The Corps and its Effect on Admissions

Colleges and Universities A-Z Texas A&M University
1

<p>About showing interest in the Corps and it affecting admission status....</p>

<p>I asked my S about this, as he is a senior in the Corps in a leadership position. He said that if an applicant is not going to make the cut by the admissions office but says he plans to join the Corps, then the application will be forwarded to the Corps. One of the staff members, currently Major Burnside, will call the student to investigate further whether the student is truly a prospect for the Corps. If the student is in-state, he could even be asked to come for an interview. </p>

<p>In short, they do attempt to weed out the students who are trying to use interest in the Corps to gain admission to the university. Also, they will be looking at the student's academic record. If he is not a strong student in high school, he will not be able to keep up at A&M while fulfilling his Corps responsibilities. They do not want students to join the Corps then flunk out of school. It makes the Corps look bad. I am sure there are borderline students who get away with saying they plan to join the Corps just to get in, and then don't join, but the university and the Corps are actively working to prevent that.</p>

<p>As an aside, Corps membership is dropping. The commandant told S and some of the others in leadership that he believes it is a reflection of society. Many kids do not want to do what is hard. They don't know the satisfaction of having to work really hard for something and then to achieve it.</p>

<p>That's a shame, too. Going through fish year was misery for S, but he pressed on. There was much elation at Final Review when he got to put on the uniform of a sophomore. It was still hard, with new challenges each year. But this year he gets to wear his senior boots, and he knows that he earned that right. Those of you who are not at A&M won't understand what the big deal is about senior boots, but I think those who are students there understand. </p>

<p>Pushing through the difficulties with his fish buddies has bonded them together. Everyone he knows who is a senior is so glad that s/he joined the Corps and would not trade the experience for anything.</p>

2

<p>timely, I respect the corps. highly and believe it is a difficult, yet rewarding program( I am not a Corps. person). The Corps. people are always so friendly and respectful and we could all do well to emulate them. I do think the Corps. numbers dropping could be more to the fact that we are in the middle of wars and conflicts with more potentially on the horizon, not from the fact that the work is hard. Look at all the kids who enroll in the harder majors, they seem to be increasing. Yes, it is a reflection of society, but more because of the conflicts going on in the world. An Aggie doesn't shrink from hard work.</p>

3

<p>I disagree about the war effect. Most of the Corps cadets are under no military obligation, so that doesn't affect them at all. </p>

<p>My own personal theory is that it has to do with hair. It's only been in the past 2-3 years that longer hair for guys has become fashionable again. Prior to that, having short hair in the Corps was no big deal, since most guys wore their hair pretty short. Nowadays, that's a pretty big leap for a guy to shear off his locks for one of those sporty fish haircuts.</p>

<p>
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Look at all the kids who enroll in the harder majors, they seem to be increasing.

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Do you think so? It doesn't seem that way to me, but I don't know. It seems I hear a lot about kids starting out as engineering majors and then changing to major in anthropology or something by the end of their freshman year.</p>

<p>
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An Aggie doesn't shrink from hard work.

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Well, you've got me there! :)</p>

4

<p>I'm going to Texas A&M to be in the Corp (that among other reasons). :)</p>

<p>If anyone wants to discuss the Corp, contact me @ <a href="mailto:zachhabersang@gmail.com">zachhabersang@gmail.com</a>.</p>

<p>Gig'em</p>

5

<p>timely, I have a theory for why Corps memberships might be dropping.</p>

<p>I think A&M is increasingly seen as a viable alternative among Texas students who can't get into UT. The academic admit category helps kids like my son who aren't top 10% but are still excellent students. Also, the school has the reputation of giving good merit money, also attractive to kids like my son, whose parents can't pay for it all on their own. Without those two advantages, truthfully, he'd never consider A&M because he already bleeds burnt orange. And actually, I'm the one considering it and have yet to talk him into it. :)</p>

<p>Anyway, long way of saying that I believe a growing number of the students going to A&M aren't interested in the Corps at all, that they aren't at A&M because of the Corps but in spite of it. In fact, I just met a kid who attends another state school who plans to go into the military. Someone asked him why he didn't attend A&M, and he said he thought the whole vibe of the Corps and the campus was just too hard-core.</p>

<p>I'm glad your son is having such a positive experience, and I hope my comments aren't taken negatively. For me, it's like a fraternity or sorority -- some people are interested, and some aren't. Doesn't mean the lack of interest in the Corps is an indication that they are weak or afraid of challenge. The Corps just isn't their thing.</p>

6

<p>
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Anyway, long way of saying that I believe a growing number of the students going to A&M aren't interested in the Corps at all, that they aren't at A&M because of the Corps but in spite of it.

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Yes, I think that could relate to the top 10% law. The kids going to A&M aren't "the same kids" that used to go there. As for the "in spite of it", they may feel that way going in. But once you are there, you understand that the Corps is what makes A&M, A&M. It's different, not like the other large state universities. So, I think that though the vast majority of students would not want to be in the Corps themselves, they are glad that A&M has the Corps.</p>

<p>
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Without those two advantages, truthfully, he'd never consider A&M because he already bleeds burnt orange. And actually, I'm the one considering it and have yet to talk him into it.

[/quote]

We have been on the opposite side of that equation. S1 is at A&M and H went there. S2 comes along and wants to major in film production....no film production major at A&M. However, UT has film production. So, he applied to UT as his safety along with 3 other film schools. He also applied to A&M at the last minute as another safety because when he got one film school rejection, I started worrying he wouldn't get in anywhere, and at A&M he would be automatically admitted. He got into Chapman U. in California, so all is good there. </p>

<p>The funny thing is that S2 would have been okay with going to UT, not exactly happy with it, but okay. The rest of us would have been the problem. We are die-hard Aggies. H and I were already prepping ourselves, though, and made it a point to say within S2's hearing that UT is "really a very good school!" and things like that. S1 came to us in all sincerity saying, "You guys cannot let him go there!" :)</p>

<p>
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In fact, I just met a kid who attends another state school who plans to go into the military. Someone asked him why he didn't attend A&M, and he said he thought the whole vibe of the Corps and the campus was just too hard-core.

[/quote]

That kid may be in for some ugly surprises when he goes into the military.</p>

7

<p>That's exactly what I mean -- that I'm assuming the demographics are changing.</p>

<p>LOL, your family sounds just like mine but maroon instead of burnt orange. Dh always makes some crack about A&M when I bring it up, and I give him a look. I mean, we can't afford -- literally and figuratively -- to ignore A&M. With academic admit, it would be a safety, and I'm hoping there would be some merit money for a high-achieving minority student. And I hope the alumni network is as good as I've heard.</p>

8

<p>In SPITE of the Corps? I don't think a lot of people realize that there are only 2000 corps. members out of 47,000 students. Why people make such a big negative out of the Corps. when it is such a small part of campus, I don't know!</p>

9

<p>Actually, it's closer to 1500 in the Corps this year. You are right....not a big deal. Although, they are "the Spirit of Aggieland". :)</p>

<p>J4CHH, do you know what outfit you will be in? Army, Navy, or Air Force? Here is my standard advice for new cadets (I know you didn't ask for advice, but I'm a mom so I can give it anyway :) ) : Remember that it's all a game. When the sophomores are screaming at you about how horrible your uniform is and it's actually perfect, they know it's perfect. That doesn't matter. They are trying to teach you to keep cool under pressure....and it will work...eventually! You are going to be so proud when you march into Kyle Field on August 30th!</p>