Texas A & M University-College Station Top Questions

The fact that it is not a very large city so unless you are part of the bar scene, there isn't much else to do

I wish that I had known that I would need to change my study habits when I came to this school. I assumed that the ways I had studied in high school would be just as successful in college and that was not the case. I would tell my past self to work on adapting quickly to the different way that college classes are taught and make sure to find a healthy balance amongst all the activities that I am involved in. I wish I had known that many changes would take place and they are necessary but also challenging.

The classroom sizes are massive. Little to no hands on work. Also wish I would have known that I had a learning diability that could have been treated prior to the completion of my undergraduate career.

Nothing, really. It's common sense.

I wish I had known that it is one of the most expensive public colleges in Texas. Also I wish i had known that it is an immense campus and student body with over 50,000 students currently enrolled.

Traditions are very big at this school - not participating can leave you an outsider

The most important thing you could possibly do at Texas A&M as a freshmen is to simply get involved. It's very hard to get out and meet people in a new enviornment, but it's so incredibly rewarding. Joining a freshmen organization or any university sponsered club is a fantastic way to meet people with similar interests, and make some of the best friends in your life. I wish someone had told me to participate in the first weeks open house activities so I could've gotten a head start.

I wish I would have known just how rigorous the university was and how some professors really do not care to help.

Since I'm from a small town, I wish I had known more about what is really out there: the good things and the bad. It's hard to know what to avoid and what to accept based just on knowledge. Experience is something that really helps you gain knowledge, but it's hard to find in a sheltered environment.

I wish I had started out as a History major, rather than having to switch from International Studies.

I wish I had more financial aid information. Transfering from a junior college to a 4 year college was a hear financial jump.

I wish that I had known how to study before I came to Texas A&M. In high school, the classes were all relatively easy for me and I did not have to study for the tests to get an A. Even in my more challenging classes, studying consisted of briefly looking over my notes before the test. In coming to Texas A&M, I have had to learn how to study, because the classes are challenging.

I wish I would have known how different it was really going to be from highschool. I wish I would have known how much harder the classes were going to be and how much more effort I needed to put into them in order to do well. In highschool it was easy to put a little effort nto the class and do very well, but in college it takes a lot of effort to do well in classes. I did not do great in my first semester because I struggled with the transition.

I wish I had known how much tests were given, and how much of a fast pace they go at.

I would have liked to know the required items for each of my classes a lot earlier and be able to sign up for those classes earlier as well. The last minute signing up for these courses is incredibly frustrating.

I wish that I would have better prepared myself for school at times. I enjoyed my classes but at times I did become overwhelmed with my husband being deployed and raising our young daughter and taking a fulltime load of classes.

“Get involved! Get involved!” surrounds fish camp, freshman tradition. You hear you’re on your own in college. Yes, that’s true but get involved and put yourself out there people will help you, get to know your professors even if it’s overwhelming to have 300 students in your class, your professor will never know you unless you make an effort to introduce yourself. College is about being on your own but there are people to guide you if ever needed, even at a big institution so get out there and ask for help because there’s help everywhere.

I wish I had known better study skills. I spent a lot of time in the library over the course of the semester but not all of my grades reflect that. Time management is key to getting not only good grades but enough sleep and excersise to keep you healthy (and sane). All-nighters are never good. Coffee helps, but can only do so much. There really is no substitute for reading ahead, and getting homework done the night it is assigned instead of the evening its due.

I wish I would have known how different your hometown can be to the university to where you attend. A&M is huge in comparison to the small town which is predominatly hispanic. I realized how important diversity is and how much fun it can be to learn about different cultures and meet new people. I also wished I would have known how much I still need to grow up. Being away from home made me mature a great deal. I had to learn to budget my time and my money.

That the sticker price is not what I was going to pay. People think they can't get into a college because they can't afford the total price that the college advertises- it's not true. There are so many scholarships and ways to save money that it opens up so many more posibilities and allows you to save your money for other things.