The University of Texas at Austin Reviews

"I am a student at UT's Continuing Education Program for Data Science. I was completely ripped off. There are no refunds for this $6000 certification program. The program is run by a company called XTOL with UT's name slapped across it. They claimed that I would be assigned a mentor and placed in a small group with whom I would be working closely. They did not reveal that there were only 3 mentors assigned to over 40 students and that 'working together' meant that everyone shares a single slack channel. There is no career counseling or support. They constantly cancel our team meetings and I have had my emails to the instructor ignored for weeks, I have not gotten any mentor feedback or instructor feedback on my work submitted in over a month, and the instructional resources are cobbled together from Medium.com articles. The UT continuing education program is a complete scam. I am unable to find any review sites with customer reports about this program. There is no clear escalation path for complaints, just more emails being ignored by the mentors. DO NOT SPEND $6000 ON THIS PROGRAM OR ANY OTHER CPE PROGRAM AT UT.Read Less"

"My time at The University of Texas was the best time of my life. It is a huge school, right in the middle of Austin. My sister didn't want to attend this school as she was scared she would get lost in the shuffle of such a big institution. I understand that worry. There are issues with having a school so large; there is a sense that your advisors don't have enough time for you or a full understanding of your classes, there are some professors who you will hardly see and you'll have to speak with their TAs, etc. However, there are so many resources available that I never for a moment felt I didn't have what I needed to succeed. UT is a great place for research and is more than willing to help you if you have a project you want to pursue. As a bonus, it is in the heart of downtown Austin. This is most definitely a boon ,as Austin is such an amazing and vibrant city.Read Less"

"UT is a very large school. This may be quite a culture shock to students from small towns, so prepare yourself to be a very tiny fish in a 40 Acre pond. The greatest takeaway I had from my UT experience is that your own learning is ultimately within your hands. Because the institution is so large, each student needed to work to advocate for his or her own learning goals. Although there is little hand-holding at UT, there is immense intellectual and artistic freedom. If you have an idea you'd like to research or an independent study course you'd like to propose, the administration is happy to help your pursue your curiosities. The seminar classes (small, upper division) are incredible. Tons of really bright, experienced professors at UT who are a wealth of knowledge. However, the lecture classes (100+ students, typically first and second year students) are terrible! Who can possible learn well when you are just one out of a hundred anonymous students in a basement auditorium listening to someone talk *at* you instead of *with you. I would advise avoiding as many of these courses as possible.Read Less"

"The university is full of resources, however, the system is so bureaucracy and haste. You have to master paperwork before you master your degree. UT has given me hard time since I arrived to campus. The administration will do anything to make it hard for you. They reevaluated my admission and they kept me on my toes although I am one of the best candidates and I was accepted in much better universities. They also delayed my graduation one semester because I missed a deadline and they were short on evaluators to finish the evaluation application. Teachers are very racist and they would make fun of international students in class. They would assume that you are treated badly in your country and they would treat you the same way. The university is full of assistance centers that would try to handle your anxiety since they know that THEY STRESS YOU OUT MORE THAN THEY SHOULD. You will always receive emails from the mental health center, I wondered why in the beginning but now I know for sure the reason. It is definitely research focused and they care the least about students. Keep away from this university.Read Less"

"UT Austin offers a great environment for its students not only academically, but socially as well. The level of education is very high and harder than most other schools in Texas, especially for the sciences. They offer lots of opportunities for research and there are many labs with a variety of research topics that may suit your interest. Socially, UT has a tremendous amount of student organizations and they make it very simple to get involved with. Most students live on or next to campus, so it's very convenient to get to after-school activities or meetings which are held on campus. I would encourage you to get involved with something so that you have a group to hangout/study with. Biochemistry in particular is known to be a very hard major, and a lot of the learning will happen on your own, not necessarily through the teachers. The teachers provide the resources and are always available for questions, but do expect to be studying a lot on your own. Personally, I found the content presented by my teachers to be extremely interesting and they try to make it applicable to daily life. The tests can be very hard, but studying in groups helps a lot (you'll realize you're not the only one that's lost!), but don't let that scare you, it is do-able, and often times generously curved haha. Teachers care and tend to be very understanding of personal circumstance and are very eager to help, so try to go to office hours and develop a relationship with your professor.Read Less"

"If I had the chance to choose again, I would not have picked corporate communications as my major. Go with something more niche and applicable to the real world. Do finance, accounting, computer science, etc. Corporate communications is too vague and looks meaningless on a resume. However, I loved classes and the professors. I learned a lot and thought the material was very interesting, it just was not very applicable to the actual corporate field. Also, people don't mention this enough, but DO INTERNSHIPS. Real work experience is worth so much more than the degree. That is what companies are looking for when they are hiring is your experience. Otherwise, UT was amazing and Austin is the best. Please don't neglect having some fun while you're there. I regret staying on campus and studying all the time. Have some fun! Also, do whatever you can to not move back home after graduating... it's hard but moving back home is worse.Read Less"

"The McCombs school of Business at the University of Texas at Austin is an amazing program to be a part of. The school is perfectly set up to prepare students for the workforce. Classroom lectures are designed to be relevant to one's future career. There are many networking opportunities that allow students to connect with many top firms for internships and full-time jobs. During your academic career, students are challenged to take an active role in their learning and career development. Students are encouraged to seek more in their academics, careers, and to become problem solvers. Many classes are designed for discussion and to provide a platform to challenge what is taught. The business school produces professionals who are ready to be change agents in our society. For students who are ready to be pushed out of their comfort zone, challenged to be an active leaner, and who are unafraid to break down doors rather than waiting for a door to open, then the McCombs School of Business is the place to be.Read Less"

"The University of Texas at Austin is an incredible university that offers a wide array of programs and sits in a unique location. The campus is far enough from the city that it gives you a college feel while also being close enough that you can easily access many of the unique features and activities Austin has to offer. The campus itself is small enough that it has a very homey feel and you can pass by friends as you walk to and from class, yet big enough that there are many opportunities to meet new people. When you walk around the middle of campus there are typically many different tables set up with different clubs and activities being promoted! The University also has a large Greek life and an incredible athletic department. Sporting events are always fun to go to and discount tickets are offered to students. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to attend a school thats name goes a long way. When interviewers hear you went to The University of Texas they are automatically impressed with your work ethic. The school has a reputation for excellence and rightfully so. The classes are challenging but there are plenty of opportunities to get the help you need to succeed in them. Most of the professors and teaching assistants want to help you learn and offer office hours. On top of this the university has tutors and a writing center where anyone and everyone has the opportunity to receive the help they need.Read Less"

"UT Austin is an amazing public ivy and top tier research institution. The amount of resources at my fingertips from the Benson center to the Harry Ransom Center and others was impeccable for pursuing a BA in Art History. I was motivated by all my professors. My only grievance is administrative as the Art History department severely lacked in providing representative global art history courses that were accessible every semester as the course schedule was heavily based in western European art."

"The UT Austin Civil Engineering is very good about providing its students with resources and opportunities to grow as individuals and as academics. This campus allows you to not only develop yourself as a student but also interact with a booming city in the state of Texas filled with even more opportunities for growth. The department is also equipped with highly achieved professionals in the respective fields."

"I will never forget the feeling of flying into Austin to start my first semester at the University of Texas. I was eager, excited, nervous, and anxious. As I arrived on campus, I was greeted by several students who assisted me in carrying my bags to my dorm. The students, faculty, and administration ate incredibly helpful and kind. The classes were very educational that I carried with me to this day. Campus itself is beautiful and there are several things to do in and around Austin . Hook 'em Horns!Read Less"

"Overall, UT Austin is a great school. It has the best name recognition in Texas, and its BSW program is #1 in the country for a reason. I feel completely qualified as a social worker in the field because of my education with UT Austin. It has wonderful research resources as a Tier 1 University. There are plenty of campus organizations to get involved with, and there are so many amazing programs to learn from, such as their Bridging Disciplines Program, Projects for Underserved Communities, Austin City Hall Fellowship, and a plethora of others. Its mental health services are free, due to recent organizational changes, and they're pretty great albeit time-limited. Riding the bus is free to all students, and so are the gym facilities. If you're into sports, you can buy the Student Big Ticket, which lets you into all the games for something like $140. The downsides to UT Austin are as follows: the Austin bus system leaves a lot to be desired due to commute times and walking distances, parking on campus is OBSCENE (the cheapest pass is $140 a year and good luck trying to park in the 5 or so lots you're allowed to past 9 AM), there's a lot of unaddressed dating and sexual violence in West Campus, while I've been at UT (2015-2019) there was the rape and murder of a freshman female and a mass stabbing, the Big Ticket is literally the ONLY student discount for games, and financial aid is pretty hard to come by unless you're exceptionally merited or exceptionally poor.Read Less"

"The University of Texas at Austin is one of the greatest schools in the state of Texas. This because of three core reasons: the academics, the student body, and the opportunities. As a prestigious public school, The University of Texas provides you with instructors and degree plans that challenge you beyond your comfort zone. It pushes you to reach your potential and test your knowledge beyond your usual scope. Likewise, the school recruits new students every year that embody the principle "Work hard, play hard." Every student regardless of their degree plan show empathy for one another, ambition to become a successful individual, and social support for each other. Your classmates will quikly become your family throughout your time at the university. Also, they have many organizations you can join so you can quickly find your niche. Finally, the university provides students with endless opportunities to expand and maximize their career. From laboratories, career fairs, to volunteering opportunities, UT gives the students endless resources so they can further their education and develop into a well-rounded individual. They provide countless counselors to help guide you through your coursework. On top of that, the school does realize that succeeding on top of all your classes can be stressful at time. So, they even provide multiple health services so students can take care of themselves physically and mentally. Overall, the University of Texas is one of the greatest schools to attend. Looking back, I would definitely go back to UT for undergrad if I had a chance to repeat it all!Read Less"

"My experience at the University of Texas was incredibly memorable one. The faculty is knowledgeable, helpful, and is dedicated to the success of it's students. I enjoyed my psychology program as I gained meaningful experience in class as well as conducting research. The campus is beautiful. There is a lot to do in and around Austin . I highly recommend UT to any prospective longhorns."

"I attended the University for three years after transferring from a nearby institution. I found the professors in my core classes to be engaging and helpful, and the professors of my major coursework helped me grow stronger in my academics. They really push you to succeed, which was very motivating for me. The financial aid at the University is also really good -- my last four semesters were paid for entirely with grants and scholarships."

"I am a current UT Austin student, and I have to say I cannot wait to graduate and leave this institution. If you are a student on financial aid at UT, life is going to be very different for you than for many other UT students. Often your financial aid does not reach you by check until a week after school starts, which means you need to come up with $700 before the beginning of each semester and budget. Also if you do the immediate deposit for aid, that means you don't get your aid until the first day of classes when you need your books. Also students receiving financial aid tend to live in cheaper apartments far from campus. Even if you are living in riverside, you might have mandatory class events that go longer than the buses run to your apartments. Because of the inefficiency and hassle of buses (Let's not even discuss a semester parking pass cost) you will be isolated from your UT peers. If you live on the East Side and have to take classes after 4 o'clock, chances are, it takes an hour on the bus to get home. I know this all might sound petty, but these factors really add up and lead to exhaustion, especially when you also work a job while going to school. I have had some wonderful professors and internship opportunities while attending UT, but the bureaucracy surrounding credits, and financial aid problems has seemingly made the school not worth it. I have a lot more specific experiences about UT that make up this opinion, but I just thought that I should bring up some logistical points about being a poorer student at UT. If you are considering being a transfer student, including cap, or are a student who will need financial aid, and possibly end up living on the East Side, this school is not worth it.Read Less"

"The University of Texas at Austin, specifically the McCombs School of Business are both amazing. Austin is a great city to spend 4 years in and I loved that the campus was right in the heart of so much fun. The University of Texas has so many opportunities to find your place that it can be overwhelming at first, but once you find your solid groups it makes college better. I recommend taking the time to find clubs and groups that fit for you- do not force it but instead keep looking. While I made friends initially it did take me longer to get that solid friend group since I was one of the few students not from Texas. It can be hard to break into groups that are all high school friends or when you miss out on activities because every goes back to the same hometown on the weekend. It can take time, but worth it when you find your people. The program is very rigorous, but there can be some amazing professors. It was also quite a shock attending classes with hundreds of students- my entire high school was the size of some of these classes! That is when you need to be especially sure you make friends in class and get to know the professor and TAs at office hours so you do not get lost. Id recommend taking a couple core classes at community college during winter/summer break. Certain classes can be very time consuming so it can help with workload balance during the semesters. This is especially helpful if you are short on time trying to receive a major and a minor or had a delay with declaring. A McCombs degree goes a long way with recruiters since it is so highly valued and respected. The emphasis on recruiting resources and career services are great. The business school understands the goal is to get a great job after graduation and they bring lots of companies to campus giving plenty of opportunities to connect for internships and jobs. The University of Texas and McCombs have such fantastic reputations that people are always impressed. It is also the best to have such a huge network- Longhorns always help Longhorns and since there are so many of us you are likely able to find one another.Read Less"

"Back in the late 1980's and early 1990's, UT-Austin was an excellent school. I learned a lot, and what I learned has been relevant in my career. I made some good friends while I was there, including my spouse, and I always found plenty of fun things to do in Austin. I think Austin may be the most livable city that I've ever been to, and that includes cities in about 20 states and 20 other countries. But things have changed for the worse. My son attended UT-Austin starting in 2013. He wanted to double-major in clarinet performance and something in a science field. UT course advisers discouraged his double-majoring because it would cause him to take longer than 4 years to graduate, telling him to wait until he reached upper division before considering it. When he finally decided to do it, they said it was too late -- he needed to start when he was a freshman. In fact, the university would not allow it. Forced now to choose a single major, he was afraid music job prospects were too risky, so he decided he wanted to change his major. He tried to survey courses in other fields, but the university no longer allows students who are not majoring in a field to take courses designed for students who are majoring in the field. For example, the only physics class he was allowed to take was "Physics for Nonmajors," which he found so basic that it was less rigorous than his high-school physics class. During this time, the clarinet professor was forced to resign due to inappropriate relationships with students, which I understand is out of the university's control. But they failed to hire even a part time replacement for 2 semesters, and the third semester they hired exactly that - a part time professor who commuted from Chicago to teach half the classes in the first half of the semester. Do you think they would've waited 1 and a half years to hire a new football coach? My son told the professor about the university preventing him from surveying courses to choose another major, and the professor tried to step in on his behalf. If I remember, his words to the adviser were, "What are you doing? This kid's trying to find himself, and you're saying that's not allowed here?" Despite the Chicago professor's efforts, they still wouldn't allow it. My son then asked about changing his major without surveying courses first, which I myself did after my junior year. They said that except under extraordinary circumstances most in-demand degree programs don't allow it, and this included all of the fields he was interested in. So UT forced him to stay in a major for which they only offered part-time professional instruction. This also was the experience of two of my other relatives (nephews of sister-in-law). They both started in Computer Science, didn't like it, and tried to change their major. They were not allowed entry into their top two or three degree programs, and eventually chose to change to less in-demand majors that they're not at all excited about. It's almost tragic to think that at a time that they should be inspired by the prospects of starting careers they love, they are instead faced with the prospects of spending their entire careers wishing they were doing something else. On top of that, things are very different socially in the dorms now. When I went, it was very common for students, especially freshmen, to leave their doors open to increase the chance of meeting new people. Now, they don't allow this for fire safety reasons. Fire safety is important, but the social implications are devastating. Whereas the entire wing of my dorm became fast friends who ate together almost every meal and went out on weekends, etc., it's no longer anything like this. Not only did my son make zero good friends in the dorm, when I visited with him and ate in the cafeteria, I don't think I ever, even once, saw a large group of friends eating together. It's very isolating now. When I walked through the dorm hallways (dozens or maybe hundreds of times), it was bleak. There were no and I mean never - groups of kids sitting together talking in the hallways or study rooms. UT was a great place for me to come of age, but except for social butterflies, it's a terrible place for it now. After getting poor instruction in clarinet for 3 semesters and not being allowed to change his major, my son transferred to the University of North Texas after his junior year at UT-Austin, and what a difference it is. He surveyed courses with no objections from the staff, and afterward chose computer science as a second major. He applied and was granted entry to the computer science program also with no objections. He is now back on track to reach his goals, though the misguided crank-the-students-through-in-4-years philosophy at UT-Austin has set him back a year or two. What is particularly sad is that, since UNT is primarily a commuter school, my son missed out on the quintessential college experience, which for me was the most profound experience of my life. We passed on a $25,000 college scholarship offer to instead send him to UT-Austin for that experience. Though he made nearly straight A's, the university failed him in almost every way. I'm writing this review because the policies of UT-Austin are harmful, and they need to change. Perhaps if more alumni like me make our voices heard, the powers that be will take notice. I only wish I had withdrawn my tuition dollars sooner to make our dissatisfaction more acute for them. My star ratings attached to this review reflect my son's experience rather than my own, and I want you, the reader, to know that the low ratings are not at all vindictive. The 1-star quality of instruction rating is due to the unusual circumstances with the dismissed professor; I still believe that the quality of instruction at UT-Austin more generally is excellent. The 2-star degree program rating is due in part to the fact that the program did not include the flexibility to study out-of-major fields, and I was disappointed that the music performance degree lower-division coursework was surprisingly not at all well-rounded. And obviously the overall experience was a complete failure.Read Less"

"I like to say the University of Texas at Austin (UT) made me who I am. While studying for my Bachelors I learned what it is to ask for help, gain confidence in my intellect, and contribute to global discussions on people like me. I also tell people that undergraduate studies prepare you for the challenges ahead: finding a job, continuing your education, and immersing in the real world. It is not so much about what you learn as an undergrad as much as it is about what you make of it. I learned to view issues and day-to-day occurrences in a global perspective, as everyone at UT has something to contribute to the world. UT is a place to do just this because it offers a wide range of ways to evolve into a better student and a better citizen of the world. The tools the university offers are not only helpful immediately for an assignment or test but are helpful in the long run. These tools create a foundation for asking for help and collaborating with others in groups for class and for the future. While the school is not as diverse as I would have liked it to be, working with people outside of my race and comfort zone allowed me to learn how to do so. I went to UT after having lived in a homogenous city where 99% of the population is Mexican and speaks Spanish. The university, however, taught me both the positive and negative impacts of diversity, and at the same time, it taught me how to deal as well.Read Less"

"My experience with the University of Texas at Austin has been amazing so far, they are the most supportive and welcoming university that I have ever been a part of. One of my greatest concerns with attending graduate school was the cost of attending. My program was able to offer me in-state tuition waivers granting me in-state tuition for my first year in grad school, and additional scholarships on top of that. They are more than willing to work with students to help them apply for scholarships and other forms of financial assistance like grants and work-study programs if need be. Not only are they supportive financially, but emotionally as well. The Social Work department has created the most nurturing and welcoming academic environment that I have ever been a part of. All of my professors teach us to be critical learners and they welcome difficult, and often sensitive comments and questions as a result. If there is one thing I would critique about my school, it is the lack of diversity. Most of my professors are White, as well as most of the students. They are not doing a very good job at representing minority students and they need to improve in this area if they would like to stay competitive. They are willing to talk to students about this issue, but until I see movement I am not going to be convinced. The last thing I would like to critique is the condition of the building and classrooms. UT is a large university and they don't seem to mind pouring money into things like the football team, or the business school. In our building, we are having to pick ants off of our clothes while we are in class, and it is not uncommon to see a cockroach from time to time. I would just love it if UT would consider giving the social work department some love and sprucing up our building. Overall, I am loving my experience at UT and I am beginning to feel more confident that when I leave, I will be adequately prepared to become a successful social worker.Read Less"