Question about TAMU Corps of Cadets

[Letsgo2029]

Hey everyone, I’m a high school senior planning to put a deposit down this week on either Virginia Tech or Texas A&M. I plan to join Army ROTC and make military service my career. I've visited both schools and am deeply impressed with their cadet programs, but I’m still looking to gather more information, particularly about Texas A&M.

Being from the DC area, I understand that about 96% of TAMU's student body — and about 80% of the Corps of Cadets — is from Texas. For those currently in the Corps or familiar with it, is it difficult to fit in if you're not from Texas, or even from the South? I expect some culture shock, but I want to make sure I pick the best school for myself.

Looking forward to hearing any insight you can share.

 

[airforce_brat]

Hey everyone, I’m a high school senior planning to put a deposit down this week on either Virginia Tech or Texas A&M. I plan to join Army ROTC and make military service my career. I've visited both schools and am deeply impressed with their cadet programs, but I’m still looking to gather more information, particularly about Texas A&M.

Being from the DC area, I understand that about 96% of TAMU's student body — and about 80% of the Corps of Cadets — is from Texas. For those currently in the Corps or familiar with it, is it difficult to fit in if you're not from Texas, or even from the South? I expect some culture shock, but I want to make sure I pick the best school for myself.

Looking forward to hearing any insight you can share.

Howdy! The Corps has a larger percent of out of state students compared to TAMU as a whole. In our DD's AROTC unit several are from out of state and fit in just fine. Their fish class (freshman) had/has several out of state cadets. They usually come home with one of the buddies when they can't travel out of state for a holiday. Most units have at least one or two that live in town or pretty close to the university and those buddies will often host something for their class. You can find your fit. Having said that...one of their buddies did leave midyear and not return. She was from the northwest but I think the biggest issue was that she missed her large family back home and also "wasn't that into the Corps/Army environment". TAMU (like Virginia Tech) is a SMC and they operate a lot like the service academies. Cadets come from all over...east coast, west coast, North, etc. I have seen them grow and find their fit in many different clubs, organizations, and special units. In many ways the Corps is like a smaller school within the large university and they form a special bond with their buddy class/unit. Feel free to DM me if you've got specific questions. We have another non-reg (not in Corps) Aggie graduating this year and that has been a totally different experience. But, he also found his fit and his people. I see this as a big advantage of a large, friendly university like TAMU...something for everyone.

 

[99Gold]

DS has several out of state cadets in his outfit, maybe 30% of them are out of state/country (His current roommate is from Asia which is super cool). They all fit in just fine. We even hosted ds's first semester out-of-state roommate for Thanksgiving. One thing I've loved about the Corps for my ds is that he had a built-in group of buddies from day 1. One of the out-of-state families bought a house in College Station/Bryan so they all hang out there together most weekends. We call it the fish house. That is only one thing we've loved about the Corps this year.

 

[Stalker97]

Hey everyone, I’m a high school senior planning to put a deposit down this week on either Virginia Tech or Texas A&M. I plan to join Army ROTC and make military service my career. I've visited both schools and am deeply impressed with their cadet programs, but I’m still looking to gather more information, particularly about Texas A&M.

Being from the DC area, I understand that about 96% of TAMU's student body — and about 80% of the Corps of Cadets — is from Texas. For those currently in the Corps or familiar with it, is it difficult to fit in if you're not from Texas, or even from the South? I expect some culture shock, but I want to make sure I pick the best school for myself.

Looking forward to hearing any insight you can share.

I was from NY and when I applied back in the 90's the admission advisor looked at my SAT score and gave me sob story about how hard it was for out of state guys to get in. She said unless it was a highly competitive state. I said I was from NY and she asked if I was getting a Regents diploma and I said yes-she never mind, your in.

Now that was over 30 years ago. But what you need to know-A&M is putting a freeze on enrollment for the next five years. The enrollment beast is just too much. Like a city that has outgrown its infrastructure it had to start limiting enrollment. If you haven't been to A&M in the last few years, it's really hard to explain to people that the campus (size and enrollment) if bigger than most cities (aside from the major ones) in Texas. What does that mean for you-it will be competitive to get in from out of state. They supposedly no longer use Corps participation and legacies in admissions so it's solely merit based. Keep in mind, this year is the last year of the auto top 10% rule for A&M and t.u.. So it's going to be really hard to get in nowadays.

But with all that being said, being a Corps march ins the last few years, it seems like every company commander is from some far off place. The majority being from out of state (that tells me they probably are highly qualified/maybe didn't get into a SA). So take that info and do with it what you will.

As for fitting in-in the Corps-everyone starts as a fish. Texan or outtastater, black, white, hispanic or Asian, rich or poor, Christian, Jewish or Hindu-eveyone starts as a fish and that means you are the lowest thing on Earth (I am not sure if they still teach that) and have to work your way up. Everyone gets a fish cut and starts out the same. It's up to you to advance. So you will fit in, I guarantee it. They throw you in a room a bunch of people on the first day of FOW. People that you would probably never associate with in your life and say-these are your fish buddies. They will be your groomsman and pallbearers. And they were right (well I don't know about the pallbearer part yet as fortunately my buds are all still here). I still keep up with my fish buds. I may not even like them, but they are brothers now. Forever.

 

[Lawman32RPD]

I write from the perspective a non-Aggie Dad who had two kids in the Corps. Both went to school in Northern Virginia. Neither commissioned. Both learned a great deal from their time in the Aggie Corps. Both made friends in the Corps that they are still in touch with, this after graduating 2015 and 2018 or so. Indeed our son just got back from a bachelor party last Thursday, and of the 6 folks besides the groom, 5 were Corps buddies. You will, much like any institution, find a spectrum of folks in the Corps, and you'll like some, and be less enthusiastic about others. TAMU and V-Tech are similar in that the Corps at each institution are especially visible but not significant in terms of percentage of the student body. I don't think you'll go wrong either place. V-Tech probably has better food. Hotter in College Station - that said, one of the coldest experiences of my life was a July in College Station. It was a few weeks before FOW and our son was there for a new student orientation. We stayed in a non-reg dorm (meaning one not typically used by Corp members - it was when some construction was occurring) and the air conditioning was incredible. We'd both been on "Deep Freeze" with the Scouts - we ended up sleeping in our clothes - the gauze that was masquerading as a blanket wasn't doing it. College Station continues to grow, with trips starting in the summer of 2011 until last year (back for graduation of our son-in-law when he was getting his doctorate) there was a new building every time. They just got a Costco. Both at V-Tech and TAMU you'll lead a different life than the majority of the students, but you'll be in class with them, and have an opportunity to do things with them. If your question is "can a student not from Texas survive at A&M?" the answer is yes. The stereotype of Texas has some vestiges of truth (you will see a lot of pickups) but it is more myth than reality. Look at the demographics of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, look at who is the mayor and on the city council in each of those cities. The poster above, "As for fitting in-in the Corps-everyone starts as a fish. Texan or outtastater, black, white, hispanic or Asian, rich or poor, Christian, Jewish or Hindu-eveyone starts as a fish" is spot on; at least from my perspective of a times two Corp parent. It wouldn't surprise me if it was much the same at V-Tech. Trust your heart and then take the plunge that you believe will best serve you, is the best fit for you, and then commit to the decision. There will be some tough times, no matter which you choose. There will be some "grass is greener" no matter which you choose. A co-worker of mine had moved a number of times. His family got to Texas when their son was entering high school but had lived in the DC area, and in Buffalo before that. His eldest went to TAMU, Corps, and commissioned Army, really enjoyed the experience. I wish you the very best in your adventure.