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My department does not do enough to recognize undergraduates in the Art History department. The department focuses too much on its graduate students, thus it's undergraduate program becomes less competitive. Each year is different. For the first two years of my college career, I spent most of my time in the ART building, working in the painting studio. For the next two years, I've spent most of my time in the Fine Arts Library, researching. This past semester, I have spent a great deal in the business school. The administration within the College of Fine Arts (I don't have much interaction with other departments) is great! The Dean of Student Affairs is attentive and dedicated to her job. It's been tough not having a permanent Dean of College Of Fine Arts for the past two years, but he's finally here, and here to stay. For me, I have a lot of "college" and university pride. Unlike other schools, UT offers training in highly specified areas. As a freshmen, you have many options, however, you have to seek them out. My advice to all freshmen would be to not take any of your professors and resources for granted. Ask much of your professors. Do not expect things to "magically" happen. You have to work for it.
Sarah Senior
UT's campus has a lot to offer. You just have to be motivated and make the effort to take advantage of it. It's harder when you live off campus, like I do/did in the Castilian. As much as I liked my dorm, I wasn't in the middle of campus and I was always just a bit lazy. Of course, I made a great group of friends from my dorm. There are a lot of events that go on every week, with flyers marketing them. Make an effort now and then to read and look at one - I did. And the events are really great. Texas Revue in the spring is really fun to go to. The drag is really great, but you do get tired of it after one Semester. Also, make sure you have pockets of cash. Eating out as a student is really appealing and the Drag has a lot to offer, but that money adds up at the end of the week, and the month...and before you know it $100 is down the drain and you don't know how. So when you go into a restaurant and see a table of people your age all ordering water, they are definitely college students. My friends and I started spending a lot of time on congress, going up that hill. There are a lot of funky little shops. It's just nice way to kill a quiet, calm, and gorgeous evening.
Amanda Sophomore
I love Austin because it is a big town with a small town feel. Everyone supports local artists and businesses and is very welcoming. It is an amazing city to live in and I love that UT embraces that feel.
Allison Junior
UT is amazing! It is what you make of it. There are so many opportunities available. I like that UT is so large. It allows for more diversity. The one thing that bothers me is that there are so many overlapping causes. For instance there are at least three AIDS organization. I don't think there is a general consensus about UT it really depends who you talk to. Some people are impressed others are not. The only consistent response comes from rival schools like OU, A&M and tech, I think they are just jealous. Austin is definitely a college town. At least in the downtown area. The administration at UT is very bureaucratic and often inefficient. Controversy usually arises out of diversity issues such as whether same sex couples should get insurance benefits. There is a lot of school pride but at the same time there are people who don't care at about UT culture at all and they fit in just fine. UT has some really creepy old buildings. Walking into the anna hiss gym is literally a blast from the past. Most frequently students complain about cost and the lack of food options in areas away from the dormatories
Regina Senior
The best thing about UT is the people! There are so many people from all different walks of life and it's great to learn about different cultures. One thing I would change or get rid of would be the PTS (Parking and Transportation Services). It is pretty much an accepted fact that you will get at least one ticket a year if not a semester. It gets pretty annoying because sometimes you will only be a minute past your metered parking time and you will already have a ticket waiting for you when you get back. UT is definitely a college town. Every one that lives in Austin either goes to UT, went to UT, or is just a hardcore UT fan. We bleed burnt orange, and Longhorn flags can be found at just about every corner. There's definitely a lot of school pride!
Tava Junior
UT is an amazing place (as far as IÕm concerned). I love the atmosphere. Things are always just a little different. Whether youÕre walking down the street and see a guy dressed in Shakespearean garb (and no it wasnÕt Halloween) or a large group of students (ÒThe Flash MobÓ) bowing in front of the Tower at the stroke of noon as streakers run by, UT and Austin are just a little bit out there. One thing I would change about University would be the large amount of e-mails that I get from the administration, departments, UT Police, etc. I often feel like IÕm getting spammed by the University. E-mail (the official form of communication, no lie) often fills my inbox each day, somewhere between 5-7 from the University alone (not to mention professors, organizations, and other students). The University is large, but it really is as big or small as you make it (I know thatÕs what they all say, but itÕs true). I see friends around campus on my way to pretty much every class (though it can make it hard to be on time when I have to stop and say hi). Getting involved in organizations and simply being more outgoing can really help. Be friendly with the other students in class. Strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you in class (Texans are known for being nice after all). Just be friendly and get involved and youÕll have no problem shrinking the size of the University considerably. UT (at least in Texas) is often regarded pretty highly. Unless the person went to UT or has a close relative who goes here, I get one of two reactions usually: 1. ÒI heard that is a good school. Do you like it?Ó OR 2. ÒI love your football team. What do you think your prospects are for next seasonÓ (theyÕre always good by the way). There are tons of places to hang out in and around campus. The south mall (a grassy area that looks up that the Tower) is a popular place for people to simply lay down in the sun, read a book, or play ultimate Frisbee. The turtle pond (it is really pretty I think) is a place where youÕll find those students reexamining their lives as they look enviously at the simply lives of the turtles swimming in circles. The ÒdragÓ (the street on the western border of campus) is another popular hangout place. The ÒdragÓ has several local restaurants and coffee shops (ÒKEEP AUSTIN WEIRDÓ, youÕll figure it out when you come to Austin) as well as some cool stores like Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. ItÕs fun to simply sit down in Metro coffee shop and simply watch people walking outside. Austin is what I would consider the PREMIER college town. It really is amazing. There are tons of things to do and downtown is a lot of fun for going out. There are tons of bars/clubs on 6th street and tons of live music all over (weÕre the ÒLive Music Capital of the WorldÓ). Austin City Limits (ACL) is one of the largest music festivals in the nation (this year Bjork, The Killers, Muse, and 150+ others played, look at the list online) and South by Southwest is also amazing. The city seems Òyoung.Ó The city it so much fun! The UT administration is pretty good. They do a descent job of listening to students, but the best way to get things done is to have some way to get a foot in with Student Government. The administration tries to listen, but if there is something they are dead set on doing (like how theyÕre about to institute a +/- grading system), they will do what they want no matter what the student body says. The school does have a lot of pride. We like being Longhorns and take pride in our academics, our city, and our sports (especially football). One of my favorite things on campus is the Tower. I donÕt know what it is about this simple building, but it seems to evoke something in me, and many others, that few others understand. When the Tower is lit orange, I get a chill. The Tower seems to bring us all together, as Longhorns and as future leaders of the country.
Michael Junior
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