A few questions about texas a&m,thanks!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Texas A&M University
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<p>i think having a bike is definately a nice thing and will help you get around..
its not the end of the world without one. but if you can get one then get one..</p>

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<p>Howdy! I'm nearly finished with my freshman year at A&M, so maybe I can help.</p>

<p>I don't have a bike. (I do have a car, for when I go off-campus.) 80% with bikes seems really high to me. It's probably closer to 50-60%. I've never ridden the buses, but there seem to be buses everywhere during the day. Lots of people get around that way. I think people have bikes because they're faster than walking and usually faster than the buses (waiting for the bus, stops, etc.)</p>

<p>I walk everywhere I go on campus, and it's really no problem. I can get nearly everywhere within 5-10 minutes, especially now that I know the campus and don't get lost (that causes longer transit times your first few weeks!). </p>

<p>There are occasionally classes on West campus. The buses take you there, but I've never used them because I've never had a class out there. If you have a class there, you probably will need either a bike or to plan on using the buses.</p>

<p>And yes, if you have a bike, you definitely need a good lock. The solid, U-shaped ones seem more secure to me, but less versatile. The chain-based ones aren't quite as secure, but they can be used to chain the bike to a tree or a post or something in a pinch. (I've even seen people hoist their bikes into a tree for safe-keeping! It gives you a shock the first time you see a bike parked in a tree.) :)
Best of luck to you! Thanks and gig 'em!</p>

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<p>Bikes are more necessary if you have classes at the rec center (p.e.), the Bush School (some political science classes are there) or other outlying areas. Since your son will already have his schedule, you can look at a campus map to see if this will be an issue. Some kids with cars use bikes to get to their far away parking spots.</p>

<p>It is excruciatingly slow to use the buses. Some kids use them who live in apts. off campus and don't have parking permits.</p>

<p>My S got his bike stolen the first week it was there. Theft is a huge problem (thus the bikes hoisted into trees). If you have a bike, get a really, really good lock. For what it's worth, it's not usually the students who are stealing them; it's people who live in Bryan/College Station.</p>

<p>Bandnerd, are you going to be in the band at A&M? If so, Corps members can't ride bikes in uniform, just so you know.</p>

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<p>I think I'll have most of my classes in that engineering building.</p>

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<p>No, I am retiring from the band. The Corps wouldn't want me. I am definitely too weird for them. I will have to change my sn someday!</p>

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<p>Corps members can't ride bikes in uniform? I'd never heard that! I guess I've never seen a Corps member riding one in uniform, now that you mention it! Wow, that's funny.</p>

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<p>No riding bikes in uniform and no talking on cell phones in uniform! They also cannot carry backpacks. Thus, you will always see them carrying their books by hand.</p>

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<p>thats so awesome.. i mean it may suck for them but i like how professional it is.</p>

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<p>1) Which cell phone carrier has the best connection in TAMU?
2) Can you bring your own microwave and mini-fridge? Or do you have to rent or buy from the combo certify company listed on the housing web site?
3) In Aug 08, is that going to be very HOT at the fish camp / dorm?
4) Should we get winter jacket from Texas? Will there be available in local stores during move in week in Aug?
5) When is notification to student for Lehrent Hall Honor housing?
6) Taxi from CLL airport to TAMU campus? Do we have to book ahead online?</p>

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<p>I don't think there is a cell phone problem at all, but I used ATT just fine. Yes, you can bring your own fridge/micro as long as they meet guidelines. It is going to be HOT and MUGGY in August!!! Think 90 with 70% humidity. It will rarely get into the 30s at TAMU, you really don't need a heavy, heavy jacket. Layers will do as it will start out cold and be 60 by midday. When you accepted your scholarship, did you specify Lechner? I don't know when we hear specifics. have no idea on taxi!</p>

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<p>1) S has Sprint and it works fine, but I don't know if it's the best. Some of the dorms have difficulty getting cell phone reception because of cinder block walls, but the kids seem to work around it.
2) My S has his own fridge. He's in the Corps dorms, so I don't know if it's the same in all dorms. This info should be on the website in the residence hall information.
3) August in Texas is very exceedingly hot. However, they'll have a lot of the sessions in air conditioned buildings, and their cabins will be air conditioned. We don't do much without air conditioning around here. When you come in August, you'll see why. :-)
4) There will be no winter jackets in the stores in August. It is a very rare day when a really heavy coat is needed. Most of the time a hoodie or the equivalent is enough. There will be few days when it might get down into the 40's, though. I would suggest ordering him a coat online and having it shipped to him there or having him buy one in October or so when the stores start to carry them. The campus shuttle buses go to Wal-mart and to the mall, I'm pretty sure.
I don't know about 5 & 6, sorry!</p>

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<p>Oh, the kids <em>love</em> Fish Camp. I think if your S does not attend, he'll feel left out when school starts. The kids start to get to know one another during Fish Camp. Almost everybody goes.</p>

<p>There is also a Christian retreat for incoming freshmen called Impact which my S and his friends attended. That one was even better than Fish Camp to them.</p>

<p>During New Student Orientation, students do not stay in the dorm they'll be in for fall.</p>

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<p>I don't have any info for you, but I had to tell you that it struck me as funny that you asked about the flying, because we live in Houston, have an S at A&M, and our younger S is going to be starting at Chapman in the fall....so we are looking at the same questions as you only in reverse! :-)</p>

<p>Here is the website for Easterwood Airport in C.S.: Easterwood</a> Airport . Click on the link for transportation and it will have the names of the taxi companies.</p>

<p>Another option would be to fly in to Intercontinental Airport in Houston (Airport code: IAH) and rent a car to drive in (or there is an airport shuttle to C.S.). It's probably an hour and a half drive....maybe less. It would be much cheaper to fly in to Houston, but then you'd have the rental car.</p>

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<p>Timely,
This is indeed funny your S2 is attending Chapman S-CA coming fall. If it is the OC-Campus, the prefer airport is John Wayne (SNA). This campus is very close to Disneyland. You may want to catch the "Airport Shuttles" from Disneyland to SNA (~$15-OW) or LAX (~$20-OW). There are a lot of shuttles; the 2 biggest are Supershuttle and Xpressshuttle for D-T-D service. Refer to link below. The flight out of SNA usually is more expensive then LAX. SNA is a small upscale nice airport unlike LAX. OC is quite different from LA. It is more suburbs and yes it is an expensive county. However you will love the climate, the diversity of people, the beaches, the scenery and obviously the entertainment and many huge amusement parks in LA/OC/SD counties. WELCOME TO CA, he may not want to leave after graduation.</p>

<p>Southern</a> California Gray Line - Airport Information
Xpress</a> Airport Shuttle and Town Car of Los Angeles International,San Diego and Salt Lake City
<a href="https://www.supershuttle.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;https://www.supershuttle.com/&lt;/a>
MouseSavers.com</a> - Airport Shuttle Discount Info for Disney World & Disneyland</p>

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<p>"Oh, the kids <em>love</em> Fish Camp. I think if your S does not attend, he'll feel left out when school starts. The kids start to get to know one another during Fish Camp. Almost everybody goes."</p>

<p>I've heard from lots of people who did love Fish Camp. However, I'm kind of shy and I didn't relish the idea of camping in Texas in August or of paying for the gas to drive down there, so I didn't go. I'm actually glad I didn't, hearing about some of the stuff that they did. I think I would have just been uncomfortable and completely out of my element the whole time.
I lived in Lechner this year, and everyone is so friendly. If you make the slightest effort to meet people, you'll have so many friends. I have never regretted not going to Fish Camp and have never felt left out. </p>

<p>But if you're an easygoing, energetic type, Fish Camp might be just your thing. But I don't think it matters much in the end.</p>

<p>Just thought I'd throw in my two cents.</p>

<p>And I've used Maroon Cab twice now and been very happy both times. The campus buses probably run to the airport, too, if you fly in during the day (which I never did.)</p>

<p>About cellphones: I have Alltel, and it gets reception in nearly every building except my dorm room. I stand by the window to talk on the phone, which is kind of a pain, but not really a huge issue. Alltel's fine, but I wouldn't recommend them, particularly.</p>

<p>I'll add my voice to what's already been said: August in Texas is very, very hot and humid. You need light clothes (shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops), bathing suits (for swimming and playing in fountains), and water (stay hydrated). You will break a sweat whenever you leave the dorm. Expect to shower/change clothes more than once per day until it cools down a bit, maybe in late September. (Buildings are all air-conditioned, though, and sometimes I get chilly in classes.)</p>

<p>Sometime in early November, it gets as cold as it will get in Texas: low 40's, wind chill somewhat lower than that. But when it's cold and it also pours frigid rain and you have a class across campus and the wind is blowing, it can be bitter cold, especially if you don't have the right clothes. A hoodie or jacket should last you nearly until Thanksgiving, and after that, a normal coat, jeans, and warm boots are probably all you need.
You definitely need an umbrella, though. It rains randomly with little warning sometimes.</p>

<p>I'm sorry; I don't recall when notification about Lechner is. I found out about my roommate in mid-July, but I knew about my housing assignment sometime before that. But I hope you get it!</p>

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<p>We visited the campus on March 08, the week with the snow storm. We sat on the DFW airport run way for 6 hrs, 2 hrs to get the rental car + 4 hours driven in the dark to TAMU. The evening and night air were quite chily. During the day time, it was not too bad, however you still need a jacket or thick sweater except in the Sun. So, was this abnormal then?
BTW, do we need Extra Long Fitted Bed Sheet? Or is it regular Standard twin? We saw one couch in the dorm room, and similar kind posted on the web. Is that part of the furnishing provided?
Lechner Hall Housing is guarantee since we reply before April 1st as stipulated. We are aware of the limited space. Unless is an April Fool ((:</p>

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<p>Yes, needless to say, snow is a rarity in TX and in March it was a freak occurrence! We are more likely to have tornadoes than snow. A heavier jacket will most likely be fine, but no need to run out and buy an LL Bean down coat or anything. Layers is usually the way to go. While it might be 38 in the morning, it will be 58 by noon. And in the summer, your best friend/worst enemy is the air conditioning. You can't live without it, but you always need a sweatshirt to go into a store/classroom it seems. And BTW, the muggy weather is not just in August. It can range from April - November or more.</p>

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<p>Is a&m awesome or what? I mean not even the service academies can compare to this:
I believe it's true that the corps invaded waco after some discrepancy with baylor. they brought cannons, weapons, etc., etc. I believe texas marshalls, or state troopers had to stop them. Please clarify!</p>

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<p>ATM machine on campus</p>

<p>Which banks on campus have ATM machines that do not levy a fee for each transaction? Where are the ATM machines located?</p>

<p>It appears so far; every time we pay U by credit card they levy a transaction fee. Is there a bank and or credit card company that prefer by the TAMU that can avoid this extra charges? Like credit card issue by the local bank?</p>

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<p>Arre there many A&M people who are racist? I mean people in general..</p>

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<p>I have not heard of any Corps invasion of Waco. However, I've thought several times about if hostile aliens from outer space landed and how the Corps would have them subdued in no time. ;)</p>

<p>About ATM machines:
I know there is a Wells Fargo machine in the MSC and another in the Commons, I think. In addition, there is a Citibank across the street from Northside that is very good. I use Citibank and have been very pleased. I do not know about fees, but I don't remember being charged for using the Citibank ATM. In addition, there are two financial institutions on campus (in the Pavilion). I have not used these.</p>