<p>We just took our D, a HS junior to tour some colleges while we were on Spring Break. (Wife and I are both teachers) She absolutely fell in love with the University of Tennessee. Does anybody here have any experiences with UT? Any comments would be appreciated both good and bad.</p>
<p>I know someone who’s a grad student at UT Chattanooga whom I could ask questions of, if that would be helpful. Which campus did you visit?</p>
<p>We went to Knoxville.</p>
<p>Glen Reynolds (“Instapundit”) is a law professor there, and frequently “photoblogs” the campus and talks about life there. You might check out his site, and perhaps even email him. He’s one of the busiest cyber-people in the world, but he takes a lot of time out to mingle with his fans. And he loves to talk about UT.</p>
<p>I have many experiences with UT and come August, I’ll be a student there.</p>
<p>I really never considered going to UT, until it was suggested by my stepdad. He’s a hardcore Vols fan and on a whim suggested that I look into the school. Upon his suggestion, I took it up and went to their website. I liked what I saw and last summer my family decided that we would visit some colleges, UT being one of them. </p>
<p>From the moment I got on the campus for my tour, I had gut feeling that it’s the place I should go. Throughout the tour I was told things that really struck me. The tour guide was an upperclass student, so it was coming from a first hand source. </p>
<p>One of the things that struck me was how rich in tradition the school is. It’s all about that. The other thing was how much support that the community of not only Knoxville, but the state of Tennessee gives to the school. They really respect the students who choose to go there, because they realize that the school is enriching their community.</p>
<p>I’m a student with over a 4.0 GPA and decent test scores, I could be no happier with the choice I made to go to UT. I know I’ll be in an environment that will allow me to flourish and to have opportunities. </p>
<p>And if nothing else, I have to say that almost all of the people I have met from Tennessee, they are the nicest people. You mention that your going to UT and they couldn’t be happier for you.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I wouldn’t mind sharing some insight with you or your daughter.</p>
<p>My daughter felt the same way and as much as I wanted to dislike the school, I have to admit I came away extremely impressed.</p>
<p>That’s how my mom was. She was okay with me wanting to check more into it, but she walked away knowing that I would be happy and satisfied going their. They really impressed her. </p>
<p>What can I say, we’re all a bunch of orange wearing, Vol rooting people now! :)</p>
<p>If you are going to apply and are OOS, apply as early as you can. The HOPE scholarship has made it harder for OOS students to get in. UT does participate in the Academic Common Market, so depending where you are from you may be able to get in-state tuition. Also, they have a weird policy where you have to request housing when you apply, so make sure you research the dorm you want and apply for it when you send in the application.</p>
<p>^ I actually heard it is easier to get in OOS than in-state because of the HOPE scholarship. </p>
<p>You don’t have to apply for housing when you apply for admission, but if the student going is really serious about going to UT, then it makes more sense to just do it.</p>
<p>I am currently a UT Knoxville student. I joined in Fall 2004. This fall I would be a Senior in Business. I am trying extremely hard to transfer out to another school. </p>
<p>If you are looking for an academic experience, UT is not the place. Most classes, even upto the 300 levels are taught by graduate students, not professors. Classes like freshman biology etc have 600 students in the lecture hall. </p>
<p>If you are looking for fun under the sun, then I guess, UT is heaven! Great football! Good bars along ‘the strip’.</p>
<p>What are you planning to major in. I will try to give as unbiased information as possible.</p>
<p>Actually it’s my youngest daughter who is a junior in high-school this year. She plans to major in music education. My wife and I both graduated from the University of Maryland so we both have much experience with life at a large university.</p>
<p>Actually, I have a little insight into the Music department too. I am minoring in Piano. I have completed my 200 level courses, and have so far been unable to receive instruction from an actual professor. Well, actually I did take lessons from a professor over the summer, cause there were no assistants teaching at all. Otherwise, I am not too impressed by the quality of teaching (graduate students).</p>
<p>Also, I am not quite sure how good the opportunities are after you graduate. Statistics suggest that Music Ed majors will earn about (or a little under) $30,000 annually after graduation. This figure is lower than what graduates earn in the proximate region (University of Virginia, North Carolina).</p>
<p>I suggest your daughter consider a business minor atleast. Otherwise, if you are not looking for in-state-tuition, you may be really better-off considering other universities. Actually, the University of Maryland, College Park is much highly reputed than UT. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/natudoc/tier1/t1natudoc_brief.php[/url]”>http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/natudoc/tier1/t1natudoc_brief.php</a></p>
<p>When I first took a tour of the UTcampus, I was really impressed too. But the actual academic and teaching quality is a different story. 3 or 4 years ago, UT was named the No.1 party school in the country!!</p>
<p>I’m not too worried about the “party school” reputation. It’s my belief that if that’s what kids are looking for they’ll find it almost anywhere they choose to go.</p>
<p>I agree. Similarly, if students look for great education, they will somehow find it in a party school too.</p>
<p>Obviously, UT is a great institution. It has good research facilities, and is reknown in the area. But I guess what I was trying to suggest is that it probably will not offer the same experience as another school in the same area that you could consider simultaneously. For example, if you are in TN and don’t want to send your child too far away, Vanderbilt in Nashville would be a better choice. And again, if you are looking for in-state tuition, UT is heaven. One can always do a business minor just to secure the future.</p>