<p>I would absolutely put UA, the flagship, up there with schools like PennState, UGa, UMd, UFll in terms of atmosphere, I would put it with Pitt, UAriz, Fl State, USCarol, UOk for the availability of big merit money. It’s there but you gotta have the stats to get any of it. At least it’s there. I would put UAH with those schools where a good merit package is available and a fairly low sticker price, but it is not a flag ship school. Being in a state that does not really have a flagship school, all of our schools are kind of in that category. However, there are very good programs at many of our SUNYs that pretty much ensure great employment and pay afterwards. Not an option to take lightly in today’s climate. </p>
<p>Things have changed in the last 20 or so years. Vanderbilt, Emory, Davidson Wash Lee, for example are showing up on a lot college slists and not as back up schools. Sons’ school which is a private prep has lots of kids going to Vandy and Emory. They are very popular ED choices, so I hardly think that they are considered back up schools. Maybe those who have been away from admissions for so long and only know about the NE name schools feel otherwise. We looked at a lot of Southern schools and they were not back up schools. Sons looked long and hard at Va Tech. Ga Tech, JMU, Wm &Mary, Elon, College of Charleston. Not as safeties either.</p>