Let’s face it: college is not easy, especially for freshmen.
The campus is daunting, but there are ways to make schooling at NMSU fun and exciting. Since 1888, NMSU has been providing students with a plethora of opportunities, which continues to this day.
Tutoring services and clubs are just some of the possibilities available. Another way to enjoy campus is to live on it, which is offered by NMSU Housing and Residential Life. The freshman dorms, including Piñon Hall, Juniper Hall, Rhodes Garrett Hamiel Hall and Garcia Hall, are great options for living and learning on campus.
Getting around campus is a stressful endeavor, but Carina Frisch, President of the Associated Students of NMSU, has some tips.
“I would say probably the easiest way to get around campus would be to walk,” Frisch said. “I don’t think that driving is necessarily the best way.”
Frisch also talked about the campus-wide bus system: “[There was] a meeting at Knox Hall, and you can take it all the way down to Knox, and get there in about 11 minutes during high traffic.”
Using maps is an apt option for freshmen navigating campus, according to Frisch, as well as exploring the grounds of NMSU: “I would say if you’re curious about where your classes are, try and go investigate first.”
If safety is a concern, exploring NMSU as a freshman can seem nerve-wracking, but Frisch said, “…campus, for the most part, is very safe.”
The simple act of walking around is quite possibly the best choice for freshmen trying to figure out the complexities of NMSU’s premises.
As for NMSU’s buildings, Frisch said her favorite is Skeen Hall, but adds that every building has a variety of activities and services: “Every college has something different that they can
Offer … I know recently what I’ve seen the most out of is HEST. There’s always different events and activities going around. You just have to pay attention to what’s going on.”
The events NMSU’s colleges offer make the school a proper choice for a freshman looking for something enriching to do.
The dorms at NMSU also provide fantastic opportunities for freshmen, with Piñon Hall being great for parking, according to Frisch. Concerning the best overall dorm, however, Frisch said she likes Rhodes Garrett Hamiel Hall the most: “For charm, I’m a big RGH person. I think it’s a fun building.”
NMSU dorms deliver the chance to experiment with independence in a safe environment, which is perhaps what freshmen need the most. In terms of financial independence and learning to conserve money, getting a meal plan is the way to go, and “utilizing what you have in Taos (Restaurant) is very beneficial,” Frisch said.
Nathan Trevizo, student program coordinator for the Student Success Center, said there are plenty of choices – especially for tutoring.
“The main (tutoring service) is going to be campus tutoring, and that’s out of the Corbett Center, Room 206,” Trevizo said. “They handle basically the majority of the tutoring that’s here on campus.”
What if you are a freshman undecided on a major? Well, Trevizo also pointed to a software provided by NMSU to help with just that.
“If (freshmen) are really not even sure what their interests are, we do have a great software that’s available to students called VitaNavis, and they can do that through their MyNMSU account,” Trevizo said. “It’s just essentially an interest inventory.”
As for clubs offered on campus, Trevizo said there are too many to name
“I’ve lost count about how many exist, but I know there’s just such a broad variety,” he said, adding students can also check out the website CrimsonConnection to get an idea of what this university has available.
“You can find anything in your interest, whether it’s related to your future career, or your major, or just simply because you have an interest in it,” Trevizo said.
All in all, NMSU provides many opportunities for new students, whether they be freshmen or transfer. With an assortment of colleges, dorms, resources and clubs, New Mexico State has a surplus of options that allow for an exciting and rewarding time spent here.
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