Sean or CPA, what are orientation weeks typically like. Can yall give us a run down on what happens leading up to the first day of class? I have heard about something called Round the Wards or something like that, but have no idea what it is. I know some schools do a retreat type deal...does A&M do this? During this time, are campus classes segregated from one another, or do these events include both classes?
The M2s did a picnic for us on the Saturday before orientation, so we got to meet a few people then. The first morning of orientation was spent largely discussing how none of us slept!
They went over financial aid, transcripts (?!), the curriculum for the next 4 years, student services, etc. There were also some "getting to know you" types of activities which were quite helpful. The middle of the week (like Wednesday) they started with course introduction - anatomy and biochem. Mostly anatomy. It was testable material that came up over and over!
What I wish we had had, but did not, was some "Aggie indoctrination" - as a non-Aggie, I would've liked an hour or two of info on Aggie traditions and the like. Oh, well. All we did on Thursday was have our pictures taken for our name badges - apparently "professional dress" when you're getting your name badge made means coat, tie, shorts, flip-flops!!
🙂 Needless to say, it was very low-key.
Friday was, indeed, a ropes course in College Station. It was optional, and I did not go. That evening was the dean's dinner in CS - again, very low-key. Barbecue on the concourse kind of thing. There were tours of the sim center there and a few other things. It was not very exciting, and it wasn't too useful for meeting people. Saturday was the White Coat Ceremony, which was nice.
As far as interaction with the College Station group, the Friday of orientation (optional), the White Coat ceremony, and a field trip they took to Temple a couple of weeks ago is the only contact we have actually had with them, so I wouldn't sweat any of that. Getting to know most of them before third year is kind of pointless.
Hope this helps!