<p>Can someone explain the major differences between Alabama and Auburn as far as academics, athletics, Greek life, student life, etc. I am currently looking at these two schools, and would like some input! As of now, I am planning to major in Biology.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>I applied to Alabama, and got in, but I also looked at Auburn. They are really neck and neck when it comes to everything. I would give the edge to Alabama because Tuscaloosa is just gorgeous and their honors college is fantastic.</p>
<p>My ds applied to both (in addition to several others). After dept visits, he scratched Auburn completely off of his list. It is the only school where he walked out of the dept after meeting with the dean and the undergrad advisor and said, “No way.” The undergrad advisor was completely disdainful of his undergrad students. It really was a horrific dept visit. If I hadn’t been there hearing everything first hand, I wouldn’t have believed it…no one representing a school to a potential student could have given a worse impression. Ironically, prior to the visit, he had thought Auburn would make him drop Bama from his list. (originally both only made it on their due to their merit $$.)</p>
<p>Alabama, otoh, gave a great first, second, and third impression. He had pretty much decided on Bama before he even heard his regular decision offers b/c he was really excited about some of the opportunities they offered. He just finished his first semester there and says he can’t imagine himself anywhere else. </p>
<p>Definitely do not base your decision about any school on what you see on their website, what you hear, or even a group tour. Go into the dept and meet the people that are going to be guiding your undergrad education. Ask to sit in on a class. See if you can meet other students currently in the dept.</p>
<p>ETA: my ds isn’t at all interested in Greek life, so I can’t answer. </p>
<p>Both of my kids visited both schools and both chose Bama. Bama has a better developed honors college and Tuscaloosa is just a better city.</p>
<p>When will you be visiting?</p>
<p>You can ask more questions and get more info in the very popular Bama forum here on College Confidential.</p>
<p><a href=“University of Alabama - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/</a></p>
<p>You can also look at this thread and see where other applicants are from…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1663872-class-of-19-roll-call-whos-applied-and-whos-been-accepted.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1663872-class-of-19-roll-call-whos-applied-and-whos-been-accepted.html#latest</a></p>
<p>Plus this thread has a lot of Bama info
<a href=“Info about Alabama: Read this first! - University of Alabama - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1604154-info-about-alabama-read-this-first-p1.html</a></p>
<p>Visit both. Auburn is a great small town and school is lovely. Academics are strong and tough. People are very nice. School caps undergrad at around 20k so not over crowded. You’ll find a fit at one or the other - my son didn’t get any similar feeling between the two - he was overwhelmingly Auburn bound after visiting both schools and yes, he went on the very persuasive honors college tour at UA - still picked Auburn. Looked past the marketing to the best product for him . Good luck!</p>
<p>I was struck by how massive Bama is, and it seems to be getting bigger with all the construction. Auburn seemed so cozy in comparison…smaller campus, smaller.buildings, less space between buildings , neat little downtown right next to campus. I liked both places but was surprised how different the campuses felt. From what I can tell, auburn has dorms for a smaller % of undergrads than most other similar colleges, whereas Bama had new dorms everywhere.</p>
<p>Auburn does not have enough dorms for Freshman but many don’t find that a problem. There are a lot of off campus apartments that are on the Tiger Transit route and most Freshman move off campus after 1st year anyway. Something about living in an off-campus apartment makes them feel grown up - uggghh, my son is giving up his very convenient dorm in the Quad at the end of spring semester. I don’t know that independent living in an apartment is going to make up for the convenience of rolling out of bed and being steps away from the library, the student center, the stadium, or the engineering complex in any direction but he’s a little embarrassed mom made him stay in a dorm Sophomore year. Most students who place their housing deposit by February get a dorm room - may not be in your preferred location though… If you live off campus, you will be with many other Freshman who actually prefer it.</p>
<p>Which residence hall has the most freshman?</p>
<p>All of them. Quad best location and nice standard dorms. Probably full by now.</p>
<p>Village - apartment style dorms (same as UA) but further away from center of campus and probably full by now.</p>
<p>The Hill is standard dorms and not too far from central campus but a little darker/dingiest.</p>
<p>If you ride a bike, bring it or buy one at AU - heavy bike riding campus. </p>