<p>While I will not contest that UT is indeed one of the best public unis, during my time visiting, it really did seem like I would have to swim against the current to get anywhere. I am also not sure why you assume that you would easily do well at UT. If it is indeed a superior school, I don’t see how you would do any better there unless the program is easier or the people are less talented/hard-working. </p>
<p>Also, while I may be wrong, Cornell is not a public university and there are a great number of advantages of going to a small school. UT felt like a giant engineering mill. It produces a good product in large quantities, but because there are lots of people there, it felt like it really didn’t tailor anything to any particular student and makes it very hard to explore.</p>
<p>If UT truly were the best choice, I don’t see how Rice would be so competitive to get into and why so many of my fellow classmates made the same decision in favor of Rice. Almost all of my former high school classmates opted NOT to go to UT for the very reasons I mentioned and almost all those who did did so because they didn’t get into Rice, Cornell, Berkeley, etc.</p>
<p>Lastly, about the debt. I am paying for much of the difference myself and have been be going positive (paying for last year’s debt) using the money I make from my summer internships. I got one that paid very well last year and will have one that does so this year as well.</p>
<p>The choice is not clear cut by any means, but I think that your arguments are unfounded corneliasusie. UT under these circumstances COULD be the better choice for the OP, but it is by no means “superior” in any way I can see and I did an ENORMOUS amount of research when I decided. But, once again, your decision may vary.</p>