Anonymous
09/17/2025 11:03
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:At Alabama, in the humanities, at least history, the most powerful professors (including head of department) are Ivy League phds from the north, particularly New York. Well-run school with a lot of money for research (they use sports money) so they attract really good professors. Amazing school.
That’s nice. But why suffer living in Tuscaloosa to get access to Ivy League professors? Many universities up north have Ivy League professors, and you don’t have to live in depressing Alabama.
I think the point is that Alabama professors are not parochial and southern, but bring national/international, diverse perspectives. It’s a surprisingly impressive place.
This.
My kid goes to Bama and one of their favorite professors grew up in the dc metro area and went to a top private HS in dc before going on to a fancy university. Other favorite profs are from all over.
And the campus is the quintessential college environment but bigger/better/nicer. They are pouring money into the school at an unparalleled level and it shows. The strip and downtown area ooze small town charm (although Ole Miss wins when it comes to the most charming town vibe). The locals and students are friendly, fit, and fun. And the parent group is ridiculously friendly and helpful. There are local parents who will literally pick up your kid from the airport or take them soup when they are sick. It’s not unusual for girl moms to post their kid needs help moving heavy furniture and boy moms to send their son over with a buddy to help.
I think students from the north who head to schools like Bama are getting a far more diverse experience than others. There is a broad spectrum of people and beliefs, and kids must learn to get along…and they do.
PS - There is a lot of wealth on campus. My kid knows students whose families own private planes. I think most dcum parents would be very surprised if they bothered to tour Bama. I encourage you to tour during the school year.
Same experience. Visited on a whim, no expectation and was blown away. DS is now a senior there and he leaves with two publications in serious science journals, a job offer, a diverse world view and having enjoyed every minute of his time there (he is not Greek). His friends are headed to top med schools, engineering firms and phd programs. All educated for free!
Alabama is spending like crazy and has healthy financials, unlike many — Stanford (laying off 700), Northwestern (laying off 400), Chicago is $6 billion in debt!
The school has a 4 year graduation rate of 56% that is horrifying.
Graduates from the University of Alabama had a median earning of $37,400 within two years and $44,500 within six years of graduation.
Great idea to pay OOS tuition to a school with those types of returns on investment.
Rape is extremely high on campus. And just fantastic Alabama law that, requires sexual violence survivors to demonstrate "earnest resistance" during an assault.
It is also one of the most dangerous campuses in the US for crime.
The reality is smart kids will do well wherever they go.
Your bright kid from Dcumlandia is likely to get merit aid from Bama and will graduate in 4 years. What the other kids do isn’t your problem.
Sometimes it’s better to be the big fish in the small pond.
And you are who your friends are. 56% graduation rate. There's a reason why they're throwing tons of merit money to practically anyone. Their marketing is all about how fun the school is, how great the greek life is, etc. Smart parents and kids make choices that look beyond that.
I’d love to see stats from a variety of schools re:
1. How many kids have anxiety, depression, etc. and are medicated
2. How many grads are single/not dating, unmarried, etc.
3. How many are happy, etc.
The vibe at Bama is happy.
56% graduation rate is not a sign of student happiness.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 10:07
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree 100% with this prior post. The generous scholarship options based on GPA and test scores are what got us to consider it and the campus tour sold us. Honors students are impressive. Love that my son has grad school effectively paid for from undergrad savings. His roommates - first AND second year - are 70% from Northern states (first year was randomly assigned). Just go visit - we were not expecting to like it and both my husband and I (who are not big sports fans) loved it and DS is science major and completely thriving
Prior Post:
The knee-jerk reactions in this thread are not accurate. Unlikely that one will hear racist talk of any kind at any time while on campus.
FACT: The majority of students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa are not residents of Alabama.
U Alabama's Honors College offers students a solid education.
The Alabama beaches are gorgeous & welcoming. For decades, U Alabama's largest alumni group is based in NYC.
Why are the majority of students at a state school not state residents?
It's not unique to Alabama. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma are examples of flagships with slightly more than 50% OOS/international students. Because money. Michigan and Wisconsin took students from all over especially the east coast, Chicago, and California. Oklahoma took theirs from Texas especially from Dallas/Fort Worth.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 09:34
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
One example of a student at Alabama who is excelling:
University of Alabama senior Kate Herndon, a History major, is one of only thirty-two students in the nation to be named a Rhodes Scholar, the most prestigious academic award given to American college graduates and the oldest award for international study.
Rhodes Scholars receive tuition, housing, and living expenses for up to three years of graduate study at the University of Oxford, which is not only the oldest English-speaking higher education institution in the world but the world’s highest ranked university, as well.
Herndon is a University Honors Program student majoring in criminal justice and history, with a concentration in legal history, and a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts. She is the fifth History major* and seventeenth UA student to be named a Rhodes Scholar.
Last year, Herndon won the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service and the John Fraser Ramsey Premier Award, The University of Alabama’s highest student award.
https://history.ua.edu/history-major-named-a-rhodes-scholar/
University of Alabama senior Kate Herndon, a History major, is one of only thirty-two students in the nation to be named a Rhodes Scholar, the most prestigious academic award given to American college graduates and the oldest award for international study.
Rhodes Scholars receive tuition, housing, and living expenses for up to three years of graduate study at the University of Oxford, which is not only the oldest English-speaking higher education institution in the world but the world’s highest ranked university, as well.
Herndon is a University Honors Program student majoring in criminal justice and history, with a concentration in legal history, and a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts. She is the fifth History major* and seventeenth UA student to be named a Rhodes Scholar.
Last year, Herndon won the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service and the John Fraser Ramsey Premier Award, The University of Alabama’s highest student award.
https://history.ua.edu/history-major-named-a-rhodes-scholar/
Anonymous
09/17/2025 09:32
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree 100% with this prior post. The generous scholarship options based on GPA and test scores are what got us to consider it and the campus tour sold us. Honors students are impressive. Love that my son has grad school effectively paid for from undergrad savings. His roommates - first AND second year - are 70% from Northern states (first year was randomly assigned). Just go visit - we were not expecting to like it and both my husband and I (who are not big sports fans) loved it and DS is science major and completely thriving
Prior Post:
The knee-jerk reactions in this thread are not accurate. Unlikely that one will hear racist talk of any kind at any time while on campus.
FACT: The majority of students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa are not residents of Alabama.
U Alabama's Honors College offers students a solid education.
The Alabama beaches are gorgeous & welcoming. For decades, U Alabama's largest alumni group is based in NYC.
Why are the majority of students at a state school not state residents?
This is by design. The last university president laid out a vision with a goal of having Alabama be a top research institution. The plan involved courting smart out of state students with scholarships and offering professors great facilities and research funding. There is no expectation that graduates stay in Alabama. Auburn has a different purpose and a higher percentage of Alabama students.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 09:31
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
My NMF is an Alabama because of the generous full ride. Smart kids can do extremely well there and many use the NMF scholarship to pursue graduate studies.
Is Alabama the right fit for everyone? Of course not and I’m not ignoring some of the valid discussion about the socio-political issues present.
Alabama offers an extremely generous scholarship which is attracting a significant pool of high achieving kids who then funnel into the honors college and specific programs and cohorts.
These kids take advantage of the R1 opportunities, honors college experiences and offerings, and work with some amazing professors.
Add in the beautiful campus, sports and abundant social activities (over 600 student clubs) and there is certainly an appeal for many kids.
TLDR: Alabama recruits a lot of smart kids with money generated from sports. These kids do well and go on to graduate school and great career opportunities.
Is Alabama the right fit for everyone? Of course not and I’m not ignoring some of the valid discussion about the socio-political issues present.
Alabama offers an extremely generous scholarship which is attracting a significant pool of high achieving kids who then funnel into the honors college and specific programs and cohorts.
These kids take advantage of the R1 opportunities, honors college experiences and offerings, and work with some amazing professors.
Add in the beautiful campus, sports and abundant social activities (over 600 student clubs) and there is certainly an appeal for many kids.
TLDR: Alabama recruits a lot of smart kids with money generated from sports. These kids do well and go on to graduate school and great career opportunities.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 09:27
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree 100% with this prior post. The generous scholarship options based on GPA and test scores are what got us to consider it and the campus tour sold us. Honors students are impressive. Love that my son has grad school effectively paid for from undergrad savings. His roommates - first AND second year - are 70% from Northern states (first year was randomly assigned). Just go visit - we were not expecting to like it and both my husband and I (who are not big sports fans) loved it and DS is science major and completely thriving
Prior Post:
The knee-jerk reactions in this thread are not accurate. Unlikely that one will hear racist talk of any kind at any time while on campus.
FACT: The majority of students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa are not residents of Alabama.
U Alabama's Honors College offers students a solid education.
The Alabama beaches are gorgeous & welcoming. For decades, U Alabama's largest alumni group is based in NYC.
Why are the majority of students at a state school not state residents?
Because there's not as much money in admitting in state students. North Carolina has the right approach here.
North Carolina is the opposite of Alabama - it is required to have 82% of freshman be in state.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 09:20
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree 100% with this prior post. The generous scholarship options based on GPA and test scores are what got us to consider it and the campus tour sold us. Honors students are impressive. Love that my son has grad school effectively paid for from undergrad savings. His roommates - first AND second year - are 70% from Northern states (first year was randomly assigned). Just go visit - we were not expecting to like it and both my husband and I (who are not big sports fans) loved it and DS is science major and completely thriving
Prior Post:
The knee-jerk reactions in this thread are not accurate. Unlikely that one will hear racist talk of any kind at any time while on campus.
FACT: The majority of students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa are not residents of Alabama.
U Alabama's Honors College offers students a solid education.
The Alabama beaches are gorgeous & welcoming. For decades, U Alabama's largest alumni group is based in NYC.
Why are the majority of students at a state school not state residents?
Because there's not as much money in admitting in state students. North Carolina has the right approach here.
That doesn’t answer it…Auburn is 60% in state…LSU and Ole Miss are 80% in state…UGA is 80% in state…Alabama is the complete outlier of all these southern schools.
The reason this thread exists is because Alabama is throwing money at OOS kids…so it’s definitely not making the state money.
Of course it makes them money. They charge more than 3x the in-state tuition to out-of-state students. They can give a $10k annual merit scholarship to oos and still generate double the revenue per seat. They can give a large scholarship to top oos students that makes it equal to in-state tuition, and in exchange, they get SAT and GPA stats that improve the school's ranking for the same price as the less academic in-state students.
The University of Alabama is a big school. But the pool of smart high school students in Alabama is fairly small. This isn't California. Alabama has some of the worst school districts in the country. The university had to decide - be a big dumb school for poorly educated instate students. Or be a quality university that takes a majority of students from out of state. They chose the latter option. And overall, that probably works better for them financially even if they are giving a lot of merit.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 09:15
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:At Alabama, in the humanities, at least history, the most powerful professors (including head of department) are Ivy League phds from the north, particularly New York. Well-run school with a lot of money for research (they use sports money) so they attract really good professors. Amazing school.
That’s nice. But why suffer living in Tuscaloosa to get access to Ivy League professors? Many universities up north have Ivy League professors, and you don’t have to live in depressing Alabama.
I think the point is that Alabama professors are not parochial and southern, but bring national/international, diverse perspectives. It’s a surprisingly impressive place.
This.
My kid goes to Bama and one of their favorite professors grew up in the dc metro area and went to a top private HS in dc before going on to a fancy university. Other favorite profs are from all over.
And the campus is the quintessential college environment but bigger/better/nicer. They are pouring money into the school at an unparalleled level and it shows. The strip and downtown area ooze small town charm (although Ole Miss wins when it comes to the most charming town vibe). The locals and students are friendly, fit, and fun. And the parent group is ridiculously friendly and helpful. There are local parents who will literally pick up your kid from the airport or take them soup when they are sick. It’s not unusual for girl moms to post their kid needs help moving heavy furniture and boy moms to send their son over with a buddy to help.
I think students from the north who head to schools like Bama are getting a far more diverse experience than others. There is a broad spectrum of people and beliefs, and kids must learn to get along…and they do.
PS - There is a lot of wealth on campus. My kid knows students whose families own private planes. I think most dcum parents would be very surprised if they bothered to tour Bama. I encourage you to tour during the school year.
Same experience. Visited on a whim, no expectation and was blown away. DS is now a senior there and he leaves with two publications in serious science journals, a job offer, a diverse world view and having enjoyed every minute of his time there (he is not Greek). His friends are headed to top med schools, engineering firms and phd programs. All educated for free!
Alabama is spending like crazy and has healthy financials, unlike many — Stanford (laying off 700), Northwestern (laying off 400), Chicago is $6 billion in debt!
The school has a 4 year graduation rate of 56% that is horrifying.
Graduates from the University of Alabama had a median earning of $37,400 within two years and $44,500 within six years of graduation.
Great idea to pay OOS tuition to a school with those types of returns on investment.
Rape is extremely high on campus. And just fantastic Alabama law that, requires sexual violence survivors to demonstrate "earnest resistance" during an assault.
It is also one of the most dangerous campuses in the US for crime.
The reality is smart kids will do well wherever they go.
Your bright kid from Dcumlandia is likely to get merit aid from Bama and will graduate in 4 years. What the other kids do isn’t your problem.
Sometimes it’s better to be the big fish in the small pond.
And you are who your friends are. 56% graduation rate. There's a reason why they're throwing tons of merit money to practically anyone. Their marketing is all about how fun the school is, how great the greek life is, etc. Smart parents and kids make choices that look beyond that.
I’d love to see stats from a variety of schools re:
1. How many kids have anxiety, depression, etc. and are medicated
2. How many grads are single/not dating, unmarried, etc.
3. How many are happy, etc.
The vibe at Bama is happy.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 09:06
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree 100% with this prior post. The generous scholarship options based on GPA and test scores are what got us to consider it and the campus tour sold us. Honors students are impressive. Love that my son has grad school effectively paid for from undergrad savings. His roommates - first AND second year - are 70% from Northern states (first year was randomly assigned). Just go visit - we were not expecting to like it and both my husband and I (who are not big sports fans) loved it and DS is science major and completely thriving
Prior Post:
The knee-jerk reactions in this thread are not accurate. Unlikely that one will hear racist talk of any kind at any time while on campus.
FACT: The majority of students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa are not residents of Alabama.
U Alabama's Honors College offers students a solid education.
The Alabama beaches are gorgeous & welcoming. For decades, U Alabama's largest alumni group is based in NYC.
Why are the majority of students at a state school not state residents?
Because there's not as much money in admitting in state students. North Carolina has the right approach here.
That doesn’t answer it…Auburn is 60% in state…LSU and Ole Miss are 80% in state…UGA is 80% in state…Alabama is the complete outlier of all these southern schools.
The reason this thread exists is because Alabama is throwing money at OOS kids…so it’s definitely not making the state money.
Of course it makes them money. They charge more than 3x the in-state tuition to out-of-state students. They can give a $10k annual merit scholarship to oos and still generate double the revenue per seat. They can give a large scholarship to top oos students that makes it equal to in-state tuition, and in exchange, they get SAT and GPA stats that improve the school's ranking for the same price as the less academic in-state students.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 09:02
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Anonymous wrote:I think Alabama has made some outstanding choices in recent years. They've invested heavily in their campus. It has great facilities, dorms, and is known to be one of the nicest campuses in the country. They have clearly chosen to prioritize academics. To get quality students, Alabama is now about 60 percent OOS and is very generous with merit scholarships. It's one of the few public universities that really strives to get smart kids from all over the country. Because of football, it obviously has a national brand that brings a lot of attention to the school. You can put Alabama on your resume and absolutely everyone in the country knows of it. I think Alabama is a great option for lots of bright students.
Everybody in the country is aware of any state flagship, even if they aren’t all that familiar with the intricacies.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 09:00
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree 100% with this prior post. The generous scholarship options based on GPA and test scores are what got us to consider it and the campus tour sold us. Honors students are impressive. Love that my son has grad school effectively paid for from undergrad savings. His roommates - first AND second year - are 70% from Northern states (first year was randomly assigned). Just go visit - we were not expecting to like it and both my husband and I (who are not big sports fans) loved it and DS is science major and completely thriving
Prior Post:
The knee-jerk reactions in this thread are not accurate. Unlikely that one will hear racist talk of any kind at any time while on campus.
FACT: The majority of students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa are not residents of Alabama.
U Alabama's Honors College offers students a solid education.
The Alabama beaches are gorgeous & welcoming. For decades, U Alabama's largest alumni group is based in NYC.
Why are the majority of students at a state school not state residents?
Because there's not as much money in admitting in state students. North Carolina has the right approach here.
That doesn’t answer it…Auburn is 60% in state…LSU and Ole Miss are 80% in state…UGA is 80% in state…Alabama is the complete outlier of all these southern schools.
The reason this thread exists is because Alabama is throwing money at OOS kids…so it’s definitely not making the state money.
Alabama also gives money to in-state kids: https://afford.ua.edu/scholarships/in-state-freshman/ (compare with out of state: https://afford.ua.edu/scholarships/out-of-state-freshman/)
An in-state admit with a 1200 SAT and 3 GPA gets $4K a year, and pays a tuition of $7K. An out of state admit with a 1400 and a 3.5 gets $24K, but pays $10K a year. It works out well for both dollars and ranking to take the out of state kid, even if you're giving them a lot of money.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 08:57
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
I think Alabama has made some outstanding choices in recent years. They've invested heavily in their campus. It has great facilities, dorms, and is known to be one of the nicest campuses in the country. They have clearly chosen to prioritize academics. To get quality students, Alabama is now about 60 percent OOS and is very generous with merit scholarships. It's one of the few public universities that really strives to get smart kids from all over the country. Because of football, it obviously has a national brand that brings a lot of attention to the school. You can put Alabama on your resume and absolutely everyone in the country knows of it. I think Alabama is a great option for lots of bright students.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 08:55
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Ah, someone posted the Auburn stats as I was typing. There we go.
Anonymous
09/17/2025 08:53
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Alabama also has Auburn - what are the in state stats there? Plus I know there are several other in state schools - I know about Troy because I know they have a dance program and a FB friend of mine has a now college aged daughter who had applied to a couple others (she actually wound up out of state for a very specific program not in AL)
Anonymous
09/17/2025 08:50
Subject: why not Univ of Alabama?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree 100% with this prior post. The generous scholarship options based on GPA and test scores are what got us to consider it and the campus tour sold us. Honors students are impressive. Love that my son has grad school effectively paid for from undergrad savings. His roommates - first AND second year - are 70% from Northern states (first year was randomly assigned). Just go visit - we were not expecting to like it and both my husband and I (who are not big sports fans) loved it and DS is science major and completely thriving
Prior Post:
The knee-jerk reactions in this thread are not accurate. Unlikely that one will hear racist talk of any kind at any time while on campus.
FACT: The majority of students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa are not residents of Alabama.
U Alabama's Honors College offers students a solid education.
The Alabama beaches are gorgeous & welcoming. For decades, U Alabama's largest alumni group is based in NYC.
Why are the majority of students at a state school not state residents?
Because there's not as much money in admitting in state students. North Carolina has the right approach here.
That doesn’t answer it…Auburn is 60% in state…LSU and Ole Miss are 80% in state…UGA is 80% in state…Alabama is the complete outlier of all these southern schools.
The reason this thread exists is because Alabama is throwing money at OOS kids…so it’s definitely not making the state money.