火爆社区

Students at the University of Texas at Austin, often referred to as the "Harvard of the South," proudly say that the school offers them "an infinite number of possibilities." Known as Longhorns, these students highlight the extensive resources available through the university's 16 career centers. One astonished student lists their discoveries: "There is free tutoring, gym membership, professional counseling, doctor visits, legal help, career advising, and many distinguished outside speakers." On top of that, students in the College of Natural Sciences can utilize the Freshman Research Initiative to fund and promote their projects, and thousands of Longhorns make the most of study, intern, and research abroad opportunities each year. With over 40,000 undergrads on campus, UT Austin is "a huge school and has a lot to offer," including "experts in every field you can imagine"-to be precise, over 3,000 faculty and 156 degree programs. One student mentions that they had worried that the school's size would make it hard to connect with faculty, only to meet "professors who want to know you and [who] provide opportunities to get to know them." A few students acknowledge the quality of their instructors "can vary greatly," but the overall consensus is that "the class offerings at UT are generally vast and diverse." By and large, UT Austin offers "everything you want in a college: academics, athletics, social life, location."

Students note that there are so many students at UT Austin that there鈥檚 no typical Longhorn: 鈥淓veryone at Texas is different! When you walk across campus, you see every type of ethnicity.鈥� While there is a 鈥渉uge Greek life at UT,鈥� they are 鈥渉ardly the majority, since UT is actually made [up] of more 鈥榓typical鈥� people than most other schools.鈥� According to some, it鈥檚 a positive, to 鈥渟ee someone dressed in a way you鈥檝e never seen before鈥�.That鈥檚 Austin!鈥� As one student says, 鈥淓veryone here has their own niche, and I could not think of any type of individual who would not be able to find one of their own.鈥� Another student concurs, saying, 鈥淓veryone seems to get along. The different types of students just blend in together.鈥�

Life at UT Austin is "very relaxed" and "students and faculty frequently picnic all over campus." As one student puts it, "It's truly what you see in one of those cheesy brochures with everyone studying and smiling." (During finals, students acknowledge there's more of a "an over-caffeinated, glazed-eye look.") Longhorns love that there are "festivals or fairs of some kind going on downtown all the time," such as South by Southwest and the Austin City Limits Music Festival. On a regular basis, socially minded Longhorns enjoy "the infamous 6th Street with nightlife that dies down only after the bars close." Students enthuse about the "many hike-and-bike trails and fitness organizations" on and near campus. "It's possible for students to train for marathons, half marathons, and triathlons while in school." Students also rave about Barton Springs, "a natural spring that is very popular year-round." One student explains what they like about UT Austin: "On any given Saturday you will find students throwing a football, going for a run, biking through the hills, kayaking in the river, having a late lunch at one of Austin's great restaurants, or just sleeping in."

There is a huge career services presence at UT Austin, where each college has its own dedicated office. This way while all students have access to HireUTexas, the university鈥檚 campus-wide job board, they also have resources tailored to their particular schools and interests. For instance, students in the College of Liberal Arts may take courses (for credit!) that complement and make the most of their internship experiences. And ScienceWorks is the online hub for College of Natural Sciences students looking for jobs, internships, mentors and professional development events. Job and Internship Fairs are usually organized by school as well with multiple chances to network and meet potential employers each year. UT Austin graduates who visited PayScale.com report a median starting salary of $62,100, and 51 percent derive a high level of meaning from their work.