UT Austin or Notre Dame?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>As a HS senior, I have less than a month left to decide what college to attend. So far I've narrowed it down to UT Austin or University of Notre Dame, and can't decide which would be best. I want to major in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering with a double minor in econ and international relations.</p>

<p>As background, I'm a lifelong Austinite and not sure if I want a huge change or not. I'm a pretty motivated person, so academics would be fine. Also, UT is downtown, and I've lived in the borderline- hill country most of my life. I used to think I would enjoy a small college in a quiet town, but now am worried I would feel bored/boxed in/limited since I've taken to going out more.
UT:
Pros- close to home, really cheap (with college funds, scholarships etc.), nice weather, top 10 eng. school, good sized college city, can still visit HS friends (I'm close with lots of juniors)</p>

<p>Cons- close to home (native Austinite), possibly looking for a new experience, not sure if I could handle living downtown, big university feel (size, classes)</p>

<p>ND:
Pros- private, good size school, Catholic (I'm catholic), far away, famous ND network after graduation, weather (Snow is a nice change for a Texan), beautiful campus</p>

<p>Cons- a bit more expensive (I'm getting money but its still out of state), worried about its rep as a party school but also rumored strict Catholic rules, weather (still cold), ranked in 40s for engineering</p>

<p>I'm set to visit ND in about a week for the first time. Heard its a deciding factor. I've visited UT, and while I'm not in loooove with the campus, I could definitely do it for four years.</p>

<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)</p>

2

<p>If you really want to be an engineer, go to UT.
If you have any doubts at all about engineering, go to Notre Dame.</p>

3

<p>^I think UT is going to have a higher number of well-ranked programs than ND actually.</p>

<p>Having said that, UT has a top 10 engineering program (as you said), but I don’t really think the difference between the two will matter that much.</p>

<p>UT and ND are both great schools with really good sports teams and school spirit. The reputation of ND goes a little farther than that of UT (I’m not really sure why though). </p>

<p>Also, Austin is fairly liberal and ND is pretty conservative, so you might want to keep that in mind.</p>

4

<p>I may be from the same area you are, kgt! “Austin” for an address, but a different incorporated city, just west of town. I went to UT six years, for my BS and MS in engineering. It was far enough removed from home that I didn’t feel too close (especially since I didn’t have a car until I was a senior). Do you think you’ll want to work in Texas after you graduate? If so, UT is the place to go - the networking is phenomenal. The profs are great about helping students get jobs (my dad is still an engineering prof there, so I know this still holds true).</p>

<p>The cool thing about going to UT is that there are SO many alumni, you will see them all over the world. If you’re wearing burnt orange in London, you’ll find somebody giving you the Hook 'em Horns sign.</p>

<p>Really, though, you’ll do fine at either school. Go for your visit, then listen to your gut! If you have any specific questions about UT engineering, PM me and I’ll try to help.</p>

5

<p>I said ND if he wasn’t going into engineering is just because switching majors is tough at UT</p>

6

<p>Two great schools. I suggest you visit ND and go to the school that feels like the best fit. You can’t make a bad choice.</p>