My daughter has been accepted to Visualization at Texas A&M and Arts and Tech at UT Dallas. TAMU has the higher ranked program, but offered her no money so we will be paying every penny out of pocket. We can do this, but it’s gonna be a challenge. UT Dallas offered her 100% paid tuition/fees, plus a $1000 stipend each semester. All we would pay is room and board. Anyone have any knowledge of these two programs? Is TAMU so much better that it’s worth paying full price. She likes the environment of UT Dallas better then A&M, but wants to choose whichever program gives her a better chance of being employed after graduation. Any insight anyone has would be much appreciated!
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Both are great programs, with A&M’s higher ranked over all. If attending A&M is possible, that would be the first choice. If money is a big consideration, then UTD should be your choice. While A&M is better, she will still get a good education at UTD.
Viz at A&M is a small department and she will not be one of thousands like in engineering or one of a thousand in the business school.
A&M doesn’t give merit aid except to the exceptionally highest achieving applicant and then has a lot of scholarships for high achieving students that are low income, first generation and under-served areas of Tx. The general high achieving student doesn’t get merit aid. They don’t have to offer them to get them to come.
It’s hard to beat free.
How much of a challenge will it be? Will you have to co-sign private loans for her or take out parent loans?
I have to say the Visualization department at A&M seems to offer a lot. They have an impressive report of students who are actually employed with major players in the industry.
Our policy has always been to avoid personal or private loan debt so that would be the tipping point for us. If it’s a matter of belt tightening or giving up vacations then go with TAMU. If it’s private loan debt go with UT Dallas. Of course if she flat out prefers the campus vibe at UT Dallas then go with that!
Thanks for everyone’s responses! I think she has decided to go to Texas A&M.
In response to Carachel2 - we can do it without loans, just a matter of taking some cheaper vacations, and budgeting better. We want to help give her the best start in what appears to be a very competitive field. It just is a bit frustrating that she worked so hard to excel and received no finincial reward for it. Top 6%, National Merit Commended, Animation Awards, 9 AP. Part of what was making her hesitate about TAMU campus is that she is pretty liberal and it’s such a conservative campus. She has researched that a bit and thinks it will be okay. With so many students there, there has to be like-minded students there. Especially in Viz, which tends to be an artsy crowd.
Thanks got the advice!
My husband tells me that in all the corporations he’s worked for in Dallas, SMU and UTD kids get the most pull for employment. So if you live in the DFW metroplex, UTD is probably the best way to go.
College Station is conservative and there is not much to do on weekends. TAMU is a great school however. Congrats for getting accepted! I agree, Viz kids will be more artsy so he’d be fine at TAMU. Dallas is more creative and cultural and more opportunities for internships. Tough choice!