Texas A&M vs Texas

Colleges and Universities A-Z Texas A&M University
1

<p>I am a high school senior currently deciding between these two schools. I hear a lot about Texas' prestige and their nationally recognized programs, and it seems as if their computer science (my intended major) department is amazing. </p>

<p>However, through this site, other research and campus visits, I have begun doubting the University of Texas as my top choice. Though they have outstanding academics, student life seems to revolve around the Greeks and partying- or, on the other hand, minorities who are dedicated to schoolwork. </p>

<p>I have been told by several "Old Armies" that Texas A&M has the strongest former student bond in the state. Aggie students seem much more down-to-earth and friendly. Academics are not quite on the same tier as UT, but they come close. </p>

<p>What is everyone's opinion on which school I should choose?</p>

2

<p>They’re both good schools. Pick the one where you feel most comfortable.</p>

3

<p>Do a campus visit, I was always sure I was going to go to UT since I was young but now I am at A&M. Both are different schools in very different towns. If you don’t like whichever school you choose you can always transfer after the first year.</p>

4

<p>Just realized you said you already did a campus visit, go to the one you feel you would be happiest at and don’t choose it off of which has the better sports team (I almost did that). Both schools are great schools academically.</p>

5

<p>Technically, UT and TAMU are at the same tier academically. If you are comparing based on a minimal difference in US News rank then sure your assertion is valid. But I will say that it is a mistake to base your decision souly off of that. There are so many other aspects of a school that make it great. Academically, you are getting just as good of an education either way. I had a similar experience as polcat. I was FOR SURE I was going to UT until I visited the both campuses and realized that TAMU was the better fit all the way around.</p>

6

<p>The atmospheres of both schools are very different. If you don’t like traditions and want more fun while having a good education, then go to UT. If not, go to A&M, you’ll still get a good education. The computer science program is very strong at UT. A&M’s is just a notch below. You are very lucky to have the luxury to choose between two good schools, unlike me lol. :frowning: After almost a year here at A&M, I am transferring to UT (or another school), because I feel the opportunities here are very limited for what I want to do. And plus, this is College Station. -_-</p>

7

<p>“The atmospheres of both schools are very different. If you don’t like traditions and want more fun while having a good education, then go to UT. If not, go to A&M, you’ll still get a good education.”</p>

<p>My daughter is loving and having fun at A&M :slight_smile: and has Traditions to boot!</p>

8

<p>Both schools have good reputation within Texas. UT’s CS program is a few notches better than A&M’s. However, UT is more renowned nationally despite similar USNWR rankings. The two school’s have very different atmospheres. College Station has a rural setting, and from what I hear not much to do outside of school. Austin, while still have a college town feel near campus, has a much more urban setting. It has a lot to offer in terms of art, music, and culture. Another huge difference is that A&M is a conservative school, but UT is a liberal school. </p>

<p>If you are not into the partying/Greek themes, you do not have to participate. There are so many students at UT, there are going to be people with similar interests and goals as you.</p>

9

<p>Actually the greek population at UT is very small percentage wise compared to the student body…as it is at TAMU.</p>

10

<p>both schools are great, i would go to UT, but then again i like A&M too</p>

11

<p>I’m a junior computer engineering major at A&M, so I probably sound biased when I say you should pick A&M. Rankings aren’t everything. I’m actually from California, and wanted to go to a top-tier university there, but my parents made me go to A&M because they gave me a huge scholarship. I soon stopped feeling that “I should’ve gone to a better school” and am enjoying my time at A&M.</p>

12

<p>JW, that’s great! I’m looking at a computer science major- could you tell me a little more about it?</p>

13

<p>hey if you dont mind being in a college town then you will like A&M if you want to be in a big city like dallas or houston the UT Austin is the way to go. You will get a great education at either because they both are the Top public schools in Texas</p>

14

<p>Well, first you’ll learn C++ in CS 121. Then you’ll learn data structures and algorithms in 221 (also in C++). You’ll use Haskell and Java in 314 and X86 assembly in 312. You’ll learn about POSIX in 313 (using C/C++). 181 is just a seminar class where you listen to speakers and write papers. 411 is like 221, except it’s pure theory and more in-depth. You can find out more about the curriculum here
[Texas</a> A&M University 09-10 Undergraduate Catalog](<a href=“http://www.tamu.edu/admissions/catalogs/09-10_UG_Catalog/course_descriptions/csce.htm]Texas”>http://www.tamu.edu/admissions/catalogs/09-10_UG_Catalog/course_descriptions/csce.htm)
[TAMU</a> Computer Science and Engineering :: Computer Science Program](<a href=“Computer Science and Engineering | Texas A&M University Engineering”>Computer Science and Engineering | Texas A&M University Engineering)</p>

15

<p>I narrowed my choice down between UT and A&M. I picked A&M. If I had to do it again, honestly, I would have chose neither.</p>

<p>I had some really damn good friends at A&M, but overall, the student body was just way too sheltered for me. I kind of felt like I was living in Mayberry… for example, a lot of the girls I’d meet had boyfriends, usually the serious, live-in, one-step-away from marriage kind. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but I even knew some girls that even got engaged before they were 21. There’s a lot of small town kids at A&M, so yeah, you’re going to see family-centric values like that. Not knocking on A&M, just wasn’t my thing.</p>

<p>Just not quite what I was looking for… I’d preferred to have more of an actual, stereotypical college experience rather than a stepping stone to another chapter in my life, if that makes any sense. Academically A&M worked great for me though, especially because I cherry picked my professors. I only had two or three really awful profs.</p>

<p>The campus was friendly, but I think that was more out of pride for the school than anything else. Reason I didn’t pick UT was because I’ve been down there quite a few times (dated a girl who went there) and it’s easy for students to get self-absorbed in studying. There’s more reasons but it’s been so long that I’ve been there that I forgot why. A&M is also TONS easier to transfer to than UT… UT has some really weird requirements, such as a 60 hour residency requirement and they require some oddball classes which may be difficult to find at a community college.</p>

<p>Nothing against either school really, just neither of them would have worked out for me. If I had to do it all over again I probably would have aimed for a west coast school or somewhere out-of-state.</p>

16

<p>Just to throw this out there, my husband went to UT. I went to Vanderbilt University. Both of us want our daughter to go to A&M because the education is equal to where we went and the kids and professors are 100% percent better in character overall. It is obvious 20 years out how much better of an overall experience those who go to A&M have.</p>

17

<p>My personal experience:</p>

<p>I grew up in Austin and lived there for all but the first 2 years of my life. Both my parents went to UT, many family members did as well. No one in my family had gone to A&M, and many despised the school for many ill found reasons (the bitter rivalry). I grew up as a die hard longhorn fan, knowing that I would someday go there and excited for when I would…</p>

<p>…all until my last 2 years of high school. My high school career wasn’t as academically strong as I would have liked, I slacked off a bunch, didn’t care too much abut studying, etc. I considered other options instead of UT, which has been historically hard to get into with the top 10% rule (which I definitely wasn’t in). I looked at other Texas schools like Baylor, Texas Tech, and even Texas A&M. Ultimately, I ended up applying to all four of these schools, hopeful that I’d get into UT. I visited all four, staying overnight in the dorms at Tech and Baylor. Had great experiences with all schools, however UT probably was my lowest rated experience. People at UT didn’t really care you existed, you were just a number. Professors didn’t seem to care either, most seemed too involved in their research. Classes were also ridiculously huge, many of the intro classes had more than 500 people! However, at A&M I felt like people generally cared that you were there. Professors seemed more engaged in lecture, and despite being a very large university, I personally have never been in a class with over 300 people. Maybe it’s the small town feel, maybe it’s the tradition-rich school. However, I liked Texas A&M a LOT better.</p>

<p>HS senior year rolled around, and after a very focussed junior year, I was accepted at all four Texas schools, with major scholarships at Baylor and Tech. I was accepted into each school’s engineering school, and my parents were ecstatic about the news from UT. However, I told them in a heartbeat that I’d be attending Texas A&M to major in aerospace engineering. As I’m finishing up my junior year, If I had to make the same decision, I’d do it all over again. Texas A&M is a great school and will open many doors for you.</p>

<p>Bottom line is this:
1.) Don’t judge any school until you’ve visited it.
2.) Don’t go to a school because they have a good sports/football team (like MANY people do at UT).
3.) Think about where you see yourself best at, and if it has a strong program in your perspective major, go there.</p>

18

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<p>Just FYI, this happens at A&M, too.</p>

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<p>Never had a problems with traditions at all. I didn’t care for the small town feel, though. For a school with 50,000 students, it should have a feel leaning towards anything at all.</p>

19

<p>^There’s no feel? Are you joking? I was on campus for 2 days and could feel it.</p>

20

<p>I’m an Aggie so I’m pretty biased. I do think that there are more things to do in Austin. There’s 6th street, more Greek life, a big city, multiple malls to go to, etc. There are things to do in College Station though. There’s Northgate (not as many bars as 6th street), bowling, lazer tag, 850+ student organizations, etc. There is pretty much an organization for everything. The student body is not very diverse though. I think that it is a lot easier to get lost in the crowd at UT then TAMU.</p>