Khan's Search for a University (Texas A&M?)

[fistfulofmetal]

go to a technical school so you can learn about something useful

[drew]

this thread proves that 50% of black people feel comfortable in detroit

[Phoenix Dark]

As long as you aren't walking around the eastside late at night wearing red you'll be alright.

[drew]

bullshit

[Mandark]

One of the nice things about being a white dude with no tats is you can put on a collared shirt and be safe walking through a ghetto.  You're not recognized as part of the ecosystem there, much less a threat.  It's like the first time the Enterprise officers transport onto the Borg ship and just get ignored.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

It's having that sort of cultural background that makes me feel safe in Southeast.

[close]

[drew]

also bullshit

[Positive Touch]

how do they feel about flipper feet in the hood where you live drewsy?

[drew]

i don't live in the hood and i also don't know what you're talking about

[Shaka Khan]

I got an e-mail today telling me that out of all the options I've recently sent them my chances are good at Texas A&M, the rest are either out of my league or takes a long time to process applications thus missing the Spring deadline.

So, somebody help me out with the pros and cons of A&M.

So far google is telling me that it's a good school (though I'm not sure how they're compsci program fares) but College Station is an extremely conservative small town.

The only other choice they haven't gotten back to me about is the University of Texas - Austin. Unlike the others, I think it's one of the universities they never dealt with and have no idea how long it takes them to process international applications.

Feedback, please.

[Mupepe]

GO TO A&M!!!

I'll go see you!  I know a bunch of people that go/have gone there. 

College Station is like any other college town in America.  The area is conservative but the atmosphere definitely is not.  You'll run into a bunch of rednecks for sure but it's not going to be the bible thumping kind you're thinking of.  It's more like the beer bong drinking, face painting football fan kind.  College Station is awesome.

UT-A is pretty awesome but instead of running into rednecks you're going to run into a bunch of pseudo intellectual douchebags.  But Austin is an amazing city.  So much to see and it has such a unique atmosphere.

You can't go wrong with either. 

[Shaka Khan]

That's good to hear.

I replied to them today asking them about Austin, so I might wait a couple of days to hear their reply. Both look like good school, as far as I can tell, and they accept a considerable number of applications (70+% for A&M and 50+% for Austin). That's a lot more encouraging than the 7s, 10s, and 15s people around here were telling me to try out.

A&M has another advantage; this agency has dealt with them many times. The process is very familiar and so far they have a positive track record.

[Mupepe]

Yeah and because of that, they're both really diverse.  Especially A&M.  There is so much culture at the school from all the different ethnic groups and the events that they always have going on.  For that reason I would choose A&M over UT-A.  UT-A is just in a more interesting city with much more to do. 

But even then, Austin is only about 2 hours away.  Houston is about an hour, hour and a half away.  San Antonio is about 3 hours away.  Dallas is about 2 and a half hours away.

You're in the middle of Texas' Megalopolis.  You have unfathomable amounts of shit to do in a few hours range from you.

[Shaka Khan]

That sounds... amazing. I knew Houston was "somewhat" close, but had no idea how close, or how close the other cities are.

[Mupepe]

Yes, sir.  You aren't far from civilization or Mupepe's Fuck House at all. 

The food in Houston
Bars/Clubs in Austin (6th Street!!!!)
Riverwalk in San Antonio
The uhhhh... uhhhh... Six Flags in Dallas? Ah shit, there's on in San Antonio too.  I'm sure there's something to do there but I've never cared to find out.  Heard it has good food though.
Not to mention all the little shit in between.  Float the river in San Marcos.  The Salt Lick outside Austin  

Houston though is fairly worthless unless you're there for the museums, clubs or food.  And it has those just because of its sheer size.  The food is worth the trip alone.

[Great Rumbler]

The uhhhh... uhhhh... Six Flags in Dallas? Ah shit, there's on in San Antonio too.  I'm sure there's something to do there but I've never cared to find out.  Heard it has good food though.

Deep Ellum

[Mupepe]

A&M is better for some degrees, t.u. is better for some degrees.

For computer science, t.u. has a higher ranking and is regarded as the better school.  However, if you are accepted at A&M, but not t.u., then I guess College Station it is.

Also, the environment is very, very different.  I know I appreciated that it was much less expensive to live in College Station than Austin.  I liked to visit my friends in Austin, mainly because they had better arcades near their campus.

He could always live at the Student Ghetto in Austin *shudder*  What a shithole. 

The uhhhh... uhhhh... Six Flags in Dallas? Ah shit, there's on in San Antonio too.  I'm sure there's something to do there but I've never cared to find out.  Heard it has good food though.

Deep Ellum

Nice.  Just Bing'ed (that's right, I'm going there) it and that seems neat.  I don't know anyone in Dallas so I was never interested in finding out what was there.  Only ever been there for the airport and work.

[Shaka Khan]

A&M is better for some degrees, t.u. is better for some degrees.

For computer science, t.u. has a higher ranking and is regarded as the better school.  However, if you are accepted at A&M, but not t.u., then I guess College Station it is.

That's exactly what I'm saying, and why I haven't given them the go-ahead yet. I don't know how much longer I can wait though, this is but one of the first hoops, many others are still queued up. So we need to get cracking.

[Great Rumbler]

The uhhhh... uhhhh... Six Flags in Dallas? Ah shit, there's on in San Antonio too.  I'm sure there's something to do there but I've never cared to find out.  Heard it has good food though.

Deep Ellum

Nice.  Just Bing'ed (that's right, I'm going there) it and that seems neat.  I don't know anyone in Dallas so I was never interested in finding out what was there.  Only ever been there for the airport and work.

As far as the DFW area goes, here's what there is:

-Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, Dallas Mavericks games
-Dallas Museum of Art, Trammel Crow Collection of Asian Art, Nasher Sculpture Center
-West End Marketplace, JFK Memorial, Holocaust Museum, Sixth Floor Museum
-Deep Ellum
-Dallas World Aquarium
-Fort Worth Zoo, Dallas Zoo [the former is one of the best in the country]
-Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor
-Ft. Worth Botanic Garden and Japanese Garden
-Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History
-AT&T Performing Arts Center
-State Fair of Texas, Musuem of Nature and Science, Music Hall at Fair Park

[Himu]

Dallas has way more to do than Houston. I miss when Houston had a Six Flags.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

no offense to Mups but Houston is known as "Satan's Armpit" for a reason

if I moved back to Texas I would go Austin > Dallas >>> Houston in a heartbeat. Dallas has really stepped up its game over the past 10 years.

College Station isn't so bad, there's a bit of a hivemind mentality amongst Aggies tho. If you get into UT Austin I'd go there, last I checked their CS program is Top 10 and there's much more of a developer culture in Austin.

don't go to the Crappy University of North Texas

[Shaka Khan]

If I'm understanding the process correctly, the biggest problem with trying to apply internationally is that you can only get one I-20 due to immigration laws. So I have to apply at one place at a time. Some people do more, but it's kinda risky, from what I've heard. This is why people generally apply for any English institute then once in the country apply for as many schools, to join after the English program, as they like.

And this is where these guys come in, they make sure that whatever I'm applying to will offer better chances of approval. And I seriously can't waste any more my time.

(I'll throw an epic tantrum if they fail me now)

don't go to the Crappy University of North Texas

I'd love for papa Khan to read this lol.

[Mupepe]

No offense taken, Treesong.  Houston sucks.  Terrible weather, terribly fat people and a terrible city layout.  I'd only list food as a positive for Houston really.

[Shaka Khan]

No offense taken, Treesong.  Houston sucks.  Terrible weather, terribly fat people and a terrible city layout.  I'd only list food as a positive for Houston really.

 :lenowned

[Mupepe]

Houston Tacos are Best Tacos

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Things Better About Houston than Dallas

1. It's closer to Austin

[Himu]

I can't think of a single thing that's better in Houston than Dallas and I was born and raised in Houston.

[Mupepe]

BS.  Mexican food is better in Houston.  Dallas mexican food is more Tex Mex.  

[Himu]

2. It's closer to the beach

lol "beach"

what "beach?"

Galveston?

[Himu]

BS.  Mexican food is better in Houston.  Dallas mexican food is more Tex Mex.  

True. Is Houston more diverse as well?

[Himu]

You can get authentic Mexican food in Dallas, Mups.  Just not at "Bill's Mexican Palacio".

I haven't been to Dallas in a minute but I don't remember seeing a carniceria/taqueria on every street corner.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

2. It's closer to the beach

lol "beach"

what "beach?"

Galveston?

More like "Gravelston." Shittiest beach in America!

[Mupepe]

You can get authentic Mexican food in Dallas, Mups.  Just not at "Bill's Mexican Palacio".

I'm sure you can.  But in my visits there they're not on literally every corner like Houston.  The "Bill's Mexican Palacio" ( ) joints far outnumber the authentic joints.  At least from what I could tell in my work visits driving around trying to find something to eat.

[Mupepe]

2. It's closer to the beach

lol "beach"

what "beach?"

Galveston?

More like "Gravelston." Shittiest beach in America!

I haven't been there in like 3 years.  What a shithole.  Everytime someone says "wanna go to Galveston this weekend??"  No thanks.  I'll just turn the AC off in my house and not flush the toilet for a few days.  It's pretty much the same experience.

[Himu]

2. It's closer to the beach

lol "beach"

what "beach?"

Galveston?

More like "Gravelston." Shittiest beach in America!

I remember the first time I saw the atlantic. I went to the beach because my school in North Carolina was close to one.

after a lifetime of Galveston beach, my eyes were finally opened.

Ah Galveston. Shitville.

[Mupepe]

Austin wins with food because of its unique take on most things and the endless mom and pop joints.  Om nom nom nom nom nom

[Shaka Khan]

2. It's closer to the beach

lol "beach"

what "beach?"

Galveston?

More like "Gravelston." Shittiest beach in America!

I remember the first time I saw the atlantic. I went to the beach because my school in North Carolina was close to one.

after a lifetime of Galveston beach, my eyes were finally opened.

Ah Galveston. Shitville.

(Image removed from quote.)

Is it worse than the It's Always Sunny's version of the Jersey Shore?

[Himu]

Every time I go to San Antonio something bad happens.

I buy gummi bears from a Mexican food market and get the worst shits of my life.

Or we go to a restaurant and they treat us like shit (blatant racism).

I'd like to have an enjoyable trip to San Anton but it seems like SA doesn't want me to!!!

[Mupepe]

Oh yeah, and San Antonio rocks because of Bill Miller Bar-B-Q breakfast  Not the best bar-b-q, but it's the best cheap fast food bar b q.

[Himu]

Is it worse than the It's Always Sunny's version of the Jersey Shore?

I missed last week

[Shaka Khan]

Is it worse than the It's Always Sunny's version of the Jersey Shore?

I missed last week

*SPOILERS*

There were two homeless guys humping each other, butt-naked, under the beach's board walk.

[Mupepe]

Is it worse than the It's Always Sunny's version of the Jersey Shore?

I missed last week

*SPOILERS*

There were two homeless guys humping each other, butt-naked, under the beach's board walk.

When I was like 15 I went to Galveston with a friend's family.  We were walking down the beach and there was a wooden pier with something at the end so we walked towards.  We got closer and saw it was a sleeping bag so I thought hey cool!  I went to pick it up and uncovered some mexican dude humping his hot girl.  We laughed, apologized and left.

[Shaka Khan]

Shah, how do you plan to not become Westoxified (like the other Arab student here) while in the United States?

By Middle-Eastoxifying everyone else first. I have a feeling hipsters will eat it up.

[Mupepe]

You've learned since then the importance of not picking up abandoned sleeping bags, right?

Hell no.  I'm more determined than ever!  Worst case scenario I see some humping.

[Dickie Dee]

Shah, how do you plan to not become Westoxified (like the other Arab student here) while in the United States?

By Middle-Eastoxifying everyone else first. I have a feeling hipsters will eat it up.

Bring over a few boxes of PLO scarves, you'll pay for your tuition twice over.

[Shaka Khan]

So I just got an update on UT Austin. It seems that one of the requirements is the SAT. Boo me, I didn't take it, but only because many Universities don't require it from International transfer students. And there's no time to do it now.

So now after looking up UT, getting it in my head and warming up to it, I'm back to A&M. Someone make me feel good about this.

(Fwiw: the ministry allows students to transfer up to 3 times, once they provide valid excuses, and upgrading to a better ranked Uni is considered a very valid one)

(Fwiw2: Almost every student on a scholarship say the same thing, but very few of them actually change schools lol)

[Phoenix Dark]

Michigan schools don't require the SAT either

[Mupepe]

As I said before there is nothing wrong with a&m. You're near everything and its so diverse that you'll even find something to do in college station. Still a great school/choice

[Shaka Khan]

Yeah, it's still one of the best open choices for me. I also find it amusing how I'm talking as if I'm already accepted. Jumping the gun is never a good sign.

[Himu]

A&M is great.

[Shaka Khan]

It's still the same, as far as I know, but I'm looking for the best personal and academic experience since the opportunity presented itself.

[Shaka Khan]

:'(

[Shaka Khan]

I'm not reading this whole thing, but you will not enjoy Texas A&M.  Mainly because the student body will not enjoy you.

Y'ouch.

You gotta give me something less vague, Billy. I kinda know where this is going, but I want someone to spell it out for me.

(Worst case scenario: I transfer when I have the time to prepare myself for something better. I talked to a few who did in the past few days, it should be fairly easy)

[Shaka Khan]

It's a farm college in Texas.  You are a gay Saudi.  Get it?

I'm neither gay nor Saudi

It's a large school that is heavily weighted towards conservative, rural, and miliary people.  It's an excellent school for certain things especially if you're interested in A&M work, but it still is what it is.

(PS. Most of my family are Aggies and I've spent more time in College Station than probably anyone here who didn't go to the school)

Thanks.

[Shaka Khan]

I still like you, in a completely Non-Middle Eastern and heterosexual way.

[Shaka Khan]

Where I'm from, they simply refer to us as "Polacks."

[Shaka Khan]

OSU and UO take upwards to 6 months to process international applications, and according to several sources (and my agency), they're "pretty good at losing them altogether."

I personally blame weed.

[Shaka Khan]

I can't wait any longer. I'm turning 50 in a few months

[Shaka Khan]

It sounds great.

But the list is missing an important entry.

I now regret a previous post.

[Shaka Khan]

That's what Allah always tell me.

[Phoenix Dark]

fuck ohio state