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

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The discussion centers on the decision between attending UT-Austin or staying at home to attend the University of Houston for a Physics degree. Key points highlight that UT-Austin is generally regarded as a superior academic institution, particularly in the field of Physics, with a strong reputation for its cosmology and astrophysics programs. Participants emphasize the importance of considering factors such as location, academic quality, and social environment when making a college choice. Austin is described as a vibrant college town with a lively music scene and outdoor activities, making it an attractive option for students. Additionally, the cost of attending UT-Austin is noted to be relatively affordable for in-state students, with tuition around $10,000 per year, which is competitive compared to other institutions. The consensus leans towards recommending UT-Austin for its academic advantages and overall college experience.
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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?
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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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:
 
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  • #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.
 
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  • #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.
 

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