I graduated this last december and am planning to attend graduate school for CE. Texas recently sent an offer to me for graduate school with a RA position included. All of the other school I've applied to have been reasonably close and driving there wasn't really a problem for a visit.

Anyway they said this in an email:
"We would like to invite you to visit our program so you will have the opportunity of interacting with our faculty and students. We are planning a series of events for March 08 and 09. I would like to schedule a phone conversation with you in anticipation to this visit."

plane ticket $350
hotel 2 nights $150
transportation etc $50
Probably near $600 dollars to visit them. I don't think they would pay for it as I haven't even accepted an offer from them although a couple of people have mentioned that this isn't uncommon. Has anyone been in a similar situation with some advice or know if universities will pay for the plane ride out there to visit?


Also wondering about housing in the Austin area. Anyone go to UTexas or live in the area? Trying to figure out around what I should expect to pay for housing and what some nice locations are. I've looked online but I wouldn't want to rent in raleigh by just looking online because I might end up in gorman crossing or something (no offense to people who live there).

Any comments appreciated. Hope this is the correct place to post.

2/22/2007 12:36:37 PM

I don't know much about the Austin area, but they should definitely pay for you to visit.

2/22/2007 12:45:14 PM

They pay for everything.

Also part of your visit will likely be touring/going out with graduate students so ask them for details on living arrangements and stuff

[Edited on February 22, 2007 at 12:52 PM. Reason : .]

2/22/2007 12:50:43 PM

Yeah they should pay for everything. All you have to do is tell them you're willing to take the trip. Many schools will make all the travel arrangements for you and pay for everything in advance. I've also been to others where they reimbursed me for everything afterwards.

And when the other grad students take you out, don't be afraid to ask them anything about any professor you're interested in studying under. They can give you an idea of what they would be like to work for. I avoided a very bad situation by asking those types of questions on my interviews.

2/22/2007 1:32:17 PM

Austin is a fucking amazing city

2/22/2007 3:01:00 PM

^ second that

6th st. and their warehouse district are fun drinking spots

it's a mecca for live music with a bunch of small venues that are very cool

2/22/2007 3:02:54 PM

Quote :

"Austin is a fucking amazing city"

I fucking LOVE 6th Street. It is definitely an incredible place.

2/22/2007 3:11:43 PM

what do u want to know about austin.....i've been there tons of times, brother went to school there......have friends there now.

just don't check out hippie hollow the nude beach, unless you like the over 60+ crowd.

2/22/2007 3:16:23 PM

Austin is comparible to Raleigh in terms of price range. It's technically 5% cheaper to live in Austin according to some websites but I go by the universal beer standard and see how much a Bud Light bottle costs at each city. Again, Austin is a bit cheaper.



Its a fairly young town as well. I think the average age is 34.

2/22/2007 3:24:40 PM

^ haha universal beer standard, I like that.

Basically wanting suggestions for cheap but not ghetto apartments around the UTexas campus area. I'll probably get the best advice asking other graduate students when I visit though. thanks for all the input.

2/22/2007 3:43:20 PM

Just moved to Austin in January for my job. For a 1 bed apartment expect between $650 (Kyle or Round Rock a few minutes outside of Austin) to $1200+ (downtown) for a nice place. Downtown area absolutely puts Raleigh to shame, but some of the apartments in the area are pretty shitty. UT is pretty far up on the party school totem pole and you can tell. Went down to 6th street for mardi gras and it was crazy, drunken UT girls flashing teh titties everywhere

2/24/2007 12:56:17 AM

bttt, I should be headed to Austin for a 3 week training for my job on March 19th. I'm already expecting it to be a kick-ass city with lots of fun bars and live music. Will anybody be in the area during those weeks? I'm hoping to stay at the Embassy Suites or Radisson downtown, but we'll see what my options are. I'll probably stick to 6th street and might check out 8th as well. I've heard that this is the more "young professional" venue... any locals that can confirm? All I know is that I have training from 1-7 each day, so I'll have plenty of time to check out the city

3/9/2007 9:54:15 AM

i was born in austin but I haven't been in a while I'm applying for a job in arlington, tx but they should definitely pay for you going to visit...the company is paying for me woo

3/9/2007 2:29:37 PM

Sonali how did I not know you were from down there?? Looks like i can't make this training and the next one that doesn't conflict with my schedule might be early June. But I am GOING to Austin at some point

3/9/2007 2:32:53 PM

I'll be here.

3/10/2007 1:11:39 AM

I live in Dallas/Fort Worth area, been here 2 months(however was here for about a year in a hotel). Texas has 5 seasons, fall, winter, spring, summer, hell(3 months)

If i decide to stay here long term, I will probably look for a home in Denton

[Edited on March 10, 2007 at 3:29 AM. Reason : w]

3/10/2007 3:28:06 AM

how did the trip go

3/10/2007 3:50:06 AM

Where the best place to get a decent steak around here??? or how about a tourist trap where i can get a 26 ounce steak or something?

3/20/2007 8:42:15 AM

Austin is pretty kickass. Take Raleigh, make it twice as big and not lame. Remove most rednecks and replace them with cowboys. Remove most thugs and replace them with hippies. Remove most ugly girls and add lots of hotties with fake titties. Tada, its Austin.

Just my impression being there for a week. Anyway some of the current grad students showed me a few 1br places walking distance to campus that aren't ghetto between 450-500 a month. Might end up in something like that. Need something cheap so the majority of my stipend doesn't go to rent ... hopefully I'll get a fellowship also.

3/20/2007 8:54:00 AM

Ive noticed the homeless seem to be out a bit more then in Raleigh like at the intersections and stuff. I Saw one guy who had a bunch of different signs

3/20/2007 9:41:08 AM

Geez, couldn't get into the training in June so I'll now be headin to Austin in July. Atleast I'm there partyin over my birthday I guess I'm prepared for the heat, but atleast it shouldn't be as humid as it will be here on the East Coast.

3/20/2007 9:51:18 AM

i visited UT for a CHE recruiting trip March 2-4. It was alot of fun, and it's a really good school.

but how hot does it get there in the summer.....I hate the NC summers, so I don't think 115° is going to fly for me, regardless of the night life

3/20/2007 11:40:34 AM

You'd be suprised how much more bearable heat is when it isn't humid. I haven't been in austin in the summer in particular but have been in some terribly hot areas that aren't humid and it doesn't feel as bad as a humid NC summer day.

Anyway for me it's a no brainer. UTexas has the best graduate school in the country for what I'm doing (geotechnical.. Berkeley/UoI compete but too theoretical for my tastes).

3/20/2007 11:46:21 AM

Austin is freaking awesome. Last time I was there I ended up at some punkabilly show swingdancing with a 6'4" "mannish woman with comfortable shoes." Ended up babbling to Stevie Ray Vaughn's statue by the river at 5am and watched the sun come up.

The flight back that morning was brutal though. I was ready to beg someone to club me like a baby seal and put me out of my misery.

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 1:29 PM. Reason : .]

3/20/2007 1:28:18 PM

Quote :

"but how hot does it get there in the summer.....I hate the NC summers, so I don't think 115° is going to fly for me, regardless of the night life"

It's much more bearable than the NC summers. Even Dallas/Ft. Worth is slightly better than here and most of the south.

The no humidity makes a HUGE difference.

3/20/2007 2:05:59 PM

I visited Austin last year and thought it was awesome. I've never felt so at home away from home. Everyone I met was cool.

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 2:59 PM. Reason : ]

3/20/2007 2:58:43 PM

bttt, dates are set. Finally heading to Austin for training August 6-24. Who will be in town?

6/13/2007 6:28:46 PM