<p>I am already in at UTD and TAMU. At UTD I would have a full scholarship. I have not applied to OU but I would get in and get the scholarship that pulls the cost to be the same as in-state. I have not applied to UT Austin and I am just outside the automatic admit range, but my GC says she really thinks I have a good chance getting in there. If I get in to Plan 2 there, I would possibly get a scholarship. I cannot afford UTAustin without financial aid or scholarships. I also cannot afford TAMU without it.</p>
<p>I was thinking of visiting OU when I have a day off school coming up soon. But I am wondering if that is a waste. Everyone at my school says I would be a fool to go to OU if I already got in to TAMU. And when I mentioned we might not be able to afford TAMU and that OU is $5k a year less, I have been told that the earning potential after graduating from TAMU is high enough that it would quickly make up for that $5K a year. </p>
<p>I do not know my major other than that I have already taken AP Physics and AP Math AB/BC and earned high A's. I am currently in AP chemistry and am in negotiations with my parents to add a dual enrollment math class since I have finished all that my school offers. I prefer physics to chemistry. The AP Physics was just B as our school does not offer C. </p>
<p>Should I visit OU? It is not like OU is across the street and I can run over there when it is not likely to work out. It is still a few hour drive each way with my parents having to take the day off to take me. So I don't want to go if it is not likely to be for me.</p>
<p>Also, it has been suggested that if I do not get the scholarships/Financial aid that I need at TAMU or UTAustin, then I could start at UTD and then move to one of those schools for the last two years.</p>
<p>I think a full ride at UTD is a great deal, no point in taking out loans for A&M/UT when you can get your degree for free. Many people in Houston elect to go to UH over A&M/UT for that reason.</p>
<p>The key with A&M is making sure that it’s a good cultural fit for you. It’s one of those schools that can have a rather stifling culture for someone who doesn’t fit in. It’s not like most large public universities where there’s a little bit of everything, and everyone can find their niche and group.</p>
<p>I actually do not think I would fit in at TAMU. I cannot stand football. I have been there a number of times and unlike UT Austin, where, even though it is a big football school, there are still a lot of people who are just intellectually curious. </p>
<p>I am a white girl. But, a thing that has been said about me is…my boyfriend is Chinese…and people have said that I am a Chinese girl with a white girl face. I actually feel like I would not like being in a place with a low Asian population. That is not meant to sound as bad as it does. But most of my friends have been Asian (Chinese to be specific, I used to even go to a Chinese church on occasion with my best friend in grade school). My parents have always been very strict and have had high academic expectations for me academically. And I am very serious, and I seem to often not get other peoples jokes. But, they don’t get mine. I guess I am not very funny. That is not the point though. This post is terrible. Hopefully I have managed to say what I tried to say.</p>
<p>First, TAMU won’t get you any better salary than OU. But If you can’t stand football then UTD is your best bet (OU is the same at TAMU and UT in that regard).</p>
<p>A&M is a lot like Miami of Ohio. If you think you won’t fit in, you definitely won’t fit in. Both schools are littered with kids who thought they would be able to find some niche outside the mainstream yet ultimately transferred out because they found out the hard way that the student body really is that homogeneous and stifling.</p>
<p>I think everyone is forgetting something very important. OP is from Texas. Telling people from Texas that you are even thinking about OU is like a neutral New Yorker asking Yankees fans what they think about you rooting for the Mets or Red Sox next season. You aren’t going to get a rational answer.</p>
<p>If you think there’s any chance that OU might be the right school, go take a look, regardless of what everyone else around you thinks. They aren’t going to approve. But that makes no difference, if you like it, you like it, and if the money works, you go. A few hours invested, even if you get a negative answer, is a small price to pay when you’re talking about the next four years of your life, and the rest of your life after that.</p>
<p>Just an observation, but based on your description of yourself and your comments on all the schools, these just sound like the wrong schools for you, and completely the wrong type. I know you have financial restrictions, many on the board do, but perhaps you should post a more complete bio and what you’re looking for in a school and see what some people come up with for you. Large state schools just don’t sound like a good fit, other than they’re affordable.</p>
<p>I think it ultimately depends on where you feel like you fit in. I have potential for a really good scholarship to UNM and decided to go ahead and spend the money visiting. I’m glad I did, because I realized that I wouldn’t be happy there.
I would take the time and visit OU. (Also, I’m from Texas and a ton of people go to OU and there isn’t any animosity that I’ve seen or heard!)
Best of luck!</p>
Not sure if I agree with that. A&M is in a very small, isolated college town while OU is somewhat similar to UT in that the city it’s located isn’t solely devoted to college students. I’ve only been to one OU game and still find plenty to do on the weekends that doesn’t involve football (although the free food from tailgating is awesome).</p>
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How do institutions as varied as UTD, OU, A&M, and possibly UT Austin seem like the wrong fit for the OP?</p>
<p>You should consider visiting OU - Someone is pulling your leg to tell you that the earnings potential of a TAMU grad is so much greater than an OU grad - They are both highly respected state schools and the grads make very good money coming out of either institution.</p>
<p>UTD has a very high percentage of Asians (probably 35%+? counting Asian Americans and Internationals–most internationals at UTD are Asians). And no football team.<br>
With a full scholarship this looks like a no-brainer. Another nice thing about UTD is that all of the dorms are new, all suite-style, with 3 single bedrooms/1 bath/small living area. Yes, everyone gets their own bedrooms.</p>