The University of Texas at Austin Top Questions

UT is definitely a large school. In fact, it was the largest in the continental United States until only a few years ago. But don't let that bother you. What's important to remember is that, for the most part, you will be mainly involved in your own personal area of study, and that can be a large or as small as you'd like it to be. So yes, you may be in a school of 52,000 students and faculty, but you're not going to interact with all of them on a daily basis. Get to know the professors and fellow students that are in the area you care about most, enroll in Freshman Interest Groups and Freshman Seminars, and if you're in a dorm get to know the people that are in the same field as yours and you'll do just fine. It's always nice to have a "note buddy" who can go over information for a class that you may have missed.

The best thing about UT is the people! There are so many people from all different walks of life and it's great to learn about different cultures. One thing I would change or get rid of would be the PTS (Parking and Transportation Services). It is pretty much an accepted fact that you will get at least one ticket a year if not a semester. It gets pretty annoying because sometimes you will only be a minute past your metered parking time and you will already have a ticket waiting for you when you get back. UT is definitely a college town. Every one that lives in Austin either goes to UT, went to UT, or is just a hardcore UT fan. We bleed burnt orange, and Longhorn flags can be found at just about every corner. There's definitely a lot of school pride!

UT is one of the largest universities in the country, which is both a good and bad thing. On the positive side, there is so much stuff to do and a lot of opportunities. On the downside, the registration process almost never goes the way you would like and you can definitely feel like a number more than a person. Austin is probably the best city in Texas and because so many people are students, it's a great college town. There's always something going on and it makes life more fun.

The best thing about UT is the people you meet. I like the large campus. The division of schools makes it a little smaller. I spend most of my time in the Mechanical Engineering building, but that's the same with any engineer. Everyone loves the school and are proud to go there.

I absolutely love UT. I think the school is very welcoming to people from all sorts of cultures and backgrounds, the professors are great and have outside-the-box perspectives. If I could change something, it would be the ridiculous parking situation for campus. When I tell people I go to UT, they are always very impressed and assume I am very smart. When I was on campus, I would spend most of my time at the PCL; that is where i go to study/write papers. Austin is definitely a college town, the atmosphere all over Austin is very hip, young, and active. It is very student friendly, and the city prides itself on UT. I think the recent controversy on campus is the ever-growing tuition increases and the current 'safety' concerns. I'm not sure if I would say there is anything 'unusual' about UT, it might not be like other schools, but it is definitely a place I love and feel at home in. Every UT experience is great: I loved attending the football, basketball, and volleyball games. Events like 40 Acres fest are always fun, attending events at the West Mall, and participating in things throughout campus. Most frequent student complaints is definitely the increase in tuition, the rediculous book prices at the co-op, and the lack of school parking.

The Big Picture for me is that the four years I spent at UT were no doubt some of the best in my life. I was fortunate enough to meet some pretty amazing people there who helped make my time there so memorable. Part of this group of people were the Texas Cowboys. I was involved with the organization my Junior and Senior year of college.

UT is a great all around school. If you want a college genuine experience it is the place to be. You get a great education for a good price. The only thing I would change is that it is so big that sometimes it is hard to form relationships with faculty and students.

The best thing about UT is it's location. There is so much to do all around austin all of the time, and the live music is great. UT has a great academic reputation and most people recognize that you must be doing something right to be at UT. Along with academics the sports scene is impressive which makes going to football, basketball, volleyball and other althetic events that more fun.

Austin Rocks!

I think UT is incredible because it offers everything a college student could want: great academics, beautiful weather, esteemed professors, renowned downtown bar scene, and the unique Austin culture.