I grew up in Texas and went to University of Texas at Austin. What your analysis doesn’t take into account is the culture of Texas, which is that for many communities, it doesn’t occur to them to leave the state! My dad’s side of the family went back nine generations in Texas. Even with family over in “crazy” California, I had no thought of leaving the state for college. Of my suburban high school for which most kids went onto to college (this was the late 70s), virtually everyone I know applied for and attended Texas universities. I knew only one of my friends who went out of state - she went to Georgetown. Higher achieving kids went to UT Austin or Rice. Next tier (at that time) was Texas A&M then the state schools (what is now Texas State.)
Additionally, at UT, hardly anyone I know was from out of state. I was very active in college in student government and other organizations and almost everyone I knew was from Texas. It WAS however, the first time I met a handful of people from other states (Yankees!)
Now, it is MUCH more difficult to get into UT now (I’m certain I would not have qualified if I were applying today!). Maybe things are way different, but even for my nephews from Austin, all their friends stayed in the state. My SIL teaches HS at a high performing public school - she says it’s still pretty much the same.
I think this is why fewer Texans are going to some of the elite universities - they aren’t applying as much or to the extent represented by the populations of other states. Texas truly is a “state of mind”
Note: I got out of Texas as soon as I could and have happily been in SF and raised my kids here and in SF public schools.
SFED up
I grew up in Texas and went to University of Texas at Austin. What your analysis doesn’t take into account is the culture of Texas, which is that for many communities, it doesn’t occur to them to leave the state! My dad’s side of the family went back nine generations in Texas. Even with family over in “crazy” California, I had no thought of leaving the state for college. Of my suburban high school for which most kids went onto to college (this was the late 70s), virtually everyone I know applied for and attended Texas universities. I knew only one of my friends who went out of state - she went to Georgetown. Higher achieving kids went to UT Austin or Rice. Next tier (at that time) was Texas A&M then the state schools (what is now Texas State.)
Additionally, at UT, hardly anyone I know was from out of state. I was very active in college in student government and other organizations and almost everyone I knew was from Texas. It WAS however, the first time I met a handful of people from other states (Yankees!)
Now, it is MUCH more difficult to get into UT now (I’m certain I would not have qualified if I were applying today!). Maybe things are way different, but even for my nephews from Austin, all their friends stayed in the state. My SIL teaches HS at a high performing public school - she says it’s still pretty much the same.
I think this is why fewer Texans are going to some of the elite universities - they aren’t applying as much or to the extent represented by the populations of other states. Texas truly is a “state of mind”
Note: I got out of Texas as soon as I could and have happily been in SF and raised my kids here and in SF public schools.
Great stuff thanks