Questions About Texas A&M

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I would greatly appreciate an answer to any of the following questions. They are mostly directed towards current students but anyone who has an answer is more than welcome. </p>

<li><p>Is the college’s social life centered mostly around frats & sororities? I don’t wish to be a part of one but i dont want to be a social outcast because of it. </p></li>
<li><p>How safe is the campus? </p></li>
<li><p>If you have been to fish camp, what was it like and would you recommend it?</p></li>
<li><p>I have always heard bad things about the admissions process, is that really the case for everyone? </p></li>
<li><p>I know drinking is an issue at every college but will i still have fun at A&M if i decide not to drink? </p></li>
<li><p>I have heard that A&M is really clique-y. Is it difficult to make new friends because everyone sticks together with their old highschool friends?</p></li>
<li><p>After freshman year do most students move out of the dorms? & is housing off campus decent?</p></li>
<li><p>How available and helpful are the the professors overall? & how big are class sizes usually?</p></li>
<li><p>I have been there on football weekends and aggie saturday where everyone always says “howdy” and sticks to all the aggie traditions…is it really like that on a normal weekday with students just walking around the campus? </p></li>
</ol>

<p>and lastly 10. I have been to a&m numerous times and know all the traditions (which i love) and have been to the dixie chicken and all those places in that area…but besides those, is there really that much else to do in college station/brian? </p>

<p>I know it’s a hassle but if you could answer even just 1 of these questions it would be greatly appreciated. & if you have anything else to add feel free. (:</p>

2

<p>I don't go to A&M, but I think you are best off asking in the Texas A&M forum which you can find under the alphabetical list of universities and colleges.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>TAMU's website says that around 3,000 students are members of official fraternities. That is a small fraction of the number of students at TAMU. </p></li>
<li><p>The TAMU police department publishes crime statistics on it's website. It is hard to tell you if it is safe. It isn't free of crime, but for the number of students , I'd say it is relatively safe. I believe that you can ask a member of the Corps of Cadets to walk you to any destination if you feel unsafe/uncomfortable.</p></li>
<li><p>What bad things have you heard about the admission process? I just finished applying (though not as your standard freshman) and it was painless. They even extended the deadline when I was applying...</p></li>
<li><p>Drinking is not an issue at college. Drinking happens everywhere and tends to happen quite often on/around universities. That being said there is a big drinking culture at A&M. I can't be A&M specific, but usually it is very possible to have fun while refraining from drinking. I suspect the drinking culture comes from the fact that the place is in the middle of nowhere...</p></li>
<li><p>I've heard this too, but I have no experience/cannot confirm it...</p></li>
<li><p>Housing off campus looks like it might be decent from the few trips that I have taken up there, but it really depends on how much time/effort you put into looking. I have no idea if most students move out of the dorms.</p></li>
<li><p>Class sizes depend on your major, your year, and your degree track (honors/regular/special program). A&M is obviously going to have some very large classes... If it is anything like UT Austin, first year general requirements will range from 100-400. Helpfulness depends on many of the same things... You can't generalize with either of these.</p></li>
<li><p>Not really... That would be one of the reasons why there is a large drinking culture. If you're determined though, you'll find or better yet make something to do. Hopefully someone will chime in with a response which correct what I said here, but I doubt it.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Where else are you looking at applying? Where are you from in Texas?</p>

<p>Have you considered UT Austin? Some of what you have said makes me think you would like UT Austin, but some of the other things (liking the traditions) make me think otherwise...</p>

3

<p>A&M is a cult. If you feel comfortable there, go for it. If you don't feel comfortable there, you never will and will be miserable. Their "traditions" seem ridiculous and oppressive to me; other people love them and say they give them a great sense of belonging. You just have to guage whether you're a fit or not. (Also, if you are politically liberal, it is NOT the place for you.)</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
A&M is a cult. If you feel comfortable there, go for it. If you don't feel comfortable there, you never will and will be miserable. Their "traditions" seem ridiculous and oppressive to me; other people love them and say they give them a great sense of belonging. You just have to guage whether you're a fit or not. (Also, if you are politically liberal, it is NOT the place for you.)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Wow, missypie, you seem to really dislike A&M. I think I remember you railing against the school in another thread, were you the one whose niece had a bad experience or something like that? Jeez, it must have been really horrible.</p>

<p>Heyitsnatalie, noct summed up the answers to most of your questions pretty nicely. I would add that Fish Camp is a tremendous experience that incoming freshmen should not miss. As far as the cliquey question goes, see: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=374931%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=374931&lt;/a>. I think you are going to get a different opinion depending on whom you ask, but you should note that every person in that thread who said that A&M is cliquish is not an actual student at the university. And regarding dorms, most students move out after freshmen year, but some choose to stay on campus for another year or even longer. It really depends on factors like convenience, cost, transportation, etc. There is a plethora of off campus housing, much of it nicer than what you will find on campus.</p>

5

<p>I've had two friends who are A & M alums and both are very, very sharp guys and solid citizens. They believe that A & M is a very special place. One of them dragged his wife and children too a recent football game. She's a bit cynical and was prepared to dislike it. She returned saying that she had had an extraordinary experience. I think it's a matter of fit--visit thee campus and see what you think.</p>

6

<p>missypie is dead on. a&m wants to brainwash you. if you are not extremely conservative, you won't like it there. there is nothing to do in college station, i know people who travel from dallas to houston (non-ut alums, so no bias) who wont stop or even drive through college station because it sucks. the town exists for the university and no other reason. fish camp is the initiation process for this cult, where you will be taught to wear your class ring over your wedding band/ring since your butt buddies in the corps are much more important than your future spouse. also get ready to wake up and do yells to get school spirit up at all hours of the night. like being a dog's slave. volunteer to take care of reveille, the lassie look-a-like, and you too can take her to class(if you're lucky she'll bark and class will be dismissed), shovel her feces, and feed her, all on top of being a college student. not having enough fun yet?!? join the corps of cadets, who apparently, as told to me by a friend, are "all going off to fight in iraq when they are done with college". in reality, they are just glorified rotc guys who like to play dress up and pretend they're at west point by doing yells and marching all around. even their stupid band dresses up like this and marches like they're in the hitler youth or something. and if u like nut squeezing here's something to play on your pc in your cell of a dorm room at a&m. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AOgN-4QnZ4%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AOgN-4QnZ4&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

7

<p>let me preface this by saying I'm a UT alum, so I am definitely biased against A&M for tradition's sake. However, I have known liberal people who went there and were fine. Granted they probably don't shmooze or socialize with the typical student there, they find a way to make it work if going there is the best educational option for them; i.e. my niece attended because they offered her a full ride, in the honors program, where she did lots of undergraduate research. But she's a bleeding heart, and is now in medical school at UT-San Antonio. She got a wonderful education that prepared her well for what she wanted to do. Somehow she made it work for her.</p>

8

<p>I think A&M grads would admit it's cult-like. Sort of school spirit to the extreme. Lots of people LOVE that sort of thing. Thousands of people every year pray to get into that school...they've heard what it's like (their parents are probably alums) and can't wait to have the experience. If the OP wants an intense experience-maybe a couple of steps below a military academy-go for it. </p>

<p>I just can't imagine other kids telling me what to do in college and doing it (like learning the yells and standing during football games.) That is SO FAR from what I wanted for my own college experience.</p>

<p>I think these boards serve a great purpose to let folks weigh in on what a campus is like. All the web sites look great. It's nice to get people to comment on the atmosphere of a campus.</p>

9

<p>Here's another way for the OP to think about it. When your high school has a pep rally, which group of students are you in?</p>

<p>Group 1) The ones sitting right in front of the cheerleaders, participating in every cheer.
Group 2) The ones who sit at the pep rally and talk to their friends.
Group 3) The ones who don't even go to the pep rally.</p>

<p>If you are in Group 1, you'll love A&M. If in Group 2 (and are a Republican), you'll do fine there. If you are in Group 3, you'll hate it.</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
missypie is dead on. a&m wants to brainwash you. if you are not extremely conservative, you won't like it there. there is nothing to do in college station, i know people who travel from dallas to houston (non-ut alums, so no bias) who wont stop or even drive through college station because it sucks. the town exists for the university and no other reason. fish camp is the initiation process for this cult, where you will be taught to wear your class ring over your wedding band/ring since your butt buddies in the corps are much more important than your future spouse. also get ready to wake up and do yells to get school spirit up at all hours of the night. like being a dog's slave. volunteer to take care of reveille, the lassie look-a-like, and you too can take her to class(if you're lucky she'll bark and class will be dismissed), shovel her feces, and feed her, all on top of being a college student. not having enough fun yet?!? join the corps of cadets, who apparently, as told to me by a friend, are "all going off to fight in iraq when they are done with college". in reality, they are just glorified rotc guys who like to play dress up and pretend they're at west point by doing yells and marching all around. even their stupid band dresses up like this and marches like they're in the hitler youth or something. and if u like nut squeezing here's something to play on your pc in your cell of a dorm room at a&m. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AOgN-4QnZ4%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AOgN-4QnZ4&lt;/a>

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This is one of the most immature posts I have ever read on CC, and that’s saying a lot considering some of the crap that’s written on these boards. I can only hope for your sake that you don’t act anything like you write. If so, good luck with that in life, you’re going to need it. </p>

<p>
[quote]
I think A&M grads would admit it's cult-like.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>missypie, you seem to think a lot of things, but that definitely does not mean that they’re true. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Sort of school spirit to the extreme. Lots of people LOVE that sort of thing.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yeah, lots of people do love “school spirit to the extreme”, as evidenced by the thousands and thousands of students across the country flocking to universities like Michigan, Ohio State, Florida, LSU, A&M, Texas, etc., etc., etc. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Thousands of people every year pray to get into that school...they've heard what it's like (their parents are probably alums) and can't wait to have the experience.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Uh, how is this any different from the “thousands of people” (many of whom are also legacies) praying to get into Harvard or Yale, or Michigan or Northwestern, or Notre Dame or USC? I don’t understand why you keep making these statements as if they were unique to A&M or something. </p>

<p>
[quote]
If the OP wants an intense experience-maybe a couple of steps below a military academy-go for it.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No, if the OP “wants an intense experience-maybe a couple of steps below a military academy” then he/she should join the Corps of Cadets. If not, then he/she can join the ranks of the roughly 40,000 other students at A&M who are not in the Corps and who lead a pretty normal college existence. </p>

<p>
[quote]
I just can't imagine other kids telling me what to do in college and doing it (like learning the yells and standing during football games.) That is SO FAR from what I wanted for my own college experience.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This may come as a surprise to you, but A&M students actually possess free will just like you and me. People participate in the traditions because they want to, not simply because they are told to.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I think these boards serve a great purpose to let folks weigh in on what a campus is like.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, I agree. Unfortunately, all too often the folks who “weigh in” about A&M are individuals like westsidewolf and yourself who really have nothing meaningful to offer other than superficial and spiteful personal opinions and anecdotes. </p>

<p>
[quote]
All the web sites look great. It's nice to get people to comment on the atmosphere of a campus.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Agreed, but I have to ask, why are you commenting about the atmosphere of a campus when you don’t actually really know first-hand what you’re talking about? No offense, but I have family and friends as well who have had negative experiences at particular schools discussed on these boards, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to “weigh in” with my biased $0.02 every chance I get. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Here's another way for the OP to think about it. When your high school has a pep rally, which group of students are you in?</p>

<p>Group 1) The ones sitting right in front of the cheerleaders, participating in every cheer.
Group 2) The ones who sit at the pep rally and talk to their friends.
Group 3) The ones who don't even go to the pep rally.</p>

<p>If you are in Group 1, you'll love A&M. If in Group 2 (and are a Republican), you'll do fine there. If you are in Group 3, you'll hate it.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>OP, how much stock you choose to put in all of missypie’s opinions about A&M is up to you. I personally would be wondering how someone (much less someone who is/was not a student at A&M) could be so arrogant and naïve as to believe they could stereotype 45,000+ students into three little groups, but hey, that’s just me.</p>

11

<p>OP, I guess what you can glean from this thread is that A&M is a school with a strong "personality", arousing strong emotions-some negative, some positive. There are a lot of other schools about which you could ask that would not garner such strong responses. This may make you really want to go to A&M, or really want to run in the opposite direction. You know yourself best and what type of school would fit for you.</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
OP, I guess what you can glean from this thread is that A&M is a school with a strong "personality", arousing strong emotions-some negative, some positive.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>LOL, missypie, I love it. Make provoking statements and then when someone questions you just ignore them and chalk it up to “personality”. At which fine university did you learn those argumentation skills? ;)</p>

<p>
[quote]
There are a lot of other schools about which you could ask that would not garner such strong responses.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I realize I’m apparently having a one-way discussion with myself here, but I agree with the statement above. For reasons I do not fully understand, The CC community at large seems to have an overwhelmingly large amount of disdain and disrespect for A&M (for anyone doubting this just use the search function). I have personal theories for why hating A&M is often a sport on these boards, but that does not change the fact that it is what it is. I really have no problem with people being critical of A&M as long as they do so fairly, reasonably and responsibly. Lord knows A&M has its fair share of problems, just like any university. What I do have a problem with though are the snide and ignorant remarks or statements that really serve no other purpose than to try and degrade the university and sway other people from attending…although, I suppose that is the point. I guess I just don’t understand why people need to stoop to that level. Especially people who I’m sure consider themselves smarter and more sophisticated than Aggies. Oh well, enough of my rambling….</p>

13

<p>people only hate a&m whenever they talk about it once every blue moon. people hate texas, and a&m thinks they are texan enuff to call themselves the texas aggies. i'll admit my comments were slanted, and over the top. but the things in there are TRUE, u cannot deny that.</p>

14

<p>My son is a junior at A&M and is in the Corps of Cadets. He loves A&M, and westside may find this hard to believe, but he is a fairly intelligent and likable guy. He plans to be an Air Force pilot....yeah, you're right...that is pretty ridiculous.</p>

<p>Anyway! Natalie, here are a few things I can give you:</p>

<p>
[quote]
1. Is the college's social life centered mostly around frats & sororities? I don't wish to be a part of one but i dont want to be a social outcast because of it.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Greeks are a very small part of social life at A&M (maybe 10%?). There are so many clubs and activities that you can keep very busy without being in a sorority. My son and many of his friends have a problem with being too over-committed. S's girlfriend is on a dance team, works part-time, also involved at church, and oh, yeah...she has some schoolwork to do.</p>

<p>
[quote]
If you have been to fish camp, what was it like and would you recommend it?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, at fish camp they do some things like teach you the school yells and traditions. They also have workshops concerning study skills, getting along with roommates, drug and alcohol avoidance, safety, etc. They play sports and games, too. They put you in groups with others from your dorm, so you have the chance to make some friends before school starts.</p>

<p>If you are a Christian, there is another camp you might also enjoy called Impact. You can google A&M, Impact, & Christian and you'll probably find it. This camp is for meeting other Christians, learning about churches in the area and ministries on campus, and preparing spiritually for the challenges of college.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I know drinking is an issue at every college but will i still have fun at A&M if i decide not to drink?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I don't know if you'll have fun; that's up to you. I remember talking to my son on the phone one time during his freshman year and he was telling me how he and his friends were having such a blast hanging out and running around together (they don't drink), and then they'd see all the drunks coming home sick and out of their minds. He felt like they were having way more fun.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I have heard that A&M is really clique-y. Is it difficult to make new friends because everyone sticks together with their old highschool friends?

[/quote]

People who have friends there from high school with probably hang out with them. Most people don't have many friends there from their high school, though. Of the people my son knew during his high school years, he only still hangs out with one...and she's his girlfriend. He has 10 or so other friends from high school, and he sees them from time to time, but the vast majority of his friends are the ones that he met at A&M.</p>

<p>
[quote]
After freshman year do most students move out of the dorms? & is housing off campus decent?

[/quote]

A lot of people seem to move off campus after freshman year (but not all by any means). It's cheaper to live off campus, and there are lots of nice apartments.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I have been there on football weekends and aggie saturday where everyone always says "howdy" and sticks to all the aggie traditions...is it really like that on a normal weekday with students just walking around the campus?

[/quote]

Not so much. Members of the Corps are in uniform every day, and they do have traditions that they adhere to (freshmen introducing themselves to upperclassmen, and things like that). For the non-regs (non-Corps members), it's pretty much like any other college. The Corps of Cadets just adds some "local color". For what it's worth, there are just under 2,000 members of the Corps out of 45,000 students on campus.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I have been to a&m numerous times and know all the traditions (which i love) and have been to the dixie chicken and all those places in that area...but besides those, is there really that much else to do in college station/brian?

[/quote]

During their free time, my son and his friends go to each other's rooms and play video games or watch t.v. There are lots of places to go eat, so sometimes a group of them will head out for a meal. Keep in mind that in college, there isn't all that much free time. You have to study...a lot. So sometimes a group of them will meet somewhere to study together. Maybe it's like you with your high school friends. You probably aren't often going somewhere to do something...mostly you're just hanging out.</p>

<p>Friday nights there's midnight yell practice and of course there are the games on Saturdays in the fall. In the spring the kids sometimes go to baseball games. Sometimes groups will get together and travel to an out of town game, and that's pretty fun (thinking back to my own college days when my H was a student at A&M!).</p>

15

<p>
[quote]
but you should note that every person in that thread who said that A&M is cliquish is not an actual student at the university.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>And how would you know that? You don't. Just because your opinion of A&M is different from another student's doesn't mean that you are a student and they are not.</p>

<p>I would agree that A&M is a little bit cliquish. When I got to A&M I really had to go out of my way to meet people. Hell, some of the student organizations I joined were a little cliquish and so I had to move on and find other organizations to join. I finally made a lot of friends but it should not have been that difficult. It's 10 times easier if you come to A&M as a freshman and move into a dorm.</p>

<p>I just had to find people as outgoing as me and avoided the people who already have their little clans of people they never really ventured out of. I had a friend of mine that actually transferred to Tech from A&M partially for the same reason although I thought that was foolish.</p>

<p>Too many people at A&M have their little circle of high school friends and very close family friends that they never really move out of. Some of them don't have time to.</p>

16

<p>I am not an A&M alum, but I've lived in Texas most of my life and I know lots of Aggies. I have been on campus quite a bit with my kids for science competitions. Some of my kids' friends go to A&M. Students and profs at A&M are very friendly and helpful, without fail.</p>

<p>I worked in Houston for a number of years. I can say from first- hand experience that the Aggie alum network is incredible. Aggies have a leg up for business networking. Aggies give other Aggies business before they give business to non-Aggies, period. If you are going to work in Texas, it is an advantage to be an Aggie. Aggies give other Aggies jobs. Once you are in the working world, these things are important.</p>

<p>A&M is mostly conservative, like most of Texas. If they have a campus Democrats organization, it's probably a lot smaller than the campus Republicans. A&M does not have a great deal of racial diversity. Having said that, it is a huge school. Not everyone is in the Corp. Not everyone is conservative. I think a student could find like-minded people, no matter what. It might take a bit of effort if the student doesn't fit the stereotype.</p>