New Student Confrence

klparker312 · 06-13-2009, 08:44 AM

My daughter and I just returned from her New Student Confrence.
TAMU did a great job.
I was hot & humid! We arrived a day early and I am glad we did. We ran around campus and took care of all the check list items: Student ID, laptop (& iphone) activativated on campus wireless, sports pass picked up, Tshirts purchased, textbooks reserved. All done on pre-confrence day saving us some time standing in line.
We covered a lot of ground on campus - I highly advise comfy shoes. Dress comfortably and lightly - but you might need a light jacket/sweater with you because the confrence rooms were kept cool. I didn't complain - it felt good to me! If I were to go again - I would take one of thoes little hand held fans. We were not use to the humidity and I didn't know it was possible to sweat that much!
If you plan on staying in the dorms I also suggest you take your own fitted sheets! The flat sheets did not stayed on and my daugher and I both wrestled with our bedding both nights not sleeping much.
Don't forget all the coupons you have been receiving from the book stores. We left with a couple of free Tshirts and a nice pair of flip flops - definantly worth the drive to the stores. Of course we purchased more stuff at each store....
Highly organized & sometimes repetitive, my favorite part was going to the individual college meetings.

gxgal7 · 06-13-2009, 10:09 AM

Thanks for that rundown, klparker312! We are leaving for my son's New Student Conference this week. Those are great tips. Do they have the items you mentioned that you completed early listed in your packet when you check-in? If not, where can I find where to do those?

klparker312 · 06-13-2009, 10:25 AM

Yes, they give you a packet. Parents & Students each get their own packet at check in. The Checklist is on the back of the schedule.

And if you want to work out at the Student Recreation Center on PreConfrence night, you are welcome to, just bring your workout gear.

berkmanfan · 06-13-2009, 01:56 PM

Good info! When you say you picked up your sports pass, did you have to pre-order it at some point or can it all be taken care of at NSC? I know you can apply for a parking permit before the NSC but I'm not sure how it works for the athletic/sports pass. Thanks for any info you can provide.
I got postcards in the mail today for a free t-shirt and flip flops from stores in College Station.

klparker312 · 06-13-2009, 02:11 PM

I did order the sports pass early - so I am not sure if it has to be done that way or not. It is not paid for,that goes on fees. It was easy to get on Howdy and order the sports pass though. (Howdy is down today) Just like parking passes. There were so many picking up sports pass, I would be willing to bet it could all be taken care of right there.
Also with parking, I know some were waiting for dorm assingment before requesting parking pass. My daughter is staying in off campus dorm, so we simply ordered her a night parking pass - I hear the architecture students spend a lot of nights working, and a night pass is valid from 5pm - 6am(?).
The T-shirt at Inspirations (in the mall) you got to select any Tshirt you wanted - very nice (with exception of the specific fitted girls shirts) And there were plenty of girly shirts considered in that unisex catagory

The Flip Flops were the maroon ones with A&M on them - $17.95 value flip flops. Somehow my daughter got away with picking the polka dot ones - though others were specifically told only the maroon ones counted in the free selections. We dropped a few $$'s! That was at Aggie Outfitters and seems like one other place.... if you got a post card for the "discount card" pick up too. It was full of buy one get one and discounts at the local restaurants. My daughter and I used it right away - very nice!

stbs · 06-13-2009, 10:55 PM

You can go here to find a schedule of your New Student Conference before you go:

New Student Conferences, Texas A&M University

Z4CHH · 06-13-2009, 11:10 PM

Awesome information everyone, it gives those who have yet to attend NSC an idea of what to expect.

Hey gxgal7 if you would please let us know how the corps activities at NSC went (after you go this week), that would be awesome!

Thanks,

Zach

klparker312 · 06-13-2009, 11:43 PM

The Sports Pass pickup clearly states "If you registered for a sports pass, you may pick it up after....'
So you must register for the sports pass before picking it up.

gxgal7 · 06-14-2009, 12:05 AM

Zach, will do!

Xcellerator · 06-14-2009, 03:49 PM

Thanks for the helpful info, klparker312!

djkyle65 · 06-15-2009, 11:38 PM

Should i bring a parent ? or not? What do most people do?

klparker312 · 06-15-2009, 11:55 PM

most people were with at least one parent. Many had both parents, a good percent probably had every member of their family along

At our meeting the lecture room was fairly full (small lecture room) - the advisor was telling us she would see us beginning at 1pm on Friday. One parent said "you are going to see everyone?" and she said "Sir, there are only 8 students in this room" to which we all laughed!

djkyle65 · 06-16-2009, 09:49 PM

Was this fish conference or transfer ?

klparker312 · 06-16-2009, 10:42 PM

The one we have been talking about was for Freshman.

gxgal7 · 06-20-2009, 05:30 PM

Following up on Zach's request for details on Corps of Cadets activities at NSC.

The first day of events is geared mostly to students who want to find out more about what it is like to be in the Corps. Even if you had been to the Spend the Night & Day events with the Corps, and have already made up your mind to join, you should still attend. The Corps sponsors a luncheon on Day 1 where a cadet and possibly an ROTC officer sits at your table to answer any questions you have. The contracted students will be checked off as being there by the Professor of Military Science for their respective branch. If a cadet wants to join the band, they have an opportunity at this time to try out for the band director. You also have the opportunity to go ahead and sign-up for your meal plan.

The evening of the first day there is an ice cream social in Rudder and every outfit from the Corps is represented to answer questions and help prospective cadets pick which outfit they would like to join. The Army PMS took all the contracted cadets aside and explained more details about their scholarships, such as when they will fund, passing the PFT to activate it, uniform reimbursement, etc. He also gave tips on what kind of classes to register for and how many hours to take. You don't finish until about 10 or 10:30 at night. It's an exciting but exhausting day.

The second day is when you actually make joining the Corps official. At 11:45 am you go to Sanders Corps Center. You pick up paperwork, get height/weight taken, are measured for uniforms, speak to the Commandant of the Corps briefly, have a briefing on being in the Corps, then fill out a lot more paperwork for the branch of ROTC you are entering.

The final event is going to the uniform warehouse on the quad to get issued your shoes and boots and try on uniforms for fit. At that point, it all feels very real. Two more months will fly by.