<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>
<p>I havent visited neither but i do know that UT is constantly ranked as one of the top party schools. you should just go with your heart, its a win win situation because both of the schools are gonna do you good. so you should visit a couple more times and decide where you think you are better off going.</p>
<p>since i havent went to either school im not sure where you should go, but like i said either school is great choice.</p>
<p>“Aggie students seem much more down-to-earth and friendly.”
A friend that went there and transferred to UT specifically said the exact opposite about this.</p>
<p>UT life is not dominated by the greek system… it really isn’t. yeah you’ll see a lot of people wearing their greek shirts in class but that’s about it. The majority of the students are not greek.</p>
<p>As for parties, yes, there is endless amount of them. However, it is your choice whether to attend or not. I’m at the library on a Saturday night… Parties are at every school. </p>
<p>Another aspect you might consider is that UT has far better athletics.</p>
<p>They are both really good schools. Make sure you visit both if you haven’t already, that may help you make your decision. Partying at any college is a given so don’t let that influence you. Not everyone drinks, there is so much to do besides that.</p>
<p>Gotta love biased opinions.
OP: Do you really think that any of these UT supporters are going to agree about ANY of these negative aspects you just mentioned? To some, they wouldn’t even be negatives.</p>
<p>I went to a high school where UT and A&M were considered equals and slightly more people went to A&M than UT each year. I wanted to do business, so UT was obviously better and where I ended up going, but I still respect A&M and have many friends there. This is what I have to say:</p>
<p>The A&M alumni loyalty is the strongest in the state. However, when my friends went to A&M they ended up hating UT more than liking A&M. The rivalry from the UT side really seems like A&M is our annoying little brother and A&M thinks Austin is the death star. Aggies seem to pride themselves in traditions whereas Longhorns pride themselves in academic rankings.</p>
<p>The UT computer science program is the best in the state. While A&M is seen as Harvard to a recruiter who went to A&M, UT is seen as substantially better by pretty much everyone else, and it’s reputation is much better out-of-state.</p>
<p>As someone pointed out, only about 10% of the student body at UT is actually in the Greek scene and saying the school revolves around it is just silly.</p>
<p>A&M Alumni is stronger. They are indoctrinated at something they call “Fish Camp” freshman year, where they are re-programmed to think as a part of a cult.</p>
<p>The greek scene is not dominant at all and you will definately meet a lot of people freshman year that are not into that at all who still find ways to party.</p>
<p>A part of the A&M doctrine establishes that Reveille (the real one with the same physical appearance as the one that they choose as mascot) will return. Reveille, of course, is much like the Trinity in Christianity: Reveille as the creator, law-giver, and protector, Reveille incarnated as dog/animal in a physical form, and finally Reveille as “The Aggy Spirit.” They believe that they will, at some point in the future, exit their human bodies so that their souls will be delivered by Reveille via spaceship to a state of being beyond.</p>
<p>Both schools have good reputation within Texas. UTs CS program is a few notches better than A&Ms. However, UT is more renowned nationally despite similar USNWR rankings. The two schools 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>
<p>Keep in mind, there are around 40,000 undergrads at each school. Whether or not A&M students are more conservative or “down-to-earth” and whether or not UT students are more liberal and party prone DOES NOT MATTER. You will find friends if you’re looking for them.</p>
<p>To put it in perspective, MIT is regarded as the #1 school for nerds but that does not mean in any way that MIT’s students are socially inept and that you wouldn’t be able to find friends there, and just because University A is ranked 100 spots lower in academics than University B does not necessarily mean you’ll get a worse education at University B. These are simply the opinions of various people who may or may not have gone to these colleges and who may or may not be biased. They don’t matter one single bit. And consider this: even if they were completely accurate reports/opinions about the colleges, the college doesn’t make the student. YOU make your own life at college. You choose your own major, find your own friends, you decide how much you’re going to study, etc, etc, etc. No college could ever do that, and they could never do it better than you. </p>
<p>Don’t go on what any single person says. Nobody can know which school is truly better because nobody can possibly have gone through four years of undergrad at both schools (AFAIK). Some people might hate the rural setting of A&M, while Austin may be too crowded for others. Visit both campuses if you can, see what you like and what you don’t like. And really keep in mind that there are about 40,000 undergrads at each school. That’s plenty of chances to find people who click with you.</p>