<p>Can anyone explain the process of getting into a FIG and if there are FIGS for all majors. My S has been accepted to civil engineering in both UT and A&M. One thing that he really likes about A&M is the engineering dorm. It seems that a FIG might provide a similar type of experience if there are engineering FIGS. There are different things he likes about both schools so he is sorting this out. But for now can anyone clarify how a student signs up for a FIG and if these are an option for all majors. Thanks!</p>
<p>There are definitely major-specific FIGS. In fact, there are even major-specific FIGS restricted to specific dorms (in Jester for sure, but I’m not sure about others). If your son wants to sign up for one, he can join during orientation. When I applied a couple years ago, there was also a check box on the General Application for if you were interested in FIGs. If he checked this, he should get information on how to sign up before hand. I wasn’t aware of what FIGs were and did not check that box but went ahead and joined one during orientation. And as a warning, I enrolled in the first orientation and they were already down to only a handful of spots left for my major’s FIGs.</p>
<p>Now I’m not sure how this stacks up to the experience of living in an all engineers dorm, but I personally found the program to be very rewarding. So much, in fact, that I think they should be mandatory. Almost every one I know still stays close to at least one or two friends they met through their FIG. Entire circles get seeded in the FIG environment and continue on after the first semester. It’s hard to walk up and introduce yourself to 20 people in all of your classes but the FIG gets that done right away by sticking the entire FIG in the same 2 or 3 introductory classes. </p>
<p>So unless your son has a thing for engineers, a FIG should cover all of his needs in that department. It’s nice having friends in the other schools anyway.</p>
<p>Oh, and one more thing. If your son somehow doesn’t manage to get in to his desired FIG through the official process, he can still reap the benefits unofficially. The mentors are normally very welcoming and I’ve had tons of friends latch on to a FIG at the beginning of the semester. He just needs to figure out when the meeting time is, show up, and ask the mentor if he/she minds having an extra person added. The general spirit is the more the merrier so I’m sure they’ll let him in.</p>
<p>Good luck on making your decision! And btw, UT is better…</p>
<p>Thanks for the good information Frever. No, its not a thing for engineers, just that he would like to have a few students close by for study groups and to collaborate with if needed when getting started. He has several friends at both schools in different majors. I’m sure that he won’t only be hanging with engineers.</p>
<p>As for the UT is better comment. Ok, I’ll bite, why? We have really found some great things about both schools, lucky him, doesn’t have a bad choice just a difficult one.</p>
<p>The FIG program was very helpful for my son, too.</p>
<p>The Civil Engineering department at UT is tremendous. It’s one of the highest ranked programs in the country, for good reason. They have quite a few profs who are in the National Academy of Engineering. They’re also really nice people! I’m a little prejudiced, since my dad is one of them, lol. He has talked to or emailed several students on CC when I mentioned them to him. spectrum2, if you or your son have any specific questions, I can connect you with him.</p>
<p>Wow! Thanks so much MainLonghorn! I expect that we will take you up on that in the next few weeks. One question that immediately comes to mind is that we heard that TAMU has a civil engineering coop program in which students may take 5 years to graduate but that they work for a couple of semesters while they are still students. Do you know if UT has a similar program? We will be going to the UT VIP program for admitted students on March 3, hopefully this will give us more of a feel for UT. My S has a friend who recently graduated from Civil engineering at UT and he also has great things to say about the program.</p>
<p>UT website mentions Residential FIGs and College-based FIGs.
Can somebody explain me the difference, pros and cons?
Thanks.</p>