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Texas A&M is a very unique place. There is no place like it on earth. I am from big city Dallas, and coming to College Station was a bit of a culture shock for me, but in a good way. Texas A&M has such a warm and friendly atmosphere. The spirit and traditions are what separates Texas A&M from any other university. There are so many aspects to campus and to A&M's history that make Texas A&M more than just a college. A&M becomes a home. I could go on all day about Texas A&M, but you cannot comprehend it until you see and feel the Aggie Spirit. "From the outside looking in you can't understand it, and from the inside looking out you can't explain it."
Kristen Senior
A&M is definitely a very large campus. I think there are roughly 40,000 students. That may be too big for some people, but it allows everyone to do whatever it is that they're interested in. A&M does not require the freshman to live on campus, because there simply is not enough space to house all the freshmen, but I do strongly suggest that you live on campus for at least a year. It's an amazing experience! College Station is definitely a college town; it's right there in the name! The school was there first, and there are train tracks that run through the campus. The story goes is that College Station got its name because when riding the train, students and visitors sometimes didn't know at which stop to get off. So at the train station, someone took a board and wrote "college" on it, and nailed it above the sign that said "station." And thus College Station was born. So everything in College Station revolves around A&M. The students at A&M have tons and tons of school pride. There are certainly "2 percenters," or people who are uninterested in A&M's tradition and are only involved in the university about 2%. But most Aggies are incredibly proud to be Aggies, and they are very involved in all things A&M. A&M is a place to feel welcome, invited and loved. It's like a big family. There is a comaraderie at A&M like no other school I've ever seen. If I see anyone on the street wearing an Aggie ring, I've made a new friend. Aggies will gladly go out of their way to help another Aggie, and that's one of the main things I love about A&M.
Katie Alum
A&M is large, 45,000 students strong. However, it doesn't seem like that many once you get into class and learn to communicate well with students and the university as a whole. It will feel as a small town with friendly people abundant.
Phil Junior
I love Texas A&M for all of its quirks and traditions. There is no other school this large where you will not feel like just another number to the faculty and staff. In fact, I rarely notice that the school is big at all. I love that everything seems to have a tradition to go along with it. While it takes a while to learn them all, and a lot of them seem kind of hoaky, the traditions will enrich your college experience, and make you feel a kinship with your fellow schoolmates. Everyone you meet on campus is not a stranger, but merely a friend you've yet to meet! Its so true. Aggies are the friendliest bunch you will encounter. We are always willing to lend a hand, give directions, and answer any question you might have. We would welcome anyone with open arms. And while A&M is in many ways a great school, we do have our quirks, but you learn to live with, and love them, to embrace them as your own.
K'Lee Senior
The big picture about A&M is that we are a tight-knit student body who come together celebrating the Aggie Spirit. It's hard to explain exactly what that is or even attempt to define it, but I shall try. It's supporting the football team, regardless of the score. It's the student body coming together the first tuesday of the month to honor current students who has sadly passed away tragically. It's about being a part of something larger than yourself, and understanding that there are thousands of people who would support you if you ever needed it. I think the only thing I would change about this university would be the fact that we are growing out of the seams; this university is quite large, and it seems that there are times that the student body isn't always accomidated.
Rebecca Senior
The best thing about TAMU is the student life; there are countless groups, programs, organizations, etc. for students to take part in, and the social scene is full of opportunities to meet fellow students and have a great time together. I would change the racial diversity, however, for it seems TAMU is full of an almost entirely White student body, with the only Blacks being athletes, and the only Asians or Middle Easterners representing the most difficult majors, like Engineering, Biology, or Chemistry. I'd say our school size is just right, or if anything maybe a bit too large, but TAMU is definitely far from the small side. When I told people I was planning on attending TAMU, and even now, when I travel and meet people that have heard about TAMU and its notoriety for unique traditions, the reaction is usually the same: TAMU's spirit is contagious - am I one of the 98% or the 2%? (98% refers to the majority that gets "caught up" in the Aggie Spirit, while the 2% refers to the few students that withhold from such behavior and remain unaltered after entry to the university). I spend most of my time on campus either in class or in the library (Evans Library is the one on campus.) Occasionally, I'll head to campus to get a bite to eat, though the best places to find lunch are all on Northgate, which turns into a bar scene by night. TAMU is definitely a College town, and the name College Station originates from the train that runs through campus, for "College Station" describes the stop it made at TAMU along its track. TAMU's administrations is good, but there are more distinguished or experienced faculty members in specific departments. Engineering, for instance, is a program that represents an extremely knowledgeable and well-renowned faculty. The biggest controversy on campus that has occurred lately would have to be last year, when a video turned up online depicting White students discriminating against Blacks; the White students were obviously making fun of and attempting to degrade the image of a Black student, and our campus was in an uproar. The administration reacted immediately to the hateful action, and tons of minority students flooded the MSC to protest the occurence. Obviously school pride is something Aggies are known for, and the notoriety of our traditions and customs isn't a secret. One can definitely expect a unique college experience at TAMU!
Katelyn Sophomore
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