<p>@ucbalumnus I was talking about the engineering school as a whole, absent OP’s preferences. But factoring those in, it does seem like there’s no real competition outside a few niche programs- or perhaps a full ride at someplace like A&M.</p>
<p>For the study-abroad thing and the OOS experience:</p>
<p>While only 5% of UT Austin students are OOS (compared to 11% at Berkeley and 50%+ at many elite privates), studying abroad is an option that UT Austin actively promotes. I know one professor who has a one-semester program in Austria (and the surrounding region) and you do get credit for what you do there; I’ve talked to a few engineering majors who went there and many didn’t add an extra year. Co-ops and working somewhere else for a semester (even abroad) is a very common experience at Cockrell from what I’ve heard. If OP wants, they can just do the study-abroad program and then stay in Austria and intern for a company. People have done so in the past.</p>