Moving to UT-Austin for Physics: Is it Worth It?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shackleford
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Physics
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the decision of whether to move to UT-Austin for a Physics degree instead of attending the University of Houston. Participants explore factors such as academic reputation, campus environment, financial considerations, and personal preferences regarding location and lifestyle.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that UT-Austin has a better academic reputation compared to UH, particularly in Physics.
  • Others emphasize the importance of personal factors in choosing a college, such as location, campus culture, and social opportunities.
  • A few participants express a strong preference for Austin as a more vibrant college town compared to Houston.
  • Concerns about financial implications are raised, with discussions about tuition costs at UT-Austin versus UH, including potential scholarships.
  • Some participants mention the benefits of branching out from one’s home city for personal growth and experiences.
  • There is mention of second-hand information regarding UT-Austin's reputation in cosmology and astrophysics, though this is not universally confirmed.
  • One participant questions how UT-Dallas compares to both UT-Austin and UH in terms of their Physics programs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions, with no clear consensus on whether moving to UT-Austin is definitively the better choice. While some strongly advocate for UT-Austin, others highlight the merits of UH and the importance of individual circumstances.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference varying tuition rates and financial aid options, but there is no agreement on the exact costs or the best financial strategy for attending either university. Additionally, the discussion includes subjective assessments of campus culture and academic quality, which may depend on personal experiences and preferences.

Shackleford
Messages
1,649
Reaction score
2
If I get accepted into UT-Austin, would it be worth it to move there rather than stay

at home and go to the University of Houston for Physics?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
It depends. How do you feel about UT-Austin? I really don't want to say much, because I am graduating from UT-Austin this May. I'm obviously bias. For me, it was the right choice. I'm from Houston and was tempted by UH too.

What are key factors for you in picking a college?

Mine were location, academics, and the people there. Austin seemed like the better choice but I wouldn't have had a problem with UH either.
 
Last edited:
Don't take this the wrong way, but I would move from Houston to Austin even if I didn't get accepted to UT.
 
UT Austin is a good department. I don't know as much about Houston.
 
UT Austin has a great physics department. I don't know anything about Houston. I just know that you should not fall into the trap of choosing your school for all the wrong reasons-- proximity to home and financial aid (I only mention this one because too often I see students consider a mediocre school over a great one simply because of $ incentive not realizing that in the long run they would be better off at the better school).

The best thing to do (if you haven't already) is visit both schools and decide which you think has the better program, and which has the environment that you most like.
 
Living between Houston and Austin, I was met with a similar question. I was told (online) by a graduate student studying at MIT that UT-Austin has an excelent cosmology/astrophysics reputation. As for the other branches of physics he wasn't too sure.

That's second hand information, but from what he said UT-Austin is the way to go.
 
I'm from houston. Leave houston, go to UT.
 
You guys want to pay my housing? lol.
 
You definitely ought to go to UT...

1.) UT-Austin is much better academically than UH... not that UH is the worst out there, but UT is very good. Assuming you make it to graduation, a diploma from UT is much more valuable than a diploma from UH, and that's just kind of a fact of life.

2.) It's better to branch out beyond your home city; that's part of what college is all about, in my opinion...

3.) Austin is a much cooler college-town than Houston. Granted, Houston is bigger, so it kind of has more available, but Austin is well... much more "hip". Austin has one of the greatest live music scenes in the country; really great nature locations (hill country, enchanted rock); lots of students around your same age and similar interests, concentrated in a pretty small area (around UT and riverside)

and those are the main reasons I would say go to UT... plus, since you are in-state, your tuition will be around 10k per year, versus 25k per year for out-of-state students... so 10k might be more than you would pay at UH, but you will still have a huge discount and basically a fairly affordable college education.
 
Last edited:
  • #10
Since we're talking about Universities in Texas, does anyone know how the University of Texas at Dallas stacks up against UT Austin and UH in terms of Physics?
 
  • #11
mordechai9 said:
You definitely ought to go to UT...

1.) UT-Austin is much better academically than UH... not that UH is the worst out there, but UT is very good. Assuming you make it to graduation, a diploma from UT is much more valuable than a diploma from UH, and that's just kind of a fact of life.

2.) It's better to branch out beyond your home city; that's part of what college is all about, in my opinion...

3.) Austin is a much cooler college-town than Houston. Granted, Houston is bigger, so it kind of has more available, but Austin is well... much more "hip". Austin has one of the greatest live music scenes in the country; really great nature locations (hill country, enchanted rock); lots of students around your same age and similar interests, concentrated in a pretty small area (around UT and riverside)

and those are the main reasons I would say go to UT... plus, since you are in-state, your tuition will be around 10k per year, versus 25k per year for out-of-state students... so 10k might be more than you would pay at UH, but you will still have a huge discount and basically a fairly affordable college education.

I thought UT tuition was around $5000/year, or around $2500/semester.
 
  • #12
Shackleford said:
I thought UT tuition was around $5000/year, or around $2500/semester.

No, I'm an engineering student at UT and my tuition is about $4,300 a semester. The natural science plan may be a couple hundred a semester less. The good news is that anything past 12 hours a semester is free. So you pay the same amount for 18 hours as you do for 12. They instituted this a few years ago to encourage students to finish their degree plans on time.

edit: http://www.utexas.edu/business/accounting/pubs/tf_flatsem.pdf" the tuition rate information for 2008-2009. Natural sciences are charged $4,219 a semester, and that includes all fees. My tuition went up. :mad:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #13
huckmank said:
No, I'm an engineering student at UT and my tuition is about $4,300 a semester. The natural science plan may be a couple hundred a semester less. The good news is that anything past 12 hours a semester is free. So you pay the same amount for 18 hours as you do for 12. They instituted this a few years ago to encourage students to finish their degree plans on time.

edit: http://www.utexas.edu/business/accounting/pubs/tf_flatsem.pdf" the tuition rate information for 2008-2009. Natural sciences are charged $4,219 a semester, and that includes all fees. My tuition went up. :mad:

Damn.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #14
People at a lot of private colleges pay $30-40,000 per year... I think you might be worrying too much about the cost of UT versus U of H. 10k per year for UT is really reasonable, and you can get a lot of scholarships based on need and/or merit.
 

Similar threads

Schools Cornell vs Cambridge for undergrad physics
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Schools Help with shortlisting graduate programs in HEP-PH/TH
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
Schools Rice or UT Austin Physics Dean's Scholars
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
Should I Transfer? UT Austin vs. UT San Antonio
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Programs How Can a New Physics Major Thrive at UT Austin?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Programs Should I Pursue a Medical Physics Masters or PhD in the U.S.?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Is a PhD in physics worth it?
  • · Replies 43 ·
2
Replies
43
Views
5K
Tips on transferring to UT Austin
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K
Programs Transferring to UT Austin as a physics major.
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Explore Advanced Physics or Broaden Your Studies?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K