UT-Austin BHP vs UT-Dallas Business? HELP

State Forums
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<p>Hi everybody! I'm a TAMS student, which means that I basically get to skip two years of any public university in Texas.
Here's my question: I want to major in Business. I know that UT's McCombs school is reputably amazing, but I have heard amazing things about UTD's Jindal School (where I can go for free and get a $3000 per semester stipend). (Rank 15 vs Rank 37 according to US News). The thing is, my parents and I really dislike UT. REAALLLYYYY dislike it. It's too much of a party school, too liberal, etc. UTD would suit me just fine. We originally planned to never even consider it, but I have just only heard about its amazing BHP program. Another thing to consider is that I am possibly premed, but I know both UTD and UT are amazing for it.</p>

<p>UT Positives:
- I've heard that UT's BHP program has amazing recruiting for Texas companies and a few Wall Street Companies. O.O
- I want to go to a great MBA program like Wharton's, and flagships are viewed better than regional schools like UTD.
- Class sizes are capped at 40 students (I think)
- TAMS has cost my parents about 9000 per year or 18000 in total, If I go to UT, then I will have saved money since it costs 44000 for the two years that I've only spent 18000 for.</p>

<p>UT Negatives:
- WAY too big of a school and not my style. Too liberal, too much Frat culture, etc.
- I'm scared I won't be able to pull off a 3.9+ GPA. I HAVE GOT to go to a school where I can pull this off, no matter UT or UTD. (Would somebody tell me about the rigor of the BHP program please?)
- Campus is super big. I like a medium sized campus.</p>

<p>UTD Positives-
- Free tuition plus $3000 dollars stipend per semester.
- Jindal school has good recruitment, but only in Dallas.
- Like UT, UTD has a Collegium 5 Honors program, which caps classes of at about 30 students.
-It's totally my style. There's no football team or frat culture. The school is COMPLETELY focused on academics. I think it's a hidden gem in Texas that not many people consider. I can't stop gushing about this school. And #1 Chess Team in the nation? Sign me up!
- UTD is only 10 minutes away from home, so I won't have to spend a dime for this school other than for books. I've already had the whole living-away-from-home college experience for the past two years at TAMS (at UNT), and I don't really need to have any more experience. UTD would save me a LOT of moola.
- UTD and UT Southwestern Medical School are pretty tight. UTD's a great feeder school to their medical school.</p>

<p>UTD Negatives-
- I want to get a top 5 school MBA and prestigious internships. UTD is not conducive to that.
- UTD's campus too small, and there's only one cafeteria. :(
- UTD does not seem that prestigious, and in the Business world (unlike Medicine) prestige is all that matters.
- Not as much networking as in UT.</p>

<p>Please share your opinions about my predicament, etc. I'd like the positives and negatives of the BHP program and the +'s or -'s of UTD's Jindal School of Management. If it helps, I'm applying to Wharton for ED, so UT BHP and UTD are my backups.</p>

<p>Thank you SO much for your time and help. :)</p>

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<p>I’m assuming your stats are really strong. You’ve taken SAT and ACT and those stats are really strong. And I am assuming you are finished with the 2 year TAMS program this spring - thus finishing junior ans senior year of high school while completing first two years of college credit. (Which also means you are quite young to attend college.)</p>

<p>With those assumptions, I suggest you look into and apply for the McDermott Scholarship Program at UTD. It is a full ride, + summer programs, +stipends, + hand picked internships, + a close knit group of McDermott Scholars. They treat the McDermott’s like royalty. I have a nephew from out of state in the program. Top notch. They will all but guaranatee you will get into the MBA program of your choice. </p>

<p>Also, if your goals are MBA school, you may want to consider more diverse undergrad majors than business. </p>

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<p>Oh my goodness, if I could just get the McDermott, I’d even turn down Wharton. :slight_smile:
Thank you for the advice @lots2do‌ , but the McDermott is VERY competitive, but I do have a chance I suppose.</p>

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<p>Former TAMSter here.</p>

<p>UT Austin is so big that characterizations like “It’s too much of a party school, too liberal, etc” don’t even make sense. It’s so big that there is a supportive culture there for whatever kind of person you want to be. </p>

<p>I’ve known friends who hate football and would never be caught dead wearing burnt orange or attending a frat party who went there happily, graduated, and went on to jobs in the Fortune 500 and Wall Street.</p>

<p>Some of your big school cons do make sense (larger intro classes, huge campus), but in a school with over 50,000 students you can’t really apply a monocultural stereotype.</p>

<p>That being said, frankly you sound like you have already made up your mind. You’re already visualizing yourself at UTD, playing on the chess team, saving money, never getting ribbed by someone for not wearing the team colors on game day. And I do agree it’s a somewhat hidden gem, often overshadowed by Austin and A&M.</p>

<p>So go for it. Admission to top MBA programs is going to be guided more by what you do with yourself professionally in the years between graduation and grad school than by which school you attended for UG anyway. And MBAs are expensive, so saving your money now to invest it in your future is good business. </p>

<p>I do second the recommendation, however, to major in something, anything but business. Think of your education as a long term plan and minimize the redundancies. B.Business->M.Business, no matter how reputable the schools, is invariably going to waste a significant amount of your time, money, and effort retreading the same topics. Don’t pass up the opportunity to bring a unique perspective to your future employers and future MBA cohort by studying bioengineering, political economy, global health, or applied math. You’ll be richer for it, and so will they.</p>

<p>Also, you mention UTD as a medical school feeder. If you have any interest in getting an MD or MD/MBA, you’ll want to make sure to complete the pre-med requirements. Which, again, may steer you toward a different UG major than business.</p>