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!
@678mom To clarify, is he OOS for both schools? I wasn’t sure but it sounded like it. UT is big but I will tell you that my DD who is a sophomore in Cockrell, and who grew up locally, has a whole new friend group none of which are from Austin. Texas is a big state so even with a lot of Automatic admits, most kids are not from your high school. The key is to find a way to connect immediately freshman year, via joining a FIG (group of required classes based on a major) that allow for smaller classes and connections, clubs, spirit groups, etc. They have the summer camp before school starts - Camp Texas - to introduce freshman to UT traditions and connect with other freshman. I can’t speak to Michigan’s major, but UT’s is widely respected and there are great internship opportunities, but they don’t fall in your lap - the kids have to network, go to the career fair, etc. Also, UT offers a Business Foundations Certificate for non-business majors that goes on the transcript. True that the salaries will be nice but $52,000 is a lot of money - could pay for grad school or MBA someday. And believe it or not, kids change majors so there is no guarantee on the salary. My 5 cents 
@678mom I would not worry about the OOS thing at all Texas is a BIG state and many of those in state students at UT could be coming from a 4 or 5 hour drive in any direction from Austin.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/how-big-is-texas-compared-to-other-land-masses/
I agree with the others. My OOS son couldn’t believe how friendly the other students were! And he was doing research in the BME lab his freshman year.
I attended UT - the campus was 20 minutes from my parents’ house. My dad was one of my profs. A bunch of my high school classmates attended UT. One of my best friends from high school lived in a dorm a couple of blocks from mine. I think I maybe saw her twice! I made a whole new set of friends, starting my first day in the dorm, and I’m an introvert!
Yes, OOS for both. Thank you so much for the information - it is really helpful to hear from someone who already has a student in the school! And hadn’t heard about the Business Foundations Certificate - sounds very interesting!
Thank you all for your comments! All of the perspectives are really helpful! He really loved UT when he visited and I definitely think he did pick up on the friendly atmosphere!
My only warning is that if he attends UT, there will be a good chance that he decides to stay in Austin after he graduates. It’s a common phenomenon.
@678mom I was an international student at UT and graduated there. Met all kinds of people and did not feel out of place. Got a job offer before I graduated. I’d not hesitate to choose UT again. In fact, my oldest son just started at Cockrell last year.