<p>I know 93% of the student body is from Texas so I'm sure most people already know a lot of other students when they get there because they're from their high school, etc... So do out of state students feel out of place because of this?
I'm from AZ (so I think the culture isn't very different) and I think I may go to UT Austin next year so I'm really wondering about this.</p>
<p>The UT administration recently posted a statistic that 7% of UT students have no friends… coincidence?</p>
<p>You’ll be fine. Why would people treat you differently just because you’re from out of state? Besides, no one will even know unless you go around with a sign on your back or something…</p>
<p>I’m from Virginia, which is quite far away, and have not once felt out of place here. It is actually nice, I find, to be from out of state because it automatically makes you a bit more interesting to people. Almost everyone I meet is from Texas, so it seems like a nice change to be able to say I’m from out of state. Of course, you will have to get used to people asking why you came to Texas from so far away and stuff.</p>
<p>Hey I’m an in-stater(?) and I feel out of place.
</p>
<p>lawl</p>
<p>My son gets a kick out of telling people, “I’m from Maine.” People tend to blink and try to recall if Maine is part of the US, lol! His comments to me have been along the lines of, “Mom, everybody is so friendly here! Kids come up and actually talk to me!” Coming from New England, his standard of “friendliness” is pretty low.</p>
<p>My D is from Texas but she has become very good friends with girls that live in her dorm from all over…California, Colorado, etc…I agree that if you are from out of state, you become more interesting…use it as an advantage!</p>
<p>Austin is a very open city.UT is a great school as far as for OOS student is concerned. I was at UT back in 1992 as postdoc working in Chemistry department. Not olny you have a lot of OOS, you will have a lot of international student as well. Go have fun.</p>
<p>The OSSA (Out of State Students Assn) has social activities but I think they do the same things that one does at social activities for other UT clubs…</p>
<p>People find OSS more interesting. So you are telling me people will “ignore” you since you are from Alaska or something? lol? Seems opposite to me.</p>
<p>… no you wont have trouble. People are from Hawaii, california, florida, oklahoma, from everywhere.</p>
<p>I’m a freshman (who’s from out of state) this year and I feel like a lot of kids hang out with their HS friends… Kids are cool if you talk to them but they’re not extremely outgoing, as in, it is rare for them to start a conversation with you. I think it also depends on your dorm and how social it is, if kids in your floor are outgoing and cool you’re good to go, whether your’re out of state or not.</p>
<p>I am an in-state students but none of my high school friends attended UT with me and I agree with robyroby. </p>
<p>Kids mostly stick with their high school friends and they don’t seem that outgoing to me, but perhaps it is because I am not outgoing either lol</p>
<p>Nah you’ll be fine. People here at pretty friendly and open. Half of the top 10% of my high school (class of over 800 kids) goes to UT, but most of the friends I hang out with now are new kids I have met at UT. Even back home in Houston, I hang out more with my friends from UT that live around Houston than my friends from high school.</p>
<p>I second what azn099 said. You’ll find that most people who are from Texas at UT diverge from their old high school friends. People grow apart, or you will simply meet new people with more things in common with you. I know many people from my HS who are at UT, and of all them, I only talk/hang out with one. I love my new friends, and some of the most interesting ones are the OSS students. So, don’t worry - most people aren’t still hanging out with their old friends here. College is a fresh start, and you’ll find that being OSS will make you even more appealing.</p>
<p>@VAlonghorngal
I’m form Maryland and you are so right people do ask “Why travel so far to go to collge?” all the time, but i do think it is harder to make friends when your an out of state student espicailly when your comming from the eastcoast. Texas folks are just so diffrent.</p>
<p>I’m from Texas and I hope to make friends with people from other states! Lots of people from HS are going (unfortunately!!) but I really want to meet new people. I hope to start over, not stay with the high school group. 
So being out of state is probably a huge plus, I wouldn’t worry about it at all!</p>
<p>As I already posted, my son has felt very welcome. He can’t believe how friendly everyone is! Much more so than in the northeast.</p>