<p>I live in Texas and am struggling to find a decent number of universities to apply to. I'd like to move to NY or California, since living there has been a dream since I was young, but I think I may move when I go get my Master's or Ph.D, since I don't want to be too far from home and my family.</p>
<p>So far, schools I've been looking at include: UT Austin, St. Edward's, Trinity University, and Baylor. I'm considering applying to Cornell & UCLA, just for the heck of it.</p>
<p>I'm trying to figure out exactly what school's I should apply to so that I can e-mail my teachers asking for recommendations ASAP with the specific list of schools. </p>
<p>So, does anyone have any advice on what other schools I should apply to? Any opinions on the existing schools on my list so far?
All advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>Texas Schools</p>
<p>Tier 1
Rice, UT, A&M</p>
<p>Tier 2
SMU, Trinity, Baylor</p>
<p>Tier 3
Southwestern, UT Dallas, TCU, U of Dallas</p>
<p>Tier 4
Texas Tech, Texas St., UT Arlington, U of Houston, UNT</p>
<p>What schools to recommend really depends on your intended major...
Hard Sciences, go with Rice or UT
Social Sciences, go with Rice or UT
Engineering, go with UT, Rice or A&M
Business, go with UT or to a lesser extent, A&M
Communications, go with UT
Education, go with UT</p>
<p>In general, most of UT's departments are pretty good, and some, like Engineering, Business and Communications, are really really good.</p>
<p>Thanks for replying so quickly!
I was always under the impression that SMU>UT. But it's good news to learn otherwise since I was never a fan of SMU.</p>
<p>I guess the issue here with choosing a school is the fact that I'm completely undecided when it comes to deciding on a major. I'm great at English but it's not my passion. Math does not come naturally to me and I'm not a big fan of it. I am, however, interested in science but it's not my strongest subject. Which school would be best for sampling various classes & figuring out what I like and don't like?</p>
<p>A big university like UT, A&M, etc. would be the best if you aren't sure what you want because of the size. You will have more opportunities for different classes, and won't be limited by a small college.</p>
<p>I would place TCU and SMU on the same tier, but otherwise crs's rankings look good.</p>
<p>Wouldnt attend a school in Texas nor live there due to the lack of seasons usually experienced. I would rather look at a school in California or New York.</p>
<p>Really? I always thought UT wouldn't be as good for me as a private school because of the huge student body which means less personal attention, and therefore more trouble figuring out what's right for me.
I am guaranteed admission in UT and am also applying to Trinity. Is UT the clear cut better choice if I'm planning on getting a master's elsewhere, possibly out of Texas? Is it more prestigious?</p>
<p>Coolbrezze, I don't mind the Texas weather. I've gotten accustomed to it. I was going to apply to Cornell as a reach but decided against it due to the year-round cold weather/rain.
California sounds amazing but I don't know much about the universities there. I'm considering applying to UCLA but I know that tuition is about 40K for out of state students... so I figured if I go the public school route, I might as well just go to UT since it'll be ridiculously inexpensive.</p>
<p>I think Rice is the best in Texas, but the UT people will disagree. Either would be a great choice. I am NOT big on SMU, except for a few programs. It is like a big high school.</p>
<p>12848214 -- I do not think UT is a clear-cut better choice on the basis that it has prestige that will help you get into graduate school. It may depend on your graduate field (mine was psychology), but when I went to graduate school, what mattered on getting in was your undergrad GPA, GRE's, essays, and interviews. I'm not aware of graduate programs trying to rate undergrad applications according to the prestige of their undergrad institution (though they probably do if it's something obvious, e.g., Harvard versus Howard Payne.) </p>
<p>It's a cliche, but the thing to do is go for fit, the place which will be most stimulating for you, where you will feel at home, the place that will bring out the best in you. I went to UT undergrad, and it was NOT the best choice for me. I felt like one in 50,000 and, having a somewhat passive personality, I did not create the opportunities for myself I think I would have at a smaller school. It depends on your personality. If you are a "go-getter," sure, UT offers unmached things to try out. If you are more on the shy side, a school which gives undergrads more personal attention might be a better bet.</p>
<p>Speaking in generalizations, of course Momofwildchild is right -- Rice is the best school for undergrads who are highly intelligent and motivated. I would not diss SMU on the basis of academics. I think it is pretty strong. I wouldn't want to be part of the SMU social scene, though (conservative, Greek-driven). Being someone who would choose a smaller, more personal school, for me it would probably be Trinity if I couldn't get into Rice or didn't feel like driving myself that hard.</p>
<p>Don't bother to apply to UCLA (out of state) unless your profile is extremely strong. It will be harder to get into than Cornell. Also it's expensive.</p>
<p>"Being someone who would choose a smaller, more personal school, for me it would probably be Trinity if I couldn't get into Rice or didn't feel like driving myself that hard."</p>
<p>That is exactly what I think I'll end up doing if I don't get into Rice. I'm not super outgoing and I'm definitely afraid of being one in 50,000 like you mentioned. Even though UT's tuition would be next to nothing whereas Trinity is pricey at around 30K, it'll be worth it to get personal attention and make lasting relationships as opposed to being treated as and feeling like a number. Thanks joelangford.</p>
<p>Greennblue, I did not realize UCLA was so hard to get into. I have a friend that goes there and she has decent grades, an avg. amount of extra-curriculars, ect. I guess you never know. But yeah, the fact that out of state tuition is so high is a major turn off.</p>
<p>Thanks so much everyone who replied. You've all been so helpful. If anyone has anything else to add-- advice, suggestions, comments-- please, feel free.</p>
<p>UCs do not require any letter of recommendation. You can decide to apply later so don't stress now.</p>
<p>texas is not a good place for someone who's lived their whole life in it.
explore a little.</p>
<p>
[quote]
texas is not a good place for someone who's lived their whole life in it.
explore a little.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hah, I suppose that's true.
But I haven't lived in Texas my entire life.</p>
<p>I'm a Texas mom of a senior and have lots of familiarity with all of the schools.</p>
<p>I think Rice then Trinity sound like two options you should strongly consider. I happen to know Trinity is hosting a Preview Day on Sat., Nov. 15. They also offer overnight stays, which cinched it for a good friend of ours who is a very happy freshman there now. I can't recall if Rice does the same sort of thing. IIWM, I'd try to visit both ASAP and then, if you like Trinity, consider making early application (non-binding)--their EA deadline is Dec. 1 (ED is Nov. 1). Rice only offers ED and then, of course, RD.</p>
<p>It doesn't sound like UT, TAMU or SMU are ideal fits. Baylor would be a nice back-up to Rice and Trinity, albeit probably not as intellectually stimulating for you until you settle into a major. Waco is no match for Houston or San Antonio, either.</p>
<p>If you're doing UCLA, you need to get on the stick--all applications are due within the 30-day window Nov. 1-30, 2008. The UCs favor their own--the percentage of OOS admits is pretty low, that's why it is considered competitive. The application process is sorta tricky to figure out, but all the info's online, you can do it!</p>
<p>What's up with the Cornell thing?! My strong humanities kid came home the other day with a new interest in Cornell. I have always considered it a highly regarded school for math/science. I guess I now have a reason to go check out their liberal arts offerings. All I know for sure is, she's a Texan through and through, how she thinks she'll withstand those winters, I have no clue!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Since you're in-state for UT, I would aim for the Dean's Honors program in natural sciences or Plan II and if that works, definitely go for that. Or even the UT's Business Honors Program (BHP). UT's honors programs are quite excellent and if you can make it into them, I would just stick with UT and not really bother with anything else. In Texas, Plan II is the next best thing to Rice in terms of small classes and more intimate interactions with professors. Plan II is really the cream of the crop of UT and it's a lot more holistic (weighs essays very heavily, I hear) in terms of admissions and is renowned in giving an excellent liberal arts education.</p>
<p>Otherwise, yeah, I'd highly recommend Rice :) Don't really know much about Trinity, though.</p>
<p>Hah, and about the UCLA thing, it's harder to get into UT out of state than it is to UCLA out of state, and I got into UT and Plan II (and almost BHP! grrr). I really don't recommend you applying to UCLA if you can get into UT's honors programs, though. Like, it legit costs more for me to attend UT out of state than for me to attend Rice (where I am now), and it's really just ridiculous to pay so much money of a private school education for a public school. But I mean, whatever floats your boat.</p>
<p>TXArtemis, that idea about Cornell is common. It is for Berkeley as well.</p>
<p>Yet, looking carefully at both schools in the NRC rankings , it is surprising to me that Berkeley, as well as Cornell, are as highly rated in Arts & Humanities as they are in Engineering/Sciences.</p>
<p>Biological Sciences: Cornell 19 / Berkeley 5
Math & Physical Sciences: Cornell 6 / Berkeley 2</p>
<h2>Engineering:Cornell 6 / Berkeley 1</h2>
<p>Arts and Humanities: Cornell 5 / Berkeley 1
Social & Behavioral Sciences: Cornell 14 / Berkeley 1</p>
<p>I had always thought both Cornell and Berkeley were much stronger in Sciences than Arts/Humanities/Social/Behavioral, but that is clearly not what their peer professors thought when polled in 1994. Updated rankings are supposed to come out this year...</p>
<p>Cornell's highest ranking is in Arts and Humanities!</p>
<p>The UC applications doe not require letters from teachers, do they?</p>
<p>Dunnin, I like that you're a pocket supporter of Berkeley...;) Imagine that...a hardcore 'ruin and 'furdite supporting Cal...<em>shakes head</em> :D</p>