<p>This is specifically directed to the Texas Top 10%-ers who plan to study in-state. Looking around CC, I've noticed many from other states are sending out boatloads of applications, making a dozen campus visits, and stressing to no end. OTOH, you know you will be admitted to the public school of your choice so are you sitting easy or over stressing? Are you listing just your heart's desire or several schools on the Common App? Are you also applying to any privates? Are you tearing the road up between UTEP to Tech to Houston for visits?</p>
<p>UT is one of the cheapest universities in the country that still maintains a high level of quality in education. Therefore, I didn’t bother applying to out-of-state schools because the increase in tuition would not be worth the increase in education. That being said, I only applied to UT and A&M. I also saved myself money by not having to pay for the application fee had I applied for OOS schools.</p>
<p>I agree the value at UT is excellent, except for the dorms. Yeah, UT and A&M should do it. I don’t see why anyone would want to go oos and pay such high tuition when there are excellent schools here. Ok, maybe if it were an Ivy. We’ve done visits around the state if we happen to be driving by.</p>
<p>Let me start out by acknowledging that UT is a very good school. Let me also say that it is a very good value for instate. Also, my daughter chose to attend UT from OOS. </p>
<p>Now let me make a contrary point. There are benefits to going to school in another part of the country. We live in a diverse geographical country, filled with lots of different kind of people. Each region has its own personality. There is something to be said for experiencing other places and people. In California, we have top notch Public Universities. My daughter chose not to apply to any. I am sure she could have been accepted to some very good schools. She wanted to experience students from other parts of the country. Like Texas, The U C’s except very few out of state kids. She wanted to meet people from other places. We asked her to limit her choices to Public State schools in any state. In the end, She was accepted to many quality Public Schools. Her final four choices were Wisconsin, Washington, Maryland, and Texas. Each school had its own personality, geographical pull, and unique student body. Texas, while not the highest ranked of the group, stood out to her. She loved Austin, the program of study, and wanted to experience a little texas flavor. I am quite sure that all of those schools would have given her a comparable education, and a rich and diverse student population.
We live in a great diverse country. Do not be so quick to rule out the adventure of discovery and meeting new people. I am proud and happy that my daughter chose to broaden her horizons, and I am excited for her Texas experience. Don’t be afraid to explore your options. You can live your entire life in Texas, perhaps this is the four years to have a different experience.</p>
<p>Hope this did not come off as preachy, just wanted to share a perspective. Good luck with your pursuits.</p>
<p>I grew up in Austin, but UT was the ONLY school I applied to. I loved the town and the campus. After I graduated, I moved to Maine. There’s always time to explore the country after college. I could not see making my parents spend boatloads of money, when I could get an outstanding engineering education in my hometown (for $4 a credit hour back then!).</p>
<p>UT Austin is the only public Texas university I’m interested in applying to. I’ll probably apply to a couple of private universities and a couple of out of state schools. I guess UT’s probably where I’ll end up - but I’m still stressing a bit about some things because I’d really like to get into an Honors program.</p>