Anonymous
03/10/2026 18:00
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
In scope of academics, UTA seems like a Harvard-type school. Some students want that.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 17:59
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
It's got great placement in tech
Anonymous
03/10/2026 17:52
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Austin is much more of an economic dynamo than any place in Virginia.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 17:41
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Austin is much bigger than Richmond and especially Charlottesville so not really that comparable.
You’re right, it’s less of a college town than Richmond and Charlottesville.
I think the college town thing is very 80's 90's thinking. I do think the new thing is schools close to bigger cities like Austin, Atlanta, Chicago etc. are the new jam with this new generation. They just offer a lot more in terms of opportunities especially those cities. To each their own though. Every kid will be different.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 17:29
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Anonymous wrote:Austin is much bigger than Richmond and especially Charlottesville so not really that comparable.
You’re right, it’s less of a college town than Richmond and Charlottesville.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 17:28
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Austin is much bigger than Richmond and especially Charlottesville so not really that comparable.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 16:55
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Anonymous wrote:I believe the job market has been pretty strong in Austin for CS and engineering compared to other school local job markets. Having a lot of local employers improves internship opportunities.
The town is considered pretty cool.
The people I know who are excited about college in Texas don't want to live where it snows. Which rules out a ton of good schools.
You believe because it's not based on facts. I disagree.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 16:49
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the hype. What am I missing? Academics are decent but no better than a slightly above average flagship. They guarantee admission to a percentage of every high school in the state, so a lot of kids from weak high schools get to attend. The campus isn’t defined and is ugly. And finally, Austin isn’t even a college town, it’s a small city better suited for grad students.
The automatic admission is limited to the top 5%, and even that is not for every college/program, some of which are legitimately very highly regarded. The campus is quite nice with is big oaks and Spanish colonial style. Calling the 11th biggest city in the USA a "small city" is a decent mischaracterization, but it is indeed more than a college town; it has a campus and student area that is quite college town like, it has tremendous industry and government opportunities from its silicon hills and state capital status, full of music arts and good food. Hell of an alumni network, too.
If you are VA resident, though, I agree it wouldn't pull me away from UVA.
The campus is OK. Very dry area and not a lot of greenery accept for entry rectangular quad and that's not very big. Just sayin.
+100 Austin is fine but extremely overrated. There is nothing in Austin not found in Richmond. Nothing at UT not found at UVA. And the Texas landscape is very ugly compared to the mountains.
Let's not kid ourselves. Music, food, bars, and college sports are much, much better in Austin than in Richmond/Charlottesville.
Can you be more specific? What exactly is offered in Austin that you can’t find in Charlottesville or Richmond? They have music, food, bars, and sports too.
Music scene used to be much more fun in Austin. Food choices in Austin are great especially compared to Richmond. Never been to Cville. Huge bar scene in Austin for good and bad. College sports in Austin is a league above the other 2. More variety of music, food, bars in Austin but not sure if 'better'. Just more.
Are you familiar with the Richmond foodie, bar, and scene? You might be thinking of 90’s Richmond vs 90’s Austin, in which you would have a point. Not sure if there is much difference at this point.
How can you say sports in Austin are a league above Cville if you’ve never been to Cville?
Point is, Austin is a fun city no doubt, but there is nothing proof it’s significantly better than any other college town or decent sized city.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 16:48
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
The campus is nice for such a large university and there are excellent programs and a sense of fun. Winter is much more tolerable than northern schools. I'd take that over Michigan.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 16:41
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the hype. What am I missing? Academics are decent but no better than a slightly above average flagship. They guarantee admission to a percentage of every high school in the state, so a lot of kids from weak high schools get to attend. The campus isn’t defined and is ugly. And finally, Austin isn’t even a college town, it’s a small city better suited for grad students.
The automatic admission is limited to the top 5%, and even that is not for every college/program, some of which are legitimately very highly regarded. The campus is quite nice with is big oaks and Spanish colonial style. Calling the 11th biggest city in the USA a "small city" is a decent mischaracterization, but it is indeed more than a college town; it has a campus and student area that is quite college town like, it has tremendous industry and government opportunities from its silicon hills and state capital status, full of music arts and good food. Hell of an alumni network, too.
If you are VA resident, though, I agree it wouldn't pull me away from UVA.
The campus is OK. Very dry area and not a lot of greenery accept for entry rectangular quad and that's not very big. Just sayin.
+100 Austin is fine but extremely overrated. There is nothing in Austin not found in Richmond. Nothing at UT not found at UVA. And the Texas landscape is very ugly compared to the mountains.
Let's not kid ourselves. Music, food, bars, and college sports are much, much better in Austin than in Richmond/Charlottesville.
Can you be more specific? What exactly is offered in Austin that you can’t find in Charlottesville or Richmond? They have music, food, bars, and sports too.
Music scene used to be much more fun in Austin. Food choices in Austin are great especially compared to Richmond. Never been to Cville. Huge bar scene in Austin for good and bad. College sports in Austin is a league above the other 2. More variety of music, food, bars in Austin but not sure if 'better'. Just more.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 16:37
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Anonymous wrote:I’m a third generation UT grad and I have to agree. I feel like I got my real education at my rigorous high school and spent four very fun years in Austin, where I had no career or academic counseling, my professors didn’t know who I was and was basically a number. I’ve been so much more impressed by several lesser ranked schools I’ve toured with my kids.
You get out of UT what you put into it. Like any large school. That said, I know I learned more at boarding school than I did my first few years at UT. Upper level classes were much better. This is probably the case at many schools. My dc goes to a lesser ranked though not small private and his relationships with his professors started his sophomore year. He has loved it too. I think it is just about preferences.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 16:35
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the hype. What am I missing? Academics are decent but no better than a slightly above average flagship. They guarantee admission to a percentage of every high school in the state, so a lot of kids from weak high schools get to attend. The campus isn’t defined and is ugly. And finally, Austin isn’t even a college town, it’s a small city better suited for grad students.
The automatic admission is limited to the top 5%, and even that is not for every college/program, some of which are legitimately very highly regarded. The campus is quite nice with is big oaks and Spanish colonial style. Calling the 11th biggest city in the USA a "small city" is a decent mischaracterization, but it is indeed more than a college town; it has a campus and student area that is quite college town like, it has tremendous industry and government opportunities from its silicon hills and state capital status, full of music arts and good food. Hell of an alumni network, too.
If you are VA resident, though, I agree it wouldn't pull me away from UVA.
The campus is OK. Very dry area and not a lot of greenery accept for entry rectangular quad and that's not very big. Just sayin.
+100 Austin is fine but extremely overrated. There is nothing in Austin not found in Richmond. Nothing at UT not found at UVA. And the Texas landscape is very ugly compared to the mountains.
Let's not kid ourselves. Music, food, bars, and college sports are much, much better in Austin than in Richmond/Charlottesville.
Music Food and Bars is not a unique thing.
That's why people like Toledo as much as New York, right?
Now you’re being obtuse comparing a huge city to a small city.
The point is all college towns have music, food and bars. Other urban cities in the south also are home to flagship universities. The University of South Carolina has SEC sports in an urban environment just like UT.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 16:32
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the hype. What am I missing? Academics are decent but no better than a slightly above average flagship. They guarantee admission to a percentage of every high school in the state, so a lot of kids from weak high schools get to attend. The campus isn’t defined and is ugly. And finally, Austin isn’t even a college town, it’s a small city better suited for grad students.
The automatic admission is limited to the top 5%, and even that is not for every college/program, some of which are legitimately very highly regarded. The campus is quite nice with is big oaks and Spanish colonial style. Calling the 11th biggest city in the USA a "small city" is a decent mischaracterization, but it is indeed more than a college town; it has a campus and student area that is quite college town like, it has tremendous industry and government opportunities from its silicon hills and state capital status, full of music arts and good food. Hell of an alumni network, too.
If you are VA resident, though, I agree it wouldn't pull me away from UVA.
The campus is OK. Very dry area and not a lot of greenery accept for entry rectangular quad and that's not very big. Just sayin.
+100 Austin is fine but extremely overrated. There is nothing in Austin not found in Richmond. Nothing at UT not found at UVA. And the Texas landscape is very ugly compared to the mountains.
Let's not kid ourselves. Music, food, bars, and college sports are much, much better in Austin than in Richmond/Charlottesville.
Can you be more specific? What exactly is offered in Austin that you can’t find in Charlottesville or Richmond? They have music, food, bars, and sports too.
Anonymous
03/10/2026 16:31
Subject: Re:UT Austin is Overrated
I don't understand why it's rated so high, either. I mean, it's a good school, but is it really any better than say, UIUC, UMD? Certainly, the football fans are hardcore, but other than that, not sure what is so great about it.
The largest category in USNWR ranking is peer assessment (20%) and graduation rates (16 or 21%, test required or test optional).
The largest category in USNWR ranking is peer assessment (20%) and graduation rates (16 or 21%, test required or test optional).
Anonymous
03/10/2026 16:23
Subject: UT Austin is Overrated
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the hype. What am I missing? Academics are decent but no better than a slightly above average flagship. They guarantee admission to a percentage of every high school in the state, so a lot of kids from weak high schools get to attend. The campus isn’t defined and is ugly. And finally, Austin isn’t even a college town, it’s a small city better suited for grad students.
The automatic admission is limited to the top 5%, and even that is not for every college/program, some of which are legitimately very highly regarded. The campus is quite nice with is big oaks and Spanish colonial style. Calling the 11th biggest city in the USA a "small city" is a decent mischaracterization, but it is indeed more than a college town; it has a campus and student area that is quite college town like, it has tremendous industry and government opportunities from its silicon hills and state capital status, full of music arts and good food. Hell of an alumni network, too.
If you are VA resident, though, I agree it wouldn't pull me away from UVA.
The campus is OK. Very dry area and not a lot of greenery accept for entry rectangular quad and that's not very big. Just sayin.
+100 Austin is fine but extremely overrated. There is nothing in Austin not found in Richmond. Nothing at UT not found at UVA. And the Texas landscape is very ugly compared to the mountains.
Let's not kid ourselves. Music, food, bars, and college sports are much, much better in Austin than in Richmond/Charlottesville.
Music Food and Bars is not a unique thing.
That's why people like Toledo as much as New York, right?