<p>There is already a thread about how awesome UT Austin is. (probably numerous threads)</p>
<p>We agree. My son has pretty much has his heart set on going to UT for awhile. It is just sooooo cool! He's pretty clear on what makes it so cool, and he already loves Austin.</p>
<p>But, to be realistic, it would be good to know the negative aspects too. Let's face it: every school has its downside, and even UT is not an exception.</p>
<p>From what I understand, the biggest negative about UT is its size. I've heard it's next to impossible to get first-choice classes. My son has recently discovered 'ratemyprofessor.com' and it's been really helpful in choosing classes for this spring, when he will be attending UTSA part-time (with the intention of transferring to Austin in the fall). </p>
<p>But, when he goes to UT, will he be likely stuck in classes with horrid teachers? or early morning classes? Just how difficult is it, really, to get the classes you want?</p>
<p>And the infamous 'red tape' - just how bad is it, really? I've heard students sometimes feel that they are slipping thru the cracks at this big machine.</p>
<p>I'd like to hear from current and past students. Give it to me straight, please, so that he can know the pros and cons, and just what it is he'd be getting into. Just anything that you think might be useful. It's pretty certain he will be going to UT, but it would be good to know as much about it as possible beforehand.</p>
<p>hmm well I'm not a current or past student (possible future) but I really do love the school. However, one of the main reasons I've opted to apply to quite a few private schools is the attention I will receive. Second hand info from friends that attend the school reveals that classes and the school can often be massive and impersonal. If your son can, he should definitely get into the Honors Program. If not, he should approach the school with a firm grasp on how to succeed in an environment of nearly 50k students.</p>
<p>I've gotten all of my first-choice classes at UT except one. This semester, I wanted to do 8AM classes. Last fall semester, I had classes starting at noon everyday. You need not worry about finding good class times, unless the field that your son wants to focus on is very specific - I imagine taking a course in something like Malayalam you'd be pretty limited on your choice of available times.</p>
<p>In my experience, the size of the school has been nothing but great for me. There are tons of options; I was able to get into a Turkish program, something none of the other universities I applied to could offer. Because of sites like PickAProf, I've been able to find great teachers because of the massive amounts of reviews for the teachers. As far as slipping through the cracks, I think this is sometimes very beneficial. Personally, I don't like receiving so much attention. I honestly feel much more comfortable as a number, where I won't be scolded for not knowing something, where I can just simply avoid some of the unpleasant people in the class, where most of the grading isn't just done completely arbitrarily. Professors who teach big classes are under the spotlight constantly - if they mess up, they are corrected. If students don't think a policy is fair, they'll say something about it. Core classes heavily lean towards multiple choice and some classes do easy quizzes to see if you're there. Some even do mandatory attendance, but it's very rare. I've only had two classes that were subjectively graded. Another nice part about the class sizes is that you know you're being graded by how much work you put into the course. You can't just try to charm the teacher and hope for extra points.</p>
<p>But honestly, you need not be concerned about getting shafted on classes. It's just a matter of finding your earliest registration time, and mashing buttons to try to make it into your classes. The classes that hand out easy A's and the classes with popular professors will definitely get taken more quickly, though. If this ends up becoming a problem, I suggest your son wait to take the classes he would really love to take until later on, like junior or senior year, when he will register earlier.</p>
<p>The bureaucracy of the school is nothing to be concerned about. What you get out of it depends on how much you put in. Believe me, things are alot less daunting once you actually become part of the university.</p>
<p>cynthizzle: 'red tape' is bureaucracy - the logistics of negotiating a behemoth school such as classes filling up quickly, having to jump thru hoops of protocol with very little human intervention, difficulty in switching majors or classes, etc....basically having to do things like a machine without much help as a human, if that makes any sense. Smaller schools are able to provide more personal attention, whereas larger institutions tend to have more rules.</p>
<p>APX, thanks for sharing your experience. There is always so much value placed on 'small classes' that it is refreshing to hear another perspective. And I'm glad to hear that getting your preferred classes is not that big of a struggle.</p>
<p>I went there and I taught there. The undergraduate experience is not great. The world class faculty is there to publish and do research. Teaching undergrads is an annoying side job for much of the faculty. Sad but true. Your kid needs to be highly motivated to seek out help and fend for him/herself to be successful as an undergrad at UT. They are working on the "freshman experience" at UT but have a long, long way to go. As I evaluate whether I want to send my child there, it's a classic dilemma: quality experience vs. quality reputation. There are many smaller, lesser known schools that do a better job of teaching undergrads.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, lucky. My son will be going to UTSA part-time this spring. He was homeschooled and started SAC as a dual-credit student in 10th grade, so he would be applying to UT as a transfer. We thought that UTSA would be a good transition for him, then go to UT in the fall. But now we're having second thoughts. I know UTSA has nowhere near the prestigious reputation, but the classes are smaller, and he could switch majors much more easily, get the classes he wants more easily, etc. UTSA made a very good case that their classes are 'just as hard' as UT's. That's what they claimed at the tour. They made it very clear that the classes were just as high quality. I'm wondering if this is true, or is it just sales pitch?</p>
<p>Thanks for the great perspective. I'm kind of curious as to what department you taught in or are familiar with. I have heard varying responses regarding professors and their stance towards undergrads. It has been my experience that atleast in the College of Liberal Arts and the business school, the professors are there to teach the undergraduate students. I have had a finance professor in the business school tell me that the number one requested teaching positions in the business school are teaching undergraduate classes, especially in the honors program. In discussions with many of my professors (again, cola & mccombs), they have made it clear to me that research is not why they are professors. They enjoy teaching, and that is why they are professors.</p>
<p>Now, I have heard very different things from my friends that are in natural sciences and the engineering school. Many times, they have told me how their professors don't like teaching undergrads at all and are there just to do research. Research is their priority and teaching undergrads is a nuisance.</p>
<p>As for the "freshman experience," I would argue that students get a great freshman experience if they enroll in one of the several honors programs. The honors programs do a wonderful job of creating a freshman experience and building a community of students. As for university wide (non-honors), there are some problems and a comprehensive 'freshman experience' is not being created. They are trying to fix this. Professor Woodruff (former Plan II director) has been named Dean of undergraduate studies and has been tasked with revamping the general curriculum in order to create a 'freshman experience.'</p>
<p>Even with these efforts, it will still be several years before any changes are actually implemented. I have been very happy at my experience at UT thus far. The professors have been great and the honors programs are absolutely wonderful. Actually, my only gripe with UT is the city of Austin. It's a great college city, lots of fun, but I just get tired of it every now and then. I need breaks from Austin (and am enjoying one right now). Don't worry though, I'll be ready to return come the first week in January.</p>
<p>That's a very good point that there is a distinction between liberal arts & business vs sciences/engineering. It makes sense that the science profs are more interested in research.</p>
<p>I read most of that article you posted, but I'm still not exactly sure what is meant by a 'freshman experience.' My son has already been in cc (dual credit) so would be applying as a transfer. He'll have soph. status, but other than that would really be a freshman, in terms of age and experience. If he doesn't do honors, what will he be missing out on? I'm mostly concerned about social opportunities.</p>
<p>As for the 'freshman experience,' I don't think your son will miss out much by transferring as a sophomore. I would advise him to live in on campus dorms his first year so that he has better chances of meeting people and making friends. This is the freshman experience that I am referring to when I am describing the difference between the honors programs and the general freshman population. The honors programs specifically try to connect the students and build a community of individuals who live together (or in close proximity) and take similar classes. They want us to be in classes with familiar people throughout the entire four years.</p>
<p>While I don't think the 'freshman experience' that Woodruff is referring to will ever replace the small honors programs in building a social community, it is designed to give all students a common experience through one or two signature classes shared by all freshman across the university. The idea is that if we all take the same classes and are exposed to the same ideas, we will be able to build a community of minds even if we weren't in the same class together. I'm kind of skeptical to how well this will work, but I do think it is a step in the right direction.</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any other questions.</p>
<p>Actually, I did teach in the business school, at a time when 3 of the best teaching professors were let go because they did not publish enough. So the pressure to publish is as huge in the b-school as it is in the sciences. Teaching takes time away from that. It's a classic problem, not unique to UT. That doesnt make UT a bad place to go to school. Like many schools, the experience gets better and better as you get to your junior and senior level classes. In every department campus wide, there are profs who love to teach and those who don't. A smart undergrad will "shop" for the best profs, and carve out the best experience he/she can. About UTSA. I have heard great things about it, mostly the location and nice campus, but I question how rigorous the classes can be when their admissions standards are so low? I don't think I have seen any other school on collegeboard.com with lower score ranges.. 450-560 for middle 50%SAT - 18-23 SAT? The intellect of your peers is part of the experience,( not to say that standardized tests are always the best measure of that), but something to consider anyway.. Many students around here are using UTSA as a gateway to UT and other schools, as lealdragons son is. Seems like a good idea. Making it throught the freshman year with a positive experience is SO important. The smaller size and personal attention at UTSA, and professors who probably do care much more about teaching would probably make that transition much easier. I don't claim to have any answers..we struggle daily here with whether school reputation should drive choice. Having been out in the working world for 20+ years I know it is a very important factor...but there are many others..including field of study, individual child's needs etc. good luck to all of you!</p>
<p>I am not a current/past UT student but I have grown up my entire life around the university. While the size is definitely one thing that people complain about at UT, it's also one of the things that makes the social experience at UT so great. People worry that they'll always run into the same people they knew in high school, but that usually never happens without effort to see one another. </p>
<p>One option that your son might pursue is the Plan II Honors program. I know 3 or 4 people who are in that program right now and they say that you do receive individual attention that you wouldn't receive if you were just in the school of Liberal Arts. Admissions is pretty selective for Plan II, but I think he might want to check it out. </p>
<p>About UTSA- I don't know about the validity of the statement that classes at UTSA are just as hard as classes at UT. From what I've heard and observed about UTSA, a lot of people there are only there with hopes of transferring to UT-Austin. I know that the social life at UTSA is somewhat disjointed and that nobody seems to want to be on or around campus unless they have to be. However, it's a great option for getting a solid GPA before transferring to UT. I don't know if your son could just start at UT-Austin as a freshman, but coming from someone who has a lot of friends at both schools, I would definitely choose UT-Austin first.</p>
<p>My son has to apply as a transfer, so that rules out 'starting' at UT. He's been going to SAC since 10th grade (he was homeschooled). He definitely outgrew SAC - no intellectual stimulation from the other students - and we thought UTSA would be a good transition for his attending UT in the fall. But after going thru the orientation at UTSA, naturally some of their sales pitch rubbed off a bit. I try to always keep an open mind so I don't want to make any assumptions.</p>
<p>He came home from the Engineering Honors Colloquium at UT last summer all excited about PLAN II. I really thought he'd have a decent shot of getting in, but then I found out that it is virtually impossible to get accepted as a transfer to PLAN II - they only accept 1 or 2 transfers and usually they are from prestigious universities.</p>