The College and Career Ready Podcast | empowering students for the careers of tomorrow
Join your host Sonia Cacique on a transformative journey preparing high school and college students for real world careers, equipping them with practical skills, professional experiences, and career guidance.
As a dedicated career guidance counselor, career coach, and education leader, Sonia has spent her entire career empowering the next generation for the future workforce. With her expertise, she helps students develop self-awareness, motivation, and career guidance, building the essential skills needed for success in both their educational and future professional journeys.
Coach Sonia is ready to shift the focus from GPA, class rank, and grades to career connections, self-identity, character development, and real-world skills. She aims to challenge the traditional narratives and provide students with a comprehensive approach to education and career readiness. Changing lives for our next gens, one student at a time.
Listen in on the conversation!
The College and Career Ready Podcast | empowering students for the careers of tomorrow
75. An Innovative Pathway to an Engineering Degree: A Partnership between Industry, Community College & Texas A&M Engineering with Eddie Alvarado
Join us to learn more about Texas A&M Engineering Academy program with our guest Eddie Alvarado, an inspiring alum and admissions advisor. We unlock the secrets of this innovative initiative, blending the intimate learning environments of community colleges with the prestigious engineering degree from Texas A&M.
Find out how this program not only lightens the financial load but also paves the way for academic success, providing students with smaller classes, lower costs, and a cohort model that fosters a collaborative community among future engineers.
In this episode we discuss:
Seamless Transition
- Discover how the program ensures a smooth transition from community college to university, integrating students into the Texas A&M culture and curriculum.
- Eddie Alvarado walks us through the entry-to-major process, highlighting early exposure to engineering specialties.
Advantages and Insights
- Understand how the program prepares students for success in the field.
Admissions Process
- Explore the holistic approach to evaluating candidates, with a focus on diversity and potential.
As we conclude our conversation with Eddie, we emphasize how the Texas A&M Engineering Academy extends opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds.
Discover how this program offers a high-quality education, and a supportive community, making your dream of pursuing engineering a reality.
Learn more about this program and to connect with Eddie:
https://engineering.tamu.edu/academics/academies/index.html
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiealvarado19/
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"Stay well, be present, and enjoy the journey"
Hi everyone, I'm Sonia Kacik with the College and Career Ready podcast.
Speaker 2:And I'm Eddie Alvarado with the Texas A&M Engineering Academies, and today we're going to talk about the Engineering Academy program, who it's for, the benefits, how it all works and then, of course, how to make that transition to Texas A&M Engineering.
Speaker 1:All right, so stay tuned and let's get started Everyone. Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in today to hear all the details about Texas A&M School of Engineering Academy program, where we will be sharing with you why this might be a great option for your teen. As a guest today, we have Eddie Alvarado. He is a Texas A&M class of 2019 graduate and soon after graduation, became an admissions advisor for Texas A&M. Currently, he supports students in the Texas A&M Engineering Academy program through the application process and as they progress through the first year of their engineering program. Thank you, Eddie. Thank you for being here with us today.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited to talk about everything about the academy, so thank you for letting me join in.
Speaker 1:Oh, my goodness. No, I'm excited Because when I heard about this program I was like I've been in education for many years. Why did I not know about this program? So I'm excited to hop on in. But before we do that, why don't you give us a high level overview of your background and why it is that you do what you do?
Speaker 2:Yeah for sure. Well, as you already mentioned, I graduated from Texas A&M and almost immediately started working for A&M after graduation. I did recently graduate with my master's degree, also from Texas A&M, in learning, design and technology, and so I've loved the opportunity to work with students and help them get to what I believe is such a great school, and as education I think is one of the biggest factors for upward mobility, and I've seen what that, like one college degree, can do for my family. My mom was a first generation college student and then just helping our family from there, so really have enjoyed being able to work with students on finding that pathway to college, especially Texas A&M, and, I really think the academy program, which, of course, we'll dive in deep here in a bit, but really provides a phenomenal pathway for students to get a high ranking engineering degree for an affordable price.
Speaker 1:Well, let's dive right in to talking about the Texas A&M Engineering Academy. So how long has this program existed and tell us why it was created.
Speaker 2:Sure. So the Texas A&M Engineering Academy program. To give a brief overview, we are a co-enrollment program, basically allowing our students to start off as Texas A&M students from day one. But instead of being in college station that first year, students are given the opportunity to stay a little closer to home, stay local, save some money by attending a community college during that first year. So as the community college, you'll have that lower tuition, the smaller class sizes, but again, our students are Texas A&M students so they get those benefits of a large four-year institution as well.
Speaker 2:Our academy program has been in existence since 2015, where we started with two locations one in Houston and one at Blinn Brenham and we've honestly seen so much success in those programs that we have just grown and multiplied. We're now at 10 locations throughout the state of Texas, so we're super proud of that.
Speaker 1:That sounds amazing, and tell me more about the one year. One year at the community college what does that look like?
Speaker 2:So a big part of our engineering program at Texas A&M in general is a general engineering program. So we put all of our students, no matter what they put on their application mechanical, computer science, whatever it is we put all of our students in general engineering for the first year. The reason we do that is we've just found that a lot of our students in general engineering for the first year. The reason we do that is we've just found that a lot of our students were coming into, say, mechanical engineering, doing a year or two and then deciding this isn't it, I want to change majors in A&M we have 22 engineering majors on our campus. So it's a lot of options for our students and it's a big decision, especially coming right out of high school right. So options for our students and it's a big decision, especially coming right out of high school right.
Speaker 2:So we found our students were changing majors, which you know adds time to their graduation. Of course, time is money. So we found this model where we can bring students in as a general engineer, give them a year at the college level to learn the different career opportunities that are available through engineering, some of those engineering majors that many students may not have heard of, like material sciences and engineering or something like that, can help our students make that informed decision on which major they want to go into, and it's helped increase our four-year graduation rates. And so a lot of our students are not changing majors as much because they enjoy it and again, because they know what they're getting themselves into. So through our academy program it works perfectly because our students are just general engineers while they're here at the community college in the academy. Once they get their official Texas A&M major, that's when they transition over to our Texas A&M campus and continue on in their corporate so there's a couple of things that you said that I love.
Speaker 1:Love, because this is what I preach and this is what I talk about. It's almost like they're developing college skills at a smaller college, where they're learning how to go to class and how to participate and how to get involved, but in a smaller campus, because it could be overwhelming for certain students to go to a big, major four-year university on their first year. So it's almost like they're developing these skills at a community college. So when they get to A&M, they have learned some of these skills already. That's going to help them be successful and the retention rate obviously increases as well. And then I also like the fact that I mean they're still young and having them still close to home. I know for a parent I mean that's a win. They're still close at home, they're learning to be independent, they're still attending a community college that is already aligning them to transfer to Texas A&M. So I think this is a win all around. Why would someone not apply?
Speaker 2:I get that question all the time and unfortunately I feel like the academies is A&M's best kept secret. So trying to get-.
Speaker 2:We're sharing it now Right, trying to get the word out, but I just heard the other day the way someone put it was so perfectly. And it's like when you move to a large four year institution, especially when you're leaving home, you get hit with the reality of life sometimes and that difference in coursework, that academic is different from high school. So through the academy you offset those waves. You go into academy, get that Texas A&M education, having to adjust to that new way of studying and learning and things like that. And then after a year, okay, now what is it like to live alone? But I already got the education part down. Yes, and.
Speaker 2:I was like that was just like a perfect way to put it.
Speaker 1:So yeah, no, yeah, absolutely. And here's the other thing that I have also seen, and that statistics say that when students are high achievers in high school, sometimes they're high achievers without having developed study skills and really good habits. There's just I mean, it depends on the school they go to as well, right? So then when they go into college, it's a shock, because maybe they never had to study, Maybe they never had to develop these skills, and so, whether a child is an average learner or highly advanced, it still can be a big shock, and sometimes even the average student, the average learner, might even be a little bit more successful because they have to develop these skills in high school, because otherwise they wouldn't have made it through high school.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's a big part of what we do in that first year as well. All of our students take a class that we offer through Texas A&M called CLEN 181. It is a first year seminar course, basically helping our students make that successful transition from high school to college life, and so huge thing that we talk about in the class is those are those study skills. Again, you're exactly right. A lot of our high achieving students math was easy, didn't have to study for that test. Well, it's a different story here. In was easy, didn't have to study for that test. Well, it's a different story here in college. And so we try to prepare them as best we can as early as possible.
Speaker 1:What about? What about the professors? Who are the professors teaching these students at the community college and how do they feel? Like they're getting the Aggie vibe?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a great question.
Speaker 2:So, to start, of course our students are co-enrolled so they will have a Texas A&M engineering professor there on location.
Speaker 2:A cool part about our academy program is all of our professors who we hire are all professors of practice, meaning they've studied as engineers, went out into the real world, worked, got that experience, but then decided to come back and teach what they know and love. And so for our Texas A&M engineering professors, they're instrumental in helping our students make that connection of what this education and how that's going to be connected to a real life experience, but also, again in that general engineering, helping figure out which one of those majors might be best for them. Now, on the community college side of things, we do use a cohort model and so all of our students are taking those math and science and engineering classes all together so they're able to build that relationships with one another and the professors. We have professors who are requesting to teach our classes because we just have such good students in the program. And again, through that cohort model, we're able to be a little picky with our professors, making sure we get the best ones that are going to prepare them for Texas A&M Engineering.
Speaker 1:So Texas A&M hires these professors at the community.
Speaker 2:So we hire a professor to teach the A&M engineering class that students will take while they're there. Their math and science and other core classes are still taught by the community college. Where they'll get those community college professors and, of course, community college class sizes and, of course, tuition.
Speaker 1:I love that because, oh my gosh, I love this for so many reasons. Number one you hear so many students and parents who are not sending their kids to a four-year university or a four-year program, or even thinking about a bachelor's degree, because they think it's too expensive, which actually it is expensive. But this is why I love doing what I do, because I like sharing ways, economical ways that we can still get to the same point just through a different path. Again, the end point is the same, right, they're going to graduate from A&M and from the School of Engineering, but everybody arrives through just slightly different path and the more cost effective with resources. I love the cohort model. I mean, this is fantastic. I'm really excited about this program. So when they transfer, is this adding an additional year to their overall graduation timeframe?
Speaker 2:That's a perfect question, and we actually don't even call it transfer. We call it a transition, because our students are Texas A&M students from day one. They're working on the exact same curriculum. So when it comes time for them to move to our, say, our main campus in College Station, we simply just change their status or their campus on the back end and that says from Houston now they're in College Station, and so we do have that seamless transition and all of the classes that students take while in the program are all transferable over to Texas A&M. So we really are. A huge benefit to the program is that our students are not falling behind because they are able to take that Texas A engineering class from day one. They're able to meet those prereqs by the time they get to college station and not have to step back and take intro level classes, because oh my goodness.
Speaker 1:okay, that's amazing and I like that they start taking an engineering core class from the beginning, because two years of just general studies and then you take then third year, three track. You take your core class and you're like this is not what I want, I'm not interested in this. So it's saving money, it's saving time and they're getting a dive into a little bit of a taste of what engineering is and if it's a good fit.
Speaker 2:Yes, and what better way to test that fit than at a program like the Academy, where you're not having to invest all of the money just to find out engineering isn't where you want to be. So we have a few students who do come in on the fence of engineering and, like I said, through that first year with the career exploration process and starting fall 2024, here in Houston, we're also adding some additional more hands-on classes for our students to get that engineering experience, use a maker space and stuff like that again, so they can make that determination is engineering where they want to be? Because look how hard it can get a little tough sometimes, so you got to be in it for the right reasons. But it's a great program to for those students as well wanting to test the wires.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what about when they transition into A&M? What does that look like as far as them claiming Is that the correct word, claiming a specific pathway? Do they have to apply for that? What does that look like?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So our students, whether they start off in College Station, galveston, mcallen or one of our 10 academy locations, again they're going through that a process we call entry to a major, like a fancy change of major application, but they are. They're listing their top three engineering majors in rank order and are able to go through a review process from there. This is largely based on the student's first year GPA as well as a statement of purpose why they want to go into that specific major. So that's what that program looks like. So that whole first year is working up to the application.
Speaker 2:We have about 80% of our or 85% of our students get their first choice engineering major through the program and about 95% of our students get one of their top three. So our students, as long as they maintain a decent GPA and, of course, knock it out of the park with that essay and really show their passions and why they want to be that specific area, have a pretty good time getting their major. And then, as we mentioned, once they have their major, it's that easy transition over. Just in the spring you might register for classes here in Houston, all you register for classes in College Station. So we try to make it as seamless as possible.
Speaker 1:Beautiful. What would you say is the ideal candidate for this program.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So the cool part about our program is for our seniors in high school. Right now the application is still open. So I know a lot of other large schools may have started closing their applications or even to apply A&M directly to College Station. That application is closed.
Speaker 2:For any students who maybe missed that deadline found us a little later on, this is still a great pathway for our students.
Speaker 2:We attract, I would say, two big groups of students, big groups of students, so one, I would say, Texas A&M.
Speaker 2:We have a lot of students who apply to our, especially into our, College of Engineering, and as great as these applicants are, we just simply don't have enough space on our College Station campus.
Speaker 2:And so we have, I would say a good portion of our applicants are going through this academy pathway as that pathway to an engineering degree, simply because we didn't have enough space. Unfortunately, on our main campus. We also have another kind of group of students who come to the academies again because of that access, that affordability and stuff like that. And so again, with that lower tuition, the smaller classes, we get some students who are using it as that pathway into engineering because they were not able to get a spot in College Station right away, and we have the other group that really not feasible to move to College Station right now and for a full four years, so that's a large portion of our students as well, which we really I personally really appreciate it because I think, as a land grant institution in Texas and our goal with A&M in general, provide an education for all students in the state and this is one of the ways we can do it.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and that's another reason why I'm so passionate about the College and Career Ready podcast, because we're basically opening it to any student, regardless of where you're at, where you live, whether you're in rural or city or what district, you're getting the same information. If you're listening in, if you're tuning in, you're getting the same information that everybody else is, so this is a great opportunity. What about candidate selection? So what does the selection process look like? What are you looking for?
Speaker 2:So our application process is a little unique, I will have to say, because we're dealing with two different schools. You're going to go through two sets of applications. So our students first do need to secure admission from the partner college. As of right now, all of our partner colleges are open enrollment, so it's just a quick application, wait a few days to get that student ID and then, in step number two, we call it a pre-qualification process. So this is where the community college so maybe like HCC will review a student and we want to make sure that they are at least a suitable candidate for the program. This is largely based on math placement and college readiness, and so we do require in our program students to be in at least a college level pre-calculus or above or at least ready to take that pre-calculus class come the fall semester. And so, again, if you didn't know, engineering is a lot of math. So we want our students to be successful when it comes to math. The last thing we want to do is put students in a position where they're going to struggle. So that's what that pre-qualification process is for. Once a student is deemed to be qualified, the partner college will send them a link to apply to Texas A&M. Now, when students are applying to A&M, this is a Texas A&M Office of Admissions review process and so it is a holistic review. Once students are admitted, they are again full Texas A&M students, which is really great.
Speaker 2:We'll issue the ID card and everything but through that review process again, it is a holistic review, but I would say most of our students are going to come from the top 25 to 50% of their graduating class, of course, with engineering taking a special look at those math and science grades and test scores. We'd like to see mostly A's. Occasional B is all right by us. We understand life happens sometimes. So that's what we're looking for in that review process and then we'll follow it up with some additional short answer questions as well. The other cool thing about our academy application process is it is 100% free to apply. So we have worked with different industry partners to help figure out or to help pay for some of those costs, like an application fee or something like that, so it's been really great. I would say our students still, of course, need to have that academic qualification, but we don't necessarily need that super competitive applicant. This program is really available for any student to apply to.
Speaker 1:That's such an opportunity because I feel that there are so many students that are being passed on when they have a lot of potential, a lot of drive. They might have just not had the resources. Or even if they went to a really good school again, maybe their learning was a little unique and different, maybe they're a neurodiverse and it just takes them a little bit longer. I mean, there's so many factors that can take into play that really doesn't even have to deal with, have to do with academic. It could be maybe their grades are a reflection of something else, not that they're not knowledgeable or capable. Which brings me to the next question, because I always like to ask about tests, testing. So do you require SAT, ACT testing and, if so, is there a certain score that you typically like to see?
Speaker 2:So through the pre-qualification process, like I mentioned before, we do need to test. Our students need to be eligible to start in college, pre-calculus or above. The best way to do that is through test or previous coursework. So while the test scores are not required, if they have them, or students have them, really will help expedite that pre-qualification process. And so for the SAT we are typically looking for a math section score of Okay On the ACT. Let me see, trying to hear I think it's around a 24 on the math section of the of the ACT. And again, those are those minimum requirements to be in that pre-calculus level. A higher score could possibly even place students into a calculus one level right away.
Speaker 2:Now if students don't have those tests again, we can look at some previous coursework. We do also offer a math placement exam through Houston Community College. So that is a quick 20 question test just to cover that base level and we can go from there For the actual A&M review portion of the application, that holistic review for the fall to fall semester. We are not requiring test scores. There's been a lot of talk after years if we're going to continue that or not. Honestly, we've really enjoyed our test optional policy. Basically, our policy here at Texas A&M is if you have a score and you send it, we will only look at it if it helps you in the review process. So if it hurts or in any way lowers your chance of being admitted we will simply ignore it. So very forgiving test optional policy. We really fall in love with it. Of course there's just much higher powers at be that will make that decision. So hopefully we can say test optional, but if not we'll see how it goes.
Speaker 1:Can you share with us deadlines? So you told us that it's open right now. So what is the cutoff date so we can share that?
Speaker 2:Right, Thank you. So the deadline for this fall semester is June 15. And so we're in April. Now it's going to come up quick. I was looking at my calendar I was like, oh my gosh, it's only like two and a half months away. But again, that deadline gives our students that time to find our program for one.
Speaker 2:But also sometimes, as students are going through that application process, that financial aid decision doesn't really that letter doesn't say what we wanted it to say or some of those other admission decisions, and so, with our kind of later time or later deadline, it allows our students to have those answers before coming to us. So it has been really great. Our application typically opens December 1st of a student's senior year and then closing June 15th.
Speaker 1:June 15th. Very good, how soon of a turnaround time, Because I mean that's pretty late. I mean it's great, I'm excited about that, but it's also pretty late. How soon will they get a response?
Speaker 2:So it really depends. I mean, like I said, our application opens up in December, so those students might start getting their decisions back in March. We've already released a few rounds of decisions and we'll continue on a rolling basis. So, of course, sooner you apply, sooner you'll get that decision back. But when it comes to June, we typically will have decisions out in about four weeks or so. So we're trying to get those decisions as soon as possible for our students. Of course it's a big decision to make.
Speaker 1:And I also wanted to share.
Speaker 2:We do have occasional some students who are not able to get to that pre-calculus readiness by the June 15th deadline and honestly that's okay. I don't want you to rush into these math courses Again. They get pretty difficult really fast and so through our academy program if you're not able to make that deadline, it is no problem. We will happily work with students to start taking those maybe college algebra in the fall semester, working their way up so that come the next fall they are at that math readiness level and ready to start our academy program. So even if you don't make it that first year right out of high school, we do also take transfer students as well.
Speaker 1:Beautiful. Any misconceptions that you would like to clarify or questions you'd like to clarify that you typically get asked a lot.
Speaker 2:I would say I think the biggest I guess misconception or I guess the stigma around it is just that community college life. I know just working with students. A lot of times you hear the word community college it's like, well, I don't really want to go there. I was talking to one of our current students just last week and sometimes when you say, oh, I'm going to go to community college, it feels like something didn't pan out the way we wanted it to or something like that. But honestly I don't really think that's the case. Like being at a smaller college just has so many more benefits that I don't think it should be looked at as, oh, it's because I wasn't able to go somewhere else. It's an opportunity and an advantage to go through that pathway. And of course I do understand sometimes you do want more of that traditional freshman experience, the dorm life, things like that, which is really cool because the academy program.
Speaker 2:We have some of our partner colleges and I'll give a shout out to our neighbor over at Blinn Brenham. We do offer on-campus housing at that location for our academy program. They have band, they have a meal hall, they have organizations and then of course, blinn Brenham is only about 45 minutes away from College Station. So most of our students are still purchasing that sports pass, going to football games on weekends on the Texas A&M campus. So we do have that opportunity for our students. Houston is that a little more commuter campus students? Houston is a little more commuter campus, but if you want more of a traditional freshman experience, we do offer that through the academy as well through some of our locations like Lynn Brenham.
Speaker 1:Thank you for sharing that, because I that came to mind right now that, for example, I'm in Houston, it doesn't necessarily mean that they have to choose HCC. They can actually go to to get the going away experience and but you're still at a smaller campus, a minute closer, and really developing those skills. And I also want to really tag along with you with what you're saying about the stigma on community college. Because, first of all, what parents and students might not realize is that there is a large amount of students that don't make it through their first year of college at a four year university. And if you really look at the statistics, if you're looking at the rate of unsuccess or dropout or whatever terminology you want to use, you're going to really look at the bigger picture of what's better for your child.
Speaker 1:Right At the end of the day, we want them to graduate and to move on to their career, but we can't get there if they go to a four-year university. And not to say I'm not for or against, I'm just saying for every parent you know your child the best and they know themselves best. They know what support they need, what type of campus they need. And this is the discussions that need to be happening at home, because we want that first year of college, whether it's at the community college or four-year university, to be successful right, because that's what's going to determine retention and graduation and everything else. So, yeah, let's remove that stigma and really see this as an opportunity, providing students a pathway to success, to reaching their goals and aspirations. And then as far as support for Texas A&M so what other support can students get at the community college but still get as support for Texas A&M? So what other support can students get at the community college but still get that support from Texas A&M?
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 2:So through the academy program again, because students have full access to both Texas A&M and their partner college resources. There are so many points of contacts that they can access to find really anything that they need. So of course we have a ton of academic programs, especially at the partner college. They'll have their in-person tutoring services. They can reach virtual tutoring services through Texas A&M or, if you want to drive over, happy to provide in person as well. And we have writing centers, libraries that they can access and stuff like that. So a lot of academic resources. But we also understand sometimes things do happen in life that outside of the classroom that do impact the classroom, and so we have a ton of resources like those counseling and psychological services, those A&M. We have a multicultural services office. We even have student legal services. If you get in a pickle, we'll help you out really in any way we can. So there is I can't even think of all of the resources off the top of my head and then of course we have our student assistance services. That is like if you haven't found it in a different office, come to us and we will make sure you can find it now. So a lot of resources out there between both institutions Now through the Academy program, because we are a unique program and we have a specialized staff.
Speaker 2:So we have around four or five staff that are based in College Station who actually I think it's like seven now we're definitely growing who support our students through the academic advising, through career scholarship, internship, exploration. So we have, of course, our main campus career center but we have someone in the academy specifically working to advocate for our students. They go to those industry partners to tell them that our program exists, explain why our students are great people to hire for those internships and stuff like that. So we have a lot of support on campus in College Station that is helping our students. We also have regional staff that's based in Houston, austin, dallas, the Valley to help our students, provide that local base to Texas A&M for our students.
Speaker 2:So of course, you're not on the main campus that first year but you are still surrounded by Texas A&M employees and so, like myself, I'm based here in Houston, texas, and so provide support for our Houston and Brenham students so that they have that familiar face they can ask questions to and stuff like that. And again, that's just on the A&M side. The community college side, they'll have their own advisors specifically for the academies as well. And then, as I mentioned before, all the resources that they offer, which has been pretty phenomenal here in Houston. For instance, on the Spring Branch campus, which is where our program is located, they offer a food bank, which is only about three doors down from our A&M engineering classroom, so really trying to support our students in any way we can.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. I always tell my students that I coach myself. I always tell them it's not a lack of resources, it's a lack of resourcefulness. The resources are there and that's why I love what I do when I have the opportunity to coach and for students go through. My own program is teaching them that the resources are there at the college. They're actually paying for those resources, so they should probably be using those resources.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely. That is included in those tuition and fees, so please be sure you're using them. Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I'll make another little plug here for your mental health services. I'm assuming those would be like virtual sessions, correct?
Speaker 2:Yes, I mean they can go in person, but most would be virtual sessions for sure.
Speaker 1:Correct, because they they're further away and I have personally been part of virtual sessions and there I mean there's just like the same as being in person, so don't be discouraged about that. That's why I wanted to do a little plug in for y'all on that as well. For students is use those services, even if they're virtual it's. It's really not any different than the in person.
Speaker 2:I've seen some of those sessions as well and, honestly, sometimes it's nice as a student to not necessarily have to like leave the comfort of your space like to talk to a professional and so so they've been working really well for us as well, but we do also a lot of our partner campuses. All of them have their own mental health resources as well, but if you do want that in person, it's also not too far away.
Speaker 1:Perfect. Well, I know that one of the things that you wanted our listeners to know is to learn how to ask questions, so is there anything else you want to add on that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's a perfect like segue into that topic Because, as we just discussed, there's so much out there to support our students that they don't always even know exist. That, like, as a student, I didn't know know exist and I started when I started working for the university, I was like oh, that would have definitely come in handy. A few times. So I my biggest recommendation for that is, if something is bothering you or really anything, just find someone, preferably I always say like look for a name tag, although I forgot mine today but, look for a name tag and or maybe a polo or someone, and just ask.
Speaker 2:Especially with Texas A&M or most colleges, there are so many people who want you to succeed, you know that's why they're working there. So just ask. And if they can't get that direct answer, they can at least point you in the right direction. And so a huge advocate of asking those questions Because, again, there's just too much out there for any one person to know all of it, especially first year. And so, yes, ask those questions. And I want to do a small plug on this as well. There's a lot of, I would say, misinformation out there as well. When you hit the Reddit and the different Facebook groups, it's like, well, this person said, this person said this Ask the expert when in doubt. Ask the experts so we can get those correct information over to you.
Speaker 1:I love that you're sharing about misinformation, because, yes, do not go there, ask professionals, ask people that are experienced, because, yeah, there can be a lot of bad information being shared and that can discourage students. So thank you for sharing that and bringing light into such great conversation. Aside from the amazing program and everything we shared, we definitely touched on a lot of things that can really help any student be successful and being an advocate for themselves. Is there anything else that you want to share before we wrap up today?
Speaker 2:I wanted to close out with a personal statement. I guess I've been working with the academy program specifically for about two and a half years now and I've had a few students who've been able to go through the process from high school to the academy over to College Station and nearing graduation at this point, and it's been phenomenal. So I think I'm lucky in my position because I can see them grow from high school into that college life.
Speaker 2:But I've had quite a few students come back and just say that this program has really done wonders on again creating those connections with students. A lot of our students will come back to our academy first year engineering professors for those letters of recommendations because they know them the best. They know them when they were experiencing something new into that college life and so I think our students have, after the academy, really enjoy coming back and we do. We offer socials for our students already in college stations. It's like, hey, you were once an academy student, always an academy student, so it's been a great program.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like that first love. You'll never forget that first love. Oh my goodness, this was amazing. And you mentioned top schools or 10 partnering colleges. I'm sure those listed. Those are listed on your link, which we will have on our show notes. I won't have you go through them all because you might not have them all memorized.
Speaker 2:I was like I think I could.
Speaker 1:Actually, I won't put you on the spot. We'll provide a link for our student listeners and our parents to check out the program. Even if this just had a little bit of caused you to have a little bit of curiosity, go in and look at it, apply. I'm really excited about sharing this. When you said that people don't know about you, feel like it's like a little top secret. I love it because we're sharing the top secret.
Speaker 2:No and yeah to that point. I get that question all the time, especially after talking to parents and explaining it, and they're like, why isn't everyone doing this? And I'm like, honestly, I don't know.
Speaker 1:But yes, as far as locations go.
Speaker 2:We have 10 right now, fall 2025,. We're already expecting to have at least one more. Join on, so if you don't see one in your area, reach out to us and maybe there's one coming soon. Or maybe put some pressure on your community college, because we'd happily partner with you, your community college, because we'd happily partner with you.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much, eddie, for being here with us, for sharing about your program, and I hope students and parents take advantage and apply.
Speaker 2:I appreciate it and please let me know if y'all have any other questions.
Speaker 1:Thank you. Thank you for listening in. If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much to me. If you share it with a friend, a colleague or your own community, if you share it on social media and tag me, I'll make sure to personally thank you. My two favorite places to hang out are Instagram and LinkedIn. Check out our show notes for a direct link. I'm so thankful for each and every one of you and, as always, stay well, be present and enjoy the journey. I'll talk to you next week, adios.
