<p>There are at least two compelling reasons not to go to UT-Austin that would justify paying a much higher price elsewhere. 1. UT-Austin isn’t particularly good in your chosen major or doesn’t have the connections you need to succeed. I don’t think that’s the case here. 2. You are the type of student who wouldn’t do well in the large classes likely to be found at UT-Austin. If you prefer or need a more LAC-like environment and your parents could afford it, it might be worth making the move.</p>
<p>I’m hard pressed to come up with other reasons, although I’m certain they exist. If you got merit-based scholarships and they made the other schools only slightly more expensive, that would be easier to justify.</p>