<p>This will probably fall on deaf ears, but I wouldn’t want to go to UCI or UCD over UT-Austin even if the costs were the same. I’d probably also take UT-Austin over UCSD. With the cost differential, it’s a no-brainer.</p>
<p>I understand that the OP wants to get out of Texas and experience a different part of the country. And there’s something to be said for that. But it’s not worth tens of thousands of dollars in debt. You can always move to California later for work or grad school (where they pay you).</p>
<p>Moreover, given the state of the CA economy and the UC budget crisis, it’s not clear to me that enrolling at the UCs now (especially OOS) would be the wisest move. Keep in mind that if you do get accepted to the UCs, it may partially be due to the fact that the UCs need your OOS tuition. </p>
<p>Lastly, IIRC, UT-Austin has successfully recruited several faculty members from the UCs in recent years. UT-Austin just seems to be in a better financial situation than the UCs in general. It wouldn’t be completely surprising if in the foreseeable future UT-Austin could approach UC Berkeley/UCLA status because of the latter’s potential decline.</p>
<p>Now if you’re coming from a state with a relatively lackluster higher education system, then perhaps your return on investment may have a better chance of paying off. But from Texas of all places, your financial and educational strategy seems slightly irrational and bizarre.</p>