UT Austin

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

I'm in love.

Please, please don't break my heart UTA!

So glad everyone enjoyed their visit--hopefully we'll be cohort mates! If not this year, I'll be re-applying with Antecedant and we'll see you there in a few.

[ophelia9]

...sorry, this whole decision-making process has made me a little wild-eyed.

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

...sorry, this whole decision-making process has made me a little wild-eyed.

Please, show me someone whose got it all together at this point in the game! No apologies required in these fora.

[R Deckard]

Visit was great. The department seems really collaborative and relaxed. Motivated people that obviously have fun doing what they do. In fact, the department head mentioned "fun" several times. The professors I met with actually really knew my application and had suggestions for how I would fit in with the department, which was reassuring and exciting. I believed their suggestions since they seemed to have put so much thought into them. I'm still on the fence, but leaning toward Texas. At this point, for me, it's not about the schools so much as about what kind of scholar I want to be.

I had a very similar experience visiting the computational science and engineering department (ICES). It's nice to know that other departments at UT Austin seem like great places to be as well!

[Two Espressos]

aeplo, I could not agree with you more. UT wasn't even really on my radar until the visit weekend, which changed everything for me. I'd done a couple other visit weekends and, while everyone was perfectly nice and friendly, at UT they seemed to have actually taken the time to familiarize themselves with my application and interests, and they were able to speak about how I, specifically, would have a great time there - not just how some generic student might fit into the department. I've been getting a lot of pressure from my advisors to choose one of my other schools, but I think my mind is pretty much made up for Texas. It's like you said -- I think I really do want to be the kind of scholar UT produces, even if that means giving up some of the prestige (and even maybe some of the placement opportunities). I want to have fun! And to be in a place where people are enjoying themselves! Is that so crazy? And I was also impressed by how UT seems to be so dedicated to equipping its students for successful careers, whatever that career looks like -- like every other humanities grad student out there, I already know that my chances of getting a tenure-track job are extraordinarily slim. It's what I'm aiming for still, but if that doesn't work out for me, I want to know that I have other options and that there is nothing shameful about pursuing them.

Forgive my slightly inebriated ramblings! I'm battling my advisors at the moment over the decision, so I'd love hearing people's impressions of the visit/school.

It's posts like these that make so excited about the prospect of being a Ph.D. student!

I'm glad you had such a great visit! To be honest, UT-Austin was never on my list of prospective schools (no programs in Texas were: the political climate is just mind-blowingly bad in that state, in my opinion), but I'm definitely going to put it under consideration, simply based on how excellent your reception was. Johns Hopkins is a more "elite" program, but at this point, I'd think you'd be better off going to UT-Austin. Either way, you've got great options.

[antecedent]

I'm in love.

Please, please don't break my heart UTA!

So glad everyone enjoyed their visit--hopefully we'll be cohort mates! If not this year, I'll be re-applying with Antecedant and we'll see you there in a few.

Yup! Methinks some SOP revision parties may be in order if you end up doing another round. Hell, even if you don't I may nudge you to give me a read over Regardless, it's going to be a gradcafe party at UT Austin for the next few years!

It's posts like these that make so excited about the prospect of being a Ph.D. student!

I'm glad you had such a great visit! To be honest, UT-Austin was never on my list of prospective schools (no programs in Texas were: the political climate is just mind-blowingly bad in that state, in my opinion), but I'm definitely going to put it under consideration, simply based on how excellent your reception was. Johns Hopkins is a more "elite" program, but at this point, I'd think you'd be better off going to UT-Austin. Either way, you've got great options.

Keep in mind, Austin isn't like the rest of Texas. In fact, Austin is more like Berkeley, Madison, or Athens, or Santa Cruz and much less like the Texas we love to hate. If you can visit in the next year, I would recommend it - it will blow your mind that a liberal enclave of bike-happy vegetarians can exist so comfortably in such an other wise conservative state.

[HunkyDory]

It's posts like these that make so excited about the prospect of being a Ph.D. student!

I'm glad you had such a great visit! To be honest, UT-Austin was never on my list of prospective schools (no programs in Texas were: the political climate is just mind-blowingly bad in that state, in my opinion), but I'm definitely going to put it under consideration, simply based on how excellent your reception was. Johns Hopkins is a more "elite" program, but at this point, I'd think you'd be better off going to UT-Austin. Either way, you've got great options.

This is honestly the stupidest reason to think about schools. Go for good programs with good funding that fit you--the idiotic stereotypes you have about a state just make you seem like a jackass when you put it like that.

[Origin=Goal]

Two Espressos: Dokkey's post is correct for two reasons. The first being that one should certainly not make decisions solely off factors such as how "elite" the institution appears or via relatively uninformed a prioris based on either a welcome reception or projections concerning a school based on its location (although location should certainly be a factor).

The second point he makes (although without at all being aware of it) is that every discipline is filled with pretentious jerks, in fact some of the most egregiously unselfconscious cretins you'll likely encounter. This is important. It should go to show that the academy (like the individual institution) should not be romanticized, as it is not abstracted from many of the petty, undesirable features of normal jobs (quite the contrary) and is becoming increasingly less secure and more competitive. In applying, you'll be fighting tooth and nail for a slightly-better-than-subsistence financial allowance, in order to be more overwork than you've ever been and write scholarship that only a handful of people will read or care about-- still all the while have to deal with bloated egos such as our model one (qua departmental politics, rivalries, administrators who will do everything in their powers to incinerate your budget/funding, etc).

You have been warned, good luck next year.

[ComeBackZinc]

I think I agree with most all of that. And yet, still, your day to day existence can be truly lovely. Truly. But you've got to actually want the things that you've said you want throughout the process of applying.

[TripWillis]

Whatever. Dokkey is a dickhole and Two Espressos is awesome. So whatever.

[antecedent]

What I don't understand is why people are upset about Two Espresso's comment. I hear that kind of attitude about the American South all the time. It's a bit silly, perhaps, but it's no reason to talk to TE like he said grad school is easy or English degrees are useless.

Edited April 11, 2012 by antecedant

[harvardlonghorn]

I really should be working on an academic paper that is due in a few hours, but I feel the need to defend both my hometown and my alma mater. As far as the political climate goes in Austin, it is a hippie town plain and simple. I second the comment by a previous poster who compared it to Berkeley. It is a very liberal town, and in the 21 years I lived in Austin I can honestly say I've only experienced two acts of "prejudice". Ignore my avatar which speaks to my love of Carrie Bradshaw and not my racial background. Both acts of "prejudice" were committed by individuals who were neither from Austin or Texas. Austin and UT has a very diverse makeup and you are more likely to come across a tree-hugging, flip-flop wearing, hacky-sack playing, marijuana smoking activist than you are a backwoods, ignorant hillbilly. The rare occasions that I came across some ignorant twit, it was immediately obvious that they lacked intelligence and the social skills to function as a respectable human being. As far as "elitism" goes, UT is considered one of the "public ivies" and honestly my course load at UT was at times more rigorous than it is at Harvard. I had to work my ass off for every class I had at UT and the professors there had high expectations. With that being said, it is a party school and if you live anywhere around campus or in SW Austin be prepared to hear and/or smell the party atmosphere. I know I'm a bit biased but I grew up in and around UT campus and wouldn't trade my undergraduate experience there for anything. My time there is probably why UT and Harvard are my top 2 choices for PhD programs. If I were in the position to decide between UT and another school(excluding Harvard ), UT would win hands down. That's just my two (extremely biased) two cents. Either way, having the luxury of choosing between multiple PhD programs is an accomplishment and I wish you all the best of luck!!

Edited April 11, 2012 by harvardlonghorn

[TripWillis]

Of course, Austin is within the state of Texas, so there is that issue.

[harvardlonghorn]

If Texas is the worst state in the country that you have come across, then you need to do a little more exploring. I can tell you from experience, there are some other states that are far worse (overall) than Texas.

[Kelkel]

I wanted to chime in on this, as someone who lives really close to Texas and knows A LOT of Texans (little of them from Austin). While Rick Perry and GWB might paint a picture of Texas as being a gun-toting, death penalty-loving, crazy Republican rich state, it's not. You have to remember, Texas is a HUGE state and while a majority of them are described as what I said above, they are spread out over distances.

As people have said, Austin is a hippie-commune "blue-state" in the midst of all the red, but Dallas and the surrounding cities and San Antonio and the surrounding areas are very interesting and culturally rich places. The state is also full of people that are just like you and me (expect Texans are fiercely loyal to Texas). I've known people from both of these areas who are staunchly Democrat. One voted for Hilary in the democratic convention in Texas. It's all about who you know and who you surround yourself with.

It's been said time and time again that if you want to be an academic, you have to realize you can't choose where to live. You really have to leave biases such as the political climate or observed stereotypes of that state at the door.

[harvardlonghorn]

Well said Kelkel!

[WendyMoira]

Actually, I joke about not wanting to go to such a bright red state, but my bigger problem is the heat. I hate it! I'm sure Texas is like everywhere else--much more complex than one observes from a distance. Austin seemed to be as open and relaxed as most people here are describing it. That said, I don't think there's anything wrong with choosing a school based on several factors, including where you'd like to live for several years. I have a spreadsheet with probably 30-35 major issues to consider.

[ComeBackZinc]

I should say that I was only affirming that grad school can have its share of pretentious jerks, and that people need to take care about not romanticizing too much. That's all.

I've never been to Austin, although a good friend of mine finished his PhD in African history there within the last couple of years and he loved it.

[harvardlonghorn]

For the most part, it takes quite a bit to ruffle my feathers. But I am also happy to offer insight into a city and University where I spent a great deal of time. I know my list of factors includes some zany things-see my post in Choosing where to apply-so I can certainly understand feeling bias towards a given city or state. I think most people can appreciate a harmless politically incorrect jab until it comes their way and then we all feel the need to defend. I think my immense love for UT should be an indicator of the kind of impact it made.

I should say that I was only affirming that grad school can have its share of pretentious jerks, and that people need to take care about not romanticizing too much.

We're all writers here. Don't we all romanticize too much?

Edited April 11, 2012 by harvardlonghorn

[Kelkel]

That said, I don't think there's anything wrong with choosing a school based on several factors, including where you'd like to live for several years.

Oh there's definitely not! But it also means you should do your due diligence and research areas before making a snap judgement on where to apply.

However, it seems like the general consensus here is that New Haven, CT isn't a great place to live, but that doesn't stop people from applying to Yale! It's just all things you have to weigh in this game. The first time I applied, it was only to schools below the Mason-Dixson line (I'm not a fan of the cold). This time I got rid of that requirement and only applied to one Southern school, but am heading to New York... hurray!

[heliogabalus]

I grew up in Southern California and now live in New York City, but if I could wave a wand and be in any city in the US, it would be Austin. I went from a little liberal arts school in upstate New York to UT, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. In addition to Austin being a great town, UT being such an immense school that you can find anything you want there (Hittitologists? Sure! Expert on Gypsies? Upstairs.), Texans are awesome. They're friendly, non-judgemental, and eccentric. (New Yorkers, in my experience, are much more rigid.) It's a great place, and if you're in English you can take classes with Ernest Kaulbach, who is hysterical and brilliant.

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

You all just gave me heart attack! I was at work and saw this thread exploded, and thought 20 people just got in off the waitlist.

Edited April 11, 2012 by Fiona Thunderpaws

[HunkyDory]

Aeplo--totally agree about the heat, August is going to be miserable.

And I love how uptight and defensive people get on these boards (so easy to troll!)-- forget pretentious douchebags, a lot of people need to take themselves a whole lot LESS seriously.

And for the record, the two worst states are Nebraska and North Dakota.

[TripWillis]

And I love how uptight and defensive people get on these boards (so easy to troll!)-- forget pretentious douchebags, a lot of people need to take themselves a whole lot LESS seriously.

And for the record, the two worst states are Nebraska and North Dakota.

[Sigaba]

What I don't understand is why people are upset about Two Espresso's comment. I hear that kind of attitude about the American South all the time. It's a bit silly, perhaps, but it's no reason to talk to TE like he said grad school is easy or English degrees are useless.

As I spent some time at the Forty Acres, I'm obliged to stray out of my lane long enough to point out that Texas is in the southwest, not the south.

Here's the short version of one of my favorite experiences while there. A gubernatorial candidate came to campus to campaign for votes. The person was subjected to heckling from some of the assembled undergraduates. After a bit, the candidate grew weary. The person looked around and drawled, I would remind you that no matter what our differences, we're all still Texans. From one moment to the next, civility returned.

Edited April 11, 2012 by Sigaba