Back in the summer when Connor and I first started visiting potential colleges, we began researching computer science programs and learned that University of Texas in Austin had one of the most prestigious CS programs in the nation. As much as we had loved our visits to Texas Tech and A&M, neither of us were all that interested in visiting UT Austin but felt like we should at least learn as much as we could about the computer science curriculum and programs offered. I began searching websites and sending emails, hitting dead end after dead end, until finally I connected with a current UT CS student. She helped us to arrange a full weekend of tours for Connor and I to attend in late October.
Our first tour of the weekend was an admissions presentation at 9 AM on a Friday morning. Unfortunately, the weather was NOT cooperating and we found ourselves in a torrential thunderstorm as we tried to make our way to the welcome center for the session. Luckily we were prepared with umbrellas, rain jackets, and ponchos, and we checked in on time and were even given additional ponchos for the wet morning ahead. We were worried that our tours for the day would be cancelled, but luckily the storm moved out and we were able to enjoy the morning without getting too soaked. We started our day with the admissions orientation followed by a computer science facility tour and "coffee chat" with a current computer science student. He was able to answer a ton of questions for us about the UT CS curriculum and Connor's incoming AP credits. We packed a lot into our morning, but it was worth every minute to learn all about the opportunities at UT. Before we left campus for the day, we met with another current CS student in the student center, and she was able to share her experience and answer even more questions about the UT CS programs. It was all information overload but super helpful and interesting!
By the time we finished our Friday appointments, the weather had cleared and we were ready for some lunch. We walked across campus and enjoyed some Chipotle, followed by some shopping at the campus store. Since it was Friday, we continued wandering around campus and were able to get a taste of true college life on the "40 acres" with students everywhere going about their day. Connor and I were both pleasantly surprised at our positive campus experience and really enjoyed walking around before heading back to our hotel. Before settling in for the night, we ordered some pizza and Tiff's Treats to enjoy in our hotel room as we watched our beloved Astros in the World Series. As for Connor, he took advantage of the evening hours to catch up on some schoolwork he had missed. Overall, it had been such a fun and perfect day together!
The next morning, we were up early for another day packed full of college tours and information sessions at an event called Texas Preview, where the university invites prospective students to learn more about UT Austin. For our customized schedule, we attended an information session about the College of Natural Science, a financial aid presentation, and finally, a campus walking tour. The weather was sunny and gorgeous - absolutely perfect for our full day ahead. We were able to find our way around from building to building, really getting to know the campus and soaking in the beautiful sunshine. We even ran into the school mascot, Bevo, and couldn't resist capturing some photos to commemorate our fun morning. I had to hide my Aggie ring from time to time (haha) but it was really neat to get the full UT experience!
As we went from session to session, I started sensing a change in my own attitude about UT Austin and the opportunities it could provide for a CS student like Connor. At the other universities we had visited, computer science was one of many disciplines in their College of Engineering. But at UT, Computer Science majors enjoy a dedicated facility with unlimited options for tailoring the curriculum to each student's specific interests. It was definitely an interesting aspect to his college choice that we hadn't considered before.
Our last session of the day was a campus walking tour with a friendly tour guide, and she did such a great job in setting the tone for the UT Austin college experience. Perhaps it was the gorgeous weather, but with each step of the tour I found myself wondering if this could be the place for Connor. I considered it a possible "sign" when the tour guide concluded our session with her personal story about how she chose UT Austin despite being raised in a family full of Aggies. Could UT be the right fit for Connor? Only time would tell, but we were so thankful for such a fun and enlightening experience during our UT Austin college visit!
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