I called a Lyft to pick me up near the popular 6th Street in Austin, Texas. Normally, I would’ve walked, but it was an unusually cold 35-degree day in late January. I was told that it was a beautiful 60-70 degrees and sunny just a week before. Looks like my timing was unlucky, but good to know that Austin can provide some bright days to break up the winter months. In just a short seven-minute drive from the heart of the city (30 if I had walked), I passed the Texas State Capitol building and arrived at UT.

It was easy to notice within the first two minutes on campus that the student body was much more diverse compared to many of the other schools I had seen. The statistics back that up. According to Niche, 37% of the students are White, 26% are Hispanic, and 24% are Asian. And while a vast majority of the students are Texas residents, the student body still has students from all 50 states and over 120 countries represented.

Most of the buildings I saw were maintained throughout the years, but they are not all that modern. Two exceptions to this were the Moody College of Communication and Cockrell School of Engineering. According to the admission counselor, the university’s engineering and business programs were the most competitive to get admitted to. Since UT’s primary goal is to serve Texas residents, it’s very competitive to be admitted to the university at all from out-of-state.

One reason to stay motivated to apply is the school spirit once you’re there. The vibe there is supportive and prideful, from the First-Year Interest Group (FIG), to the study groups in the library by noon on a Monday just weeks into the new semester, to the big-time football game days. I attended a top-15 men’s basketball match-up that night with Baylor University visiting UT at the brand new, ultra impressive Moody Center on campus.

Outside of campus, students can go to famous barbecue spots like Franklin Barbecue (pro tip: go during an off-peak time for a shorter wait) and Terry Black’s (pro tip: mix your cream of corn with Mexican rice). 6th Street is a popular and long street with plenty of food, bars, and businesses. Also, you’ll see that many technology companies have already set up offices in downtown Austin, like Google and Indeed. The city is becoming one of the hottest places for people in their 20s to move to because of the weather, job opportunities, and wide variety of activities available.

At College Matters, we’ve visited colleges from all over the country (and even some abroad too)! It’s helpful to keep an open mind and take as many in-person and virtual visits as possible to find the right fits for you. We have the expertise to point you in the right directions.