Choosing where you want to attend college is one of the most stressful and difficult decisions you will make in your young adult life. There are numerous things to consider, including tuition, location, majors, proximity to home, you name it. The list is endless, and the decision is almost never easy. After careful consideration, I finally came to a conclusion, and it couldn’t be clearer. Here are a few reasons why I decided to join the Aggie Family.

1. School Spirit

There is nothing quite like the Spirit of Aggieland. Without even stepping foot on campus, you can feel the school spirit in the air in College Station. It seems as if every other store in town has ‘Aggieland’ or something similar in their logo, or at least advertised somewhere in their stores. Wherever you go, you’re sure to be greeted with a cheerful “Howdy!” and a warm smile.

2. Traditions

Here at A&M, if it happens once, it’s a coincidence, but if it happens twice, we make a tradition out of it. There are countless traditions, from the Century Tree, to Big Event and all of the others I didn’t have room to include on this list. Each one has a unique history behind it, and is respected and practiced by generations of Aggies. The plethora of traditions just adds to the school spirit and the feeling of comradery, and really makes you feel like part of the family.

3.Reveille

Miss Rev is the first lady of Aggieland, and the official mascot of Texas A&M University. Not only that, but she is the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets. Tradition has it that if Reveille barks in class, then class is dismissed. If the professor can’t keep the attention of a dog, how can he keep the attention of his students? A well pampered sheltie, Miss Rev is one of the first reasons I favored TAMU over t.u. as a kid.

4. The Aggie Ring

An Aggie Ring can be obtained through the Association of Former Students upon meeting specific criteria and requirements. It is a symbol of all your hard work at A&M, and is not something to be taken lightly. Ags recognize other Ags when they see that ring, and it gives you something to talk about. That little ring can open numerous windows to opportunities you may not have otherwise had, just because it means you attended TAMU. How could you pass that up?

5. Education

TAMU has some of the best programs and the best professors out there. With a wide variety of majors to choose from, A&M is sure to have something that will satisfy your needs. Outside of the classroom, the educational opportunities such as research and organizations are endless. TAMU is ranked at the top of numerous lists, and the school is well represented. When you choose to go to A&M, you know that you’re getting a high class education at an affordable rate.

6. A Community of Respect

This is probably one of the biggest things that drew me into choosing A&M. You get a feeling on this campus that you just don’t get anywhere else. At A&M, we uphold six core values that are instilled in every student, current and former. These can be found written on every entrance to the MSC, and reflected in all of the activities held at the university. These are excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and selfless service. Before many exams you take here, you will sign a statement affirming that you agree to uphold the Aggie Code of Honor: “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do.” On top of that, one of the university’s biggest traditions, Howdy, is meant to make others feel welcome and start up a conversation! When on campus at Texas A&M, I feel safe, because I know that it represents the same values that I find most important myself, and it shows.

While making a list of what to include in this article, I realized that there are far too many things to love about A&M than I could include in one list, or than you can learn at Fish Camp. Your degree at Texas A&M will be much more than a piece of paper or a window to your career; a degree from Texas A&M is a lifetime membership to the Aggie Family. Once an Aggie, always an Aggie.

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