Thoughts on UT Austin

<p>UT is our state flagship. Husband and I were opposed to eldest going to UT primarily because it’s huge, doesn’t give much merit aid and a big party school. (Eldest agreed it wasn’t a match but she ruled out all other TX schools- thankfully she’s a freshman out of state and loving it. Since she was NMF, she had several safeties.)</p>

<p>We’ll soon be doing college visits with younger sis. It’s too early for scores but she’s a strong student and probably be auto admit for UT. She is also an undecided science, humanities, theatre kiddo. I’m trying to open my mind to UT.</p>

<p>So many kids select UT from our area if they can get in. I just never hear if they have guidance as they change majors and interests.</p>

<p>Does she like UT Austin, or any other Texas public university (if she is an auto-admit at UT Austin, all of the other Texas public universities should also be auto-admit)? Does she care if the school is huge?</p>

<p>Are UT Austin and other Texas public universities within budget either at list price or with need-based aid as estimated by their net price calculators?</p>

1 Like

<p>Of my D’s friends (older teammates) that have gone to UT, two I know well. One graduated in four years without a problem and the other will graduate this spring which will be also in four years. They both loved it and Austin - both are from the Houston area. Neither minded a large school though. </p>

<p>My D wouldn’t consider it b/c of size and is out of state.</p>

<p>Visit when the campus is bustling and see how she feels. I really can’t think of anyone who has gone there and transferred out. But I do know quite a few auto admits who didn’t apply. One got into the business school (pretty difficult) and then toured, and left in the middle of the tour.</p>

<p>Also, sororities are super competitive if that matters in the least.</p>

<p>I’m prejudiced since it’s my alma matter, but I think it’s a wonderful school. My son went there for his freshman year, in biomedical engineering. He ended up transferring back home due to mental illness. As far as SCHOOL goes, he had a really good experience. He was in a FIG (Freshman Interest Group), a weekly class with kids from his major. They did lots of things - went to the art museum, ordered in pizza, got advising and tutoring, etc. He absolutely LOVED the football games and school spirit. He couldn’t believe how friendly people were, too (but that’s probably the reaction of most northern kids who go south for school, lol).</p>

<p>What I tell people is that it’s like a big city with lots of small neighborhoods. There were 48,000 students when I was there, so it wasn’t much smaller. Starting freshman year, in my intro to architectural engineering class, I started hanging out with kids from my major. After that, a good bit of my time was spent in the engineering building, with the same kids and professors every day. It didn’t FEEL like a huge campus to me, except on game days, which were awesome.</p>

<p>When my son started struggling (he’d never had issues before), his advisor was great. I NEVER thought I’d call one of my kids’ advisors, but I knew I had to in his case. She gave him extra attention and told me to call whenever I needed to. His profs let him take tests late, even though he hadn’t had time to sign up for accommodations yet.</p>

<p>He withdrew the second week of the fall, 2011 semester. UT and his housing co-op were SO helpful. It was past the date for the school to refund all his tuition, but they did, anyway. The co-op he lived in also refunded almost all our money (except for $100 or so). </p>

<p>If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me. My dad is still a professor there, so I can find out info.</p>

<p>OP, my D is a senior at UT and we had many of the same concerns you mention when she was considering UT. Thankfully, there seems to be a place for everyone at UT whatever your interests are. It does take some effort in the beginning to plug yourself in, but there are so many organizations and opportunities to make friends. </p>

<p>One thing that has pleasantly surprised us has been D’s excellent advising experience. She has switched majors a few times, has ended up in Liberal Arts Honors, and feels the professors and advisors go out of their way to help her. No one has been too busy to meet with her if she has questions or needs advice. She has also received some nice merit scholarships over the past couple of years…something that we never expected. </p>

<p>Our D is not a party-kid and has found like-minded friends. She is not in a sorority.</p>

<p>I would recommend taking a look at some of the honors programs at UT once your daughter pins down which program she is applying to. I wish we had done that early on.</p>

<p>I didn’t go to UT (went to another “large state university” in Texas) but I’ve lived in Austin for nearly 30 years and work across the street from campus.</p>

<p>Aside from the question of whether such a big school is good for your student, probably the next biggest hurdle might be housing. On-campus housing is hard to get, so check those deadlines and be early with the housing application. There is lots of rental housing, apartments, etc. near campus, but they are pricey.</p>

<p>I attended UT in the Dark Ages way back in 1970-72. However, it had an enrollment of over 40,000 at that time. But, I am in Austin numerous times a year and my brother and SIL work for the State and live there.</p>

<p>UT-Austin has the same pluses and minuses of many large, large state universities. Has your student focused on what she sees as her pluses and minuses at UT? It seems her area of school interest can be served at UT. </p>

<p>I transfered into UT as a junior from Emory Un. I met a fair number of other transfer students. Some people find small and mid-sized schools, especially in remote areas or in a town or city where the school has little overall importance to that city to be confining or lacking in overall experience opportunities.</p>

<p>UT Austin provides a full range of experiences on and off campus. Like MaineLonghorn noted, there can be subgroup affiliations made quickly on academic and/or artistic interest. </p>

<p>Has your D visited UT very often and stayed with other students? Since she has an older sister who is a freshman, perhaps she could set up to go visit one of the UT freshman friends of her sister.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for the comments. It will help us to go into round 2 with a more open mind.</p>

<p>I live in New England and never knew anyone who went to UT-Austin until recently. Daughter of a good friend transferred there from Wheaton College (MA)–small, liberal arts college. Friend’s D had visited Austin (during the summer) and fell in love with the town. Plus, friend’s D wanted to major in communications–which was a dual degree program at Wheaton (in conjunction with Emerson College). UT had a communications major. </p>

<p>Also, I think that getting out of New England and going someplace very different appealed to my friend’s daughter. She’s now going into her senior year at UT-Austin and has had two internships, including one at a local radio station in Boston. She’s also working for a radio station in Austin. She also participated in a study abroad program in Latin America through UT. It’s been a successful transfer and my friend is happy that her daughter is doing well. </p>

<p>I think UT-Austin, as someone said earlier, is like many other large, state flagship universities. Lots of options and choices and opportunities available–often more than at a small, liberal arts college. However, the big college environment just doesn’t work for some. Your D should visit and find out about the courses and opportunities available in her area of interest.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Different major, but that was my experience exactly. I have never heard the big city/smaller neighborhoods analogy before, but that is a great comparison.</p>

<p>I was a graduate student at UT in the early 1980s. It always struck me how many undergraduates there seemed to be on the first day of each semester. Or how many there were getting in my way, I suppose I should say. After the beginning of the semester, everyone seemed to find his or her way and people didn’t seem to be falling over each other so much. It’s a truism, but I bet you’d be hard pressed to find any school nowadays that ISN’T a party school, as far as that goes. I wouldn’t assume UT is the best choice for everyone, but I wouldn’t discount it based on hearsay. The campus is gorgeous, the facilities are top-rate, there is a niche for every type of person, the street food is good, the restaurant food is good, the music is great. Please, someone, send me back there!</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I will just say that that is a lot more help than my son received at a nearby school that is about 1/20th the size of UT. So Big isn’t necessarily Uncaring and vice versa.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I second that emotion.</p>

<p>I forgot to mention that my son got to do some research in the BME lab during his freshman year. There is always LOTS of research going on there! The structural engineering lab is one of the biggest in the world.</p>

<p>

If UT is in-state for you, I don’t know where you can find comparable schools out-of-state that allow you to pay less?</p>

<p>^The OP says her daughter is a strong student. Chances are she may qualify for merit aid at some OOS schools that perhaps turn out cheaper than UT.</p>