Admissions·United States· 10 min read

How to Get Into Texas A&M and Texas Public Universities: ApplyTexas and ETAM

How to apply to Texas A&M and Texas public universities: the ApplyTexas application, the top 10% automatic-admission law, holistic review, and the engineering Entry to a Major (ETAM) process.

Last updated 7 July 2026

Key facts

Application system: ApplyTexas (shared across Texas public universities); Texas A&M also accepts the Common App
State law: Top-10% Texas residents get automatic admission to Texas public universities (with conditions) — verify
Engineering entry: Reviewed into General Engineering first; even top-10% admits go through engineering holistic review
Signature mechanic: Entry to a Major (ETAM) — start in General Engineering, then rank and enter a specific major
Decision timing: Rolling decisions — submit a complete file early; verify deadlines officially
International requirements: English proficiency + financial documentation for the I-20 (F-1) — verify officially

The Texas system: one application, a top-10% law, and major-level entry

Texas public universities share a distinctive admissions architecture that differs from most of the country. Texas A&M University in College Station is one of the largest, with a big engineering and international intake — and understanding three Texas-specific mechanics will make your application far stronger. (Texas A&M is part of the Texas A&M University System, not the University of Texas System — a common point of confusion.)

Those mechanics are: the ApplyTexas application (shared by Texas public universities), a state top-10% automatic-admission law for Texas residents, and — at Texas A&M engineering — a two-step "General Engineering first, then Entry to a Major" process. This guide explains how each works so you can plan around them rather than be surprised by them.

ApplyTexas is the shared application for Texas public universities
A state law grants top-10% Texas residents automatic admission to public universities
Texas A&M engineering uses General Engineering + Entry to a Major (ETAM)

The application: ApplyTexas (and Common App at some campuses)

Most Texas public universities, including Texas A&M, accept the ApplyTexas application; Texas A&M also accepts the Common App. Texas residents applying to Texas public universities via ApplyTexas typically do not pay an application fee. One ApplyTexas account lets you apply to multiple Texas public campuses, which is efficient if your list is Texas-heavy.

At Texas A&M, all freshman applicants must complete the Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS), which replaces the high school transcript for most applicants during initial review, and must satisfy the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy. Confirm which application each campus prefers, the current essay and short-answer prompts, and the fee (if any) on each university's official admissions site.

ApplyTexas is shared across Texas public universities (Texas A&M also takes the Common App)
One ApplyTexas account can apply to multiple Texas public campuses
Meet the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy; Texas A&M freshmen complete STARS

Top 10% automatic admission (and how holistic review fills the rest)

Under Texas law, Texas residents who rank in the top 10% of their high school graduating class qualify for automatic admission to Texas public universities, subject to meeting the requirements and deadlines. To qualify at Texas A&M, you generally must rank in the top 10% on or before the deadline, report that rank through STARS, and provide a complete official transcript with a numeric rank, while satisfying the Uniform Admission Policy (Texas residents completing high school out of state may also qualify).

Important nuances: highly selective flagships can cap the share of a class filled by the automatic route and set their own thresholds, and applicants from non-traditional schooling may face specific SAT/ACT criteria to establish top-10% status. If you do not qualify for automatic admission, your file is read in a holistic manner — academic factors (courses attempted, grades, rigor, GPA, class rank) plus non-academic factors (activities, service, leadership, work, and hardships). Verify the current thresholds and any campus caps on the official admissions site.

Top-10% Texas residents get automatic admission to Texas public universities (with conditions)
Report rank via STARS and provide an official transcript with a numeric rank
If you're not in the top 10%, your file gets a full holistic review — verify current criteria

Texas A&M engineering: reviewed into General Engineering

Texas A&M engineering has a crucial twist: all applicants to the College of Engineering are reviewed for placement into General Engineering — including students who qualify for top-10% automatic admission to the university. In other words, being admitted to Texas A&M is not the same as being placed directly into a specific engineering major. (National Merit Semifinalists admitted to the College of Engineering are an exception and are admitted directly into a degree-granting major.)

The College of Engineering uses a total holistic review for engineering applications, handled by the Office of Admissions, considering academic achievements (such as class rank and test scores where submitted), personal achievements (activities, service, leadership), and the essay and short-answer responses. Plan your essays and short answers to speak clearly to engineering interest and preparation. Confirm the current engineering-review details on the official Texas A&M Engineering pages.

Engineering applicants are reviewed for placement into General Engineering
Even top-10% university admits go through the engineering holistic review
Academics + personal achievements + essays/short answers all count

Entry to a Major (ETAM): from General Engineering to your major

Once at Texas A&M, engineering students begin in a common General Engineering curriculum rather than a specific major, and later go through the Entry to a Major (ETAM) process to move into a department. In ETAM you apply to at least three majors (and may rank up to five), listing them in order of preference; a priority method places you in your highest possible preference based on your academic performance, your ETAM application, and each program's capacity.

There is an automatic-entry path to your first-choice major for students who meet the ETAM eligibility requirements and reach a defined high cumulative GPA (or hold certain distinctions such as being a National Merit Scholar); students below that bar are placed through the review using the ranking and capacity. Exact GPA thresholds, eligible-coursework requirements, and rules vary by entering class, so confirm the current ETAM requirements for your class year on the official Texas A&M Engineering ETAM pages and with your academic advisor.

Start in General Engineering, then apply through ETAM to a specific major
Apply to at least three majors (up to five), ranked; placement uses performance + application + capacity
Automatic first-choice entry exists at a defined high GPA — verify your class-year rules

Deadlines, review timing, and international applicants

Texas A&M communicates freshman decisions on a rolling basis, so submitting a complete file early — application, STARS record, and any required materials — is to your advantage. Priority and final deadlines are set each cycle; confirm them on the official Texas A&M admissions site.

International applicants apply through the same system and must meet English-proficiency requirements and provide financial documentation for the I-20 (F-1 visa) process. Verify the accepted English tests, minimum scores, and financial-documentation rules on the official Texas A&M international-admissions pages, and treat all visa and immigration steps as neutral official requirements — this guide is general information, not immigration or admissions advice, and the university's and the U.S. government's official rules always govern.

Decisions are rolling — submit a complete file early
Confirm current priority/final deadlines on the official site
International applicants: English proficiency + financial documentation for the I-20 — verify

Frequently asked questions

What is ApplyTexas and do I have to use it?

ApplyTexas is the shared application used by Texas public universities; Texas A&M also accepts the Common App. One ApplyTexas account can apply to multiple Texas public campuses, and Texas residents applying via ApplyTexas typically pay no application fee. Confirm which application each campus prefers and any fees on its official site.

How does the Texas top 10% rule work?

Texas law grants automatic admission to Texas public universities for Texas residents in the top 10% of their high school class, subject to conditions — reporting rank via STARS, providing an official transcript with a numeric rank, and meeting the Uniform Admission Policy and deadlines. Highly selective campuses may cap the automatic share and set their own thresholds; verify current rules officially.

If I'm admitted to Texas A&M for engineering, am I in my major?

Not directly. Engineering applicants are reviewed for placement into General Engineering — even top-10% university admits go through the engineering holistic review (National Merit Semifinalists are an exception, admitted directly into a major). You start in a common General Engineering curriculum and later move into a specific department through the Entry to a Major (ETAM) process.

What is the Entry to a Major (ETAM) process?

ETAM is how Texas A&M engineering students move from General Engineering into a specific major. You apply to at least three majors (up to five), ranked, and a priority method places you in your highest possible choice based on academic performance, your ETAM application, and program capacity. There is an automatic first-choice path at a defined high GPA (or certain distinctions). Exact thresholds vary by class year — verify on the official ETAM pages.

Does top-10% automatic admission apply to international students?

No — the top-10% automatic-admission law applies to Texas residents at Texas public universities. International applicants are reviewed holistically, must meet English-proficiency requirements, and must provide financial documentation for the I-20 (F-1 visa). Verify the current requirements on the official Texas A&M international-admissions pages.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: Texas A&M University — Freshman Admissions; Texas A&M University — Admission (University Catalog); Texas A&M Engineering — Entry to a Major Process; Texas A&M Engineering — Apply Now; Texas A&M — STARS (Self-reported Transcript).

Last verified: 7 July 2026.