Running Head: POST SECONDARY RESAEARCH-TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY 1

Running Head: POST SECONDARY RESAEARCH-TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY 1

Texas Tech University Post-Secondary Research

Rieley A. Matthews

Center Point High School

Texas Tech University, as in any college, requires several pieces of information necessary to understand the application process, specific classes for majors, the history of the campus, and current events on campus.

Texas Tech University planning began in 1923.Tech is the only campus in Texas that is home to a major university, law school and medical school. Originally named as the Texas Technological College, the college opened in 1925 with six buildings and an enrollment of 914. Graduate instruction did not begin until 1927, within the school of Liberal Arts. A “Division of Graduate Studies” was established in 1935, and not long after became known as the Graduate School in 1954. By action of the Texas State Legislature, Texas Technological College formally became Texas Tech University on September 1, 1969 (Texas Tech University EDU, 2010).

Soon after the university became official, the traditions began. Texas Tech has several faithful traditions you may need to know about heading into college freshman year.

When Texas Tech first started, the majority of the funds went towards the buildings, but the campus was lacking in its landscape. In 1937, president Knapp decided to dedicate one day every spring to beautify the campus. On the first day of this now annual tradition, 20,000 trees are planted on the Texas Tech campus. This Tech tradition is very active and professors as well as students participate every year (Texas Tech University EDU, 2010).

Another important tradition is the Saddle Tramps carrying out Bangin Bertha, a bell on a trailer, to all home football games, Homecoming events, and Basketball games. The Saddle Tramps, formed by Tech student Arch Lamb in 1936, is an all-male booster organization that supports men's athletics at Texas Tech. The name Saddle Tramp came from the stories of traveling men who would come to a farm for a brief time, fix up some things and move on. Lamb decided that he could “fix up” some things himself before “moving on”, and the Saddle Tramps were born. These Midnight Raiders "paint the campus red" with crepe paper before big home games, form the legendary "Bell Circle" moments before kickoff, and ring Bangin' Bertha. Bertha was designed in 1959 by Saddle Tramp Joe Winegar, and was donated by the Santa Fe Railroad. Bangin' Bertha is considered a major spirit-raiser for the Raider teams (Texas Tech Official Athletic Site, 2010).

The hand sign of Texas Tech is the "Guns Up", which was created in 1972 by a Texas Tech Graduate who attended law school. The sign is made by extending the index finger outward while extending the thumb upward and tucking in the middle, little and fourth fingers to form a gun. The idea is that the Red Raiders will “shoot down their opponents.” The Guns Up sign is the widely recognized greeting of one Red Raider to another, as well as the sign of victory displayed by the crowd at every athletic event ( Texas Tech Official Athletic Site, 2010).

On St. Patrick's Day in 1939, Texas Tech University unveiled that they had discovered a piece of the Blarney Stone. According to the legend, a group of petroleum engineers discovered the stone while they were on a field trip. After doing some tests, scientists verified the stone was a piece of the original Blarney Stone. The stone now lies on a stand in front of the old Electrical Engineering Building. It is said seniors that kiss the Blarney Stone upon graduation will receive the gift of eloquent speech (Texas Tech University EDU, 2010).

In 1973, Ruth Baird Larabee donated to Texas Tech University to buy and install a carillon in memory of her parents. The Charles and Ruth Baird Memorial Carillon is located in the west tower of the administration building at the center of the Texas Tech campus. The music of the 36-bell instrument rings out over the campus during times of celebration and solemnity. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the university have enjoyed the music for thirty years. The carillon has become one of the treasured Tech traditions.

Although there are several other traditions, such as the saddle sculpture and the masked rider, but there is an important tradition that incoming freshman should know.

The senior class of 1931 gave a special double T bench and placed it in the courtyard behind the Administration Building. The seniors announced that no freshmen might sit on that bench (Texas Tech University EDU, 2010). No one is sure what would happen if a freshman did sit on it, but who breaks tradition?

There are over 400 student groups and organizations that hold events, plus a Greek system. There is defiantly plenty to get into depending on your interests (Hinkle, 2008.). There are concerts and theatrical productions put on by students in the departments, as well as exhibits and, of course, football (Texas Tech University EDU, 2010).

Prior to applying and Texas Tech University, basic facts are researched such as enrollment size, tuition, and average SAT score. The statistics from fall 2010 are as followed: Total enrollment: 31,637, Total undergraduate enrollment: 25,462, Freshman class: 4,860, Average freshman class SAT: 1104, and Retention rate from freshman to sophomore year: 81% ( Texas Tech EDU, 2010). Freshmen are required to live in residence halls until they have completed 30 credit hours, and the campus is set on 1,850 acres (Hinkle, 2008). Texas Tech offers a choice of over 150 bachelor programs, 100 master programs, and 50 doctoral programs. Tech is also one of the three public universities to house a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society (Hinkle, 2010).

Application into Texas Tech University is simple. Undergraduates use applytexas.org as the application format, although sending it online or by standard mailing are options. Basic personal information is required, and statistics such as the annual income rate and guardian information. There is also a scholarship application attached to the Tech application. There is one essay required for the scholarship, and there are three optional essays for Texas Tech admissions application. In addition, a general idea for a Major or career goal must be know to fill out the admissions application.

For example, a Computer Science Major with a Theatrical Stage Management Minor would be classified under Computer Science major in the Engineering College. On the Texas Tech website there is a list of degree plans for this major. In a bachelor degree plan for Computer Science, the first semester for an undergraduate freshman would look like this: CS 1411 Programming Principals 1, Engl 1301 Essentials of Coll. Rhetoric, Math 1351 Calculus 1, Pols 1301 American Gov.,Org., and Elective (Core Curriculum) (Texas Tech Department of Computer Science, 2010).

A Stage Management minor student takes a Theatre Minor-General, with more Stage Manager Specialty Classes and House Management. An advisor is required to specify this minor with the correct classes. You must have a minimum of 123 hours to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree (Texas Tech University EDU, 2010).

There are many career options with this type of degree. With a Computer Science major, a student can go into management, systems analysis, software programmer, network administrator, tech support, computer information systems director, and several other careers that are up and coming. Jobs in the technical industry are on the rise in this new innovative century, and there is high interest for skilled technicians, managers, and engineers. There is a predicted 45% increase in jobs for computer science majors (Azusa, 2010).

Taking in this major, and applying a Stage Management minor implies a strong management position. Entering a theatre company, a high member of a community theatre, or working as a technician and a stage manager will increase your value to the professional theatre art programs. Working your way up in a major theatre corporation is a likely option. (Azusa, 2010.)

For the Texas Tech University Apply Texas Scholarship essay, the required essay topic is over your career goals. Knowing a major and possible career opportunities help a lot with this essay if you have a plan on where you are going. The scholarship deadline for Texas Tech University is February 1st (Apply Texas, 2010). There are also several scholarships available through the Texas Tech University specific college, such as the College of Engineering. This college has a breakdown of major, like Computer Science, and then specified to freshman, sophomores, so on. Looking into these scholarships is recommended, and most are renewable each year (Texas Tech University EDU, 2010).

After admission, an online checklist breaks down all the requirements for each month that gives all the requirements before starting the Texas Tech year. This list is organized and it includes the websites and proper forms to apply for housing, FAFSA, and other requirements at Texas Tech University (Texas Tech University EDU, 2010).

Advisors and Admission Councilors are available for questioning. There are campus tours every week, and attending one of these is recommended. There are housing tours, campus tours, and a finical aid seminar. There is also an opportunity to meet with professors and advisors in your specific major when you attend a tour. The Texas Tech website has a tour reservation page where you can plan and reserve the tour date. A confirmation is sent through email 4-8 days later (Texas Tech University EDU, 2010).

There is much to discover whether it’s the rich history and traditions, the academically challenging courses, the Greek Circle, or enjoying the sports, there is something to be discovered at Texas Tech University.

References

Apply Texas.Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. July 22, 2010. Retrieved Dec. 8, 2010 from <http://applytexas.org.>

Azusa Pacific University. 2010. Retrieved Dec. 08 2010, from <https://www.apu.edu/clas/computerscience/cs/careers/

Texas Tech Official Athletic Site. Retrieved 06 Dec. 2010. from <http://www.texastech.com/trads/text-m-fb-atoz.html>.

Texas Tech University. Retrieved 06 Dec. 2010. from <http://www.ttu.edu/>.

Tech University. "Department of Computer Science." Retrieved Dec 06, 2010 from <http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/ENGR_CS.php>.

Hinkle, April B. Texas Tech University. Retrieved Dec 06, 2010 from Texas College Guide. 2008: 76. Print.

Hinkle, April B. Texas Tech University. Retrieved Dec 06, 2010 from Texas College Guide. 2010: 74-75. Print.