The University of Texas at Austin Top Questions

I am in a Liberal Arts honors program known as Plan II. Although the curriculum of Plan II is sporadic and unpractical, I take some very interesting and unorthodox classes. Last semester my favorite class was “Punishment in a Liberal Society”. Taught by a federal judge and former prosecutor, this class examined the status of “victimless crimes”, such as drug use, prostitution, pornography, euthanasia, homosexuality, and abortion, in United State’s law. For each issue the professor forced us to ask the question, “If this action does not directly harm anyone besides the consenting parties, should it be illegal, and if so, why?” We also analyzed the practical and philosophical aspects of each of the four justifications for punishment: retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and incapacitation. For those considering Plan II, admittance is competitive, but after getting in, you can relax. Although extremely interesting, Plan II classes are not overly difficult or competitive, and professors distribute a generous amount of As and Bs. In my opinion, Plan II’s primary attraction is its unique selection of professors. The former dean of Liberal Arts and highly esteemed linguist, Dr. Robert King, teaches my World Literature class this semester. The Plan II program handpicks professors out of various UT departments and selects others through a competitive application process. Plan II seeks to create a more distinctive experience than that of a typical University of Texas student. While university-wide classes are large, impersonal, and lecture based, those in Plan II are small, personal, and discussion based, providing a refreshing departure from the norm. However, you need to be a certain breed to appreciate Plan II’s unique ways. We are usually philosophical, opinionated, quirky, and have no idea what we want to do with our lives.

In my major sequence classes, my professors know my name if I want them to, but for the most part, they don't FORCE me to get to know them. After going to a small high school, I appreciate a degree of anonymity in academics. I like that people aren't as competitive with others. We form study groups and help each other out. We compete with ourselves, not with our friends. I LOVE that about engineering at UT.

Name: Yes, all my professors in my upper division classes know my name - and I've become familiar with most of them. Classes - Fave: My Russian literature classes are always inspiring. And most people would count Dr. Garza's Vampires in Slavic Cultures among their favorite. Classes - Least Fave: Oh, my god. All the science courses you have to take as a liberal arts major are awful. I hate them. They're GPA killers. Participation: In smaller classes, it's very much encouraged. It's usually a part of your grade. Conversations: Of course. I mean, it probably depends on your friends and also what you're involved in. But I don't know anyone who doesn't. It's a part of life. Competitive: Yes, I'd say so...yes. Most unique class: Vampires in Slavic Cultures. Major/department: I'm doubling in English and Russian studies, but my heart is in my Russian studies degree. Our department is very tight-knit, and most everyone knows one-another as well as the faculty. We spend most of our time together. Prof's outside: Definitely. Depending on the tone of your class, you'll probably end up getting drinks or at least getting coffee with your professor at one time or another. It also depends on you and how interested you are in talking to them. Academic Requirements: I actually wish they were a little higher. Not in the science courses!! I'd be worse off than I am. But if everyone's bar was raised to honors expectations, I'd probably feel more challenged. I think perhaps because it's a public school, professor's aren't always sure of how far they can push us. Job-acquisition: That depends on the student. There are tons of job fairs and career center opportunities - and departmental job information is sent out in e-mails. But it's the student's job to take advantage of those resources - the school doesn't hold your hand.

Professors know my name. Some students study a lot, some not at all. Class participation is average. As far as I can see, students generally don't have intellectual conversations outside of class unless they are in graduate school. Some students are competitive, some not. No time is spent with professors outside of class. Academic requirements are a bit surprising compared to all of the drinking done by students.

Academic difficulty at UT differs greatly from major to major and college to college. If you take the initiative, professors will know who you are. Even in the largest classes I have had (ranging from 400-500 students), my professors have known my name, my major and even what I want to do with my life. The best way to accomplish this is to sit in the front, go the their office hours, and simply let yourself be known. You will need these professors for letters of recommendation for grad/law/med school, so make sure you get to know them (and make sure you make a good impression). My favorite class (it is really hard to choose) would have to be Religion and Sexuality. This was a class of 24 students where we read articles about femininity, women's rights, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) issues, and looked at religious text and scholarly papers on religion to see how the two fit together (if they did at all). The class was mainly dialogue and a few papers. This made the class EXTREMELY engaging. I loved the professor and was greatly intrigued by the topic. My least favorite class would have to be my multivariable calculus class (M 408D). The professor was a little dry (it is math after all) and the TA was difficult to understand. For the most part though ALL of my professors have been GREAT. They really do seem to care about the students and the material they teach. Students study loads vary from person to person. If you want to do really well, you may (depending on your major of course) need to study quite a bit. If you’re smart about it though, you can usually get by with a little bit of studying and going to class, office hours, and TA sessions (MAKE SURE YOU GO TO CLASS!). In class participation is encouraged. Even in the big classes (300-500) professors ask questions and they don’t consider them to be rhetorical. I even had one professor in a class of about 300 students who wouldn’t go on unless SOMEONE answered his class (which can be very intimidating in a class of this size). The smaller classes, like Spanish of other languages, require in class participation. Students tend to be pretty interested in learning. Even when where just hanging out, something that one of us will have learned from class will come up and we’ll talk about it. Things such as how the Garfield posters we all had in elementary/middle/high school that said “I learn through osmosis” are wrong (osmosis is exclusively used for the movement of water, diffusion would be a more universal and therefore appropriate term) or how baldness is transmitted from generation to generation have come up in conversation lately. Students tend to be very competitive. I remember when I first got to UT and I was ONLY a biology major. I am now a biology/chemistry pre-med double major, minoring in Spanish and government. Most students try to get involved in research (looks good for applications). Extracurricular activities are a must also. Professors are accessible outside of class (especially if you take the time to make an appointment). I had one professor tell me that he wished people came in more often to his office hours because it can get boring and lonely in there all alone.

-Some of my professors know my name, but only if I take the initiative to visit with them after class or during office hours. -My favorite class was Spanish 508K because it was small (about 20 students), the professor was very funny, we learned a lot, and the class all bonded and many of us from the class are still good friends. My least favorite class has been Math 305G because it was just a boring class and I don't like math classes. -Students study quite a bit, but most people have a good balance between school work and social life. -Class participation is common in smaller classes and nearly non-existent in classes with more than 100 students. -Plenty of people have intellectual conversations outside of class, especially since it is an election year. -Students in the College of Liberal Arts are not as competitive as those in Natural Sciences, but across the university most people have a drive to be successful. -Architecture and Society with Larry Speck is the most unique class I've taken because many people don't think about how architecture affects our daily lives. Larry is also an incredible lecturer. -The History department is pretty big, but I still feel like I can access my advisors and get things taken care of. -I do not spend time with professors outside of class besides the hour or so of total time spent visiting in officer hours or at the end of class. -I think education at UT is equally geared toward getting a job and learning for its own sake. The development of strong critical thinking skills is needed in any workplace and the university makes it a priority to develop its students to be effective critical thinkers.

prof know your name? - depends on the class size. certain majors typically have larger classes. favorite class - freshman seminar, comparative value, Steve Ross least favorite - statistics, m316, with Shultz - terrible study - most weekdays, except the people who drink all the time and fail intellectual converations outside class - i don't know. i do. competitive - yes, but i think it depends on your major unique class - freshman seminar. urban studies - fun, able to take variety of classes. I went on a camping trip with my freshman seminar professor. UT academic requirements are usually fine but I have to take calculus for my major which is totally unnecessary and lame. Education at UT seems more geared towards learning for its own sake, as it should be, but there are many career help centers.

Some professors know my name- in smaller classes. Favorite class- anything I'm really interested in. Least favorite- Pharmacology- I'm just not good at memorizing facts and pages, pages of slides. Students study anywhere between 15 minutes- 7 hours a day depending on the student (some maybe more- crazy fools). Class participation is common, but it depends on the teacher and the way teachers frame questions. Some UT students have intellectual conversations outside of class- I would like to think all, but I know for sure some do. Students are competitive, maybe not all the time for grades, but generally they do have a drive to do well in some area. The most unique class- I loved taking PE classes- Swimming, Weight Lifting and Traithlon because I really got to know the students in those classes. Major- NURSING- by far one of the best experiences and decisions I've made at UT. I really like the students, the professors, and the material. I can't wait to graduate and have a job!! UT's academic requirements are being changed, which is a good thing and I feel I'm getting an excellent education for my department. My education is a professional sequence- so it's about the job I will be doing- so it is a little different- but we need to learn it for the job.

Half of my past profs know me by name, and the other half probably not. Favorite class was intro to psychology because the professor was really interesting and funny. Least favorite classes have been my accounting classes. I study a whole lot, but a lot of students seem to never study. Class participation is very common and required for a lot of my classes, something I really get frustrated with because I don't like hearing other people's opinions or being forced to say things just so you can get credit for saying them. Some students have intellectual conversations, but I don't really participate. Students in my major are overly competitive and it drives me to put up walls against these students and be apathetic about getting to know them. Most unique class I've taken has been my Violence in Spanish Film class.

Classes vary from one extreme to another. I have had classes where there are over 200 people in it and the teachers don't know your name, no attendance, and notes online. I have had classes where there are no more than 20 people and the teacher takes role, knows your name, and you have to participate in class. Students study all of the time. There are so many different places on campus where you can study,and there are always people there. You see students at different places around the campus area studying too.