What's the difference between UT and A&M? (Austin: private schools, university)

[FalconheadWest]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

What "traditions" are you talking about? Don't be shy here.

No, no, no, I'm not getting into all that, but one thing that I just totally don't get is the class ring. A&M tradition dictates when someone is "allowed" to obtain a class ring, and then they are supposed to get so many people to turn it in whatever direction... and then they wear the rings the rest of their lives like it's more important than anything else they've ever owned before.

I understand having strong school ties, but don't understand the obsession of the ring and still "raw raw shish-boom bah" 20+ years or even 50+ years after graduation.

[979Texan]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

No, no, no, I'm not getting into all that, but one thing that I just totally don't get is the class ring. A&M tradition dictates when someone is "allowed" to obtain a class ring, and then they are supposed to get so many people to turn it in whatever direction... and then they wear the rings the rest of their lives like it's more important than anything else they've ever owned before.

I understand having strong school ties, but don't understand the obsession of the ring and still "raw raw shish-boom bah" 20+ years or even 50+ years after graduation.

That's hyperbole, plain and simple. Really brings nothing to the discussion. I am willing to bet you're not even a Texas Longhorn graduate.

Most UT-Austin grads I know are mature enough to not belittle A&M. It's the Longhorn wanna-bes and Austin residents who ridicule Texas A&M.

Anyway, to bring the topic back on track:

Texas has A&M beat in most categories. Most of the engineering programs are a wash. McCombs is consistently ranked as the business school but A&M isn't far behind. Liberal arts is better at Texas and so on...

Each school has its place in this state, and both are still better than any other public Texas school and all private schools not named Rice.

Someone incorrectly identified A&M as having a larger campus. UT-Austin is larger acreage-wise (with varied terrain) than the flat Texas A&M campus in College Station. A&M likes to inflate campus size by including branches in Galveston and Qatar (which are direct extensions of the main campus, not A&M system branches).

As someone else mentioned, the ethnic make-ups in both schools are nearly identical. UT-Austin would have you believe they are the last bastion of diversity in Texas but that's not the case. A&M is not the agricultural school of your grandfathers anymore. In fact, more suburb types than rural types go to A&M now.

It really comes down to which school fits the individual better. Neither school has as much of a national brand as either would like to think. If you try to impress someone in Chicago or New York with either degree and you'll get a blank stare. LA folks would probably recognize a UT degree over A&M but that's weirdo Cali life, something that Austin loves claim too. Conversely, College Station and Bryan have trouble shedding the college town-only image.

Both have tremendous in routes to the big employers in the state and -- as a rule of thumb -- a job seeker has somewhat of leg up on getting hired over flagship schools from other states. Both schools have phenomenal alumni networks which extends to recruiting students from either school.

It may sound like I stated many similarities about these two schools. That's true, there are more similarities which UT and A&M share than haters of either school would like to admit.

**Disclaimer** - I have two degrees from Texas A&M.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by 979Texan

**Disclaimer** - I have two degrees from Texas A&M.

I "repped" you for your post, because I agree with it - and I have THREE degrees from UT - Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso.

And those are but three of the many campuses in the UT System in Texas, if one wants to use an all-inclusive student body for the UT System. When I was attending school in Austin, I was amused by the fact that A&M had a presence in Austin (wonderful old house at 814 Lavaca St).

When I attended UTEP there were some who were resentful (inferiority complex?) because they were (still are) considered an inferior school to UTAustin.




It's a fact that school rivalries are usually a healthy outlet for student pride (or prejudice).

[FalconheadWest]

Originally Posted by 979Texan

That's hyperbole, plain and simple. Really brings nothing to the discussion. I am willing to bet you're not even a Texas Longhorn graduate.

Most UT-Austin grads I know are mature enough to not belittle A&M. It's the Longhorn wanna-bes and Austin residents who ridicule Texas A&M.

Excuse me? I was asked about what traditions I was talking about. I took the high road and said I didn't want to get into all the different traditions I find odd, and then posted something I was curious about. I was not belittling anyone, and yes, I'm a product of the UT system, thank you very much and my husband went to undergrad and obtained his MBA from UT. Why are you offended that I asked about the ring tradition? Do you need to join a cult in order to obtain one?

[DejaBlue]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

What does this mean? A&M in College Station has about 50,000 students on campus. Only a little over 2,000 are in the Corps of Cadets. Are they visible? Sure. But go on campus at any time and I would not say it has a big military feel. It looks and feels radically different from one of the academies. Only people in the Corps wear uniforms. Every other boy and girl looks just like other college kids in Texas. They wear flip flops or tennis shoes and t-shirts.

I have a child at UT now. Another child is about to graduate from A&M.

The campuses "feel" different.

UT is more urban and dense
A&M is a huge campus in area and its agricultural history is easy to see
A&M is less diverse, but the differences are not as great as some believe; not many blacks on either campus
Both are highly ranked national public universities - UT higher than A&M
Specific programs at each campus are higher ranked than the other. For example A&M's nuclear engineering is #2 in the country. But UT's business school is clearly better ranked.
A&M is more "find a job" oriented for BS graduates. That is why A&M is much higher ranked by companies to recruit from.
The A&M student body is more connected than UT's. Most students become Aggies, where at UT there are many students who are disinterested in being a Longhorn.
Frat culture is weak at A&M

As an outsider A&M and the whole "Aggies" traditions and pride gives off a school wide frat/sorority feel/culture IMO.

It's not a traditional frat/sorority but becoming an Aggie, getting the ring and that whole pomp and circumstance, the mention that "I graduated from A&M and having every Aggie in hearing distance let out a whoop" seems pretty frat/sorority/you're a member of the club like to me.

Frat culture in the traditional sense is probably weak because just being and graduating an Aggie inducts you into one of largest frat alum network in the country.

[Austinite101]

Originally Posted by 979Texan

That's hyperbole, plain and simple. Really brings nothing to the discussion. I am willing to bet you're not even a Texas Longhorn graduate.

Most UT-Austin grads I know are mature enough to not belittle A&M. It's the Longhorn wanna-bes and Austin residents who ridicule Texas A&M.

Anyway, to bring the topic back on track:

Texas has A&M beat in most categories. Most of the engineering programs are a wash. McCombs is consistently ranked as the business school but A&M isn't far behind. Liberal arts is better at Texas and so on...

Each school has its place in this state, and both are still better than any other public Texas school and all private schools not named Rice.

Someone incorrectly identified A&M as having a larger campus. UT-Austin is larger acreage-wise (with varied terrain) than the flat Texas A&M campus in College Station. A&M likes to inflate campus size by including branches in Galveston and Qatar (which are direct extensions of the main campus, not A&M system branches).

As someone else mentioned, the ethnic make-ups in both schools are nearly identical. UT-Austin would have you believe they are the last bastion of diversity in Texas but that's not the case. A&M is not the agricultural school of your grandfathers anymore. In fact, more suburb types than rural types go to A&M now.

It really comes down to which school fits the individual better. Neither school has as much of a national brand as either would like to think. If you try to impress someone in Chicago or New York with either degree and you'll get a blank stare. LA folks would probably recognize a UT degree over A&M but that's weirdo Cali life, something that Austin loves claim too. Conversely, College Station and Bryan have trouble shedding the college town-only image.

Both have tremendous in routes to the big employers in the state and -- as a rule of thumb -- a job seeker has somewhat of leg up on getting hired over flagship schools from other states. Both schools have phenomenal alumni networks which extends to recruiting students from either school.

It may sound like I stated many similarities about these two schools. That's true, there are more similarities which UT and A&M share than haters of either school would like to admit.

**Disclaimer** - I have two degrees from Texas A&M.

The demographics of the two schools are hardly "identical".

UT
White: 47.7%
Asian: 17.8%
A.A: 4.3%
Hispanic: 21.7%
Other: 8.5%


A&M
White: 67.3%
Asian: 5.1%
A.A: 3.3%
Hispanic: 19.8%
Other: 4.5%

(Data is as of Fall 2013 of Undergraduate students)


https://sp.austin.utexas.edu/sites/u..._2013_Fall.pdf

http://dars.tamu.edu/dars/files/a9/a...b9d7136827.pdf

[tx09]

A&M - more white people
UT - more Asian people

[979Texan]

Originally Posted by Austinite101

The demographics of the two schools are hardly "identical".

UT
White: 47.7%
Asian: 17.8%
A.A: 4.3%
Hispanic: 21.7%
Other: 8.5%


A&M
White: 67.3%
Asian: 5.1%
A.A: 3.3%
Hispanic: 19.8%
Other: 4.5%

(Data is as of Fall 2013 of Undergraduate students)


https://sp.austin.utexas.edu/sites/u..._2013_Fall.pdf

http://dars.tamu.edu/dars/files/a9/a...b9d7136827.pdf

You got me here. Should have said something about how the number of Hispanics and African Americans are similar at both schools. UT is not the diversity haven it would have you believe it is, I still stand by that.

[979Texan]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

Excuse me? I was asked about what traditions I was talking about. I took the high road and said I didn't want to get into all the different traditions I find odd, and then posted something I was curious about. I was not belittling anyone, and yes, I'm a product of the UT system, thank you very much and my husband went to undergrad and obtained his MBA from UT. Why are you offended that I asked about the ring tradition? Do you need to join a cult in order to obtain one?

I don't get offended by internet people, just speaking my mind here. Your previous comment smacks of disdain for something you don't understand and now you sound offended and emotional when called out for it. I don't care what your opinion is either way, I was pointing out how actual Texas grads are classier than the sycophants who have no real connection to the school. Sounds like you have a major chip on your shoulder since you go to great length to state you attended a UT system school and are married to a UT grad. I don't know if you're espousing this because you believe it increases your burnt orange street cred or if it is supposed to impress people who read your vitriol.

[Dopo]

99% of this thread talks about c....p that has nothing to do with the quality of education offered by these schools