University of Texas at Austin


Radio-Television-Film
Life in Austin


All y'all (that's plural for "y'all") will be busy thinking high-falutin' graduate thoughts, but maybe a few of these pointers will help smooth your daily grind. Thanks to current and recovering graduates for their notes below.

General info: http://www.austin360.com
Austin Chronicle: http://www.auschron.com
City of Austin's site: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us

Austin map: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/ help/areamap.htm
Yahoo's Austin map: http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&addr=&csz=austin%2C+tx&Get% A0Map=Get+Map

Weather: http://www.w eather.com/weather/cities/us_tx_austin.html

Finding a Home: Neighborhood info: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/neighbor/default.htm
Crime statistics by neighborhood: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/crimestats.htm
A funky cost-of-living-calculator: http://www2.homefair.com/calc/salcalc.html

Apartment Locators:

  • Helpful Hint: "Apartment locators always tell you that the apartment they're showing you is the ONLY one available in the ENTIRE city of Austin. Don't believe the hype! I fell for this my first year here, as did many other poor suckers I've talked to. Apartment locators may be an unavoidable evil when you're first moving here, but they are NOT your friends, and if you don't find what you're looking for with the first one, keep trying."- Beth Kracklauer

    These locators were recommended by others, but it's a crazy game and you takes your chances. Probably a good idea to let several different brokers show you around before making a decision.

  • Habitat Hunters (near campus): http://www.habitathunters.com
  • Apartment Finders Service: http://www.ausapt.com
  • Spectrum: http://www.gospectrum.com

    Landlord trouble?

  • Austin Tenant's Council: http://www.texastenant.org/
  • Consumer Protection: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/consumer.htm
    • Settling in: Utilities, Etcetera

  • Austin Energy 512/476-7721 (for setting up electricity, water and waste disposal services)
  • Southern Union Gas Co. 512/477-6461
  • Telephone hookup: Southwest Bell 800/464-7928
  • Cable: Time Warner Communications 485-5555 or 800/418-8848
  • Curbside Recycling: Picked up on trash day. Must use the "city issued" blue container that should be available at any fire station for free. If you live in an apartment, you're probably not recycling. But Ecology Action runs drop-off stations around Austin. Check out http://www.ecology-action.org or call 322-0000.
  • Internet Access: There's dozens of private ISPs around Austin, but check out UT's service first. http://www.utexas.edu/computer/internet/access/

    Driver's Licenses

  • **Full time college students may continue to use their home state licenses!** Otherwise, the law says you better get that new license within 30 days. You must bring vehicle registration and proof of insurance or they won't give you the time of day, much less a DL. Offices: 6121 N. Lamar Blvd (closest to campus); 13730 Research Blvd (North Austin); 4719 S. Congress (South Austin).

    Car Registration

  • Travis County Tax Office (1010 Lavaca Street) 473-9473. Also must be done within 30 days. The vehicle must be inspected first; certified mechanics all over the city can do the inspection. Take inspection form, title or out-of-state registration, and proof of insurance to the tax office.

    Voter Registration

  • You can register when you get a driver's license. Recommended! Otherwise get an "application" card from a Post Office and send it in.

    Pets

  • Austin requires dogs and cats to have vaccs for rabies and be registered w/the city. Your vet can register your pet. Dogs have to be on-leash in the city, but there are off- leash parks in certain sections at parks like Auditorium Shores, Zilker Park, Shoal Creek Bike Trial and a few others.

    Capital Metro

  • Call 474-1200 for bus routes and schedules or go to http://www.capmetro.austin.tx.us/routes/rt&sched.htm. CapMetro serves Austin and surrounding burbs. No fare for current University of Texas students, just flash your ID.

    Taxes (for International Students)

  • In case no one has told you, you will have to fill out a tax form though it is unlikely you will have to pay taxes. Your best starting point is the internaitoanl office tax webpage or pick up the forms in the international office lobby.

    http://www.utexas.edu/intern ational/taxes

    They answer FAQ's, have forms, irs publications and a real easy flow chart to determine your tax situation. Also, if you have a real difficult time you can phone them at 471 1211 and schedule an appointment but they encourage you to use the website first.

    Good luck and remember to do this before mid-April!

    • Hints and Tips
    The Good Things: The Best Thing: "The best thing I discovered rather late about Austin was the terrific, fairly accessible swimming holes, like Hamilton Pool or Sculpture Falls--one of my regrets from last summer is that I didn't go to these places more. Also, for those with independent means of mobility (i.e., cars) the little towns outside Austin are really incredible--Llano, Johnston City, Lockhart...They really give you a Texas culture shock that you don't just get in Austin." - Karen Gustafson

    The See and Be Scene: Look up the Austin Film Society (http://www.austinfilm.org), Cinemaker Coop (http://www.cinemaker.austin.tx.us), Austin Community Access Center: (http://www.austinaccess.com).

    Thrifting: "St. Vincent de Paul Store 1327 S. Congress Av (south of the bridge); Goodwill: 5400 N. Lamar 451 2306 (furniture and household products) There's a spate of charity shops on Burnet north of Lamar. Downtown: Hurt's Hunting Ground at 9th and Red River, not the cheapest but central! I also recommend furnishing apartments from garbage pick-up days in the rich areas of town. Call city council to find out these days, cruise the tree-lined avenues and watch out for people's pets!" - Julie Taylor

    Buy Converse shoes in every color: The Converse Outlet store rocks. They have lots of sales if you can catch them. In Northwest Austin, 10225 Research Blvd.

    Beware of: Southwestern Bell: "Be really precise about the services you're requesting. My room mate and I were screwed by SWB for a few months, when they started sneaking extra, unwanted services onto our profile, and billing us more and more (I think this practice is called "cramming"..?) Anyway, you have to be really careful about scanning your phone bill for these things..." - Karen Gustafson

    Small Wheels=trouble: Skateboards and in-line skates are BANNED from the UT campus, as well as the Drag (Guadalupe from 19th to 28th), Congress Street from the river to the Capitol, and Sixth Street.

    El Patio: "Don't be lured in by the pretty neon sombraro at El Patio. It's a bad, bad thing with Saltines and taco sauce instead of chips and salsa." - Kelly Kessler

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