Texas A&M Applicants Unite!

[Faith88]

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I didn't see a thread with all the A&M applicants together to support/update each other so I thought it might be helpful to make one. I have my interview tomorrow (Monday!) and am pretty nervous about it. 😱 I didn't actually attend TAMU as my undergraduate university, so I'm wondering if they will penalize me for that? I don't have much first hand knowledge about the school, and you can only learn so much on the internet. I am still an in-state applicant and have lived in Texas for most of my life, so that has to count for something right?

On a side note.. I'm so glad to be in Texas for Christmas! I'm not a big fan of snow....

 

[HopefulAg]

We A&Mers are a rare breed on this forum. No one wants to fill out two applications I guess lol.

Well I graduated from A&M and the only thing that'll really help you by doing so is that they count academic rigor points higher in your favor. But since there's not really a whole lot of those, I wouldn't worry about where you graduated from. A coworker of mine did his first two years in a CC and then his last two in a 'real' university that accepts anyone with a pulse, and he got in, so....

If you have questions about the interview (I've been through two of them), or the campus, town, whatever, feel free.

 

[chasec]

There are plenty of people accepted from non-A&M schools so I wouldn't worry about that. I have had three interviews(just needed better gpa) there and they have all been pretty relaxed. Most of the interviewers couldn't be mean if they tried.

 

[JuniorJumper]

I applied from out of state, but am originally from San Antonio which I think helped me get accepted as an undergrad because my OOS stats in high school weren't all that (mostly due to my inability to take a standardized test for 4 hours) I ended up going to my IS school for undergrad so hopefully they won't be offended/notice/care that I chose not to go there for my first 4 years.

On the bright side, I got a letter from them asking me for my Fall transcripts, but I didn't read too much into it since I'm sure most people got one of these letters. Hoping for some good news this week!

 

[Faith88]

Thanks for the support! I've been looking at the interview feedback on SDN and I'm hoping it will help. I'll let you guys know how it goes tomorrow.

 

[ginger17317]

Still holding my breath - I've not gotten any letters what-so-ever... I didn't think it through though and put my school address as my mailing address... I guess I'll just have to keep holding my breath until I'm back up there next week.

Have they sent out rejections? Or just interview invites?

 

[luplodw]

Still holding my breath - I've not gotten any letters what-so-ever... I didn't think it through though and put my school address as my mailing address... I guess I'll just have to keep holding my breath until I'm back up there next week.

Have they sent out rejections? Or just interview invites?

You could always call and ask if you got one and tell them your situation!!

 

[crittergal]

Still holding my breath - I've not gotten any letters what-so-ever... I didn't think it through though and put my school address as my mailing address... I guess I'll just have to keep holding my breath until I'm back up there next week.

Have they sent out rejections? Or just interview invites?

My rejection arrived in the mail today. The status page still says the same thing it did a week ago and I didn't receive an email. Looks like you may need to make a call to find out or wait one long torturous week.

 

[lalzi22]

I am joining the A&M reject group...oh well.

 

[Pouches Rock]

I did my interview on the 15th (IS) and I have received a letter requesting my transcripts from the fall. I think that they send out that letter at the end of the semester and may have nothing to do with your application status.

 

[HopefulAg]

I got that both years I got rejected. It's just part of their point scheme; they include your Fall grades in the final decision.

 

[Pouches Rock]

So based on past years posting and my own experience with getting wait listed once before we have approximately 70 days or so until we will get snail mailed our fate. The letters usually arrive between 3/7 and 3/10.

What will you do to pass the time for 70 days? I will be doing the ANSC 107 course via correspondence. Perhaps I will make a countdown 🙂

 

[livvie]

Where's the easiest place to fly in? The College Station airport is expensive... I'm currently looking to fly into Austin and drive. Suggestions? Also, hotel and restaurant suggestions would be cool too 🙂

Interview in a week and a half! Yikes!

 

[Pouches Rock]

So College Station is about an hour and a half from Houston or Austin. Many of my friends fly into Houston and then drive to College Station but they are all east coasters. I would avoid flying into Dallas because it is three to four hours away.

As for restaurants it depends on what you like and where you are from if you would like some novelty. Freebirds is a sort of traditional/novlety place to go in College Station it is like a subway but for a really big burrito. We also have the Hullabaloo Diner which was featured on a food network show. We have several of the usual chain restaurants.

Strangely, some of my friends that moved here from out of state, when they go home to visit miss a couple fast food places that are more common in the south/Texas. These are Sonic and Whataburger.

As for hotels...I haven't ever stayed in one. I don't think the expensive ones are worth the money. I know there is a Super Eight fairly close to campus.

Other than that I would need more information on what genre's of food you like...?

 

[Pouches Rock]

Congratulations and good luck to all of the students interviewing in January🙂

 

[HopefulAg]

Freebirds is a sort of traditional/novlety place to go in College Station it is like a subway but for a really big burrito.

Do yourself a favor and eat at Freebird's! I'm certainly going to eat there when I go to my interview!! That place is awesome and there's one RIGHT across from campus on Northgate. Ask any student and they can tell you where it, or at the least, Northgate, is.


Also College Station has at least 5,729,820.287 BBQ restaurants, so if you like BBQ, it's the place to be. I think the only thing that we have more of than BBQ joints, is bars.


Anyhow, if you're hungry, just drive down University or Texas and you'll find pretty much anything you want.

 

[Faith88]

Strangely, some of my friends that moved here from out of state, when they go home to visit miss a couple fast food places that are more common in the south/Texas. These are Sonic and Whataburger.

What about DQ?! 🙂 Im pretty sure I passed like 5 or 6 in CS/Bryan. My friends and I have definitely done several 3 AM Whataburger runs though. Yum.

What will you do to pass the time for 70 days? I will be doing the ANSC 107 course via correspondence. Perhaps I will make a countdown 🙂

I've basically been occupuying myself with NFL and NBA games to distract myself from this whole process. Go Cowboys! I personally can't handle doing a countdown and just realized theres still 2 months to go.....

I think my interview went alright, but I just can never really tell with these things. I'm just hoping I get in somewhere at this point b/c I've already gotten two rejections from other schools...🙁

 

[causticus]

Do yourself a favor and eat at Freebird's! I'm certainly going to eat there when I go to my interview!! That place is awesome and there's one RIGHT across from campus on Northgate. Ask any student and they can tell you where it, or at the least, Northgate, is.

Also College Station has at least 5,729,820.287 BBQ restaurants, so if you like BBQ, it's the place to be. I think the only thing that we have more of than BBQ joints, is bars.

Anyhow, if you're hungry, just drive down University or Texas and you'll find pretty much anything you want.

OMGGGGG I miss Freebird's soooo much!! 😍 Just reading this is making my mouth water all over the place. I'm sorry, but Chipotle is NOT an acceptable substitute - my husband keeps dragging me there, trying to convince me that it is.

Best BBQ in College Station (IMO) is C&J's on the corner of Southwest Parkway and Wellborn Rd. YUM.

Another B/CS personal favorite is Wings & More - best chicken fingers I've ever had.

Hmm, now I think I may need to take an early lunch................

 

[HopefulAg]

think my interview went alright, but I just can never really tell with these things. I'm just hoping I get in somewhere at this point b/c I've already gotten two rejections from other schools...

Do you remember who your interviewers were?

I'm sorry, but Chipotle is NOT an acceptable substitute - my husband keeps dragging me there, trying to convince me that it is.

Word.

Best BBQ in College Station (IMO) is C&J's on the corner of Southwest Parkway and Wellborn Rd. YUM.

C&J has awesome chicken, sauce, and sausage, but J Cody's (my personal favorite) has awesome sausage AND brisket, so they get my business. Plus, I lived literally 2 minutes away from the one on S. College.

 

[Pouches Rock]

Day 60 of our captivity 🙂 Anyways don't forget to send in your transcripts before the 15th. Also if you are interviewing and you would like to know the names of the people on your panel the lady that checks you in will write them down and give them to you after the interview is over if you ask.

 

[InfiniVet]

If you are in College Station on Janurary 18th please feel free stop by the College of Veterinary Medicine in room 101 to hear Dr. Peter Brothers (who flew all the way from South Africa!) to speak on the importance of Wildlife Conservation, opportunities for you to get involved in veterinary medicine abroad, and his extensive experience as the chief veterinarian for his South African company, Brothers Safari where he not only leads specialized tours for the veterinary inclined, but also teaches courses in conservation and wildlife management.

Everyone is welcome & attendance is free!

More on Brothers Safari: http://www.brotherssafaris.com/index.php/Specialist-Veterinary-Safaris/

When: Jan 18th at 12pm-12:50pm and again at 5pm-5:50pm
Where: Room 101 for both meeting times at the Veterinary School. (MLK holiday means lots of parking available because school is out)
Why: Because hearing about exotic African Safari medicine is fascinating!

Questions? Contact 3rd year TAMU veterinary student Aimee Prause at [email protected]

 

[TexasTiger]

I had my interview almost two weeks ago (the 6th) and I think it went ok...? Haha, I dunno, you never know how those things go. It seemed like they asked me the same question a couple of different ways, so I don't know if I just wasn't clear or they just wanted to make sure I was consistent or what. It's entirely possible that I rambled, since I was so nervous. I really wish I'd found this site sooner, but if I get an interview with Auburn (fingers crossed) then I can at least use it for that!

And I'm in an unusual situation, too. I actually went to school in Plano, but I did my undergrad at AU, buuuut am still a Texas resident because I was filed as a dependent all 4 years and didn't get an Alabama license or anything, and have since moved back and am working in Dallas (after doing a 6 month internship in KY). Sooo...we'll see what they think of that, haha

But anyway...good luck on everyone's interview! This is my first year trying, so here's hoping! 🙂

 

[Faith88]

Do you remember who your interviewers were?

I only remember two. One was Murl Bailey and the other was Alice Blue-McLendon. The third never really asked me any questions. It was a bit odd..

It seemed like they asked me the same question a couple of different ways, so I don't know if I just wasn't clear or they just wanted to make sure I was consistent or what.

They did that to me too with situational questions. I wasn't sure if they didn't like the way I answered the question, or were trying to make me think more. I'm not going to read too much into it.

I'm actually from Plano as well and am still a TX resident. I went to OkSU for my undergraduate degrees. They sure asked me a lot of questions about why I wanted to go to A&M and why I didn't just go there in the first place. Did they do the same to you?

 

[TexasTiger]

I'm actually from Plano as well and am still a TX resident. I went to OkSU for my undergraduate degrees. They sure asked me a lot of questions about why I wanted to go to A&M and why I didn't just go there in the first place. Did they do the same to you?

Not a whole lot, really, but I had that answer prepared (I've been asked that a lot lately). Auburn offered me an OOS waiver plus more scholarship money (A&M didn't offer me anything) and (this is the main part) I am a total band nerd I did marching band all four years at AU and if I had wanted to do it at A&M I would have had to be in the corps...they seemed to understand, haha.

 

[4paws]

Good luck you guys

 

[Faith88]

I am a total band nerd I did marching band all four years at AU and if I had wanted to do it at A&M I would have had to be in the corps...they seemed to understand, haha.

Wow thats crazy.. I'm a huge band nerd too! It was a big part of my decision not to go to A&M as an undergrad as well, along with scholarship money. I have a few friends that were in the corps and it totally changed them. I was in marching band at OSU but had to quit my senior year for a research scholarship. I'm going to miss all my band nerd friends when I graduate. 🙁 What instrument do you play?

 

[TexasTiger]

Wow thats crazy.. I'm a huge band nerd too! What instrument do you play?

That's awesome! I actually considered OkSU for a while because it's a lot closer to home, but that was before I toured Auburn's campus and met with the CoAg staff and the head band director...after that I was totally hooked.

And I played trumpet 🙂 Some of the best memories of my four years at AU...sigh...I'm such a nerd

 

[HopefulAg]

I only remember two. One was Murl Bailey and the other was Alice Blue-McLendon. The third never really asked me any questions. It was a bit odd..

Dr. Blue is a badass. She rides a motorcycle to boot.

Don't know the other one.



But A&M apparently does it to where 2 people are adcomm members and the third one is an observer or someone trying to get onto the adcom for next year. So that may be why they didn't ask much.

 

[InfiniVet]

Dr. Blue is awesome and is always a lot of fun to be around. She teaches 1st year Clinical Correlates - learning about animal husbandry/exposure to various fields of vetmed. She'll also teach you how to do SOAPs.

Actually she attended the Africa lecture series I posted about previously and now she's setting up a Texas A&M vet student group to take the Wildlife Chemical Immobilisation Course over in South Africa with Dr. Brothers. I'm really excited about it! I'll have graduated by then but it blows my mind all the opportunities available to students during their 4 years.

Dr. Bailey is in the pathophysiology department as our Toxicology & Pharmacology professor. He's been teaching veterinary toxicology since the 1970's and is a master at it. He also teaches an Emergency Medicine elective course where you learn emergency technical procedures (thoracocentesis, cardiac massage etc) He's also very nice, loves students, is never a few minutes from telling a great story and is an old school cowboy.

 

[Pouches Rock]

The third never really asked me any questions. It was a bit odd..

The third person is there to observe and is supposed to report if anything inappropriate happens during the interview. The first year I was interviewed the 'observer' actually did ask me questions and the this year that didn't really happen.

 

[Faith88]

The third person is there to observe and is supposed to report if anything inappropriate happens during the interview.

That is good to know. She did introduce herself and was paying attention to all my answers and writing. I honestly don't know that much about A&M and their whole process since I didn't go there as an undergrad, so all this info is really helpful. I was overall really impressed with my interviewers and how friendly they were. I can't wait to find out in March about A&M!

 

[Pouches Rock]

I thought it would be good to post today that it is 42 days until March 8th. As a Douglas Adams fan, I find this significant because really for all of us what is the answer to the ultimate question of life the universe and everything....I believe it's something along the lines of Congratulations we are happy to accept you into this years class...🙂

 

[HopefulAg]

Hmm...and I interviewed today too. That must bode well!

Also, I had Freebird's for lunch, something I never had on either of the other two interview dates, so I'm pretty sure that will work in my favor too!

 

[livvie]

Haha, I had Freebirds after my interview too 🙂

 

[LightReaver]

I had Freebird's the day before my interview (Monster size, and yes I ate it all! 😛). I liked it, but I don't think it can really be compared to Chipotle burritos. For example, the amount you get is a lot more for sure, but I like the chicken at Chipotle much more than the chicken at Freebird's. Just my 2 cents. 😀

 

[HopefulAg]

Sadly Freebirds used to be hands down better but has drastically declined in quality over the years (two new management teams wanting to cut operating costs by sacrificing quality). My Freshman FB burrito rocked my Graduate FB burrito.

 

[livvie]

I'm in!! Woohoo! I got a call yesterday! (OOS). They said they'd be sending me a letter in the next couple days. I'm thinking that might apply to all OOS.

 

[Equidae]

Congratulations livvie! 😀

I wasn't expecting to hear anything from them until March (that's what they said in my interview), but now I'm going to be checking my mail every day. I'm IS, so maybe it will be a little while longer before I get anything.

 

[Faith88]

Congratulations Livvie! Yes, let the mailbox harrassment begin again! I'm IS too and havent heard anything yet, so I wouldn't be too worried Equidae.

 

[HopefulAg]

Ehhh I wouldn't worry about it if you're in-state. Two years isn't a real large sample size but both years I've received my letter on March 20th, like clockwork.

 

[livvie]

Sorry in-state, I think you all still have a while to wait 🙁 They told me that OOS notices would be sent out about 3-4 weeks after OOS interviews were completed (1/15), but that they still had a ton of IS interviews to do.

And thanks! 🙂

 

[livvie]

Anyone know when A&M plans on giving the SA hospital a face-lift? They mentioned on my tour that it was next up, but I was curious when the anticipated start/finish dates would be?

 

[HopefulAg]

No idea but that's by far the ****tiest part of the vet school. It has great facilities, but no aesthetic appeal at all. My guess is that since they have a Nuclear MRI facility going in on West Campus, a clinical building on the vet med campus, and two other random buildings going up on Main campus, that they're pretty tapped out fund wise for construction.

Just a guess. That many buildings going up may also mean that the vet school is next.

 

[rtoddo09]

I've heard some rumors about people hearing back already? Any truth to this?

I know OOS might hear back earlier, but any in-state applicants hearing back already?

 

[HopefulAg]

Nope, still twiddling my thumbs.

Only people who've heard back so far (to my knowledge) are OOS since they like to do them earlier.

 

[LightReaver]

I haven't heard anything either...still waiting...

 

[HopefulAg]

Just got my acceptance letter today. In-state, in Beaumont.

 

[HandD42]

Just got my acceptance letter today. In-state, in Beaumont.

Congrats! Does this mean you are going there???? Your avatar and handle would suggest yes😛

 

[HopefulAg]

Congrats! Does this mean you are going there???? Your avatar and handle would suggest yes😛

Welllll I don't know. I made my avatar and handle 2 years ago, before I got accepted to Edinburgh and Edinburgh coincides with several of my goals, plus it's a once in a life time deal.

It's also $100,000 more over a 10 year period and $150,000 more over a 20 year period. I'm going to ask my finance prof to check my figures but I"m pretty sure that's right.

Sooooo...I truly have no idea at the moment lol.

 

[rtoddo09]

Ugh.

A girl that I work with got her letter today. Must be nice to get off work mid-day and be able to go home and check... also must be nice to be able to check SDN at work. (guilty 😳)

I hope it is there when I get home, if not, I fear a repeat of last years rejection...

(last year everyone got their acceptances one day, and the next, I got my rejection... and so did one of my best friends 🙁)

Oh and by the way, CONGRATS!