Hundreds of students and parents crowded Sbisa Dining Hall for Howdy Lunch this week at the New Student Conference. Nearly 700 freshmen sampled the on-campus food and picked up information about campus services, such as on-campus libraries, recreational sports, University Police, the honors program, Greek life, study abroad and Student Counseling Service.
Since the early 1900s, Texas A&M freshmen learned about the University, its traditions and academics during a summer orientation program. The programs have changed over time. Today, the conference is mandatory for incoming students and features more than the Corps of Cadets, but the goal to acquaint students with A&M remains constant.
Student Body President Conner Prochaska, a senior political science major, greeted freshmen as they entered the dining hall at the Student Government Association booth. He said he wanted to let students know about all the resources A&M has to offer.
"Big Event, Carpool and SGA diversity are just an example of the many resources available to freshmen to help them in their transition to A&M and their first few years here," Prochaska said.
One service available to students to help in transition is the Student Counseling Service. The A&M Student Counseling Service is a full-service agency that provides counseling on topics including academic, career, personal, substance abuse, depression and anxiety. Students can make an appointment online.
Dave Canter, a pre-doctoral intern at the student counseling service shared information with freshmen and parents. "The transition from high school is really difficult for almost everyone, and probably the key to success, in my experience, is time management and we are trying to get that message out," Canter said.
He said the student counseling service offers workshops for students on study skills, time management and procrastination, to help students before they have a bad semester or are put on academic probation.
The center also provides tests for students who want to attend veterinary school or graduate programs as a way to gauge strengths and weaknesses.
"A lot of students that did well in high school didn't have to work hard or study hard but got by with their innate ability," Canter said. "Some of them haven't developed good study skills yet, so even smart students have a hard time with the adjustment."
Canter said he visited with hundreds of students in 2006-2007, but each year, the center works with about 25 percent of students at A&M. The No. 1 issue students visit the center for is relationships.
Maggie Olona, director of the student counseling service and a counseling psychologist, said the offices are on the cutting edge and provide services that meet the needs of each patient.
"Last spring before the Virginia Tech shootings happened, I asked for money for a new anger management program," Olona said. "We also hired someone to refer students to other places if we can't help with something such as long-term counseling."
The student counseling service is one service among many that A&M provides for all students.
As student body president, Prochaska said he encouraged students to get involved with an organization and take advantage of opportunities.
"A&M is a huge place, but a small town," he said. "If you can get plugged in to an A&M organization - that is where we teach the 'other education.' It is the place where they teach you how to be a good person, not just a smart person, and they teach you the ability to lead with honor, integrity and character, which is what makes Aggies unique."
Anna Kelley, a freshman environmental design major, said she intends to get involved in her first semester.
"I am definitely going to take advantage of the libraries and everything they have to offer," Kelley said. "I ran track and swam in high school so I will also be looking into intramurals."
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