The University of Texas at Austin Top Questions

Buy football tickets.

I wish someone had told me to acclimate myself to campus before starting class. It was difficult to start freshman year without knowing where anything was - the campus is large. I also wish I had known that talking to your professors and going to TA sessions is a great way for them to recognize your face and appreciate your hard work and class participation. Knowing the professor can mean the difference between an A and a B. I also definitely recommend getting involved in clubs. In such a large university, it's much easier to meet people.

the amount of credit you can get by exam

that it is better to live in an off-campus apartment than the dorms

You may have been the most intelligent or the brightest before you came here but you almost certainly will not be once you get here. Everyone is intelligent in their own way. A "C" may have been unheard of in high school but may be the best you can manage in a class here, and that's okay. Many people, including myself, struggled with accepting the fact that at UT you will most likely be the average and not the best anymore. It's a hard pill to swallow but you learn to accept it in the end.

I wish that I would have know to get involved with an organization right away. I feel like I wasted 2 years wandering around campus without a group. Now that I'm in my group I am happier than ever.

that the drinking in this town is like a river and the tests are hard as crap

I wish I had known more about the different majors offered in liberal arts.

I wish that I would have realized how different it would be getting used to such a large university. It is one of the largest campuses in the United States as far as the number of students who attend UT Austin. For some people, that may be no big deal, but it took some time for me to get used to.

I wish I knew how to study better and that doing the required like in high school is not enough to excel in college.

NOTHING

I wish I had known more about the programs available, specifically in terms of academics. I spent several semesters just trying to figure out what I wanted to major in; if I hadn't had college credits coming in, I don't think I would have graduated on time. All things considered, I would have liked to have known more about various colleges, courses, and degree plans.

Many students who come to the University of Texas at Austin for the first time are unprepared for the expansiveness of choices available. From courses to dorms to student organizations, the options are almost overwhelming in number. Students should have good research skills so they can find out about all of the opportunities they can, and they should also be assertive so they can grasp them. The professors and staff of the University are not going to do any hand-holding to guide students through the experience, so freshmen must be prepared to be on their own.

How to study.

I wish I had known that if I accepted all of my finacial awards during the fall and spring semester that I wouldn't have any left for the summer. I did pretty good research on the opertunities availble to me at my school though, so I knew what I needed to do before I got there. Their website has all of the information you need.

I wish I knew how much walking in the excessive heat that I had to do on campus. I also wish that someone told me about the many, and I mean many, "colorful" people that exists here.

I wish I had known about the the lack of a social environment once you exclude extracurriculars like fraternities and sorrorities.

As a straight A student in High School, I wish I would have known that previous success is not necessarity a precursor to future success! UT is a great school which requires much hard work in order to achieve the desired grades. Also, it is easy to feel isolated in a very large college, and being pro active about socializing is crucial for some people. I wish I had lived on campus for my first year in order to have more experience dealing with strangers and new fun people in general.

I wish I had known more about the different on campus housing choices. THe university seems to portray them as all equal, but they truly are not.

I wish I had known that though it is a large school, somehow the average class size is quite small.