Meet Albert
A Top Institution at an Affordable Cost
Plain and simple, UT Austin was the best education for the best price! I got accepted into a couple of other schools but I realized that I had been accepted into a school (School of Architecture) ranked among the top institutions in the United States, except at a fraction of the cost of those other schools. UT simply is a top notch education at a relatively affordable cost.
A Magical Experience
Studying abroad in Italy has, by far, been the best experience I have had. I remember when I first arrived in Rome, our class went directly into the subway system. At first, I was incredibly disappointed that our professor made us go into such a dingy place, but I will never forget the first thing I saw when I was going up the stairs from the subway: the Coliseum with a bright blue sky in the background, framed by the subway door exit. I swear-it was almost magical!
An Ongoing Battle
Finances have been the greatest ongoing battle I have had here at UT. Ever since I started here, I have had to work while studying. But overall, this challenge has helped me grow and be independent. I learned how to be more responsible with my expenses and how to balance time between school, work, and most important, play. I feel better prepared to go on to graduate school here at UT.
Albert's advice
Get enough sleep
Get enough sleep. It helps you concentrate better and be more efficient.
Do what you love to do
Do what you love to do! UT has a lot to offer and all you have to do is take advantage of it. No matter what your interest is, you will always find faculty that are more than happy to guide you along your path. Expressing and acting on your passion will get you a long way.
Set priorities and goals
Set priorities and goals. Even though you should enjoy life as much as possible, keep in mind that you have a purpose here at UT.
Living on and off campus
For the first two years, I lived in the honors dorms. The only thing I miss about that was that I could wake up five minutes before class and still make it on time. Overall though, I have found that living off campus is simply more affordable and enjoyable. I now get to cook the authentic Mexican recipes my mom taught me and have get-togethers with my friends without having a resident assistant kick them out.
A Door Opener
Being a part of the Bridging Disciplines Program has been a door opener for me. It gave me the opportunity to tailor my own major here at UT, and because of this, I have pursued what I am passionate about. With them, I have been funded to do independent research in Texas, New Mexico, and Italy, have given a lecture on my research, and have done several oral and poster presentations, including one at a national conference.
A Perfect Mentor
I don’t think I would have gotten this far if it wasn’t for my faculty mentor, Dr. Maria Wade. The first time I met her, she was my professor for a Native-American anthropology class. I thought she would be perfect as a mentor for the research I wanted to undertake and so I approached her about it. Since then, she has been my research and professional mentor. Because of her, I have been able to present my research and get into the graduate school I wanted, UT!
More on Albert
Clubs/Organizations
Favorites
- Study locations on or off campus: Battle Hall, Texas Union, and Goldsmith Hall courtyard
- Places to eat on or near campus: Players and Hoa Hoa
- Classes: Mexican American Indigenous Heritage, History of Architecture I, and Cultural Heritage on Display
- Books: The God Delusion and A Brave New World
- Movies: Amores Perros, Gone with the Wind, and Amelie
- Things about Austin: Nightlife, music scene, and museums
- Pastime/recreational activity: Sleep
Send Albert an e-mail at palacios.albert.a@gmail.com