GoOakland

I'm going into nuclear engineering and I have a list of about 12 colleges right now. I want to reduce the list to 8 or 9. So I want to find out some negatives on each college to help narrow it down. I can find positives for TAMU all day long. Its the negatives I can't find easily. So what are some negatives?

I'd also appreciate any advice if you care to give any.

O and I am OOS... just for the record.

wepprop

Regardless of what any one tells you, the skiing in College Station really sucks.

pervez

College Station really isn't that lively :/

GoOakland

lol TAMU is in texas... I would even consider snowboarding to be out there. Thats not a big deal.

Xcellerator

There's really nothing to do here besides the Rec, sports games, and studying.
There are also very little chances for volunteering/research/shadowing since there are so many students and like one or two places to do those stuff.
I wish I brought a car.

pervez

Xcellerator, I feel you man!

What SUCKS is that the REC is usually packed once I'm free (After 2PM), and to park you either have to 1) Buy a parking permit ($80 onwards to around $400) or B) Parking in the garage opposite the REC...WTH man? Money left and right, after they charge us fees for the REC.

MikeWozowski

it is HUGE!

Orsche

Xcellerator, what is your major? I am wondering due to your statement about little chance for research. I was there this summer and everyone I talked to mentioned that PIs welcome undergraduates who want to volunteer/research in their lab. Although, one might not get to do as much research as they'd like due to grad students assigning them trivial tasks =p

Xcellerator

pervez - Lol. Wow. You mean the West Campus Garage? You could always bike if you don't want to pay for the parking permit. xD And yes, the Rec is usually crowded after 2pm but gets a little less crowded after 8PMish.

Orsche - Currently Biology. Even the OPGSA pre-med advisor says just go volunteer/research at your own city/home since there's really nothing here. -_-
I've already tried to sign up for the hospitals but no luck, and I'll try to contact some professors for next semester. I've joined some pre-professional clubs and others they they're all bs with only Habitat for Humanity having stuff to volunteer.
I'd like to do anything at this point, though. Don't really care what.

gstein

Yeah, I would imagine opportunities vary with major. My major is full of research/work experiences for the school, of which I'm apart of. I know many people who also take part in research opportunities. Just gotta be patient, it's not something that will necessarily arise your first month of college.

Also, I've heard of SEVERAL opportunities for volunteering. Programs to mentor/tutor at local schools, Replant & big event, tons of clubs to volunteer with dogs or special ed. people, engineers without borders, service fraternity's. I mean the list goes on and on for volunteering opportunities. Maybe Xcellerator isn't looking in all the right places.

boneh3ad

I think there are at least 3 undergrad researchers in my research group. There are 2 in my lab and one in the lab next door.

Anyway, so far for me, the negatives are as follows:

1) Flat (though not as flat as Champaign, since GoOakland started this thread one the UIUC boards and I said the same thing there). A lot more area around that isn't flat though.

2) HUGE in-state population. When taking an orientation for being a TA, I was shown a stat that something like 95% of the undergrad student body is from the state of Texas.

3) The buildings mostly bland and old (in a bad way). I like old buildings, but most of the buildings here on campus feel like they were built in the 60's when everything was just built for cold, clean efficiency.