Howdy, for a while now I've been going back and forth on whether I should join the corps or not. Both my brother '15 and my Dad '82 were both in the corps so it's definitely engrained in my life. Had I gotten into A&M as a freshmen I would have definitely joined, because that was always my goal. But now after a year at Blinn, and living the nonreg life meeting potential roommates for next year and such, it's made it a bit harder to make the decision. I'm just seeking advice, and thought this would be a good board to do it. So should I join? What are the pros and cons. Also, would you do the whole fish year? Or frog in and be a fish for one semester, then a pisshead the next? Thanks in advance!

Definitely do it. It was a great experience and you make friends that will last a lifetime. The non-reg life is great, but you have the rest of your life for that.

With that said, if you do it I recommend you join as a fish. Frogging in can be rough. Also the fish experience is what bonds you and your buddies. If you frog in you most likely won't have that.

I was going to type up a long response about how I thought about quitting and enjoying the easy life as a non-reg w/ no one telling me what to do. But I'll just say this: You need to ask yourself, "in 20 years, when I look back, am I going to regret not having done the Corps." If the answer is anything other than a straight up "no," then I think you owe it to yourself to at least try. My opinion is that you won't regret it if you give it your all. And yeah, do a full fish year. Develop friendships that'll last your whole life.

As to if you should join, ask your brother not anonymous message board posters. I loved it. My family loved it. My friends loved it. Many folks hate it. Honestly if you are not in the Corps not a lot differentiates A&M from other giant flagship universities.

I have spoken to, been friends with, worked with, dated non-reg folks who: transferred from A&M to a cow college in Austin, & vice versa; A&M to Southwestern (Texas State), & vice versa; A&M to OU, & vice versa; Tech to A&M; Houston to A&M; Illinois to A&M; A&M to Stanford; A&M to Rice; NYU to A&M (gorgeous grad student from Dallas); Georgetown to A&M (stunningly beautiful grad student from some place); A&M to Army; A&M to Nottingham; A&M to some fancy school in London; probably more I can't recall* but you get the point. Only folks going to Army, private schools, or out of the country really reported much difference. So if you want a generic experience do not join. If you want a unique experience join.

If you are joining the military join the Corps. If you are not joining the military ask your brother not anonymous message board posters.

Believe me I have asked him a billion times, always says it all depends on the outfit and what not.

Thank you all for your responses! I appreciate it!

Also I don't consider this a random anonymous board I guess because most the people responding were in the corps like yourself.

Fair enough, brothers (& sisters) can be like that. Even when they are 50+ years old.
Based on my recent inquiries join E-1, H-1, or Sq. 17 there are other good outfits but these are the best. D-2. C-2, and E-2 are also very good.

Stop by the Corps Center and talk with Col Sam Hawes. (Or call him) He will give you facts (pluses and minuses). Join as a fish if you can. In any case, best of luck. Now go earn a degree AND an aggie ring.

There's plenty of ways to be a good Ag besides the Corps, so don't feel like that route is the be all and end all, particularly if you have no interest in a military career. But if you do go Corps--and I highly recommend it--I'd suggest doing the full fish year, because that crucible and the resulting class relationship is at the heart of the Corps experience. (BTW, if you graduate on time, I'm not sure what happens to your Zip year, unless you get an advanced degree then.) Good luck......

If your timeline allows you to do a full four years, do so. I frogged in after transferring from a military school in New Mexico and while my fish experience was shorter, I would do it all over again with absolutely no hesitation. As an active duty infantry officer, I would say that my training in the military has been 1000x harder than anything I experienced in the Aggie Corps. That being said, the relationships that I built with buddies in my outfit are still just as strong, maybe even stronger, than the bonds I've developed with my peers in the military. 100% agree with bigtruckguy3500.

I was a fish in the Corps 50 years ago this fall. In the ensuing half century I've met plenty of good people that attended and/or graduated from Texas A&M that had no interest in the Corps, including my two daughters. Hell, I even have a few long time friends that are teasips.

However, I have yet to meet a four year Corps member that when asked about it looked his or her shoes and gave me some BS excuse for not being a non-reg.

Absolutely, you should join the Corps of Cadets.

For me it was a tremendously positive experience, and prepared me superbly for a successful career in the military and now a second career the private sector.

I'm still close friends with many of my Corps buddies today, and will be until my last breath.

I am so grateful for my experience as a cadet at Texas A&M. The education was far more valuable that the actual academic degree that I earned, which was superb in its on right.

Thank you all for the replies! They're definitely encouraging. My brother says if at all possible to get in an all male outfit. Do yall know which ones are? Thanks!

Not so much for the OP, but for others going to Blinn....I thought there was an option to join the Corps while officially being enrolled at Blinn. I believe this is what they call "Blinn Team", where if you do well at Blinn you get admission to A&M.

Certainly worth considering if you are at Blinn and thinking about the Corps.

E2 is an all male outfit.

http://corps.tamu.edu/portfolio_category/all-male/

What I listed plus L-1 & K-2

quote:

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E2 is an all male outfit.

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Last I checked the dog is a female.

Join the Corps. If you have 4 years left, do the fish year. If not, frog in (no longer the proper term, but still).

The Corps has several focuses and affords opportunities in addition to those available to a non-reg (only exclusively non-reg privileges are based on dorm).

Corps' focuses include grades, self-discipline, and fitness. Because a failure in any one can result in removal, all are heavily, heavily monitored. Grades are prime. Corps makes sure that you make grades. Upperclassmen, the Office of the Commandant, the faculty support. Not something you will likely get as a non-reg. Self-discipline - you have already experienced some of this as a student, but the Corps will take it to another level. Its a huge benefit in the real world. You will take those skills and apply them later. Fitness - Corps will keep you in shape - mentally and physically. Again, a big deal.

In addition to all the opportunities in the University (MSC Opas, Yearbook, Professional Orgs, etc.), Corps affords further opportunities - Marksmanship Unit, Ranger Challenge, Cav, etc.

Corps is not as easy as being a non-reg, but is more beneficial short term and long term. My non-reg friends keep up only with the guys who were roommates. My Corps buddies and friends are always present when needed. This includes the ones who were fish with me, and the two who joined as sophomores (frogs). We are a class, we are an outfit. We stick together even 25 years later.

Go talk to Col. Hawes.

As stated above if you have a full 4 years left, join as a fish. You learn so much about yourself and build so much character that year that it is a huge deal.

We had two frogs that joined in my pisshead year and I must say they were a bit out of place for that entire year. The fish aren't allowed to have much interaction with them and don't know how to react to them and resent them for sure, the upperclassmen are pretty tough on them and as a buddy you somewhat resent them because they didn't get the full fish experience that the rest of your buddies went through with you.

That being said, by our Junior year, one was one of the gang, and the other... well he joined staff and was never really part of the class.

We had a guy attempt to frog in for the class two below me and couldn't hack it. Problem was he didn't fit in and was never going to, so he went to the Trigon and made a bunch of accusations about hazing and got a lot of us kicked out completely from the University and almost had criminal charges pressed. Some were finally allowed to re-enter the University after a year, but the damage done was life changing to say the least and was far more hard to deal with.

We also had the rare alligator that showed up as a Junior in the class above mine and that just flat out didn't work.

If you have to frog in, work your ass off and earn it like you are trying to make up for it. Your buddies will respect you more and so will the underclassmen.

Whatever you do, if you decide to punch, don't be a baby about it and just move along. It is a lot tougher road psychologically to frog in.