You need to visit and assess for yourself. Right now FSU is under consideration by our 11th grade dd. It made her list bc they offer the major she wants and could be very affordable. Her brother is at Bama and he loves it there.
@LBad96 When our ds applied to Bama, I never thought it would move to the top of his list. This kid is a serious student with equally serious goals. I was completely skeptical until we visited. After meeting with the dept and being accepted into their research honors program, it moved to the top of his list. I am skeptical no more. But more importantly, he says he hasn’t looked back.
@Mom2aphysicsgeek that’s great!! I’ve heard flattering things about the Honors College. I’m happy for your son that he loves it. Can’t say that it doesn’t seem like a fun school to attend.
@ClarinetDad16@mom2collegekids if you want to see an ugly or run-down campus, check Binghamton or Clark University. Those two campuses are absolutely hideous.
We are in a similar situation, though we are in-state for FSU. Our son received a nice scholarship there too.
We have visited UA, and it is every bit the beautiful college campus that you would expect. We loved the new-ish engineering quad. Also, UA’s suite style dorms will be tough to beat.
We have not visited FSU yet, and have never been to Tallahassee (we live way south). We plan to visit this spring. One thing that I already notice is that it looks tougher to get your own room still (a suite) at FSU. Also, in another thread someone mentioned that the engineering buildings are off campus (??).
I don’t think that admittance to honors college at FSU is automatic - you have to apply and it’s competitive?
Some classmates of my older son went to FSU and there seems to be a party element, though you could certainly say the same of UA. Greek life seems big at both schools.
We lean towards UA but still plan to visit FSU with an open mind.
We have family ties to Virginia Tech, so there’s a wild card in the mix.
Ok, let’s move on to academics and program. Which school has any NOAA Hollings Scholars? Which offers freshman to become involved in their professors research projects, co-author and present at conferences? Which school allows you to take marine bio classes in freshman year? Are their labs located on or near water? Do you conduct research in the marine environment near either university? Do either have a Sigma Xi research society? Do either have relationships with the US Geological Society, the state’s fish and wildlife depts, national sciences summer research program? What do they do to help student’s obtain internships?
My ds became involved in research his freshman yr.
I don’t know much about that dept, but ds has a couple of friends who participate in research with Dr. Earley. http://rlearley.people.ua.edu/ (One had something to do with the genetics of dolphins.) The OP could try contacting him with questions.
@ECmotherx2 Was the right answer…Eckerd College! I bet I nailed it! :-bd
FSU has about the same number of Hollings winners (3 in 2014, at least 2 that are involved in marine biology).
ECmotherx2’s point is valid, the op needs to take a deeper look into each marine biology program. I’m no expert on the subject, but in general, UA is stronger in Engineering and Business, while FSU is stronger in Biology and the Physical Sciences (stronger as in larger programs, more faculty, more research funding…etc.).
We’ve already posted some links to get your started. For example, the FSU Coastal & Marine Laboratory(FSUCML) provides a lot of information, including putting out a newsletter. A newsletter can give you some insight into who’s doing what in the program.
Select the marine biology option on this FSU link to see FSU’s curriculum and a listing of FSU’s Biological Science Faculty with expertise in marine biology.
If you have specific questions about UA or FSU’s program, you may want to ask those questions in each college’s forum. Both (especially UA’s) forums are active.
@Gator88NE , LOL, While I love Eckerd, I used what I have learned about a solid marine science program to try to refocus the conversation on those questions about the 2 schools that the OP inquired about. I also agreed with you about FSU’s program.
While a Eckerd might be a great school, if the OP is focusing on merit $$, Eckerd is probably not affordable. I thought about West FL http://catalog.uwf.edu/undergraduate/marinebiology/ but I think the scholarship deadlines have passed.
