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I don’t think you’re crazy to consider UT Austin. In fact, you sound like a very thoughtful young woman. </p>
<p>Glancing through your past posts, two things strike me as relevant. One, you were admitted to Plan II at UT. That is VERY different from the usual UT Austin experience and offers many of the same features as Chicago – a pretty rigorous common core, small seminars, faculty relationships, a senior thesis, and excellent advising. Two, your interest in human rights immediately struck me as an excellent match for the track in activist anthropology within the anthropology major at UT Austin, the only such program I’m aware of. </p>
<p>That said, Chicago is a truly excellent school, and you would get a wonderful education there. If $18K is indeed your debt for four years, I think it’d be a great choice. That said, check the info about loans carefully. Subsidized loans increase each year, and if the loans would be unsubsidized, your debt load could be quite a bit more than $18K once you’re done with education, especially if you attend law school. </p>
<p>I think you need to consider all of the everyday details as well when making a decision - how do you feel about Chicago vis-a-vis Austin? Could you see yourself at a football game, rooting for your team, or is that kind of boring to you? Do you mind cold (Chicago) or humid (Texas) weather or absolutely hate one of them? Remember, the university will be your home for the next four years, so it’s not unwise to think these things through.</p>