<p>^absolutely, i will live away from home…no one in the family wants me to stay home and miss out on becoming independent. but there will always be the temptation to go home for laundry (still to be done by me there), or when one is sick, or for a quick comforting home cooked meal…i suppose this discussion is to be taken to another appropriate thread!!!</p>
<p>Don’t overcommit yourself academically. My info is old but the engineering program used to be very hard, even for smart kids. not sure I’d tried to double major in fields you noted and not sure I’d shoot for honors up front. people at UT’s engineering dept can help you more than me though on those issues. I just don’t want you getting burned out your freshman year. You won’t be able to totally avoid the issue of Austin being old hat to you. that’s one of the downsides of going to UT. However, ur scholarships and the strength of UT’s engineering program outweigh that. and being on campus is a microcosm of Austin and in some ways its own little world so there will be “some” differences. and lest I forget, Hook Em Horns!</p>
<p>@sanchanim - My S went to college only about 20 minutes from home and it was a great experience. Before he left we had an honest talk and my husband and I agreed to treat him as if he was 2 hours away and not a few minutes from home. It was important to all of us that he gain his independence and it worked out great. We never “popped by when we were in the neighborhood” and did not expect him home for minor holidays. He absolutely loved his college experience. And it was a helpful once or twice when things happened – like his heavy coat ripped in the middle of the winter (he came home for a couple of hours and we got a new one). It was nice that getting back and forth for school breaks was very easy. He is now in grad school halfway across the country and, while it is another great experience, we do miss the easy trips! Enjoy your experience at a wonderful university.</p>