DD interested in University of Alabama

[Anonymous]

OP, this was in the late 80s, but I got a full- tuition scholarship to Vanderbilt University so chose that over University of Alabama. It was a very competitive process where I went through a weekend of interviews and had to write extra essays so not the automatic scholarship University of Alabama gives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But then you have to live in Alabama. Alabama.

I know someone who sent their kid there. No debt and in med school.
They also have had the happiest experience with nice kids. The southern kids are happy. I don’t know if it is the sun or they have parents who are not all about politics all day but you do you. No way I would want to send a kid to NYC now so hate away.

As a Southerner, it's always weird to see people on DCUM treat us like we're the simple, happy island folk of some place they went on vacation. Some kids in the South are happy, some aren't, the same as anywhere else. We're just people, and we don't need either your fetishization or for you to send your kids here on some kind of field trip to see how the other half lives.

No, it's because Southerners are friendlier in general. Maybe some equate that with happiness. I'm from TX. I understand that the state has great people and complete loons. However, people are more willing to smile, chat, hold the door, strike up chit chat, etc. It's a cultural difference. I don't think stating that difference is derogatory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is a NMSF with 1580 SAT interested in Univ of Alabama. CS major. Any feedback is appreciated. It will be out of state for us, we are from MD. Her other choice is Pitt. How long do they take to communicate decisions.

She should also apply to UT Dallas for the CS Honors program. They'll also get full tuition plus goodies.

https://cs.utdallas.edu/education/computing-scholars-honors-program/

https://honors.utdallas.edu/national-merit-scholars-program/scholarship-package-benefits/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she’s in the honors program she will be fine.

A big problem at Bama is they’ve had big growth and struggled to staff enough classes, so some are asynchronous/virtual.

DS is at Alabama. I haven’t heard of any virtual classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is a NMSF with 1580 SAT interested in Univ of Alabama. CS major. Any feedback is appreciated. It will be out of state for us, we are from MD. Her other choice is Pitt. How long do they take to communicate decisions.

I don't know what you want to hear. A NMSF scholar with a 1580 will likely get a full ride to Alabama if they have the grades to back it up. On the other hand, CS at Alabama is presently ranked 105. But for the right person - extroverted, Greek, social, likes football - Alabama is fine. They're making a big effort to attract smart kids from up north. Merit is very good. The dorms are nice. People are either going to love it or hate it. You should definitely visit before committing.

Pretty sure Pitt is rolling admissions.

Don’t need to be extroverted, Greek, etc. That’s just what gets attention. Only 35% Greek. Lots of out of state very smart kids. That said, not sure CS is strong there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our daughter is a freshman NMF at Alabama. Her experience so far has been overwhelmingly positive. She is a math and engineering student, sporty but not especially outgoing, and she is not involved in Greek life. Alabama has rolling admissions, so your daughter should hear right away. A 3.5 and 1360 will get her into the honors college. I would strongly recommend looking into one of the smaller programs within the honors college, like Witt Fellows, Blount Scholars, or Randall Research Scholars. Participating will introduce your daughter to a cohort of high-achieving students before she starts school, giving her a solid support network. The honors dorms at Alabama are nice--not at the luxury-apartment level sometimes described here, but better than you'd expect for a freshman dorm. Registration can be a hassle, but the honors college gets registers first and I'm told that mitigates things after the first semester. The campus is lovely and the student body was by the far the happiest of any school we visited. The football games are supposed to be fun most years. The NMF package is exceedingly generous--a 5-year full ride (which covers graduate work, too)--and the school is serious about bringing in high-stats kids. Totally worth a visit, but you might talk to your recruiter about timing.

DS is same, he also is having an amazing experience. This is an excellent post and accurate. Randall research for CS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alabama spends a ton on luring NMSF, and I believe they have the most in the country on campus. Your daughter will be among peers in the Honors College. I wouldn’t listen to the naysayers here, there are a lot of smart kids who can’t afford to pass up the free ride. There is a thread on College Confidential started by a parent with a NMSF student at Alabama that you might find useful.

Scholarship allows kids to save money for grad / med / law school and avoid any debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just the healthcare. It’s the sororities too, the whole ethos. If you took the same girl and sent her to BU or anyplace else not in the South it is much more likely she would be launched on a successful career path.

This poster has no idea. Try to visit, it is eye-opening. The school is impressive and the opportunities amazing. All kinds of kids, with an energetic and happy vibe, not angry or tense like many northern schools.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My kid is also NMSF and applied to Alabama. The recruiter visited his school last week and he was the only kid in the session - he said it went really well. He applied almost 3 weeks ago and still waiting on decision.

We are looking at full rides so applied to Alabama, USF, UCF, UT Dallas, U of S Carolina, and U of Oklahoma.

Plus other schools including VT, GMU, USC, U of Arizona, U of MN, NEU and Purdue.

Have you visited Bama yet? We plan to go in December

That's quite the assortment of mediocrity

You’re a peach! Have the day you deserve

I agree this poster is a jerk. But I do wonder why the OP doesn't have "higher ranked" schools on her list. Just to look and have choices. Just a bit strange.

Plenty of people would rather not spend 400k for a top school when they can get paid to attend Bama thanks to the NMSF award.

But my point is that there are other schools that would also provide similar aid. I am not making the north v south point. But UA isn’t the only school that gives great aid.

Enlighten us please. Because in VA, the only comparable offer is from VCU. There are a small number of schools offering full or close to full rides for NMSF/NMF

Alabama is unique in the amount and length - it covers everything for 5 years

In your 5th year, if you want to do research at another school, including in another country, Alabama will pay for it. We know someone doing their 5th year in Singapore in his specialty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But then you have to live in Alabama. Alabama.

I know someone who sent their kid there. No debt and in med school.
They also have had the happiest experience with nice kids. The southern kids are happy. I don’t know if it is the sun or they have parents who are not all about politics all day but you do you. No way I would want to send a kid to NYC now so hate away.

As a Southerner, it's always weird to see people on DCUM treat us like we're the simple, happy island folk of some place they went on vacation. Some kids in the South are happy, some aren't, the same as anywhere else. We're just people, and we don't need either your fetishization or for you to send your kids here on some kind of field trip to see how the other half lives.

Like PP, i find the kids at Alabama happy and the people really friendly. It’s certainly a positive for me and why I love going down there. Yes, it’s different, but a welcome reprieve from the uptightness and angst of the DMV. Not condescending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just the healthcare. It’s the sororities too, the whole ethos. If you took the same girl and sent her to BU or anyplace else not in the South it is much more likely she would be launched on a successful career path.

This poster has no idea. Try to visit, it is eye-opening. The school is impressive and the opportunities amazing. All kinds of kids, with an energetic and happy vibe, not angry or tense like many northern schools.

Curious to know what's eye-opening and about the amazing opportunities. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just the healthcare. It’s the sororities too, the whole ethos. If you took the same girl and sent her to BU or anyplace else not in the South it is much more likely she would be launched on a successful career path.

This poster has no idea. Try to visit, it is eye-opening. The school is impressive and the opportunities amazing. All kinds of kids, with an energetic and happy vibe, not angry or tense like many northern schools.

Curious to know what's eye-opening and about the amazing opportunities. Thanks.

Different poster, but for us the commitment the school showed to academically strong students was eye-opening. The school had averaged a ribbon cutting a month for the previous four years when our daughter did her callback interviews, and they were fairly explicit about making a similar investment in high stats kids. They’re aware of the things you hear about Alabama on places like this and they address them. For example, DCUM worries about “outcomes.” Freshman in Witt (and I assume Blount and Randall) are already getting regular guidance on grad school and postgraduate scholarships, including interaction with alums who have gone through the process. They’re seeing kids in the cohorts ahead of them—friends and role models—win these scholarships and/or get into top grad schools, so that becomes their expectation. The honors college has programs to get kids involved in research to address one of the perceived advantages of SLACs. The NMF gives you 5 years at OOS rates, so if you want to study abroad, you’re likely paying less and banking the difference. Beyond that, Witt sends kids out into the world to see how theory maps onto real life. They’ll spend a year studying something in theory, then spend a few weeks over the summer to see how theory maps onto the real world—so they’ll study poverty, then go work in Marion for a few weeks. They’ll study civics, then go to Cuba to appreciate the stakes. The academic program UA laid out was more impressive than anything we would get in state short of a Jefferson Scholarship. Finally, the student body was the happiest we visited. It seems to be a lot of fun to go to Alabama, and the students, faculty, and staff take great pride in the place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just the healthcare. It’s the sororities too, the whole ethos. If you took the same girl and sent her to BU or anyplace else not in the South it is much more likely she would be launched on a successful career path.

This poster has no idea. Try to visit, it is eye-opening. The school is impressive and the opportunities amazing. All kinds of kids, with an energetic and happy vibe, not angry or tense like many northern schools.

Curious to know what's eye-opening and about the amazing opportunities. Thanks.

Different poster, but for us the commitment the school showed to academically strong students was eye-opening. The school had averaged a ribbon cutting a month for the previous four years when our daughter did her callback interviews, and they were fairly explicit about making a similar investment in high stats kids. They’re aware of the things you hear about Alabama on places like this and they address them. For example, DCUM worries about “outcomes.” Freshman in Witt (and I assume Blount and Randall) are already getting regular guidance on grad school and postgraduate scholarships, including interaction with alums who have gone through the process. They’re seeing kids in the cohorts ahead of them—friends and role models—win these scholarships and/or get into top grad schools, so that becomes their expectation. The honors college has programs to get kids involved in research to address one of the perceived advantages of SLACs. The NMF gives you 5 years at OOS rates, so if you want to study abroad, you’re likely paying less and banking the difference. Beyond that, Witt sends kids out into the world to see how theory maps onto real life. They’ll spend a year studying something in theory, then spend a few weeks over the summer to see how theory maps onto the real world—so they’ll study poverty, then go work in Marion for a few weeks. They’ll study civics, then go to Cuba to appreciate the stakes. The academic program UA laid out was more impressive than anything we would get in state short of a Jefferson Scholarship. Finally, the student body was the happiest we visited. It seems to be a lot of fun to go to Alabama, and the students, faculty, and staff take great pride in the place.

One of my kid's very high stats/accomplished friends having the same experience. Choose it over UVA because of the cost, both parents are teacher's so comfortable but not a lot of disposable income. It's a shame people let their bias get in the way of believing/considering it. Wonderful for the kid's that do though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the pp who thinks that's an assortment of mediocrity, you are a mediocre thinker. OP's kid is going to have her choice of full-rides in honors programs at these large state universities with some stellar professors and amazing research opportunities. She is now and will continue to be an amazing scholar. OP, I'm from AL and have many friends who graduated from there and they are mostly doctors, lawyers, business owners (one who sold his business in his early 40s for over $100 million), professors, teachers, etc. I was a NMSF and got a full ride but opted for a full ride from a top 25 private instead.

OP here. Thank you - that is really nice to know. Could we possibly ask which privates offer full rides for these stats. Thank you

DP but I'd like your odds at W&L and Richmond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just the healthcare. It’s the sororities too, the whole ethos. If you took the same girl and sent her to BU or anyplace else not in the South it is much more likely she would be launched on a successful career path.

This poster has no idea. Try to visit, it is eye-opening. The school is impressive and the opportunities amazing. All kinds of kids, with an energetic and happy vibe, not angry or tense like many northern schools.

Curious to know what's eye-opening and about the amazing opportunities. Thanks.

For DD, it was access to labs and research. Alabama is a very wealthy R1 university and undergrads get great experience — DD is running her lab, reporting to the professor and is a TA. Her name will be high up on a publication, she has presented at conferences and has a job offer. Pre med, labs and clinical are easy to get — Alabama placed 100% of its pre med program in med school, many in top programs. The thing is, the Blount and Randall kids support each other and tell each other about labs and opportunities. There’s no elbowing or backstabbing for these jobs like there is at other schools (eg Michigan).

If you are in even considering — visit. I guarantee the naysayers have never been here. I’m down here now for homecoming, and Alabama is not the predominant license plate. I am still in awe at the energy and pride of this place.