<p>I was just kidding! I think it's funny that my kids try to use wikipedia as sources on reports when the teachers say it's a big NO! :)</p>
<p>Timely:
I agree with you!
Let UT be for the Texas kids!</p>
<p>Texas is most certainly NOT the Ivy of Texas. That title should belong to Rice alone (and maybe SMU or TCU).</p>
<p>UT is a good school but being a research university I question the “academics” aspect everyday as a student. To me, a good school should be one that puts its students ahead of all other goals and tries to educate them in the best possible manner. Apparently, UT cares more about prestige and being ranked in maagzines rather then actually invest in improving the overall academic expierence of its students.</p>
<p>Iv’e ehard from professors and even some staff members who have told me that UT’s main goal is to attract the best minds and researchers and attract grants and other forms of funding. They could give a $hit about the students.</p>
<p>From my personal expierences, I learned a hell of a lot more when I was at UTSA then I did at UT thus far. Most of my classes, it was the TAs who made are tests and quizzes and sometimes my professors would not show up because they were away at a meeting or giving a lecture at another institution and me and my classmates had to learn from grad level TAs. This is NOT what I expected but apparently its the norm here.</p>
<p>I think UT is overrated, agree with me or not, call me an idiot or a hater but thats what Iv’e concluded. I know I went way off topic but thats just what I feel about UT.</p>
<p>There is no way mediocre schools like TCU or SMU should ever been considered an Ivy of Texas.</p>
<p>This school is catered to the lowest common denominator. Until it starts taking seriously its desire to be elite, then it will continue to suffer in reputation. If Texas becomes on-par with UVA, Berkeley, Michigan, then maybe it can claim Public Ivy…at that point they wouldn’t even care about such a stupid title because they could claim Top Public university. When UCSB and UCI have surpassed you in the past few years (5th and 6th in their own state) then you have a host of issues that need resolution before you think about Public Ivy.</p>
<p>If you are interested in learning, you must get into an honors programs or you will have to share classes with idiots, take multiple choice tests because teachers don’t have time to review anything longer than that, and be given a curve of 80 or 85% = A. When I can disregard material all semester long and decide to cram 2 or 1 days before an exam and still make out classes with an A, something is wrong with the other students in the class and the method.</p>
<p>I don’t think it really matter if UT is the “Ivy of Texas.” Ivy League schools are Old Boys Club style schools all in the Northeast, the heart of the US until the 1900s.</p>
<p>UT has a solid reputation if the Southwest. But we don’t get as much recognition outside of our region, partly because of our location. I’ve lived in the Midwest for awhile, and people definitely consider UT to be a decent school even in Madison and Ann Arbor, but definitely not as much as recognition as it does in Texas.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, it’s the school’s fit for you that really matters. UT has a good combination of academics and social life, mixed in with a great town, it’s a hard combination to beat in Texas. If you prefer the prestige, Rice probably will be a better fit for you.</p>
<p>“The effort to create a “Southern Ivy League” conference originated during the 1950s. Harvie Branscomb, then-chancellor at Vanderbilt University, originally attempted to establish a rivalry between Vanderbilt and traditional Ivy League schools to foster relationships with academically-oriented schools. The school followed through on this effort and played a game against Yale in October 1948. However, after Vanderbilt shut out the Bulldogs, 35-0, Yale said they no longer wanted to play Vanderbilt. This caused Branscomb to call a meeting with the presidents of other Southern private universities in the late 1950s — Southern Methodist University (SMU), Rice University, Duke University, and Tulane University — where Branscomb suggested they try to establish a new sports conference where small, academically inclined private schools could compete.”</p>
<p>Ut is a great school. No doubt. Private though - which typically doesn’t earn the title of an IVY League school. It is considered public Ivy. The schools listed above are/were associated with Southern Ivy. </p>
<p>It’s really not an opinion. The schools considered southern IVY were those asked to join the conference. The list is by no means definite, but it gives you a good idea of private schools in the south with great academics.</p>
<p>Schools Associated with Southern Ivy:
College of William and Mary
Duke University
Emory University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Rice University
Southern Methodist University
Tulane University
Wake Forest University
Vanderbilt University
University of Virginia</p>
<p>William and Mary, University of North Carolina and University of Virginia are all public universities</p>
<p>Typically. You’re right … apparently some are public. But, like I said, typically Ivy League is assoiated with private universities.</p>
<p>“If you are interested in learning, you must get into an honors programs or you will have to share classes with idiots, take multiple choice tests because teachers don’t have time to review anything longer than that, and be given a curve of 80 or 85% = A. When I can disregard material all semester long and decide to cram 2 or 1 days before an exam and still make out classes with an A, something is wrong with the other students in the class and the method.”
- TXhorn</p>
<p>I agree with TXhorn here. I’m in the top 3% of my class and I’m applying to both Rice and UT. I know there are quite a few people who don’t take school as seriously as I do so that’s why I’m applying to the Honors Program at UT to get an education as close to Rice as possible. I’m iffy about whether or not I’m going to make it into Rice, but if I do, I’m only going to go there if I get any scholarships. I really wish I could go to Rice because its undergrad education is top notch but money is the big issue for me. I’m sure UT is great and all but I’m just going to hope I get into the Honors program so I won’t be so miserable sitting in a huge classroom full of party-crazy frat/sorority idiots. No offense to anyone in Greek life. I’m just not a fan of all that.</p>
<p>The Greek GPA is higher than the all-University GPA, just fyi.</p>
<p>I am in the business school, and not in the honors program. I do not feel like my classes are of any lower academic standard, mainly because the business program itself is very difficult to get into. There are plenty of people I know who actually did not get into UT’s McCombs schools and decided to go to Rice instead, where they were accepted with honors or whatever, if they have that there.</p>
<p>And yeah, greek life is not what you think it is at all.</p>
<p>I don’t think UT will ever be a prestigious university on the level of Berkeley or UVA, because almost half the graduates aren’t in scholarly fields- that is, in sciences, liberal arts, or engineering.</p>
<p>Far too many people at UT get degrees in communications and business and other silly fields like home economics (or, as its called now, human ecology) among many others that require no intellectual rigor or abstract cognition, as would be developed through mathematics or intense expository writing over a formal body knowledge.</p>
<p>While Berkeley and UVA have jock and pre-MRS. majors also, they’re much smaller.</p>
<p>“There are plenty of people I know who actually did not get into UT’s McCombs schools and decided to go to Rice instead, where they were accepted with honors or whatever, if they have that there.”</p>
<p>How do you know people that decided to go to Rice instead, and were accepted with honors “or whatever,” if you don’t even know if they have that there?</p>
<p>I don’t remember what exactly my friend said, but he mentioned not getting into McCombs and instead getting into some good program at Rice and going there instead. He also got more scholarship money to Rice so it was cheaper.</p>
<p>I was just trying to make the point that just because it’s a state school that doesn’t mean UT is worse academically.</p>
<p>I really believe this school can equal W&M and UNC at the very least. But I do not have any hope of this given the current standards of the school.</p>
<p>IMO, I could care less if UT - Austin is ranked as a “top tier” public school. The goal of a university is to prepare its students for the real world and assist them in finding a job. It should also be a place where students can hone in on there skills and explore new fields. </p>
<p>However, after spending a semester here, I feel like I’m being cheated out of a quality education (maybe its the classes I’m taking). Take Calculus for example, a typical weed-out course. Rather then taking the time to teach the material, most of the professors (who are foregin and can’t speak a lick of english) are busy researching. The university should hire professors who can teach math and not those who are famous or have won medals and awards in that field.</p>
<p>Also, advisors need to do a better job of advising rather then pulling out a degree plan and telling you take these courses, and this, and this, etc etc. For example, when I was at UTSA my advisors helped me pick courses I would do well in and told me not to take certain courses because I was weak in that area. Over at UT, my advisors didn’t do that and to make matters worse I was forced to register late (being a CAP Student) and I got signed up for some really tough classes that I struggle in even through I put in the time and effort.</p>
<p>Man, all this talk about bad advisors and professors always gone makes me kinda discouraged about going to UT Austin…
I hope I do not end up having the same experience as you, AAli4Real.<br>
Can anyone tell me about their experience in the School of Natural Sciences? I looked at the classes they offer for Bio and I really like what I see!<br>
I’m planning on doing Pre-Med, so is the Health Professions Office any good or are they rude etc?</p>
<p>I feel discouraged too. The bad thing is that my other choices have the potential to be much worse 
(Arizona, Florida, etc)</p>
<p>Don’t be discouraged guys but if your in the CAP Program and you get the short end of the stick SPEAK UP!</p>
<p>I just hate the fact that UTs size in increasing yet there making cuts to staff so they hire award-winning professors. Hell, soon enough we might have to take classes with 600 people in it!</p>
<p>The advisors are absolutely terrible. I had 3 (within the same major) because they move you around all over and one of them quit and the one that came into replace had no idea what was going on with academic path. The advisors are absolutely clueless as to anything that a person in a certain track or interest should be taking. Basically, they are there to tell you what’s on a paper with requirements for graduation…as if you can’t figure it out on your own. </p>
<p>I have no problem at all with the professors. If you want simply teachers then you can get that anywhere; the desire for researchers at the top of the field is what can help make this school one of the best and most recognized worldwide. I don’t even have a concern for “weed-out” courses. The problem to me is that the classes are far too big and the homework and tests in many of the classes are not rigorous enough because it is dumbed down for the common student in the courses. For example, multiple choice Calculus, physics, and chemistry tests. How can that be??? Classes like Children’s literature and “personal and family finance” are considered “Upper-division” classes! Neither of which require pre-requisities. I would prefer they kick out of school every last laggard that can’t perform throughout their college career than graduate with a degree that’s seen as equal. Some texas exes brochure that they sent out to me says they are interested in retaining the VALUE of our degree for years to come. I cannot help but laugh at that notion. The school is catered to serve the state of Texas more than it cares to be a World-Class institution</p>