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Frequently asked questions
Contents:
What should I take before I get to Tech?
Your high school background should be the same as we require
of our freshmen. If you didn't take all these courses in high school (for instance,
if you didn't take all the math), we recommend you try to take the equivalent
at your two-year college before you come to Tech.
- Language: Four years of instruction in your
native or national
language.
- Science -- at least 2 units, with laboratories, chosen
from among biology, physics, chemistry, and earth sciences
- Math -- at least 3 units, chosen from among Algebra
I, Algebra II, geometry, trigonometry, or higher mathematics (Calculus preferred)
- Social Science -- at least 3 units, one of which must
be history
In order to graduate from Tech, you need to satisfy our
General
Degree Requirements. Many of these courses are necessary prerequisites
for most of our junior and senior-level courses! The more of these college
courses you can finish with passing grades before you come to Tech,
the sooner you can begin to take our junior and senior courses.
- Two semesters of calculus (and possibly more higher math!)
- Two semesters of chemistry, with labs
- Two semesters of calculus-based physics, with labs
- Two semesters of biology, geology, or engineering, with labs
- Two semesters of English
- Two semesters chosen from: history, economics, political
science, or psychology
I took all of those, and I still have a semester or two
before I come to Tech. What do you recommend I take now?
We recommend that you take as much math and as many science
courses with laboratories as you can.
If you know what you want to major in at Tech, we suggest
you get a copy of our catalog, see what the requirements for that degree are,
and take as many of them as your two-year college offers.
Also see 2003
- 2004 Catalog of Courses. Call 1-800- 428-TECH, or e-mail admission@admin.nmt.edu.
Catalogs are available from the Admission Office.
Which of my credits will Tech accept?
Good news! -- If your credits were earned at accredited
colleges, we will accept nearly all credits in which you received
a passing grade!
There are two important exceptions:
- 1) Our math department requires that you pass courses with
at least a C-, to make sure you're ready for the next higher course.
- 2) Our Humanities Department requires that your first semester
English course also be passed with a C.
So in these two areas, we don't accept courses in which
you earned a D.
However, be aware that, even if we accept all your credits,
you may still have many requirements to fill for your particular degree. If you
transfer to Tech with 60 credits of English literature or fine arts, not all those
courses will meet the requirements for an environmental engineering degree!
What academic material should I bring when I come?
If you can, bring information on courses you took at other
colleges: the college catalog, the syllabus for the course, the textbook, and
anything that can help us judge how the course compares to one we offer at Tech.
What kinds
of jobs are available for students in Socorro?
Many New Mexico Tech students qualify for work-study jobs
as part of their financial aid. See our Financial Aid brochure for details.
New Mexico Tech has a wealth of research projects on campus,
many of which employ students for pay or class credit. Since nearly all of our
faculty have Ph.D.s and conduct research, many professors hire undergraduate students
to work for them. Check out our Faculty
Research.
In addition, Tech has several divisions dedicated to Research
at New Mexico Tech, which often hire students. You have a better chance of
getting one of these jobs if you have already taken some courses in computer science,
chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
What kinds
of housing are available in Socorro?
For on-campus housing, see Residential
Life at New Mexico Tech. About 40 percent of Tech students live on campus.
Since Socorro is a college town, there are many types
of rentals available for college students, including houses, apartment buildings,
and trailers.
How does one find a rental in Socorro?
The best time to look for rentals is over the summer.
Vacancy rates are highest just after our graduation, in mid-May. During the summer,
apartments gradually are rented. If you wait until just before classes start in
August, your selection may be very limited. The best techniques for finding rentals
are:
- Drive around and look for "for rent" signs
- Read the classified ads in the Defensor-Chieftain, the local
paper (505-835-0520), published twice a week
- Read notices posted in the SUB (Student Union Building)
- Check with the Housing Office (505-835-5900 or residentiallife@admin.nmt.edu)
to see if they have any listings
The best way to find cheap housing in Socorro: Make friends
with someone who has a great cheap place and who is about to graduate. When this
person gets ready to graduate, have him/her introduce you to the landlord.
What kind of health care is available
in Socorro?
New Mexico Tech has an on-campus Health Care Center for
minor student ailments.
Basic medical care is available in Socorro. We have several
physicians specializing in family practice, internal medicine, or pediatrics.
We also have four dentists and one optometrist. Socorro
General Hospital offers emergency care and 30 beds for in-patient care.
Specialists are available in Albuquerque, and cases requiring
their care are referred there.
My spouse wants a job in Socorro. What are
the prospects?
Realistically, Socorro is a small town of about 9000 people.
Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city, is 76 miles away. Like all small college
towns, Socorro has a large number of well- educated spouses of students and faculty
competing for a limited number of jobs.
If your spouse is a health professional (nurse, doctor,
physical therapist, dental hygenist, etc.) she/he has a good chance of getting
a job. If your spouse is a teacher, she/he has a slight chance of getting a job.
Most entry-level jobs in Socorro are fast food jobs or clerical work (at New Mexico
Tech, for instance).
Classified ads appear in the Defensor-Chieftain,
Socorro's local paper (505-835-0520), published twice a week. You may want to
visit Socorro to judge the employment situation for yourself.
Some couples have commuting arrangements, where one spouse
has a job in Albuquerque while the other one attends Tech in Socorro.
I have
children of school age. What about schools in Socorro?
For information on public schools in Socorro, please contact:
Office of the Superintendent of Schools
700 Franklin St.
Socorro, N.M. 87801
(505) 835-0300
fax: (505) 835-1682
More questions?
Other sources of information: New
Mexico Links
- Subscribe to the Defensor-Chieftain,
our twice-a-week paper, at (505) 835-0520.
- Call your local phone company and request the phone book
for Socorro, New Mexico.
- Or ask us, the Admission Office, at 1-800-428-TECH, or admission@admin.nmt.edu
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