Hi! I was just admitted to UT but I didn’t apply for honors back in December. It seems like almost everyone on CC is within that circle of honors students. Now that I’m more interested in the school, I’m concerned that there could be a divide between honor and regular students and what that means for me as a prospective regular freshman student. I know “honors” typically means special housing and advanced courses, but is there that big of a difference? Does a current student have any thoughts they’d like to share about this?
I don’t know the exact numbers but those students in an Honors program make up a small percentage of students at UT, certainly single digit percentage. Your “regular” degree at UT will do you extremely well in whatever your plans are for your future. Congrats and goodluck
Boy, do I ever! 
Take a look at the Plan II 2021 thread for my detailed thoughts.
tl; dr version - Don’t. Just don’t.
The Shawshank Brother @AndyDufresne has some interesting thoughts. Though it is one man, and not the experience of my son, who does live in the Honors quad, 7 weeks or so from finishing up his freshman year. Or his friends that are not in honors.
When you go to UT, you go to a premier flagship public university. You’re not at a private LA school or a religious institution or a technical training school. UT propitiously happens to be located in one of the most vibrant cities in the US for tech, music and funky, techie innovation of all kinds. It’s a rich mosaic, one that few others can match. Austin is a destination place for jobs and life, not just a cool college town like Ann Arbor or Charlottesville.
And as we parents know, life and education is more related to a student’s ability to take advantage of the opportunities, learn from mistakes, rather than whining that you were cheated, that the world somehow dealt you a bad hand.
Preparation for life adventures are almost always the key to success in those adventures. Our Shawshank Brother did not prepare to win, or take seriously the applications that a 35 ACT would encourage, and is beating himself up over it and wants everyone on his perilous journey. He makes good points, however, a good read. He’s the guy who looks good on paper, but interviews differently maybe. I don’t know.
But in the end: attitude not aptitude will determine your altitude.
UT’s a great place. My OOS son has lots of well adjusted friends, funny experiences, a mind-blowing 46 on his first EE exam (say what?), and he surrounds himself with people of all nationalities and interests.
He prepared well to succeed, so did his friends in engineering, plan II, COLA, fine arts and economics. Honors and not.
It’s all about the mind you bring to any adventure that leads to positive outcomes.
I love that quote @EngPll- “Attitude not aptitude will determine your altitude.” Regardless of your major or program, UT will benefit those kids that take advantage of all it has to offer. You can’t wait for it to come to you. Gotta grab it by the horns, so to speak.
I learned that phrase from my B-school prof, Marianne Jennings. I use it often.