Texas A & M University - College Station

Date: Oct 15 2003
Major: Anthropology (This Major's Salary over time)
After attending both Texas A&M and UT Austin, I can honestly say that academics do not differ significantly between the two. UT is more supportive of Liberal Arts and the Social Sciences, A&M is focused more on Engineering, "Hard" Sciences and such. My education at TAMU has been a benefit in the sense that name recognition of the university is extremely high within the borders of Texas and I was quite prepared to enter a competitive workforce with no hand-holding or nepotism to aid me. As for the college experience at A&M, ethnic diversity is very much so a presence, but integration between the different cultures, races, social groups, etc. is something you must seek out on your own. It is possible and welcomed to learn about and befriend students from different backgrounds but you must make the effort. There is a small but strong "alternative" scene to the usual Corps and Greek social environment. Again, you have to find it. Many very excellent concerts, operas, plays and lectures come through College Station thanks to the MSC people.

It is true that A&M has it's fair share of religious zealots and even more true that being an "Aggie" becomes it's own religion for many students, but that is not necessarily negative in all situations. On occasion a ranting traveling minister will yell at you as you walk in front of the Academic Building "You're goin' to hell" when in fact you are only going to class. Don't take it personally. Drinking is a huge part of the A&M experience as is obvious in one of the Aggie Traditions - ring dunking. When a student receives their Aggie Ring, family and friends gather at the Chicken or Dudley's Draw to witness said student chug an entire pitcher of beer in the number of seconds corresponding with the last two digits of their graduation year. Watching this can be funny and disgusting. Take a camera.

To truly get the most out of your A&M experience, join clubs or teams you are interested in. The bars are fun but get old quickly and have been the downfall of many a man or woman better than either of us. The number of available activities to participate in is staggering. Try as many new things as you can. Also, scale the climbing wall in the Rec. center at least once. That I did not is a regret I shall never recover from.

Do not expect for your professors to coddle you. For most lower-level undergrad courses, if they even know your name by the end of the semester you will do great things with your life. You will not find a sympathetic environment. A&M is great preparation for "the real world" in that way. Alot of the professors are striving for tenure in a very competitive and politically driven environment, they will not go out of their way to know or help you. When you become upper-level and take smaller classes in your specific major you will get to know your professors. Do not fall behind in your coursework. To be honest, the work is not usually all that hard but is time consuming. No matter how slick you are, if you wait until the last minute to write a paper or study for a test it will reflect in your work. Trust me, I know this. Independent and original work is not always encouraged at A&M, but you can find ways to study and excel at whatever you want. Texas A&M is a fine university that mass produces good, moral citizens who mostly exist within a certain standardized area of common thought, employment, lifestyle and choices. However, you can find or create your very own place at A&M. You will be graduating from a base broad enough to go anywhere you want next. Good luck and have fun!