DS was accepted OOS to UM Engineering and UT Austin Cockrell for Electrical/Computer Engineering. UM has been one of his top 2 schools from the start, but after visiting UT Austin he is now really torn. We would both appreciate any thoughts/insights (we are posting this on both school’s pages) because it is a little harder OOS to see the whole picture. UM will be about $52K total more than UT (no aid for either school) but in the relative scheme of things, that will be about 8 months of one year’s starting salary. Things that are important to him academically are opportunities to get classes, participate in research, possibly having a chance to take some business classes, and professionally speaking, good access to internships/coops/ jobs. Fit-wise, he wants to be on a campus that is close to a city or small city with good food/music/sports options, which both offer, but he is concerned with UT enrollees being 90% instate that he will have a harder time joining clubs/fraternities/in the dorms, etc. if everyone knows each other from high school. Would love any insights/thoughts!
I love both schools. My cousins went to UT Austin and my kid goes to UM CoE. You may want to compile a list of pros and cons for each school and then see which one stands up better. I lived in Texas for 10 years and Michigan for almost 20 years. I would not say the climate is better in one place than the other. For the town, I like AA more than Austin. For the surrounding environment, I like Austin more. Besides the major, think about what else each school offers that are important to your son. Residential programs, research opportunities, internship opportunities, etc. There is no clear cut between the two. For sports, there are Detroit vs San Antonio. For food, I would prefer Ann Arbor unless you really like TexMex. I do like TexMex but I also like something else. For music, it depends on what he likes. The music school at UMich is pretty strong. UMich is also more diverse with more OOS and international students (but far less Hispanic for sure). Even over 80% students at UT are from Texas, it does not mean everyone have a bunch of friends from high school going there together. For the top 7% of each high school all over the Lone Star State, it got diluted out easily in the student body of UT in different majors, dorms, etc.
I would also look into the degree programs, if he has an idea of what exactly he wants to major in. UM AA’s engineering program has some pretty amazing programs, renowned countrywide…
Suggest he checks out Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), where he can do research as a first semester freshman.
Also check out the Engineering Global Leadership honours program, a 5-year BSE/MSE program, with the 5th year split between CoE and Ross.
“For music, it depends on what he likes. The music school at UMich is pretty strong.”
Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World!