<p>Hey guys! I live in Southern California and always thought my dream school was SLO. I love the little town and that it is only a four hour drive away from my house. However, I recently visited UT in Austin and fell in love! Do you guys know anything about the schools that may help my decision?! Should I go to Texas or stay in CA?</p>
<p>Depends what your major is?</p>
<p>What are you majoring in? What do you look for in a school? How much are you willing to pay?</p>
<p>Check this out: <a href=“Before you ask which colleges to apply to, please consider - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1621234-before-you-ask-which-colleges-to-apply-to-please-consider.html</a></p>
<p>These two schools are completely different. We need a lot more information before we can help you. You said you fell in love with UT Austin. What characteristics of UT do you like? What characteristics of SLO do you like?</p>
<p>I’ll assume that you have the stats to get into both. As a California resident Cal Poly is an incredible bargain for you, while UT Austin will be nearly as expensive as elite private colleges. Assuming finances are not an issue for and you’re not expecting financial aid, there really aren’t many dimensions in which Cal Poly trumps UT Austin. Perhaps weather and the relative quaintness and safety of the location. SLO is very much an upper middle class small city. Austin is however larger, diverse, with a strong music scene, gateway to horse country, capital of Texas, and surprisingly liberal. The academics at UT Austin are two or three notches above those at Cal Poly. A better comparison is UCLA and UT Austin.</p>