<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>