Information for Parents
Howdy Parents!
Starting college can be an exciting and anxious time for both you and your student (usually the students are excited and the parents are anxious!). With that in mind, we hope to address some of your questions and make the transition a little easier on both of you. If you have any other concerns please e-mail us at honors@mays.tamu.edu or call us at (979) 845-7512.
Program requirements
To graduate from Business Honors, a student must complete the following requirements:
- Academic – The program is based on completing 30 credit hours of honors coursework; these hours are divided into Business Honors classes and University Honors classes. (A University Honors class is any honors class offered through Mays Business School.) Students must maintain a 3.5 GPR and receive at least a C in all of their honors classes.
- Professional development – In addition to academic requirements, students must attend three professional development events a year, complete an approved internship and complete an exit survey during their last semester.
What is a professional development event?
Professional development events are unique opportunities within Mays that provide students an insight into what life in the business world will entail. Examples include lunch with entrepreneurs and CEOs of major corporations, presentations from business professionals and resume/interview workshops.
The selection process: how competitive is it and what are you looking for?
Selection to the program is competitive. All of the applicants are high-achieving students who are active in their school and in the community. We take a holistic look at the applicants; there is no specific combination of class rank and test scores that will guarantee selection to the program. In fact, most applicants are fairly similar academically; they are all top-notch students. We look at all portions of the application: the academic record, essay, record of involvement and letter of recommendation. We take the selection process very seriously and each application is given a fair and unbiased evaluation.
You can help your student in the application process by:
- Helping them keep track of the deadline. Late applications are not considered.
- Encouraging them to carefully proofread their essay.
- Reminding them to ask for their letter of reference early.
- Asking them to read all of the information on our application page and following the instructions.
My student has been selected for Business Honors. Now what?
Included with the acceptance letter is a form the student needs to return to us accepting or declining their selection to the program. In April, we host the Business Honors Invitational to tell you and your student more about the program. We’ll send at least one informational e-mail to the student before their New Student Conference (NSC). We’ll work on selecting classes for their fall semester and do everything else they need at the NSC. For now, sit back and enjoy the end of your student’s last year of high school.
My student was not selected for Business Honors. Now what?
All selection decisions are final and there is no waiting list. Again, we want to stress the extremely competitive nature of the selection process. Last year, the average SAT score was 1412, the average class rank was in the top 4 percent and accepted students were very involved in many leadership positions.
Your student’s letter from us tells them that there is a second opportunity to apply. If they achieve at least a 3.6 GPR during their fall semester, they can apply as a current student at the beginning of the spring semester (the application is available in December of each year). These students will be sent a letter formally being invited to apply to the program. These selection decisions are made before students register for classes the following fall semester so we can assist them in registering for honors classes.
What is life at Texas A&M like?
We get many questions about life at Texas A&M and we realize how much campus life influences the college decision for students. The Business Honors staff is here to help, so if you or your student have a question or concern, please contact our office at (979) 845-4873 or e-mail us at honors@mays.tamu.edu.
We want to get an up-close look at Texas A&M. How do we schedule tours?
Tours of the main campus and Mays Business School must be scheduled through the Aggieland Visitor Center, which is located in Rudder Tower. They can be contacted at (979) 845-5851 or visit@tamu.edu.
If you and your student are interested in visiting with the Business Honors staff, please contact our office at (979) 845-4873 to schedule an appointment.
College is expensive. What about financial aid?
A variety of scholarships are available to both incoming freshmen and current students.