Advice from parents and current students, please?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Alabama
1

<p>Hello.</p>

<p>I have been lurking on this site since Bama sent my son an invite to apply.</p>

<p>He did apply and has been accepted with the Presidential scholarship,which we recognize is an honor and a gift.</p>

<p>We had not considered such a large school, have never been to Alabama, and need to decide how much to consider this option. Money is important and not all offers are in from other schools. Bama’s has been the strongest offer to date and may encourage some others to increase their’s a bit. However, I know Bama is strong in many areas and can provide a good education.</p>

<p>Our ‘issues’ are the size of the school and lack of personalization. Our home is in a conservative region in California. We are considering a trip out after the school reopens from break.</p>

<p>Bama seems really far away and it seems we have to figure everything out really fast if we’re going to take advantage of this offer. I know he qualifies for their honors program and part of me really likes and respects that Bama is totally objective in their decisions.</p>

<p>I guess I’m hoping some of you might advise me as to how we can get on track to make this important decision asap. I’m spending time on the website. Son is, too but hasn’t found the enthusiasm I would hope to see. He will be getting in touch with his admissions advisor when he can reach her.</p>

<p>My concerns involve everything from housing this year to down the road, adjusting to life in the south, etc… etc…</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

<p>Many thanks.</p>

2

<p>My strongest advice is to arrange a visit through Honors College Dean Shane Sharpe. We did so with an initially less-than-enthusiastic Presidential Scholar son and had a remarkable, highly personalized experience (see the post below entitled “Our Visit to Bama From Hawaii” for details).</p>

<p>I don’t think you need to worry about the housing: the honors dorms are by far the best I’ve seen. As for adjusting to living in the South, SEA_tide (an honors freshman at UA) and mom2collegekids (parent of 2 students at UA) convinced us before our visit that this is a non-issue. They are from Washington state and California, respectively, and they were right. Both are very helpful and willing to communicate via private message. Talk with them and I think you will get excellent advice. Feel free to pm me as well, if you like.</p>

3

<p>Thank you. We will follow your advice regarding the visit and as I organize my thoughts better, will probably be in touch. The support is appreciated!</p>

4

<p>As a future student, I understand that I dont really meet the criteria to answer your question as you asked it, but hopefully I can provide a good perspective anyway. </p>

<p>If you’re afraid of Bama being a large impersonal school, a trip there will dispel your fears- I guarantee it. Make sure the Honors College knows you are coming, especially Dean Sharpe and Ms. Jami Gates, and they will ensure that you have the most comprehensive tour possible. Bama does a great job at shrinking campus down to the individual level, especially in the Honors Program. I know absolutely no one from my area going there, but I’m not at all worried about transitioning or being lonely after seeing what UA had to offer for incoming freshmen.</p>

<p>I also highly recommend a housing tour while you’re down there. The on-campus housing is the best I’ve seen in almost 15 tours of campuses, and if you worry significantly about housing quality then UA is perfect for you. </p>

<p>When I first was offered a scholarship from UA, I wasnt enthusiastic at all. On our tours of campuses, I even offered to skip Alabama because I thought I was sold on another school. All I can say is I havent regretted my visit to Bama one bit.</p>

5

<p>You will find the folks on the UA thread here amazingly supportive. Where in California are you?</p>

6

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>I’m a Southern California native (hometown - Anaheim - Disney country :slight_smile: ) Lived in CA for more than 40 years. Still spend a lot of time there since my whole family is in OC.</p>

<p>We moved to Alabama when my H’s job transferred us here. Believe me, it’s not a big culture shock to go to Alabama. I have 2 kids there. One is in his 3rd year, and the other is in his first year. </p>

<p>If a student applies for on-campus housing on time, he should have it as long as he wants. It can be a problem if a kid (or his parent) doesn’t pay attention to re-contracting dates for later school years. As a “back up” for my kids, I do pay attention to those dates to ensure that they have on-campus housing. It’s not been a problem. They are both in honors housing…although one has chosen to live in The Bluff next year, which is an off-campus apt that Bama has contracted with to provided more housing. Living in The Bluff is a choice (no one is forced to), but it’s very desirable because it’s even nicer than the very nice honors dorms. At The Bluff, each kid has a private bathroom and each apt has a free washer and dryer and full kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances…quite the luxury for college kids. LOL. So, very desirable. LOL The Crimson Ride also goes to The Bluff.</p>

<p>But, that said, both could stay in Honors housing all 4 years if desired (and deposit deadlines are met).</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>The school is closed now, but do send Dr. Sharpe and Jami Gates a note telling them of your upcoming visit. Tell them when your campus tour is scheduled, so they can arrange a full day for you. Include…name, address, CWID #, stats, intended major, etc. Also, contact the Dept head of your child’s major about your visit.</p>

<p>jami gates 205-348-5599 <a href=“mailto:jami.n.gates@ua.edu”>jami.n.gates@ua.edu</a><a href=“very%20helpful%20young%20lady!”>/email</a></p>

<p><a href=“mailto:ssharpe@bama.ua.edu”>ssharpe@bama.ua.edu</a> Dr. Shane Sharpe - Dean of the Honors College (and super nice man)</p>

7

<p>Well, if you’re biggest concern is that the school is huge and impersonal, at least from my experience, it very much is, but that is more for me personally(I should’ve went to a smaller school to start off with–fits me more). Honors college may help it get smaller, but I can’t really speak to that as I’ve only taken two honors college courses. And honestly, the honors college was what brought me here in the first place–otherwise, I would never have considered Alabama.</p>

<p>I have a friend who’s from a conservative part of California (San Ramon I believe). I can hook you up with him if you want his opinion.</p>

8

<p>I think college is what you make of it. Once you’re at a college that is larger than - say an average-sized high school - a person is going to have to make an effort to find activities and clubs that interest him/her.</p>

<p>:)</p>

9

<p>There are people at UA that chose the school in part because they wanted the attend college in a more conservative area. This is not to say that there are not a lot of liberal students at UA (there are lots), just the perception that as a state, Alabama is more conservative.</p>

<p>The size of UA is deceiving. UA’s population growth is relatively recent and as such, the school still retains the feel of the 17,000-student university that it was previously. There have been some issues as a result because UA is not yet all that used to having the 28,000+ students it currently does, but things work out and it is more of a novelty than anything to worry about. It is very much possible to have a personalized college experience at UA and I encourage people to take advantage of this. As other posters have mentioned, one of the easiest ways to do so is by being active in the honors college. The size of UA allows for there to be numerous opportunities that would interest your son just as it allows him to be anonymous when he wants to be be. I myself choose the personalized route and really like it. </p>

<p>I agree with you in that with all the holistic aspects of college admissions, it’s nice to apply to UA and know exactly what you are getting. Apart from visiting the schools, CC and the individual schools’ websites are the best way to help your son the best college for him. I lurked for 4 years before joining and am glad I did finally join.</p>

<p>For me, attending UA was not a big transition. Sure I’m over 2,000 miles away from home, but I’ve kept an open mind and have been willing to adapt to the regional differences. After a couple months, UA became my second home. Much like a snowbird wintering in Arizona or Florida, I like each of my homes and commute multiple times each year between the two. I can’t say that there aren’t parts that I don’t dislike about either place, I just either learn to live with them or work to change those things that I dislike. Your son did apply to UA and appears open to consideration. Definitely follow the advice of this board and tour UA. Maybe your son will like it, maybe he won’t (I think he will). Either way you both know that you gave it a shot. If you have any additional questions, feel free to post them or PM one of us, we’ll be happy to help.</p>

10

<p>Thank you for your feedback.</p>

<p>We do need to make the visit. Everyone’s comments strike a chord.</p>

<p>As soon as their spring break is over, we’ll head east. </p>

<p>I’m impressed with your open-mindedness and adaptability! Thank you.</p>

11

<p>Well, the school is still going through growing pains. In some areas it’s getting better. The pace of construction that will transform the campus is still on-going. It’s exciting but rather inconvenient for the students here now, if you ask me. I wasn’t in the Honors College (never saw the point) so I can’t speak of it.</p>

12

<p>The pace of construction that will transform the campus is still on-going. It’s exciting but rather inconvenient for the students here now, if you ask me.</p>

<p>Yes, I can imagine that new construction/remodeling is an inconvenience at times, but I see such things as a positive. I was more concerned when I visited campuses that didn’t seem to be building/updating anything. That suggested money problems on campus.</p>

13

<p>To “The Student”:
Our son applied to UA only because I researched the Presidential Scholarship offer and I told him he had nothing to lose. He was dead set on attending a top tier school until we made a visit to UA. He agreed to add our UA visit to a previously planned second visit to Emory (Atlanta, GA). BTW, we live in OH. My son and I did not make the visit to campus until mid March of his Senior year. Prior to our visit, UA was dead last on a list of 11 schools he had already been accepted to. After our visit, UA moved up to the top three (a battle between UA, Emory and Case Western). I have to be honest, the economic factors did play a part in his decision but in the end, UA was the best fit (son is a very conservative christian). Our son knew NO ONE! He even arrived on campus alone for Alabama Action (8/2008) on a one way ticket to Birmingham’s Airport. Birmingham’s Airport is an easy 50 minute drive to campus. (Southwest Airlines had great prices from our area). Neither parent made the trip. * See my posting history were I explain how I got some of his belongings to campus before he arrived (son did not have a car on campus until late fall of his first year). </p>

<p>Son is home on break right now. He is so happy at UA. The size of UA did not intimidate him but he is getting the personalized education we all dream of. </p>

<p>I have a few questions: Is this your first child to attend college? What is your son’s area of study? How does his other parent feel about him being far from home. </p>

<p>If your son has a level head and is comfortable meeting new people, he should find UA very comfortable. UA is committed to all their students. They consider their students “family”. The southern hospitallity is REAL. The young ladies have manners. Students DO get up on sunday morning to attend worship services. These were all factors that moved UA to the top of our son’s list. Our youngest son will probably attend UA as well.</p>

14

<p>Thank you. The positive and realistics responses people have given have helped my son start to view UofA as an option.</p>

<p>My son is looking at accounting. He wants a 5 year masters program and will study Chinese either as a minor or just for the language.</p>

<p>He does have a level head and is fine meeting new people. I do worry that he hasn’t had enough independent experiences…i.e., traveling like your son! He is conservative and has been attending a parochial school.</p>

<p>I am widowed so his Dad isn’t here except in spirit. Alabama was never on our radar. I can’t imagine what he would say except, to date, Bama has made the strongest financial offer and that would be respected!</p>

<p>Thank you for taking the time to repl.</p>

15

<p>Prior to our son flying to UA’s Bama Bound (Orientation), he had only one prior flight on his own.<br>
Momreads’ son and my son have had almost the exact experience with UA. I met momreads on this forum and conversed in detail via private messages through out the college selection process. Momreads can confirm this too! </p>

<p>Both boys DID NOT want to consider UA, both made campus visits late in the college search ONLY AFTER the parents urged them, both are NMF, both are from out of state, both were invited to the Computer Based Honors Program (CBHP) just weeks prior to the start of school, BOTH LOVE UA!!!..my son arrived at UA in August 2008, momreads’ son arrived at UA in August 2009. </p>

<p>If you do decide to make the visit to campus, Jamie Gates of the Honors College is the one to talk to. She may even arrange for your son to meet momreads’ son or mine. You can Private Message me for my son’s name if you would like.</p>

16

<p>^^^^</p>

<p>That’s a wonderful suggestion!</p>

17

<p>Hi all;</p>

<p>After reading this thread, I just made plane reservations for my D3 and I to visit U of A during D3’s spring break April 12 - 13. We are from Southern CA. . . d3 is not excited about U of A, in fact hubby and I are forcing her to go to see the campus and have a tour and speak to Jamie, etc before she turns down the full tuition offer. </p>

<p>This is the best scholarship offer D3 has received, and hubby and I want to make sure she sees the U of A campus before she turns it down (Scholarship offers for other colleges she has been accepted to range from nothing at UCLA - to 3/4 tuition at Univ of Miami). Right now, D3 wants to attend UCLA where our college sophomore D2 attends. </p>

<p>D3 is interested in law school afterwards (which is expensive) – so we, her parents, think having a full tuition offer merits a thoughtful look. </p>

<p>As further background, college senior D1 attends Baylor on a full tuition scholarship. (we only pay for transportation and housing). Because of her scholarship, D1 was able to study a semester abroad in both her junior and senior year, with tuition paid by Baylor – and again, we only have to pay transportation and housing. For D2, we are paying full freight at UCLA (27k/year for tuition, room and board. .and its going up 33% this year). D2 wanted to study abroad like her older sister but it would cost an additional 10k so she didn’t. </p>

<p>Having seen the extra opportunities that attending an university with full tuition scholarship can bring, we are telling D3 that U of A will give her extra opportunities like studying abroad, and the offer shouldn’t be taken lightly (Assuming, first of all, that U of A is a good fit for her).</p>

<p>Concerns of D3 –

  1. U of A is 40 % Greek – DD is conservative Christian and NOT interested in Greek life or the drinking culture that may be more prevalent because of that
  2. Cultural Diversity --DD thinks U of A’s “Old South” week is a “red flag” and that attending U of A won’t be diverse enough (Esp since D3 is interested in pursuing something in Human Rights as her career). D3 went to public school with a number of Hispanics and we are fourth generation Asian
  3. Calif girl fitting in with “Alabamians” – we have heard it is esp harder for a Calif girl to fit in because she wouldn’t be the typical southern girl. </p>

<p>Can you address the above concerns? </p>

<p>Hubby and I want her to strongly consider U of A’s scholarship offer – but only if it would be a good fit for her.</p>

18

<p>Are you Krazie’s mom?</p>

<p>LOL…what is a typical southern girl? I’m from Orange County, Calif and there is no real distinction. They look and act the same. </p>

<p>Keep in mind that many kids at Alabama have roots from elsewhere. Many students have parents who aren’t from the South, even if the kids were raised here for business reasons. </p>

<p>Many (most perhaps??) of the profs aren’t from the south, so that also lessens the “southerness” of the school. </p>

<p>There will be drinking on every campus, except maybe BYU or a bible college. Schools with big sports teams will have a party aspect to them - if you choose to participate is your choice. My kids don’t participate. There are also many kids who choose not to drink or only drink in small amounts. I would imagine that there is less partying in the honors dorms (located on the north side of campus). I’m not saying that the honors dorms are alcohol free or that there aren’t any parties there, but there’s less of that compared to the east/south campus where the frats are. </p>

<p>The University doesn’t have an “old south week.” It’s a tradition of one national fraternity whose chapters host this. I’m not a fan of it, but it’s not something that the university hosts. Kappa Alpha Order was founded in 1865 at Washington & Lee University, where Robert E. Lee was president after the Civil War. Chapters on various campuses annually hold “Old South” events. Kappa Alpha can be found at Duke, Emory, Penn St, Purdue, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, and many other campuses. Old South Week is a national frat event, not a Bama event. </p>

<p>As for diversity…Bama doesn’t have perfect diversity…what public university does? (The UC’s don’t.) Bama’s African American numbers are good 11-12%, but it is weaker in Hispanic and Asian…simply because of geography. The Hispanic and Asian numbers are growing as more of these ethnic groups move into the area or accept OOS scholarship offers. :)</p>

<p>I don’t think anything we write can diminish your D’s concerns. She’ll have to visit in order to see for herself. :slight_smile: It sounds like your D has some set ideas, so only visiting will change them. </p>

<p>I hope Jami arranges an interesting and thorough campus tour for you all. :)</p>

<p>Let us know how it goes…</p>

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<p>mom of four: welcome! My D will be a freshman on a full ride & UA wasn’t on our radar until we found out about the NMF full ride. We’re originally from NJ but currently live in TN. I agree with M2CK that your d needs to put her feet on the campus to see if it’s right for her. My D fell in love on day 1 and is happily anticipating picking her dorm room tomorrow night.</p>

<p>Re: “Southerness.” UA has some of the friendliest, most accomodating staff that we’ve come across during our college tours. That’s really the only Southern trait we’ve seen when we’ve visited: the outstanding hospitality. Not saying that it doesn’t exist in other areas, but I can tell you that I’ve heard uglier racial comments in NJ than I have in the South. </p>

<p>Re: the sororities. I think the current sorority rate is 29% not 40%. If your D is in the honors college & dorms, and decides not to go greek she’ll have plenty of social options. My D & I are attending Panhellenic Preview Day this coming Saturday so she’ll know if she’s pledging after that. She’s on the fence. She’s not a partier, but she likes the philanthropy angle. Also, if your D does decide to attend, make sure she signs up for Alabama Action or Outdoor Action so that she can bond with some honors students before classes start. </p>

<p>Since Alabama (and Montgomery in particular) were central to the Civil Rights movement, there are a lot of academic opportunities that focus on progress in that area. See <a href=“http://civilrights.ua.edu/[/url]”>http://civilrights.ua.edu/&lt;/a&gt; ; [The</a> University of Alabama School of Law](<a href=“Alabama Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review”>Alabama Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review) ; and these 2 honors classes:
HONORS SPECIAL TOPICS SEMINAR (W) (3 credits)
Civil Rights in America </p>

<p>HONORS SPECIAL TOPICS SEMINAR (W) (3 credits)
Heroes of Faith and Social Justice in the 20th Century: Mahatma Ghandi, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin
Luther King Jr.
This course introduces three symbolic figures for the commitment to peace and justice(Mahatma Ghandi, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King Jr.) and the specific context of the conflicts with which they are associated. While the name of Gandhi is
connected to the decolonization of India, Bonhoeffer was a prophetic figure within the resistance against National Socialism in Germany. King symbolizes the fight for equal rights of the African American minority in the USA. These men represent three
continents (Asia, Europe, America), two religions (Christianity and Hinduism), and one vision (freedom). Finally, they shared the fate of becoming martyrs because of their call to speak out the truth and to encourage others not to reconcile themselves to unjust
conditions. History, biography, political ideas, religion, ethics and spirituality will be objectives of the discussion that might help the participants to understand the structure of specific oppression and to reflect upon different ways to overcome it. </p>

<p>Good luck & have a great visit! Jami Gates if a wonderful resource :)</p>

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<p>I highly recommend touring universities that one was accepted to and UA is no exception to this rule. There are a lot of conservative Christian groups on campus that your daughter might be interested in joining along with many other clubs that may interest her. A lot of people do drink at UA, but a lot don’t. It’s very possible to have friends that don’t share one’s religion, politics, and drinking preferences, you just focus on other things you have in common. The bottom line is that with most any school, one should be able to find people who share similar interests.</p>