I have two schools on my plate, Texas A&M and UT, to chose between and I need some help weighing priorities. There’s a third school, but it’s really expensive and I haven’t visited yet, so I’m pretty sure it won’t make the cut. My major is environmental science.
Texas A&M
I did a program there last summer and it was amazing. The professors were really great people who cared about us and their field. I feel like I would do very well academically. They have amazing study abroad programs in my field in my desired locations as well as really cool research. I have scholarships, I’m in the honors program, and I already know a professor in my department who really looks out for me and even got me a first year scholarship. He’s awesome. It all sounds amazing. However, I have a lot reservations about the school outside of class. I am a queer lady and very left wing political activist. I also am a writer and A&M’s creative writing program just doesn’t cut it compared to UT. I also worry about being in such a small town, as I really consider myself to be more of a city dweller. Everyone from my high school goes there. I don’t know what sort of pact they made, but they’ve outdone themselves in creating high school part 2. I am a marching band kid and it’s a really big disadvantage that I can’t be in their band, and their other ensembles aren’t that great. Basically it’s the perfect school for me, but doesn’t offer the life I want.
UT
First thing’s fist, my dad does not want me to go here. It’s a big source of conflict for us. Aside from that, this school totally foreign to me. My major is very small and highly praised, so I have no worries there. I am more concerned about intro classes (as I will be in the 300 person classes since the college of geoscience doesn’t have an honors program for freshmen) and passing off my physics and cal reqs. I also am weary of getting to do research. I spoke with a professor who assured me it would be fine and there are abundant opportunities, and I believe him. I just worry about having zero connections and approaching professors when I’m in these huge classes. Socially, however, it’s perfect. Plenty queer support, Austin is amazing, writing programs are awesome, and their marching band is great. I have no doubts I would be very happy there. I just don’t know what kind of name I could make for myself academically.
I’m so conflicted. I think at the end of the day I would be just fine at either, but I really just want to set myself up for as much success as possible. Any opinions are welcome. Thanks!
Hm… Do you think that maybe Texas A&M would be more doable socially if you’re in the honors program, and spending time around those people? Also, are you looking at creative writing as a hobby, or something you seriously want to pursue in the future? Because if your main objective is environmental science stuff, you might be better off going somewhere where you’ll get a lot of academic support for that and can just work on your writing as a hobby. I know it doesn’t sound as fun, but it’s something to consider.
I would go to UT Austin as it sounds like it’s a better social and academic fit. Geology classes are generally quite small, field work intensive (meaning excellent opportunities for connections with professors), and have a ton of labs which are often partially led by the professors.
I wouldn’t worry about not being able to get research positions although you may have to wait until the summer after your freshman year to begin. Simply approach the professor with questions, participate in class, and join major related clubs.
@snowychan You have a valid point. I would be living with honors kids which is probably a totally different experience from general dorms.
Writing is primarily a hobby, but I was hoping to have some campus publications or a minor in something English-y because that’s what I’m really good at and I’ve been told writing/communication skills are valuable in science. Journalism would be fine too, but you can’t minor in that either at A&M. Finding an outlet would be doable at either school, just more doable at UT.
A&M is cheaper with some scholarships, though I’m being considered for a big scholarship at UT. Even without it, they’re no more than somewhere between 4 and 6k different a year. I don’t recall the final numbers, but that’s not a huge deal if I pick the more expensive one.
What is the reason your father does not want you to go to UT? Is there a chance that he will veto UT by refusing to pay or cooperate with financial aid forms?
@ucbalumnus A couple reasons. He’s an Aggie and firmly believes that UT is full of bad people and he thinks there will be too many distractions in Austin. There is a chance, but it is very small. More likely, we’ll end up in a fight that lasts several hours and eventually come to some sort of agreement. Once we make a final decision on May 1st, he won’t try to pull anything and jeopardize me. It’s just getting to that point.
I agree that you should investigate the honors program at A&M. As to research, I don’t think it will be a problem at UT even if the classes are big. You can still approach professors in office hours. BTW, I love the picture above your name. (I’m not sure what you call that–an icon? an avatar?)
Ha thank you. I want a tattoo sort of like it. Anyways, I just found out that if I get the big UT scholarship, it’s actually transferable to A&M so I now have no financial tiebreakers at all which is actually a little disappointing. I was hoping the scholarship foundation would make this decision for me.
@collegefind I totally forgot about that, so thank you. Did they give any information of interest out at Best of Texas? I wanted to go but I wasn’t invited so that was a pretty big hindrance.
I’m leaning strongly towards UT, but my parents have decided that they don’t like it after all, so now comes the big fight.
I think you should go with Texas A&M.You sound like you really like the school. Even if a lot of your acquaintances from high school are going to be there, you are bound to meet friendly, similar-minded people at school. You can especially meet friends through the Honors program.
From your descriptions, I vote for UT. It sounds to me like you would pick A&M because a summer program gave you some connections. But UT sounds like you have the opportunity to start fresh, break away from your high school experience and persona, and find out “who you are” in a more exciting, novel and supportive social setting. I think that’s a very important consideration. If your major is good at UT, and you do think there will be opportunities for personal relationships with professors, then why not? It may take a little more effort and time to get into your comfort zone with professors, but I’ll bet that you will find your spot there, too.
It will help if you acknowledge your dad’s concerns, even if you already know that it’s not filled with “bad people”. We all have assumptions that can go back to when we were in college, and how dare our kids to not carry these on! Listen to him, but also speak your mind. If he really lets you decide, then rationally explain your choice, and thank him for his (expected) support. Good luck.
Thank you for that. I have no idea how to defend the school because to me it’s such an obvious response. “There are good people.” Done. Any ideas on how to deal with this? Additionally, my mom is worried that I’ll spend too much time in the bars (the music scene is a huge draw for me) so I need to figure out how to stop her from worrying about that.
I think that UT sounds like the right place for you. Assuming you haven’t given your parents some good reasons to worry about your “distractibility,” a possible approach would be to acknowledge your father’s concerns, but say that college is a time to stretch yourself, to learn how to become an adult and tell him you feel that UT, with its larger student body and its differences from your high school, is a great place to do that. If he’s worried about something specific (i.e., a lack of religious groups), then find a link to such a campus group and show him that there are good people there. Are there particular Texas politicians or people he admires? For example, Laura Bush got her graduate degree at UT and her daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, went to UT, as did James Baker, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Kay Bailey Hutchinson - maybe you could mention that.