Austin Texas

I'm back with more questions... right now I'm really considering USC, Yale, University of Texas, and maybe a school in New York.

The big draw for me to Texas is the atmosphere... I realize that I'll be a grad student but I'm really into getting as much of the US college experience as I can. McGill is pretty lame on the college experience, but Montreal has great night spots so it makes up for it.

A few questions:

A) How expensive is this city
B) Do you take cabs everywhere at night if you want to go out?
C) Is everything centralized or are most clubs/bars/restaurants really spread out?
D) I know it's really hot during the day. Does it cool down a lot at night? Does the change of the seasons even make itself known or is it pretty much Texas all the time?
E) As a UT@Austin student, how easy is it to get good seats to watch the Longhorns? I'm getting back into football and would really like to get into it there.
F) How big is the airport? Is do you have to transfer for Houston or Dallas to take international or cross country flights?

For now, that's probably most of what I wanted to ask. There's a really great teacher at this school who I want to study with... before I was all about the very prestigious schools but now I'm considering the whole package and places like Juilliard and John's Hopkins seem incredibly depressing to me so I'm not even going to apply.

Originally Posted by Violinist

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I'm back with more questions... right now I'm really considering USC, Yale, University of Texas, and maybe a school in New York.

The big draw for me to Texas is the atmosphere... I realize that I'll be a grad student but I'm really into getting as much of the US college experience as I can. McGill is pretty lame on the college experience, but Montreal has great night spots so it makes up for it.

A few questions:

A) How expensive is this city
B) Do you take cabs everywhere at night if you want to go out?
C) Is everything centralized or are most clubs/bars/restaurants really spread out?
D) I know it's really hot during the day. Does it cool down a lot at night? Does the change of the seasons even make itself known or is it pretty much Texas all the time?
E) As a UT@Austin student, how easy is it to get good seats to watch the Longhorns? I'm getting back into football and would really like to get into it there.
F) How big is the airport? Is do you have to transfer for Houston or Dallas to take international or cross country flights?

For now, that's probably most of what I wanted to ask. There's a really great teacher at this school who I want to study with... before I was all about the very prestigious schools but now I'm considering the whole package and places like Juilliard and John's Hopkins seem incredibly depressing to me so I'm not even going to apply.

I have a friend there so I can answer some of these questions:

1)housing is cheap, but that's relative I suppose. My friend who's doing his masters is paying $500US a month near his campus.
2)you'll want a car, even if it's a beater; buy it down there.
3)there's one street, forget what it's called, with a million bars and clubs on it. they have tons of festivals too.

For what it's worth, he's loving his time down there.

A) Pretty cheap as far as the US goes.
B) Not really. I've only taken a cab once in the time that I've lived here. You need a car.
C) They're all within walking distance of each other in the 6th Street district
D) Nine months of summer. It's the humidity that is the *****.
E) I'm not into sports.
F) You usually transfer to another hub like LAX, Chicago, etc. There are no direct international flights from AUS to any country except Mexico.

One major difference you may not know about is the laid back attitude Austin has. A lot of hippies, hipsters, scenesters, minorities. There is a motto "Keep Austin Weird."

I enjoy living here, certainly much more affordable than the other cities that I want to live in like SF, NY or Vancouver.

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

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It's the humidity that is the *****.

Kent, you've grown soft. Austin's a desert compared to Galveston.

having visited a few times, I can say it is a very fun city.

"One major difference you may not know about is the laid back attitude Austin has. A lot of hippies, hipsters, scenesters, minorities. There is a motto "Keep Austin Weird."

\\
That sucks... I was kind of hoping to get the down south republican experience... complete with joining a gun club and hating gay people.

Maybe I am too conservative - but when choosing a grad school - the quality of the program (then school and then university) is the only thing that should matter. College experience and quality of sports teams are for undergrads (and I am not sure that even then).

Originally Posted by Buster

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Maybe I am too conservative - but when choosing a grad school - the quality of the program (then school and then university) is the only thing that should matter. College experience and quality of sports teams are for undergrads (and I am not sure that even then).

All I care about is having a good teacher. So check...

I lived there for three years until 2003.

Kent has a good bead on it.

One add'l plus is a v. lively music scene. Not sure how much this extends into the classical arena off campus, but this may draw you in other directions.

Touring classical musicians play in one or another hall of the Bass, which is directly across the street from the football stadium. When there is a home game, there is no major art event because parking is impossible.

Originally Posted by Violinist

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That sucks... I was kind of hoping to get the down south republican experience... complete with joining a gun club and hating gay people.

The good news for you is that College Station is only a few hours away, so you can learn during the week at Texas and then tip cows over the weekend with the Aggies.

Originally Posted by Thomas

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The good news for you is that College Station is only a few hours away, so you can learn during the week at Texas and then tip cows over the weekend with the Aggies.

I was kind of hoping for impromptu lynchings but I can settle for cow tipping.

I grew up there and am a UT grad. I now live in the D.C. suburbs so as a price comparison it is cheap. Not Kansas cheap, but compared to most major cities it is. The scene is very laid back but you must have a car. Living in north campus is nice and easy to get around. If you want to live a little farther south congress and travis heights are interesting neighborhoods and allow you to remain close to downtown and campus.

It is hot during the day and it does not cool down at night. Sure it isn't has humid as galveston or Houston(hell), but it's not Arizona either. Frankly the heat is one of the main reasons I enjoy living where I do now instead of Austin. Plus it never gets very cold so you'll have no use for any overcoat or anything like that so save your pennys on that cashmere topcoat you've always wanted.

You can get tickets to Horn's games pretty easy. When you sign up for classes be sure to get the Sports Package. It used to be like $60 and you are guarenteed tickets to games you just go and pick them up on thurday before the game at the stadium ticket booth. Big games will require that you wait in line for a while.

Finally I really miss the friendlyness of the people there. You'll find them to be open and helpful and the women don't avoid your glances like they do up here. Buena suerte.

Originally Posted by Vintage Gent

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Kent, you've grown soft.
Yes, the humidity has made my skin very soft.

Note that since campus is bikeable and so is Central Austin, a car is not strictly necessary, just very useful. I did without one for most of my first year, living in Hyde Park very near campus, biking to the supermarket, etc. When I was going to more distant places, someone always had a car.

I love Austin. Plus you've got Austin City Limits and SXSW.