Hello! I don’t think this is the right thread to be posting this … but nonetheless, why not ask.
Currently, I am a freshmen at Texas A&M Collee Station in the Blinn TEAM program. My first choice was UT Austin though, I got Cap’d, and should’ve taken it. But now I’m here, and though it’s not the absolute worst, I’m not too fond of it here (I.e. Conservative feel, revolved around religion for the most part, rural feel-- I’m from San Antonio.).
When I originally started school in august, I thought I wanted to go into education and be an elementary school teacher, then transfer to UT college of Education in fall 2017. However, for the past 3 weeks or so, I’m beginning to realize that teaching isn’t what I want to do anymore, and that I want to go back to my love for math and science. I am considering the route of Engineering (specifically Environmental Engineering). However, the problem I face now is that if I choose to follow through and jump into engineering, there’s little to no chance of me transferring to UT because of how selective they are with external transfers into that college.
What are you inputs on that decision? Stay here where I’m not happy and pursue engineering (when they don’t even have the selected major, I have to specialize in civil engineering), or transfer to UT for education, be a happy camper in the marching band and in the city with a liberal feel?
TAMU is a great engineering and science school. Recruiters will treat it just like UT-Austin. The bright side is that you have decided what you want do to early, you can use some of your current classes for engineering ‘breadth’ electives, and you will only be a semester or so behind unless you already have taken Calc and Physics - then you will be right on track. Make sure you have a high GPA so you can transfer to engineering. If at some point in the future you decide that you want to teach, engineering will also give you a great background.
TAMU has amazing football and other great sports teams. The Longhorns are not doing so well. I understand that being further from home is an inconvenience, and Austin is a great city for a student. Make it you goal to get your first job in Austin so you can afford the restaurants and music venues there.
A ‘liberal’ city can also be oppressive and annoying. Take College Station as a learning opportunity to be exposed to a different point of view. Make friends of different backgrounds and persuasions. College is not high school with cliques, you are supposed to open your mind there. You will find that your views will change over time. They will change a lot when you enter the real world and have a family. Many people lose their enthusiasm for ‘liberal’ views when they see how much the government takes from their paychecks to fund said views.
^The point is that the student is NOT in engineering at TAMU and can’t pursue his/her chosen major there… Nor at UT.
(capped or Blinn students can go into liberal arts or education.)
Email Southwestern, UTD, TTU, UH, see what their transfer agreements are.
Beware of costs, too: transfers often get lousy aid.
You mayjave to transfer OOS, also costly.
For the second semester, load up on stem classes.