UT Austin

[antecedent]

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.

Duly noted

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

What is one getting into exactly if one moves from the Northeast and movies to Texas then? I seriously know nothing about Texas. I've never even been within three hundred miles of a Texan border. All I know is that a Longhorn is a seriously scary looking creature, and it puts Buffalo's buffalo to shame.

EDIT: As a Buffalonian, I am compelled to note that the Buffalo buffalo is in fact a bison and was never indigenous to western New York. Don't ask me why--I just live here.

Edited April 12, 2012 by Fiona Thunderpaws

[harvardlonghorn]

What is one getting into exactly if one moves from the Northeast and movies to Texas then? I seriously know nothing about Texas. I've never even been within three hundred miles of a Texan border. All I know is that a Longhorn is a seriously scary looking creature, and it puts Buffalo's buffalo to shame.

EDIT: As a Buffalonian, I am compelled to note that the Buffalo buffalo is in fact a bison and was never indigenous to western New York. Don't ask me why--I just live here.

My family moved from TX up to Rochester, NY back in the early 90s and aside from the drastic change in weather, I didn't feel out of my element. My parents are from CT, so the only way someone from back East can tell I'm from Texas is when I say y'all instead of you guys. We moved from Rochester, NY to Louisiana and that by far was the biggest culture shock I have ever experienced. If we're solely discussing Austin, then if you're familiar with Rochester, it's fairly similar in terms of landscape and atmosphere. In terms of population size it's closer to Boston, MA. Unless you venture out to the ranch areas outside of Austin (i.e. Bastrop/Elgin/Kyle), then the only time you will see an actual Longhorn is at a UT football game. Bevo the Longhorn looks bored to be there in the sweltering heat so you won't have to worry about him going on a wild rampage. In terms of cities like Houston, Dallas, or San Antonio the atmosphere varies. Dallas is a bit more "hoity-toity" IMO and there are areas that remind me of the Real Housewives series. Houston varies as well but since its at sea level it is extremely HUMID.

Edited April 12, 2012 by harvardlonghorn

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

My family moved from TX up to Rochester, NY back in the early 90s and aside from the drastic change in weather, I didn't feel out of my element. My parents are from CT, so the only way someone from back East can tell I'm from Texas is when I say y'all instead of you guys. We moved from Rochester, NY to Louisiana and that by far was the biggest culture shock I have ever experienced. If we're solely discussing Austin, then if you're familiar with Rochester, it's fairly similar in terms of landscape and atmosphere. In terms of population size it's closer to Boston, MA. Unless you venture out to the ranch areas outside of Austin (i.e. Bastrop/Elgin/Kyle), then the only time you will see an actual Longhorn is at a UT football game. Bevo the Longhorn looks bored to be there in the sweltering heat so you won't have to worry about him going on a wild rampage. In terms of cities like Houston, Dallas, or San Antonio the atmosphere varies. Dallas is a bit more "hoity-toity" IMO and there are areas that remind me of the Real Housewives series. Houston varies as well but since its at sea level it is extremely HUMID.

You lived in Rochester as well? Awesome! Glad to hear they're somewhat comparable (but with Austin winning weather-wise). They bring out an actual longhorn for football games? I'll have to go just to see him if things work out with UTA.

[marlowe]

Unfortunately, I don't have much time to comment because I have to return to work, but I thought the visit was great -- different, but more encouraging than other visits that I have been on.

I am still struggling with my decision, but I hope to decide before Saturday.

Good luck all you waitlisters -- can't wait to hear your success stories soon.

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

Unfortunately, I don't have much time to comment because I have to return to work, but I thought the visit was great -- different, but more encouraging than other visits that I have been on.

I am still struggling with my decision, but I hope to decide before Saturday.

Good luck all you waitlisters -- can't wait to hear your success stories soon.

Glad to hear you enjoyed the visit! Best of luck with your decisions--you have some excellent choices, and I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

[Two Espressos]

Jesus Christ, I really didn't mean for my post to start this kind of a conflagration and detract from people posting about visiting, the waitlist, etc. I'm going to comment upon a bunch of things, so here goes...

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.

I should have clarified my reasoning a bit in the former post. My main issue with more southern states is the physical climate, not the political one. I live in the northeast, and I have trouble surviving our 75-85 degree summers! I intended to mention both the weather and the politics, not just the latter. Sorry about that. I am still somewhat concerned with the political atmosphere, especially because I live (and have lived, my entire life) in such a shitty town. But the weather's my main gripe.

EDIT: And anyways, if Austin is how you and others have described it, then the political climate shouldn't be a problem at all.

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).

I put "elite" in quotes on purpose, trying to highlight the tendentious, arbitrary nature of the academic hierarchy. I don't think I was clear enough, so I apologize! I agree with your points. But I think that it's reasonable to be intrigued with a program that has, according to the subjective experience of several users, a very friendly academic climate. I'm not solely making decisions for those reasons, of course (and it's very far down the list of important factors), but it has made me more interested in researching/exploring UT-Austin's program, which I think is a good thing!

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.

Of course I'm concerned with "good programs with good funding that fit." Why are you personally attacking me, exactly?

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.

Once again, the heat is the main reason I'm uninterested in the southermost states. I should have explicitly stated that (I have in other posts, but I regret not including it in my former post in this thread).

As for trolling, one of the things I love about TheGradCafe is that trolling is (mostly) nonexistent. This isn't /b/, and most people here have the decency to treat others with respect. My other comment may have been misleading and too simplistic, but I don't think that it warranted your vehement reaction.

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.

I don't understand why everyone's upset either.

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

You're too kind, really. But thank you.

Edited April 12, 2012 by Two Espressos

[TripWillis]

You're too kind, really. But thank you.

I mean, c'mon, everyone knows it.

[Two Espressos]

I mean, c'mon, everyone knows it.

(<--- sunglasses to hide internet blushing) [i figure I should finally jump on the sunglasses meme that StatelyPlump (I believe that's her/his username?) started.]

Edited April 12, 2012 by Two Espressos

[perrykm2]

This site just blows up sometimes. It's like a digital tinderbox.

[WendyMoira]

Two Espressos, I'm with you. I really can't tolerate the heat.

But, I accepted anyway. The department was great on so many levels. It's a good fit for me.

Decision made! I'm headed to UT-Austin!

[antecedent]

Two Espressos, I'm with you. I really can't tolerate the heat.

But, I accepted anyway. The department was great on so many levels. It's a good fit for me.

Decision made! I'm headed to UT-Austin!

Congrats Aeplo! So stoked for you

[Sigaba]

I really can't tolerate the heat.

@aeplo--

Then you'd better start drinking water now, cause Austin has two seasons: summer and January.

[WendyMoira]

Ha, yeah. I'm moving from Florida, though, so at least it'll be less humid.

[Sigaba]

Ha, yeah. I'm moving from Florida, though, so at least it'll be less humid.

One day I was walking along in Austin, across the street from campus. As usual, the heat was kicking my tail. Lo! I spied two guys walking towards me wearing jeans. What the heck, I thought. "Aren't you hot?" I asked.

One guy looked at me, grinned, and said "We're from Florida."

And that's a true story.

[Kelkel]

One day I was walking along in Austin, across the street from campus. As usual, the heat was kicking my tail. Lo! I spied two guys walking towards me wearing jeans. What the heck, I thought. "Aren't you hot?" I asked.

One guy looked at me, grinned, and said "We're from Florida."

And that's a true story.

Yeah you get used to it after living with it for so long You definitely learn to manage your expectations of not sweating all day.

[GuateAmfeminist]

I woke up to lovely news - in off the waitlist for UT-Austin! They said I'm getting the full funding package. So excited!

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

What the hell? GF says I still hit my quota of 1s for the day otherwise I would like that a million times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[marlowe]

Congrats, Fiona is next!

Just declined a school -- one of the hardest (series of) letters that I have ever had to write.

[WendyMoira]

One day I was walking along in Austin, across the street from campus. As usual, the heat was kicking my tail. Lo! I spied two guys walking towards me wearing jeans. What the heck, I thought. "Aren't you hot?" I asked.

One guy looked at me, grinned, and said "We're from Florida."

And that's a true story.

I totally believe it. It is currently a little over 80. Almost all of my students and I are wearing jeans. Six of them are wearing hoodies.

I woke up to lovely news - in off the waitlist for UT-Austin! They said I'm getting the full funding package. So excited!

So thrilled for you! And happy we'll be cohorts! Are you riding the same high I'm riding?!

Edited April 13, 2012 by aeplo

[WendyMoira]

And yes, I'm on gradcafe while my students are taking a quiz. Don't judge me.

[lyonessrampant]

Congrats Guate! Fingers crossed for Thunderpaws!

[GuateAmfeminist]

And yes, I'm on gradcafe while my students are taking a quiz. Don't judge me.

I've been on gradcafe while my students are working on their Shakespearean plays about the 21st century.

No judgement here.

P.S. - one of my students decided to make their script include aliens trying to find corndogs at the Sonic. Here is a line:

Alien: Prithee, give us corndogs anon!

[GuateAmfeminist]

Congrats Guate! Fingers crossed for Thunderpaws!

Thanks! I am wishing so hard for Thunderpaws!

[Fiona Thunderpaws]

It worked guys, I'm in!!!!!