Stars Tips

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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 mail or 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:

Options available when entering GPA/Class Rank information

GPA / Class Rank
Cumulative Weighted GPA:	This school does not calculate or report a weighted GPA.
Cumulative Unweighted GPA:	This school does not calculate or report an unweighted GPA.
Weighted Class Rank/Size:	This school does not provide weighted rank.
Unweighted Class Rank/Size:	This school does not provide rank information.

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 only gives 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.

 

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 completed a 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.

Options available for reporting course levels

Course	Description
AP	Advanced Placement Course
AD	Advanced
AL	A Levels
CE	College Prep (Enhanced)
CP	College Prep
DE	Dual Enrollment
GC	GCSE/IGCSE
GT	Gifted and Talented
H	Honors
HH	High Honors
IB	International Baccalaureate
IH	International Baccalaureate Higher
PA	Pre-AP
PB	Pre-IB
R	Regular
RG	Regents
ST	Standard

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."