Experience in College Station, United States by Victoria

What is it like to live in College Station? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

(Disclaimer: I am only speaking from experience as a Texas A&M student in College Station, I can't really tell you what it's like for any other demographic)

College Station is a small town with a big university...and anything and everything is centered around the university. There is not a lot to do within the Bryan/ College Station area besides Texas A&M.

Texas A&M is the life force of College Station, so if you are not involved with the university nor really plugged into campus life, you can feel very out of the loop or isolated. However, it is very easy to get involved- everyone is super friendly and ready to make you feel at home.

I love College Station, but it's definitely not for everyone. If you are a city person used to a grand night life and where there is always something new and exciting to do, Cstat will disappoint. College Station is the epitome of a small college town with friendly Southern charm and people.

But with Texas A&M, there are 50,000 students: mostly from Texas, but there are many from out of state and out of the country, offering outlets for diversity and culture. There are over 800 student organizations playing towards all different types of interests. So if you are determined to plug into Texas A&M and meet new people, the university will pay it back to you with many wonderful experiences and countless memories.

What is the student lifestyle like in College Station?

Student lifestyle is really fun. You will get the best out your experience if you get involved with an organization (or more than one!) on campus at Texas A&M. That is where you will meet your closest friends and who you will be spending most of your time with. Like i stated before, there is not a lot to do in College Station, so most your time spent having fun will be with the people you meet and the silly shenanigans you guys get yourselves into via events through your organization or just hanging out as friends outside of the organization. And no matter what your interests are, there is something for you, and the everyone you meet there will be friendly and warm.

Student life is also fun because everyone is united by the traditions of Texas A&M. We just do a lot of silly stuff that has been around since our university was founded and we share core common values that bring us together as a student body. There is a great feeling of family and comradery at Texas A&M.

How much does it cost to live in College Station?

I guess a general range of cost would be anywhere between $500-$1000 USD a month depending on where you live.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in College Station? Is there any advice you can give?

Not really too difficult. If you are a international student, there is the International Students Services that will help you out in finding accommodations. There are a lot of apartment complexes around town, so I guess its just getting into contact with them and seeing which one suits you best. You can do potluck for roommates at a lot of places so you usually don't need to worry about finding roommates either. There are dorms on campus, but they fill up fast. I never lived in the dorms, so I'm not quite sure how they work, but you should definitely look into them if interested!

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Eh, nothing too special food wise. I guess being in Texas, you have to try some good barbecue and Tex-Mex (us Texans call it Mexican food, it's usually not authentic Mexican food, but we don't know any better and it's yummy nonetheless) :)

What places would you recommend visiting in College Station?

Northgate (bar district on the north side of campus), Downtown Bryan (cute old downtown area with bars, shops and restaurants in Bryan, about 10 minutes outside of College Station), Kyle Field on a game day (even if you don't like American football, it's an experience!)

Is it good to eat out in College Station? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

My favorite spots are:
C&J Barbeque, for barbecue, go figure haha
Chey's or Los Cucos for Tex-Mex food
Proudest Monkey for burgers and funky fries
Hullabaloo Diner for homestyle diner food and the old-timey diner experience

Is the nightlife good in College Station? Where is good to go?

It's fun, but it's pretty limited. The only big places are Northgate and Downtown Bryan. Once you get to either of those areas, all the bars are within walking distance. My favorite bar on Northgate is Obannons , and in Downtown Bryan, Murphy's Law.

What advice would you give future students heading to College Station?

Don't be afraid to meet a lot of new people and put yourself out there, because the more you do, the more fun you'll have! Texas A&M is fun if you invest yourself!