Texas vs. Stanford

jimpagels · 04-29-2009, 05:47 PM

I’ve been accepted to the Journalism program at the University of Texas and also the Communications program at Stanford University. Texas would be significantly cheaper compared to Stanford, and I was wondering if it is worth the value. I know Stanford does not technically have an undergraduate "journalism" program, but is their program comporable to the program at Texas? Are there as many internship opportunities and similar course work?

I was just wondering how highly regarded Texas' communications program is outside of the state and if you have heard much about their students in comparison to similar students at Stanford. I know “Texas” does not have the same name recognition as “Stanford,” but does this matter much in the real world?

drudkh · 04-29-2009, 08:08 PM

You'd be a fool to reject Stanford.
By the way, comparable*

jimpagels · 04-29-2009, 08:14 PM

well, over the course of my four years at school, UT would cost about $28,000 while Stanford would cost about $75,000.....

Especially since I'm looking at business/economics simply as a good background and my true passion is in getting internships and jobs in the media industry (which don't exactly pay all that well) I'm not sure if it's very smart to take on that much debt......

jimpagels · 04-30-2009, 05:42 PM

Call me a "fool" then.

js911 · 04-30-2009, 07:03 PM

I've read that students who get accepted to "top" schools but don't attend them are just as successful as those who do attend. I think this supports the idea I believe most people inherently know, but don't necessarily want to recognize: it's the individual that matters, not the name on the diploma. Of course, you'll probably get better -initial- job prospects and contacts by going to Stanford, but will that matter in 5 years? To hell with what people think of reputation, I say!

mathboy98 · 05-01-2009, 03:51 AM

It is up to the individual. Stanford may offer some things other schools don't, but it really depends if you give a damn. If you don't, save yourself a ton of money, and if you were accepted there and think you even deserved it, you should be confident you can make it in the future anyway.

-Lurker- · 05-01-2009, 01:11 PM

An extra 50k debt isn't that bad. A lot of it can be covered by scholarship, pell grants, work study. Stanford will provide more connections and opportunities in the future (i think). I'm not an alumni of either school so I can't say, but if I were in your position, I would take Stanford up and talk to the FinAid office and see if you can squeeze a bit more money out of them.

It doesn't hurt to try.