I have been recently admitted to UT Austin, and it’s making me reconsider if I still want to go to Texas Tech. I’ll be in the honors college with a nicer dorm and cheaper tuition at Tech, but UT is a highly respected choice. In the long run, which college would be better (job opportunities, tuition debt)? Would I just be a number at UT?
I would pick UT. You won’t be a number if you work hard and make the effort to get to know your professors. My FAVORITE class at UT, many moons ago, was US History with George Forgie. I believe he’s still teaching. There were 350 kids in that class, but he always had time to talk to me. If I had avoided the class because of its large size, I would have missed out on a lot.
I tell people that UT is like a big city with lots of neighborhoods. You get to know the people in your area of study really well. And there is always something going on someplace on campus! There are many opportunities for you. My son was helping out in the biomedical engineering lab as a freshman!
UT has a much better reputation, especially in Texas. Many students would jump at the chance to attend the school. Good luck!
Also, UT-Austin is well known across the country (and abroad) - much more so than TT.
Head-to-head, Texas Tech Honors College gets the edge versus being a regular student at UT Austin. As an Honors College student you are catered to by the Tech faculty. First in line for class selection as freshman versus last at UT. Small liberal arts classes with less than 25 students in a discussion format versus hundreds in freshman lecture classes at UT as a regular student. As an Honors student you will build strong relationships with faculty that will get you internships and strong recommendations later in your college career. My son went to the Honors College. His close friends and fellow Honors College grads include a Ph.D. in biology from Cornell University and two with MBAs from Chicago and NYU (top 10 Graduate Business schools). Austin is more fun than Lubbock, but you will be special at Tech. Go for Tech Honors. You won’t be sorry.
I’d go to UT. The school has a better reputation both in TX and out of state. And everyone loves Austin.
universeofbooks: Addendum to my prior post…remember you are not just comparing university to university.
Overall, as a university UT Austin is clearly ahead of Texas Tech. But you are comparing your specific role as a student at UT Austin and Tech. In my view, as a Tech Honors student versus being a regular student at UT, then Tech gets the nod. The Honors College is set up to treat its students specially with all the academic advantages a major research university has to offer. Hopefully, you have visited both UT Austin and Tech and the Honors College in particular. If not, be sure to visit both and then decide.
For the rest of your life one of the first things people will see on your resume is the college you attended. As noted above UT has more of a reputation in and out of state. Not everyone will know what the honor program means even if that is on your resume with Texas Tech.
Sorry to disagree, but a person’s resume is usually for an employer so on one line the resume has the college/university attended (cool) plus - and more important - what you did at that college/university such as your major, your overall GPA, etc. My son, a Tech Honors College grad, was magna cum laude which most employers immediately recognize as a significant academic achievement along with “Texas Tech”.