UTA is filled with world-class professors, many of whom are more interested in your learning the material, than in (metaphorically) hitting you over the head with their gradebook. Many of my senior-level communication classes are taught using the same theories, but not to be redundant, rather to help students see how the parts connect. If you aren't a math major and tend to not do well in the subject, you should consider taking Rachel Goodwin (very bright, extremely good in math, and a patient graduate student, loved by all).
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
Many people don't know that UTA is where JPEG (camera cards) compression, HDTV, and gastro camera pills were invented; or that olympic trainers teach here; or that we have First Amendment lawyers that teach here; or that we have a studio arts program on glass work that is world-class; or all the other experts teaching at UTA. There are many gold nuggets around this campus. The Shorthorn, the student publication, is an award winning newspaper that connects students, faculty, and the university with the community. There are events, lectures or other happenings across campus all the time...you will never be bored.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
When I looked at tuition and living on campus, I decided to go the dorm route and to take advantage of the capped tuition, I took 15 hours for Fall and Spring 2011. I share a dorm for $272 per month, all bills paid, rather than sharing a very small apartment for more than double that, no bills paid. I can roll out of bed and be in class in five minutes. I am getting an 'Ivy-League' education for pennies...and the networking opportunities at UTA offer a pipeline to getting a job when you get out.
- NOTE: Here's another gold nugget...MAVERICK BIKE SHOP is a student run bicycle shop where you can get maintenance on your bike for cheap. Nicest, best people around, offering quality bike repairs and equipment. You can even borrow a bike for free (check a bike out and return the end of the semester).
- Take Winter-mester and May-mester classes. These are rolled into the other sessions for payment purposes, and with capped tuition, they are a bonus. The downside: they are credit classes held in about 12 days, fast-paced and a lot of work in a very short time. The upside: Not only are they included in the tuition, you are done in a very short time.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
- LIVE IN A DORM: You'll save money for other things and you will come away with lifetime friendships. So what if the dorm rooms are small...your cubicle at work will be small too, but this one comes with a bed! Dorm rooms come complete with wireless internet and cable for your television. You will skip traffic woes and save gas, too.
- ON FINANCIAL AID: Apply for aid early. 'Nuff said.
- DON'T GET A MEAL PLAN. This is the biggest ripoff known to modern man. The hours they serve are inconvenient and the university insists that they are. For example, in the fall I took out the largest meal plan they offered. I had an 8 a.m. class two days a week, and to eat breakfast before class, I had to get up and shower at 6 or 6:30 to get there when they opened at 7, and eat fast enough to get to class on the other side of campus by 8. Then, I had another class on the other two days from 5:30-6:50 p.m. and the cafeteria closes at 7:30 - yep, on the other side of campus. In the end, none of the meals will roll over to the next semester and you don't get a refund.
- BRING YOUR BIKE: (See Maverick Bike Shop above) You will use it all the time because it is difficult to find parking, parking is remote, you can use the close-in metered parking, but if you are one minute late, you can expect a $20 ticket the university will not cancel.
- LOCK UP SAID BIKE with a U-lock or a thick cable that can only be cut with a torch or grinder.
- CAMPUS COFFEE OPTIONS: There is more to campus than Starbucks. Two blocks from campus there is Health and Harmony Coffee House. Wayyyyyyy cheaper and better.
- TEXTBOOK OPTIONS: Check out BOOKDEFY, a textbook exchange online, or call the Maverick Bike Shop for information on the campus textbook library where students can check out their textbooks. Buying textbooks are expensive, so students should check out all other options.
- LOCK UP YOUR LAPTOP! A $50 laptop lock could mean the difference in your GPA, especially if your laptop gets lifted...
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Those who enjoy diversity; students of all ages; serious students get the most out of the experience; those who like group and collaborative learning.
UTA is filled with world-class professors, many of whom are more interested in your learning the material, than in (metaphorically) hitting you over the head with their gradebook. Many of my senior-level communication classes are taught using the same theories, but not to be redundant, rather to help students see how the parts connect. If you aren't a math major and tend to not do well in the subject, you should consider taking Rachel Goodwin (very bright, extremely good in math, and a patient graduate student, loved by all).
Many people don't know that UTA is where JPEG (camera cards) compression, HDTV, and gastro camera pills were invented; or that olympic trainers teach here; or that we have First Amendment lawyers that teach here; or that we have a studio arts program on glass work that is world-class; or all the other experts teaching at UTA. There are many gold nuggets around this campus. The Shorthorn, the student publication, is an award winning newspaper that connects students, faculty, and the university with the community. There are events, lectures or other happenings across campus all the time...you will never be bored.
When I looked at tuition and living on campus, I decided to go the dorm route and to take advantage of the capped tuition, I took 15 hours for Fall and Spring 2011. I share a dorm for $272 per month, all bills paid, rather than sharing a very small apartment for more than double that, no bills paid. I can roll out of bed and be in class in five minutes. I am getting an 'Ivy-League' education for pennies...and the networking opportunities at UTA offer a pipeline to getting a job when you get out. - NOTE: Here's another gold nugget...MAVERICK BIKE SHOP is a student run bicycle shop where you can get maintenance on your bike for cheap. Nicest, best people around, offering quality bike repairs and equipment. You can even borrow a bike for free (check a bike out and return the end of the semester). - Take Winter-mester and May-mester classes. These are rolled into the other sessions for payment purposes, and with capped tuition, they are a bonus. The downside: they are credit classes held in about 12 days, fast-paced and a lot of work in a very short time. The upside: Not only are they included in the tuition, you are done in a very short time.
- LIVE IN A DORM: You'll save money for other things and you will come away with lifetime friendships. So what if the dorm rooms are small...your cubicle at work will be small too, but this one comes with a bed! Dorm rooms come complete with wireless internet and cable for your television. You will skip traffic woes and save gas, too. - ON FINANCIAL AID: Apply for aid early. 'Nuff said. - DON'T GET A MEAL PLAN. This is the biggest ripoff known to modern man. The hours they serve are inconvenient and the university insists that they are. For example, in the fall I took out the largest meal plan they offered. I had an 8 a.m. class two days a week, and to eat breakfast before class, I had to get up and shower at 6 or 6:30 to get there when they opened at 7, and eat fast enough to get to class on the other side of campus by 8. Then, I had another class on the other two days from 5:30-6:50 p.m. and the cafeteria closes at 7:30 - yep, on the other side of campus. In the end, none of the meals will roll over to the next semester and you don't get a refund. - BRING YOUR BIKE: (See Maverick Bike Shop above) You will use it all the time because it is difficult to find parking, parking is remote, you can use the close-in metered parking, but if you are one minute late, you can expect a $20 ticket the university will not cancel. - LOCK UP SAID BIKE with a U-lock or a thick cable that can only be cut with a torch or grinder. - CAMPUS COFFEE OPTIONS: There is more to campus than Starbucks. Two blocks from campus there is Health and Harmony Coffee House. Wayyyyyyy cheaper and better. - TEXTBOOK OPTIONS: Check out BOOKDEFY, a textbook exchange online, or call the Maverick Bike Shop for information on the campus textbook library where students can check out their textbooks. Buying textbooks are expensive, so students should check out all other options. - LOCK UP YOUR LAPTOP! A $50 laptop lock could mean the difference in your GPA, especially if your laptop gets lifted...
Those who enjoy diversity; students of all ages; serious students get the most out of the experience; those who like group and collaborative learning.