Socorro, NM (Albuquerque, Alamogordo, Silver City: where to stay, campgrounds, taxi)
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One last thing regarding tech is that some departments like to make your education much more difficult than it would be at other schools. Generally tech concentrates on theory, and your usually doing your homework nonstop. While that is expected, what I don't like is their sink or swim mentality when you first arrive. Since all majors are required to take a year of calculus, chemistry and physics, many people have trouble getting through it. While at first glance you'd wonder why, the reason is that alot of the bad teachers teach those courses, give out way too much homework, and usually give you the theoretical problems like proofs instead of practical applications. The ones that end up getting A's--usually one or two people depending on the curve--are the ones who either have taken it already or are extremely intelligent and have no use for attending lectures. If you can get through that portion of tech, it gets easier afterwards despite the higher level courses from my experience. Not trying to scare anybody off, just saying it the way it is.
While I have had similar experiences to the weed-out situations described above, I might point out that similar sorts of phenomena can be found at any accredited university in the U.S.
Some teaching assistants, rather than professors, will teach entry-level courses. Like professors, some make outstanding instructors, and some really do not. At NMT, the percentage of entry-level classes taught by TA's is significantly lower than at any other school I've heard of or attended. I was fortunate enough to never have a terrible TA, and I had some very good ones.
NMT also boasts the state's highest 5-year graduation rate (29%). Based on the above, I'd say the problem occurs less there than anywhere else.
Since Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics departments have to pull double duty as full research departments and service departments to the other disciplines, it is difficult to strike a balance for their introductory classes. It's a bit like trying to learn addition and subtraction from Albert Einstein. Though the man was brilliant in his way, it's easy to see how frustrating the experience would be.
Reading, Writing, 'rithmatic - along with chemistry and physics are the "weed out" courses in any science or engineering curriculm. This can be justified by the fact that you need a basic understanding of the latter and skill in the former to be an engineer or scientist.
(touch typing is also a really good idea - as you can see I'm not very good at it.)
check out Magdalena which is about 18 miles west of Socorro along Hwy. 60. Beautiful country and you are close enough to Socorro for the markets, hospital, golf, university etc. Magdalena is growing as are its prices but now is the time to explore.
So go to NMT and learn a few more. Just pay more attention to study than parties. I also suggest you don't get a TV. Back in the neolithic, when I was a college student, I found the TV was really cutting into my study time so I got rid of it.
BTW - College studies are hard work but the results will benefit you and the rest of the world for the rest of your life.
Just found this thread - we too are thinking about moving to Socorro; i'm an commercial artist my wife works in a bank now, but wants to do something different when we move.
I've been in higher ed. for 25 years, and have found that in small university towns there is often friction between the town and school, different reasons for different places, but there it is.
Pick a school based on what connections you want to make - networking. Those folk you graduate with will be your future support system, this is very important and few students are clued into this concept. If your doing an advanced degree, then this becomes even more important plus add in those prof's on your board - who already have a wide network.
Good luck!
Also, another 3 offices/clinics with multiple doctors at each. (Our mayor is also one of the main family doctors in town! Also, have a community clinic, a clinic available to Tech students/faculty, and 5 dentists. I have never had to travel outside of Socorro for any health-care.
I have never been to the hospital so not sure about the services/quality there. It is pretty decent sized but I know they send patients to Abq. for major stuff. The family doctors have been excellent here and we have had several new ones move into town in the last year or so. They are begging for nurses in this town so it can be busy from time to time at some of the popular doctor offices and sometimes hard to get in.
Last edited by InTheDesert; 05-04-2007 at 12:54 PM..
Socorro is looking better & better. Looks like a September vacation and real estate hunt is likely.
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Also, have a community clinic, a clinic available to Tech students/faculty, and 5 dentists. I have never had to travel outside of Socorro for any health-care.
