<p>I'm a student at a CC whose transferring out this fall as a sociology major. I got into both The University of Texas (at Austin) and The University of Michigan (at Ann Arbor).</p>
<p>Where should I go? I know U of M is a better school academically especially for my major, but Austin seems like such a cooler city to live in and I got a more relaxed vibe from Austin.</p>
<p>You probably got it right above. Michigan has a better overall name (though UT is respected), but Austin is a mighty nice place.</p>
<p>Ann Arbor is one of the top college towns in the country. Michigan also has a slightly higher prestige level.</p>
<p>I would pick Michigan, I like both the location better and its better academically. While both have amazing sports teams, Texas wins in that department.</p>
<p>Definitely Ann Arbor. Campus is pretty cool and it’s actually pretty relaxing.</p>
<p>A vote for UT Austin here. I like Austin (better music, for one), and I’d take Texan weather over Michigan’s any day. The difference in academics is negligible.</p>
<p>Second warbler here. </p>
<p>AA is really cool, but apparently so is Austin(never been there). </p>
<p>If you are OOS for both, UT will be cheaper, but are you IS for either. If so I’d probably go to that school. Not really worth the extra $ for practically the same value of education.</p>
<p>Austin is a big city. Ann Arbor is college town. That is the difference.</p>
<p>Michigan has a better national reputation than Texas, although academically they are comparable in many respects. Because Texas automatically admits students if they are in the top 10% of their HS class, undergraduates are overwhelmingly comprised of in-state students. There are a greater percentage of OOS students at Michigan, and Michigan seems to care more about attracting OOS students. I think this disparity contributes at least in part to Texas’ lack of recognition outside of the region. </p>
<p>Both Ann Arbor and Austin are great cities and great college towns, very comparable in the types of amenities offered, yet very different in regard to culture and environment. </p>
<p>One of the biggest differences, of course, is weather. You can wear shorts and flip flops from March through November in Austin and winters are very mild. If you love northern winters and snow, then Michigan is for you. </p>
<p>Another difference is that Michigan is one of the most economically depressed states in the US, and while the university seems to have buffered itself largely from the economic downturn, the city and rest of the state have been significantly affected. In contrast, Texas has fared better during the recession compared with most, and Austin continues to have a lot of growth. </p>
<p>I second coolege’s comment regarding in-state vs OOS tuition, too.</p>
<p>These are two great options. Just a few points: I think the OP is underestimating the quality of UT’s academics. Texas is a first-rate school, very nearly on par with Michigan overall. Also, while its sociology department is not quite at Michigan’s level, it is very good indeed (top 15-ish). Taking into account both the in-state cost savings and the OP’s apparent preference for Austin, my vote would go to Texas (although there really is no wrong choice here).</p>
<p>Michigan has one of the top 3 sociology programs in the nation. You have the opportunity to consistently have professors teach you their own work and to do research that will be published in the near future. If you’re OOS for both schools this is a no brainer: Michigan. </p>
<p>Also, this is school really, REALLY fun.</p>
<p>“You have the opportunity to consistently have professors teach you their own work and to do research that will be published in the near future. If you’re OOS for both schools this is a no brainer: Michigan.”</p>
<p>There is plenty of top-notch research taking place at Texas as well. You do Michigan no credit with such assertions.</p>
<p>Michigan is ranked top 5 in sociology, while UT is a very respectable top 15 (tied with Duke/NYU/Northwestern, right ahead of Cornell).</p>
<p>As others have said, Michigan does have the more prominent national reputation, despite the quality of UT’s academic programs. However, the driver really has less to do with the top 10% law (which is only 10-15 years old), than the fact that UT is required by state law to insure that at least 90% of its undergraduates are from in-state. The top 10% law just insures even less of the remaining spaces are available for out of state students. I also think there’s an inherent bias against Southern/Texas schools in general, which doesn’t help.</p>
<p>I dare you to go to Michigan. I dare you.</p>
<p>It’s ok for people on here to complain about Michigan’s weather and economic climate, but fans of U-M can’t say it has a better sociology department and should be your top choice? Oh ok. Btw, the economy around Ann Arbor is better than most of the rest of the state. Still it is not as good as Texas, no question about it. Also I have been to Austin in the deadof winter, and it was hardly shorts and flip-flop weather when I was there. We’re not talking Miami here, although it is definitely milder than Michigan.</p>
<p>
Things like weather are patently obvious to students at a university. Slight differences in academics (say, 10-15 slots in a ranking) may or may not be. The OP is a transfer - both schools can muster up 16-20 courses of equal quality. </p>
<p>It’s interesting to note that all of the “Michigan is the awesomest!!” posters are affiliated with Michigan, whereas a lot of the unbiased have voted for Texas. There is no one right answer, obviously, but it’s interesting to note.</p>
<p>
The OP is from California.</p>
<p>
Sunniness
Austin: 115 sunny, 114 partly cloudy, 136 cloudy
Ann Arbor: 75 sunny, 105 partly cloudy, 185 cloudy</p>
<p>October
Austin: 60-81 F
Ann Arbor: 42-61 F</p>
<p>January
Austin: 40-60 F
Ann Arbor: 17-30 F</p>
<p>March
Austin: 51-73 F
Ann Arbor: 27-45 F</p>
<p>Granted, some people adapt quite well to the cold. Alexandre, for one. Some people don’t. The difference should be noted, though.</p>
<p>Don’t go most schools in this country, the weather is better in Texas.</p>
<p>January
Austin: 40-60 F</p>
<p>Like I said, I wouldn’t call that shorts and flip flops weather.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Neither did he. </p>
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</p>
<p>Ok, normally I wouldn’t care, but the past couple posts have been about weather/flip flops, and if you actually read what Psi wrote about flip flops, you would be able to tell that he said you could wear flip flops from early spring to late fall and then mentioned that winters were mild in Austin.</p>
<p>Back to the OP’s question, have you visited both schools? Both are pretty expensive OOS, Texas at about $40k, and Michigan at about $45k. Not sure if that matters to you, but it might. Both schools aren’t known for being great with aid for OOS kids, so I’m assuming you are going to pay full freight at both schools?</p>