Student Profile
Sarah
- Class: Senior
- Major: Art/Art History
- Gender: F
- High School: Lamar High School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
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.
Academic Life
All of this happens on the part of the student. The professor will know your name if you visit him/her in his/her office hours. Class participation is not common, in small or large classes. Participation may become more frequent as one progresses to upper level courses. First and second years are easily intimidated. I know because I was the same way. UT's core curriculum or academic requirements are very streamlined and so non-specific. It seems like many UT students graduate with a mixture of knowledge from all different areas that don't always cohere. Depending on one's major, your education at UT may or may not be geared toward getting a job or learning for its own sake.
Student Body
A student from the northern United States would probably feel out of place. Texas is a different state of mind. Different types of students interact, some more than others. There are all different financial backgrounds. Most students are politically leftist. Some students talk about how much they'll earn one day, typically Engineering students (no offense, I can prove this.).
The Best Things
It's size, diversity, faculty, students, facilities, choices + opportunities
The Worst Things
Claustrophobia, at times non-enthusiastic students
