Dallas, Houston, or Austin? (Fort Worth, Arlington: apartments, credit, home) - City-Data Forum

turneed · 02-28-2008, 07:02 PM

Hello, I am a 22 yr old part time student that works full time and currently live in Birmingham, AL and attends the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I am considering moving because I want a change and I have been in Birmingham nearly all of my life. I have been mulling over where I might move and have considered places such as Charlotte, Indianapolis, Nashville, Jacksonville, Dallas and Houston. I want to live somewhere with a decent cost of living, a major 4 year university, and plenty of hospitals(because that's where I plan to work). Texas is the one I'm considering the most, but I'm torn between 3 cities: Dallas, Houston, Austin. I would like your opinions on which one would be the best for me. What is most important to me is these things: plenty of hospitals(b/c that is where I will work), decent 1 br apartments in the $500-$800 range in safe neighborhoods, and a well-respected 4-year university. Night-life, social scene, and shopping are low on my list b/c I won't have much time for that anyway. Your opinions would be much appreciated! Thanks!

KantLockeMeIn · 02-28-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turneed

Hello, I am a 22 yr old part time student that works full time and currently live in Birmingham, AL and attends the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I am considering moving because I want a change and I have been in Birmingham nearly all of my life. I have been mulling over where I might move and have considered places such as Charlotte, Indianapolis, Nashville, Jacksonville, Dallas and Houston. I want to live somewhere with a decent cost of living, a major 4 year university, and plenty of hospitals(because that's where I plan to work). Texas is the one I'm considering the most, but I'm torn between 3 cities: Dallas, Houston, Austin. I would like your opinions on which one would be the best for me. What is most important to me is these things: plenty of hospitals(b/c that is where I will work), decent 1 br apartments in the $500-$800 range in safe neighborhoods, and a well-respected 4-year university. Night-life, social scene, and shopping are low on my list b/c I won't have much time for that anyway. Your opinions would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Private or public university? Keep in mind that for public you won't get in-state tuition if you haven't lived here for a year.

turneed · 02-29-2008, 12:48 AM

Public, definitely. Yea, I've thought about the tuition thing. Taking a year off from school would be nice. I would be able to save some money and get used to a new place. One thing that makes me apprehensive about moving though is how my credits would transfer to a new school.

neotextist · 02-29-2008, 05:18 AM

You want to work in hospitals, but you didn't mention your major.

Anyway, perhaps you should apply to colleges in these areas and see which accepts you first?

turneed · 02-29-2008, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houstoner

You want to work in hospitals, but you didn't mention your major.

Anyway, perhaps you should apply to colleges in these areas and see which accepts you first?

I see your point. My major is Biology/Pre-pharmacy. My grades are pretty good and my ACT scores are very good so I'm pretty confident that I can gain admission to any Public 4-year University I choose. I'm sure that any 4-year school would have the classes I need to complete my degree. I would work in the hospital as a pharmacy tech, and in my research for the positions I'm qualified for, my earning potential is 5-10 K more in Houston and/or Dallas than it is in Birmingham. It's not a definite that I'll move, I'm just giving consideration to something that might advance me. I look at every last detail about a situation before I decide to do something, so If I decide to move, I'll definitely know my chances of getting into the school of my choice and have a job in place. I just wanted some opinions of you all who are or have been residents of these cities that I mentioned and which one would best meet the criteria I first mentioned. Thanks!

neotextist · 02-29-2008, 09:54 AM

Well, you certainly are sure of yourself! UT in Austin and the University of Houston have pre-pharmacy programs. I don't know how well either is regarded. Texas Southern University, also in Houston, is an HBCU that was once well-known locally at least for churning out pharmacy students, but I don't know if that still holds true. It has seen some trouble and is definitely not a great university overall. UT is a far superior overall undergraduate institution academically, but the City of Houston has the added benefit of being home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical district in the world. It would be much easier to be accepted at TSU and UH than UT, but you may stand a decent chance as a transfer at UT, I don't know. I don't know anything about pharmacy programs in Dallas.

turneed · 02-29-2008, 10:47 AM

Yea, I guess I am kind of sure of myself. I feel that is a necessity in today's day and time because it seems as if people are always trying to tear you down. I used to be somewhat cocky and overconfident but life has humbled me, but I still have a lot of self-confidence. I didn't know that Texas-Southern was an HBCU. Has it or any of its programs ever been in danger of losing its accreditation? I know of a few HBCUs that are or have been in danger of losing theirs.

CMDallas · 02-29-2008, 09:39 PM

If you would try and go to UT, it's tough to get into if you're not an instate.
Dallas has UT southwestern, which is good and sounds like what you're looking for.
Fort Worth has the University of North Texas Health and Science center, which also is pretty good.
The Houston ones have been mentioned. I believe it is Private though, but I'm not sure.
I would honestly shoot for UT Southwestern, it is good...I believe it is public...It ranks
18 in Medical School for research, and 19 for Primary Care.
Baylor (Houston) I believe is private (not sure though) but it ranks 10 in research, and 11 in Primary care.
University of North Texas Health and Science center does not ranks in the top 50 for research, but ranks 34 is Primary care.
This is according to USNews though.
UT Austin does not rank in the Top 50 for either of these things.

neotextist · 03-01-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turneed

Yea, I guess I am kind of sure of myself. I feel that is a necessity in today's day and time because it seems as if people are always trying to tear you down. I used to be somewhat cocky and overconfident but life has humbled me, but I still have a lot of self-confidence. I didn't know that Texas-Southern was an HBCU. Has it or any of its programs ever been in danger of losing its accreditation? I know of a few HBCUs that are or have been in danger of losing theirs.

Yes. Google "TSU, finances, Priscilla Slade, accreditation". That should keep you busy for a while.

turneed · 03-01-2008, 07:12 PM

Do you know anything about the University of Texas in Dallas or the University of Texas in Arlington? I was looking at UT's website and i found out that they have an 8 or 9 university system with campuses all across Texas. I know that they wouldn't be as good as UT Austin, but have you heard anything good or bad about them?