Anonymous
Post 03/06/2026 20:03     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Texan here.

It is not elite.

It is getting harder to get into than it used to be.

It is elite in the sense that there are a lot of wealthy kids there and the Greek life is all that. Some might say it is like SMU.

SMU hates to be compared to TCU.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2026 19:03     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How does Texas A&M compare to the other Texas schools?


From a person who grew up in/went to college in/lives in Texas

Rice
UT
AM
SMU
TCU (sorry don’t care if US News doesn’t agree)

But the schools have vastly different vibes—so it’s not just “pick the best.”


Thank you. Have a daughter thinking of AM. She’s interested in business, studious but also wants social/football and campus comaraderie, a good kid, independent politically. I get the impression that AM provides good educational + career prep/opportunities for those who seek it - are our impressions correct? Not sure where she wants to live after college.


Where do you live? A&M seems like an odd choice based on those parameters if you are from the DMV. You can go closer to the DMV at Penn State, or look at UGA, or Alabama or UFlorida or Florida State or any number of schools. A&M is kind of in the middle of nowhere, has a large military/cadet presence, much more conservative, etc. Not exactly known for its business program.

NP. I apologize for not exactly tracking back to see which posters are which. Just piping in to point out that TCU's Neeley school of business would outrank A&M, though certainly there are other reasons to choose schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2026 18:47     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Anonymous wrote:OP, could you possibly be more catty?


I know! She’s proud of her daughter. Her daughter might have had some difficulties over the years and this is really great news. Don’t judge.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 12:15     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How does Texas A&M compare to the other Texas schools?


From a person who grew up in/went to college in/lives in Texas

Rice
UT
AM
SMU
TCU (sorry don’t care if US News doesn’t agree)

But the schools have vastly different vibes—so it’s not just “pick the best.”


Thank you. Have a daughter thinking of AM. She’s interested in business, studious but also wants social/football and campus comaraderie, a good kid, independent politically. I get the impression that AM provides good educational + career prep/opportunities for those who seek it - are our impressions correct? Not sure where she wants to live after college.


Where do you live? A&M seems like an odd choice based on those parameters if you are from the DMV. You can go closer to the DMV at Penn State, or look at UGA, or Alabama or UFlorida or Florida State or any number of schools. A&M is kind of in the middle of nowhere, has a large military/cadet presence, much more conservative, etc. Not exactly known for its business program.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 12:10     Subject: Re:Is TCU considered elite?
No.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 11:43     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How does Texas A&M compare to the other Texas schools?


From a person who grew up in/went to college in/lives in Texas

Rice
UT
AM
SMU
TCU (sorry don’t care if US News doesn’t agree)

But the schools have vastly different vibes—so it’s not just “pick the best.”


Thank you. Have a daughter thinking of AM. She’s interested in business, studious but also wants social/football and campus comaraderie, a good kid, independent politically. I get the impression that AM provides good educational + career prep/opportunities for those who seek it - are our impressions correct? Not sure where she wants to live after college.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 11:14     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Anonymous wrote:How does Texas A&M compare to the other Texas schools?


From a person who grew up in/went to college in/lives in Texas

Rice
UT
AM
SMU
TCU (sorry don’t care if US News doesn’t agree)

But the schools have vastly different vibes—so it’s not just “pick the best.”
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 09:56     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Anonymous wrote:How does Texas A&M compare to the other Texas schools?


Its a state school, so I don't know how you can compare it to private schools. I think its a great school but it is in the middle of nowhere and leans conservative
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 09:39     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Baylor is the actual joke school. It should not be in the same category as SMU and TCU. And Baylor is very religious. The other 2 are not.


You should check before posting. Baylor and SMU both outrank TCU as they are tied for 88. TCU is 97.

And try not to call schools “joke schools” - not everyone can get to go to a T20. Be more charitable.


This. Also Baylor has high med school acceptance rates.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2026 09:38     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
How does Texas A&M compare to the other Texas schools?
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2026 21:40     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Anonymous wrote:Baylor is the actual joke school. It should not be in the same category as SMU and TCU. And Baylor is very religious. The other 2 are not.


You should check before posting. Baylor and SMU both outrank TCU as they are tied for 88. TCU is 97.

And try not to call schools “joke schools” - not everyone can get to go to a T20. Be more charitable.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2026 20:12     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Baylor is the actual joke school. It should not be in the same category as SMU and TCU. And Baylor is very religious. The other 2 are not.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2026 18:13     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No, it isn’t considered elite. And I don’t approve of this behavior (at all) but to give an example of how far from elite it is: some mean girls at my DD’s private were gossiping about why a girl decided to go ED there because “she’s smarter than that” and they think they’re all too good for the school.


You don’t approve of the behavior but are ok making a determination based on a bunch of high school kids gossiping?

This whole thread is nonsense. It is a well respected school.


Evidently, not well respected by the private school kids and their parents. You obviously can’t control what other people think.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2026 18:01     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
That so many here are riled up about this school it tells me that this is a school worth considering!
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2026 16:52     Subject: Is TCU considered elite?
Anonymous wrote:TCU has been a USNWR Top 100 school for quite a while. Kids get good educations there. Leave the mother alone and let her enjoy her kid’s admission and stop parsing whether it is “elite”.


+1