<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>(Sorry about the lecture, everyone)</p>