The University of Texas at Austin Top Questions

Best thing- the friendly people and the beautiful campus. Change - there should be more involvement between different types of groups, and better advertisements for events put on by on/off-campus organizations. School size- just right, because smaller organizations make you feel like you belong somewhere. People react positively, everyone knows UT is a great school. most time on campus- in class or FAC. what college town- there is always something fun to do in Austin with or without other students. UT's administration- well organized, but they need more feedback/interaction with the students. There is a lot of school pride, even though everyone is very different. Unusual about UT- diverse student body, but everyone is accepting and friendly.

The atmosphere. I would change the scheduling system. My school is just right. People seem impressed that I go to UT. I spend most of my time at the library and at the gym. The area around UT is collegey, but downtown is definately no college town. UT's administration is very effective. The biggest controversy on campus was when the Obama-Clinton debate was here and few students could attend. There is a ton of school pride! UT has one of the biggest, most disgusting dorm, Jester, in America. My first football game is unforgettable. Class scheduling.

UT is supposedly the biggest school in the USA. And Jester, the dorm I'm in, is the largest. And I still feel like I'm in a small school enviornment. My graduating class of high school had 120 kids in it, so a lot of people from my high school were shocked that I would opt to attend such a large school. But really, its not that big. I actually wish it was even larger! As for Austin, there has never been a college town so perfect!

The best thing about UT is the balance between academics and social life. If you want to party, there is ALWAYS a party, and 6th street is only minutes away. Studying is also important, and UT has many facilities and libraries conducive to studying; coffeehouses are great too and unique to Austin.

Best thing about UT is the school pride, when I tell people I go to UT they usually are surprised and say you must be smart(even though Im not), I spend most of my time at Gregory, in the Education building or the UTC.

one of the great things about UT is the diversity throughout the campus. Being surrounded by different people encourages you to learn about different cultures and backgrounds. Austin is probably one of the greatest college towns. You never run out of things to do and there is a strong sense of UT pride throughout the city. Because UT has such esteemed programs and a great athletic department, it is rare to hear people bash us unless of course it is our rivals.

the school is very large but it's one of the things making it unique. I love it and hate it at the same time

While coming to such a big university can be overwhelming for some, one of the best things about going to such a large school is that you are almost guaranteed to find a community that you share common interests with. You can get involved in anything, from your major to politics to art to community service. Austin has a vibe that is completely different than that of the rest of Texas. It's a decidedly young and liberal place that was going green and being socially conscious long before it became trendy. The unofficial slogan of Austin is "Keep Austin weird," which speaks to the city's emphasis on individuality and freedom of expression.

Many people would say that UT is definitely too large and that each student is no more than a number. However, I find this environment appealing. UT allows you to unabashedly meet another person without fearing an unwanted reencounter. If you make a horrible impression on someone or embarrass yourself at a party, UT saves you the misery and awkwardness of running into that person or group of people again. For those students who abhor large impersonal environments, UT offers a plethora of student organizations where you can get connected. In fact, it can be difficult trying to decide which ones to join, because for every one of your interests, UT has an organization. The extent and quality of UT’s resources allows every student to create their ideal college experience. Basically, we can cater to anyone. Austin is anything but a college town. It is home to a large population of culturally and ethnically diverse people not associated with the University. It also has a large variety of nightclubs, bars, and museums, but more importantly, it hosts Austin City Limits Music festival every fall, a three-day event that attracts some of the most popular and talented live musicians. Another interesting event held in Austin is the South by Southwest movie and music festival during mid-March. A directionally challenged freshman like myself might encounter some problems navigating Austin without a car. The bus system can be confusing, and although an online bus scheduler sounds great in theory, it usually worsens the situation. One of my good friends and I recently discovered this when, after using the route scheduler to plan a trip to a party at someone’s off-campus house, we found ourselves nicely dressed, walking on a sidewalkless road in the outskirts of Austin, and unknowingly heading towards an address that apparently doesn’t exist. So although Austin is an amazing place to live, getting around town using public transportation can be a long, tedious, and extremely frustrating process. Not that staying on campus over the weekend is boring, because it certainly isn’t. If you are in the mood for a huge, sweaty, drunk-fest, you need only walk a couple of blocks west of campus and viola! You have UT’s beloved fraternity row. But males beware. Unlike your female friends, you will be denied entry into frat houses unless you have connections with several brothers. Of course, if alcohol isn’t your thing, UT hosts various other sober attractions. You can go see a Friday night football or basketball game, or walk across the street to Guadalupe where there are several restaurants, music venues, and hookuh bars.

When I tell people that I go to UT, I get a variety of responses. Most commonly, people remark on the exceptionally large student population at UT and wonder how I keep my self-identity in the massive herd of Longhorns. The answer to that question is really quite simple. You make your own little group of closely-knit friends, and you go from there. It's no different than growing up in a densely-populated metropolitan area like Houston or Dallas. You can always meet new people, hang out with your close friends, and avoid people you don't like. The size gives you more opportunities to find your niche. Many people from more conservative backgrounds get a lot of slack for attending UT because it has a reputation of being more liberal. Yes, UT is more liberal than most other institutions of higher-education in Texas, but it's hardly as liberal as most northeastern schools. Austin is the last liberal stronghold of Texas, so a little liberal thought is to be expected. Still, the diversity on campus pretty much guarantees that you'll find some people with political and/or religious views similar to yours on campus. There are a plethora of student organizations to help students with similar goals and views to find each other on campus. UT has amazing sports teams and spectacular school spirit! Not everyone is into football, but we have lots of lesser-known teams (like the rowing and rugby teams, for example) as well. I have friends who deck themselves out in burnt orange on game days, but on the other hand, I have a few friends who would rather clean a toilet with a toothbrush than go to a football game. (I personally don't get that, but whatever.) If you want to be spirited, you can be, but if you don't want to, you won't be shunned like you have bubonic plague or anything. Austin is the best college town in the WORLD, in my humble opinion. There are so many interesting places unique to Austin that help to KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD! My friends and I went all around Austin on Spring Break this year, and we never ran out of new things to do. As a JUNIOR, I still have not come close to doing everything I want to do in Austin before I graduate. It's not your typical college town, but campus is still pretty well-defined. Many on-campus activities are available, but if you don't have a car and still want to go off-campus, there's a fabulous bus system! Basically, I couldn't ask for more. There's a reason many students don't leave Austin after they graduate: it doesn't get any better than this!

Best thing: It's not one-sided. You've got everything from rich conservative business students to boho super-liberals. And there's enough room for everyone's perspective. Change: I would love to see more of the money going towards sustaining qualified faculty instead of everything being poured into sports. Size: A lot of people would qualify UT as too large, but you usually end up in a specific area of buildings seeing the same familiar faces. Reaction: They're adequately impressed. It's a good school, but it's also a public school. Campus time: I spend all my time in the libarts six pack and at the Main library in the tower. Town: With four universities of varying types, it's very much a college town in some respects. But only in the sense that people are always aware of UT sporting events and showing their burnt orange pride. Otherwise, the city is more professional and adult as you move further out. Admin: Again, I wish more priority was given to faculty over sports. Controversy: Bill Clinton came to speak on campus. Pride: Oh god, yes. More than I can handle sometimes. They have Longhorn everything. Unusual: I can't think of anything that different from other schools. We all have our quirks. Experience: Anything I've done in the Russian department. Complaints: Rising costs of tuition.

The best thing about UT is the school pride. This is definitely NOT the choice for older students, whether it is undergraduate or graduate school you are seeking. If I were to change one thing about this school, I would make it more diverse in terms of race, ethnicity and age. People are impressed when I tell them that I go to UT or they immediately say, "the Longhorns". The most frequent student complaints are the lack of diversity. Though Austin may be different from the rest of Texas, it isn't THAT different. People of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientation, etc. continue to feel isolated here.

UT is an amazing place (as far as I’m concerned). I love the atmosphere. Things are always just a little different. Whether you’re walking down the street and see a guy dressed in Shakespearean garb (and no it wasn’t Halloween) or a large group of students (“The Flash Mob”) bowing in front of the Tower at the stroke of noon as streakers run by, UT and Austin are just a little bit out there. One thing I would change about University would be the large amount of e-mails that I get from the administration, departments, UT Police, etc. I often feel like I’m getting spammed by the University. E-mail (the official form of communication, no lie) often fills my inbox each day, somewhere between 5-7 from the University alone (not to mention professors, organizations, and other students). The University is large, but it really is as big or small as you make it (I know that’s what they all say, but it’s true). I see friends around campus on my way to pretty much every class (though it can make it hard to be on time when I have to stop and say hi). Getting involved in organizations and simply being more outgoing can really help. Be friendly with the other students in class. Strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you in class (Texans are known for being nice after all). Just be friendly and get involved and you’ll have no problem shrinking the size of the University considerably. UT (at least in Texas) is often regarded pretty highly. Unless the person went to UT or has a close relative who goes here, I get one of two reactions usually: 1. “I heard that is a good school. Do you like it?” OR 2. “I love your football team. What do you think your prospects are for next season” (they’re always good by the way). There are tons of places to hang out in and around campus. The south mall (a grassy area that looks up that the Tower) is a popular place for people to simply lay down in the sun, read a book, or play ultimate Frisbee. The turtle pond (it is really pretty I think) is a place where you’ll find those students reexamining their lives as they look enviously at the simply lives of the turtles swimming in circles. The “drag” (the street on the western border of campus) is another popular hangout place. The “drag” has several local restaurants and coffee shops (“KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD”, you’ll figure it out when you come to Austin) as well as some cool stores like Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. It’s fun to simply sit down in Metro coffee shop and simply watch people walking outside. Austin is what I would consider the PREMIER college town. It really is amazing. There are tons of things to do and downtown is a lot of fun for going out. There are tons of bars/clubs on 6th street and tons of live music all over (we’re the “Live Music Capital of the World”). Austin City Limits (ACL) is one of the largest music festivals in the nation (this year Bjork, The Killers, Muse, and 150+ others played, look at the list online) and South by Southwest is also amazing. The city seems “young.” The city it so much fun! The UT administration is pretty good. They do a descent job of listening to students, but the best way to get things done is to have some way to get a foot in with Student Government. The administration tries to listen, but if there is something they are dead set on doing (like how they’re about to institute a +/- grading system), they will do what they want no matter what the student body says. The school does have a lot of pride. We like being Longhorns and take pride in our academics, our city, and our sports (especially football). One of my favorite things on campus is the Tower. I don’t know what it is about this simple building, but it seems to evoke something in me, and many others, that few others understand. When the Tower is lit orange, I get a chill. The Tower seems to bring us all together, as Longhorns and as future leaders of the country.

-The best thing at UT is it's importance in the world. I truly believe that "what starts here changes the world." -If I could change anything about the school it would be to have more space and not be so interrupted by traffic flows -The school is just right in size; big enough that people know this is a place whee big things are happening. -Most people think it's great that I go to school here, unless they are A&M fans in which case I may get a negative comment. -I spend most of my time in the Main Mall and South Mall area. -College town, but with a metropolitan city to go with it. UT is by now means lost in the city. -I generally like the administration, and admire their goal of making UT the best public institution. -A big controversy is over increasing tuition. -There is a great deal of school pride. -I can't think of anything unusual about the school as I don't have another school to which it can be compared. -I'll never forget arriving on campus and feeling like I could do absolutely anything in life. -The most frequent complaints are about getting into classes during registration and long walking distances.

best thing - going to a school people are really excited about being a part of change - its large but i like it. respect. spend most time on campus - at the FAC college town for sure. UT's admn. - good. biggest controversy - hazing school pride - definitely unusual - its in the state capital, scene of a lot of important events i'll remember - winning the national championship in football my freshman year, hosting the democratic presidential debate. most frequent complaints - parking on campus

The best thing is that there are tons of opportunities and some awesome professors. If you have a special area that interests you the odds are that there are two or three people around that have spent decades studying it. The thing is you have to take the initiative and don't wuss out; Find these people and talk to them/work for them. The main thing I'd change is that I'd have more of a mentor system so that underclassmen wouldn't fall through the cracks. Its too easy to stay alone in the dorm and rarely venture out. Don't do this and Don't only go out to drink!!! On campus I'm in class, at work, or at the student union eating quickly before one of the two aforementioned tasks. UT's administration is not my favorite. DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON YOUR COUNSELOR. Ask around about professors, plan the classes you want and note what semester they are offered. My counselor let me take another semester of CALCULUS and then realized I had transfer credit for it already!!! Yes! UT bleeds orange! When I lived in the dorm I was literally woken up by the cheering crowd in the stadium. The streets fill with new and old students wearing burnt orange.

Best thing- All the different evetns and programs UT offers. School is big, but there are so many different events to go to everyday, almost all times of the day. I smile when I say I go to UT, so it's usually a good response. I spend time at the Nursing school, at they gym, the pool, the student service building, the Union, and walking on campus. College town- for sure right next to downtown. But I also think that as students we think that UT is bigger than it really is. Unusual- it's one of the only major colleges in the same city as the capitol. There is a lot of school pride- especially in athletics. But spirit organizations make sure they get their names and spirit out. I remember a lot of different experiences- the first day the new Gregory pool opened, the amazing events I've been too, the few concerts I've seen, the people I randomly met, the hard work I've put into something and seen it blossom, the funny encounters, the new things I've learned... Student complaints- parking, not enough food, TUITION is too High.

UT is a really really big school. It's too large in my opinion. People in Texas are always really interested when I tell them I go to Texas. I spend most of my time either in the Business School or in the FAC. Austin is a definite college town, with a big downtown club scene. I think the native Austinites can get really obnoxious and rude, and I would definitely not want to live in Austin past my schooling. The biggest controversies on campus in my opinion would have to deal with the increase in student deaths and suicides. It's getting to be a fairly major problem. There is a lot of school pride around, but I've never really been all about school spirit. I can get jazzed up about basketball games, but everything else, I'm very apathetic. One experience I'll always remember would be my times living in University Towers during my Freshman year. Having all of your friends living under one roof was really cool and fun.

UT is in a great city! Austin is amazing! If I had to change one thing, I would want the weather to not be as hot, more breezy days. Ut is very large and spread out, but it's so pretty to look at it doesnt matter. People are usually surprised or interested when I tell them I go to UT. They always want to know about it, and how I like it. Austin is really fun. Everyone is so laid back, and hippie. The hills make it so pretty, and there is so much more to discover. There are also good restuarants, shopping areas, fun parks, and live music! UT also has such a variety of people that makes it very open and welcoming. I had never been to a college football game so when I went to my first game, I was just amazed. I couldn't believe how many people were there cheering for the same team. It was such a cool experience. Football games are a lot of fun.

too large not enough intermixing of people from different backgrounds and appreciation across the dividing lines described in the first answer. In the first answer, I gave the big picture.

the best thing about UT is that it is a huge school and you can find any kind of person, activity, etc. also you can make a complete ass of yourself and no one will care or know. when i tell people i go to UT they usually think it is cool. i spend most of my time on campus in class. i don't really like to hang out on campus if i have nothing to do. it is not a college town, austin is a great place to live for people of all ages. there is a lot of school pride, every third person you see is wearing burnt orange.

the best thing about UT is that its in Austin and theres alot of stuff to see and do, and i love the campus. one thing i would change is the fact that parking in austin around campus is absolutly terrible. i'd say UT's size is just right. I would say people act impressed when i tell them i go to UT. i spend most of my time shopping or eating on the drag or hanging out in the Union in between classes. UT is definatly not in a college town which rocks. I would say the biggest controversy is about the SAE pledge dying last year. there is alot of school pride, but still a handfull of peolpe who dont really care. the most frequent complaints i hear around UT is the parking, and how difficult it is.

I have lived all over the place over the past 3 years: Portland, Dallas, Hong Kong, Massachussets; Austin is hands down the best place on the planet to go to school. It has the best of both world's: a college town type feel yet the amenities, variety, and employers that come with a big city.

There are so many organizations in which to get involved. If you want to go out and party, you can find somewhere to go and someone to party with any night of the week. If you want to stay in, there are always people to do that with too. People know UT is a great school and it is definitely an accomplishment to get in, especially if you were not in the top 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your graduating class. There are always so many people on campus but you always seem to see someone you know. I don't think a school can be too large, it is great being able to find people just like you.

There are tons of beautiful girls. West Campus is the place to be just about any night. Most people in Texas are impressed when you tell them you go here. There is a lot of school pride, I mean, we're better than you, and we know it! My best experiences here are the ones I don't remember.

The best thing about UT- The people. I have met people from all over the country, and a good number of exchange students who came to the U.S. to study. I can honestly say I network of people will stay with me for years to come. One thing I'd change- The registration process. When a student registers throughout registration week is based on the number of hours that student has. I'm not sure how the system technically works so I can't specify exactly how I'd change it, but the registration process is far more stressful than it needs to be! Is my school too large?- Yes, but only when you look at the sheer facts and figures! This school is what you make it. Personally, I think it's just right because by joining organizations and focusing on your area of study, the school feels TONS smaller. How do people react when I tell them I go to UT?- They ask if I ride a horse to school and wear boots everyday. The answer is NO(haha)! They also wonder about the quality of education here, and if it's all it's cracked up to be. I'd say yes, I'm learning so much. College Town?- Austin is AMAZING. Hands down my favorite city in Texas. The culture here is so unique, there is always something to do, and the people are just so cool! Is there a lot of school pride?- More than you would know! A few friends of mine from other schools say that it is seen as 'weird' or 'dorky' to wear their school colors around during a normal class day. Other friends of mine dress up in suits and sundresses for football games- regardless of whether or not it matches the school colors! At UT, burnt orange is seen everywhere, everyday. And if you show up to a football game in any colors other than burnt orange and white, THAT is when you'r seen as a dork. There is not one experience I will always remember...because I will always remember every experience I've had here. I love it here.

The best thing about going to Texas is the city of Austin. Texas doesn't have a college town, Austin is a college city! The university and the city of Austin go hand in hand. The amount to experience in Austin seems limitless. I could not ask for a better place to spend my four valuable years of college. Austin is known as the live music capital of the world. This is definitely evident while living here. Austin City Limits music festival comes in the fall and South by Southwest arrives in the spring. Ausitn City Limits is a weekend long event with a ton of different artists, some known and some not as popular yet. I have been to Austin City Limits, and being a music fan, I felt like I had acheived my own Utopia. Also, there is always a concert to see on the weekends or a live band to dance to downtown. The city of Austin has its own unique soundtrack. The university campus is located in the heart of the city, so 6th Street is a 5 minute cab ride away. This is downtown Austin where a ton of bars and night spots are located. On a typical Thursday night (college weekends start on Thursdays, naturally) 6th street is the place to be, assuming you have graduated from the frat scene. Let me tell you, it is an absolute site. The amount of people bar hopping seems immeasurable. When people from other schools come visit 6th street for the first time they have to literally stop walking and do a 360 degree turn to take in all the action. The excitement on 6th street is contagious and everybody is looking to have a great time, which isn't hard to do there. It is on these nights in particular that I think to myself how lucky I am to go to school in this city. The school pride at the Texas is off the charts. Football season is another one of my favoirte things about Texas. A typical Saturday in the fall consists of waking up at around 10am, and putting on my burnt orange outfit. Then it's off to the tailgate of my choice. A sea of orange is already pre-partying before the game when I step outside. People set up their tailgates as early as the night before the game. I love that it's not just students out ready to support the team. In fact, it's probably more alumnae making up the sea of orange. I know that Texas is the kind of school you will continue to support out of college because of its winning tradition. One word to describe game day is "intense." During my freshman year at Texas, the football team, lead by quarterback Vince Young, won the national championsip title. I cannot think of a better first impression of the school. One strange thing about Austin is the infamous "drag bums." These are homeless people who live on Guadalupe street (the drag). I'm not quite sure why there are a significant amount of them, or if they will ever leave. One of my most memorable experiences in college occurred my second week of school as a freshman at Texas. I was walking down the drag with four friends to a restaurant. Before I knew it, I was face to face with an extremely large drag bum women. At first, we couldn't get past each other (probably because she was almost as wide as the street). Suddenly, wound up her right fist, and punched me in the chin. Yes, that's right, hits me square in my chin. In her left hand she held a pizza pie, and when she punched me with her right hand, the pizza sauce flew on one of my friends. As if this isn't crazy enough, when I started running away from her in fright and confusion, she continues walking down the drag and punches/slaps two more victims. The police arrested her within 10 minutes of this extremely bizarre incident. The "street fight", as I like to refer to it, was one of my first experiences at UT, and from that moment on I knew I was in for one heck of a college experience. I could not have been more right.