Looking for Advice from UT Students (past and present)

I have met some OK people in BHP. But for the most part, it's riddled with pretentious douchebags. The whole program is a waste of time, especially if you plan on going to grad school to get an MBA. Most of the advice on here is good, so I won't repeat anything.

 

Forget sophomore internships and what McCombs tells you about them. Study abroad instead - you will only get one chance.

 

Finals ain't over yet?

 

Yes, you probably don't understand where you are now because you don't have a basis to compare it to.

It's not just age or the ability to hang out and party with co-eds but more that you're somewhere where a lot is possible in your life. You aren't locked in a path where you are tied down with family, mortgages, keeping your lifestyle and other things. Those things are important and I'm not saying you shouldn't prepare for those things but at the same time a lot of possibilities are still open to you.

Working hard and preparing for your future is obviously very important and I wouldn't encourage anyone to sacrifice that but at the same time if you don't take the time now to explore where you are and to challenge yourself you might never get that opportunity to again.

For me now I still work try improve my life and challenge it. I travel around the world, undertake learning for learning sake, and etc.. While I have the money to do those things it's much harder when there are so many other responsibilities that require your attention. You've got responsibilities too to study and get good grades but those things aren't nearly as intense as what you will face later in life. You also aren't locked into a career where people are counting on you.

I remember it being hard when I was a freshman in college and there were many times when I hated it. This isn't also to say that the rest of your life will suck and will be just reminiscing about the good old school days but that you are at a unique time and place in your life. If you don't take time to take advantage of it you might never get the chance again.

 

Oh, you will. You will.

I happened to be in my old college town this past weekend and I drove around and showed my wife at all the places I had lived. Man, those memories really came flying back. Such great times.

Of course you have a LOT to look forward to after you graduate. But that doesn't mean you should be in such a hurry to get there. Enjoy it! Because once it's done, you can never go back. (unless you want to be that creepy old guy at all the college parties...)

 

Definitely do not underestimate ut. I did not think high school was hard for me but college was a different story! I did good by going to class and studying for the exams a week in advance. Do not procrastinate or you will hate yourself. I did my bachelors in civil engineering. Definitely do look for internships. Experience is key in helping u land a full time offer when you graduate.

 

You're going to be shut out of OCR so the best bet would be on Mccombs job board and some other service I forgot (think it's called access ut)

There are a ton of firms in Austin that will hire sophomores. Also don't count out working an internship while you go to school. It's worth it to take it easy a semester with 12 hours in order to do an internship. I worked an internship during a semester and it really wasn't that bad. Actually I enjoyed the change of pace.

Taking core classes at a community college during the summer or minimester will be really helpful to give you time to take advantage more of your time in college.

Also, try to take some difficult classes like calculus or English etc at a community college. Then replace those hours with blow offs at ut to pad your gpa.

 

I'm finishing up my junior year at UT and I can say without a doubt pledge a real fraternity, or join a group of like minded individuals. Yeah, studying and doing well is important, but, especially with McCombs, networking, being able to make friends, and knowing how to handle yourself in social settings is important as well.

 

I've got a semester left at UT. Key things:
1) Go to class
2) Don't let assignments pile up. You will end up flustered
3) If you don't understand material, go to office hours. TAs and professors are (usually) nice enough to help you
4) Have a reward system set for yourself whenever you accomplish a goal you set
5) Try to make a friend/acquaintance in every class. If you can't make a class and need notes or want a study partner, this is important
6) join an organization- UT is so huge and as a result, it's easy to get lost in shuffle. And it's nice to have friends to increase your social circle and get into parties (if you're into that)

 

UT McCombs BHP grad here.

go to class. ask questions. if you're ashamed to in class, go to office hours. go the gym. get in an organization (i hated the frats. i spent more time hanging with the student TV station, the MIS club, and the BHP kids). BHP kids aren't all pretentious. there's a ton of the BHP kids that hate the douchebag 1%ers who want to work for Goldman/CS/McK. I was one. make friends. party a lot, but don't ever let it interfere with nailing your GPA down in your first few years. find out your study style (in library, in dorm, outdoors, at cafes, whatever). meet as many people as you can - your experience will be based on who you meet (or who you don't meet.) this is not the time to be shy or self-critical - take risks and learn what you can do. i was way too conservative about school and missed a lot of opportunities.

 

Still waiting on UT to make a decision on my application as a transfer student. Man it's been months, UTDallas accepted me within couple weeks. eff UT admissions office!!

 

Another piece of advice: eat at Players on MLK near the AT&T Conference Center. It will probably close before the end of 2014 due to the construction of the new graduate school of business.

 

Protip. If you have a car and live off campus. Buy a parking pass. The Bob Bullock Museum has free underground parking starting at 6, but they close it spontaneously around midnight or so. Don't take that risk. I almost got locked in.

 

Lol, Red. You took a chance with free and illegal parking the whole semester?

 

Better tip: break your leg, but make sure it is only a small stress fracture. Then mooch off the handicap parking for the rest of the semester. Warning: don't get caught!

 

I somewhat disagree with both of these posters. Although I'm not as old as they are, I've been away from college long enough to observe crucial things for people just going to undergrad:

- There are three types of college experiences: (1) practical, somewhat boring, and focused on getting the grades, internships, and the job/career you desire, (2) open-ended, freewheeling, and potpourri-like where you discover your passions and intellectual cravings, or (3) hazy, festive, and uninhibited with periods of intense cramming for exams. Some experience one or a mix of these depending on the school they attend or the semester they're in.

- In this economy, with the way the world is heading, type #2 and #3 above are increasingly only for the privileged few. Before, most kids from the 1950s-early 00s had access to all three without worrying about student loans or finding a career they could tolerate. Therefore, unless you have a job waiting for you upon graduation, type #1 is your best bet.

- Many will tell you can never go back, and that's true for 90% of people. However, it's increasingly becoming common for adults to go back to college because of a career change or whatever. Yes, you won't get plastered on 6th St anymore with young coeds, but you can take the classes and majors that you always wanted to study, or which can get you the right job. As an adult, you can purchase your own ticket to see Chinese temples or work with social activists in Spain.

- Adults will moan and complain about their lack of freedom and the burden of responsibilities versus college years. Understand that can be mitigated if you plan it right. I know plenty of people who are prisoners to their careers because of keeping up with the Joneses.

One person I know worked his ass off after graduation so the mortgage, car notes, health insurance, and other expenses wouldn't tie him down. Because he had so much saved up, because he was so frugal, he uses that pile of money saved to buy freedom today. He married a low-maintenance woman who liked simple things. Since he owns his own business, he can take month-long vacations without worrying about a boss. He still has responsibilities, but he's not fettered like the majority of working adults. We all go out to new restaurants, visit friends, go to games, and other leisure activities like salsa dancing. It's not college, but it's certainly not dull.

 

Perhaps, but it is possible to work your ass off and also have a lot of fun. Ever hear the experssion "work hard, play hard?"

When I said you can never go back, I meant you can never go back to being in your 20's and in college. Of course you can go back to college any time you want, but you can never truly go back to that period of your life.

I'm certainly not complaining. I have great memories of my college years and I probably talk about them a little too much....but if I could leave my current life and go back, I would decline. I'm in my early 40's, wife and 2 kids, career, mortgage....but I'm also as happy and content as I've ever been in my entire life right now.

 

2nd year in UT right now (about to finish on Tuesday). I am graduating a year early with a Finance major. My GPA is pretty damn high. I am going to answer your questions straight forward; I haven't read the earlier posts yet. If you want to ask more questions, shoot me a message/email.

1. The transition was easy for me. My best tip for you is to go to class and make friends in each class. This will keep you on top of everything, and honestly, the most important aspect of your GPA is the professor. Research your professors - myedu.com is a great source as well as older friends.

2. I took BC calculus and claimed my credit for it. I also took credit for Macro. For economics, definitely claim credit. And I can't really give you advice on calc. I just know many students struggled in those classes if that helps at all.

3. I joined a fraternity which allowed me to meet a lot of people instantaneously. It is definitely not for everyone and is a huge time commitment during "pledging" as well as afterwards. It is not hard to join clubs/organizations; honestly, it's about you making yourself go out there and meet new people.

Most importantly, have fun. Fun is different for everyone; it can be drugs, alcohol, video games, or whatever. It doesn't matter, just make sure you are enjoying your time in college. If you know how to manage your time well, than you can have a lot of fun while maintaining a high GPA without being too stressed out - something that I am working on right now.

 

Oh and about BHP.

You pretty much need a 4.0 GPA your freshman year to get in. If you think you'll keep a 4.0 GPA as a BHP student, forget it. It'll be easy to get a B in BHP classes, but A's are hard to come by.