Texas Tech vs. University of Arkansas

<p>My son and his some of his friends have been accepted to both universities. Can you give me some pros for Tech as opposed to UARK besides the instate tuition? Thanks!</p>

<p>Depends on what they are going to study. Arkansas has one of the best business schools in the country. If they are interested in business, I would send them there. Tech has good engineering and agricultural schools.</p>

<p>Those schools are more similar than they are different. (Except for climate.)</p>

<p>Both have nice campuses, big time DI sports, active Greek life, plenty of majors available, etc. Kinda like comparing to OU, OSU, UT, LSU, and A&M. </p>

<p>Most students that would be happy at one of those schools would also be happy at the other. Can’t go wrong with either one.</p>

<p>I agree with arrdad’s comments ending with “Can’t go wrong with either one”. Another consideration for any college/university a student may attend is often your first job and/or significant other is in the state or region where you attended school. Thus many OU graduates start their post-college lives in Oklahoma City or Tulsa (and Dallas-Fort Worth; University of Arkansas in the Little Rock area (and Dallas Fort-Worth); Texas Tech in West Texas or Dallas Fort Worth (lots of alumni there). No generatlizations but just higher probability factors for locating in the state or region where you graduate from.</p>

<p>I have a daughter at Arkansas and a son at Tech so I will offer my 2cents…</p>

<p>Similar size student populations</p>

<p>Tech is a more conservative campus (Clintons met at Arkansas and the campus is more “diverse”)(man I hate PC speak)</p>

<p>Lubbock is a GREAT small city. Friendly people. Clean (the wind blows all the trash to Ft. Worth. LOL). Conservative. Was a dry city until last year.</p>

<p>Both have beautiful campuses… in the spring and early summer. Winter not so much. Ark MUCH better in summer. Weather is not too dissimilar most of the year except for the wind. It is ALWAYS blowing on the high plains.</p>

<p>Sports… Big whatever it’ll be vs SEC. SEC wins hands down but the big school experience for sports is there at both. Football Rules at both and the fans are… passionate!! LOL</p>

<p>Both have great traditions. I must say I think the Senior walk at Ark is really cool. </p>

<p>Tech Medicine and Engineering are top notch.
Ark Business, Eng, Poultry Science (Tyson is an Ark Company)</p>

<p>From what I’ve seen student housing is better at Ark. Newer and bigger. Both require freshman to live on campus. Ark has two year old freshman dorms. Tech 20+ (sons room is the exact copy of my room when I was in college in the 80’s at another school)</p>

<p>Parking!!! not great at Arkansas (hint make sure to fill out your housing survey ever year if you are going to live on campus the next year and want to park anywhere near your dorm.) Tech has TONS of parking and most of it close to your dorm. Oh yeah, at Ark you have to move your car from most student lots during football games and some basketball games. The size of Fayetteville doubles when there is a home fb game. Seriously!!!</p>

<p>A bike is great at Tech… Lance Armstrong would struggle riding at Ark. They don’t call it the “Hill” for nothing.</p>

<p>Arkansas will waive out of state tuition if you have a 25 ACT and a 3.5 HS GPA. Maintain a 3.25 to keep it. (Heard they lowered the initial GPA but didn’t confirm)</p>

<p>Daughter is in International Business and has had PAYING internships each of the past two summers and already has a job waiting when she graduates this year.</p>

<p>Son is in Electrical Engineering and not eligible for engineering internship yet but got a summer job through the career center.</p>

<p>Both schools have GREAT placement records and outstanding career centers. Both also have a separate business and Eng career centers. </p>

<p>Of the two I’d say that Arkansas has an EXTREMELY loyal alumni base that recruit heavily from the THE school in Arkansas and they have the Waltons. nuff said. My estimation is that Tech is not as strong in this area.</p>

<p>If business is the thing then I’d pick Ark. Of the last few business fairs I’ve looked at it seems more national and international companies recruit at Ark. If you want to stay in Texas or the South, Tech does well.</p>

<p>Money was a biggie for us. Cost of attendance at Tech is still cheaper than UT or A&M. Off campus housing is WAY cheaper at Tech than UT, A&M or Ark. </p>

<p>Food… I like Ark meal plan better and I think the food is better. They also have Razorbucks as part of the meal plan. These can be used at campus stores and non food services vendors. The hours seem to be better. Son is always complaining that the cafeteria in his dorm closes at 9:00am after breaky and 6:00pm after dinner so he has to go across campus to eat after late classes. Tech has FREEBIRDS!!!</p>

<p>Greek life is better at Ark. Lubbock has a Brothel Law that makes it illegal for more than 3 unrelated people to live in the same house. (I told you Lubbock was conservative) That means no resident frat or sorority houses. They still have them but it just isn’t the same in my opinion. (I’m Greek and remember fondly the two years spent living with my brothers at our house)</p>

<p>We have found the parent network at both schools to be great. Friendly, helpful and a good place to learn from those that came before. (good place to get tickets too) </p>

<p>Student activity center at Tech has a cool pool. Both are great and plenty of opportunities to be active to fit the freshman 15.</p>

<p>Like most large universities there are plenty of opportunities at either to get involved with whatever your “thing” is or to find out what your “thing” is if you don’t know yet. That’s what makes university an awesome experience.</p>

<p>Lastly… go visit the campuses. I have counseled many young people about picking a school and one thing I firmly believe in is that when you visit a campus you will know the right one when you get there. You’ll feel it in your gut. I think this holds true about 90% of the time.</p>

<p>Hope this helps. Woo Pig Soooie and Guns Up!!!</p>

<p>Good work Marketman.</p>

<p>Thanks for the in-depth post marketman. It’s always nice to see parents with children at multiple schools taking time to post such in-depth opinions.
-Matt</p>

<p>Thanks for all the input. We have scheduled visits to both schools. This thread was very helpful!</p>

<p>I think college major is an important thing to look at if it is something specific like engineering, architecture, medical, business, etc. (if its a student that maybe picked something but mostly undecided either school would do since both have tons of majors). </p>

<p>Although Ark has the better business school…if your child wants to get a BA degree it really isnt as simple as go to arkansas. It really depends on the major. Tech has a great Accounting program (and very competitive MSA program) and its very easy to get a job with the Big 4 in Dallas or Houston. The Managment Info Systems degree also has amazing placment…and the personal financial planning program (not technically in the business school) is one of the best (if not the best) in the nation. If you want to work in Texas, I would go to Tech for business. If location doesnt matter, Ark would be probably preferred.</p>

<p>Son just graduated from Arkansas. It was a 100 percent positive experience, all the way from professors, to campus, to dorm, to kids he met, to food, and the town. I don’t think you could go wrong with Arkansas. The winters are tough, and driving is something to pay attention to around Christmas break, just need to watch out for the ice, but other than that, fantastic school.</p>