<p>As dumb as this sounds I think I’m going to transfer out of UT to either Michigan, NU, Cornell, UNC, or Chicago even though I’m GOING to be a freshman (as in I haven’t been there). Before I become extremely serious about this however, I want to explain my reasons why I’m considering it already, just in case I have a misconception that is completely false:</p>
<li><p>In high school, UNC and Michigan were my dream schools. I didn’t apply there because I was out of state and was afraid of being rejected since no one gave me a shot at those schools, both in real life and CC. So one reason I want to transfer is because I hear these schools, especially UNC, are A LOT easier on transfers, and I think I’d like to be at one of my dream schools.</p></li>
<li><p>I’m from Oregon, and whenever I say that I’m going to Texas, the typical response I get is honestly quite hurtful and naive. People here have some stupid misconception that all Texans are idiots and that I’m going to a random school like North Dakota, when that’s not true at all. Sure UT isn’t HYPS, but it’s at least on par if not better than UCLA, USC, and UCSD, which get a lot of attention here. So national name-brand recognition is another reason I’m thinking about a transfer.</p></li>
<li><p>I think I’ll major in either Econ or CS, and I’m not so sure how solid the Econ department, especially compared to UNC or UMich (who are supposed to be tops in this field). I want to (I think) either get into business (not necessarily i-banking, but maybe F500 where how prestigious my econ degree will matter a lot) or law, so I think UNC or UMich are better for this.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I hope I’m not offending anyone because I know that UT is a decent school. But if there are any flaws or things that you can say to perhaps change my mind given my reasoning, please let me know so that I can decide quickly.</p>
<p>RE: #1. This is your choice. Can’t tell you what your dream school should or shouldn’t be. I’ll be visiting UMich next week, and hope it’s a fun place.</p>
<p>Re: #2, I’m not sure your antecdotal perceptions are representative of UT’s overall prestige. Also, it doesn’t sound like you really know where you want to live after college. I wouldn’t attend a school like Cornell just because it has a name that people might recognize. You should also consider quality of life..something you would think about seriously when you are freezing your butt off while cooped up inside during the winter. (I can’t imagine someone actually wanting to transfer to Cornell after attending UT for a year)</p>
<p>Re: #3, Texas is the #1 state in the country for Fortune 500 companies. A poll was taken of large corporations in California and a large number said they would like to relocate out of the US. Of those that want to stay in the US, most said they want to relocate to Texas. The state of Texas is a great place for business. In regards to an economics degree from Texas, I can only mention an antecdote about my cousin who received his econ degree from Texas (didn’t have the grades to get into McCombs) and became a VP at a Fortune 500 around the age of 32.</p>
<p>Why did you apply to Texas? Wait until you have had a month’s worth of your freshman classes before you decide you are in the wrong place. (You might want to post this on the parent’s section of CC for advice. Many students have “cold feet” and worry that they made the wrong decsision.) I don’t think you will get the most input here in this forum of CC, where people are either trying to get into UT or excited to be starting classes at UT. (You might want to get involved with the out of state students group when you first get down to UT.)</p>
<p>I applied to UT in large part because I wanted to have some fun in college. Don’t get me wrong, Mich and UNC would be fun I’m sure too, but there was just something about UT that makes me think I’ll be happiest there (socially). I honestly don’t hate the school at all and wouldn’t mind staying here, but I’m really not sure how good UT’s econ department is. If I don’t get into a T14 law school or investment banking right out of college, then I want to perhaps work for a F500 company or something, and I’m not sure how far a degree from UT will carry me in attaining that goal if things don’t work out. That’s why I’m looking for more info on UT’s econ department.</p>
<p>Economics at UT is not a big deal. If you want to go into business, you’re going to have to transfer to the McCombs school of business by getting a 3.7 GPA your freshmen year which is entirely doable. No offense to any economics majors at UT, but of the economics majors I know, they’re either students who are supplementing their BBA or trying to switch into the BBA program.</p>
<p>UT’s econ department is one of the largest and strongest in the college of liberal arts, but it is obviously not Chicago. If you are passionate about being an economist, than Chicago may be a better choice. However, if you want to be an investment banker, than a McCombs degree is without doubt the best bargain in the country.</p>
<p>And honestly, don’t worry about what people in Oregon think. The cold can addle their brains…we Texans usually don’t worry what Yankees and fur’nurs think about us. They don’t have the privilege to live in Texas, they’re jealous, we get it…when you get down here full time you will understand.</p>
<p>And if you’d like to live in Texas…and in my biased opinion who wouldn’t…there is no better degree you can have than a UT degree. It beats a Harvard degree. UT alumni absolutely love to hire other UT alumni. Plus we have gorgeous weather and GORGEOUS people.</p>
<p>Undergrad degrees get your foot in the door but they aren’t going to carry you anywhere. How well you do in the workplace will be based on intangibles that aren’t taught in a classroom.</p>
<p>loneranger: I have no desire really to be a straight up economist. With my Econ or CS degree (perhaps an applied math or stats major as well) I basically want to work in the finance industry, but I’m not so sure that I can do investment banking because there is no way I can work more than 70 hours a week regularly (and where 70 hours/week is like a vacation especially!). My ideal job would be one that allows me to work internationally (esp in developing nations aiding them in stuff like IT or finances), pays well (not anything crazy like 250k+, just be able to make 6 figs relatively soon is fine). And yes, I would look into consulting, but I’m not sure how well UT would place me in the consulting industry.</p>
<p>While we’re discussing this, can someone perhaps also chime in on whether an Econ or CS degree can get one a job at F500 companies? I’m worried that b/c I don’t particularly care for finance (I have always been a quant/numbers guy, so I think econ or CS will better suit my strengths/interests) I won’t be able to work in the finance industry. Initially I heard econ is great, but now I’m hearing/seeing more mixed reactions, so I’m wondering what perhaps someone like Wega (who seems to be knowledgeable about this) thinks about it.</p>
<p>I just transferred into UT from out of state and I’m also an Econ major. Here’s my take on your situation. </p>
<p>I also want to do Investment Banking and/or Law, but my GPA wasn’t good enough to get into McCombs through external transfer. However, I have a pretty good shot at getting into McCombs through internal transfer, provided I get a 3.6. In no way am I giving up my Econ degree so I can get a BBA from McCombs, I am going to try my hardest to get both a BS in Econ and hopefully a BBA in Finance. At my old school, I was double majoring in Econ and Finance, but at UT Econ and Finance are in different schools. </p>
<p>Econ is a great major to have for entrance to law school and UT Law is one of the best. </p>
<p>If you want your quantitative degree as well as a door to investment banking, getting a dual degree won’t hurt at all. The finance program at McCombs ranks in the top 5 and who cares if people in Oregon don’t know anything about UT? What matters is that the people who hire you know that McCombs is one of the top business schools in the nation. </p>
<p>So for me, i’ve covered all my bases. I’ll for sure have my econ degree which will help with investment banking, but also a lot with entering law school. I’ll hopefully have a finance degree with will help me get a job out of college if I decide to go that route.</p>
<p>I am grossed out. My wife and I are very excited that our son, a New Yorker - from Manhattan yet - is about to start his four years at UT. My wife and I both attended Ivy League schools, mine being the best undergraduate B school in the country, and I also attended a T10 (better than T14) law school. I work in a foreign language all day. But I think I suffered tremendously from having been preprogrammed by my parents so many years ago and wish I had kept my eyes open to other possibilities.</p>
<p>Our son will be majoring in Theatre and Dance at the College of Fine Arts, and if he auditions well enough, will have a focus in Acting. It may seem lightweight, but he is excited. I want him to be motivated and grateful to be where he is every day. One of the reasons as a family we chose UT is that there is a very rich curriculum and a richer faculty so that our son has opportunities to change his mind, to be exposed to other alternatives and to enjoy Austin (though it ain’t no New Yawk, it’s not half-bad). We have gotten absolutely ludicrous reactions from New York acquaintances to the choice of Texas. That’s their problem. Cornell is any better? My wife hated every minute of her 4 years there (I, on the other hand, am President of my class at my alma mater).</p>
<p>I guess where I come out is that you sound unintentionally like a little automaton, and you’re far too young for that. Your comments read like an essay in Forbes, not like the product of a young, intellectually curious mind. You’re probably delightful and not at all the prig you appear to be, but one thing is clear: you have no desire to go to UT, you believe it is a horrible mistake, and you want to change. Your arguments can each be invalidated, but that will not convince you. You may well love UT once you’re there, and my son could hate it. But based on your comebacks to each point any other reader makes, you certainly have no desire to spend your college years in Austin.</p>
<p>Don’t feel guilty; just don’t waste your time and resources going someplace where you’ll convince yourself you are miserable. And please, this is a parent speaking: grow up, and try to sound a bit younger. Michael J. Fox on ‘Family Ties’ was funny. No one wanted to be him.</p>
<p>You’re probably a terrific, bright kid. Just PLEASE act that way!</p>
<p>I really agree with Frenchlaw. My older siblings are at the Univ of Chicago and the other at UVa. I too was in your shoes once considering transferring out of UT.</p>
<h1>2 Believe me when I say that UT as far as Texas is concerned is hands down given more respect and prestige than other public ivies like UCLA or UNC. Texas along with Cali and NY is America’s 2nd largest economic powerhouse. This IS a country within a country. Your UT degree goes much further here; great if you plan to live here.</h1>
<p>Your relatives have a distorted perception of what Texas is. If anything, one would disdain Oregon for its minuscule status comp to TX- your state is very verdant and socially progressive though. They think of the little rural towns like San Marcos or Odessa. But I’m talking metropolises like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and increasingly Austin too.</p>
<h1>3 Imo honestly my bro at Chicago beats you in landing most ibanking/law jobs simply b.c these 2 professions rely more on Ivy league status rather than just meritocracy. For example, Merrill Lynch and the likes often come on his campus and pretty much hire on the spot whereas you would have to work a lot more with interviews and such to attain said jobs. BUT, if you can get into McCombs (or even better its BHP) than you’re pretty much in the Wharton of the South and set for the international job you want.</h1>
<p>Btw I got into UNC, Chicago, and Cornell but still chose UT for money value, proximity to home, name brand power in the South (and with McCombs all over the US), and finally just the hip and cool college city itself. Good luck!</p>
<p>I really question the type of people you surround yourself if they think that UT and the city of Austin is a horrible choice. Any moderately informed individual would have the vision and although the regional division could infuse some bias they should know the opportunities afforded here (UT) are as good if not better than the schools you wish to transfer to. The #44 ranking or whatever by USNWR means nothing, do some research about where you are going and quit planning to get out of something you have never experienced.</p>
<p>But anyways, there is a 8/10 chance that I’ll stay at UT now. Although I still want to do business eventually, I think I’m gonna get an EE or Chem E degree and then get an MBA.</p>
<p>I do still have a couple of questions:
Even if you aren’t in McCombs, can you still go to the career fairs and whatnot, get recruited, etc.?
Is it possible/worth doing a double major in EE/Econ? I need to show interest for doing business, and I’m thinking an Econ degree might be good for that, so is that a good idea?</p>
<p>well Mr. Thread Highjacker (;)) I can say that in the NW, people generally have no idea what the hell UT is unless they’re in engineering. People up where I am (Portland, OR) are very close-minded (sorry for the generalization, but there is huge ignorance here) and think that everybody from the South has an accent and is a redneck, when ironically, everywhere else people think the same about Oregon. Basically to be recognized in the NW, you need to go the the typical US News T15 school, Berkeley, UCLA, USC, UCSD, and sometimes UWashington (in that order, except berk is right up there with the US News T15 schools, but seriously, they don’t even know much of the T25 here). Even UCSD will be looked more highly upon than UT, and UCLA, which I think is seriously one of the most overrated schools in the country will be more-appreciated than UT. So if you’re looking to work up here and aren’t in engineering (all the people in engineering that I talked to were extremely impressed when I said I’m going there while LITERALLY EVERYONE ELSE thought I was a idiot that couldn’t get in anywhere decent), you better hope to get into the T15 or a top UC, otherwise you won’t get the wow you get in the south or anyplace without such tunnel-vision.</p>
<p>I know my post sounded haranguing, but man, some of these people are crazy. They don’t even know about UVA, UNC-CH, Vanderbilt, even Michigan and Chicago. Oregon is either filled with people who are obsessed with the Northwest and won’t think about any other place for college or are California dreamers that will only apply to schools there for the most part. It’s ridiculous especially since Oregon isn’t even that big/great of a state, which is probably why there are so many California dreamers here.</p>
<p>McCombs has an engineering/business path that you can also do if you want. I’m not sure what it’s called exactly, but you have to take some extra science classes for that major, i’d suggest you look into it.</p>
<p>but to get into that engineering/business program, can you be in the engineering school and then do that path? Also, if I do want to major in engineering, it might be hard to do a double major in both engineering and finance, so can I just take finance stuff for my electives? But I’ll try doing a search for that engineering/business path thing</p>