University of Texas versus Trinity University?

State Forums
1

Hi! I’m a senior in high school, and I’ve been admitted into the University of Texas - Austin and Trinity University! I’m struggling in choosing which university to attend. I am interested in majoring in business, specifically with an international focus, and learning a language (either French or Spanish).

Cost is not a factor - Because of scholarships and financial aid, both schools are practically the same price.

The main issue tripping me up is UT’s name recognition. Everybody knows about UT, especially McCombs Business School, but it seems like very few people have even heard of Trinity. However, Trinity boasts smaller class sizes and more direct communication with the professor, something I am a fan of.

Advice?

2

Hello!

I wanted to give a personal experience. I went to Trinity University. I majored in Marketing, while minoring in Economics and Spanish. I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, which was quite the experience. I am currently working at Oracle in Sales, and I feel Trinity was a great foundation for my undergrad. While Trinity is a small school, it has a beautiful campus and a smaller learning environment. I had relationships with my teachers where I could give them a call on their cell phone if I had a question. I graduated in 2014, and I have heard they have put in a large investment into their school of business. I would highly recommend Trinity. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me at zwright281@gmail.com.

-Zach Wright '14

3

Have you visited both campuses? UT is a huge sprawling campus (I work in Austin, right across the street from UT). If you go there, you will be a number, one in 50,000 students. UT may be more well known in the “brand” sense, i.e. Longhorns, but Trinity is higher ranked academically, in my opinion. (My DS goes to a conference competitor school with Trinity.)

Either way, you can’t go wrong and congratulations for being accepted to both; that means you’ve worked hard in high school.

4

I had a tremendous experience at Trinity. When I compare my experience to my close friends at UT, invariably I conclude that I’d never trade mine for theirs. The obvious reasons why are the small class room sizes and close relationships with professors. However, I would contend that the small school environment improves every facet of the college experience.

At UT, it is very challenging (though doable) to participate intimately in more than one extra curricular. Your social life will be defined by the few activities you can participate in. If you go Greek, your identity will be defined by your sorority or fraternity, if you join the french society, you will be defined by that group, etc… At Trinity, I was in Greek Life, Student Government, Residential Life Staff, a country-western dance team, and many more groups and activities.You create your identity, and people will celebrate you for the unique combination of activities you will pursue.

As a second point, this post alone perfectly demonstrates the microcosm of the Trinity Campus. By the end of your 1st month at Trinity, it will be near impossible to walk across campus without seeing a friend. Zach Wright, the poster above, was a hall mate, class mate, and used to Referee IM games I’d play in. It is the norm for this to occur at Trinity; any campus of 50K it will be an anomaly.

Also, you mention that cost is not a factor. I would run this by your parents first. Any debt you take out does have real costs. However, the sticker price at UT lies. At Trinity, you must really screw up to not graduate in 4 years. Classes are available and professors will work with you to fit requirements around your schedule. I had an entire class moved for my benefit once. At UT, this will never be true. Especially if you don’t get good grades as a freshman. In order, to get into a program (such as business) you often have to apply to that school. If you did poorly your first semester, which is common even if you did well in high school, this becomes even more onerous. Trinity professors will sit with you and work through any issues, to make sure you are prepared to take upper division classes. The above is also true if you ever decide to change your major field (ie switch from Business to Engineering).

Lastly, I must say Trinity is not perfect. I wish I had the D-1 sports experience. It does get frustrating to explain to future employers that Trinity is in San Antonio and not Connecticut. Trinity does not have all the on campus amenities like UT’s bowling alley

I wish you the best in your decision. Be sure to seek out the opinions of UT Grads as well. They might have other points to bring up that aren’t so conspicuously Pro-Trinity.

5

Here are some numbers off of the princetonreview site. They use student surveys to rate schools according to how interesting the professors are, how accessible the professors are, and on the overall quality of the academic experience on a 60 - 99 scale. UT-Austin gets 69, 69, and 75 rating on those three metrics. Trinity gets a 93, 94 and a 91. UT’s 4-year grad rate is 52%. Trinity’s is 72%. UT’s student/faculty ratio is 17.5:1. Trinity’s is 9:1. You get the idea. If you crave the big school environment, then Trinity can’t compete with UT. But in terms of quality of educational experience, I think Trinity comes out way ahead.

6

I have a kid at UT and one at a LAC (not Trinity). Either school would be great, but boy are they different.

My UT kid has done very very well. His profs do know him and he has done research and worked in labs. But he has had to make the effort to get noticed: make good grades, go to office hours, set up meetings after class. He has had to persevere to make those contacts. He is not a frat guy or even much of a joiner, so his social life has been spotty imo. He has high school friends, and also plays intramurals and plays in some musical ensembles. He moved off campus after freshman year, which is typical. My son loves Austin. I think he will try to work/go to grad school there. (It is a great town for young people.)

My LAC kid has also done very well. His profs know him because the classes are so small. This son, who used to be famous for sleeping in class, can’t do that anymore. He has to pay attention and keep up! It has been good for him, though. He feels like he is part of a community, whether in the classroom or the dorm. Like I said, the class size is so small, he feels like he can’t slack. At his school kids stay on campus all four years, so there are more campus based (and dorm based) social events. He is far from home, so had to make new friends. His school made it easy. (and he plays a sport, so that gave him friends right off the bat.)

UT is huge, has great resources and opportunities, but you have to put yourself out there to take them. Same thing for UT (and Austin) socially. Can you do that? At Trinity you wouldn’t get lost in the crowd, but would that small of an environment feel right? And San Antonio has its attractions, but it isn’t the college town that Austin is.

Good luck. Those are two great choices.

7

I don’t think it’s fair to compare the graduation rate of a flagship public uni and a LAC. They have different missions and to a large degree different clientele based on cost alone.

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I’m also deciding between UT and Trinity.

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@delucario, let us know if you have visited both campuses. If you have not, you really should.

Your desire for small classes and easy contact with your professors points to Trinity. As a matter of fact,
the Trinity U page for the School of Business mentions the kind of combination of interests that you have shared in your post. You will have opportunities to double major or minor in another area such as languages. And if you decide on a different major altogether along the way, you will have no problems at Trinity - where you don’t need to declare your major until end of sophomore year.

First year at UT in McCombs is a challenging experience for many. The Calculus 1 and 2 classes that are required are known as weed out classes and are held in auditoriums of 400 students. The Micro and Macro Econ classes also give some students trouble and are about 200+ students in the class. These classes are tough for students that are already in the McCombs school, but a nightmare for those students that intend to transfer into McCombs. Because they have to get As in these classes to have a prayer of internal transfer. This creates more competition for grades.

The actual business classes are a better faculty to student ratio. And generally more enjoyable classes. Freshman year you only have one business class each semester I believe.

Everything at UT seems to be very competitive. Kudos to you for getting into one of the 3 most competitive major areas. I am on a UT closed parent Facebook page where we hear of plenty of students that are having a hard time making friends, getting into spirit groups, or finding a place to belong. It takes many students a year or more before they finally settle in and feel like they belong.

If you love the idea of a big sports school, a noticeable Greek presence, big school spirit, the opportunity for anonymity in your classes, willingness to work through challenges like waiting lists for classes when you register, and you love the prestige of McCombs, then choose McCombs.

If that does not describe you, then let go of the prestige concern and go to Trinity. McCombs will still be there for grad school.

10

@texastexas20, I thought you were deciding between Trinity and Southwestern? I know these things change and flip flop this time of year. What is driving your decision between these two schools? Trinity and UT.

Adding your pros and cons to the discussion could be more helpful than just chiming in!

11

I guess I am between three really. SW, Trinity, UT. I have been in the same position for some time now, and I still cannot decide!! @lots2do

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Does anyone have advice/experience for the pre-med track?

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UT is ranked really high for Business, like #5 overall. I read somewhere that 100% of students who graduate from McCombs are offered a job by graduation compared to only 40% at Trinity. I know you are concerned about class sizes and whatnot, however, in the business program alone at UT, there are only about 900 students, which isn’t that high if you look at other program sizes at UT. And after you choose your major going into sophomore year, you’re going to be in even smaller classes. But the biggest decision you have to make is if you want to go to a big school or small school. Each of the schools have their benefits (I have not pointed out Trinity’s since the posters above me have shared Trinity’s statistics already) but the biggest difference between the 2 schools is in that aspect.

14

Thank y’all for the feedback!

I have visited both campuses - I plan on visiting each of them one more time before making my final decision! Right now, I’m leaning on the Trinity side of the fence. I think small classes and professor attention outweigh the name and spirit of UT. Luckily, I have family friends that go to UT, so I’ll be able to sneak away from San Antonio to see a real football game every once in a while. :slight_smile:

On thing I’m not a fan of at Trinity is the 3-year dorm policy. Are there any Trinity grads out there who have tips for living in a dorm for three years?

@kjswag - I hadn’t thought about how hard juggling extracurriculars would be! It’ definitely been easier to navigate the Trinity clubs and organizations than UT!

@lots2do - thank you for the information on the weed-out classes. I come from a really small private high school, and I honestly can’t imagine taking a math class that’s bigger than my entire high school! Also, you’re right - McCombs will still be there for graduate school.

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@delucario I am a Trinity grad and lived in the dorms for the 3-year requirement. It was an incredible experience. Plus, the dorms are amazing. Here is a link I found that takes people through the dorms. https://new.trinity.edu/campus-life/residence-halls-dining/living-campus

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I’ll give you my impression from a completely different standpoint, with burnt orange blood flowing through my veins, having graduated from UT Austin 43 years ago, having worked there for 20 years, and as a woman who loved Austin and all the fun it had to offer while it lasted. I’ve been on the support staff at Trinity for about 2 1/2 years now. Back in 1971, I transferred from San Antonio College to UT as a junior, with excellent grades, two years on the dean’s list, and membership in an honorary fraternity. As excited as I was to be at UT, frankly, I struggled. I was young, naive, and probably didn’t know what I was doing much of the time. Most of my classes were enormous. I felt intimidated about going to my professors if I had problems (and so, many times, I didn’t). I found my little niche singing with a chorus and performing in a play, but as an Italian major with a German minor (and one of only two to graduate in Italian in 1973) I feel now that, save for a few classes, I didn’t really learn very much there by the time I’d finished school. I also worked in the French and Italian department for two years as an undergraduate, so I knew my professors pretty well. (I can’t say that helped.) Upon graduation I moved to Italy and lived with relatives for six months, so by the time I’d returned to my beloved Austin, I was quite fluent. I worked for the Longhorn Band for 18 months, then enrolled in the Italian School at Middlebury and completed my MA in one year, studying in Vermont and the University of Florence in their study abroad program. That is where I learned how to speak Italian: in a small private college with small classes, fully immersed in the language and culture. I haven’t done much professionally with my language studies, however. I eventually ended up back in Austin, always working in various offices at UT (about 12 of them!), not having really developed a “real” career using my talents, unfortunately. On the other hand, my sister graduated with honors from Trinity, received a solid education and a firm footing in her chosen field (mostly radio), and has carved out a lovely career for herself in this city. She is self-employed in promotions, answers to no one, and is perfectly happy with her chosen path. I’m convinced that her excellent education at Trinity, on an intimate campus with great opportunities for growth (she was the radio station manager here for a few years), gave her the confidence to go forth in the world and be a success. My advice: Go to UT for graduate school, after you’ve found yourself and developed your gifts at Trinity, in this great, supportive learning community. You absolutely won’t regret it.

17

I felt the same way going into my first year at Trinity about living on campus for 3 years, but honestly it isn’t as bad as it sounds. The reason behind the 3 years of living on campus policy is so that you get involved with the student body and become well acquainted with everyone on campus. I am a senior at Trinity and finally got the opportunity to live off campus, but I honestly miss not having to wake up an hour before class as opposed to 10 or 15 minutes before class. Campus is beautiful and so are the people that attend Trinity. Campus life is great and everything you need is right there in front of you. I agree with everything everyone has said on this thread about Trinity. It truly is a great campus with wonderful professors, workers and students. If you want to build close bonds not only with your friends, but also your professors, this is the place to be! I am truly going to miss this place after I graduate in a few weeks.

I hope this helps you solidify your decision and please feel free to email me at ljaramil@trinity.edu if you have any further questions or need a guide once you get to visit the campus. Happy college hunting! :slight_smile:

Lauren

18

“I read somewhere that 100% of students who graduate from McCombs are offered a job by graduation compared to only 40% at Trinity.”

@marie122 This is misleading, because the 100% placement is for the honors program (500 students), not for the entire undergrad program of over 4600 students.
https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/Career-Services/Statistics/Student-Demographics.
This means ~11%, (the most select group of the student body) are “guaranteed” employment. What about the other 4,100 students? Something tells me not all of these student go straight into the workforce after graduating.

43% of Trinity’s 2014 graduating class had a job at graduation, but 31% enrolled immediately in grad school; 7% had not received a job offer by graduation.
https://new.trinity.edu/sites/default/files/file_attachments/trinityu-placement-outcomes.pdf

As others have said, both are great academic schools; the choice between UT and Trinity really comes down to whether a student wants a big or small college experience.

19

I attended UT (back in the 80’s) and felt the business school was at best average despite its lofty reputation. My son just graduated from Trinity with a computer science degree. In my mind there is no comparison between the two schools. Trinity is a great university which compares favorably with the likes of Rice. UT is a diploma mill. I thought my son would not enjoy three years in the dorms, but he felt that if he had it to do again he might spend all four years in the dorms. The dorms at Trinity are the nicest I have seen, but the students seem to grow tired of the cafeteria food.