later applying for an on -campus ... Transfer Course Sheet was supported in a partnership between the Office of Admissions and the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University with the 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog ...

  16. PDF Interdisciplinary Engineering (ITDE/MTDE) 202 4 ...

    The essay and supporting materials should reflect that the student ... to accept transfer admission to any major with the expectation of later applying for an on -campus ... Transfer Course Sheet was supported in a partnership between the Office of Admissions and the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University with the Undergraduate Catalog ...

  17. PDF Agricultural Economics 2024-2025 Transfer Course Sheet College of

    • In your essay, please be sure to address how an Agri cultural Economics degree will help you meet your career goals. ... Use the TAMU Transfer Course Equivalency . website to check this equivalency . 6/21/2024 : ... • Transfer applicants are instructed NOT to accept transfer admission to any major with the expectation of later applying ...

  18. Transfer application process: B.S. in Visualization

    Transfer applicants must have at least a 3.0 grade point ratio (GPR) on at least 24 graded semester hours of transferable coursework at the time of application to be reviewed for admission. Applicants must have completed MATH 151 and MATH 152 or above.

  19. Freshman

    A freshman applicant is a current high school student (with or without college credit) or a high school graduate with no college credit earned after high school graduation. Join the Aggie Family Texas A&M University is home to more than 70,000 students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs studying business, engineering, liberal arts, nursing and much more.

  20. PDF Computer Science 202 4-202 5 Transfer Course Sheet Minimum GPA

    course (in any language) be taken before coming to Texas A&M University. This course will not count in the degree plan but will help in reducing the time before CSCE 121 can be taken. 3. This Transfer Course Sheet was supported in a partnership between the Office of Admissions and the College of Engineering at Texas A&M

  21. PDF Education (EDUC)

    Coursework for Admission Course Name Hrs. TCCNS TAMU *Core Math 3 e.g. MATH 1314, MATH 1324, Math 1350 MATH 102, MATH 140, Math 135 ... The essay and supporting materials should reflect that the student is interested in pursuing one of our degrees. ... • Transfer applicants are instructed NOT to accept transfer admission to any major with the ...

  22. Admissions and Aid

    In order to qualify for transfer, you must have the following by the deadlines listed below: March 15—Summer/Fall. October 15—Spring. For questions about transfer admissions, email Reid Stavinoha on the transfer admissions team at [email protected].

  23. How to Write the ApplyTexas Essays for Transfers, Re-admits, and

    This article offers a detailed breakdown of how to write to the prompts specifically for transfer, re-admission, and transient students. General Tips for Writing ApplyTexas Essays as a Transfer, Re-admit, or Transient Student Determine which essays are required before you start writing.

  24. Undergraduate Admissions

    Undergraduate Admissions Learn more below about the admission requirements based on your application type. Freshman Transfer On-Campus Change of Major Readmission Freshman Applying to start college for the first time after high school graduation? Admission to Mays is a competitive process.

  25. Nine Examples of UT-Austin Transfer Apply Texas Essay ...

    Nine Examples of UT-Austin Transfer Apply Texas Essay A Statement of Purpose. UT requires all prospective external transfer students to write a 600-750 word response to Apply Texas Essay A: The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application.

  26. Transfer student essay prompt : r/TAMUAdmissions

    It's likely just the statement of purpose which is like why do you wanna go to tamu and why do you wanna major in what you're majoring in. email your (soon to be) advisor about this. introduce yourself and ask what you should say in your essay to make yourself a good candidate. some majors ask for specific requirements in their essays ...

  27. Redditors of TAMU, what can I expect? (Specifically transfer students

    You can pm me minor questions, but my info is old/the people in admissions are really great. So call them. (979) 458-0950 is their number (might be a phone tree). It is not wise to do this if you are transferring into Texas A&M. For transfer students colleges like talking.

  28. Transfer Admissions Essay : r/aggies

    Transfer Admissions Essay. I am planning to transfer to TAMU Fall 2020 so I was looking to see what I would need on my application. I looked at the essay topic and was thinking about writing it soon to have it done, cause I suck with essays. Does anyone know if the essay topic will change next semester or if it stays the same?

  29. Assistant Director of Admissions in Glen Cove, NY for Webb Institute

    Prior experience in college admissions is preferred. Understanding of effective recruiting communications and marketing practices, including the application of innovative technology and media in recruitment. General knowledge of the laws, policies, procedures, and best practices relevant to admissions, financial aid, and student services.

  30. Transfer application and essay questions : r/TAMUAdmissions

    Applytexas.org is not letting me start the Fall 2023 application yet and I'd like to think about the questions before applying. Archived post. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Transfer is mainly SOP, which is read by department not AO. And decision is also by department not AO, so focus on your SOP.