<p>We arrived in College Station this afternoon. DD's tour isn't scheduled until tomorrow, but I was eager to see the campus as I haven't been here since graduating a little over 20 years ago. We've lived in other states since then and have never had the opportunity to come back. I knew it had grown and changed a lot and was prepared for that. I have been telling dd that even though it's a huge campus and student body, it doesn't feel that big because everyone is so friendly; they look you in the eye, smile and say "Hi" or "Howdy". We walked all around campus and only 3 or 4 students smiled and/or said hi. I looked at them and smiled. Except for those 3 or 4 students, we were met by blank stares, if they looked at us at all. It was such a let-down, and I really felt sad. What happened to the friendliness? We're going on the tours tomorrow, but I can tell TAMU has already made a negative impression on dd. What a shame.</p>
<p>Perhaps you remember it as being friendlier since you have been away for so long and you talked it up so much that your expectations were elevated. Still, the people here are much friendlier for the most part than the general student body at my undergrad institution, Illinois.</p>
<p>Just tell her not to pass judgment until the tour itself. Maybe you just got an unlucky day. I would also imagine that people are friendlier in the afternoon around lunch rather than the evening when they are just trying to get home.</p>
<p>Oh well. Good luck tomorrow!</p>
<p>Oh, No! DS will be an incoming freshman in the fall. We have visited a few times and could not escape the Howdy! Having visited several schools, A&M was by far the most welcoming. UT on the the other hand…:)</p>
<p>3 or 4 hellos is 3 or 4 more than you’ll get at just about any other college.</p>
<p>NeedAVacation…
Maybe they were all exhausted! I was there the day before - there was tons of snow, all the kids were out having the best of times building snowmen, snowball fights, just playing in the unusual event of snow.<br>
It was very friendly when I was there during the snow event.</p>
<p>We were there last Saturday for Aggieland Saturday and we all commented on how friendly the students were. “Howdy’s” and “hi’s” all over the place.</p>
<p>boneh3ad, Thanks for the good wishes. I’m not one of those fanatical Former Students who idealize TAMU and think of it as a utopia. I really had to push dd to apply, and did so only because of their fantastic scholarships to National Merit Finalists, because she’s interested in science & engineering, and because we have family in Texas. It is a comparatively friendly campus, but nothing like it used to be. I talked with several other Former Students (family members) who now also have kids going to campus occasionally for various reasons, and they they concur. We got a few more “Howdy’s” and smiles during our group tour, but not many. I guess it’s hard since it’s gotten SO big, and also so many students walk around texting and talking on their cell phones. It’s much more like a big city these days.</p>
<p>I would imagine it has a lot to do with the fact that they are pushing to diversify the student body. In order to increase their national standing as a university, they are trying to draw in students from all over the country and world as opposed to the traditional 95% from Texas. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this has the effect of helping make the campus less monotonous while also hurting some of the traditions such as “Howdy.” It is kind of a give or take thing. I am not from Texas originally and I can tell you that it still feels odd if I say howdy, so it wouldn’t surprise me if the phenomenon is more widespread than just myself.</p>
<p>There’s also too many people texting or listening to their iPod now instead of listening to nature and greeting strangers on their way to class.</p>
<p>Texting is becoming a problem everywhere in America in almost every situation. I will admit to being guilty of it as well, though not as much as some people I know.</p>
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<p>Quoted for truthiness.</p>
<p>Admittedly, even in my day, actually saying “Howdy” was a bit hard to do. Most people said, “Hi” though - or at least made eye contact and smiled.</p>
<p>I wonder if the number of people who have moved to Texas over the past decade or two hasn’t made a difference as well. They might not be as familiar with the Aggie traditions and spirit as long-time Texas families are. To them, it might just be another state school. In any case, it’s too bad for the current and future students. It’s much nicer to have that friendly acknowledgement as you treck across campus.</p>
<p>i think the scene will be alot different on the day everyone moves in, everyone will be happy and excited</p>
<p>FWIW, the corps guys still do it… though they also seem to have a holier-than-thou sort of aura to them. Maybe I am imagining that.</p>