Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My cousin resides in Texas and his son is a high school junior interested in the agricultural sciences. The guidance counselor at the high school said that the young man could most likely get into Texas A&M, with Texas Tech as a safety.</p>

<p>My cousin doesnt think that his son would like A&M (he and his wife both work with a lot of A&M graduates). He said his son would be a "two percenter" -- a name give to the two percent of the student body at College Station who cannot be bothered with all the traditions and school spirit at A&M.</p>

<p>However, my cousin feels that A&M alumni have a tremendous alumni network that takes care of its own. He also thinks four years in Lubbock is a fate worse than death.</p>

<p>My questions to the forum: 1) is there a place at College Station for liberal Democratic nonconformists? 2) is four years in Lubbock a fate worse than death? or 3) in short, how much does the kid give up by going to Tech instead of A&M.</p>

<p>Any opinions would be appreciated by my cousin, his son and of course by me</p>

2

<p>dont go to tech. lubbock is in the middle of nowhere and kids get drunk cuz they cant do anything anything else. a&m is so much better socially and academically</p>

3

<p>My boss went to Tech....chemical engineering major. He loved the smaller classes and more personal attention at Tech. </p>

<p>He hates A&M...says it's almost cult-like. Of course, that's his biased opinion.</p>

4

<p>
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1) is there a place at College Station for liberal Democratic nonconformists?

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</p>

<p>In short, yes. There are over 45,000 students at A&M, and contrary to popular opinion, they are not all conservative Republican conformists. Should your cousin choose to get involved with campus life, there are over 800 student organizations, including such clubs as Aggie Liberals, Texas Aggie Democrats, and Aggie Independents. </p>

<p><a href="http://getinvolved.tamu.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://getinvolved.tamu.edu/&lt;/a> </p>

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2) is four years in Lubbock a fate worse than death?

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<p>No, I would imagine four years in Lubbock would be ever so slightly better than dying. ;)</p>

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3) in short, how much does the kid give up by going to Tech instead of A&M.

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</p>

<p>In my opinion, the kid gives up a certain amount of academic excellence, prestige, and job/ networking opportunities should he choose Tech over A&M. With that said though, at each school it comes down to the student and what he/she makes of their education and experience. </p>

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He hates A&M

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<p>LOL, what Tech alumn doesnÂ’tÂ…</p>

5

<p>Go with the winner of this weekend's game. ;)</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
My cousin doesnt think that his son would like A&M (he and his wife both work with a lot of A&M graduates). He said his son would be a "two percenter" -- a name give to the two percent of the student body at College Station who cannot be bothered with all the traditions and school spirit at A&M.

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</p>

<p>Is it possible for your cousin to visit both campuses? This was terribly helpful to me when I had to make a similar decision. In fact, it was the basis for my decision to go to Lubbock and TTU.</p>

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[quote]
However, my cousin feels that A&M alumni have a tremendous alumni network that takes care of its own. He also thinks four years in Lubbock is a fate worse than death.

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</p>

<p>The implication here is that there is no Tech network or that they do not take care of their own which would be false. As an employer I can tell you that the candidate before me that I think will perform best has nothing to do with the school they went to - but if I see a Tech graduate in line - they will make it to the interview and compete.</p>

<p>Re: Lubbock. Again, the implication is that Bryan/College Station is some sort of San Francisco...while it is closer to Houston, I'm not sure that adds anything to the equation. Lubbock is a college town of >220,000 folks - and the Tech students are treated well by the population - Tech is the economic driver and they all know that. Again, it's fun place to go to school - nobody's asking the students to live there when they're done - there's no contract to sign.</p>

<p>
[quote]
My questions to the forum: 1) is there a place at College Station for liberal Democratic nonconformists? 2) is four years in Lubbock a fate worse than death? or 3) in short, how much does the kid give up by going to Tech instead of A&M.

[/quote]
</p>

<ol>
<li> I'm sure there is - Texas A&M is a great school and I'm sure amongst 45,000 you can find a group that are similar thinkers.</li>
<li> You gotta be kidding me - that is such a close-minded statement.</li>
<li> If you hate your years at A&M you'll give up a lot - the same can be said at Tech - your cousin needs to go to the school they want to be at - if they qualify for both - choice is a wonderful thing - but don't go to a school for "assumed" prestige.</li>
</ol>

<p>You won't find me disparaging Texas A&M - a rivalry in a sports endeavor is one thing - the school can be accused of "groupthink" and their biggest issue at hand is their lack of multi-cultural acceptance - but these things do not define the school.</p>

7

<p>My niece is a liberal democrat nonconformist. She went to A&M because she could (top 10%) and it was "the" place to go at her high school. I knew she would hate it and she did. She transferred to UT-Austin and it was a much better fit.</p>

8

<p>My perspective of Tech is largely formed by my son's excellent experience with Tech's Honors College. Honors students come from all parts of the University (including agricultural sciences). For instance, in his junior year he was able to attend a Constitutional Law class (for first year law students) in Tech's Law School which confirmed his interest in law as a career. That would not have been possible at A&M because they do not have a law school. </p>

<p>Prior to going out to Tech for our first visit, my son said "there's no way I will go to college in that hick town of Lubbock." Coming from a DFW area suburb he convinced himself that he was going to give up civilization in west Texas. Then we visited. First, he loved Tech's campus. Second, as we rode around Lubbock and saw the mall, restaurants, neighborhoods, etc. his opinion began to change. The clincher was that the rock group Metallica was coming to Lubbock for a concert at Tech's basketball arena. I said that "hick" towns don't get major concerts and he had to agree. He is one satisfied camper at Tech several years later.</p>

<p>Visit Tech and A&M. Then make your decision. Tech will be more than hold its own.</p>

9

<p>Round 2 - Here is one of the events held at Tech recently (September 25th) that was of interest to politically minded of all stripes (and my son leans to the liberal side as well). From Tech Honor's College Voice (a newsletter on their website):</p>

<p>"Ambassador Cofer Black speaks on “Terrorism – Adapting US Policy to Evolving Threats,” TONIGHT, Tuesday, September 25, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., HH 077 Ambassador Black is an internationally acknowledged expert in counterterrorism; he was the State Department’s Coordinator for Counterterrorism, the Director of Operations at the CIA, the Director of the CIA Counterterrorist Center, and is currently the chairman of Total Intel. This presentation is brought to you by Ambassador Tibor Nagy and the International Cultural Center. Visit <a href="http://www.iaff.ttu.edu/main/IccEvents.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.iaff.ttu.edu/main/IccEvents.asp&lt;/a> for more information. "</p>

<p>Mr. Nagy was a former ambassador to Ethiopia. He is on Tech's faculty and heads Tech's Intercultural Center. My son attended the event and chatted with Ambassador Black after the talk. He said the talk and subsequent discussion were very thought provoking.</p>

10

<p>
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Again, the implication is that Bryan/College Station is some sort of San Francisco...while it is closer to Houston, I'm not sure that adds anything to the equation.

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<p>LOL, trust me, IÂ’m sure no one would ever begin to remotely confuse BCS and San Fran. Being closer to a major city does help though, re: jobs, internships, etc. </p>

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[quote]
My niece is a liberal democrat nonconformist. She went to A&M because she could (top 10%) and it was "the" place to go at her high school. I knew she would hate it and she did. She transferred to UT-Austin and it was a much better fit.

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</p>

<p>Unfortunately your niece’s experience is played out all too often by incoming students at hundreds of schools across the country. More often than not, basing a college decision solely on what’s “in” or what others are doing will ultimately spell disappointment for the student. </p>

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[quote]
My perspective of Tech is largely formed by my son's excellent experience with Tech's Honors College. Honors students come from all parts of the University (including agricultural sciences). For instance, in his junior year he was able to attend a Constitutional Law class (for first year law students) in Tech's Law School which confirmed his interest in law as a career. That would not have been possible at A&M because they do not have a law school.

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<p>lonestardad raises a good point about the honors program. TechÂ’s Honor College Vs. A&M is definitely a more appropriate and fair comparison, than is Tech Vs. A&M.</p>

11

<p>Late reply, I know, but I just stumbled across this thread.</p>

<p>I went to Texas Tech for a semester before transferring to A&M. A&M is definitely the better choice out of the two. </p>

<p>I had several problems with Tech. First, Tech tends to attract kids who lacked the maturity level and the grades to go to A&M or UT. Granted, not everyone was like that but a very sizable portion of the student body is. So I was stuck in class with kids who didn't have real direction or motivation in life; they were just in school because it was the thing to do. Also, there's a big frat/sorority mentality up there. I don't know about any of you, but I've dated a ton of girls and I'm tired of the airhead bottle blonde types who's major is "Sorority."</p>

<p>Secondly, there's nothing to do in Lubbock besides drink. You had two choices during the weekend: go to a bar or go to a house party. Considering that you can do that anywhere else, there is no reason to pick Lubbock over College Station or Austin.</p>

<p>Third, Tech is becoming stagnant as far as academics are concerned. Right now, according to the rankings (if you are into that sort of thing), Texas State in San Marcos is equal to or higher ranked than Texas Tech. Tech is in a part of the state with a declining population and the town doesn't really have anything to offer, so all Tech can attract are the kids from 200+ miles away who can't get into A&M or UT.</p>

<p>Fourth, A&M and UT have much, much larger alumni networks and the alumni, especially the Aggies, stick together. It's easier to find employment with a degree from A&M or UT. Because there are so much more A&M and UT graduates than Tech graduates, you've got more people for you than against you. Also, A&M and UT are much better known outside of Texas so it will really help if you're planning on moving away from Texas or are considering grad school out-of-state at a prestigious university.</p>

<p>I initially went to Tech because I wasn't comfortable with the "Aggie cult" but once I got to Tech and didn't like my situation, I sucked it up and went to A&M. Turns out it was one of the best decisions I've made, especially from an education standpoint.</p>

<p>I don't think that Tech is a bad school or anything, but if you have the grades and the money to go to A&M or UT, then I don't really see any point of going to Tech. Otherwise Tech is a fine choice and it's not really going to hurt you in the long run, but you'll get a little more out of a degree from A&M or UT.</p>

<p>But the difference in tuition between A&M and Tech isn't that much so I think grades would be the main limiting factor.</p>

<p>Here's my replies to what's been posted above:</p>

<p>I don't agree with the Tech Honors vs. A&M comparison. I think having a Honors degree in Tech makes employers realize that you aren't a stereotypical Tech student, which is a very good thing, but A&M grads will probably not pick a Tech Honors student over an A&M student.</p>

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The implication here is that there is no Tech network or that they do not take care of their own which would be false.

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<p>Yeah, but compare Tech's network to A&M's or UT's network and you'll see a much, much larger difference. Also, the weight of the A&M and UT "brand name" will allow you to major in not-quite-in-demand subjects without hurting you too bad career wise. I knew a girl who has a English degree from UT-Austin who works in real estate development and I doubt she could've done it with an English degree from Tech. Part of her success comes from UT's huge network.</p>

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He hates A&M...says it's almost cult-like. Of course, that's his biased opinion.

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<p>He should've picked a school for the educational quality instead of placing more emphasis on other factors. I made that mistake by picking Tech and I corrected it.</p>

12

<p>
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I don't think that Tech is a bad school or anything, but if you have the grades and the money to go to A&M or UT, then I don't really see any point of going to Tech.

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<p>I find this rather funny. Your entire post was about how bad tech was, and yet, you say its not a bad school?</p>

13

<p>I find it rather funny that you didn't realize that good schools can have bad qualities. The original poster wanted to compare Tech to A&M. Therefore I posted why I felt that A&M would be a better choice and in order to prove my argument, I had to bring out the bad qualities of Tech.</p>

<p>Just because I didn't mention the good qualities of Tech doesn't mean that I don't think it's a good school.</p>

14

<p>I think it is crucial to visit the schools. A&M has a unique culture and is not for everyone. I would go with Tech- smaller classes and more individual attention.
College Station isn't exactly a dream location, by the way.</p>

15

<p>
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I would go with Tech- smaller classes and more individual attention.

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<p>You've got to be joking. I went to Tech BEFORE I transferred to A&M. I went to Tech because I wasn't comfortable with the environment at A&M, but I finally decided to suck it up and go to A&M because A&M has more people who have motivation and focus.</p>

<p>Texas Tech has no culture, period.</p>

<p>If you want smaller classes and individual attention, you really won't find it much better at Tech compared to A&M. You need to go to a liberals arts school for that.</p>

<p>You've really got to be joking if you are going to suggest that College Station is not in a dream location but then recommend Tech. Lubbock is on a dirt plateau in a sparely populated part of the state, far away from the major cities.</p>

<p>Some of you need to realize that college is only four years long but the degree is with you the rest of your life.</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
I find it rather funny that you didn't realize that good schools can have bad qualities. The original poster wanted to compare Tech to A&M. Therefore I posted why I felt that A&M would be a better choice and in order to prove my argument, I had to bring out the bad qualities of Tech.</p>

<p>Just because I didn't mention the good qualities of Tech doesn't mean that I don't think it's a good school.

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<p>You say tech has no culture, lacks prestige, mediocre student body, boring campus, and unimpressive alumni base. So what are the good qualities you have failed to mention? </p>

<p>LOL</p>

17

<p>Sang, I'd really be surprised if you have a college degree from anywhere because you analytical skills are lacking.</p>

<p>It's a good school compared to most schools in Texas but in no way would I pick it over A&M and UT because of those reasons I mentioned (no culture, little prestige compared to A&M and UT, medicore student body, etc.) It's probably the best of the lower-tier schools in Texas, lower-tier meaning below A&M and UT.</p>

<p>But it wouldn't surprise me if you are a Tech graduate. You just seem to be trolling without actually demonstrating that you can understand what I am saying.</p>

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<p>And if you can't figure out by now that I am comparing Tech to A&M and UT instead of just listing pros and cons of Tech, then you really are a moron.</p>

19

<p>Being a liberal nonconformist Democrat from the largest blue county in Texas (Dallas)...</p>

<p>while you could probably find a niche of like-minded people at either college, you won't be a popular person with many people. A large proportion of the population at either school is very rural, many of whom are in that 25% of the population who still approve of the manner in which Governor Bush (of New Haven, CT)is running the United States.</p>

<p>That being said--there is VERY little real difference between the cultures of Tech and A&M. A&M has a lot more tradition and a much more well-connected alumni network throughout the state and the nation, and is much more well respected nationally. If it comes down to Tech Honors vs regular A&M, the academics are going to be better at Tech. A&M has a very good honors college, so if she can get in to that she might find that suitable. The typical kid at A&M will have made better grades in high school than a Tech kid (except for those Tech kids from West Texas) but that really doesn't say much. There's a little more culturally in BCS but both schools' social functions revolve around fraternities and drinking.</p>

<p>From personal experience, I know quite a lot of people who attended Texas Tech and hated it. In all honesty, of the 12 or so people I know who've gone to Texas Tech, 10 transfered out at the end of their freshman years or before. A&M does not have quite the attrition rate. Tech also has the highest rate of sexually-transmitted infections in the country, on a side note.</p>

<p>Based on your portrayal of your niece, she may be better off at a school like UT Austin (or really anywhere in the UT system). She also might want to look at Texas A&M at Galveston, which is officially a branch of A&M-College Station, not an independed university, but has easier admissions policies and a more laid back and liberal atmosphere. She might also want to look out-of-state, maybe at a school like CU Boulder or Colorado State.</p>

<p>Just my thoughts.</p>

20

<p>Actually, I have nothing to do with tech, and have never heard of the school until someone brought up this post.</p>

<p>If you read your post, I can hardly imagine anyone thats going to think of tech as being a good school. What can you expect from a school other than culture, prestige, intellectual student body, decent alumni, and exciting campus? Are you saying that you have failed to mention hardcore parties and pretty girls? Its not me who lacks analytical skills, but you who have failed to make a good comparsion.</p>