<p>I attend BU and its an outstanding environment. Boston is an unreal city and internship opportunities are tops. We have a campus just don't drive along Com. Ave and think thats it. All of these are new: The Student Village, Life Sciences, Arena, Rec Ctr., Plot. Lab. and SMG building and make it more of an inner campus setting with cafes and grassy areas along the river and the brownstone areas on BSR. Its urban, no doubt, but it still feels like a campus especially the West Campus area. I don't care about magazine rankings. I wanted an excellent program but the lifestyle of Boston was an important factor. Three great schools so pick what feels like the best fit for you. You have to live here for four years.</p>
<p>I don't know a thing about RPI, but the others I do.</p>
<p>BU is a different sort of place. A very unconventional, urban campus, "parked" right alongside the "T" transit line, just a few blocks from the epicenter of New England, Fenway Park.
UT, on the other hand, is not a conventional campus, either. The city has grown up around it, and it feels cramped, confining, compared to most college campuses. In essence, the university's growth has ruined what was once a beautiful campus. The enrollment is huge, of course, and it's somewhat intimidating for freshmen who didn't go to a huge high school.
Austin is Austin. If you want to drink your four years away, follow Willie Nelson's advice and get smashed at UT. But BU is in Boston, one of America's great cities. At UT, you'll meet people in bars who want to talk about...duh....duh...the Longhorns football team! At BU, you'll meet people in bars who, sure, like the Red Sox, but they're also likely to be from Harvard, MIT or BC, and they'll engage you.
For an educational experience, I'd go to BU. For a margarita, I'd go to UT.
You asked about the tennis team. If you're not going to UT on scholarship, forget about walking on. Ain't gonna happen.</p>
<p>Oh c'mon, UT is more than a margarita. What a joke of a post.</p>
<p>Ok, I have just came back from my trip to Austin (and from Boston to Austin). The social enviroment really impressed me in UT and I have to admit that UT's school spirit is far, far superior than any other schools that I visited. However, Austin is very,very,very hot between Feb. and Sep., which is a downfall for UT.</p>
<p>Academic wise, after I visited BU last Friday, I was also impressed by its BME program, especially where BU is located (around hospitals & large biomedical corps.) The BME program in UT is also good, but I had the feeling that it's still under development. The only part of UT BME program that I liked is that they give more chance for students to do research, intern, etc. which is a very important part of BME major...</p>
<p>So, i'm in a huge dilemma now b/c I really love UT, but BU would for sure give me a better education on BME... and there's always RPI. But for now, its on the bottom of my list.</p>
<p>Shoe66 --- Yes, I also saw the UT tennis team practice. Comparing their tennis skills to mine...made me feel like a little junior tennis player :(. However, I can always have a shot at BU's tennis team. So, i'd have a better shot @ making the team in BU. But i do believe that i might (as little as the chance is) make the UT team in... say my junior/senior year in college. Plus, the tennis program, whether intermural or Div. 1 tennis in UT is definitely superior when comparing to that of BU.</p>
<p>kcirsch, </p>
<p>I was giving Pikachusbutt my honest opinion, and it comes first-hand from recent personal observations, family members who have attended both schools and an unbiased third-party perspective. I have no axe to grind against UT. You, on the other hand, apparently are going to school there, so I would expect your viewpoint to be skewed. </p>
<p>I would urge Pikachusbutt to just continue to ask around. I'm sure the consensus will say that Texas-Austin is more attractive from a social standpoint and BU is superior academically. Ever since (because its campus was bursting at the seams) UT imposed more stringent entrance qualifications, the UT people seem to think they're Harvard on the Prairie.</p>
<p>Texas weather is completely crazy. Last week is was 100 degrees. 2 days ago, it was 50 degrees. But I'd take it over Boston blizzards any day. </p>
<p>BU isn't really above UT academically - they both have their strengths, and UT wins by a mile in business, law, and some engineering majors, and BU wins in communications and some other engineering majors, I believe.</p>
<p>And I'm not so biased - BU and UT are the 2 schools I got into.</p>
<p>Ok, I just got call from Rice U. that I was taken off waitlist this afternoon... O gosh, they just made things more complicated...</p>
<p>well where did you enroll before you got into rice?</p>
<p>sorry kcirsch, to your dismal, I sent 650 dollars to BU as enrollment deposit. Dont get me wrong, I loved UT, but pressure from family and after careful consideration.... I chose BU over UT.</p>
<p>BU is a good school, and boston is a great town, I don't think you made a bad choice. congrats!</p>