I recently got accepted into UTD’s business honors program (DMHP) and am also accepted into the McCombs School of Business at UT (not BHP, however). I’m getting a full ride + stipend at UTD, but I’m unsure if there are better opportunities at UT that I might be missing out on. Also, I’d have to spend $30k per year if I went to UT.
I’m really confused as to which school I should choose. Please share some advice! Thanks in advance
I say go to UTD. It’s rare in life that somebody offers you $$$$ for you to achieve a goal. Take it and take advantage of being in honors, of being one of the best in your major. UTD is in a large metro area with lots of internship opportunities. UTD does have a highly regarded business program. Take the money and the opportunities.
Seriously if your a business major you should know the value of $120K! Follow the money, UTD is a great school, tons of intership oppertunities in the Dallas area. Go visist if you haven’t already.
Thank you for the replies! I think my concern is that would I be missing out on internship opportunities that students at UT get? And does the ranking of UT matter in business? I know UTD is near rank 120 amongst all colleges in the nation while UT is ranked around 40. I’m unsure if this really makes a difference in job opportunities for the future.
Another thing I’ve heard is that people often choose to get their masters degree from a well known school. If I do go to UTD, does that make my chances of getting into a well known university for my masters lower?
Also, I’ve heard people say that networking and getting better connections are possible at UT. Would I be at a disadvantage in terms of my network if I stuck to UTD?
Sorry about this list of questions. I’ve heard so many different opinions but I’m trying to come to some sort of a concensus. thanks!
As far as internships, Dallas/Ft Worth is a huge market with lots of opportunity. Also, you will be in the honors program at UTD. Future employers will be looking there first for interns. I think it gives you a big advantage. Also, take the rankings with a grain of salt. If you do well at UTD and take advantage of opportunities which do include internships, leadership positions, working with start ups, entering competitions, travel abroad programs and research, that is what employers want to see. Create a great resume. It is true that the networking would be greater at UT. UT has been around many years and has many alumni but I it doesn’t have the same reputation that A&M does. It has always been said that an A&M boss looks for A&M graduates. I have not heard that about UT. Again, a great resume will be looked at by all employers.
As far as getting a Masters, I think again being in honors will help you out there. Being in that small cohort, the professors will do everything possible to make you a success. It helps them, the program and the school. Also, the students I know at UTD are very successful post graduation. Many have been premed but they have gotten into premier institutions.
Both of my DDs turned down UT CS for other schools that offered scholarships as well as other opportunities with one being UTD. Both have been very successful. The one at UTD has traveled abroad twice, is a president of a large club, is involved in a marketing club (she is not business though), has had 2 internships, has been asked to give input on UTD’s future plans and will get her Masters in 4 years with UTD paying for it. UTD has created opportunities for her that UT couldn’t. Some of it was the money but there is also flexibility at UTD to try things. The school encourages students to get involved and they want leaders. It can be a great opportunity for you and there is the money!
You are fortunate, you have 2 great choices and it is not easy to make the choice. Good luck to you.
Do you have a full ride or full tuition + stipend?? So you have zero costs at UTD?
She is actually a National Merit, so she does get a full ride for 4 years.
it’s a full tuition + $3000 stipend per semester for 8 semesters (all 4 years) so I’ll have to pay a bit if I decide to stay in the housing. But even then, it’d be like $4k a year. I could stay at home too and commute. @Sybylla
Thank you for the great advice @GTAustin. I will definitely consider what you said!
Actually, if you stayed at home and commuted, you could graduate with money in your pocket about $5000 /yr. I’m not sure I would recommend that because being on campus does get you more involved but it would be an option.
One more thing to consider - honors vs non honors. In honors, you normally have smaller classes, the better professors and a definite advantage when you are registering for classes. You also develop a cohort with the other students because you are many classes with them. It’s a definite advantage.
Before making a decision, talk to UTD’s DHMP director about their internship and post graduation job placement rates, including names of companies that recruit and hire graduates and also average starting salaries.
I graduated from UTD, and it’s a great school. I had a great experience and even met my husband there. But even having been a student leader and having graduated from the school of business, summa cum laude with a 4.0, I felt left on my own to find a job and really floundered around before finding something mediocre. My husband got an engineering degree and he did fine, but I think STEM degrees are a bit different than business.
This was over 20 years ago when UTD’s undergrad program was still new, so things could be better now, but it is something you should research. My ds has been accepted to both UTD and UT Austin as well as TAMU Mays and some others. Right now, UTD is the least expensive option, but I am concerned about career placement.
We visited UT Austin this summer, and I could not have been more impressed with their job placement stats and career services. They even have a place right on campus where companies come interview McCombs students.
So, I understand your dilemma as we are in a similar position, though ds didn’t get into honors at UTD and his scholarship is a bit less than yours ($10,000 per yr).
Do your parents have money set aside to pay for your schooling? If they don’t have the money, then it’s a no brainer to go with the scholarship at UTD.
If they do have the $30K per year, then you’re asking some good questions, and I think you should talk to DHMP staff. They may even be able to connect you with some recent grads.
The advise is good but the school is definitely different than it was 20 years ago. Another thing that is different is the way you get jobs now. When I graduated, it was thru the career center. Now it is thru Linked In. Both of my girls have gotten internships and permanent positions thru Linked In and not the career center. They apply for jobs all over the country and interviews are done by telephone or skyping. A website that captures some of this information is here https://seekut.utsystem.edu/seekuttool
@GTAustin I’m planning on staying on campus, as you said, to be more involved.
@jazzymomof7 thank you for the advice! While my parents can afford the 30k per year for UT, the scholarship at UTD is very tempting. I’ll definitely contact the DMHP director and try to talk to some of the recent grads.
@GTAustin @jazzymomof7 I’ve heard that the career center is pretty good at UTD too, but I agree that jobs are found through Linked-In now too.
@snejej my ds is a freshman NM at UTD and his out of pocket exspenes for the year have been less than $100, staying in the dorms with meal plan and including books, so UTD may be less expensive than you think. Next year he will be in an on campus apartment without a meal plan so it will be less expensive:-)
@GTAustin Good point! I’m sure the job search and hiring process have changed a lot since I graduated.
@snejej Best wishes making your decision. If you have a chance, please let us know what you find out!
Do take a look at that website that I mention. Depending upon your major in business, it could make a significant difference. One caveat, I know what my older DD made directly out of school, here in Austin working in CS and the numbers listed for both UT and UTD were significantly lower than what she actually makes. Cost of living in Austin and probably Dallas area would increase the earnings in those areas vs a state wide average.