As someone interested in Alabama from up in Massachusetts, what do I need to know

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Alabama
1

<p>I’m just trying to gather some information about Alabama that you can’t find out when looking at statistics. What’s around the school? Is it busy during the week and weekend? I’m looking for anything so if you think of something please feel free to share. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Welcome!</p>

<p>Browse and search the Bama threads. There are lists of restaurants, clubs, sports, day-trips, and many little stories that give you a picture of the life and lifestyle. </p>

<p>My entering freshman will be surrounded by an embarrassment of riches, if he chooses to capitalize.</p>

3

<p>Here’s the latest restaurant thread:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1156069-bama-area-restaurant-guide.html?highlight=restaurants[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1156069-bama-area-restaurant-guide.html?highlight=restaurants&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Start with the “drop dead gorgeous campus” and go from there…seriously there is so much to do on and off campus but it is the educational opportunity that is most important. </p>

<p>What are your stats? What year will you be a freshmen? Boy or girl? Give us some of your info and interests and we can help you a little better. Will you have a chance to visit? We can help you with that as well. In the meantime browse some of the past and current threads to get some ideas.</p>

5

<p>GPA about a 3. SAT 17 and ACT 24. I don’t know If I’ll be able to visit as it’s so far from Mass. I’ll be a freshman next year. I’m a huge sports guy but do love my music.</p>

6

<p>Start here with the web tour:
[Undergraduate</a> Admissions Web Tour | The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://gobama.ua.edu/webtour/]Undergraduate”>http://gobama.ua.edu/webtour/)</p>

7

<p>Okay, first take a look at the web tours and see if UA is the type of college you see yourself at. Explore the threads and also The University of Alabama website and their prospective student’s page. If this all looks good then have the financial talk with your parents. Are they willing to pay for your education? The financial talk is very important as you will not have the stats for any scholarship money.
See the following:
<a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out_of_state.html[/url]”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out_of_state.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>What do you mean by SAT 17?</p>

<p>Can you get your parents to visit?</p>

9

<p>1700 on my SAT’s. And we’ll have to see about visiting. I want to but my parent’s don’t have much time and neither do I.</p>

10

<p>When we were first sorting through schools, we watched the “virtual tour” on BAMA’s website. Pretty accurate and impressive.</p>

11

<p>Yes, but falling in love with a school that cannot offer you any scholarship money is pointless if the parents are not on board financially. It is important for the OP to talk to his parents and decide what they can afford based on income and savings. He and his parents need to run the numbers.</p>

12

<p>True. Very true</p>

13

<p>bsharon…do you know how much your parents will pay each year for college?</p>

14

<p>Money is not an object. I’m not worried about scholarships. I’m just wondering what life is like during the year. Is there a lot to do? Are there places close where kids can go run errands like grocery shopping and such?</p>

15

<p>Grocery store - there is a Publix right on campus. It is on the far corner on The Strip.<br>
The Strip - convienent. Restaurants, stores, TCBY, pizza, burgers, sandwiches, Waffle House, etc<br>
The Crimson Ride - bus service that goes all around campus. </p>

<p>From what I have seen in our visits, there is plenty to do in Tuscaloosa and close to campus to walk or ride the bus to. There is also a shuttle to Target on the weekends. Some kids have cars, some don’t. Golf, Black Warrior River, parks, Bama football, baseball games, sports and more sports, intermural sports teams, rec center, etc.</p>

16

<p>What are your interests?</p>

17

<p>OP, from Mass you can check out types of schools … smaller LACs, bigger research schools, city/suburban/rural schools, etc. If you think you’ll like a state school in college town/city you’ll probably like UA. I’d think checking out UMass would be a good idea … and be a reasonable proxy for UA. I’ve never been to UA but it sounds like for many a better version … prettier campus, more going on in the town, big time sports, friendlier campus, etc.</p>

<p>PS - there are negatives compared to UMass also … it’s a lot bigger … it’s a long way from home … bigger Greek presence (this could be good or bad) … etc.</p>