Rolling in the Roses while Living in LonghornLand
Written: Oct 09 '05 (Updated Sep 01 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: resources, research, select programs
Cons: undergraduate size, parking, and a potentially impersonal, get-lost-in-the-crowd experience
The Bottom Line: It is an up-and-coming large, state research university with some strong academic areas and a top-notch sports program.
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| mht's Full Review: University of Texas at Austin |
Texas may be best known for its outstanding sports program, which was dubbed by Sports Illustrated to be the best in the country using their various criteria. Last year, Texas finished 2nd in the country in the Director's Cup, a measure of the playoff performance of a college's/university's varsity sports. U. of Texas' also has the second most bought sports related brand around (although I confess that burnt orange isn't my favorite color). While this epinion leads with sports, it won't stop there. As I've been here at this massive university, there are various points worth mentioning to those who come to Epinions.
Roses and Red River
Texas came up smelling roses last year in that most prominent of American sports: pigskin. Specifically, it foiled the critics and beat the U. of Michigan Wolverines in a Rose Bowl showdown as dramatic as a football movie-except it wasn't fiction. Walk-on Dusty Mangum split the uprights as time expired to win it for the Longhorns. It was the first matchup between these two storied programs in their respective, illustrious histories.
Texas finally broke a five game losing streak in the Red River Shootout, the annual matchup with Big XII Conference rival Oklahoma University. Played in the Sugar Bowl in Dallas and held in conjunction with the state fair, Texas won convincingly before a national audience on ABC sports. The victory in the Red River Shootout was followed by a resounding Big XII conference title.
To crown it all, UT snapped USC's 34 game winning streak to win the national championship in dramatic fashion once again, 41-38 on a Vince Young touchdown run on 4th down and 5 to go. With this 4th football national title and back to back Rose Bowl victories, the Longhorns are truly rolling in the roses. Since Vince Young decided to go pro rather than return for a senior year, UT should savor the season for all its worth.
As a bonus, they say that head coach Mack Brown is about the kindest, friendliest man around--an affable Christian gentleman. He's also the most extravagantly compensated college football coach around after signing a huge contract last season. Given what I've read and heard about his character though, I imagine he is generous with his overflowing compensation.
Baseball
Coming off a national championship last season ('05) and two national crowns in the past 4 seasons, coach Augie Garrido has lead one of the best collegiate baseball programs around. National championships at Texas aren't rare: they're expected. A simple walk around the Co-Op contains enough national championship decoration (all historically accurate) to make just about any other school green with envy. The baseball program has been one of the leading sports in a school laden with All-American performances. To boot, the players on the team take the time to conduct clinics for starry-eyed youth dreaming of their chance to play for the burnt orange.
For the Rest of Us
For non-Varsity athletes, UT still provides superb sports facilities. Gregory Gym, with its climbing walls, basketball courts, squash, badminton and racquetball is first-rate. Additionally, a new pool complex that is part of Gregory is due to open later this fall of 2005. The intramural and club sports (I'm on the tennis club) offerings are also extensive and popular.
Architecture
As high as the sports programs fly, with all due respect, I can't give as high a mark for the campus architecture. Some buildings may do well as (and look like) concrete or brick bunkers. The architecture, while sometimes using a better shade of orange than the burnt variety, is drab, boring and in many cases blandly functional.
Speaking of functional, the insides of these buildings work much better than their outsides look. Wireless computer connections are the norm (even at the old building my wife Sarah spends much time doing research in), and some buildings are state of the art--inside. All the detours on campus (especially during the summer) indicate that more building, renovating and upkeep is taking place. We'll see what the last hurrah of soon to depart President Larry Faulkner's record-breaking tenure looks like.
Academics
Several programs at the university are worth mentioning. The pharmacy program is considered tops. A number of engineering programs are very highly rated. The law school is among the most highly regarded law schools in the country, considered among the top five public law schools in the land. The business school has been rising. The Latin American program is a distinctive strength of the university.
Faculty
Among the faculty of this large research university, one can find Nobel Prize winners and other leading scholars in a variety of fields. There are a number of members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the most prestigious society a professor can be inducted into. From all that I've gathered, the teaching quality varies widely from prof. to prof: from excellent to, shall we say, less so. I know of a prof. who actually spends about twenty hours of preparation for each class period he teaches: that is truly extensive. Research prowess, sadly enough however, doesn't necessarily guarantee pedagogical excellence--or vice versa.
10% Law
A law in Texas guarantees admission into UT undergrad. for any graduating Texas senior in the top 10% of that high school class. Prof. Doug Laycock (with whom I enjoyed eating lunch) contends that due to the marked variance in quality of high schools, it brings unqualified and unprepared students to the university. Others say it gives underprivileged students a chance to attend the flagship U. of Texas university. For better or for worse, whether as a bridge to opportunity or a diluter of quality, this 10% rule is the law in Texas.
For those looking for a small, liberal arts college experience within UT, the Honors College (with some 2000 students) would be the place to go within UT. Otherwise, one will be moving with a rather large Longhorn herd.
Well-Endowed
Including all assets, I'm given to understand that the U. of Texas is the 2nd wealthiest--behind Harvard and ahead of Yale. There is no lack of resources here. Tongue in cheek, they supplement their vast resources with all the parking tickets they dole out and the fees they charge for things like transcripts. At the same time, one shouldn't just assume (especially from out of state) that one's tuition would be low nor that it won't increase in the future. Unlike Harvard & Yale, UT makes a lot of money through its sports programs. Texas also doles out much scholarship money, a sizable portion (but by no means all) based on athletics.
Rankings
The recent U.S. News rankings put UT somewhere around 50ish for the undergraduate program. There are fluctuations from year to year. The biology program, as another example, took a quantum leap upwards to twenty somethingish.
With this said, I think it makes the most sense--before putting too much weight on them--to see if the U.S. News factors are important to your choice of college. The U.S. News factors are by no means the only ones you should consider in this important decision.
A recent worldwide ranking of research universities that used various research related factors (like research output, resources, etc.), found that UT emerged as #7 in the world. This ranking places it among the premiere research universities in the world, according to the criteria used.
International
UT consciously and intentionally welcomes a large number of international students. This policy draws excellent and hard-working international students to the university. Granted, not all of the international students are equally diligent, qualified, etc., but from my interactions, information and observations, many of them are. It certainly adds multicultural and ethnic flavor to one of the largest universities in America.
To Close
There are many aspects to any university: a piece this length (and I suppose this is long for an epinion) can only touch on some. However, it's a university that my wife and I are presently a part of, so this is an inside view--and, as far as I in good faith know, an accurate one. Now although burnt orange still isn't my favorite color (although it's growing on me) :-), this LonghornLand, with its extensive research and resources, with its premiere athletic programs, its cultural events at the PAC (Performing Arts Center), and in spite of the tough parking and surprising fees, is actually growing on us.
It's true that I would recommend some programs more than others: the Honors College for undergrad. and select graduate/professional programs would be most recommended. This school isn't for everyone, but there sure are some loyal Texas Exes (what the alumni call themselves) out there who, in their minds, will stay in Longhornland for as long as they live.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mht
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Member: Morse Tan, Esq.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Reviews written: 115
Trusted by: 31 members
About Me:
HappyHubby, DevotedDad, BookAddict, investor, TennisBrain, cellist, TravelNut, DogLover, law professor: learning to play!
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