A&M SAT Admission Requirements in 1972 (or thereabouts)

3,097 Views | 31 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by BonfireNerd04
rackmonster
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:08p, 11/21/24
AG
Just wondering if anybody of a certain age can remember that.

I was admitted to A&M at the last minute from Out of State.

They took me because I had just been awarded an NROTC 4 year scholarship. And the Corps needed 'new blood"

All this hysteria over DEI makes me wonder if I was a DEI hire at A&M.

Reply Quote
UTExan
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to rackmonster • 3:21p, 11/21/24
I don't know. I was a product of the rural ghetto-the Inner Country. I got commissioned in the Army in 1974 but my natural suspicion and paranoia kicked in: did I want to be part of an organization that would have me as a member?
“If you’re going to have crime it should at least be organized crime”
-Havelock Vetinari
Reply Quote
3
Larry S Ross
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:17p, 11/21/24
AG
I think in 1968-9 it was 900. But I can't be certain I remember exactly right.
Good Day.
Reply Quote
1
maroon barchetta
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Larry S Ross • 4:20p, 11/21/24
It was 1000 in 1986
Reply Quote
2
gigemags-99
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:27p, 11/21/24
AG
All I know is, I wouldn't have gotten in by today's standards. Thank goodness for legacy at the time. And funny enough, college was easy for me…we've definitely lost sight of some important things.
Reply Quote
6
MAROON
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
4:39p, 11/21/24
AG
I sat once for the SAT and got a 990. That put me into any public university in the state (didn't even look at privates because not sure we had the money for that and even if we did, there is no way my Dad would pay for it).

It was so simple back then
Reply Quote
5
1 edit
Caesar4
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:20p, 11/21/24
AG
I saw this in Texas Monthly back in the late 90s (penned by a sip, so there are some digs, of course). Don't know if it was true but I found it funny but also genuine-sounding (as-in, gets to the gist of who A&M was interested in):
Quote:
As recently as the mid-seventies, the catalog requirements for admission to the College Station campus were only that a student had to be a college-track high school graduate of good moral character and free of infectious and contagious diseases.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/did-you-hear-the-one-about-the-new-aggies/
Reply Quote
4
rackmonster
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:28p, 11/21/24
AG
Thanks everybody for the prompt replies.

I took the SAT twice 910, then 1000. Funny story about how I wound up at A&M. My dad was one of the top engineers in his field. He actually used to visit A&M and guest lecture in the Chem Engineering School. So he got to know a few people. A&M told me that being Out of State, my SAT and grades would require me to take a summer session before I was admitted. So I crossed off A&M. Mid August 1972, we get a out of nowhere phone call from the Navy. I was awarded a scholarship! But I couldn't take it at Penn St. So the Navy gives us a list of schools that still had NROTC slots. One was A&M. They were standing up a brand new unit. So my dad calls a Professor he knew. The Professor says. "stick by the phone, I'll make some calls". About an hour later, we get a call from the Dean of Admissions. He says to my dad "Dr. Jones explained your situation. Your son wasn't born and raised in Texas, but I understand his momma was?' Correct. " If he's good enough for the Navy, he's good enough for us. We'll just consider him a native Texan".

2 days later we were driving to A&M. I register for classes and I get my schedule. Has my name and my Hometown......Reading, TEXAS. My fish bud looks at it and says ' Reading, Texas! WTF...that's gotta be a misprint!"
Well......maybe not.
Reply Quote
8
1 edit
Fins Up!
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:18p, 11/21/24
AG
I seriously doubt that I could get into A&M now. I made a 1100 on the 1989 version of the SAT, and I think a 27 on the ACT (back when that test mattered). But I was not top 10%. I went to a small high school and was 8/50.
Reply Quote
1
1 edit
DannyDuberstein
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:08p, 11/21/24
AG
This admission cycle, the admissions counselors advice was 1400 SAT or 31 ACT to be in the "safe" zone. My kid made a 33 which got her in early October (not top 10%)

Class of 96 and it was a combo of rank and SAT. Top 10% had no minimum (this was me). It wasn't auto by state law yet; it was just how they designed the scale. I think 11-25% was probably around 1050+

The ACT does still matter. Best advice to kids these days is to take both, see which one is better, then go all in on prepping for that one.
Reply Quote
3
3 edits
ToddyHill
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:28p, 11/21/24
AG
There's no way I could get into A&M today. I was out-of-state, applied in the fall of 1974. Scored 1060 on my SAT, had around a B+ average and graduated 50th in a class of 300. Got my acceptance letter on October 1, 1974.
Reply Quote
Jugstore Cowboy
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DannyDuberstein • 10:10p, 11/21/24
AG

Quote:
This admission cycle, the admissions counselors advice was 1400 SAT or 31 ACT to be in the "safe" zone.
Most of us are too old to really compare though, because the test has changed so much. That's 1400 out of 1600 (which sounds high), but most of us tested when 1400 was the max score.

The test was also "re-centered" several times, adjusting scores. I remember pulling my transcript my Jr or Sr year and finding that my SAT score had magically increased by about 100.
Reply Quote
2
YokelRidesAgain
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Jugstore Cowboy • 10:33p, 11/21/24
AG
Jugstore Cowboy said:

Quote:
This admission cycle, the admissions counselors advice was 1400 SAT or 31 ACT to be in the "safe" zone.
Most of us are too old to really compare though, because the test has changed so much. That's 1400 out of 1600 (which sounds high), but most of us tested when 1400 was the max score.
No we didn't. SAT sections have been scored on a 200 to 800 point scale since the 1950s, and the maximum score was always 1600 from that time onwards (except from 2006 to 2016, when the College Board added a writing section, making the maximum score 2400).
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
Reply Quote
6
fc2112
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:50a, 11/22/24
In 1980, I had a 1270 and was top 10% (not that it mattered back then).

In a similar vein, no way I'd get an interview with my present employer nowadays right out of college - we don't even consider engineering graduates with less than a 3.5 GPA.
Reply Quote
DannyDuberstein
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:30a, 11/22/24
AG
SAT average scores over time (all SAT, not A&M). They did readjust, but the average stays within 50-60 points of each other over time. When they re-adjusted scores, I know mine (taken in early 90s when the average was 1000) was bumped about 60 points, which would put it in line with how the average increased in the past 10 years.

To the point above, it's always been 1600 in this time frame except for the brief time there was an additional section for writing which was 800 and took the total to 2400, which I chopped off the chart



Reply Quote
2
3 edits
Fins Up!
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:55a, 11/22/24
AG
I might have qualified for Blinn Team or a waiting list with my 1989 (1100/top Q) credentials in today's world. But in reality, I'd have probably been LSU bound if I had trouble getting into A&M.

I was accepted to A&M, tu, Tech and LSU in 1989. A&M was always "my school". The rest were backups. I could have also just enrolled in the Summer or gone to Galveston for the summer back then also. (Glad I didn't need to!)

In today's world, I think high school students better have strong backup plans, and be ready for them if they are on the bubble like I was.

Blessed to have been a child of the 1970s and 80s.
Reply Quote
Bird Poo
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:55a, 11/22/24
AG
My daughter submitted her app in August and was accepted early October.

She did not submit any test scores. She took a gap year this year for ministry stuff. She was top 12% of her class and has almost 30 hrs of dual credit. She wrote a VERY good and genuine essay though.

We were not expecting her to get in at all! She starts in the fall.
Reply Quote
12
Fins Up!
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Bird Poo • 7:58a, 11/22/24
AG
Awesome! Congratulations to her!
Reply Quote
1
13 - 0
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:34a, 11/22/24
Class of '85 here.
I don't remember class rankings, but I did well in HS. I remember that I needed an 800 on the SAT to get in and I scored a 870... End of Story.
But, I think that had I needed to do better, I would have.... I really wanted to go to A&M.
Reply Quote
Tatem
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:08a, 11/22/24
nobody that old can remember that far back!
Reply Quote
1
chick79
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:17a, 11/22/24
AG
I was admitted in 1974. I think all that was required was 850 or 900. We were less selective back then for sure.
Reply Quote
Jack Boyett
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:19a, 11/23/24
AG
My kid did not get in with a 31. He had a good list of extracurriculars too. He did poorly on the gender and race section of the application though.
Reply Quote
4
BonfireNerd04
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Jack Boyett • 7:33p, 11/24/24
Jack Boyett said:
My kid did not get in with a 31. He had a good list of extracurriculars too. He did poorly on the gender and race section of the application though.


31? You sure that's not the ACT (with a max score of 36)? Or has the SAT's scale drastically changed since 2000?
Reply Quote
Teslag
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:54p, 11/24/24
AG
I've found that most of the people screaming about A&M being a "diploma mill" wouldn't even get in now.
Reply Quote
5
BonfireNerd04
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Teslag • 10:14p, 11/24/24
Teslag said:
I've found that most of the people screaming about A&M being a "diploma mill" wouldn't even get in now.


I got 1500 (700 verbal, 800 math) so I'm pretty sure that I could get accepted if I ever wanted another degree.
Reply Quote
AI Prawn
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Teslag • 10:04a, 11/26/24
Not all of us majored in Eastern European hookers...
Reply Quote
6
gigemags-99
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to AI Prawn • 10:30a, 11/26/24
AG
AI Prawn said:
Not all of us majored in Eastern European hookers...
Reply Quote
EclipseAg
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to maroon barchetta • 1:37p, 11/26/24
AG
maroon barchetta said:
It was 1000 in 1986
When I was in high school (late '70s), you had to have at least a 1,000 to apply as a junior. I cleared the hurdle on the SAT in the spring of my junior year, applied to A&M and was accepted, and never took it again.

The SAT was recentered in 1995 to make it easier, so a 1,000 back then was tougher than it is today.

BTW, pretty sure I had most lopsided SAT verbal/math score in history.

ETA ... sorry, lots of folks mentioned the recentering. Should have read the whole thread.
Reply Quote
3 edits
maroon barchetta
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to EclipseAg • 1:41p, 11/26/24
Yep. It was recentered.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson (who doesn't have a church) and The Rainbow Coalition (which doesn't care about all colors of the rainbow) pushed for years to change the SAT because it was "racially biased". Filling in bubbles with a sharpened #2 pencil was harder for some people based on their melanin levels, according to The Reverend.

Reply Quote
4
NoahAg
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Teslag • 2:36p, 11/26/24
Teslag said:
I've found that most of the people screaming about A&M being a "diploma mill" wouldn't even get in now.
Here. I don't think I'd get in w/ my 1130. I did write a big steaming pile of BS essay on "multicultural diversity."
25 years later I still feel dirty about that.
Reply Quote
Burdizzo
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to EclipseAg • 4:26p, 11/26/24
AG
EclipseAg said:
maroon barchetta said:
It was 1000 in 1986
When I was in high school (late '70s), you had to have at least a 1,000 to apply as a junior. I cleared the hurdle on the SAT in the spring of my junior year, applied to A&M and was accepted, and never took it again.

The SAT was recentered in 1995 to make it easier, so a 1,000 back then was tougher than it is today.

BTW, pretty sure I had most lopsided SAT verbal/math score in history.

ETA ... sorry, lots of folks mentioned the recentering. Should have read the whole thread.


Verbal 470/Math 700

GRE was even worse
Verbal 490/Math 800
Reply Quote
BonfireNerd04
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to maroon barchetta • 7:27p, 11/26/24
maroon barchetta said:
Yep. It was recentered.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson (who doesn't have a church) and The Rainbow Coalition (which doesn't care about all colors of the rainbow) pushed for years to change the SAT because it was "racially biased". Filling in bubbles with a sharpened #2 pencil was harder for some people based on their melanin levels, according to The Reverend.


Because Big Pencil keeps pushing grape menthol flavored pencils on Black kids so they'll get distracted chewing on them instead of focusing on taking the test.
Reply Quote
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.