<p>Even before high school, my best friend and I were kind of planning on going to the same college. As time passed and apps were being filled out, we landed on UT as our top/dream school. Neither of us have been there, but just from doing research I can tell that we would both love it there. Anyways, two nights ago I get a text from him reading "I didn't get in". I hopped on UTdirect and was amazed when I saw that I had gotten in. Living in CA, I knew we had a very slim chance. </p>
<p>This puts me in a difficult situation so I talked to my friend about a few options and I would like to know what you guys think. Its a hard decision to make because we are in a band together (and this just be my seventeen year old naievety speaking) but I really think we could make something out of this. We have a few songs written and I'm planning to record soon (home recorded, but with semi-pro equipment.)</p>
<p>Here are the options, if I choose to go to UT (I still want to see all of my schools and make a choice then, but there is a 75% chance I go to UT)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>He could go to a UC and then transfer</p></li>
<li><p>We could both go to another school</p></li>
<li><p>I'm not sure if this is possible, but could he live in Austin and go to Austin CC and then transfer over?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I don’t know if you’ll find many people agreeing with the pact-college is about me not we. But if you want, ut does do transfers so make sure he goes to a cc or college where he can do well the first year</p>
<p>But if this is only to be together, does that mean it’s the smartest decision for you?</p>
<p>A year will fly by and if you sacrifice your dream school to be with your best friend you may end up regretting it. He/she can always transfer after 1 year at a UC and you will both win </p>
<p>Trust your gut instinct though. Make a pro and con list and figure out if your friend is worth it… But just realize, going to UT is not a chance you may get again and your friend will always be there</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I would like to get the best of both worlds by going to UT and have my friend there with me, so I think option 3 is the best. But would he be able to easily go to Austin CC if we live in California? Does that factor in to anything?</p>
<p>While I think your loyalty is noble, I think you have to do what is best for you. If UT is your dream school, and you worked hard enough to get yourself admitted, you should go. As a So Cal. dad, with a happy daughter at UT, I can tell you it is a great place. With Ca. past Governator, and now Jerry Brown…UC’s are going to continue to suffer tragically from cuts. it is nearly impossible to graduate in 4 years now. While Texas is sure to get some cuts, they are not as bad as CA.
If your friend really wants to be with you, let him/her make the sacrifice. They can go to ACC, and live with you in a private dorm right by campus. I know that University Towers will let ACC students live there. My D lived there her Freshman year. She loved it. It is two blocks from campus, and has over 750 Freshman living there. It is a party dorm, and is very greek. Your friend would live among UT students, and be hanging with you. Your friend would also save a ton of money on tuition. After one or two years, with a good GPA, they can transfer. Their education will be cheaper than yours. You get to go to your dream, your friend saves money, you stay together, and hang in the best city for live music. Seems kind of obvious to me. </p>
<p>BTW, you can establish instate residency after one year, and save money.</p>
<p>Spending a year at ACC and then transfering to UT is definitely a viable option. ACC is the biggest transfer feeder system into UT. A lot of first-year students at UT do not return for a second year, which creates space in the sophomore class that wasn’t there a year earlier.</p>
<p>After hearing all of this me not going to UT isnt an option, unless of course I visit my schools and fall in love with one other then UT, which probably won’t happen. I have talked to him about all of this and he seems open to going to ACC, which I think is the best option too. Also the money thing is great for him because he would need some financial aid if going to UT directly. He is actually going to come with me when I visit UT and Austin next month, so hopefully he likes it and is willing to go to ACC. Thanks for all of your responses, I’ll take more info if anybody has it. </p>
<p>Does anybody know the process to go to ACC? Would he have to sign up a long time in advance?</p>
<p>@socaldad</p>
<p>I live in SoCal too! Loving this rain right now… How’s the weather in TX compared to here? I live by the beach so it is usually 60-70 all year and 70-80 in the summer. I know that it will be a little hotter, but I hope it isn’t that big of a change.</p>
<p>Jettski…I beleive that almost all of the private dorms allow ACC students to live in them. Most likely all your friend would have to do is prove his enrollment at ACC. I would not give up your dream…the cool thing about Austin is that it is heavy into the music scene and seems like it would be a great environment for aspiring musicians. Good Luck!</p>
<p>As for the weather difference…Austin is really hot and humid in the summer and fall. You need a shower ten minutes after getting out. It is quite different than the arrid So Cal. heat.</p>
<p>As for winter, it gets a bit colder down there. While winters are generally 10-15 degrees cooler than in LA, they can drop in to the 40’s down there. Once a year you might even get a dusting of snow. Overall, the wather is very good. You will love Austin.</p>
<p>yeah, when looking at the overall city, Austin is really the perfect place for both of us to be. </p>
<p>Thanks for the info everyone. I have been researching private dorms and can’t seem to find one that is good. Is the best choice of action just to visit them all when I go to Auatin next month? Do most places allow you to just take a little tour of the rooms/building like that?</p>
<p>And what about the school dorms? Do they give tours there too? If the school dorms are much better than the private ones, I might stay there while my friend stays at a private dorm. </p>
<p>Do more people live at private dorms over school dorms? I read that only 20% of undergrads live on campus. As a freshman, would it benefit me to stay on campus?</p>
<p>As a freshman, I would definitley live in a dorm. It will be much easier to meet others, expecially since you are from out of state. I would also tour as many dorms as you can while you are in Austin. The most popular private dorms that are co-ed are Doby, Castillian, and Towers. You should be able to see a room and the common areas. Are you planning to take a formal tour of the campus? If so, you should be able to see some on-campus dorms during that tour. You will need to sign up for it. Good luck!</p>
<p>Yeah, I am pretty sure that we will do a formal tour. I’m definitely staying in a dorm for freshman year, but I was wondering if living in a private dorm will somewhat remove me from the social aspect of school and I was wondering if I lived on campus I would be more inclined to go to parties and meet people.</p>
<p>UT has over 38,000 undergrads, and has on-campus housing for about 7000. The overwhemling majority of UT students live off-campus and have off-campus jobs.</p>
<p>There are private dorms like Dobie and the Castillian across one street or another from UT. There are also apartment complexes sometimes 8 - 10 miles north or south of campus that are heavily populated with students, and UT runs a free shuttle bus service to these areas of town (free = paid for by student fees).</p>
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