<p>What’s the difference between Texas and California universities? I’m going to a California University and have never been to a Texas one… I was thinking of going to a type of graduate school in Texas, while doing/finishing my undergrad in California (because many of my family members live in Texas).</p>
<p>Reading some posts though makes me hesitate, it seems like my liberal left politics might mesh well with many California colleges, but stick out like a sore thumb at Texas universities which sound conservative. If these internet posts are even true, Would that make attending there difficult? Also, it sounds like the neighboring communities are the same way… some people said “culture shock”? Is that really true? I have family in Texas and they don’t seem so different from me, a Californian who went to both high school and college here…</p>
<p>Which colleges are ranked higher and what educational system is better? California or Texas colleges? Would the same go for both state’s graduate and professional colleges?</p>
<p>California has more good, top tier schools, I guess because Texas is fairly rural (compared to California) until you get to the eastern parts where Houston, Dallas Fortworth, etc are… so there are fewer schools in Texas. The highly ranked schools in Texas are UT Austin, Rice and A&M. SMU and Baylor are also very good, but they are very expensive. Also, UT is a very liberal school, while A&M is a very conservative school. I think Rice is pretty liberal as well. Austin is a very liberal city so you’d like it if you wanted to go to UT (currently ranked 52).</p>
<p>You might experience culture shock if you go to west Texas, but not really in Houston, Austin or Dallas. And not everyone in Texas is a Republican, just like not everyone in California is a liberal. Remember that.</p>
<p>California universities are better overall simply because Californian’s have invested way more into their public higher education than Texans. There are consequences to be had with lower tax rates…</p>
<p>SeaBreeze22: I think you have to do all of this “research” yourself. People are going to say what’s better to them, but that doesn’t mean it’s better for you. Actually, I live in CA, and I have seen a real decline in the university system here. Today you are getting less and paying more. You can still find a decently priced public university here, but it’s most likely impacted, and class sizes can be huge. Of course, graduate school class sizes would not be so overwhelming, but I truly feel you should give a hard look at who has the graduate program you are looking for and how does it size up against any others. I have spent the last fours years researching colleges around the country for various high school seniors with different goals and priorities, and while CA public universities “may” have been the “best” back in the day, there is a lot of stiff competition out there, and a lot of solid schools with more to offer than an outdated reputation for quality. That said, there are a “few” in the UC system that remain top-notch, but they are very difficult to get into (speaking about undergrad programs) and they have a “favorable” view toward out-of-state students, because they have to pay more, and that’s what the UC system is all about these days.</p>
<p>Graduate school is TOTALLY different from undergraduate. You don’t choose them for their social environment or anything beside their strength in the subject you want to study and whether faculty members have expertise in the field you’re interested in. You’re a professional of the subject you chose to study. You’re expected to dedicate pretty much your entire day to it. You’re selected based on your understanding of the subjects & various related skills/subjects, and only that. Your financial aid is pure merit. Because you act as a TA for undergrads, you can’t really “socialize” with them much and your calendar is different - you may spend nights in the lab or may think football is a bother because it blocks traffic as you’re going to the library
So you should really post your question in the graduate school forum.</p>
<p>Stanford is better than most schools in the nation.</p>
<p>Other than USNR claiming some to be superior in the ranking, I don’t think any single UC school is better in anyway than any Texas public school.</p>
<p>I agree… and add TCU to the list as well. Having said that, CA, in general except for the majority of colleges, is also divided politically-- No. Cal. are liberals/democrats, So. Cal. are conservatives/republicans.</p>
<p>You would love UT Austin. Large, diverse school, young, dynamic, liberal city. It is a great place for live music. Some very strong programs at UT. The problem will be getting in. </p>
<p>Rice is in Houston, which while not as liberal or young as Austin, is the fourth largest city in America, very diverse. </p>
<p>UTSA might be an option as well. It is growing like crazy, but is not as selective as the other two mentioned. San Antonio is a pretty Democratic city, with a young mayor and rapid growth. UTSA has been more of a commuter campus, but it does have some dorms and is developing more of a campus feel. </p>
<p>Trinity is also in San Antonio. Small, liberal arts, I don’t think of it as conservative, but it isn’t super liberal either. Moderate?</p>
<p>If you don’t want a conservative environment, stay away from A and M, Baylor, and Texas Tech.</p>
<p>I have spent time in both states. Three years in the Bay Area and several summers in Dallas. </p>
<p>California has better weather and scenery, and Stanford and Berkeley are better than all Texas schools. After that, it’s a wash. For example, UT Austin and Rice are better than all California schools except the two listed above. </p>
<p>When it comes to school finances, and the advantages that brings, Stanford and UT Austin come out on top. Culture also comes into play. Berkeley is as strange to conservatvies as SMU would be to liberals.</p>
<p>I’m wondering whether “liberal” and “conservative” have different meanings in Texas and California. My suspicion is that a conservative Californian would be seen as moderate to slightly liberal in Texas and that a liberal university like Berkeley might fry the brains of even a moderately left-leaning Texan.</p>
<p>Painting with a broad brush here, of course.</p>
