<p>Yes Austin is hot in the summer, but you will only be in that heat for a short period of time, unless you are planning to go to summer school there. It will be hot until about October and then it is pretty near perfect until late May. By then school is out. It is in the low 80’s right now and absolutely perfect. The music scene is huge there and you will find all kinds of people…not just liberals…because Texas as a whole is fairly conservative. There is a good mix. I have not met anyone that did not love Austin…I have lived in Texas most of my life and Austin is my absolute favorite city. You will love it there! Hook-Em!</p>
<p>…And the chili and BBQ goes great with Shiner beer. Plus one has the LBJ Presidential Library, the hill country, Lake Travis, Hippy Hollow (is that part of the lake still in operation), Barton Springs, the lost pine forest, the Toros D-Leagur BB team, rattle snakes, and scorpions.</p>
<p>You know, to be honest, I don’t think Austin is really any more liberal than most northern cities. It just seems more liberal because it’s surrounded by a sea of red-state-ness.</p>
<p>it is more liberal in ways that really count–like allowing most things rather than having a million rules against them. Open air bars, fine, food trucks wherever, fine, unless there is a really good reason not to allow it it is allowed. Very unlike Seattle where they have rules over rules. Nanny state versus freedom.</p>
<p>Agree with PG that Austin only seems über-liberal because of its environs. But it’s liberal enough. :)</p>
<p>Unfortunately barrons, that live and let live attitude is shrinking. Just outlawed plastic bags.</p>
<p>Still, I’d pick it over Seattle. I’d get SAD if I lived in Seattle. I had a great vacation there, but it really did rain every day. Depressing.</p>
<p>U Texas has a number of private dorms across the street from campus, too, so a freshman can get a room in a dorm when the on-campus housing is full.</p>
<p>I blame the bag ban on the influx of yankees.</p>
<p>Austin’s traffic engineer must be a raccoon. Maybe they can get in and outta there, but the rest of us? Not so much.</p>
<p>Key is to live what is now close-in–South Austin north to US 183 and inside Loop 360 Stay away from Round Rock and all that far north suburban hell.</p>
<p>curmudgeon, you are so right. I hate the traffic in Austin, especially compared to FW. Cowtown built bigger than needed; Austin is constantly in catch-up mode.</p>
<p>barrons, what are people supposed to use to pick up dog poop if not recycled plastic bags? Harumph.</p>
<p>Actually, the ordinance bans paper or plastic at retail stores–you will have to BYOB(ag)!</p>
<p>OP, our kids grew up in Austin, so naturally, they wanted go away to college. Sniff sniff. But they love coming back over breaks because Austin’s music scene is big on “all ages” shows (they are impatiently waiting to turn 21 in their college towns!) and they miss the weather (esp. the one who goes to school in the Pac NW ;)) – everyone here is into outdoor activities, entertainment, al fresco dining, etc. pretty much year-round. </p>
<p>Another positive about Austin is how close it is to other places. The Hill Country to the west offers a lot of great outdoors activities, e.g., you can be at Enchanted Rock in 1-1/2 hours. A relatively short drive will get you to charming San Antonio in 1-1/2 hours or to Houston (3 hours) or Dallas/Ft. Worth (3-1/2 hours) for retail therapy, performing arts and museums! It is fun to go to A&M and Baylor, both about 1-1/2 hours away, for Longhorn away games. Our beaches aren’t the most beautiful, but you can be on the beach in 4-6 hours depending on where you go. Most UT students are from Texas, and it’s common to carpool and take friends on those occasional weekend trips home, so who knows what big and small towns you will see over the course of four years!</p>
<p>One thing I like about UT is the nearby town scene. It is easy to walk or cycle to a wide variety of restaurants, stores, etc. So if you won’t be bringing a car (not advisable in any event–parking is tight at UT), you never feel as though you are “stuck” on campus. (I don’t know UDub, so it might offer the same/similar experience.)</p>
<p>Congrats on earning two great choices. You really can’t go wrong with either, but as a proud alum, I’ve gotta say Hook 'em, Horns!</p>
<p>Seattle climate is rough. I live here. The rain is tough but the grey skies for months is really, really depressing. Our best season is July, August and September. When most students are not here. </p>
<p>The campus is really beautiful. When the cherry blossoms bloom and the mountain is in view it is fabulous!</p>
<p>UW is a very good school. Depending on your political leaning it may feel ultra liberal. The surrounding area, the ave, is not nice and really kinda questionable. Really big classes and the tutition is only going up.</p>