Is a Prestigious Undergrad really worth it?

[Eric_meyers]

I'm a physics undergrad at UT Austin, and I can say the courses are comparable to what mathwonk described Harvard's were like with the exception of exclusion of textbooks - you'll get textbooks in the lower division courses but they are very condensed and are designed to only facilitate lectures not replace them.

UT Austin makes the most money or at least A LOT of money due to its oil and land preserves and general endowements and the propensity of our state legislator to finance its educational budget. There is so much research opportunities it's crazy, and the professors - some of which are nobel peace prize lauretes are about as top quality as you can get in the world. My physic's professor has won so much awards from private and public fields it's like going into a muesum every time I step into his office, well anyways..

In terms of the classes you're going to get large lecture halls which basically means that most of the learning is going to be done by yourself, from the lectures and textbook you'll get an above average education but you won't be inspired to think abstractly or theorize or achieve the higher order functions of thought about a particular subject unless you yourself pursue these.

Basically I think a point I want to make is: if you don't do research at UT Austin then you're basically only going to get a mediocre degree and education - the only reason to go to UT Austin is for the research opportunities - of which there is many and I think you'd be pleasantly surprised as to what you may find available.

Doing research in affiliation with the McDonald Douglas observatory has really inspired me and my dreams of becoming a famous physicist and the experiences I've had thusfar in my first year at the university I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

 

[khemix]

For professional programs like business and engineering, yes undergrad name is huge. Suck up the costs and whatever else you may hate about those places because in the long run the name will make a big difference. Locally, I'm sure UT won't make a difference. But if you start heading north or abroad, they won't know UT. Some of the best companies only recruit at top schools. So if you can get in, stay in.

No one is going to care if UT has better lecturers or if they indeed teach you better. You're there for fours years to make your future better, branding your education is the only way to convince businesses. If you are doing science in undergrad and intend to go to graduate school, then it won't matter - as grad school name has emphasis.