I do like Tech, but with the campus being way too large and my fear of not making friends and being in a large class sizes makes me not want to go. I researched that ASU is within Tech’s system and it may be a cheaper option as well as smaller campus. I know, it isn’t big named like Texas Tech. I will be transferring over from San Jac. How is Angelo State?
Hi @MariaHEHE, are you open to other schools in Texas? In terms of cost of attendance, Angelo State and Texas Tech are pretty close. In fact, average student indebtedness upon graduation is just slightly higher at Texas Tech.
I can definitely see your point with Angelo State being a better fit due to size, but there are other differences between the two that you may want to consider. One of the things we usually point out to students are the institution’s student outcomes. For example, Angelo State’s graduation rate is 31% while Texas Tech is 59%. Texas Tech is also likely to have additional student support resources available to you on campus and may offer you better networks for your career prospects, depending on where you go and what you want to do.
Here are some other quick facts about each school:
Student to faculty ratio:
ASU - 23:1
TTU - 22:1
Retention rate (% of students returning for sophomore year):
ASU - 63%
TTU - 83%
Average indebtedness upon graduation:
ASU - $26,033.00
TTU - $29,193.00
Hope some of this info helps your decision making. What major are you considering?
@HigherEdData , I am considered Kinesiology as my major. That’s a major difference between the two and TTU steady comes out on top. Do you think I’ll have a difficult time finding friends on campus and having large class sizes?
Look at Texas State, but also Southwestern, Trinity university, St Edwards, Texas Lutheran, perhaps tcu ?
Look at graduation rates and faculty student ratio as was recommended above.
It’s not just a matter of prestige.
Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma… May have possibilities too.
What’s our GPA?
Your major?
What’s your budget?
@MYOS1634 , I rather not attend a religious private university as those tend to cost the most money. I prefer the student to factulty ratio to be small or even medium sized, since I am coming from a medium sized community college. Out of state fees worry me also, however I was looking into OU and even TAMT would be closer to Arkansas and OK. My GPA is a 3.15 and my major is Kinesiology, I don’t really have a set budget, but I know I don’t want to extend passed 10K per semester.
Regarding your kinesiology degree–specifically what are you planning to do with that degree?
Have you considered any of the UT regional campuses? Some of them have great kinesiology programs. It just depends on what you are going to do with the degree.
@carachel2 , I plan on becoming a Physical Therapist. I also want to obtain a minor in Plant and Soil Sciences, Geology, or Nutrition, but I haven’t made my mind up for that yet and I know it isn’t required to have a minor with the profession I am pursuing, but I do know at TTU it is.
@carachel2 , at first I considered UT systems, but knew right away that it wasn’t for me. I even toured UT Arlington, UTSA, UTD, and sometimes visit the UT Health Science Center.
Ok, thanks for posting your response.
I do understand the Texas Tech campus feels huge. I attended TAMU back in the 90s and yes, the campus felt huge. It WILL start to shrink once you meet people and also once you get into upper level classes. TT has a good reputation for their kinesiology program though and if I remember correctly they have a good exercise physiology lab and they require some hands on experience.
Private universities will typically have small classes, good contact with professors, and topnotch facilities. Some private universities offer good financial aid, but I don’t think they’d cost $20,000 - perhaps you can contact them and if some seem to be within budget it may be worth it for you to apply.
Most public universities will be very large, and those with better facilities (which you need for your major) are likely to have large classes. It’s a trade off that you have to consider.
Do you have a fear of a large campus or large class rooms. Since you are a transfer student ( i’m assuming you have finished your basics) your classes in your major would be much smaller than you would have in your core basics. Making friends at a large university is the same as it would be a smaller school. If your willing to put forth the effort you will be fine. You advised that you visited other schools but did not say what you did not like about them. Provide a little more information regarding your likes and dislikes. This will make giving advice much easier.
@Grainraiser , I don’t have a fear of large campuses, but I do prefer smaller campuses, so I won’t get lost. I disagree that making friends will be the same–because at a community college it is filled with lots of commuters (at least mines was) and non-traditional students especially parents, grandparents, high school students that all have other responsibilities than school like kids and work as such. Making friends at a university will be different because not everybody has those types of responsibilities and main focus is school. I put forth the effort at making friends at my community college and instead met phony people who used me. I will give it another try for university since this school won’t be in Houston.
I got accepted to a university that I didn’t even apply for and I am going to attend that university.
Hm, beware… What university is that, that would admit you when you didn’t apply ? There are lots of scams put there.
I understanding your thinking that you would feel better at a smaller school. What confused me is that you believe making friends at a smaller school is easier than it would be a larger school. Community colleges and some universities are commuter schools which I would agree makes things a bit more difficult. My point was that a school that offers the real college experience would make having friends the same regardless of size. Sounds like you have found a school which is great to here. You getting accepted to a school that you did not apply to sounds very odd to me. Would you be willing to share what school you will be attending.
@Grainraiser , yes I got accepted to Tarleton State University and I understand that it doesn’t have a big reputation in Texas, but I don’t care about those things anymore. That doesn’t matter. I’ve just had a very bad experience with my last college that I don’t want my first time attending university to be the same as with making friends. That isn’t something to be happy about and I do believe that is because of me living in Houston. The city hasn’t been exactly very friendly, welcoming and southern hospitality as most southern cities. I don’t see how that would be a problem in a small town since most people in small town setting are mostly friendly and welcoming.
Is university of North Texas too large? It’s not far from Tarleton State, it’s better academically, and it’s still relatively residential.
What about Texas State? Smaller town, pretty friendly, with a river.
I have zero problems with Tarleton State. Going to college is about finding a place you are comfortable at. I have been on Tarleton campus a few times and it has the same vibe as Stephen F Austin to me. Get involved on campus and enjoy your college experience.
@MYOS1634 , I’ve read so many negative things online about UNT, I even had a fellow friend tell me about her daughter’s horrible experience with UNT. UNT is mostly a commuter school with a lack of student life, sounds to me like the school I just graduated from. I’ll consider TXST if I have to take classes I’ve already completed again at Tarleton because I don’t want to retake classes I’ve already completed. However, Tech is definitely out of the question since they keep giving me the run-around.
@Grainraiser , what do you mean by “it has the same vibe as SFA”? I toured both campuses and I didn’t feel like that. I felt SFA reminded me too much of SHSU a little bit and Tarleton to be more homey and close-knit feel. Besides Tarleton has more traditions and school spirit than SFA.
Tarleton State is fine, BTW, but you should apply to one more college so that you can choose the best value or the most affordable one (ie., apply to 2-3 so that you have a choice).