Admissions

Source: https://admissions.tamu.edu/resources/future-students/college-readiness/stars-tips Parent: https://admissions.tamu.edu/apply/admitted-students

What is the Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS)?

\ The Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) lists the courses and associated grades that have been attempted or will be attempted for high school college credit. It replaces the high school transcripts used by the Office of Admissions during the initial admissions process in most cases. All freshman applicants, with a few exceptions, will enter their courses, grades, class rank (if provided on transcript) and graduation plan in STARS. Since accuracy is critical, we highly recommend that you have a copy of your high school transcript available to use as a reference when you create your STARS.\ \ The Texas A&M University STARS is separate from the admissions application and can be linked to your application only after submitting the online application. A STARS account can be created at any time. Upon completion of the STARS Record and submission of your application, you must link your STARS to your Texas A&M University application by clicking the link in the ‘Documents Required for Admission’ checklist displayed in our Applicant Information System (AIS).\ \

Who is required to complete the STARS Record?

\ All freshman applicants must complete a STARS with the following exception:\

• GED graduates must submit their official GED transcript along with official partial high school transcript(s).

Technical Support

If you have questions about the STARS website or trouble using the website, contact STARS Technical Support.\ \

Frequently Asked Questions

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If I Am in the Top 10%, Should I Submit a STARS Record and a Transcript?

Yes, Texas residents reporting a top-10% ranking must fill out a STARS Record and indicate the numeric ranking within the record. Applicants must also provide a verification of ranking by submitting an official high school transcript via TREx or the upload feature in AIS. This will speed up the automatic admission.

Do I Have to Submit a High School Transcript?

The following applicants are required to submit a high school transcript.

• Texas residents reporting a top ten percent ranking must submit a STARS Record and also provide verification of ranking by submitting an official high school transcript with a relative numeric ranking via TREx or the upload feature in AIS.
• GED graduates will not submit a STARS Record but must submit their official GED transcript along with official partial high school transcript(s). The original certificate and transcript(s) may be sent by mailor hand delivered.
• Applicants who have already graduated high school must submit a STARS Record and a final high school transcript.

If I Send a High School Transcript, Do I Still Need to Fill Out a STARS Record?

Yes, all students must provide a STARS Record in order to complete their file unless you are one of the exceptions noted above. The STARS replaces the high school transcript previously used by the Office of Admissions in the initial admissions process in most cases.

What Will Happen if I Do Not Fill Out a STARS Record?

Applications that do not include a STARS Record will be considered incomplete at the deadline and will not be considered for admission. The STARS Record is a required document similar to the essay.

What Will Happen if I Cannot Complete a STARS Record?

If you fail to complete a STARS Record for reasons other than you simply did not get it done, you may contact the Office of Admissions and provide a detailed explanation of your circumstances by using the "Contact Us" - "Ask a Question" feature in AIS and including the subject code STARS in your response. \ \

Admissions staff will instruct you as to how to complete your file.

What if I Attended More Than One High School?

You should list the high schools attended and the dates of attendance on your STARS Record. Enter all of your courses (regardless of how many different schools you attended) under the school you are currently attending. If you have attended multiple schools and the courses and grades are not reflected on your current high school transcript, you should obtain a copy of the transcript(s) from your previous school(s) and enter courses and grades under your current school. \  \ NOTE: you will be required to enter GPA/Class Rank information for all schools attended. We expect that you will have a GPA and perhaps a class rank for the school you are currently attending but perhaps not from the other schools. Please enter the GPA and rank (if available) on your current school record. For any other schools attended, select the options shown below:

Where Do I Create My STARS Account?

Applicants can create a STARS account at the Texas A&M University STARS website.

How Do I Send My STARS Record to Texas A&M University?

You must first apply to the university and set up your access to our Applicant Information System (AIS) by creating a NetID and password. Texas A&M will send students instructions concerning creating a NetID 2-4 business days after receipt of the application. Once you are able to access AIS you can link your STARS Record to your application by clicking the STARS link provided in the ‘Documents Required for Admission’ checklist displayed in AIS. Upon completing, submitting, and linking your STARS Record to your university record, we should receive your document and record its receipt within a few days. Applicant should ensure that all three steps are taken prior to the deadline for their application to be complete.

When Do I Start Filling Out the STARS Record?

After July 1, you may begin filling out your STARS Record at any time. Although you may submit your STARS Record before submitting your application for admission, you will not be able to link your STARS Record to your application until your application has been submitted (see instructions above). You will not be considered for admission until your application and all required documents have been received.

How Long Does It Take to Fill Out the STARS Record?

Depending on your coursework, it can take between 2-6 hours to complete the STARS Record, so make sure to give yourself ample time to complete it. Once we have your STARS Record, processing of the information is quick — once transmitted to Texas A&M, it should show up on your record with 24-48 hours.

Can I Start the STARS Record and Return to It Later Without Submitting?

You may begin the STARS Record and work on it gradually until completion. Be sure to select “Save” or “Save Course” (if prompted) before leaving a screen or logging out.

Do Home-Educated Students Complete a STARS Record?

Yes, if they have followed an academic curriculum patterned after the traditional U.S. system, home-educated students should complete a STARS Record. If the curriculum followed cannot be represented on the STARS Record, then applicants should provide an official high school transcript and detailed explanation to the Office of Admissions by using the ‘Contact Us’ – ‘Ask a Question' feature in AIS with subject code STARS.

I Attended a Homeschool and Most of My Credits for High School Were Taken at My Local Community College, Do I Enter Them on the STARS Record?

Homeschool students will need a high school transcript in hand in order to complete the STARS Record. Your homeschool administrator, probably your parent, should provide you with a high school transcript which very likely will list the college courses in place of a high school course. For example, if a student takes English 1301 and English 1302 in place of English 3 or 11th grade English; the transcript can list both English 1301 and 1302 as courses taken in 11th grade for one semester each. Do not list both the college courses and the high school course for which the courses ‘substitute.’ Enter courses and grades exactly as they appear on your high school transcript.

Do I Need to Include High School Courses Taken While I Was in Middle/Junior High School?

Yes. Every academic course that you have completed for high school credit, including those taken while in middle/junior high school, should be listed on the STARS Record.

I Took College Classes While in High School, Do I Enter Them on the STARS Record?

If you have taken college coursework at an institution of Higher Education including a community/junior college or online college and it is not Dual Enrollment or part of an Early College High School, do not enter the college coursework on your STARS Record. The only time you should enter college coursework on your STARS Record is when you are participating in Dual Enrollment, Early College High School or have specific approval from your high school to take college courses for high school credit. Only enter courses and grades that are on your high school transcript. Students can request that their college send an official college transcript to Texas A&M University, College Station to report the courses.

My College Coursework Is Not Part of My Required High School Credits for Graduation and Is Not on My High School Transcript, Do I Enter It on the STARS Record?

No, only enter courses that are present on your high school transcript. You should request that your college send an official college transcript to Texas A&M University, College Station. Electronic submission of transcripts is preferred.

Students graduating from high school in Texas will be asked to select their graduation/diploma plan. The following are the options. If you do not know or your school does not provide a graduation plan, select Not Applicable/Do Not Know.

• Foundation Distinguished
• Foundation with Endorsement(s)
• Foundation Only
• Recommend Plan
• Distinguished Achievement
• Minimum
• Not Applicable / Do Not Know

How Will I Know if My GPA Is Weighted or Unweighted?

Most schools put a weighted GPA on the transcript so assume it is weighted unless otherwise noted on the transcript.

How Do I Enter My Grades on the STARS Record?

Entering Grades:

Enter your grades as they appear on your transcript or official score report. 

• Enter your final official grades for all courses in grades 9–11.
• If your school gives final official grades at the end of each year you should enter those grades as “Full Year”.
• You do not need to enter marking period or term (e.g., quarter, semester, trimester) grades if your transcript shows your full-year final grades. Just enter the full year final grades.
• If your school onlygives final official grades by term or semester (that is, it doesn’t show full-year final course grades) then list each course with its final grade by term or semester.
• Please do not apply any grade format conversions or weights to your grades; just enter them as they appear on your transcript.

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Senior/12th grade and courses in progress:

• High school seniors should choose "In Progress" for scheduled/current 12th-grade courses for which they do not yet have grades.
• If you have already completeda 12th-grade course and received a grade, please indicate the grade received.
• If your exact course name is not on the drop-down list, just type it in exactly as it appears on your transcript.

\ If your transcript does not fall into one of the categories provided in the STARS Record, please email the Office of Admissions at admissions@tamu.edu.

I Took College Courses in High School (For Example, Dual Enrollment or Early College High School), and Both a College GPA (4.0 Scale) and a High School GPA Are Provided on My Transcript. Which One Should I Report When Filling Out My STARS Record?

You should enter the GPA recorded on your high school transcript and indicated your Dual Enrollment courses as a Dual Enrollment level when you enter them into your STARS Record.

Does the Course Name Need to Match Exactly What Is on My Transcript?

No, if the generic Course Name is specific enough to clearly identify it with the same course on your transcript it does not need to match exactly. For example, English 9 is the same course as English I. If you’re not sure, then please enter the course as it appears on your transcript. When entering courses under the ‘Other Subject Area,’ you will want to enter the Course Name. For example, you took a Baking Basics course, you would replace Culinary Arts with ‘Baking Basics.’

What Is Course Level?

Course level defines the rigor of the course. The following options are available. Select standard for courses that have no weighting.

How Do I Report My Senior Coursework?

Since applicants apply early in their senior year, you should list your courses and enter the grades as "In Progress."

Can I Submit My First Semester Grades From My Senior Year?

No, most schools will not make grades available in time to meet our December 15 deadline, so we ask that students not include those grades in the STARS Record.

What if My Senior Schedule Changes?

If your schedule changes, you should update your STARS Record if it has not been submitted. To make changes to the STARS Record, simply log in to the STARS website with the email address and password used to create your original STARS account. If you have submitted the STARS Record then contact the Office of Admissions and note the changes by using the ‘Contact Us’ – ‘Ask a Question’ feature in AIS with subject code STARS.

What if I Am Taking Courses in the Summer?

You will record the course and grade in the preceding school year. For example, if you took a course between the 9th and 10th grades, you would enter the course in the 9th grade.

How Do I Enter My Grades If My School Uses Pluses/Minuses?

Pluses and minuses can be entered in the STARS Record. Enter your grades exactly as they appear on your transcript.

Do I Enter My Weighted Grades?

You should report all grades exactly as they are listed on your transcript. You will use the Course Level field on the STARS Record to indicate the type of course (e.g., honors, AP, IB, dual enrollment, etc.).

How Do I Enter My Dual Credit/Enrollment Courses and Grades?

You should report all courses exactly as they are listed on your transcript. You will use the Course Level field on the STARS Record to indicate the course was dual credit/enrollment. Do not enter college courses (i.e. English 1301) on the STARS Record if they are not present on your transcript.

Do I Report All of the Classes Taken and Grades Earned that Are Reflected on My Transcript?

Yes, all attempted coursework must be reported on the STARS Record. If you repeated a course, you must record both attempts. If you withdrew from a class before earning a grade, you must list the course and record the grade as withdrawn. The same is true for courses that you earned a grade of Pass or Fail.

What if I Took a Pass/Fail Course(s) or Repeated or Withdrew From One or More of My Courses?

You must list all courses in which you earned a grade of Pass or Fail. The same is true for classes that you have repeated or from which you have withdrawn. Your STARS Record must match exactly what is on your high school transcript.

What if I Can't Find My High School Listed on the STARS Website?

The STARS website uses a database of names from College Board which may vary slightly from the everyday name of your school. When searching for your school, try to use variants of the official school name. For example, if you attended Theodore Roosevelt High School, enter "Roosevelt" in the search box. Make sure you select the correct city and state. If you still can't find your high school, you may click select the option ‘If your school is not listed, click here’ to contact support for assistance. Please include the name and address of the school in your message.

Can I Change the STARS Record Once It Is Completed and Submitted?

No. If you have corrections or your schedule changes, contact the Office of Admissions and let us know what changes are needed by using the ‘Contact Us’ – ‘Ask a Question’ feature in AIS, with subject code STARS.

Do I Have to Submit My Final Senior Grades?

Only admitted students planning to enroll at Texas A&M University are required to send their final official high school transcript. They must do so by August 15th, prior to the start of the fall semester.

What if I Am Unsure About the Dual Enrollment Classes that I Will Be Taking During the Second Semester of My Senior Year?

Provide the best estimation of the courses you will be taking when completing the STARS Record. If your schedule changes, contact the Office of Admissions and let us know the changes by using the ‘Contact Us’ – ‘Ask a Question’ feature in AIS with subject code STARS.

Can My STARS Record Be Used By Multiple Colleges/Universities?

Yes. You can link your STARS Record to other universities that utilize STARS.

When Do I Send My Official High School and College (If Dual-Enrolled) Transcripts?

Only applicants offered admission who plan to enroll at Texas A&M are required to submit official high school and college transcripts after graduation. Final official high school transcripts must be received by August 15. College transcripts should be provided prior to your New Student Conference if possible. All transcripts will be used to validate the information on the STARS Record. Students with inaccurate data on their STARS Record may have their admission revoked or have their registration canceled if enrolled.

Will the Assignment of Class Rank for Home-Schooled Students Be Impacted By the STARS Record?

The rank for home-schooled students will be assigned based on the official SAT/ACT scores per Texas Legislation.

What Happens if I’m at a Non-Ranking School?

The Office of Admissions will assign a ranking based on the information included in your STARS Record. Students can see the quartile ranking assigned in the AIS checklist.

Who Do I Contact if I Need Help?

If you have questions about how to complete the STARS Record, contact an admissions advisor at one of our Prospective Student Centers or email admissions@tamu.edu, subject – STARS. \  \ If you have questions about the STARS website or trouble using the website, contact STARS Technical Support.

Is There a Preferred Web Browser?

All browsers are compatible with the STARS website; however, it is a good idea to clear your cache routinely to ensure the best performance. Chrome seems to work best.

STARS Tips

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