The popularity of University of Texas Austin?

Question

Hi, I am thinking about transferring to University of Texas Austin, and I would like to know if UT is a popular school. I mean, how famous is it nationwide-speaking and worldwide-speaking?

Thank you!

Answer 1

It is one of the better public universities in the US. It isn't quite as good as UC-Berkeley, University of Michigan, UNC or University of Virginia -- but is better than most state schools.

It is also big -- really big

Answer 2

I think it just got answered by the long post above, but here's my 2 cents:

(1) UT Austin is a nationally-recognized school with a lot of strengths. For example, I work for NASA at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I cannot count how many of my colleagues are from UT.
(2) Austin is a great place to live and work. If you move there you may never leave.

Answer 3

It has an excellent reputation nationally, and I've heard Austin is a great place to live.

Answer 4

very popular worldwide. one of the biggest schools in terms of population. went there for a conference in 1990s and got impressed. excellent in humanities and soc. sciences. Prof bernth lindfors should still be there,

Answer 5

UT-Austin is very good -- it's in the top 20 public schools. Go for it!
The Princeton Review publishes articles on what students say about the school they attend. Here's one about the University of Texas-Austin:

STUDENT BODY
"There's really no typical student at UT" due to the school's enormous size and the diversity of its home state. One student writes, "It would be really hard to not fit in. In fact, even if you're a left-handed vegetarian lesbian who wants to be an astronaut, there are probably enough people like you to start the 3,000th club on campus. I guess out of over 50,000 students, your odds are pretty good" of finding multiple kindred spirits. UT "is known as the 'liberal' school in Texas, and we do have a large GLBT population, as well as the 'Austin-type' bohemian culture. Of course we have our fair share of cute Texas blondes and frat boys, so a typical student could be any or all of the above."

ACADEMICS
The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest universities in the nation, with more than 50,000 students (undergraduate plus grad), and the school "really capitalizes on its size and funds" with "so many libraries, its state-of-the-art technology, and student programs galore," as well as "tons of opportunities to get involved in research." The school poses near-limitless options for undergrads willing to seek them out; one writes, "You can plan your college experience exactly as you want it. Basically the attitude is: If you can fit it in in 4 years and you meet the prerequisites, go for it. And if they don't offer what you want, figure out how to take it and it's yours." As one student puts it, "Academically, UT is what you make of it. If you want to register for courses that are challenging (but worth it) you can. If you want to register for easy-A courses, you can do that too." Of course, "It is easy to get lost in the shuffle" at a school this big, and "When you run into a problem, dealing with the bureaucracy can be difficult and frustrating." Fortunately, "For a school of this size, UT runs pretty well." Professors here are often surprisingly good and engaged, although "Students often have to take the initiative because the professors don't have the time to seek out every student individually." A course instructor survey system allows students to check other students' ratings of professors online; there are also "tons of teaching awards at UT as incentives to focus on that aspect," and they seem to be doing the job.

CAMPUS LIFE
Lots of self-respecting cities have smaller populations than UT, but they're not surrounded by "the coolest college town that ever existed," so, as you might imagine, "There is so much available to do here that fits the bill for just about anyone." The campus hosts "a huge college scene that translates into lots of parties (and drinking) every weekend, from the Greek houses to off-campus houses, apartments, co-ops, etc." "Football games and other sporting events are also a lot of fun," and the "900-plus registered student organizations" allow undergrads to explore any and all extracurricular interests. Beyond campus is the capital of Texas, a city that "never sleeps. If you can't find anything to do in Austin, you're crazy." Students report that "restaurants are very popular—you can get the best Tex-Mex in the world here," and "Sixth Street is very big with the older students, as it hosts bar after bar and an interesting scene. It's like Austin's version of Bourbon Street," right down to the "tons of concerts; this city is the live music capital of the world." Outdoor enthusiasts also "have lots to do, with the many hike and bike trails in and around Austin. Barton Springs and Zilker Park are favorites for natural recreation. Most UT students love to be outside enjoying the sunshine, be it playing sports, exercising, horseback riding, studying, reading, tanning or just lounging." Don't have a car? Don't worry; "The public transportation is readily available."