Why Bama ? It is ranked 170 and keeps dropping

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:only strange dcum parents care about rankings. kids want to have a good time and great weather.

Yea, I mean .. why should parents care about spending over $100K for a good school when they could be focusing on partying and great weather. /s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UC Merced is a top 50 school by US News. Equity is key at US News. Alabama doesn't score well in that department.

Equity is not keeping Alabama at 170.

UC Merced is ranked high because the Regents offered attractive packages and grants to productive and prestigious faculty from other schools.

[b]

No, Merced is ranked high precisely because equity is valued in USNWR’s algorithm and because it likes Merced’s social mobility opportunities. Merced has a 97% acceptance rate and is only 5% white. And 53% Hispanic, 23% Asian, 5% black, 10% mixed, etc. USNWR likes these numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't looked at US News in years. Seems like Bama is ranked around the same as JMU, which makes sense. I would probably have seen similar rankings 30 years ago. I don't think the low ranking is as indicative of anything you might be thinking, OP. The difference in schools in these rankings are so marginal and meaningless and the magazine is infamous for rigging the rankings to make it look like schools are moving up and down in order to sell more editions.

Bama does have a certain culture attractive to certain students. Does it bother me? No.

Me neither, to each his own, but I would hope this would shut up the ridiculous troll who keeps insisting that high stats kids are ditching the Ivy + and applying to 'Bama

I am an actual parent of a Bama NMF and I can tell you that my child and most, if not all of their friends were accepted into T10s-T25s at the lowest (for those who are ranking obsessed). Bama offers an excellent education and tons of opportunity - very small class sizes, research for undergrads, job placement. They routinely beat T25s in robotics competitions, model UN, etc... out of all the schools we visited ... Bama was the ONLY school that seemed to be hyper focused on the student experience/opportunities and job placement (vs. fancy buildings, chairs in this and that, etc. -- ie. they are not chasing prestige, or rankings).

Best example I can share is that one program head told us that they had been given a several hundred thousand dollar grant from the university to do with as they pleased...and do you know what they did with the money? Divided by the number of students in the program and gave everyone a scholarship towards the cost of the program.

Granted, it's not for everyone. For the student who plans to coast on the "name brand" of their college and not take advantage of or seek out opportunities, Alabama might not be the right fit. But for bright go-getters it's a no brainer. Bonus - the campus is beautiful and the people are friendly.

So where do all these kids eventually land? If you go to NYC for any number of finance jobs or SV, you still aren’t running into many Alabama grads…and in NYC they are likely back office type workers. It’s not a target school for many of these employers.

I just can’t see the logic to passing up say Brown if you intend to work for the top coastal employers.

It doesn’t actually seem like a “no brainer” to me…but makes sense for certain paths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't looked at US News in years. Seems like Bama is ranked around the same as JMU, which makes sense. I would probably have seen similar rankings 30 years ago. I don't think the low ranking is as indicative of anything you might be thinking, OP. The difference in schools in these rankings are so marginal and meaningless and the magazine is infamous for rigging the rankings to make it look like schools are moving up and down in order to sell more editions.

Bama does have a certain culture attractive to certain students. Does it bother me? No.

Me neither, to each his own, but I would hope this would shut up the ridiculous troll who keeps insisting that high stats kids are ditching the Ivy + and applying to 'Bama

I am an actual parent of a Bama NMF and I can tell you that my child and most, if not all of their friends were accepted into T10s-T25s at the lowest (for those who are ranking obsessed). Bama offers an excellent education and tons of opportunity - very small class sizes, research for undergrads, job placement. They routinely beat T25s in robotics competitions, model UN, etc... out of all the schools we visited ... Bama was the ONLY school that seemed to be hyper focused on the student experience/opportunities and job placement (vs. fancy buildings, chairs in this and that, etc. -- ie. they are not chasing prestige, or rankings).

Best example I can share is that one program head told us that they had been given a several hundred thousand dollar grant from the university to do with as they pleased...and do you know what they did with the money? Divided by the number of students in the program and gave everyone a scholarship towards the cost of the program.

Granted, it's not for everyone. For the student who plans to coast on the "name brand" of their college and not take advantage of or seek out opportunities, Alabama might not be the right fit. But for bright go-getters it's a no brainer. Bonus - the campus is beautiful and the people are friendly.

So where do all these kids eventually land? If you go to NYC for any number of finance jobs or SV, you still aren’t running into many Alabama grads…and in NYC they are likely back office type workers. It’s not a target school for many of these employers.

I just can’t see the logic to passing up say Brown if you intend to work for the top coastal employers.

It doesn’t actually seem like a “no brainer” to me…but makes sense for certain paths.

DP. “Top coastal employers”?

Honestly, does anyone outside of NYC strivers actually GAF about that?

Plenty of $$$ and better QOL via every other avenue and/or location.

[Anonymous]

For most professions, it doesn’t matter where you go to school.

If I were a 20 year old nursing student, for example, you bet I’d pick by cost, weather, and cruise ship vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some say that Alabama is the Bucknell of the Gulf Coast. Strong pipeline to working on oil rigs and…pipelines.

I lol’d. Thanks PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For most professions, it doesn’t matter where you go to school.

If I were a 20 year old nursing student, for example, you bet I’d pick by cost, weather, and cruise ship vibe.

Hawaii Manoa has a nursing program, if you’re truly committed to living your best life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't looked at US News in years. Seems like Bama is ranked around the same as JMU, which makes sense. I would probably have seen similar rankings 30 years ago. I don't think the low ranking is as indicative of anything you might be thinking, OP. The difference in schools in these rankings are so marginal and meaningless and the magazine is infamous for rigging the rankings to make it look like schools are moving up and down in order to sell more editions.

Bama does have a certain culture attractive to certain students. Does it bother me? No.

Me neither, to each his own, but I would hope this would shut up the ridiculous troll who keeps insisting that high stats kids are ditching the Ivy + and applying to 'Bama

I am an actual parent of a Bama NMF and I can tell you that my child and most, if not all of their friends were accepted into T10s-T25s at the lowest (for those who are ranking obsessed). Bama offers an excellent education and tons of opportunity - very small class sizes, research for undergrads, job placement. They routinely beat T25s in robotics competitions, model UN, etc... out of all the schools we visited ... Bama was the ONLY school that seemed to be hyper focused on the student experience/opportunities and job placement (vs. fancy buildings, chairs in this and that, etc. -- ie. they are not chasing prestige, or rankings).

Best example I can share is that one program head told us that they had been given a several hundred thousand dollar grant from the university to do with as they pleased...and do you know what they did with the money? Divided by the number of students in the program and gave everyone a scholarship towards the cost of the program.

Granted, it's not for everyone. For the student who plans to coast on the "name brand" of their college and not take advantage of or seek out opportunities, Alabama might not be the right fit. But for bright go-getters it's a no brainer. Bonus - the campus is beautiful and the people are friendly.

So where do all these kids eventually land? If you go to NYC for any number of finance jobs or SV, you still aren’t running into many Alabama grads…and in NYC they are likely back office type workers. It’s not a target school for many of these employers.

I just can’t see the logic to passing up say Brown if you intend to work for the top coastal employers.

It doesn’t actually seem like a “no brainer” to me…but makes sense for certain paths.

DP. “Top coastal employers”?

Honestly, does anyone outside of NYC strivers actually GAF about that?

Plenty of $$$ and better QOL via every other avenue and/or location.

Sure there is…so where exactly?

Actually…tons of people GAF which is why NYC is the #1 college grad destination by far, followed by LA, SF, Chicago and other cities kids actually want to live.

Birmingham doesn’t even register.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't looked at US News in years. Seems like Bama is ranked around the same as JMU, which makes sense. I would probably have seen similar rankings 30 years ago. I don't think the low ranking is as indicative of anything you might be thinking, OP. The difference in schools in these rankings are so marginal and meaningless and the magazine is infamous for rigging the rankings to make it look like schools are moving up and down in order to sell more editions.

Bama does have a certain culture attractive to certain students. Does it bother me? No.

Me neither, to each his own, but I would hope this would shut up the ridiculous troll who keeps insisting that high stats kids are ditching the Ivy + and applying to 'Bama

I am an actual parent of a Bama NMF and I can tell you that my child and most, if not all of their friends were accepted into T10s-T25s at the lowest (for those who are ranking obsessed). Bama offers an excellent education and tons of opportunity - very small class sizes, research for undergrads, job placement. They routinely beat T25s in robotics competitions, model UN, etc... out of all the schools we visited ... Bama was the ONLY school that seemed to be hyper focused on the student experience/opportunities and job placement (vs. fancy buildings, chairs in this and that, etc. -- ie. they are not chasing prestige, or rankings).

Best example I can share is that one program head told us that they had been given a several hundred thousand dollar grant from the university to do with as they pleased...and do you know what they did with the money? Divided by the number of students in the program and gave everyone a scholarship towards the cost of the program.

Granted, it's not for everyone. For the student who plans to coast on the "name brand" of their college and not take advantage of or seek out opportunities, Alabama might not be the right fit. But for bright go-getters it's a no brainer. Bonus - the campus is beautiful and the people are friendly.

So where do all these kids eventually land? If you go to NYC for any number of finance jobs or SV, you still aren’t running into many Alabama grads…and in NYC they are likely back office type workers. It’s not a target school for many of these employers.

I just can’t see the logic to passing up say Brown if you intend to work for the top coastal employers.

It doesn’t actually seem like a “no brainer” to me…but makes sense for certain paths.

DP. “Top coastal employers”?

Honestly, does anyone outside of NYC strivers actually GAF about that?

Plenty of $$$ and better QOL via every other avenue and/or location.

Sure there is…so where exactly?

Actually…tons of people GAF which is why NYC is the #1 college grad destination by far, followed by LA, SF, Chicago and other cities kids actually want to live.

Birmingham doesn’t even register.

The vast majority of grads don't end up in NYC.

I don't doubt there is a steady pipeline of Bama business degree grads to analyst and consulting roles in Atlanta and Charlotte and other southern cities. Back office, second tier markets maybe, but it's a decent route to a comfortable six figure income and corresponding lifestyle in a nice suburban colonial and weekends playing golf. Which is exactly what these grads want. Great for them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't looked at US News in years. Seems like Bama is ranked around the same as JMU, which makes sense. I would probably have seen similar rankings 30 years ago. I don't think the low ranking is as indicative of anything you might be thinking, OP. The difference in schools in these rankings are so marginal and meaningless and the magazine is infamous for rigging the rankings to make it look like schools are moving up and down in order to sell more editions.

Bama does have a certain culture attractive to certain students. Does it bother me? No.

Me neither, to each his own, but I would hope this would shut up the ridiculous troll who keeps insisting that high stats kids are ditching the Ivy + and applying to 'Bama

I am an actual parent of a Bama NMF and I can tell you that my child and most, if not all of their friends were accepted into T10s-T25s at the lowest (for those who are ranking obsessed). Bama offers an excellent education and tons of opportunity - very small class sizes, research for undergrads, job placement. They routinely beat T25s in robotics competitions, model UN, etc... out of all the schools we visited ... Bama was the ONLY school that seemed to be hyper focused on the student experience/opportunities and job placement (vs. fancy buildings, chairs in this and that, etc. -- ie. they are not chasing prestige, or rankings).

Best example I can share is that one program head told us that they had been given a several hundred thousand dollar grant from the university to do with as they pleased...and do you know what they did with the money? Divided by the number of students in the program and gave everyone a scholarship towards the cost of the program.

Granted, it's not for everyone. For the student who plans to coast on the "name brand" of their college and not take advantage of or seek out opportunities, Alabama might not be the right fit. But for bright go-getters it's a no brainer. Bonus - the campus is beautiful and the people are friendly.

So where do all these kids eventually land? If you go to NYC for any number of finance jobs or SV, you still aren’t running into many Alabama grads…and in NYC they are likely back office type workers. It’s not a target school for many of these employers.

I just can’t see the logic to passing up say Brown if you intend to work for the top coastal employers.

It doesn’t actually seem like a “no brainer” to me…but makes sense for certain paths.

DP. “Top coastal employers”?

Honestly, does anyone outside of NYC strivers actually GAF about that?

Plenty of $$$ and better QOL via every other avenue and/or location.

Sure there is…so where exactly?

Actually…tons of people GAF which is why NYC is the #1 college grad destination by far, followed by LA, SF, Chicago and other cities kids actually want to live.

Birmingham doesn’t even register.

The vast majority of grads don't end up in NYC.

I don't doubt there is a steady pipeline of Bama business degree grads to analyst and consulting roles in Atlanta and Charlotte and other southern cities. Back office, second tier markets maybe, but it's a decent route to a comfortable six figure income and corresponding lifestyle in a nice suburban colonial and weekends playing golf. Which is exactly what these grads want. Great for them!

I live in the South. The Alabama grads I know down here are living pretty good lives with careers in law, medicine and finance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For most professions, it doesn’t matter where you go to school.

If I were a 20 year old nursing student, for example, you bet I’d pick by cost, weather, and cruise ship vibe.

Hawaii Manoa has a nursing program, if you’re truly committed to living your best life.

Hell yeah. Why not. You’re only young once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't looked at US News in years. Seems like Bama is ranked around the same as JMU, which makes sense. I would probably have seen similar rankings 30 years ago. I don't think the low ranking is as indicative of anything you might be thinking, OP. The difference in schools in these rankings are so marginal and meaningless and the magazine is infamous for rigging the rankings to make it look like schools are moving up and down in order to sell more editions.

Bama does have a certain culture attractive to certain students. Does it bother me? No.

Me neither, to each his own, but I would hope this would shut up the ridiculous troll who keeps insisting that high stats kids are ditching the Ivy + and applying to 'Bama

I am an actual parent of a Bama NMF and I can tell you that my child and most, if not all of their friends were accepted into T10s-T25s at the lowest (for those who are ranking obsessed). Bama offers an excellent education and tons of opportunity - very small class sizes, research for undergrads, job placement. They routinely beat T25s in robotics competitions, model UN, etc... out of all the schools we visited ... Bama was the ONLY school that seemed to be hyper focused on the student experience/opportunities and job placement (vs. fancy buildings, chairs in this and that, etc. -- ie. they are not chasing prestige, or rankings).

Best example I can share is that one program head told us that they had been given a several hundred thousand dollar grant from the university to do with as they pleased...and do you know what they did with the money? Divided by the number of students in the program and gave everyone a scholarship towards the cost of the program.

Granted, it's not for everyone. For the student who plans to coast on the "name brand" of their college and not take advantage of or seek out opportunities, Alabama might not be the right fit. But for bright go-getters it's a no brainer. Bonus - the campus is beautiful and the people are friendly.

So where do all these kids eventually land? If you go to NYC for any number of finance jobs or SV, you still aren’t running into many Alabama grads…and in NYC they are likely back office type workers. It’s not a target school for many of these employers.

I just can’t see the logic to passing up say Brown if you intend to work for the top coastal employers.

It doesn’t actually seem like a “no brainer” to me…but makes sense for certain paths.

DP. “Top coastal employers”?

Honestly, does anyone outside of NYC strivers actually GAF about that?

Plenty of $$$ and better QOL via every other avenue and/or location.

Sure there is…so where exactly?

Actually…tons of people GAF which is why NYC is the #1 college grad destination by far, followed by LA, SF, Chicago and other cities kids actually want to live.

Birmingham doesn’t even register.

You finance bros are exhausting. You don't ever consider that not everyone wants that career or life and every one of your responses
on every thread on this forum is self-centered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't looked at US News in years. Seems like Bama is ranked around the same as JMU, which makes sense. I would probably have seen similar rankings 30 years ago. I don't think the low ranking is as indicative of anything you might be thinking, OP. The difference in schools in these rankings are so marginal and meaningless and the magazine is infamous for rigging the rankings to make it look like schools are moving up and down in order to sell more editions.

Bama does have a certain culture attractive to certain students. Does it bother me? No.

Me neither, to each his own, but I would hope this would shut up the ridiculous troll who keeps insisting that high stats kids are ditching the Ivy + and applying to 'Bama

I am an actual parent of a Bama NMF and I can tell you that my child and most, if not all of their friends were accepted into T10s-T25s at the lowest (for those who are ranking obsessed). Bama offers an excellent education and tons of opportunity - very small class sizes, research for undergrads, job placement. They routinely beat T25s in robotics competitions, model UN, etc... out of all the schools we visited ... Bama was the ONLY school that seemed to be hyper focused on the student experience/opportunities and job placement (vs. fancy buildings, chairs in this and that, etc. -- ie. they are not chasing prestige, or rankings).

Best example I can share is that one program head told us that they had been given a several hundred thousand dollar grant from the university to do with as they pleased...and do you know what they did with the money? Divided by the number of students in the program and gave everyone a scholarship towards the cost of the program.

Granted, it's not for everyone. For the student who plans to coast on the "name brand" of their college and not take advantage of or seek out opportunities, Alabama might not be the right fit. But for bright go-getters it's a no brainer. Bonus - the campus is beautiful and the people are friendly.

So where do all these kids eventually land? If you go to NYC for any number of finance jobs or SV, you still aren’t running into many Alabama grads…and in NYC they are likely back office type workers. It’s not a target school for many of these employers.

I just can’t see the logic to passing up say Brown if you intend to work for the top coastal employers.

It doesn’t actually seem like a “no brainer” to me…but makes sense for certain paths.

DP. “Top coastal employers”?

Honestly, does anyone outside of NYC strivers actually GAF about that?

Plenty of $$$ and better QOL via every other avenue and/or location.

Sure there is…so where exactly?

Actually…tons of people GAF which is why NYC is the #1 college grad destination by far, followed by LA, SF, Chicago and other cities kids actually want to live.

Birmingham doesn’t even register.

The vast majority of grads don't end up in NYC.

I don't doubt there is a steady pipeline of Bama business degree grads to analyst and consulting roles in Atlanta and Charlotte and other southern cities. Back office, second tier markets maybe, but it's a decent route to a comfortable six figure income and corresponding lifestyle in a nice suburban colonial and weekends playing golf. Which is exactly what these grads want. Great for them!

Well…then you would agree there are actually pretty sensible reasons someone might attend a school like Brown or Dartmouth or Vanderbilt (ranked 10-20) over a free ride at Alabama, right?

BTW…median income out of Alabama is only like $55k…so it’s not really a decent route for many grads but maybe it’s different for NMFs going for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hadn't looked at US News in years. Seems like Bama is ranked around the same as JMU, which makes sense. I would probably have seen similar rankings 30 years ago. I don't think the low ranking is as indicative of anything you might be thinking, OP. The difference in schools in these rankings are so marginal and meaningless and the magazine is infamous for rigging the rankings to make it look like schools are moving up and down in order to sell more editions.

Bama does have a certain culture attractive to certain students. Does it bother me? No.

Me neither, to each his own, but I would hope this would shut up the ridiculous troll who keeps insisting that high stats kids are ditching the Ivy + and applying to 'Bama

I am an actual parent of a Bama NMF and I can tell you that my child and most, if not all of their friends were accepted into T10s-T25s at the lowest (for those who are ranking obsessed). Bama offers an excellent education and tons of opportunity - very small class sizes, research for undergrads, job placement. They routinely beat T25s in robotics competitions, model UN, etc... out of all the schools we visited ... Bama was the ONLY school that seemed to be hyper focused on the student experience/opportunities and job placement (vs. fancy buildings, chairs in this and that, etc. -- ie. they are not chasing prestige, or rankings).

Best example I can share is that one program head told us that they had been given a several hundred thousand dollar grant from the university to do with as they pleased...and do you know what they did with the money? Divided by the number of students in the program and gave everyone a scholarship towards the cost of the program.

Granted, it's not for everyone. For the student who plans to coast on the "name brand" of their college and not take advantage of or seek out opportunities, Alabama might not be the right fit. But for bright go-getters it's a no brainer. Bonus - the campus is beautiful and the people are friendly.

So where do all these kids eventually land? If you go to NYC for any number of finance jobs or SV, you still aren’t running into many Alabama grads…and in NYC they are likely back office type workers. It’s not a target school for many of these employers.

I just can’t see the logic to passing up say Brown if you intend to work for the top coastal employers.

It doesn’t actually seem like a “no brainer” to me…but makes sense for certain paths.

DP. “Top coastal employers”?

Honestly, does anyone outside of NYC strivers actually GAF about that?

Plenty of $$$ and better QOL via every other avenue and/or location.

Sure there is…so where exactly?

Actually…tons of people GAF which is why NYC is the #1 college grad destination by far, followed by LA, SF, Chicago and other cities kids actually want to live.

Birmingham doesn’t even register.

The vast majority of grads don't end up in NYC.

I don't doubt there is a steady pipeline of Bama business degree grads to analyst and consulting roles in Atlanta and Charlotte and other southern cities. Back office, second tier markets maybe, but it's a decent route to a comfortable six figure income and corresponding lifestyle in a nice suburban colonial and weekends playing golf. Which is exactly what these grads want. Great for them!

Well…then you would agree there are actually pretty sensible reasons someone might attend a school like Brown or Dartmouth or Vanderbilt (ranked 10-20) over a free ride at Alabama, right?

BTW…median income out of Alabama is only like $55k…so it’s not really a decent route for many grads but maybe it’s different for NMFs going for free.

Are you always such a literal thinker? It’s fascinating to watch.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn’t someone want to live in the South if they can make a decent living and be able to save ? I’m not white, I vote Democrat and am a Northern transplant in the Deep South, before anyone jumps on me for being “MAGA”. A lot of families who are “donut hole” in expensive Northeastern suburban areas would be able to save enough to have more college options for their kids if they lived down here. One might point out that the public schools down here aren’t great for the most part but kids can and do go on to Ivies and SLAC’s from lesser privates and publics down here.