<p>My d is a junior in high school and we are beginning our college visits. Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and LSU are her top choices right now. We've visited Clemson and she loves it, but I am a little concerned about it being so rural (we live in Austin, so used to a bigger city). I've heard more great things about Alabama than any of these, but would like some objective feedback on all, such as: campus atmosphere, faculty to student relationships, dorms, etc. Anything you can give is appreciated!</p>
<p>LSU is in Baton Rouge. Obviously a large city. Good food. However, the campus is in rather disrepair, which you’ll see when you visit. Don’t know why that is. </p>
<p>Clemson was an early favorite of my older son, but you’re right, very rural. Charming campus, attractive campus. PRICEY for OOS. </p>
<p>Bama is where my kids went. Son liked it after going to Clemson because it had similar beauty, but in a good-sized city. </p>
<p>Auburn also has an attractive campus, but it is also in a rural area. </p>
<p>Bama and maybe LSU have the most generous scholarships (leaving you with the lowest cost IF your D has the right stats).</p>
<p>What is your D’s major?</p>
<p>What are her stats? </p>
<p>What is your budget? </p>
<p>I will say for Auburn (because I went there) that although rural, it is a very quick, easy drive to Birmingham, Montgomery, and Atlanta. You could “almost” commute to campus from any of these cities. Too far to be reasonable, but you could in extreme circumstances. So, you have quick access to the big city if you need a break from rural life. That’s sometimes overlooked. And you have convenient access to a major airport (Atl). That was big for me being from Chicago.</p>
<p>They also have Express 85 which is an express bus from the Atlanta Airport to/from Auburn and surrounding areas for a reasonable price. It runs from early morning to late afternoon or early evening I believe. Very convenient if you didn’t bring a car or if you did and didn’t want to leave it at the airport.</p>
<p>I go to Clemson and here’s what I have to say about your questions:</p>
<p>Campus is beautiful and the atmosphere is amazing. I never cared for football before, but the spirit that people have for this school is so contagious that it’d kill me to have to watch a home game on TV. It always amazes me how complete strangers stop what they’re doing to help me if they see that my grocery bags are ripping or something. Most people say it’s a big school that feels like a small school. The term “Clemson family” is used a lot. </p>
<p>Although every once in a while there is a crime, it doesn’t happen often and the criminals usually aren’t affiliated with the university. In order to access any campus housing, your ID needs to be registered with it so other people can’t get in and you also have a key. Campus is pretty well-lit at night and there are emergency phones everywhere, but you also have the option to call Tiger Transit to pick you up wherever you are and take you where you need to go. It’s free and takes you anywhere on campus. There’s another free bus system that can take you around campus or as far as Greenville, so it’s not hard to get to Walmart or Bi-Lo if you don’t have a car. Campus is pretty rural (I like the isolation, but that’s just me) but you’re not far from Anderson if you want to go to the mall or something. You’re about an hour from the Greenville airport and there are shuttles that can take you there or Atlanta.</p>
<p>The class size depends on what the class is. Intro to chem will be huge but then you’ll have to take a lab with it, which is usually around 20 people with a TA. The language classes (and some math classes) are pretty small, so you get to know the professors pretty well. Most professors are willing to meet with you outside class as long as they know you’re putting forth effort.</p>
<p>The only things about Clemson that I don’t love are housing and dining. My freshman dorm and my sophomore apartment weren’t bad, but there are some things that really bother me about them, like how they were cold no matter how you set the thermostat and that the elevator in my freshman dorm was always out of order. There’s only one dorm that most people consider to be awful, but it’s usually a male dorm and it’ll be torn down in a few years. If she applied to the school early, she has a shot at having priority housing, which means she may be able to live in a small apartment if she wants to. All campus buildings are within about a 10 minute walking distance from your dorm and each dorm is really close to a dining hall and a food court. I prefer the food courts because I can get what I want when I want it, regardless of whether it’s breakfast time, lunchtime, or dinnertime, and the food is better. A lot of dining halls, including Clemson, use a lot of oil to keep their food from sticking to the pans so they can make something else right away. Sometimes you can tell by the taste that the muffins aren’t from scratch or that the vegetables were canned or frozen.</p>
<p>That’s all I can think of for now, but let me know if you have other questions!</p>
<p>I attended Auburn and chose it over Clemson and Georgia. I truly have an Auburn family - loved the school and the city of Auburn. The city of Auburn has grown a lot of the years and I’d call it more of a mid sized town and wouldn’t call it rural at all. It’s become a technology corridor - with several large car manufacturers opening factories nearby, high end golf courses, and retirees and graduated students choosing to live in the area. </p>
<p>There has been a lot of new construction on campus - new housing, a new dining hall, new arena, new student center, and new student activities center - among others. School spirit is part of the culture - it infiltrates everything, in a positive way. The engineering, architecture, vet, and agriculture programs are some of the strongest in the country. The business school is also strong. When I was a student I had friends from all over the country - including from Texas. </p>
<p>I suggest you visit all of these schools this Spring - they will all be pretty and the students will be outdoors and you’ll get a good feel on campus life. Size wise, I believe Clemson has the least number of students, followed by Auburn. As for faculty/student relationships - I was in a major where we worked with a smaller, exclusive group of professors and there were only 15 total in my graduating class - so I had very close relationships with my professors. I know my husband had a similar experience in his engineering major. 20 years later I am Facebook friends with one of my professors and too many Auburn friends to count. </p>
<p>I’ll add - my first employer in Virginia hired me because of the reputation of Auburn in my major. War Eagle!</p>
<p>Wow…thank you all so much for the comments and suggestions. Very helpful. @momtocollegekids here’s the answers to your questions: Her GPA is around a 3.75 from a exemplary ranked Texas public high school; her major is probably going to be Business (marketing)…although she’s still a little undecided; and our budget is open to all of these schools, with hopes of a possible merit scholarship of some sort. We have visited Clemson already, and have a trip planned for Auburn and University of Alabama in April. Will be visiting LSU in April as well probably. Also considering University of Gerogia…any input on that? Again, thanks so much!!!</p>
<p>"V. It always amazes me how complete strangers stop what they’re doing to help me if they see that my grocery bags are ripping or something. "</p>
<p>this is the nice thing about southern schools. People are very helpful at southern schools. Open doors for you, help you carry stuff, offers to help you, etc.</p>
<p>“have a trip planned for…University of Alabama in April”</p>
<p>Be sure to contact the Honors College a few weeks before you go to arrange everything (contact info below):</p>
<p>First set up the campus tour online…try for an early morning time! Don’t wait to do this because spots get booked up.</p>
<p>Visit the Alabama forum on College Confidential which is VERY active.
<a href=“http://talk.college-confidential.com/university-alabama/”>http://talk.college-confidential.com/university-alabama/</a></p>
<p>In the email to the Honors College include:</p>
<p>Student’s name and contact info</p>
<p>Date and time of the Campus tour that you’ve reserved.</p>
<p>GPA and test scores (include likely NMSF if applicable)</p>
<p>Likely majors*</p>
<p>Career interests (including med, law, etc)</p>
<p>Anything particular that you want to see. *If you have an interest in seeing the new Science and Engineering Complex, let them know.</p>
<p>Honors Recruitment</p>
<p>Susan Alley
Assistant Coordinator
270 Nott Hall
205-348-5599
<a href=“mailto:susan.alley@ua.edu”>susan.alley@ua.edu</a></p>
<p>Neil Adams
<a href=“mailto:neil.adams@ua.edu”>neil.adams@ua.edu</a></p>
<p>Allison and her assistant will arrange the rest of the day…meeting with faculty, honors people, touring honors dorms, etc.</p>
<p>Sometimes mail goes to their SPAM folders, so call them if you haven’t heard back within a few business days. These people do an excellent job and work very hard</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your help @mom2collegekids VERY helpful info :)</p>
<p>edited to add…I forgot to change Susan’s name to Allison in that later paragraph. Susan now works in another area. </p>
<p>I agree that Auburn is not particularly rural, and has very quick access to Interstate 85 to take you to Atlanta in about an hour and a half.</p>
<p>Definitely should consider the University of Georgia. It is at least as good as any of the other schools you listed (and some people say it’s better). Explore it.</p>
<p><a href=“mailto:Thanks@NROTCgrad”>Thanks@NROTCgrad</a>. She’s definitely interested in University of Georgia and we have been to the campus (beautiful)…she’s a little concerned since it’s a bit more selective, but she’s definitely going to apply. Thank you for your feedback. </p>