April Stange

Name: April Stange

Hometown: Denison, TX

MPA Track: Undeclared, but considering  Taxation or Financial Assurance

Class Status: 3rd-Year

Estimated Graduation Date: May 2016

Why did you choose to attend The University of Texas at Austin?

I was born and raised a small town girl but I was ready for bigger things. The University of Texas seemed like the perfect stepping stone to a new experience in the state that I love. After getting into McCombs School of Business, my decision to come to UT was even more solidified. My grandfather always hoped that one day one of his grandchildren would become a student at UT. That did not seem like a big factor in my decision to go to UT at the time of my application, but I am a strong believer that things happen for a reason so I cannot help but think that it subconsciously played into my decision to come here.

Why did you choose the MPA program?

As known by most, there are so many great reasons to choose the MPA program at UT. It is an accomplished program. You are guaranteed a great future. The resources in the program surpasses even that of McCombs. The program itself is like being in another organization or “family.” Even with all these great reasons in front of me it was still a last minute decision when I applied to the Texas MPA program. I already know that was one of the best decisions I ever made.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

My favorite spot on campus is probably the SAC because you can study, grab food, get coffee, and there are balconies on the second floor with great chairs! But the COOLEST spot on campus is in the ACE building off Speedway and 24th in the TACC Vislab. It is a giant computer screen where you can move objects around with your hands like you would see in a movie. They allow you to walk in sometimes and just play around on it. I recommend everyone to check it out sometime!

Where are your favorite places to go and favorite things to do in Austin?

My favorite place to go in Austin is a tie between SoCo (South Congress) and Mozart’s. South Congress gives you a really great view of the Austin skyline at night and Mozart’s is a great place to take a small group of friends to grab some late night coffee or dessert because it is right on the lake. As far as activities go, I really enjoy all of the concerts and festivals Austin has to offer. There is ACL, SXSW, Film Festival, the Bat Festival on Congress bridge, and so many others!

Other interesting facts:

I work in the Economics Department on campus and I absolutely love it. I really think that working on campus is such an asset because it really allowed me to become acclimated with all aspects of UT. I also was once interviewed for the Daily Texan, our school’s official newspaper, for my experience of working on campus. I felt pretty cool.

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