So I recently got accepted to both the University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University. However, I am having a hard time deciding between the two. I got in to the Honors College at TTU, and (shockingly) I got accepted into the Plan II Honors program at UT. I love Austin, Texas so much, but there is no way I could attend without taking out student loans. TTU has offered me a variety of scholarships and would accept all the dual credit classes I took in high school (if I become a Plan II major at UT, my DC would not be accepted), so the cost of attending/finishing out my undergrad would be around $7,000 total. UT has offered me no scholarships except one, so the cost of attending/finishing out my undergrad would be $70,000 total. Am I letting the allure and prestige of Austin, TX and Plan ii cloud an obvious decision? Am I crazy to even be questioning attending TTU with their offer? Help me decide please. I need an unbiased opinion!
Community college >>> UT Austin. Tis the way to go.
A lot depends on your financials and how much $70K over 4 years means to you and your family. If it means $70K in debt, not worth it. If it means $20-30K debt could be worth it - depending on your major (which determines your ability to pay it back), especially if Austin is really where you want to be.
If you’re planning on going to grad school, you could go to TTU and save the $$ for grad school at UT-Austin.
Or, CC >>> UT-Austin as okon suggested.
Aside from the money … which is heavily in favor of Texas Tech … have you visited Tech? Lubbock is VERY different from Austin, and I know first-hand because I graduated from Tech but have lived in Austin for over 30 years. Housing at UT is very competitive and hard to get on-campus, and off-campus or other housing in Austin is very expensive.
If you have already at least visited Tech, then you’ll know the differences between the two campuses and the two cities.
Do you have any other options?
Have you received your financial aid package from UT? How much will your parents help with the cost? You can’t take out $70,000 in loans yourself.
UT is the more attractive option, but depending on your financial situation, $70,000 could be too expensive.
Congrats on two great acceptances. Plan II is very prestigious.
What are you planning to study? Plan II does not have anything comparable at TTU since as the name signfies, TTU is more engineering focused.
Whichever give you the most money. My Daughter graduated from UT Austin last year and got 27K a year job, and also now started paying down 60K loan. Good Luck…