I have been accepted to both UT Austin and Texas A&M for chemical engineering, but I am torn between the two. I’m a white, Protestant, conservative male from an Aggie family. I may seem like the choice is clear, but not quite! I prefer to live in city (not a college town) and be farther away (I live in Houston, so Austin is farther). I also think the academics at UT are slightly better (though not too much). Perhaps most importantly, I’ve practically grown up with everything A&M, and I am ready for something different.
My biggest problem (really my only problem) with UT is what I’ve heard about politics there. I know I shouldn’t base my entire decision on this, but it’s important to me. Most of them are going to UT or schools like Berkeley, whereas most of my conservative friends are going to TAMU. I have a reputation among my friends of being very conservative. That said, I go to a high school with a large minority population. Many of my close friends are openly liberal. They are accepting of my views, just as I am of theirs. What I am concerned about is whether or not this will happen if I choose to go to UT.
Following the inauguration of Donald Trump yesterday, I saw mass protests on the news at UT (and elsewhere, but that’s besides the point here). It’s certainly people’s right to protest, but it makes me question whether or not I could fit in in a place like Austin. What do y’all think? I understand that the general atmosphere at A&M is more accommodating to my views, but can someone with a more conservative mindset find a place at UT. Also, PLEASE note that I mention the inauguration to give context to my story, not to incite political argument. 