The following is important information about scheduling interviews and event details regarding the Interview Conference Weekend (ICW) held on Fri-Sat, Feb 20-21. We require ALL invitees to complete the online Interview Registration Form in order to move forward in our application process. Reply between now and Monday, February 9th.
Interview Registration
REGISTRATION is online and REQUIRED OF ALL INVITEES. Please click on the Interview Registration Form button at the bottom of the page to complete and submit your option after you read these overviews.
- Those ATTENDING our Interview Conference in College Station: Please make your travel and accommodation arrangements before completing the survey (see below for details), as we use this information to create head counts for transportation and hotel lists. Fill out the Interview Registration Form with your travel plans and contact Kathryn Meyer if you have any changes after submission. Remember to keep your travel receipts for partial reimbursement of your expenses (Note: We cannot reimburse hotel, car, or airline points at a monetary value).
- Those NOT ABLE to attend our Interview Conference in College Station: Overseas applicants and those with conflicting plans will be contacted via email to arrange Zoom interviews. We encourage you to attend if possible, as it’s a great way to get a feel for the school; its students, staff, faculty; and the Aggie environment. However, we realize not everyone can visit that weekend. In that case, click on the Interview Registration Form, indicate that you cannot attend, mark your concentration interests, and check your email so you can set your interview as soon as possible.
Information for those attending our ICW:
MPSA Interview Conference Weekend
February 20-21, 2026
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
Agenda | Accommodations | Directions/Getting Around Town | Flight Options
Meals | Attire | Travel Reimbursement
Agenda
Check-in for Interview Conference Weekend will tentatively be Friday, February 20 from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. The conference will begin with a welcome by Dean John Sherman at 3:40 p.m. Activities continue throughout Friday and Saturday and conclude with an early dinner Saturday evening. Attendees can leave at dinnertime or anytime on Sunday. Please note that Interview Conference is for prospective candidates only; we are unable to accommodate guests at the event. The MSPA agenda is tentative and times are subject to minor changes.
Accommodations
Any hotel or home share site (for those with a car): If you can drive yourself to/from the Bush School, stay at any local property you are comfortable with. We have contracted hotel rates and availability with the Wyndham Garden Hotel College Station and the La Quinta Inn & Suites CS South, but many nice hotels are available at good rates, so check out your options before booking. Additionally, many hotels are within a few miles of our campus, but none are within walking distance.
- Search these websites sponsored by the cities or local Chamber of Commerce:
- Also Google any Hotels.com, Expedia, and similar sites for options
Contracted Host Hotels (for anyone, but especially those with no car): We have booked two host hotels, but only ONE will run a Bush School Shuttle Friday/Saturday. If you will NOT have a car, book the first choice, Wyndham Garden Hotel CS, as we’ll coordinate times for airport pick-up and then again for ICW pick-up/drop off on Friday and Saturday. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can find shuttle pick-up hours and information in the Shuttle Service section below.
- Contact the Wyndham Garden Hotel – College Station at 2829 Texas Ave, College Station, 77845 (979-485-5777) by midnight Monday, February 9 to reserve a suite at $99 a night (plus taxes; 15.75%). Call the number above and use Group Name: Graduate Interview OR you can Book Online. To cancel the reservation, the hotel must receive notification 24 hours prior to arrival date. The hotel does NOT have an airport shuttle, so we will work with you on airport pick-up. Indicate that on your ICW registration. No free breakfast either, but parking is free for those who drive. Check-in is 3 p.m. and check-out is 11 a.m.
Availability: 20 rooms for each night: Thurs, 2/19 * Fri , 2/20 * Sat, 2/21 – only book the nights you need.
Complimentary guestroom WiFi, fitness center, indoor pool, & self-parking - Contact the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham College Station South at 1838 Graham Road, College Station, 77845 (979-272-8914) by midnight Wednesday, February 11 to reserve a suite at $114 a night (plus taxes; 15.75%). Call the number above and provide the dates and mention TAMU EDU group block OR you can Book Online. To cancel the reservation, the hotel must receive notification 24 hours prior to arrival date or one room night and tax will be charged. Check-in is 3 p.m. and check out is 11 a.m.
Availability: 15 double rooms for each night: Thurs, 2/19 * Fri , 2/20 * Sat, 2/21 – only book the nights you need.
Complimentary breakfast, guestroom WiFi, fitness center, indoor pool & self-parking
Other Arrangements:
- Want to share a hotel? Ask to be paired with another prospective candidate to defray room costs. Indicate if you will have a car. Book a double occupancy room at an appropriate hotel, ensuring you can cancel as needed. Mark the registration form and email Kathryn Meyer and she’ll look into it.
- Indicate if you live in the area and will be staying at home.
- Indicate if you will be making your own arrangements to stay with friends or family in town. If staying with a current GBS student friend, please indicate his/her name.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please make hotel reservations as soon as possible and email Kathryn if having trouble with availability.
Driving/Getting Around Town
Our Location
Use the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum as your address at 1000 George Bush West, College Station 77843. Parking on Friday requires your car to be registered for Fan Field across from the Bush School’s parking lot. Saturday parking is free in any nearby lot (including Lot 111, Lot 43, Fan Field). Our event is hosted in the Allen Building and in the Presidential Conference Center.
Car Rentals
The closest car rental site is located at Easterwood Airport, two miles from the Bush School. The airport houses Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise and National.
Shuttle Service with host Wyndham Garden Hotel CS and the Bush School
The Bush School is coordinating a Bush School shuttle with the Wyndham Garden Hotel College Station for rides to/from campus during the conference. If you need airport pickup to the hotel, indicate that option on the Registration Form. We can help during business hours Thursday-Friday. For times outside the hours listed below, as well as on Sunday, you’ll need to rely on ride share/taxis (and turn in receipts).
- Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for airport runs to the host hotel (Wyndham Garden Hotel CS)
- Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. for airport to Wyndham, 2:30-3 p.m. Wyndham to Bush School; evening Bush School to Wyndham
- Saturday: 7:40-8:10 AM from Wyndham to Bush School; evening Bush School to Wyndham
- Sunday: We DO NOT host a shuttle – Use ride share/taxis and turn in receipt.
Rides to/from any hotel other than Wyndham Garden Hotel CS will be your responsibility.
Flight Options
Bryan/College Station: One national airline carrier flies into College Station’s Easterwood Airport (CLL): American Airlines (connects in Dallas, TX). Easterwood Airport is two miles from the Bush School. Please utilize hotel shuttles when possible and ride shares/taxis when necessary.
Houston: George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston (IAH) is a 1.5-hour drive and Houston Hobby is a two-hour drive (HOU) to College Station. Candidates are responsible for their own travel to College Station from these airports. Rental cars and ride sharing services are available.
- Houston/IAH connection to College Station: GroundShuttle.com is a local shuttle service that runs vans between Houston IAH/ College Station for $55 each way with an additional $12 for drop off locations like your hotel or the Bush School. However, you’ll need a ride to their location is S College Station to leave for the airport; no pickups available for outbound. Rates are prepaid online. Pickup times are set, so visit their website at www.groundshuttle.com to review the schedules and booking sections, or call them at 855-303-4415.
- Houston/HOU or IAH to College Station: Hitch.com is a long-distance ride share service to/from Aggieland to Houston, Austin, Dallas, and more; similar to Uber/Lyft. Use at your discretion and comfort level.
Austin and Dallas: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is a 1.5-hour drive and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Dallas Love Field (DAL) are three-hour drives to College Station. Candidates are responsible for their own travel to College Station from these airports. Rental cars and ride sharing services are available.
- Austin or Dallas to College Station: Hitch.com is a long-distance ride share service to/from Aggieland to Houston, Austin, Dallas, and more; similar to Uber/Lyft. Use at your discretion and comfort level.
Please indicate your travel plans on the Registration Form: the airport, airline carrier, and date/time of arrival and departure.
Meals
The Bush School will provide all meals from Friday evening through Saturday night. We will begin with a dinner on Friday. All three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be provided on Saturday. Please indicate any meal dietary preferences on the Registration Form. (Note: If you observe Lent, it begins on February 18).
Conference Attire
Dress in professional attire for both Friday and Saturday. You want to impress for Saturday’s interviews, but realize it’s a long day, so be comfortable too. Temperatures in College Station are usually in the mid-40s to upper 60s at this time of year but check the weather before you pack. We recommend that you dress in layers, as rooms often get warm.
Travel Reimbursement
Candidates attending the Bush School’s Interview Conference are considered for travel reimbursements. Turn in receipts for airfare, bus, car rental, taxis/Uber, shuttles, parking, mileage, and lodging. Note: We cannot reimburse hotel, car, or airline points at a monetary value. All candidates can consider further savings by staying with a local resident or sharing a hotel room with another candidate.
We ask that you submit receipts to us at Interview Conference (or email copies within two weeks). Reimbursement requires submission of a W-9 and bank information for direct deposit. We will provide you a form in February and ask that you submit it at the ICW. Processing takes a minimum of 4-8 weeks, so please be sure you can cover your expenses until we can disburse funds. We expect to reimburse between 25-40% of your total submitted costs.
Please note: Receipts not submitted within two weeks following the conference are not eligible for reimbursement (you’ll receive reminders). Additionally, local candidates are not eligible for travel aid.
