What is it like being an African-American student at UT Austin? Are there challenges that other race students might not find?
My niece just graduated from UT and she had a great experience. She had friends of all races and said she had to do it over she would do the exact same thing. She simply loves UT.
It will be extremely challenging and a culture shock (as would any PWI like Texas A&M as another example), yet there are great support systems in place housed under the division of of diversity and community engagement.
@CuriousGeorgeTX, why would it be “extremely challenging and a culture shock” any more so than any other student? My student (and I) have been on UTs campus many, many times, and it’s actually very typical of a multicultural campus. No culture shock at all. UT does have high academic standards, but, generally speaking, the vast majority of students who are accepted are more than used to that (hence their Top 6% academic rank).
@mhisses, both UT and Austin have a very diverse, and laid back community. Being black or African American on UTs campus isn’t going to be ‘extraordinary’. You’ll still be in the minority, but that’s going to be the case at nearly all non-HBCUs. There’s a decidedly pancultural vibe at UT, that includes black/African American culture. UT is a very good cultural fit for students of color! 
@Nomatter perhaps you should speak with a black UT student or alumni to understand why I said that. I stand by what I said… UT is a culture shock for many… and that is not exclusive to black students. Moving to a new city and being surrounded by people who look different from you along with balancing very rigor courses (all the while figuring out who you are and what pathway you want to take)… is hard.
@CuriousGeorgeTX ,
I’ve spoken, many, many times with black students at UT. MANY times. Alumni as well. The transition to college, in general, is a big adjustment for pretty much every student. As the black parent of a black, rising senior, I understand both the context, and the concern. Still, I hold true to my opinion (based on experience) that being black at UT isn’t going to, by default, result in “culture shock”. Most black people see and experience other cultures every single day from a minority perspective. Most black people (youth included) experience those other cultures from the perspective of being the minority. And, of course, there’s is no uniform “black experience”. Certainly, it’s going to be different from a HBCU, for example. It’s also going to be different from more conservative, primarily white colleges/universities (think, Brigham Young as an example). UT is more of a melting pot of culture (and more tolerance) than a lot of other universities. It pulls from a multitude of cultures, sub-cultures, and socio-ethnic groups. While there is no question that black students are in the vast minority, it’s not particularly different from what a lot of black kids experience throughout their whole academic and social lives-- being the minority. And, Austin isn’t anything like most of the rest of Texas. In general, the ‘vibe’ is more relaxed, more open, more tolerant, than you’ll find throughout the rest of the Lonestar State, for certain.
I’m not talking about a utopia-- some magical place where black students never have to worry about cultural inequities, or judgment. I’m simply answering the question from a pragmatic viewpoint. Yes, I have been on UTs campus many, many times. Yes, I have spoken to many, many black students (present and past). My own student has had several opportunities to dorm with current (black) students. Utopia? Of course not. Normal… Pretty much.
@nomatter thanks for sharing those detailed thoughts. Circling back… culture shock is very real at UT for a black student as it would for any predominantly white institution. As you said, there is no uniform black student experience. However, my point was that it will be extremely challenging as well (relating it to UT Austin… a campus body of less 5% black).